Colorado Trip: Day 5...

We decided to load up and head home so that we could enjoy our Labor Day relaxing at home.

 

Good bye Mountains.

Hello Pumpkin Spice Latte!  It was a little bit of Heaven in a cup.

We had such a great time!

A Photo a Day...Week 3...

Day 15:  My first day of classes!  Ken made me take the traditional first day of school photo.

Day 16:  Lots and lots of studying to do

Day 17:  Is it bad that she sometimes runs from me when I grab the camera?

Day 18:  These two were obviously being abused.  And yes, that is my Ironman medal hanging on our basement door.  I would wear it everyday if Ken would not make fun of me.  :)

Day 19:  Bless you Target for putting out part of your Easter candy!  Let the obsession begin!

Day 20:  Apparently running 11 miles makes someone sleepy.

Day 21:  Guess what is in the cup?  Yep, a Pumpkin Spice Latte.  The Starbucks by my office still has it and it does not expire until March.  :)

Deck the Halls...

We had quite the busy weekend!  We had a birthday party to attend on Friday night, that included adult go cart racing.  I am not so sure I have ever driven a go cart before, but given the way I drive my car at times, it could be scary!

We had a little time to kill before going to the birthday party, so we stopped off at Hobby Lobby to see if there were any Christmas decorations that I could not live without.

I found a singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  Of course I hit the button to make it sing.  I was completely in love until I noticed...

The Abominable Snowman!  This is my I think I love him face.  He sang too!

All smiley and ready to race some go carts!  Spoiler alert, I had to have a booster seat to be able to drive.  It is the story of my life being 4'10!

Mike and Ken are ready to take off.  Too bad it was girls racing with girls and guys racing with guys.  I would have loved to raced with the boys to cut a few of them off!

While I had to have a booster seat and my pedals adjusted, Mr. here could barely even fit in the darn thing.  Ah, the story of his life.

Well, if I am completely honest, I must admit that I had to have TWO booster seats because I am just too freaking tiny!  I probably could have used a third, but I was too afraid to ask.  Yes, I look awfully scary here with my mean face and two booster seats...

Saturday night we decided to cruise thru Starbucks for a latte and drive around to look at Christmas lights.  We found a listing online of houses in Southern Johnson County that go overboard.  Oh and guess who went with us?

That would be Miss Angel.  She loves going bye bye in the car, so we figured she would like the lights as well.  She loved it!  

One of the neighborhoods has 23 houses that takes part. It is so pretty!

On Sunday, Jill and Avery picked me up so we could do a little last minute shopping.  If I am being honest, I must say that Jill and I were shopping for ourselves and not others.  Merry Christmas to us!

I was watching Avery while Jill was paying and she ran over to this rack and started picking things out saying I want that!  It was priceless.  I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree.

She is such a mess!

Happy Fall!

My friend Heather sent this to me the other day.

Words to live by

I am pretty sure that this ecard sums up my life.  And for anyone that is counting, I have been burning Fall candles since the middle of August.  Oh and that is also when I decorated for Fall with all my pumpkins.  I was too excited to wait any longer. 

Oh and speaking of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, I received the below comment from Emily earlier this week. 

"So I had never heard of the pumpkin spice latte before your post.  (Yes apparently I live in a deep dark cave away from society.)  In the two weeks since, I have made up for my previous ignorance and had no less than FIVE.  Thank you for the introduction!  I am OBSESSED.  :)"

To say that that this made my day is an understandment.  I mean, I have converted someone to a Pumpkin Spice Latte maniac.  I can hear the angels singing right now.  Carry on.

Pumpkin Spice Date...

Ken and I have been together for eight years.  For at least seven of those eight years, he has heard me talk nonstop about Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  I literally start a count down as to when they will be appearing in my local Starbucks.  I mean, a girl has got to have priorities.  So imagine my surprise when he took me to Starbucks last night and guess what he ordered?  That's right ladies and gentleman, after hearing me talk about these fabulous, wonderful lattes for so long, he finally decided to get one for himself.  And, I am pretty sure this will not be his last.



Pumpkin Spice Love

Ironman Aftermath...

I woke up on Monday feeling pretty well.  I was a little sore, but nothing that I could not handle.  We packed up the car and went to the Ironman store for me to buy a little merchandise.  I had refused to buy anything in advance in case I did not finish.

I ended up with a hoodie, sticker, water bottle and two other shirts.  Chances are, you will see me wearing an Ironman shirt at some point very soon.  :)  We made the eight hour drive home, stopping along the way.  That is when the soreness kicked in.  Still, it was not as bad as I was expecting.  On Tuesday, we both went back to work.  I guess life has to go on after Ironman.

Two random things, my hoo hoo was numb until Wednesday.  It did not hurt, it was just numb.  The other thing, remember when I mentioned that my bike helmet was crooked all day?  Well it must have irritated a nerve in my head because if I touch a certain part near my forehead hair line, I have a weird sensation go in a line to the back of my head.  Very random.  It has gotten better and is almost completely gone.

When I got to my office on Tuesday, I was surprised with a decorated door.

My entire office tracked me all day on Sunday.  They are all super proud of their Ironman!

I received a very special delivery from Ken on Tuesday.  Now, if he did not already receive husband of the year for his spectating, he should definitely receive it for the beautiful flowers!  

I received these beautiful flowers and chocolates on Wednesday from Ken's parents.  Talk about making me feel spoiled!

Jill, Heather, me, Michelle, and Melissa (thanks for the picture Mel!)

I spent the weekend celebrating with friends, telling the story of my day and enjoying a few cocktails.  I have also been very spoiled by my friends.  I have received gift certificates for facials, massages, pumpkin baked goods, and other gifts.  I certainly have the sweetest friends a girl could ask for!  

Oh and in case you did not notice, September 1st has come and gone.  I certainly hope you are in the spirit of Fall and have enjoyed a Pumpkin Spice Latte!  I had my first on Friday.  I was prepared to beg for it, but the nice lady a Starbucks kindly made it with no begging needed.  It was everything I had hoped it would be!

I am Cheating on Ironman Training...

Yeah, so I am have been cheating on ironman training with my husband.  You knew it would happen eventually right?  After three tough weeks, I decided that last week would be an easy week.  It was such an easy week, that I bailed on doing a long run or a long ride.  Oops, but it was totally worth it to spend the weekend with Ken.  I mean, I still worked out, but did not do a six hour work out.

Saturday Ken took me to my favorite restaurant, Kona Grill.  It was exactly what we both needed.  A little sushi and conversation.  After Kona, we went to check out the Titanic artifacts exhibit that was at Union Station.  It was cool to see all of the items, but I was a little disappointed in the exhibit overall.  I am glad we went so that I was able to see what it was all about.  After the exhibit, Ken surprised me by taking me to Westport to go to Murray's Ice Cream.  Can you say delicious?  I got ice cream and a cookie.  Life on a Saturday does not get much better than that.

Sunday we woke up and decided to go for a walk.  I suggested taking Kya to Starbucks, since there is one that is less than a mile from our backdoor.  We sat outside and enjoyed a latte with our girl, and I reminded Ken that in just a few weeks, we can order Pumpkin Spice Lattes!  Yes, folks, Fall is getting closer!!

"I love walks and lattes"

It was such a fabulous weekend and I am so glad I took time off to spend with Ken.  It gave me a taste of what my freedom will be like in a few short weeks.  I see a weekend of me lounging on the coach watching Friends DVD's while eating cookies, cupcakes, and ice cream in my future.  

The First of Many...

Pumpkin Spice Lattes!  I was THRILLED this morning to have one.  Pretty sure that first drink was a bit of heaven.  We were in Denver all weekend and they were not selling them.  Of course once we got back to Kansas, I could get one. 

Kansas City 1 - Dever 0.

It's Back!!!

I am currently sipping on my first of many Pumpkin Spice Lattes!  This is officially the start of Fall!  I was not expecting to be able to get one until tomorrow, so this is such a treat.  I am now only burning Fall candles and Christmas is just around the corner!  It might be 100 degrees here in Kansas City today, but in my office, it is 100% Fall.

November Totals...

Wow, is it time to wrap up November already?  I love November.  It is my birthday month and I like to consider the whole month a celebration.  Oh well, at least it is the holiday season and Starbucks is serving their iced gingerbread again.  Oh, they also have Carmel Brulee lattes this year.  Can you say yum!!!  These definitely give Pumpkin Spice Lattes some competition.  Okay, I could ramble forever about food and November back to the totals.

115.15 miles during the month of November.  I was hoping for 125, but I had knee trouble all last week and I was a little under the weather.  Plus, I think I just needed you know, rest! 

I am not sure of my plans for 2010.  I would like to run a Spring marathon (hint, hint Laura), but I am not sure.  If I do not plan anything else, I will most likely run the St. Louis Marathon (hint, hint Laura). I am planning on running the Chicago Marathon this year.  Ken's work has always kept me from running this race, and I have decided that I am running it this year and if he cannot go, it is no big deal.  Two of my friends are planning on running it, so I can always hang with them and their families.  And of course, there is always the New York City Marathon.  I am begging and pleading that I get selected this year.  The race is three days from my 30th birthday for Pete's sake!  How fun would that be???

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  The weather is getting ready to get COLD here.  I guess we cannot complain, it is December afterall!