I heart NY - Days 3 and 4

I spent days 3 and 4 of my Beantown Adventure in NYC - the big apple! Here are a few of the highlights: I got emotional at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island...

I saw Spiderman and street performers in Battery Park.

I snapped photos of Michael Moore as he was shooting a fim on Wall Street.

I took a stroll down Wall Street, stood in front of the New York Stock Exchange and took the Bull by the Horns.

I ate REAL NY pizza and authentic Gelato. I toured an italian market and bought authentic italian gnocchi. I grilled a FOOD NETWORK CHEF (!!! in depth!!!) at Chelsea Market.

I experienced a NY taxi. I rode the Subway and inhaled (on accident) the intense smell of stale urine warmed by the underground rails. I got emotional seeing a crazy lady and a homeless man.
I went to the top of the Rock(efeller) center. I saw the ice skating pond. I saw Wicked on Broadway. I ate sushi at at Ruby Foo's. I bought 8 I heart NY t-shirts.

I experienced the streets of Times Square at night. I went inside the large Toy's R Us store. I saw where TRL is taped. I bought cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery (Oprah's fave).

I walked around the WTC site. I bought clothes in a NY department store.

I fell in bed, exhausted, from all the wonderful, wonderful excitement of NY. I think I do heart NY!

Adventures in Beantown - Day 2

Salem, MASS House of the Seven Gables - Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the book about this house.

One of the first burial places in US - dates to the early 1600's - amazing - I could still read the names and dates on the headstones!

Salem Witch Museum - very interesting active diorama about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. I am pretty glad I didn't live back then . . .

Our last stop was the Harbor Candy Company. It had the most amazing chocolates. Yes, I did spend a bit of money there . . .

NYC tomorrow. Hopefully I won't get lost or mugged!

Adventures in Beantown

Greetings from Boston, Mass! I am in Beantown for the week visiting my sis. We are doing everything tourist that we can do. Here is our first day adventures... Maine via New Hampshire. I hit three states in one day!This is a lighthouse in York, Maine that we stopped at. The coastline is amazing - different from anything I have ever seen.We stopped in Kennebunkport and had lobster and clams for dinner. Delicious - but it didn't agree with me. I had a pretty rough night. I won't share the disgusting details.

The Maine coastline at sunset. Cool place. Stay tuned - tomorrow is Salem and downtown Boston.

It is freezing here! The wind off the ocean is ICE COLD! But beautiful, nonetheless.

DISCLAIMER

Yesterday's post was not, in any way whatsover, a "brag" session on how great my husband is. (I got a TON of flack for that last post.) Just merely trying to see the positive side of things. Look for the good in life. See the sunshine through the snow.

Top 11 Reasons...

Why I love my hubby (besides the obvious):

He puts the trash cans out on garbage day so I don't have to.

He squeegees the shower - almost all the time.

I can beat him at Guitar Hero.

He runs with me (actually ahead of me, but we usually end at the same place).

He lets me cut his hair, even though I don't always do a great job.

He buys me chocolate covered strawberries (my favorite food).

He does dishes - without being asked!

He plays catch with the boy.

He loves to travel as much as I do - and doesn't complain about spending money to go somewhere.

He loves Nickelback as much as I do and will take me to their concerts.

He'll watch stupid movies with me (Nacho Libre - "I love it, it's the best!")

Yeah, I know. I'm pretty lucky.

(I chose 11 because of another favorite movie - a "rocumentary" called Spinal Tap - "It goes to 11, man.")

Top 5 Running Songs

Here are my top 5 running songs this week:

1 Burn it to the Ground - Nickelback
2 Let it Rock - Kevin Rudolf
3 Vent - Collective Soul
4 Just Dance - Lady Gaga
5 Love Save the Empty - Erin McCarley

Jonas Brothers

Saw the Jonas Brothers' 3D Concert Movie yesterday (Ashlie's choice). It totally rocked and I know so much about the Jonas Brothers! For those of you with tween girls, let me break it down for you. JB consists of Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas (all brothers-hence the name). They write and perform their own songs and lyrics. Nick plays the guitar and the drums, as well as vocals. Joe (the cute one, mom) is the lead singer and does a little on the drums. Kevin plays bass and does vocals as well. I think that is it. Ashlie provided commentary throughout the movie. Wow - what an experience. I felt like I was at a real JB concert! (I actually have been - when they came with Hannah Montana - yes I paid $60 a ticket to see her.) Boy bands, not my thing. I'm a rocker, through and through (courtesy "Joe Dirt" - another fave movie.)

Happy Birthday Ashlie

My baby girl turns 10 today! A few fun facts about Ashlie . . .

She plays the violin - very well, I might add. (I do not, cannot, have no desire to learn. It is too hard!)

Ashlie loves to sleep in- she is NOT a morning person.

Ashlie was nicknamed Gooby for the first few years of her life. Taylor (big sister) gave her this name at birth. When my mom asked her why she called her Gooby, she looked at my mom like she was a complete idiot and said, "Because she is a good baby..." (with the total tone of "duh, grandma" in her voice). I will never forget that. . .it was hilarious. (We kept saying what a good baby Ashlie was compared to her older sister).

Ashlie is the most like me of all my kids - our tempers (very short) are the same. We have the same long fingers and the same tummy (mine is just much, much larger than hers).

Ashlie loves to eat orange chicken (homemade). It is her favorite meal. She also loves candy, ice cream and pizza - as well as anything chocolate (again, just like her mom).

Ashlie loves the colors purple and pink. She is my hawaiian girl. She loves flowers, beach and palm trees (definitely, absolutely, completely like her mom).

Ashlie loves to hike and climb - unlike her older sister. She will crawl up any rock she can find, big enough to crawl on, of course.

I have been asked, several times, if my daughters have the same father (I know, a totally tacky thing to ask someone) because they do not look alike AT ALL.

Ashlie got to be my baby for four years - man, I miss those days.

Kids grow like weeds - turn your back to them for a short moment and they turn 10! I can't even imagine what my life would be without my darling Ashlie. I love her so, so much! (Yes, I am teary as I write this.)

I did it!

I ran yesterday for the first time in what felt like forever. I ran three miles and did not get sick! (Last time I tried to run, I made it two miles, then had to puke. Disgusting, I know.) I did my regular three mile loop outside. It felt great. I know I was terribly, painfully slow, but it felt great. Maybe I will be able to run again after all!

Aren't I Clever?

I love the peanut butter cups from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF). But they are $5 a piece, and I can't (and won't) pay that very often for one. So I came up with my own. I took this recipe: http://run2run4fun.blogspot.com/2009/02/too-good-not-to-share.html and made it in cupcake liners instead of in a pan. They turned out great. I took them to a party at my mom's house and everyone gobbled them up. Now I can make about 18 peanut butter cups for the cost of one at RMCF. Aren't I clever??

My Running Dilema

I have not been able to run for almost two weeks now. I can feel the change in my body. It is getting soft again and my clothes are getting tight. With my running, if I don't do it, I lose it. I was able to run 2 miles on Friday - it felt like such a success! But it was also frustrating, because I got sick right after and couldn't run all weekend. Here is my dilema - do I push myself so I can run in the SL half, or do I admit I just can't do it and accept defeat? I don't think I am going to donate blood again for a while. It is too dangerous!

Sale

For those of you that don't shop at Smith's, they are having a good sale on spaghetti this week. They are 99 cents each, but if you buy 10, $5 comes off at the register (with a Fresh Values card-which I totally have issues with). That makes them 49 cents each! What a bargain.

Delicious . . .

I love chocolate, I crave chocolate, I HAVE TO HAVE my chocolate. But I don't like what it is doing to my rearview (if you know what I mean). So I found a new favorite snack! Jello pudding cups, sugar free. (Not new, just new to me - thank you, Amy!!) Now I can have my chocolate and eat it, too! I wonder if it is bad to eat the whole package in one sitting . . .

Rock Stars

The kids climbed on each and every rock they could possibly find. (Except Taylor - she gets kind of nervous climbing - she is afraid she is going to find a snake!)

Zion's National Park - March 2009

Glorious Day

SHOVELS - $3.00

SAND - Free

Spending the day as a family with no cell phones, Wii games or TV - PRICELESS!

Oh Great

After spending 2 hours in a St. George ER (very nice, very prompt BTW), it turns out my little "accident" on Friday (I passed out after giving blood and landed on my face) is really a concussion. I am on "bed rest" for the next week! Yeah - try that with three kids and being on "vacation" in St. George. I AM NOT supposed to run - it will make things worse. I AM NOT supposed to drive. Aaaghhhhhh!!! There goes my race on Saturday. Funny - the days I can run I don't really want to. When someone tells me I can't - that is all I want to do! In the words of Cinderella (80's hair band for all you young 'uns out there) Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone. (Running isn't really gone, just on hiatus for a while). Ha ha ha. I am sure I will laugh about this - someday.

Socks

Okay, here is the story on the socks and Cameron - this is why he is so fascinated. He saw my sister knitting when she was visiting for Thanksgiving, and was really fascinated. He kept watching her, then finally asked "do you know how to make kids' socks?". When she said yes, he asked, "do you know how to make orange ones?" She said yes again, and he thought about that for a bit. Then he said, "I have an idea. Could you make socks that are orange and for kids? And I like red and green stripes too." Hilarious.

Packing

Well, I am packing it up to head to Saints George (as my son calls it). My next post will be from the warm, sunny - wait. I think it is supposed to rain!

So Slow

February was a very slow running month due to injuries. No February races. Saturday is the Dam2Dam 50 mile relay race in St. George so I am exited to be adding some miles to my totals. However, due to a slow running month in February I am hoping I have the stamina to finish on Saturday! If I am limping come Sunday you will know why . . .

Rambo Vacuum Girl

This is my niece Abigail. She came to visit me for the weekend. As soon as I got the vacuum out she started fussing to push it. So I found the kids old vacuum for her to play with. She would not put it down. She vacuumed all weekend. For those of you that know me, you will know why this is funny! (I like to vacuum - a lot!)

Socks

My sister knitted socks for Cameron and Ashlie and a scarf for Taylor. Wow, very talented. Not something I can or ever will be able to do. Cameron is in love with his socks and he won't take them off. I finally had to pry them off his feet while he was sleeping so I could wash them. If you smell something funny coming from my house . . .