My Journey to Boston

Two weeks from now, hopefully around this exact time, I will be finishing the Boston Marathon.  This "check off my life list" has been a long time in the making.

 Rewind to eight years ago...

I was pregnant with Clare, and Phil and I flew to Boston to watch my dad run his 7th Boston Marathon.   My dad has always been my running inspiration.  I ran some of my very first races "with" him.  Granted, he was usually showered and fed by the time I crossed the finish line, but we have shared the running experience for over 15 years now.  

After watching my dad run the Boston Marathon, I knew that I would one day run it too.

(This picture isn't really part of the timeline, but I just love it.  This was our first/only time in Boston.  Phil and I were newlyweds, early pregnant, and full of dreams.  Now, eight years later, we still feel like newlyweds, we are blessed with three littles, and we are still full of dreams.)

So, in between pregnancies and babies, I attempted to train my way to qualifying for Boston.  I had several setbacks, and I began to think that it might not be in the cards for me.  After months of hard training, back in 2012, I was primed and ready to run the Missoula Marathon in Montana.  I was trained to qualify.  Ten days before the race, I broke my toe.

I still ran the race...with a broken toe.  Even though it was disappointing, it remains to be one of my most memorable races because Phil and I ran the whole thing together.  We were in the beautiful mountains of Montana, and we shared this experience that neither of us will ever forget.

 This was Phil's first marathon, 

and crossing the finish line hand-in-hand was pretty awesome!

 Side note: Had I qualified for Boston at the Missoula Marathon, I would have run the Boston Marathon in 2013.  That was the year of the bombings.  As Phil and I watched all the coverage that year, I remember Phil saying, "This is why you broke your toe."

Two years later, I set my sights on the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City, Michigan.  The flat course and cool weather promised to make it a runner's dream for qualifying.  Phil and I registered for the race, started training, and bought our plane tickets to Michigan.  I TORE MY HAMSTRING!  The broken toe was nothing compared to the torn hamstring, and I was out of running for almost six months.  While I endured physical therapy and slow healing, I watched Phil train for the race that I really wanted to run.  My husband, who never really loved running, was pounding the pavement and basking in the euphoria of the runner's high.  I cheered him on from the sideline, and excitedly watched him finish his best race ever, and I just felt discouraged.

 Over the next couple of years, my running ebbed and flowed as our family grew.  I ran through most of my pregnancy with Myles, and then I started training with the goal of qualifying.  When Phil and I ran the Celebration Marathon, in 2015, I knew that I was going to qualify.  I was ready!

 There's nothing quite like setting a goal and accomplishing it.  I've reflected on that quite a bit over the past few years.  Mind over matter, and our minds are POWERFUL!

So, here we are!

I finished my last long run yesterday.

My training is done.

I have one huge blister,

  two black toenails (I'll spare you the picture of that), one chronically sore hamstring (from the tear in 2014), a start time assigned, a bib number assigned, and a house full of cheerleaders! I've talked with a handful of people who have run Boston, and they've all warned me that it is a tough course with lots of hills.  But, they've also encouraged me that it will be  an unforgettable experience.

So, unless I break a toe in the next few days (and even then),

Boston, here I come!

Veggies Tales, Thanksgiving, and Running

It's New Year's Eve.

Phil just got home from a crazy shift.  He was at work for 20 of the last 24 hours, and now he is napping like that's his new job.  It's doubtful that we will make it until midnight to ring in the new year, but we're certain it will be another good one.

The past few weeks have been full of fun and family, and there are far more highlights than what I have time to document.  Here are some snippets:

Mema took us to see "Veggie Tales Live" for Isaac's 5th Birthday.  The kids loved it, and they knew all but one song.  There have been far more "Veggies Tales" consumed in this house than actual veggies.  Here's to 2016 on that one!

Our buddies, The Allens, were also at "Veggies Tales Live."  Our kids are growing up like siblings, and they LOVE seeing each other!!!

 Waiting for the show to begin!

Phil worked on Thanksgiving day, so we celebrated a few days early.  We feasted on the traditional smoked turkey and fixins, and then we went to Busch on Thanksgiving Day.

 Busch was really quiet on Thanksgiving, so we were able to ride the roller coasters without any wait.  Clare has absolutely NO FEAR and wants to ride on either the very back or very front car.  Isaac needs another 1.5 inches before he can join us, but he is READY!!!

Clare created another masterpiece.  This winter scene is the closest thing we've come to winter.  This has been the hottest December on record, and we've been in the 80's almost every day.  The kids have been swimming several times this month, and it feels nothing like winter.

 I don't do the matchy-matchy thing too often...namely because Myles is well-equipped with hand-me-downs.  However, it nearly makes my heart explode when they are matching.  It's a good thing I didn't have twins because I would have quite certainly gone overboard with that.

One of Clare's favorite "treats" is when someone joins her for lunch at school.  We eat outside, she tells us about her morning, and then we take her lunchbox home.  I don't know which of those components is her favorite, but she really loves that we take her lunchbox home.

I ran the Brandon half-marathon on December 6th.  It was a good morning.  I ran my fastest time, and I had the best cheerleaders.  We are all getting excited for Boston.  

2015 was great...full of blessings and joy.

Can't wait to see what 2016 has in store!

Our Little Middle is FIVE!!!!

Our sweet Isaac turned FIVE a couple of weeks ago.

In some ways, this feels like an eternity ago.  In others, it seems impossible to think that five years have passed since we brought him home.

 
His special day was full of surprises, granted wishes, and endless Minions!

Isaac continues to be our most sensitive little honey, 

but his tender-spirit makes him a magnet for lots of hugs and squeezes.

Up until very recently, he was incredibly skittish around domestic animals.  Give him a snake, lizard, kangaroo, or penguin...he's fine!  Get him within three feet of a dog...forget it!!!  Our neighbor has a new puppy, and he stole Isaac's heart. 

Phil brought some animals to Isaac's school for the Great American Teach-In, and Isaac loved "holding" the penguin.

He also thought the Boa Constrictor was pretty cool.

The wild stingray just inches from his little toes...
Not so sure!

This post is helplessly out of order.  Since I'm writing about my middle child, not my first born,  I shall carry on in this sporadic fashion.

Isaac got to make FIVE WISHES for his birthday.  

Thankfully, he is easy to please. and we had veto power.  ;) 

Wish #1 - Go to School 

(Like I said, easy to please)

Wish #2 - Go to Chuck E. Cheese with Clare and Kyler

We went to Chuck E. Cheese after school, and the kids had a blast.

Wish #3 - Get a New Minion

(Isaac is BEYOND obsessed with Minions.  Buddy and Grandma brought him to Build-A-Bear to build his own Minion, and he was over the moon about that gift!)
Can you spot how many different Minion shirts he has on in JUST THIS POST?!

 (Notice the Minion theme...this adorable sweatshirt was his gift from Kyler.)

Wish #4 - Have Steak and Toast for his Birthday Dinner

(He wanted NOTHING else...just steak and toast.)

 Wish #5 - A Minion Birthday Cake

(Grandma and I put this together.)

Isaac at FIVE:

- Isaac is 49 lbs and 46 inches...very tall.

- Enjoys playing the tablet as often as we allow.

- Loves school.  He would go 365 days a year if given the choice, and looks forward to Monday after every weekend.

- Sleeps in just his underwear.

- Passed the swim test at The Y, so now he can do all the big kid things.

- Enjoys coloring and completes every picture he starts.  This is very different from Clare...who rarely finishes a picture and never asks to color. 

- Does not like trying new food.  

His palate is pretty limited...definitely the pickiest eater in the house.

- Favorite color just shifted from green to blue.

- Cries pretty easily.  Very tender.

- Does anything to make Clare happy. 

- Has the squishiest cheeks and knows that I need to give him several kisses a day because I know that irresistible squish won't last forever.

- Wants to be a Minion when he grows up.

Isaac played soccer at The YMCA this fall.  He isn't the biggest go-getter on the field, but he definitely enjoys the snacks after the game.

 Phil built him this goal for his birthday, and that was a fun surprise.

He claimed his end of season trophy like he was the MVP.  

In my eyes, he was!

I don't know the bond of having a brother.  In fact, I'm the only person in the extended Hillary family who doesn't have a brother.  The bond between these two is so endearing.  Their little worlds are made complete with each other.  They share a room.  They share secrets behind closed doors.  They share silliness.  They share an equal adoration for one another.  I hope that transcends time.

Happy Birthday, Izzy Roo.

You are one of a kind, and we're SO THANKFUL that you're ours!

Just for fun...

Clare at Five

2.038

Myles' birthday was two weeks ago, so he is now 2.038 years old.

 This little guy has the personality of a jackrabbit, clown, whirling dervish, and sweet heart all combined in one tiny package.  Phil and I feel like he has been the same size for the past six months.  He is just little compared to the other two, but what he lacks in stature he makes up for in personality.

He enjoyed his birthday, although I don't think he fully understood what the fuss was all about.  He just smiled at every turn: balloons, cake (BLUE cake at that), gifts, and a bike ride to the park.

Myles didn't seem to mind, or even know, that most of his gifts were hand-me-downs.  Each one elicited the same over-the-moon reaction.

 Speaking of the moon, he LOVES spotting the moon outside and in every book that pictures it.

He continues to be enamored with his big brother and sister.  We have noticed that he is doing things much sooner than the other two did, and that is simply because of the daily influences around him.  He can open up the refrigerator and pull out a snack (usually a cheese stick, clementine, or egg).  He swings by himself, gets in his car seat by himself, goes potty by himself, and plays with all the big kid toys.

 Probably more than anything else, he LOVES bike rides.  My dad, Papa, ignited that passion in him.  He happily sits behind the bike for as long as the rider is willing to carry him.  He requests "bumps" for most of the ride, and that is easily satisfied with the countless speed bumps in our neighborhood.  Thankfully, Phil is able to carry this extra load...all three kids.  I get to ride along next to them and watch the shenanigans. 

At two, Myles is:

26 lbs. and 34 inches (both right around the 50th percentile)

 He LOVES...

- The color BLUE

Everything is blue.  Every answer is blue. 

"Myles, what do want for breakfast?"

Blue

"Myles, what is on your shirt?"

Blue

He also LOVES...

-Vacumming

He unplugs the handheld Dustbuster every (no exaggeration) day and vacuums little nooks and crannies.  On "special" days, he gets to push around the big vacuum cleaner.  I wish I could say that he is taking after his mother, and that this is a modeled behavior, but he just really loves the vacuum.  

He is a creature of habit.  

I'm sure part of that is due to the fact that we have routines that create habits, but there are certain things that have to be "just so."  He won't sit down to read a book in his room unless the door is completely closed.  He always wants to read "the big book" first, but we don't actually read that one.  He just flips open all of the hidden pictures, and then we can actually read another book.  He begins every morning with a peanut butter and banana smoothie followed by a fried egg.  I have tried to vary that routine, but he responds by opening the cupboard with the blender and chanting, "Smoothie, smoothie, smoothie."

He is very expressive.  He speaks with his eyes, and it is clear how is feeling.  

His favorite expression is, "Ewwww...YUCK!"

He goes to "school" every Thursday when I volunteer at Life Care.  He walks in with his lunch box and feels like (and looks like) such a big boy.  He has been in underwear since a few days before his birthday, and he is doing quite well.  There have been a few hiccups along the way, but for the most part he is potty trained.  I think that the simplicity of training him was a little gift after the struggle that we had with #2.

He is totally obsessed with pumpkins right now.  His word for pumpkin is "pep-pep" and he announces it whenever he sees one.  He carried around his little pumpkin for two solid days but then lost interest after taking a bite out of it.  "Ewww...YUCK!"  

It is so hard to believe that our little baby is TWO.  

I think that means we don't have a baby any longer.  

Dear Myles, "merciful and gracious" one, we love you to the moon and back!