Date with my Dad

Last night I got to go on a date with my Dad.  It has been FOREVER since I have had the chance to hang out with just my dad.  We had so much fun together.  We met at the Green Mill for dinner and got to talk over dinner before heading to the theater to watch "The Hunger Games." 
I read the series about a year ago and I decided to get the box set for my dad for his birthday last year.  He flew through the books and really enjoyed them just as much as I did.  I remember calling him when I heard the casting choices for the movie.  I was unsure of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss for a variety of reasons.  I loved the idea of Woody Harrelson as Haymitch and also Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. I have had a standing date ever since with my dad to see the movies together since we loved the books.

The movie was actually pretty good.  I always struggle seeing a movie after reading the book because I spend a lot of time comparing the two instead of simply enjoying the movie.  I felt like they did a good job staying true to the books with a few minor adjustments.  I felt some intense anxiety as Katniss entered the tube to rise up onto the playing arena.  The idea of watching what was going to happen was really freaking me out, because I knew what was going to happen.  Kids killing kids.  *Shudder*

Yesterday, I felt like a little kid in the candy store.  I was giddy with excitement to spend some quality time with my dad.  It makes me realize that obviously I need to do this more as my dad is truly someone very important to me and whom I enjoy spending time with.

Thanks Dad for an incredible date night!  Love you lots! XOXOXOX

Do any of you get to do date nights like this with one or both of your parents?

Get Lucky 7K

This is the second year that I have run the Get Lucky 7K race.  It is a huge race(8,663 participants)with the best people watching, decent course and exceptional after party.  The best part of this years race was the fact that it was on St. Patrick's Day.  You can't get much better than that...well, except for the fact that it was 80 degrees on March 17th in Minnesota!  Boom! 
Since I did the race last year I knew what to expect.  A ton of bobbing and weaving around people who corralled in the 7-10min/mile pacer sections.  I started in 10 min/mile last year so this year, my crew of 7 and I were sure to elbow our way up to the 8min/mile section.  I am SO glad that we did this.  My running experience was incredibly different than last years.  Apparently this year they stopped runners at the gate in batches so there were less people on the course at a time.  I had to bob and weave for maybe 1/4 of a mile and then it was pretty much smooth sailing the entire way.

I finished this year 4 minutes quicker than last year.  I was shocked!  I did know that I was going to be faster, but 4 minutes?  Wow.  Maybe running is for me after all.  Did I mention that when I crossed the finish line I felt like passing out or throwing up I had given it my all?  Thanks to my friend Jen Dolan for holding me accountable and helping me shut the little voice in my head telling me to slow down, you can't do this up. 

We waited at our designated meeting spot afterward for our entire crew to gather.   They handed out banana's, muscle milk, nut rolls(my fav and totally not primal), water and chips(what?).  While we hung out, we got a lot of after the race photo's.

See that shiny thing in my hand?  That was my wig.  I did get a photo before the race with it on, but it is on my phone which is now out of commission.  That wig lasted about the first two seconds that I ran and it immediately flew off.  I ran the entire 4 plus miles looking like I had a pom pom in my hands.  Remind me no wig next year ok?  My two neighbors, Kristi and Kristian and I all made our own tutu's to run in.  I saw a ton of people wearing them last year and thought it would be fun to go all out and dress up this year.  We knew that we would probably only use it for this race unless we decide to do the Monster Dash half marathon in October and then we will be Tinker Bell! LOL!

Once we were all together, we headed in search of our free beer.  The line at Kieran's was ridiculous but I was able to meet up and say hello to my sister who also ran the race.

So, off to the Local our crew went where we again ran into a gigantic line.  So we walked another block further and planted our butts at Brit's pub on the outdoor patio.  The sun was shining and it was 70 plus degrees on March, 17th in Minnesota.  You cannot get much better than that.

We had a few drinks and at some lunch and we were off to The Local again, where there was no longer a line and free beers were calling our names.  We ran into these two guys who ran the race in speedo's and swim caps.  They were pretty funny.  We also saw a bunch of giant leprechauns and a bag piper.  I love the bag pipes.  It is such a cool sound and it really gets you in the spirit of St. Patty's day. 

I will definitely sign up for this race again next year.  I'm only bummed because it won't be St. Patrick's day, but I am sure the experience will be just as unique and interesting!

Birthday Madness!

I know, I know...the twins' birthday party was almost a month ago.  It is amazing how quickly time flies.  Since they were turning 5 years old, I felt it was only appropriate for them to each have their own party this year.  Am I crazy?  Absolutely.  So, at first I was going to do one party one weekend and then the other the next weekend.  After thinking about that for a while it seemed to drawn out and complicated because we would have virtually all of the same people coming to a party for my kids two weekends in a row.  We ended up going with an all family party on Saturday afternoon/evening and two separate kid parties on Sunday.  In theory that was the perfect solution.  Oy vey!

The Family party was a Mexican fiesta(because that is easy)complete with all the fixings and the most important things for the adults: Margarita's and Corona's!  I did chicken and beef taco filling and made 24 hard shells(there were 32 people)and I believe only two hard shells got eaten :(  Damn Paleo/Primal followers! J/K...I love that my peeps are on board with this healthy lifestyle, not to mention the chicken I made won rave reviews from EVERYONE at the party which made me not care so much about the stinking hard shells.  I just won't have to make them for Breezy for a while(she loves them thank God).

My Corona picture is my attempt at blurring the background using a low aperture setting.  It worked...the lighting is off though and I feel like something is really messed up with my camera. Boo.

The kids got some really incredible gifts from everyone.  We devoured the Costco cake and a wonderful time was had by all.  We did forget to do the pinata(duh)so the twins were a bit miffed as the last of our guests were heading out the door.  I told them we will do it another time.  Little candy hounds!

On Sunday, our first party of the day was Bria's at Brunswick Zone in Eden Prairie for Bowling.  We decided that we would invite all of the girls to Bria's party and all of the boys to Bennett's party.  Bria chose Hannah Montana as her theme and all of the little girls just loved it.  The party was from 11:45-1:30.  We had pizza, soda and bowling along with cake and dancing.  It was a really fun party!  I had Chadd and Sara there to help out with the 10 kids and it worked perfectly.  A big thanks to Auntie Sara who helped with all three of the kids' parties.  We love you!

My friend Carrie and her girls stayed to bowl a game after the party so we hung out with them for a bit.  Carrie teaches a hip hoop(weighted hula hoop)class and one of her daughter Anna's gifts to Breezy was a giant hula hoop.  The girls loved it!  They were hooping in the bowling alley!



We packed everything up and headed to Edinborough Park in Edina for Bennett's party at 3pm.  On the way there, both of the twins fell asleep.  Ruh Roh!  Waking them up is never very fun.  Both of them were quite crabby and I feel like Bennett could not have cared less that we were there for his party.  Thankfully, his buddies showed up soon and he started to thaw out a little bit.  We let the boys climb for an hour and then rallied them all back to the table for cake and presents.  Bennett loves Star Wars, so that was his theme and it was a hit.  Bennett's little buddy Ty helped him blow out his candles and that did not go over well.  So, we re lit them and had him blow them out again(tears and all).  He got some great gifts from his friends.  I love this age because the gifts are always practical and sustainable.  I loved all of the Lego sets(Star Wars)that he got. He got the game Fast track, which I had never heard of and  it is awesome.  My boy finally has some toys that are interesting(unlike the bazillion other toys that lurk around the house without a real purpose)and fun to play with.

After hopping them all up on sugar, we hit the open gym to ride bikes and trikes, bounce in the bouncy house and play basketball.  It was a lot of fun.  Auntie Sara had a blast playing monkey in the middle with Avery and some random kid who was there that day.  We also let the kids loose for another 45 minutes or so up in the climbing structure.  I was able to go up with them and my camera to take a few shots of the boys going down the structures best slides.  The boys went down over and over while I snapped photos of them.  It was a ton of fun! 

Next year, I think that I will try to hold the parties on separate days.  As terrible as that sounds, it will probably work out better all things considered.  I am delighted to have two 5 year old kiddos and I cannot wait for what is yet to come for my sweet babies.  Thank you to all who came to celebrate their special day!