Running

I think I'm finally on track (no pun intended).  Last Tuesday I decided to forget about interval training and just run a mile straight (on a treadmill).  I took an ice bath when I got home but I was still in agony the next few days!  My calfs were killing me!  On top of the usual pain I have on the interior of my legs about 4 inches above my ankle.  By Saturday I was feeling fine so I went for a 2.25 mile run from my house.  I ran the first mile, walked .25 miles, then ran the last mile.  Turns out that is a perfect loop around my "block".  I was sore after but nothing like after that first time.  So Today I did another 2.25 on the treadmill running 1 mile, walking .15, then running 1.1.  These are the farthest distances I have EVER run in my life.  My pace is pretty much a snails pace (needing to average in the walking doesn't help) but I can't even imagine how I am ever going to get faster!

Have I ever talked about my high school running days?

1000th post

Almost 6 years ago when I started this blog, I had no idea I would make it to 1000 posts.  Although if I had kept up with my original pace of posting I would have made 1000 a while ago.  I initially started this as a way to keep friends and family updated on my fertility treatments.  Rather than telling the story separately to a bunch of people they could just all come here and read.  What I didn't imagine were all the strangers that I would meet because of it.  I had no idea people read strangers' blogs.  And the funny thing is that it's the strangers that have stuck around and continued reading while my close friends don't even bother.

At this point this blog is completely about preserving memories for the future.  With the last 4 and a half years of Madison and Jackson's life having FLOWN by I am so grateful for this documentation.  There is no way I would have remembered even 10% of the things I have written here.

If you're reading this I'd really love a comment so I know I'm not talking to the wind.  Thanks!

Topsfield Fair 2011

We went to our 5th Topsfield Fair last week.  That place is such a money pit!  No matter how frugal you think you're being you're going to spend over $100.

I couldn't believe they willingly went up to this massive robot and weren't scared!

holding a 2 day old chick!  I even got video of a chick breaking out of its shell.  So cool!

Files

This was the puppy that Madison was photographed with a few weeks ago.  8 weeks old.  I just couldn't get enough of him.

At the farm...

Marini Farm

I had bought a groupon for a corn maze, apple cannon, pillow bounce, and hayride for four.  We ended up going on a really hot day!  We were pretty miserable.  We brought Raffe with us.

We had never done a corn maze before and I was shocked at how hard it was!  

We walked around for a good hour before we asked for a hint from one of the workers there.

September Fun

These pictures are completely out of order and there are way too many to fix it!

The kids started soccer.  They are still too young for our city youth league but we found a neighboring town that starts younger than 5 so we went there.  These are from the first day.  Their friend Isabella is also playing in the league but on the orange team

Jackson trying to get in there

Jackson getting his first goal ever!

His reaction to his goal

thumbs up to Daddy after the goal

The kids are also taking gymnastics with Noah.  It seems to be a great and serious program which is exactly what I was looking for.  I wasn't looking for play time.  I wanted to have them learning actual gymnastics.

These are two pictures of Madison's photo session with Berroco.  I blurred out the knit skirt.

They had their first day of school so I sent them off.  At 10:10 I was sitting at the library working when the school called.  It wasn't a full 3 hour day that day.  I was supposed to pick them up at 10.  Oops!

Jackson got a haircut.  I'm totally lost as to what to do with his hair.  Some people like it short, other people like it longer and I like it both ways so I just can't commit to any particular style.  As you can see in the above photos it was looking a little wild so I got him a medium short cut.

At one of Raffe's soccer games with Alyssa

The grandkids minus Nickolas

The baby grandkids

So on their first FULL day of school I took another picture of them.  Not sure which one to count.

I was really not planning on the kids doing dance this year.  I figured they'd try gymnastics this year then next year they could decide for themselves.  I was really kicking myself.  Isabella (and her sister who's in a younger class) was going to be taking a class at a school in Wakefield.  When her mom told me the price I couldn't pass it up.  I asked Jackson if he wanted to do it and he said "YES!!"  This is a tap and ballet class.  They were SOOOO excited to get tap shoes.  

These were taken through the window so they're not great

One day the decided to paint all over their bodies with the bingo dot paint.  They wanted to look like rudolph :-)

These are pictures from the day we went into Boston on the train to see cousin Jackie play field hockey

On the duck boat

After being 45 minutes late to the game we finally arrived.  Cousin Sophie was VERY excited to see them!

Going to hug Jackie after the game

At our annual Labor Day cookout at Stage Fort Park

Sophia

Alyssa

My boy :-)