Twins Game 2011

Hey, we took a picture at the Best Buy photo booth at the Twins game on Friday night, so I thought I'd share.


There we are in all our sweaty glory!

Post Mania #3 (Warrior Dash)

OMG people! Jay & I completed (survived) the Warrior Dash today. Above - yes, that is fire. Yes, we jumped over that like bad-*ss people that we are. You recall, this was 3.02 hellish miles of crazy insane obstacles. The part they leave out in the description of the course is that there are A MILLION HILLS. I'm talking, let's climb Mt. Everest-like hills (okay, well that's what it seemed like at times). Conveniently, there was no mention of that in the course description. There was only mention of muddy madness - not hilly you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me madness. But, as I said, we survived. I've never done any sort of course or race before, so I was freaking out this morning. Lots of nerves. Then I got there and pinned on the bib (which is the paper that has your racing number on it) and felt like I was official! It was a fun time and I think Jay & I rocked it like only true Warriors could!

Pre-Warrior Dash: getting the warrior paint on.

BEFORE: warriors ready for battle


Again, before the battle. Before knowledge of any hills.


Jay was confused about what a warrior does - here he's thinking about Egyptians and not warriors. Get your head in the game Abbas!

Annie & Debbie repeat performance of the Muddy Beavers (they have completed a Muddy Buddy race last year under this team name!) BEFORE & AFTER!

All done Annie. Good job!

Finally...the hat!

And the beer (I do not drink beer - however, today it was like a requirement or something!)

And I saved the best picture for last. We were standing around in our muddy stinky clothes, drinking beer and reminiscing about the crazy stuff we just did, when Jay goes - "oh, look what I found" and pulls out of his shorts pocket, a LOAD of mud. A load of mud was found in each of his pockets and likely elsewhere. Yes, it was a muddy mess of a day, but we did it!

Post Mania #2 (Surprise Party for Annie)

On Saturday there was a surprise 30th birthday party for Annie (hosted at Paul & Jolyn's). I didn't get as many pictures as I'd planned to take. Ella decided to take a nap on the couch right after lunch, so I felt I should stay inside to make sure she didn't fall off!

But I did get this picture of her before Annie arrived (she was obsessed with playing with the balloons!)

And this picture is hilarious: Annie is blindfolded, yet still put her sunglasses on over! HA!

Saturday night my mom & Randy came up so we hung out and then this morning they watched Ella when we headed to the Warrior Dash (See Post Mania #3)!

Post Mania #1 (Twins Game)

Jay & I went to the Twins vs. Tigers game Friday night. It was hot and they didn't play well. I hate to complain, considering the games on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday that people went to with heat indexes of 110+ degrees. But still - it wasn't very fun to have swass. Although, it was fun to be at a night game!

There wasn't any handshaking during the game....

Can you believe this picture? Gross! I was NOT trying to get this picture.

And this, my friends, is my FAVORITE concession stand person. I've seen him at previous Vikings games and I think we even saw him last year at the Twins game. Anyway, I don't know his name, but in my head I think he's a "Keith." "Keith" talks like Kip from Napoleon Dynomite. If you don't know how that voice sounds, then what is wrong with you?!?! You must see Napoleon Dynomite.

Coming up this week

Okay people. I'm putting this post up mainly for my benefit to psych myself up for 3.02 hellish miles of warrior craziness on Sunday. Jay, Annie, Debbie & myself have (stupidly) signed ourselves up for an obstacle course. Warrior Dash. Heard of it? I hadn't - and sort of wish I never had, since now my debut as a Warrior is less than a week away. It sounded fun - cool - bad*ss - when I first checked out the site. Now - not so much. More like, what was I thinking?!?! HOWEVER, despite the fears raised by my obstacle course comm padres that we might die while completing this obstacle course - we get one of these sweet babies when we complete the course


I should add that according to Valerie, we get these when we arrive at the Warrior Dash event, so maybe technically, we don't have to complete the course? Here's hoping. :) JUST KIDDING!

But, you better believe that this chic will be sporting this Warrior helmet immediately after completing the obstacle course (assuming I have survived). I can't wait (to wear the helmet)!

I wish I could share with you the obstacle course map, but I can't figure out how to get it linked to my post right now (hey, it's been a long weekend). But, here's what I can remember: jumping over fire, running through gale force winds & rain, climbing walls marine-style, going under barbed wire, all kinds of funky net climbing stuff....you get the picture. Insane.

Wish us luck. And check back for pictures.

Weekending in Worthington

Jay was gone all last week in Canada, traveling on business. So, it was a week of single-mom-dom for me. Ella & I managed just fine. I admit, I always get anxious and nervous about being home alone for an extended period of time with Ella - I always think I'll be so overwhelmed! But, I think being with her this entire week, I proved to myself that I can do it. :) Plus, how can you feel overwhelmed with this cute face around?

I think this picture is so funny! She's standing on her little step stool that's in the bathroom so she can reach the sink. She loves to "climb the mountain" as she's been saying when she steps on the stool. OMG. She's always doing something funny. (p.s. yes, her hair is sort of bufont-ish - not sure what happened there).

Jay got back to MN Friday night, and we headed to Worthington early Saturday morning to be at my cousin's wedding. We got to spend time with Grandma Deb & many of my Dad's relatives too over the weekend, so it was fun! Today before we left, we made a visit to see my Grandma Alice. She fell again last week (in the nursing care - NOT okay) so her recovery is set back a bit now (ugh). She seemed to be in good spirits. We got to enjoy the HUMID weather this morning on the patio with her. We'll continue praying for a smooth(er) recovery.

Here are a few attempted pictures from the wedding. Someday we will get a successful picture of Chase & Ella together!

Jay & I (got my haircut on Thursday - still debating the result)

Pool Time!

Ella sat & played in her swimming pool today! Hurray! It was really hot here today, so not sure if she finally took the plunge because she was too warm or what, but we were so happy! Whew! The funny thing was - she wasn't wearing a swim diaper (because I figured she wouldn't go in the water anyway!) Her regular diaper was so HUGE! I wish I would have taken a picture. It was insane.

Here she is - makes me proud! :)

Notice: she was still wearing her shoes. She wanted to leave those on. HA!