Family Picture Time

Every autumn Dave takes a family picture in our back yard. Ironically, as the kids get older, getting everyone to look in the same direction is getting harder. :-) So here's the best shot we were able to get of everyone.

- Click on the image to enlarge -

Baltimore Marathon & Half Marathon

As many friends and family know, while still pregnant with Sarah, I committed to run a half marathon in Baltimore in October. I thought it would be a good way to motivate myself to get out and exercise post-baby.

Well, this past weekend, I "ran" my first official half marathon. I went into the race feeling pretty good about it. I had run 10 miles the week before, and felt really good. My time wasn't wonderful, but not hopelessly embarrassing. But then race day arrived, and it was not a pretty scene. By mile 3 (of 13.1), I felt like I had nothing left. By mile 6, I really wished Dave had not convinced me to leave my cell phone behind. I would have called Dave to come pick me up, or if he couldn't, I would have found a cab. :-) I'm not kidding about those thoughts. The only thing that kept me going was I had committed to this, and I was determined to see it through. So, through a combination of running and walking, I finished in 2:55. I guess it could have been worse, but I'm not quite sure how. :-)

Becky ran the marathon, and stayed with one of her running buddies who wasn't faring so well. She finished in 5:22. Mike signed up for the half marathon, and kicked all of our booties by finishing in 2:10. Way to go Mike! So we have included some pictures from our trek down to Maryland, and the end of the race.

We took some shots of the kids as we drove down to Becky and Mike's

Dave and the kids set up shop about 1/2 a mile from the finish line. He got there in time for pictures of me, and then Beck and her group. Mike was just too fast, and got past before Dave could get there.
But we all got really nifty medals for finishing :-)
Dave and the kids were really good and patient waiting for me to finish. Dave even braved wearing the dreaded Baby Bjorn carrier. :-)
Becky stocked up on Halloween candy in anticipation of our visit. That front hall basket was a popular destination.

Flashback Friday - Old Friends

This last week my Father lost his oldest Friend "Merit (George) Trusedale." He died of a heart attack - his first one. ...I am sorry Dad for the loss of your friend. : (

When my dad and I last spoke he reminded me again how his earliest memories of Merit included them riding tricycles together.

I too am lucky to have had a number of close friends over the years. However, only Greg and Gretchen go back as far as we were born. We even hung out in Sun Beams together (our old Sun Beam teacher, Bea Peters, used to tell me stories of how Gretchen would ride on my back driving me around the classroom like I was a horse ; )

We grew up in the same Rochester II Ward, went through our awkward early teen stages together, and dated a few friends. Gretchen, in fact, was with me the first night I met Bethany at the Sherwood's home. She was actually the one who invited me and Paul Wonnacott along. Greg was always the guy every boy wanted to be like. He was the youth standard I always seemed to measure myself against.

We followed each other all the way through High School and on to college. Though our lives eventually took us on different paths, it’s really nice to know the people who you have known, loved, and have accepted you since your earliest memories remain good friends.

This last summer Greg and Gretchen came back to Rochester to attend their 20 year High School reunion. I swung up and we hung out a bit to catch up. I think their visit may have been the highlight of my summer.

I am so glad to see them both happy, successful, surrounded with wonderful families of their own.

I dropped in a few "Flashback Friday" pictures of Greg for old times sake and also included a couple pictured Gretchen took of all three of us last July.

Greg, Mark Adams and I at church (the painted cinder block walls give the location away ;). ↓ Note my super cool pants.

Greg and I in Cub Scouts at the Johnson's home. We were learning about photography that day. ↓

This picture demonstrated the one skill I had at that age. : ) ↓

1981 Cub Scout's Pine Wood derby. I guess Greg's dad was running the tracks that day. ↓

Kodak's Softball League in 1981 ↓ I wasn't that good. However, if you look close you'll also see Steve Johnson, Mark Cross, and Danny Cousineau.

Always a good picture ↓ 1983 Scout Camp. There are a lot of fun faces in the picture. : )

Steve Johnson, David Nolan, Andrew Schwendiman, Kurt Theil, Danny Cousineau, Greg, Paul Wonnacott, Stuart Johnson, unknown, and Todd Wonnacott.