Happy Birthday to Me...

 We had cake on the night of the 4th...at least Amy didn't put all 64 candles on it!

Todd and Amy built the headboard that I have been wanting for Todd and Kathy's room.  Now I need to sand and whitewash it.

And Todd, Kathy, and the kids sent me this very cute gardening bag.  It is perfect for me to keep all my gardening "stuff" in.

And the next morning we had birthday pancakes before spending the day at the beach...my favorite place to be on my birthday (or any day for that matter).

Enter a 5K...Check it off my List!

Not only did I enter...I actually did it.  I have been training for 3 months, and it all paid off today.  I actually ran for 1 1/2 minutes and then walked for 4 1/2 minutes.  I can't compare my performance with any other 5K since this was my first one, but according to my watch, I had my PR for 3 miles at 36:10.  When I started with my watch at the end of May, I did the 3 miles in 41:42.  My best time up to this was last week at 38:25 with my fastest mile at 12:49.  During the race, my fastest mile was 11:54.  But I was so spent,  I practically crawled across the finish line.  Kathy suggested that I move my mileage up to 3 1/2 miles a couple of times a week, so I can get used to 5K instead of just 3 miles.  

Amy and me before the race.  We ran the first minute and a half together, and then she took off and left me in the dust!

After Amy finished the race, she came back and joined me to finish the race twice.

Yea...the finish line!

I did it!

They didn't give the adults a finishers medal, so I actually had to snag this from one of the kids.  I wasn't about to not have a medal from my first 5K!  It's pretty cool, huh?

I am so proud of myself.  I really have a feeling of accomplishment.  And I am planning on keeping up the training and entering another one...next up...the Disney 5K on Castaway Island in September.

Too Cute

 This is what I saw when I walked out of my room this morning...

 and this is what they were doing!!!

Carson's birthday

Carson seemed to eat his way thru his birthday this year.  He started his day at grandma's, so I got to join in on his birthday pancakes, complete with his favorite, Kathy's buttermilk syrup.













For lunch, it was McDonalds...












dinner was great grandma's specialty, homemade mac and cheese...
 and the day ended with cake.  It doesn't get much better than this!  Happy birthday, Carson.

LA Zoo

Today I met Amy and the kids at the zoo.  It was HOT and we did lots of walking.  Thank goodness for the misters and the ice cream. But we also saw some really cool stuff.  And it was fun trying to find fun ways to take pictures with the "Z"...for ZOO

At the playground.

Wyatt was amazed by the size of the rino!

The tigers were roaming around...and almost got in the water.

The zebras seemed like they were posing for the picture.

Owen wanted to sit on the "green lizard".

Family Bike Ride

Today we took a bike ride along a really neat trail.  It used to be an old train track, but they ripped out the tracks and made a bike trail instead.  Amy told me the ride would be 3 1/2 miles, so I thought that it wouldn't count for my workout.  I got up early and did my walk/run.  Then I drove out to the kids.  That's when I found out it was 3 1/2 miles one way!  Oh my!  But it was lots of fun and the kids did great.  We started at one park and rode 4 1/4 miles to another park.

There we had lunch and fed the ducks and turtles.  I'll admit, we also enjoyed ice cream from the ice cream man.  When we were rested, we rode back.  Somehow, the ride back always seems shorter, thank goodness. What a fun day...sunshine, exercise, food, and family.

Baby Steps!

I've been training for my 5K for about 2 months now, and today, I finally reached two of my goals.

I made the 3 miles in under 40 minutes (barely) and my miles were under 13:30!  I know it sounds pretty lame for those of your who are runners...but for me, this was big.  I have graduated to running 1:30 minutes and then walking (fast) for 4:30 minutes.  I don't know where I'll be next month when the race is finally here, but I have enjoyed the journey and am impressed with myself that I have been able to do as well as I have.  Not bad for an old woman!