My little sis, the MARATHON Runner!!

Kristen spent the past 7+ months training for the Boston Marathon.  She has been so dedicated and we've all been amazed (but not surprised) of what she has accomplished.
Living in Boston, most of her training has been in the 30-40 degree weather.  Of course, on marathon day it was set to be close to 90 degrees!  The BAA sent out emails warning only elite runners to run (and even they should take a slower pace than normal).  Kristen decided to still run, but with her original goal being around 4.5 hours, she expected to take it easy.  Well apparently, she is capable of much more than even she realized because even in the extreme heat, she was able to finish with a time of 4:38:26.
We're so proud of and inspired by you Krissy, you did awesome!

btw - you should've heard us trying to decide what to write on our posters the night before.  We were going to write something like "Run, Kristen, Run" but we were so nervous about the heat, we didn't want to make her feel like she HAD to keep going if it was too much, so we decided on the wording below.  While we were waiting for her and watching all of the other runners go by drenched in sweat, many walking, some with bleeding nipples (Ahhhh!), I almost teared up every time I thought about her.  But when she blew right past us at mile 17 with a smile on her face, looking AMAZING we knew she was kicking ass.  Next time, maybe we'll write that on our posters!

getting ready to leave for Boston

Kristen's cheering section

at mile 17!!!

so so proud!

awesome friends who came to cheer her on

sisters!

Annie Annie's Visit

Thats the new name that Gweny gave to her Aunt Annie, how cute :)
With my sis living in the exciting Las Vegas, we don't get to see her very often, but we always have fun with her when she visits.  Anne, Kristen, Gwen, and I and went to Salem for the day and stayed overnight at mom and dad's new condo there.  The next day, we sent out for a day trip to Maine.  Unfortunately, that was around the same time that Gwen had her first bout of constipation, so she wasn't her normal happy self.  It didn't help that it was close to 100 degrees in Maine, either.  Side note: for anyone with a constipated babe, light Karo syrup works wonders (oh, and lay off the rice cereal).   Even with a cranky babe, we had fun walking around the little shops in Ogunquit and we made it to 2 top 10 rated lobster stands and had our fill of delicious lobster rolls.

Salem, MA

Annie Annie at a crazy bookstore in Salem

"roughing it" at the condo

Ogunquit, ME

 

Ordering the first lobster rolls of the day

Anne with her lobster earrings for the occasion

I thought this t-shirt was fitting for her mood.  Of course as soon as we held it up to her,
she started smiling and laughing like crazy.

2nd lobster roll stop of the day :)  Kennebunkport, ME

...and some freshly squeezed lemonade to go with it.

On Tuesday, Anne, Gwen and I met up with Justin and Kristen in Boston for lunch before spending the afternoon in Faneuil Hall.

that tall building is where Kristen works

My Capricorn Babe

As if little Punky didn't look enough like her dad, it seems that she has his personality traits too! :)  How Justin is not a Capricorn, I have no idea.  (not sure why this is in caps, I swear I'm not yelling at you)

Let me first say that I'm not the type to always be reading my horoscope, but I do believe that I fit the Libra description.  I looked at the horoscope below when I was pregnant with Gwen and I had to laugh to myself.  In the past couple of weeks, numerous people have told me that she's a very serious baby.  While she does smile a lot, I have to agree with them!  She's always looking around, quietly, taking everything in.  A very mellow and calm baby she has always been.

Tell me this isn't Justin's child:

"About the Capricorn Child

Geared for Success

Napping, pretending, playing dress-up or hide-and-seek -- these may not be high on your little Capricorn's agenda. This child is too driven to waste time on anything so frivolous! 

Capricorn kids tend to be practical and reward-oriented from an early age, and they're willing to work hard for the results they seek. They might know early on what they want to be when they grow up. And if they're slow to develop or choose a particular interest, don't worry; Capricorns improve with age. 

Capricorn children are planners. Success and approval are among their primary needs. They want other people to see how smart, hardworking, and competent they are, so be sure to reward your little Capricorn frequently. 

Giving your Capricorn child an allowance and increasing it with each birthday is a good way to teach her about the value of money. Don't be surprised if she squirrels it away in her piggy bank and uses it only for the occasional, much-coveted purchase. 

Your Capricorn child will make a wonderful older sibling, because this sign possesses a natural sense of responsibility. Try not to load her up with too much responsibility at a young age, however, no matter how well she seems to handle it. Even the most serious children need to play and have downtime! 

Also, try to teach your child the benefits of flexibility. Otherwise, it's all too easy for your little Capricorn to slip into one rigid way of seeing and being in the world."



- Taken from Baby Center




Aunt Krissy came to visit us today!  It was a much needed sunny day, after a week full of rain.