Indy Mini or a tail of a pseudo runner

Last Saturday I completed my 4th mini-marathon (Indy Mini). It's taken me a week to write about this because this is how long it takes to get over the pain that it generated.
But no, it was great. Yes, the pain was definitely there, both physical and emotional and my ankle is still paying for it, but I loved every minute of it. I think it was the first time when I didn't say "never again" upon crossing the finish line.
I trained for it. Some. I found a training plan that encouraged not to run longer than 30 minutes per day during the week and do long runs on weekends. I liked it, mostly the 30 minutes per day part. Long runs on weekends weren't that doable or desirable or anticipated. I attempted it 3 times, one of which was a total disaster and the other 2 successful. So I would say I was 2/3 ready for the race.
We drove to Indy Friday night and stayed at my sister-in-law's house. On Saturday morning our rockstar family friend Betty came to stay with that kids and Greg and I drove downtown. I started the race strong and was ready to rock. By mile 5, however, the heat was blasting and I was sweaty and already sufficiently tired. At mile 6 I may have asked myself "Why did I do this again?" a couple of hundred times. As we were leaving the Indy 500 track (it's about 2.5 miles and it's smack in the middle of the race... it's a fun little detail and I would have enjoyed it immensely if it wasn't for the heat radiating from the black pavement... geez!), I realized that if I didn't see a porta potty in the next 2 seconds I would pee my pants. Luckily I made it, but sadly lost a couple of minutes to that. Darn nature calls!
By mile 8 or 9 everything everywhere started hurting, burning and cramping and that's when I realized that I was in trouble. Up to that point I was jogging consistently, but now I had to walk a bit. For the next 4.1 miles it was an inner battle. I kept going from almost crying of pain but still jogging to succumbing to my baby-self and walking for a few seconds or stretching a bit. I was so preoccupied by that battle that I didn't hear or see Greg making a scene trying to get my attention somewhere along the road. But I finished, guys. I wanted to make it under 2:09 (which was my time last time 4 years ago), but ended up adding 4 minutes. I was disappointed at first, but I'm over it now and maybe next year I can beat myself:)  Yes, I think I'm going to do this again. Don't tell my ankle.

(* I ran into a friend before the race. *photo taken from here)

a weekend for the win(n)

Last weekend was sort of extraordinary. The weather alone was just the finest, but we also had so much activity that it feels like we can now go another year filled with leisurely weekends, where the only productive thing is to get dressed to go to church:) I'm not complaining, I love those types of weekends too.
For starters, I woke up Saturday morning, swallowed a banana and set of for my long run. 8 miles. In the books. Impressive for me, but not really considering that I have 2 weeks left till my mini-marathon and I'm only at 8 miles. But I think I can, I think I can:)
Right around lunch time, we loaded the kiddos in our bike trailer and went on our first of many bike rides as a family of 4. Annika and Leo entertained each other well. There was this one moment when I looked inside the buggy and saw Annika holding Leo's hand and they were looking at each other and grinning. My heart just about soared off my bike. We had lunch in our little village, rode by the lake, saw lots of people we knew, and visited with friends. Leo successfully passed out on the way home.
After the kids were put down for naps, I made a run to the store, made a salad and a cheesecake for dinner with friends (who, me???) and started painting our front door. It's mint now. In love.
Then we had an awesome dinner on our friends' porch and after that I painted some more, while Greg planted new trees around our house.
I guess I should say it was an extraordinary Saturday, because on Sunday we didn't even get to church. It was a rainy day and all of us had a cozy day inside, complete with chicken noodle soup, whole-wheat biscuits and even a board game.
(photos from last Friday, because I forgot I had a camera during the weekend:))

Easter Sunday

I always remember Easter to be a gorgeous, sunny day. All of my childhood memories of Easter are just like that. I'm not sure if all the 30+ Easters were like that, but I guess that's what I chose to remember. There was this one time I remember in particular. I'm sitting on a bench by my apartment building in Russia. It's early in the morning, but the sun is shining so brightly. I'm wearing a white dress, and happily dangling my feet in the air, waiting for my family. People, wearing beautiful dresses, are hurrying by with their families to catch a bus to wherever they were going. I've come down early because I was too excited to stand in the hallway of our apartment waiting for everybody. And all we were doing that day, was going to the cemetery. That was the Easter tradition in Russia (perhaps still is:)). I'm not quite sure what that means, but I remember enjoying myself.

Just as I expected, Easter this year fell on one of those gorgeous days, without a cloud in the sky. Leo was sick all weekend so I stayed home with him, while Greg and Annika went to church with Oma and Opa. Then everybody came home, we had a delicious lunch with yummy ham and let Annika hunt for eggs in the backyard. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting out of that, but the little candy-obsessed lady would pick up an egg and before you could even blink, open it up and stuff its contents into her mouth. 

Now that I think of it, that is exactly what I expected.

All week I was trying to talk to Annika about Jesus and the meaning of Easter. Once she asked me, "Where is Jesus?". After I said "everywhere", she goes, "Wow, that is a lot of where!"

Yes it is, dear, and it is GOOD! 

We are so thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Thankful for the Resurrection and the promise of eternal life. 

the one with random numbers and random pictures

6 children, 12 adults, 5 hours, and 4 total naps. 3 cartons of eggs, 24 french toast slices, 24 tart shell desserts, 5 cartons of strawberries, and cups of coffee too numerous to count. Zero meltdowns. Several dirty undies, though.
Nope, not a week's worth of life. Just a Sunday brunch at our house. I live for these brunches, even though every time I confirm to myself that I'm a terrible hostess.
I forget to introduce people who don't know each other. I never have enough plates/forks/glasses/coffee mugs. I had napkins today and I considered it a success. I put people to work. Thanks, Kirbs, for making all those toasts. Thanks, Linds, for making the sausage links. Thanks, Aaron, for making bread. So basically I just provide the house, the table and the chairs. And I don't even have enough chairs for everybody. Somebody send me to an etiquette school!
People continue to accept our invitations though, so it must not be as bad? Or maybe it's just my husband's charm and free coffee? I don't know, but I'll take it.
I love having people at our house, whether it's just a couple of friends, or a group so big, you aren't sure you've had the chance to chat with everybody. As we were sitting at our table today, chatting, too full to get up, I caught myself listening into several different conversations. I wasn't particularly following any of them, because it's kind of impossible with several topics going on at the same time. Or simply because I'm just such a lousy listener? Scratch that, let's go with the first excuse!!! So I just sat there, smiling and feeling happy, like a fool:) I thought  to myself that I should really try to stay in touch with these people forever. I thought that I should be a better friend to all of them. I thought that I should probably be a better listener. I thought I should check in with friends during the week too, to see how there jobs were going or just to say I miss them. I thought I should probably stop eating. And for heaven's sake, I should definitely buy many many more chairs.
Some more random pictures, why not:)

Chicago Weekend for the Win(n)

As I was nursing Mr. Leo before bed tonight, I was browsing my phone (I usually read some smart book during nursing... no I do not!!!), I looked at my photo stream and was disappointed at the number of photos I took while in Chicago this weekend. My first thought  - fail. Because we all know that the level of success of a certain endeavor is determined by photo documentation of that endeavor.   No, it is not. Because yucky weather notwithstanding, it was a positively successful weekend not without some new experiences.
First, there was the "almost bribery" of a Chinese consulate worker, who helped us out with my brother-in-law's passport situation. We didn't intend to bribe at all, just wanted to thank the guy and make it "worth his while" for coming into work after hours. But he refused our Target gift card. He may have been worried about getting caught on tape accepting something, but I'd like to believe he was just acting out of the goodness of his heart. Ashley and Weishan should be about an hour away from Shanghai as I type this, thanks to the honest and kind Chinese consulate worker, who probably got a lickin' from his wife.
Then there was my first ever bathroom nursing. Standing up. My arms were shaking , but it could have been worse actually. Thank you Mr. Leo, for being a speedy eater. And thank you, Target, for your semi-clean spacious family restrooms. (Would you put a bench or something in there though?) I don't know about you, but this seems like a big deal to me.  Is a "Seasoned Mom Club" a thing? 'Cause I feel like I've just become a member.
One of our goals for the weekend was to get Greg a new wardrobe. I was planning to not shop for myself, but to help him. But you know that feeling when you walk into a clothing store and everything goes blank in your mind and all of a sudden you come home with a bunch of crap you didn't need? Yeah. Me! Neither!

So yes, two and a half iPhone pictures only, but we came home from Chicago with some money to spend at Target,  a new-found level of motherhood, and bunch of clothes that we don't need, but must have if we don't want parenthood and small town living to completely turn us off fashionability... Fashionhood? Fashioning? Agh... too late...

Winn Weekend 9-13-14

Last weekend was a bit uneventful. It actually started kind of disappointing, because in the very morning I did 2 things that I want to never do. I bailed on a friend and I was too lazy to get out of the house (to go to an apple fest). On Sunday we had friends over. It was a cool evening and we lit our fall candles, ate a hearty potato soup with warm biscuits and then pumpkin cookies for dessert. A fine welcome to the beautiful season that is Fall.
The weekend before last, however, was much more eventful and a lot of fun. The type of fun...

Winn Weekend 8-23-14

So it's Monday and time to talk about the past weekend (and dream about the next one! always!). It was a pretty eventful kind of weekend, and I did make myself a promise to take note of all the little things, especially those that do your heart so good.

weekend love

Weekends on the lake in the summer are absolutely glorious. Forget the boxes that are still occupying your garage a month after you moved, there is lake fun to be had. And that's exactly what we've been trying to do every weekend. Boxes can wait, but the summer days are dwindling. 

It takes us an eternity to pack everything for the day at the lake (an eternity and a full trunk... my goodness!), but the effort is worth it. We drive to our lake house, spread our numerous belongings on the lawn and just... chill. We pack lots of snacks and drinks, invite friends and spread out on the towels all ready to eat and drink and talk and sleep and occasionally stand up to jump in the water to cool down. Annika usually skips lots of these things and just eats and jumps in the water. Leo mostly sleeps. Greg spends most of his time in the water. And me... I like to sit on a towel in the shade... marveling at the goodness of life. 

Winn Weekend // 5-2-14

I'm not sure how exactly this happened, but it's already August. Surely, I'm not the only one who is outraged by that sneaky surprise? I keep seeing "back to school" posts on Facebook and am a little very happy I'm not working this year. I have a whole month of summer left. A month full of frolicking in the sun, leisurely walks, dinners on the patio... Precisely the kind we had on Saturday. Our friends came over for some healthy turkey burghers and between trying to keep Annika at the table (as opposed to ON the table) and attempting to eat one-handedly, while holding Mr. Leo, we enjoyed our time together. 

Sunday marked my very first time on the boat this whole entire season. How is that possible? My wonderful in-laws and the 4 of us spent an awesome Sunday afternoon on the lake. Everybody got to get in the water, except Mr. Leo and me. Mr. Leo slept through the entire thing and I... well, I was too busy eating cheese and crackers and drinking my iced latte under the canopy. Annika at first wasn't sure about all the waves and the rocking, but then she got her water wings on brave and would jump into the water to whomever was near and ready to catch. She had a blast and a swim diaper full of sea weed:)

Positively glorious time with family!