Two and Two

The plan was for her to arrive at 10am Saturday morning, and when Sam found out she wouldn't be here when he got home from the Y on Friday he burst into tears.  "But you told me she was coming today.  You told me.  You lied to me!"

This happens a lot.

But when Kelly's Summerfest plans changed unexpectedly, she messaged that she'd be here Friday night instead, "but don't tell Sammy."  It was supposed to be a surprise.  And surprise it was as she walked up to the door moments after Sam and I fought over the placement of the couch on the hardwood floor.  Kelly walked into the chaos of the life we lead, one kid screaming and crying and demanding an ice pack for his scraped ankle while the other kid repeatedly tried to open the front door that is locked just above her reach.

Thankfully, after we took some deep breaths and realized how awesome it was to have her here, we all enjoyed an amazing weekend together that did not involve any more meltdowns.  (Or if it did I don't remember them.)  With adults and children in equal numbers, going to the aquatic center and the beach and a fundraiser for a colleague of mine were no longer terrifying undertakings but downright enjoyable adventures. Kelly and I tag-teamed through chicken Q's and dancing to live music and swimming with fish and chasing children in the pool and multiple sudden i-gotta-pee trips to port-a-potties.  Two adults and two kids.  A nice ratio.  And you have to know there was lots of good food.  And wine.  A lot of wine.  And when the only wine that was left was an old opened bottle of Menage a trois Cab, we dumped in some sugar and watermelon juice and oranges and peaches and fresh strawberries and declared it perfect sangria.  Turns out that when you go with the flow and let things fall where they may, things sometimes turn out perfectly... especially when it's two against two and one of the adults is Kelly.

Mommy Time in Duluth

Coming in strong with my second PR this spring

 

The planning for the weekend started back in the deep dark cold of winter.  And the first thing I did before getting a hotel reservation or coordinating with the other 5 group members who wanted to register in the lottery was check with Jamie to see if she could watch the kids.  I plan nothing without figuring out where my kids will be first.  And when I dropped them off on Friday morning with their pajamas and Ipads and sandals and the epi-pen, they hardly noticed that I was disappearing for a few days.  But after months of planning and some last minute drama related to hotels and transportation, I walked out to the curb in front of Jamie's house and exhaled and allowed myself to be excited about the trip to Duluth. 

 

What a weekend.  What a great group of people.  I can honestly say that this is the most fun I've ever had running.  And I even thought that during every single mile of the half marathon leading in to Duluth.  The fog kept us from seeing much of Lake Superior during the run but the course is flat and the local fan support was amazing.  I laughed at the signs and the people offering bacon and beer shots and watermelon slices and pork chops on a stick.  And as I approached that last mile I felt like I could easily run another 5 miles so I kicked it in to gear and came in strong for another PR.  What a treat to see Tif and Korbin near the finish and then to find my friend and partner in crime Sarah in the gear check area.  We had just enough time to walk around and sample some of the post race food and shower at a friend's hotel before all our friends who were tackling the full 26.2 came in.

 

Truly blessed to not only have this amazing community to inspire and entertain me, but to have an amazing friend who was taking care of my kids so their weekend was as fun as mine. 

 

A photo Jamie sent while I was in Duluth

 

Pasta and a Beer at Grandma's Saloon

 

 

Waiting in the race chute with garbage bags to keep us warm

 

LOVING the run

 

Another awesome race with my friend Sarah

 

Hanging out with Tif and Korbin and Willie and Jake while we wait for the marathoners

 

 Mike coming in strong

 

Carol and Scott happy to know the end is near

 

Coolest running partners ever, crossed the finish line holding hands

 

Lisa, Carol, Scott and Sue

 

Having our traditional post-race bloodies at Grandma's

 

 Scott and Lisa at Lake Avenue Café where the whole group caught up

 

 

 

Steamboat Days Parade

 

The note said the parade was scheduled to start at 12:31pm so the kids marching for Team Vogel Vs Cancer needed to meet at the Kwik Trip on Mankato at 11:31am.  As is often the case we rushed out the door with me barking at the kids while they sauntered to the car looking at ants and kick balls and long lost Pokémon cards that had suddenly reappeared on the garage floor.  And having another kid in tow delayed the process slightly as we had to clean out the back of the Mazda and make room for another booster seat.  But even though we were late and had to park 5 or 6 blocks away from the staging area, I was having one of those days where I thought "I'm being a good mom.  I'm calm.  I'm flexible.  I'm patient.  I've got this."  Sam and Nathan ran ahead and waited at every corner and Eva took in the sights of the Winona neighborhood east of Mankato, pointing out every puppy and flower and black and white kitty along the way.

 

At Kwik Trip we found the Y group and asked Bailey if she could carry Sam's epi-pen along so Eva and I could find a spot along the parade route to watch.  "I would love to," she said, and I gave Sam a kiss and a hug and snapped a few photos before dragging a reluctant Eva back to the car.

 

With nearly an hour to kill before the parade started, we parked near the end of the route and wandered around, making several trips to the port-a-potty on the corner and settling in a spot near the Post Office.  Dark skies threatened to rain us out and everyone rushed for cover during a wet windy blast that lasted a few minutes.  "I guess we won't need sunscreen," a woman in a camp chair near the curb said, and moments later blue sky appeared to the west and the sun started beating down on us.

 

Eva was a trooper, sitting patiently on the curb and anticipating the floats, but by the time the actual parade arrived she was tired and ready to go home.  She was mostly impressed with the princesses and the horses and the bands with fancy drums, but her favorite group was Team Vogel Vs. Cancer and their tie dye shirts and the handful of candy her big brother had been saving for her for several blocks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It Takes A Village to Do a Family Race

There are some things that might be a little challenging as a single parent that I can still manage to pull off, but running in a race and then having my kids at the finish so they can run in the kids race immediately afterwards is not one of them. But thanks to a lot of friends who tag-teamed to watch my kids and entertain my kids and hold my kids' race bibs and tennis shoes and epi-pens, and basically just give me an overall secure feeling when my 6-year-old raced off in to the crowd by himself, all three of us were able to race in the annual BK5K.  Last year it was Sam's first big race, and this year even Eva got in on the action.  The strong winds that were forecast for race time never really materialized, and the sky just lightly spit on us a few times before the kids race.  Everything took a little longer than we expected (except my PR), but both kids ran the entire 1K and both kids beamed with delight at the finish line cheers and both kids got medals and both kids immediately told me they were hungry and wanted a slushy and a hot dog.  It turned out to be a beautiful day for a family race, and I am so grateful for our village of caretaking friends that showed up to make it all possible.