Whoo's in El Moro 50K

I just realized that I didn't share any pictures from Cheryl's first ULTRA race!

We arrived at Crystal Cove State Park so early in the morning that we couldn't see how to get into the parking lot.



This is Cheryl and her pacer, Steve. It's Steve's responsibility to make sure that Cheryl has a successful race. In this picture, he's helping her through some pre-race jitters.



And they're off! Ultra races are not very big... this one had about 120 people in it.



So Cheryl and Steve are gone with the 50K... it's time for me to start with the 25K group.



I met a guy during the race who was expecting to finish in 3:30. That's 30 minutes before the 4 hour cut-off, so I thought that would be good. He let me pace off of him for the race.



I finished in 3:21, 5th in my age group... which was dead LAST!

Then I waited for Cheryl and Steve...



And waited...



Here they come to the finish line!





Cheryl and Steve finished in 7:37! That's 7 hours and 37 minute of running... 23 minutes before the 8 hour cut off... 31 miles!!! Which makes this more amazing is that Cheryl hasn't run more than 18 miles in her training.



She made it! And 6th in her age group!... which is also dead LAST! Well, we have lots of room for improvement for next time! Thanks for joining me on our race recap.

Christmas Card

I'm on a Christmas Roll!!! Here is a simple card ready for Christmas giving!



The popped circle technique is called spotlight. I also used the partial die cut technique to cut the snowy field background.



Here are the challenges that I'm entering it in:

PIO- Feeling Cool
PTI - Make it Monday (partial die cuts)
Stampotique Designer Challenge - Spotlight
Stamping Sensations - simply christmas

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Tag

Another Christmas tag using die cuts!



Here are the challenges that I'm entering it in:

PIO- Feeling Cool
Scrappin' Mojo -Sparkle & Shine Challenge
Delicious Doodles - Cold Outside

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Christmas tag

I'm getting into the Christmas spirit and have started on my Christmas tags! I just love the Button Bits stamp set from PTI!



Here are the challenges that I'm entering it in:

PIO- Feeling Cool
Scrappin' Mojo - use your supplies
Digi Stamps For Joy- ATG

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Happy Halloween - Part2

I forgot to mention that Chris is working at The Gap in Mission Viejo Mall. That is how he ended up at "Trick or Treat at the Mall"... he was not trick or treating, hahaha!!!

Here are a couple more pics of Cheryl being cute as can be:



This one is blurry, but I thought it was adorable!



I hope that everyone had a happy halloween weekend!

Happy Halloween!!!

Here's my girlie dressed for work. The office had a contest... the PT/aide pair had to come up with a team costume. Here is Cheryl with her PT:



Chris didn't dress up for work, but he said he had his fill of trick-or-treaters! Today was trick-or-treat at the MALL! I asked him how many Elsas he saw today. He said he doesn't know... he saw a lot of princesses, but didn't look closely enough to figure out which ones they were. He also saw a ton of minions. He's avoiding the trick-or-treaters tonight. He already had his fill of little ones in costume, haha!

I hope you all have a great evening!

Jena misses Uncle Buddy

Blog Hop

It's been a while since I participated in a Blog hop, but I loved PTI's color inspiration this month... and I really need to get some tags done for Christmas. I used the following color combo to make a non traditional colored Christmas tag which made it perfect for the Merry Monday challenge. I LOVE this one! It's the colors of my new living room :oD



Here is my tag!



Products used:
PTI Doily Details
PTI Limitless Layers
PTI Cover Plate: Quatrefoil Die
PTI Winterberry Stamp Set
Sizzix Tag & Tie die

THANK YOU for stopping by today.. I can't WAIT to see the other creations!
Have a GREAT day!!

Nike Women's Half-Marathon weekend

Nike Women's Half-Marathon entry is by lottery, and we got in on our first try! I took Friday off and we drove up to San Francisco.



We ground to a dead stop on the Bay Bridge:



It took us 10 hours to get to our hotel. The next morning, we walked to packet pickup:



Which was right across the street from the hotel:



Messing around in the Expo photo booth after make-overs:



After the expo we headed to the cable car to Fisherman's Wharf:



Here's a nice view from the cable car with the Bay Bridge off in the distance:



We must stop at Ghiradelli Square for chocolate!



We walked around Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. Now it's back to the hotel to get a good night's sleep (and for Cheryl to finish her homework for Monday). The next morning, we had a short walk to our corral. The early morning streets of SF are rocking!



Here are some pics from the race. We ran right up to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. Our plan was to stop there to take pictures, but it was such a foggy morning that we don't even know when we passed the Bridge.





And the results... Cheryl got plantar fasciitis in her foot last Wednesday. It was hurting her a lot, so we took it nice and easy in the race. We finished our SLOWEST half-marathon ever.



We saw Shawn Johnson (the gold medal gymnast) in Union Plaza on Saturday, and we also ran the last mile with her in the race on Sunday... we beat her. Cheryl LOVED that, since they were both in the same age group!

The results were not that great, but we had a FUN weekend! And best of all, I got to share it with my girlie!

Washington day 8

It's my last full day in Washington, so it's time to cross the sound and move closer to Seattle:



We are getting to be experts at the Ferry system now. It's the fastest way from Bainbridge Island to Seattle. Jena still isn't sure she likes the ferry:













Welcome to Seattle!



We drove all around the Seattle area looking for a campground for the night. One state park, the campground was closed. One state park was completely closed. Another two parks didn't have camping. After spending a day driving around, we finally settled in a trailer park in Tacoma:



Jena doesn't seem to mind the trailer park:



Time for our last dinner:



One last image for my Washington friend... This one is for you Beth!



It was a great trip, but it's over now... time to head home.
Thanks for joining me on my vacation recap! Have a great week all!

Washington day 7

Well, all good things come to an end, and it's our time to leave Olympic National Park...





.. and head back towards Seattle and end up at Fey Bainbridge State Park on Bainbridge Island.



Our campground was on the Puget Sound...



... with a partial view of Seattle.



Our vacation is winding down to a close... only one more night before I have to go home...