3 days, 60 miles, thousands of memories

I did it! I walked all sixty miles....no sweep van for me. My foot isn't too happy about this and I have already been to one doctor and have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon on Monday. But...it was worth it. I had an amazing time. We laughed almost the entire 60 miles. There was not much laughing on Friday. It rained and it was really, really cold. We even ate our lunch outside in the rian! By the end of the day my rain pants were shredded and my clothes under my poncho were soaked! They moved camp to an empty office building so we could sleep someplace warm and dry. The rest of the weekend was sunny and warm and it made the walking go a lot quicker. My team raised over 40k and the total raised in Atlanta was over 8 million! Thanks to everyone for your support. Of course I will be walking again next year so let me know if you want to join in the fun!

Here is a short video of my pictures from the weekend.

here I go again...

I'm all packed and ready to go! The 3 day is such an amazing and challenging event. Raising $2,200 is challenging enough but then we walk 60 miles! Walking that far is not really that hard. It's more mind over matter. You just have to tell yourself you can do it and put one foot in front of the other. I know that this year is going to be a lot harder due to my current injury, but I am just as determined to do it. Crazy, maybe...but those of you that have walked the 3 day completely understand.

So wish me luck. And wish Bryan and the kids luck.... a weekend with dad is always an adventure. The going joke at our house is that Bryan will text me a picture of the kids next to that days newspaper as "proof of life". Ha ha....but not so far from the truth.!

trying to get excited

Ok....so I am trying really hard to get excited about the 3 day this weekend. After all of the fundraising, preparation, and headaches you would think I would be over the top exited. Well several things have kinda put a hitch in the weekend.

First...they are calling for rain. and highs in the low 50's. I'm just having a hard time being excited about walking 20 miles while wet and cold. If it's still raining when we get to camp then we have to put up our tents in the rain! (don't tell but I actually have a backup plan that involves a car ride to a warm, dry place to sleep!).

Second....I have been wishing away this pain that I have had in my foot for around 6 months. Wishful thinking didn't really do much and now I am still having pain. Last weekend, after walking just 1 mile, my foot started really hurting which freaked me out. I started wondering what it would feel like after 60 miles. So....I called a friend who is an athletic trainer who listened to the problem and referred me to his brother, who is also an athletic trainer. The verdict....not definite, but chances are it is a stress fracture (of the narvicular bone? Scott...if you happen to read this, feel free to clarify. anatomy is not my thing). Yea me. so the current plan is to walk in pain. I have been planning on this event for a year so a little pain isn't going to stop me!! If the pain gets progressively worse over the 60 miles then I will go next week to an orthopedic who will probably put me in a boot for a couple weeks.

I'm sure after the walk I will post about how wonderfully amazing it was but right now I am having a hard time getting pumped for it.

Sooo....if you live in the ATL area and you happen to see a massive amount of people walking down the side of the road in the rain....honk and wave at them. Chances are they will need the encouragement!!

who Bryce would vote for

On the way home today I was listening to the radio and they started talking about the presidential debate. I thought it might be a great time to talk to Bryce about voting. First I told him that the United States has a President and it's the most important job in the country. Then I told him that every four years we get to vote on who we want to be the next president. He asked me if I was going to vote, and I told him yes and that he could go with me if he wanted. I then explained that there were 2 men that wanted to be president and that I would have to vote for one of them. He asked who they were, so I told him John McCain and Barack Obama. He says "oh, yeah...I saw them on TV". So I ask him (thinking I'm really expanding his brain, teaching him things, etc.) who he would vote for. After much though he responded "John McCain". Curious as to why, I then asked him why and his response was "Well, I really like his hair and he has much better ears then Obama". I don't think I should use the same criteria when deciding whom I should vote for!

update in pictures

Here is an update in pictures with a brief intro...

• Callie loves purses
• Kiddo's are into dressing up. Callie is into layering costumes
• Wicked was amazing! It is now my favorite show. I also have a new love of Chocolate Martini's...
• I continue to love black and white photo's. Also love close-ups of the kids. Together they equal bliss :)
• Callie loves having her toe nails painted just like Mommy

changing

The seasons are changing. Fall is starting to set in in the south. The day's are still warm (today in the 80's), but the evenings are getting chilly. Bryce can not wait for the leaves to start changing. Everyday he asks me when the leaves are going to be different colors. I'm really excited to be able to share this with him this year.

Despite autumn's arrival, we are still enjoying the benefits of warm weather. Yesterday we went to the lake with my mom and dad. We enjoyed the great afternoon and grilled out hot dogs. It was a wonderful day!

Today we are stuck at home (long story that involves Bryan grabbing the truck keys this morning). The kids have been playing outside. They love riding on Bryce's 4 wheeler. Callie wraps her little chubby arms around Bryce and off they go. I guess she was getting a little tired today....when I looked up at them she had her head down on his back with her finger in her mouth (sure sign she's tired). I had to get a picture!

One last change that I caught today is Callie's hair. It is getting so long! I didn't realize it until I saw this picture I snapped this morning. Thank goodness the hair cut that Bryce gave her is growing out!

antic of the day

You know it's never good news when the teacher says I need to have a quick word and pulls you aside to tell you something. This is exactly what happened when I went to get Bryce. Today she asked me to speak with him about "standing on top of the urinals". Seems he thinks that they are part of the playground. Never a dull moment with a 5 year old boy!

On a side note...when I asked him about climbing on the toilets, his eyes got really big and he asked "how did you know that Mommy?!". My explanation....Mommy's know everything...it's like magic! Not sure he believed me completely but he definitely thought about it for a good long while.

Callie's lesson of the day

Callie learned an important lesson today...Salt is best in small quantities! After pouring out the entire salt shaker onto the table, she thought it would be a smart idea to take a HUGE bite (or lick) of it. She bent her face down, and licked up as much as she could fit in her mouth. She immediately started gagging and threw up her breakfast all over the place. A great way to start the day! (thank goodness Bryan had just walked in from a job interview....he got to clean it up!). I guess she learned her lesson...tonight at dinner after watching me put salt on my food, she told my mom "I don't like salt.".