My Mom: the beach babe

I wish I had a picture to go with this, but my camera is not water proof. Yesterday my Mom, Christina Hodges learned to body board on the Pacific Ocean! My sister and I just obtained one of the greatest memories ever. Seeing my Mom giggle like a little girl as she caught those waves that sent her rocketing to shore was one of those precious moments that I will remember always. Way to go Mom!

So much to tell...so little disire to write...

I know, I have so gotten out of the habit of blogging. But so much has been going on to talk about that I have decided it's time to start adding posts again. Since our arrival here in San Diego we have had so very exciting adventures. Just trying to get us all settled into a "normal" life has been a challenge.
We were only here for about two weeks when Geoff's work decided to send him up to 29 Palms for about a month. So we went and visited him as often as we could. Also since he was gone, the girls went and spend a week or so in Idaho visiting the family there. I went up and got them, as well as picked up Geoff on our way back, plus we brought Maya with us as well. So our little house went from totally empty to being full plus one.
On our travel through the desert I saw this sign that make me chuckle. "Watch out for tortuous!" I couldn't help but think "Yea, those rascals have a tendency to dart out in front of your car!"

After being back and getting "settled" in our home again, Geoff's parents came to spend some time with us. It's been wonderful having them here. We have had a blast and are enjoying there company. We went to the San Diego Fair yesterday. It really put our little Cherry Blossom Festival at Emmett to shame. I had so much fun riding rides with Geoff, Jenny and Maya. Sammy was a little to chicken to go in anything but the fun houses. But she is only 6. I am sure in a year or so she will be more into the rides.





Oh, I also forgot to tell you about my newest toy. I got a stationary bike. I am so excited about it. I have had so much working up a sweat on our back porch. I love it!




Ok, so I just need to add on more thing. I know this entry is getting packed full of information. But I just need to put in a blurb about how wonderful my Husband is. He had been dabbling in the fine art of cooking curry. He has made some amazing dinners for us that just make my mouth water...not to mention my face sweat! But I love it, thank you Hubby!




Alright, so that's about all my news for now. I think you are all sufficiently caught up. I will post more and not let me get so far behind again....well no promises :)

Best day ever!

Ok, I am just going to say it. Today was the best day ever!! It started out with my husband staying home with the girls so I could pound the pavement on my first run since my marathon. Man did it feel good. I ran 5 miles around Lake Miramar. I can not think of too many other ways to start of a beautful Saturday morning. After my run we all grabbed our bathing suits, flip flops, sunscreen and headed to the beach. It was a blast playing with my girls and Geoff all day. Ok, so it wasn't all day. We eventully had to go because I was going to develop an ulcer from the stress of watching Sammy (a.k.a. my little dear-devil), have one to many near drift out to sea incidents. I mean really, when you only weight 55 pounds do you really think you can lay down in the surf and have it not drag you in! But knowing Sammy, it could of been worse.
After the beach we got burritos at my favorite local taco place (No, not Taco Bell, I am in Southern California...remember). Then, to wrap up my day of bliss, I am sitting in a quite house while Geoff is outside teaching Sammy how to ride her bike. I can not tell you how excited I am that I missing out of this experience. I do not have the patients it's take to teach that girl to ride a bike. Since Geoff seems to have her wrapped around his little finger ( a blessing from Heaven!) I can just sit back and let my progressing ulcer from earlier today heal...until tomorrow...wonder what she will come up with :) What a glorious day!

Week one in San Diego

Since we got here things have been pretty relaxing. We have been finding places for all of the stuff that the crammed in my car that came from Idaho. Yesterday we took a break from organizing and the girls and I explored out new surroundings. We found their new school and picked up their registration packets. The office staff seem incredibly charming and very excited to meet the girls. Jenny said she knows that she is going to love the school because there is a big mural painted on the wall.
After checking out their school we went to a health fair/farmers market at the Marine Recruit Depot. It was neat to see the place that Geoff went to boot camp. Their got all excited when I told them that is where Geoff went to Boot camp. Sammy said, "Oh Geoff is so lucky that he got to go to camp. How fun!" I told that to Geoff and he laughed. "Fun" is not the word he would use to describe his time there.
The health fair was a lot of fun. Great info on local activities for the kids and what places that we get into with discounts because we are a military family. Sammy got super excited because this local karate class is offering cheap introductory lessons. I don't know why but I am a little nervous about Sammy learning karate. I am sure I will get a call from school telling me she beat up some boy or something with her new moves she has learned. But, at the same time it's all about discipline and exercise is good, so against my better judgment I am going to let her give it a try.
Today I am back to the work of getting my house in order. Not that exciting. I am so looking forward to Saturday. One Geoff will be off so we will get all weekend to finally get to enjoy him. Also I will go for my first San Diego run! My reading has told me you should rest, totally rest for one week after doing a marathon to give your body time to heal. So, except for some roller bladeing around the neighborhood, I have done just that. I miss running so much! I am looking forward to heading out on Saturday, pounding the pavement again! But for now, just rest.

I know I didn't write much about my marathon experience. I hope that all who donated for the money that I was raising for the Leukemia/ Lymphoma Society in honor of my Grandma has seen my posts and know that the goal that I set out and that they supported me in has finally been accomplished. Again, I am grateful for all the support of my friends and family! Thank you!

Now on to my newest adventure...San Diego. We headed out yesterday way too early in the morning. I felt pretty good. I thought I would a lot more sorer then I am. I am grateful for my strong body. The girls and I piled into my overly stuffed Ford Focus (we call her Cali), along with Chico (our dog) and Lilly (our chinchilla), and heading west. Our plan was to go to my Grandma's house which is only 9 hours or so away, stay the night, and then finish the drive to San Diego the next day. We Nevada didn't get the memo that it's spring time already or something. We hit Winnamucca and got caught in a blizzard. It was crazy! Snow everywhere. I called Mom and asked her to check the road conditions for the rest of our route and it stated that over Donor Pass (Truckee area) they were requiring snow chains and they were experiencing delays due to people sliding off the road. That is not something I wanted to try to deal with. So we decided to head south and then cut over to San Diego the southern (warmer) route. I was sad that I didn't get to visit with my loved ones as planned, but it was nice to get to Geoff one day sooner then expected.
So after driving 17 hours or so we arrived at our new home in sunny San Diego (although it was midnight, so it's was not sunny at the time) with Geoff standing outside anxiously waiting our arrival!
It is so wonderful to be and I am excited to see all that was can accomplish during this part in our adventure. I will keep you all up to speed...

I finished the race!! I am so excited to tell you all about it, but I have got to get to bed. It is way to late and am getting up early tomorrow to start on my new adventure...San Diego!! Once I get to San Diego I will tell you all how the race went.
Goodnight for now!

Tomorrow is the big day...

I wanted to do better with this whole count down to the marathon thing, but with finals, and then last night I went to blog and the site was down, I was beat, so I decided to just do a good blog today!
Its been nice resting yesterday and today. Though, I do miss running. But, I will get my fill of it tomorrow. Speaking of which, I picked up my race packet today with my number and all. #156...that just sounds like a winner...actually I don't care about winning, I am just excited to finish it. They also gave us step by step lay out of the location of each mile marker. It really made 26 miles sound like a long way :)
The original race route had to be altered a bit because the river is so high. I had a feeling that would happen. I have been watching it get higher and higher.
So today, besides resting and picking up my race packet, I have been hydrating like crazy, and eating all I could think of that is full of "healthy carbs." Because I have been drinking so much water it was really hard to "carb load" because my belly is full already! But I am more concered about getting dehydrated then running out of reserves for energy. I have plenty of back up storage :)
Anyway, if I go to sleep in the next 10 min or so then I will get a little over 8 hours of sleep before my alarm goes off.
Wish me luck! My test post will be done by someone who had completed a marathon!!
Good night!