Disneyland 1/2 Marathon

A week from right now, Kim and I will be standing with all the other participants of the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon waiting for the race to start. We are both pretty excited and looking forward to our whirlwind trip to California. Will fill you all in next week when we get back.

Tour de Pain

Kim and I did it, we finished the Tour de Pain this weekend. Started on Friday with a four mile race at Jacksonville Beach on the beach. The beach is really packed so it was pretty nice. Started just before sunset and there was a breeze. Would really like to do another race there.

Our next race was Saturday morning, a 5K. Started at the store that sponsored the race and made a loop in the area. Spent some time walking into the sun but otherwise was an enjoyable time.

Went back to the hotel to get cleaned up and have some breakfast and then we went out and about to kill some time. Wal-Mart was our first stop. Then thank goodness for the GPS because Kim thought of going to an Apple Store to see if we could get the cases for our I Phones and we just poked it in and up it came. The Apple Store was a bust, they had run out of the cases, so we just downloaded the app and ordered them that way. But we were now in one of the sprawling outdoor malls so we lots of choices and things to do. Williams-Sonoma was our next choice, lots of nice things but way to expensive. Barnes and Noble was just around the corner and we knew we could kill some time there. By this time we were getting hungry and what should we walk by but a California Pizza Kitchen and that sounded great for a quick bite to eat.

Back to the hotel after that, took some cat naps, read, watched tv and just killed some more time. The last race started at Jacksonville Landing was just across the river. Got there at about 1600 and milled about smartly until our race start time.


This one had four start times and each race was finished before the next one started, it was a double loop right in that area and it wasn't called the Sizzler Mile for no reason. There were some pretty fast runners in each of the races. Both Kim and I had pretty fast times. I ran for a bit at the start and if I had any doubts about running, they were settled then and there, I am a walker and will stay a walker. But I did do the mile in 11:20 so I was pretty happy with that.

Kim and me after the mile race:

We really enjoy the whole weekend and if we have the chance will do it again next year.

Happy Kids!

Kaleigh says Daddy is hiding, I think he was using the opportunity to catch a few zzzz's.

Just Because...

She is so cute. This is the first time Kaleigh has had two ponytails that will stay in for a while and she wanted her picture taken and how could I refuse?

Baseball

Yesterday was Riley's third baseball practice, really just an introduction to the basics, no games. He is still at the stage that if the ball (they use a koosh ball, much less dangerous) doesn't just land in his glove he's not going to catch it but it does come close every now and then.Holding the bat is another story, every time he touches it, he holds it a different way and swings like crazy. But he had a good time and that is all that matters. His favorite part was getting his own water and of course, snack.

Our visitor last night.

Didn't want to leave Kaleigh out, so this morning she looked so cute I couldn't resist taking a couple of pictures. OK it was probably closer to 20 shots but these were two I really liked.

Pool Time

We have been having lots of fun in the pool lately. Kaleigh is a regular little water baby and has no problems getting right into the water. Riley has to warm up to the whole thing and still doesn't want to go underwater but he does a bit more every time he gets in the pool.

Lifeboat Drill and Sail Away Party

As most everyone knows, one of the first things you have to do when you board a cruise ship is to eat lunch and get acquainted with the layout of the ship. Then it is off to the  lifeboat drill. Again I have to say, Disney does it right, we were only standing on deck for about 15 minutes and then we were back to our cabins.

Of course the kids found the whistles very amusing, much more so then any of the adults.

As you can see the life vests for the kids were a bit to big, but Disney delivered some smaller ones made just for toddlers to the cabin later that day.

Here's part of the crew, don't really know where the rest ended up.

After the drill, went up to deck nine and watched the Sail-Away show for a while.

It was very tiring watching all that dancing going on.

Then it was back down to the cabins with the verandas and we watched as we sailed away to start our vacation.

As we were pulling out of the port saw all sorts of marine life; sting-rays, dolphins, sharks, and others that we couldn't identify.  All in all a great day.