What a weekend! Yesterday we picked up Dad
and my race numbers at the Phila. Convention
Center and then headed to Finnegan's Wake for the NF Endurance Team pasta dinner. This morning started early with an arrival time at the NF tent in Eakins Oval at 6:30. After getting a few pictures with the team and trying to settle a nervous stomach, we stretched a bit and met our fellow NFET runners in corral 10. We all started the race together this year so that footage from the race can be used in a Children's Tumor Foundation commercial to promote NF awareness. Pretty cool! Dad and I ran just about the first 3 miles together and then seperated. It was a tough run...I found myself thinking of Owen, all of the support everyone has given all of us, how Karen Oxman always says it is "all in your head"...it is, but I wish I could tell my feet that now, and all my girlfriends positive texts over the past few nerve-wracking days as I geared myself up for this day. I am proud to say I ran 13.1 miles today in a race with 17,000. I am relieved to say I can check it off my calendar. Next year my dad and I hope to have a team together suppporting NF and running for Owen...anyone up for training??? I'll check in with you after the holidays...for now I have to focus on my city to shore MS Bike ride...150 miles here I come. Hope that blood blister heals by then, but at least I still have all my toenails...for now!

What's a Sunday without LV Football?? With my race number still on I sped up to Pennridge to watch Joey play in a fierce battle. They played a tough game but in the end had their first loss 14-12. Joey still runs off the field with a smile on his face.

Big Day Out...Big LV Game...

Candy Gram...Aim and I had a blast on our Big Day Out...25 mile bike ride, hike and 12 miles of whitewater rafting...I am so thankful that Aimee still wanted to go, that she humored the sumo wrestler in me and swam in the freezing Leigh..can't wait to go again...funny that this is the only picture I took or our amazing adventure...

Joey had his second game of the season. They had a great game outscoring Quakertown 20-6. Joey played his usual position on offensive line and then had a chance to also play on defense. He had two big tackles and was psyched to hear his name announced on the loud speaker. I love how muddy my #86 gets...Owen, up to no good as usual, loves cheering "touchdown," calling out for "Jo-Jo" and walking around and around and around...curious about everything and everybody at the game.

the weekend cannot be over!!!

It is shocking that I am sitting here at the computer working on a graduate paper about my philosophy on phonics and trying to work out a seating chart for my sixth graders...where did the long weekend go?? Friday, with the boys in school, I finally got a chance to run around the lake...only 14 days left to train...yikes, later I met up with Dana and Aimee for lunch and in the evening the boys and I caught up with Alex and her boys at First Night Doylestown. On Saturday we left early for Joey's football game against Conestoga and we basically spent the whole day in Wayne, Pa. It was a nail-biter of a game and LV Blue rallied back for a 28-25 win. Joey was pumped and thrilled to spend the evening relaxing with his buddies at the pool. Sunday, after spending time in the gym we went to the pool until the Oxman's picnic for the MS City to Shore Ride. Joey spent the night at Aimee and Dave's and became an official member of "Uncle Dave's bike riding school." So today I was able to get in another 10 mile run, food shop at Wegmans (never go on a holiday---it was crazy!) and get caught up on school work. Chapters and chapters of phonics...blahh... A lovely weekend but so hard to believe we won't be back to the pool until May...

Back to School!!

We made it through our first week back to school...with only a couple missteps. Both Joey and Owen had a great week. Joey is excited about all the new things he will be learning in 3rd grade and Owen loves day care, "Mama, me school!" Hard to believe that the summer is over as we plan to spend as much time as we can at the pool this weekend.
Love these pictures...Owen brushing his teeth while Joey is reading in the bathroom, Joey so excited about the backpack his mother hates, a shot of all my guys in the doorway as I am laying sprawled out in the bushes having tripped backwards trying to get a good shot..Joe and Joey mystified by my clumsiness while Owen wants to join me...

Although we spent a couple chilly rainy days in Westport we we still able to get a little boating time in. Owen loved blowing the horn on Great-Dad's boat...over and over again. Joey and I had a blast on the tube together....although it took me a couple days to recover from my dad's wild driving and tendency to send us flying...Nothing better that Mary's breakfast and time spent with the cousins!

Certainly a Cowan Event

Jeff and Kelly were married last weekend and we were lucky enough to travel to Westport, Ontario for the momentous occasion. Definitely a Cowan bash...the ceremony was beautifully meaningful and the reception was a blast. So thankful that my family happened upon the Cove so many years ago and that we were enveloped into this loving and amazing family. So many special moments with the Cowans...