Track workouts and new beds

Good morning to you all!  It's Thursday, which means it's almost Friday, which means it's close to the weekend.  I always love a good weekend.  I don't have much planned except the usual golf, grocery shopping, and cooking, but even that makes it infinitely more fun than a work day.  And I am babysitting my nieces this weekend too.  That is always lively, if not entertaining.  I am planning on reading Little House on the Prairie to the older girls.  We'll see how it goes.

Yesterday I met my friend for a track workout again.  Our plan was to do 5x400s (once around the track is 400).  However, some sketchy guy showed up on the track as we were finishing our third lap so we ended up banana splitting.  We did one more sprint on the sidewalk and then called it a day.  I was a little slower this time and did my first three in 1:34, 1:32, and 1:32.  The last one we sprinted for two minutes on the sidewalk (after we left the track).  So, I didn't get my five in but oh well.  It is better than nothing.  And my tush is sore today so at least I know I pushed myself.  We might try and do 6 miles on Sunday morning, but I'm not sure.  Now I just need to get some core work in!

Yesterday Evan's new bed came.

It's like a camping bed.  I thought it might be good for when we transition him from our bed.  He could sleep on this right next to us.  Or we could bring it to Vermont or camping or what not.  It folds up really small so is easy to transport,  he just likes playing on it, not the least bit interested in sleeping on it.  Actually, we didn't try sleeping on it yet, and probably won't until I stop nursing.

His new favorite thing is the water table at my sister's.

That's him and his cousin , who is three months younger.  They played out there for hours.  He may even like it better than the slide!  He likes to play on our balcony too but since we are on the third floor the water falls onto the balcony of the guy below and I'm sure he doesn't want his furniture wet all the time!

Yesterday in the afternoon I met my friend for coffee.  I've known her since high school.  She was actually the very first person I met when I moved to Maryland.  We got a coffee, walked to a playground, and chatted while Evan played.  I'm sure that wasn't her idea of a great time, but it was a good opportunity to talk.  We went to a little tot-lot where Evan could do most of the things by himself so he didn't need me to follow him around and make sure he didn't fall off everything.  It was fun catching up, getting a walk in, and enjoying the outside.

Today should be a good day.  I am taking my co-worker out for her bday lunch (thank goodness it is payday!!) and then this evening we are heading to my sister's because her husband turns the big 4-0!!  Or, if you are him, he is turning 29 for the 12th time.  :-)

Hope you are having a great day!!!

Twelve Dates of Christmas: Dates 1 – 6

This Christmas season Ivan and I are doing Twelve Dates of Christmas.  I stole the idea from rockstar diaries who stole the idea from marci.  But I liked the idea so much that I just had to steal it.  Or borrow it.  Marci seems to be hiking in Switzerland so her dates are way more interesting than mine, but I’m trying.
It only took me three days to convince Ivan that this was a good idea.  He didn’t seem so committed.  Now he’s into it though – he always asks what date we’re on and I KNOW it’s not because he wants it to be over.
Now, before you get some grand idea of our dates – we are broke.  And any *extra* money we have is for Christmas stuff.  So, we had to get creative about what our dates would be.  I think we’re doing good though. 
Here’s a re-cap of the first six.
Date 1: Dinner at El Azteca.
This is our favorite restaurant in town.  Naturally Ivan wanted to start off our Twelve Dates of Christmas here.  Plus we hadn’t been out to eat on a work night in ages.  It was fun.
Date 2: Lunch with Friends

Two things.  One, I had my Lab Practical that morning so was not looking too hot.  Then we were running late so I couldn’t change or fix my hair.  Second, our dates don’t have to be us by ourselves.  We just have to spend time together.  So sometimes others join us, like this day.
We hadn’t seen these friends in forever so it was nice to sit down and chat for a bit.  It was a nice date!
Date 3: Buying a Wreath
I don’t have a picture of our wreath but we bought a wreath together, then bought a door hanger, and then hung it up.  Yeah, that’s a simple date but it was Christmas related.  And we did it together.  I then put Christmas music on but it didn’t last.  Ivan’s not a fan of Christmas music.  They don’t really have that in Honduras.  He also thinks it’s hilarious how obsessed I am with turning our Christmas tree lights on.  He laughs every time I rush over there in the morning or when we get home from somewhere.  He never had a tree growing up so he’s not aware that I am totally normal.
Date 4: Christmas Party
Last night was Ivan’s work’s Christmas party.  Since we went together, it was a date.  Hey, I got dressed up a bit so that has to count for something.  He wasn’t invited to my work party, so this was more a date than that was!  It was fun but I had to rush off to take my last final.  Woo-hoo!  No more school!
Date 5 and 6: ICE Madagascar and Ice Skating
So these dates were both on the same day and were practically the same thing but they cost a lot of money and were two different experiences so I am calling them separate dates.  Plus the awesomeness was so great that it had to be spread into two dates.
ICE Madagascar was a.m.a.z.i.n.g.  Wow!!  We had so much fun!  I invited my sister and her kids to come too because we all know that things like this are more fun with kids.  It was truly spectacular.  Here are some photos:







Isn’t that awesome!  They actually flew people in from China to carve all these statues.  It was chilly inside (hence the huge jackets) so the kids weren’t too happy after awhile.  The slide was fun but I was the only one who got to go down – the kids were too scared. 
As we came out of ICE, there was a strategically placed ice skating rink.  Well, we couldn’t pass it up, especially when the woman gave us a 50% discount for no reason!  So, I took Ivan and my niece ice skating.  It was hilarious!!!



Ivan almost fell like twelve times and my niece wanted to be carried – but we went around at least four times.  I love ice skating but they were newbies.  It’s hard teaching a two year old to skate.  And a 25 year old.  I started skating when I was really young – we went all the time in Japan – so it doesn’t bother me.  I’m far, far, far from an expert but I can get around the rink easily.  I might be going kind a slow, but I don’t worry too much about falling.  Ivan kept doing that trip-almost gonna fall-catch yourself routine.  He was afraid he’d fall and someone would skate over his fingers.  He had fun though.  I promise.
After the rink, the kids when on a little train and then we headed over to the hotel.  Gaylord National is beautiful and was decorated so nicely for Christmas.  Talk about festive!!  We had fun walking around and watching fountain displays to music. 
All in all our dates #5 and #6 were spectacular.  It cost about an arm and both legs, but well worth it! 
Fun times!!!
Stay tuned for Twelve Dates of Christmas #7 – 12!!!!