Motherless Mother's Day

So this may seem kinda heartless... I don't know, but I forget all about Mother's Day. I mean, I took care of the Mom-in-law Business before we left for Denver, but not having a real mom reason to celebrate Mother's Day for 9 years, has kinda made it seem like Valentine's Day. To me, it's like a lame Hallmark Holiday. I love my Mothers-in-law (Mother-in-laws?), but it's not at all the same. Maybe, someday, if I am ever a mom, I'll think differently. That was the long way of saying, I went to a Major League Baseball game on Mother's Day. Noel's Uncle Jim treated us to a Rockies game. We had a blast.



Noel sitting in the stands at Coors Field.

Some of the players used pink bats for Mother's Day and the Susan G. Komen Fundraiser.

Our seats were in row ten just behind the third-base dugout. So Noel enjoyed a short walk to the field.

After the game we went out for dinner, and then saw Star Trek on the big screen. Then we went back to Uncle Jim's and went to bed, ready for 12 hour drive home on Monday. It was a fast, fun-filled weekend.

Spring Skiing

Noel and I went to Denver again last weekend for a long weekend. We are fortunate enough to stay with his uncle, who truly spoils us. We saw Noel's sweet cousin Molly, who is finishing up her freshman year at the University of Denver. She showed us her dorm room and then gave us a tour of her campus. We decided then, since the weather was great- 55 and sunny, that we would go skiing for a couple of hours. We did and it was beautiful, except that it's been over 6 years since I skied and I was so sore immediately! We had fun, and I love being up in the mountains.


About halfway up, taking a break and resting my knees.

Noel just before going up to the Summit of A-basin. :)

On the chair-lift. I am much more of a wimp, um, daily. But I forgot how much I love the chair lifts and the views and the ride up. I thought I would freak out without my Dad being there but I was like an old pro. It was great.

Tears.

I googled my Grandpa, why, I don't know. I'm missing him a little. Even though this was shot shortly before he died, it's a great reminder of his voice and his demeanor. This is the most boring video in the history of the world. Unless, you like Horseshoes and a lot of silence, (which I kinda do), I wouldn't advise actually watching the whole video.




Here is a letter my Grandpa wrote to change the league's rules. Woo! Go Grandpa!

Illinois Marathon for Noel and 5k for me.

April 11th, Easter weekend, Noel ran his 2nd full marathon. This time it was in Champaign, IL. I joined him in running the 5k, my first, and we both got new "PR's"! Personal Records. Noel's time was 4 hours and 14 minutes. My time was 37 minutes. I paid dearly in soreness for about three days following but it felt good to finish, and I will probably attempt it again soon.



Friday before the race, we picked up our t-shirts and timing chips. Here are a few of the friends Noel runs with on Saturday or Sunday mornings.


Here we were at the hotel before heading to the starting line.

Near the starting line on the bus that was chartered. Here are also people from the running club in the Quad Cities. Who knew running was so popular?

Surprise!

Probably, the most exciting thing that occurred in my recent history. I was so excited, the camera was shaking a lot. Angie came home from Africa a week earlier than any of her family expected. I drove her up to Cedar Falls to surprise her family.




Angie's mom called her Grandma to come over so Ang could surprise Grandma too. I wasn't standing in the right spot, but listen close and you'll hear Grandma B's reaction.

I have...

I love surveys and just about any ridiculous quizzes you could find. This does not have the same questions as the one I did about a month ago... well, most are different. Things I have done are BOLD.

1. Started your own blog (Since 2005!)
2. Slept under the stars (in Door County and Burkina Faso)
3. Played in a band (does 5th grade count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (to missions- for sure)
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (does on a boat in Green Bay count? Cause YES!)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (most of my craftiness)
15. Adopted a child (someday, Lord willing!)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (in third grade. They gave us special cards to look through)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (Marcus & I's first kiss was in the rain!)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (jess's - I even smoked for the role... I'm hardcore about my craft.)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (i think my toe cause I stub them so much)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (someday)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible - not all at once. but I have read every book.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee