run Jeff run......

To begin, I was told that I would be docked a letter grade if I failed to update this blog.  The good news I am no longer in school and even if I were I could survive on getting a B instead of A as B is still getting a degree.  

So where to begin with the updates? This year has been quite the year for myself and our family.  I started running again, Tiffany and I bought a house and Zackary is just getting bigger, faster and funnier to listen to.

I have been trying for years to take up running again with the intent of losing weight.  This apparently is not enough motivation to begin running again.  A friend of decided that I needed to run a 5k with him, but of course it wasn’t just any 5k it was the Mud Dog run.  Now I must preface this a little, I haven’t run a 5k in over 16 yrs so I was thinking this was going to be a daunting task.  I know what some of you are saying “Its only 3.1 miles”, but at that moment to me I might as well be running a marathon.  

Now the Mud Dog run is not an ordinary 5k, it has 12-13 obstacles that each runner must navigate in order to complete the race.  The obstacles range from fording streams and rivers to climbing over the organizers Toyota Trecel (It reminded me of the red Toyota Corolla).   

I think the most interesting obstacle was the bed of flour that you had to crawling on my hands and knees.  This wouldn’t have been so bad except that it was raining and what does water and flour make.  

Needless to say as I jumped over the fire to cross the finish line I was very happy to be finished and felt a great sense of accomplishment.  This race was early in the spring season and I have not stopped running since.   

I have been running 10-12 miles through the week and then Saturday I usually run 8-10 miles.

The long mileage on the weekends was preparation for the Baltimore half marathon I just finished running. Here are some of the pictures of the race 

http://www.marathonfoto.com/index.cfm?action=site.login&RaceOID=17472011F1&LastName=HOELLEIN&BibNumber=41644&spMAILINGID=36549661&spUserID=MTA4NjE5MjA5OTQS1&spJOBID=116342407&spREPORTID=MTE2MzQyNDA3S0

It was very grueling but very exciting when I finished the 13.1 miles.  Before the race began I was thinking that I would try running the full Baltimore marathon next year and I was feeling totally confident that I could, however while I was running and somewhere around mile 9 I was thinking the full marathon was the stupidest idea I have ever had.  I still might think about it as the year goes on, but right now I am even close to being ready. 

first birthday fun!

I cannot believe it's been a year since Zackary was born.  It has been full of fun and new adventures that I wouldn't trade for the world.  We love him so much and he is such a sweet, fun little boy!

For his birthday we had a monster party.  I made monster cupcakes and they turned out so cute!  He loved the cupcake and ice cream he ate and smeared it all over his face!  He got spoiled by everyone and now needs a toy box for all the fun toys he got.  It was a great day!

After the party was over he found the bag of garbage and started playing with the boxes and plastic coverings for the toys.  Who knew they'd be more fun than the toys that came in the boxes!

halloween

Zackary was the cutest little dog for Halloween!  We went to our ward Trunk or Treat on the wednesday before Halloween and then went trick or treating with our good friends on halloween night.  Zackary seemed oblivious to what was going on but also seemed to have fun.  By the end he was so tired he kept laying his head down on Jeff's head.

 

the pumpkin patch

We love fall and the beautiful colors and smells. We wanted to take Zackary to a pumpin patch to see what he would do with the pumpkins and to take some cute fall pictures. When Jeff tried to sit him down by them he got scared and wouldn't get down. We finally found a small pumpkin he could hold and then he had a great time exploring. He even started to eat the hay. He met a very friendly goat and kept wanting to go back and say hi to him. I have to say we got some pretty great pictures! Happy Fall!

big trouble

Zackary is becoming more and more mobile, which makes having a small apartment a good thing.  I think he is going to bypass walking and go right to running as he is always on the move.

bed head

Thanks to all of the hair on Zackary's head we are never sure what it's going to look like when he wakes up.

books, books, books...

"The more that you read..."



"The more things you will know..."

"The more that you learn..."

"The more places you'll go"

on the move and into everything

Since the moment Zackary has learned to crawl he moves around very fast and gets into everything!

Sadie's bowls are so fun! Especially the one with water.

Electronics or anything with cords are also very fun!

One day we found him trying to get some of the rocks out of the red planter pot. 

He eventually got high-centered on the pot. It was so funny we had to take pictures.

"Help get me out!!!!"

We helped him out as he wasn't sure how to get out.

Zackary also likes to get into Sadie's crate. 

Were not sure Sadie likes him in there.

If Sadie could talk I think she would be saying

"Will you please do something about him? He's in my space!"

dewey beach, again!

In June we went to Dewey Beach again with a bunch of friends from our ward.  We had so much fun and it was great to go back there.  I think if somebody had tried to tell me a year ago that I would be going again next year and that I would have a baby I wouldn't have believed them.  It's amazing what can happen in a year!

Zackary loved it!  We thought for sure he would try to eat the sand but all he did was grab handfuls and let it run through his fingers.   

Sadie also had a great time and wore herself out running up and down the beach.

Don't you just love those big blue eyes!

He wasn't too fond of the cold ocean water but had lots of fun splashing in a little bucket of water we gave him.

Helping dad build a sandcastle.

The sandcastle started out to be a Lord of the Rings mountain but ended up looking like a dragon.  It was built by all the big boys!