Thursday, November 14, 2013
First Snow
We've gotten our first snow of the year out of the way! On Tuesday, we had flurries in the morning. It wasn't much and nothing at all stuck but it was enough for the boys to excitedly watch it for a few minutes and yell, "It's SNOWING!!!!!"
Monday, November 11, 2013
Goodbye Crib!
Neither Carter nor Rylan has EVER tried climbing out of their crib. But since Rylan is 3 years and 4 months old, I decided it was time to give him some freedom. He's never asked for a bed and was fine in his crib, but he's getting way too big for the playyard we use for traveling, and we need to get him used to a bed for future trips!
Plus, on Friday, the boys were playing in Rylan's room in the morning and Brian went to say good-bye to them before work and found Rylan in his crib!!! Apparently Carter had turned over a toy bin for Rylan to step on and them helped him over the rail into the crib. So even though I'd been meaning to covert the crib to a toddler bed for a few weeks, that pushed us to finally do it yesterday.
Rylan took his first nap in the toddler bed yesterday.
And it was successful! I heard him get out of the bed a couple of times to get toys and it took him a little longer to fall asleep (about 30 minutes), but he did it (and didn't fall out)! And when he woke up, he called for us over the monitor (Carter still never gets out of his bed in the morning until we come into his room).
Last night went great too. Rylan fell asleep right away and slept until his normal way-too-early-wakeup-time. When his clock turned green (more on that in another post), he called for me to come get him.
Rylan's currently taking a nap now. This time it only took him 10 minutes to fall asleep.
Rylan has told us he's a bigger boy now :) He's proud to be out of his crib even though he didn't seem to care until now. Next step ... potty training! He has no interest at all in that either!
Plus, on Friday, the boys were playing in Rylan's room in the morning and Brian went to say good-bye to them before work and found Rylan in his crib!!! Apparently Carter had turned over a toy bin for Rylan to step on and them helped him over the rail into the crib. So even though I'd been meaning to covert the crib to a toddler bed for a few weeks, that pushed us to finally do it yesterday.
Rylan took his first nap in the toddler bed yesterday.
And it was successful! I heard him get out of the bed a couple of times to get toys and it took him a little longer to fall asleep (about 30 minutes), but he did it (and didn't fall out)! And when he woke up, he called for us over the monitor (Carter still never gets out of his bed in the morning until we come into his room).
Last night went great too. Rylan fell asleep right away and slept until his normal way-too-early-wakeup-time. When his clock turned green (more on that in another post), he called for me to come get him.
Rylan's currently taking a nap now. This time it only took him 10 minutes to fall asleep.
Rylan has told us he's a bigger boy now :) He's proud to be out of his crib even though he didn't seem to care until now. Next step ... potty training! He has no interest at all in that either!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Nashville Marathon
Yesterday I ran the Nashville Marathon. I have been training for 4 months and am so happy to be done! I've run one other marathon in November 2004 - the Richmond Marathon - and had said I'd never do another. But I did. And I do think I will do another someday (hopefully).
I picked up my packet at an outdoor gear store in Franklin on Thursday afternoon. The packet only contained a shirt and racing bib (not much for a marathon) but the shirt fit and had a descent design (I almost always sign up for the wrong size - I have several race shirts that are just itty-bitty and others that I think would fit Brian).
The racing bib had a map of the course in the background (in case you get lost?).
This was the first year this marathon had been run. A half marathon has been run for a number of years now and was by far the bigger race. I believe about 220 people completed the full marathon and about 1300 finished the half marathon. Both races started together but the full marathon broke off from the half around the 2 mile split. The courses joined back up around the 8 mile split and stayed together until the 14 mile split when the half marathoners turned around and headed back toward the finish line.
The course started along the river in downtown, headed toward Belmont University and the 12 South area, back down to the Gulch, around the capitol, across the river, around LP Field where the Titans play, and then out and back along the river on the Shelby Bottoms Greenway before crossing the river again and finishing at 1st Ave and Broadway. The first half was pretty hilly with the second half being flat (other than a significant hill around 25.5 miles across the river on the bridge). However with a lot of the second half of the race being on the greenway, I knew there wouldn't be much to distract me from the pain of running a marathon.
It was cold yesterday morning - 36F at 7 am when the race started. It warmed up to 54F at 11 am but it was overcast and a bit windy so I was frozen throughout the race. I had on three layers but never once considered peeling any of them off.
I started off the race strong and running a little faster than I had planned. I ran the Richmond Marathon in 4:14:41 so my only goal for this race was to do better. I planned to run the first 13 miles around an 8:50/mile pace. My average ended up being 8:45/mile but I did have an 8:11 and 8:25 in there. I even made a bathroom stop around mile 4! This plan allowed me to have plenty of time (hopefully) when I might be struggling the second half to still be able to beat my last time.
Brian and the boys showed up around the 10 mile split (I'm under the bridge in the picture below). I was still feeling pretty good at this point.
I started to struggle around mile 15 when we entered the greenway. I have run 3 half-marathons in the last year that began around LP Field and used this greenway so I knew that I still had a long way to go. Running is so dependent on your mental strength and I began to crack a bit.
Before the race I had checked where the water stops were supposed to be and knew there weren't many on the greenway. I walk through all the water stops to give my body a little break and knew that after the 15.5 mile split, the next water stop wasn't until 18.5 miles (usually there is a water stop at least every 2 miles). When I got to 18.5 miles, there was no water! I had been struggling and telling myself I just had to make it to here and would get a break. At this point, I walked for the first time (other than the prior water stops). My legs were so heavy and I was tired. I was mentally done. Randomly, this was were Brian and the boys had been after last seeing me and had drawn all over the greenway!
After the race, Carter told me right away that he drew a picture of me and Brian kissing (haha!) - I didn't gather that from this drawing when running by it :)
Supposedly, this is me :)
After seeing these, I got back to running and found the water stop at the 19 mile split. Unfortunately, once I walk, it's so easy to keep doing it! So I ended up walking a few times each mile - never for long, but I'm not the type of runner that runs, walks, runs, walks, etc. I kept setting little goals for myself, like "run to that big tree up ahead and then you can walk".
Brian and the boys were waiting for me around the 23 mile split.
High fives!!!
I pushed through those last few miles (running more finally but still taking some breaks to walk) and finally made it to the finish. Here I come approaching the finish line!
I finished the race in 4:05:52 (beating my last marathon time by 9 minutes). Even though the last third of the race got really hard for me, I'm happy with how I did. I'm not sure if I went out too fast (I don't think so) but I do think the cold got me a little bit. Maybe the next marathon I do, I can finish sub 4 hours :)
The race was small but I placed 3rd in my age category (out of 21).
The finishers medal ...
The third place award ...
I was disappointed in the awards. Even the overall winners only got a paper certificate like this!
Even more disappointing, when I finished the race, they had already run out of food!!! Apparently the half marathoners ate it all! We have run a handful of races managed by "What Do You Run For?" and they have all been done well. Until this one. How do you not have any food after a marathon??? Especially one that has the normal registration fee of around $100?!?!? I saw comments on their facebook page that a half marathoner finishing at 2:25 didn't get food either.
Not that I plan on doing another marathon anytime soon, but I definitely will not be doing this one again - or recommend to anyone that they should do it.
However, none of this affected my time or the course and I'm glad I did the marathon and am happy with my time. I'm signed up to do a half marathon next weekend - wish me luck that I can WALK by then!!!
I picked up my packet at an outdoor gear store in Franklin on Thursday afternoon. The packet only contained a shirt and racing bib (not much for a marathon) but the shirt fit and had a descent design (I almost always sign up for the wrong size - I have several race shirts that are just itty-bitty and others that I think would fit Brian).
The racing bib had a map of the course in the background (in case you get lost?).
This was the first year this marathon had been run. A half marathon has been run for a number of years now and was by far the bigger race. I believe about 220 people completed the full marathon and about 1300 finished the half marathon. Both races started together but the full marathon broke off from the half around the 2 mile split. The courses joined back up around the 8 mile split and stayed together until the 14 mile split when the half marathoners turned around and headed back toward the finish line.
The course started along the river in downtown, headed toward Belmont University and the 12 South area, back down to the Gulch, around the capitol, across the river, around LP Field where the Titans play, and then out and back along the river on the Shelby Bottoms Greenway before crossing the river again and finishing at 1st Ave and Broadway. The first half was pretty hilly with the second half being flat (other than a significant hill around 25.5 miles across the river on the bridge). However with a lot of the second half of the race being on the greenway, I knew there wouldn't be much to distract me from the pain of running a marathon.
It was cold yesterday morning - 36F at 7 am when the race started. It warmed up to 54F at 11 am but it was overcast and a bit windy so I was frozen throughout the race. I had on three layers but never once considered peeling any of them off.
I started off the race strong and running a little faster than I had planned. I ran the Richmond Marathon in 4:14:41 so my only goal for this race was to do better. I planned to run the first 13 miles around an 8:50/mile pace. My average ended up being 8:45/mile but I did have an 8:11 and 8:25 in there. I even made a bathroom stop around mile 4! This plan allowed me to have plenty of time (hopefully) when I might be struggling the second half to still be able to beat my last time.
Brian and the boys showed up around the 10 mile split (I'm under the bridge in the picture below). I was still feeling pretty good at this point.
I started to struggle around mile 15 when we entered the greenway. I have run 3 half-marathons in the last year that began around LP Field and used this greenway so I knew that I still had a long way to go. Running is so dependent on your mental strength and I began to crack a bit.
Before the race I had checked where the water stops were supposed to be and knew there weren't many on the greenway. I walk through all the water stops to give my body a little break and knew that after the 15.5 mile split, the next water stop wasn't until 18.5 miles (usually there is a water stop at least every 2 miles). When I got to 18.5 miles, there was no water! I had been struggling and telling myself I just had to make it to here and would get a break. At this point, I walked for the first time (other than the prior water stops). My legs were so heavy and I was tired. I was mentally done. Randomly, this was were Brian and the boys had been after last seeing me and had drawn all over the greenway!
After the race, Carter told me right away that he drew a picture of me and Brian kissing (haha!) - I didn't gather that from this drawing when running by it :)
Supposedly, this is me :)
After seeing these, I got back to running and found the water stop at the 19 mile split. Unfortunately, once I walk, it's so easy to keep doing it! So I ended up walking a few times each mile - never for long, but I'm not the type of runner that runs, walks, runs, walks, etc. I kept setting little goals for myself, like "run to that big tree up ahead and then you can walk".
Brian and the boys were waiting for me around the 23 mile split.
High fives!!!
I pushed through those last few miles (running more finally but still taking some breaks to walk) and finally made it to the finish. Here I come approaching the finish line!
I finished the race in 4:05:52 (beating my last marathon time by 9 minutes). Even though the last third of the race got really hard for me, I'm happy with how I did. I'm not sure if I went out too fast (I don't think so) but I do think the cold got me a little bit. Maybe the next marathon I do, I can finish sub 4 hours :)
The race was small but I placed 3rd in my age category (out of 21).
The finishers medal ...
The third place award ...
I was disappointed in the awards. Even the overall winners only got a paper certificate like this!
Even more disappointing, when I finished the race, they had already run out of food!!! Apparently the half marathoners ate it all! We have run a handful of races managed by "What Do You Run For?" and they have all been done well. Until this one. How do you not have any food after a marathon??? Especially one that has the normal registration fee of around $100?!?!? I saw comments on their facebook page that a half marathoner finishing at 2:25 didn't get food either.
Not that I plan on doing another marathon anytime soon, but I definitely will not be doing this one again - or recommend to anyone that they should do it.
However, none of this affected my time or the course and I'm glad I did the marathon and am happy with my time. I'm signed up to do a half marathon next weekend - wish me luck that I can WALK by then!!!
Cheeks Bend Hike
Last Sunday we took the boys hiking. We decided to do the Cheeks Bend Bluff hike we did about 1 1/2 years ago. There is a cool cave to explore on the trail that we knew the kids would be excited to see again - and this time we remembered headlamps and flashlights!!!
We also decided to do this hike without either carrier since it's only about 2 miles round trip. We knew Carter could do it but were a little worried about Rylan since he likes to be lazy and be carried even when he's not tired.
Rylan fell asleep on the way to the trail so we had to wake him up and he was not happy. I ended up carrying him just a bit and then forced him to walk. There was about a 5 minute standoff but I eventually won. A couple of the other hikers probably did not like the noise but I apologized and it ended eventually! Once he started hiking, Rylan was happy. Especially once the trail got more rocky - the kids love rock hopping.
These guys are too cute in their hoodies, Camelbaks, and headlamp!!!
It is so pretty once the trail opens up on the bluff. You can see down to the Duck River off to the left.
We made it to the cave! It leads down to the Duck River where you can exit the cave. Carter went through with Brian and I helped Rylan.
We found the exit!
And then time to head back up through the cave!
We had a good little hike and I'm really proud of the boys for hiking so far.
I had to carry Rylan the last 0.2 miles or so out but he did awesome!
We also decided to do this hike without either carrier since it's only about 2 miles round trip. We knew Carter could do it but were a little worried about Rylan since he likes to be lazy and be carried even when he's not tired.
Rylan fell asleep on the way to the trail so we had to wake him up and he was not happy. I ended up carrying him just a bit and then forced him to walk. There was about a 5 minute standoff but I eventually won. A couple of the other hikers probably did not like the noise but I apologized and it ended eventually! Once he started hiking, Rylan was happy. Especially once the trail got more rocky - the kids love rock hopping.
These guys are too cute in their hoodies, Camelbaks, and headlamp!!!
It is so pretty once the trail opens up on the bluff. You can see down to the Duck River off to the left.
We made it to the cave! It leads down to the Duck River where you can exit the cave. Carter went through with Brian and I helped Rylan.
We found the exit!
Snack time!
And then time to head back up through the cave!
We had a good little hike and I'm really proud of the boys for hiking so far.
I had to carry Rylan the last 0.2 miles or so out but he did awesome!
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Day of the Dead
Last Saturday was super busy for us! After the races, Home Depot build, and YMCA Fall Festival, we went to Cheekwood for their Day of the Dead celebration. This was our first time to the event. Unfortunately we had rain showers come and go the whole time we were there which made it a little difficult. Rylan fell asleep on our way there and ended up sleeping in the stroller almost the entire time that we were there.
There were lots of tapetes in the parking area (they are usually made with colored sand but the participating schools used chalk here). Our favorite had a minion.
We headed over to the arts and crafts area so Carter could make some fun things. We started coloring skeleton masks but that was outside and it started raining so we had to switch to some of the indoor crafts. Carter made several things, including a cool papel picado ...
It was only lightly sprinkling so we headed outside and Carter got to make a grave marker for someone who had passed. Brian explained it to him and he decided he should make one for a dinosaur :)
Rylan finally woke up and the sun came out so we listened to one of the outdoor singing performances before heading home (I think I made Brian do enough without a break after running his half marathon!).
There were lots of tapetes in the parking area (they are usually made with colored sand but the participating schools used chalk here). Our favorite had a minion.
We headed over to the arts and crafts area so Carter could make some fun things. We started coloring skeleton masks but that was outside and it started raining so we had to switch to some of the indoor crafts. Carter made several things, including a cool papel picado ...
It was only lightly sprinkling so we headed outside and Carter got to make a grave marker for someone who had passed. Brian explained it to him and he decided he should make one for a dinosaur :)
Brian and Carter ...
Rylan finally woke up and the sun came out so we listened to one of the outdoor singing performances before heading home (I think I made Brian do enough without a break after running his half marathon!).
Friday, November 8, 2013
YMCA Fall Festival
After the boys finished their Acorn Kids Fun Run, we went to the YMCA Fall Festival that the kids ran their race around. It was so much less crowded than last year and the kids got to go on anything they wanted with minimal wait.
Rylan's favorite thing was the inflatables.
He could have jumped in this basic bounce house all day!
Carter was more into dancing and trying to hula hoop!
We took a very short train ride in the parking lot. Carter is old enough to realize it was pretty lame :)
One of the major local dentists sponsored the Fall Festival. They are so big they even have a mascot. (We met up with Missy and her family there, of course!)
They also gave out free t-shirts (as advertisement, I'm sure, but I'll take free shirts for the family!).
Rylan's favorite thing was the inflatables.
He could have jumped in this basic bounce house all day!
Carter was more into dancing and trying to hula hoop!
We took a very short train ride in the parking lot. Carter is old enough to realize it was pretty lame :)
One of the major local dentists sponsored the Fall Festival. They are so big they even have a mascot. (We met up with Missy and her family there, of course!)
They also gave out free t-shirts (as advertisement, I'm sure, but I'll take free shirts for the family!).
Tabletop Ship
During Brian's half-marathon, I took the boys to Home Depot to build tabletop ships. It was a very simple build and the boys enjoyed their favorite part of painting.
The boys ended up with rainbow ships!
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