18 Mi Curse

Let it be known to the blog world that the marathon training run of 18 miles seems to have a curse on me!..
Three years ago while training for my last marathon, the 18 mi training run was the WORST run of my life. I won't go into too many details, we will just say that bodily malfunctions are not pleasant and something is wrong when mud puddles look tasty!
This would be the episode for me, of "hitting the wall". I'm certain there are countless others who have met a similar demise...but for me this stands as a reminder that "at least it isn't as bad as the 18miler". It has been a stepping stone of great strength, in that, when ever I think I'm tired and exhausted, I just remember that "at least I'm not crying and internally exploding".
I made a full recovery and the actual marathon was great!
This past Saturday was our "18 miler". I must confess that my body responded tremendously well throughout the entire run...I was even going to blog about what a success it had been!
That is until about 3 hours after the run and I have since developed an annoyingly sore ankle!
I have very little patience for injury. Keeping this in mind, I have taken the past few days off from running and have swam and laid low for a few days...Feeling incredibly lazy and BLAH...I decided to take a run this morning...not too bad my ankle is still a bit sore but I think I'll recover.
The point to this babbling, is that somehow the curse likes to make think that this is the end of training and wants to make me think I'm not strong enough to do it. I'm certain I will still run the marathon...(that is as long as I endure the 20 miler next week). However, the next time I'm training for a marathon I will either run a 17 or 19 mi run instead of 18 and see if I have better results!

Tribute to Our Daddies!

Today we Share with the blog world some of the hard earned wisdom taught by our great Dad's!

Grandpa Edge: -NBD (no big deal) Truly you have mastered the art of knowing when something is worth worrying over...
-Pentagon: reminding us that we must always keep a even balance between: Familial, Social, Spiritual, Intellectual, Physical.
-Importance of enjoying the great outdoors...bike, hike, garden, etc...
-Makes it a point to keep all of his kids on speed dial for his weekly/daily check-ups.
-Books are improtant...Food for the brain...Thanks for the yearly supply of Christmas books.

Grandpa Dilworth: -You can fix anything with a pocket knife and epoxy. If it is skin; butterfly stitches.

-No matter how busy life gets, you always have time to give the shirt off your back to someone in need.

-Has made a living (or lack there of) raising 11 kids and currently 23 grand kids! Known to say that his children are his Investment portfolio! Also maintains that each child is his "Favorite"!

-Dutch oven king...even backpacking! His solution is to bring a horse to pack the oven! Also, reminds us that "Nature in the rough is seldom mild."

-Scout motto "Be Prepared" comes as second nature to him. Dosen't even mind running a 5k in cowboy boots and wranglers!

-There is nothing we can't do as long as we love the lord, keep the commandments, and withstand the trials. (Truly he has had more than his share in his life time!)

To the Papa! -Brevity is the soul of whit...(notice how I'm already failing)

-If you say run 18 miles...he runs 20...and at a quicker pace, Meanwhile pushing a stroller with TWO kids...(maybe not 18 mi but has been know to push them for 14mi).

-No job is worth not being able to spend time with his family.

-Reminds me daily that less is more when it comes to worldly possessions!

-Continually shares his determination and drive for life with those around him.

-Doesn't mind pitching in to clean up and de-clutter things.

-Faithfully makes sour dough pancakes, waffles, bread every weekend and cooks Sunday dinner!!! Typically he is the best cook in the house!

-Randomly calculates various items (afterall he is a engineer!)...mileage, budet, calories in a tank of gas vs. calories in food...which is more efficient. How long it would take for the airplane we are traveling in to hit the ground, etc...

-Always keeps me on my toes and is a champion tease. Our children are developing similar characteristics and avidly enjoys testing them on eachother!

To all our Daddies and Granddaddies...Happy Fathers day we love you!
P.S. Your packages are on the way...actually they are drying on the table at this very moment so you can look for a Post-fathers day present later this week!

Saturday tidbits

First strawberries of the year! For the past week Oscar and Ricky have been checking on them waiting for them to turn...today was the day! The store strawberries are merely and memory of the real garden variety!
Rick performing a bird rescue...quite often we have humming birds and the like, fly into the sun room and can't get out. This happened to be a little sparrow. Thanks to the Risckter he made it out safe and sound.
Favorite snack of the week...inspired by our friend Jory, we decided to create our own trail mix jumble. Basically we went into the bulk food isle and got a little of everything and then mixed it all together. Oscar and Poppy have really been loving it as a snack this week.
Following the 3R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) Oscar passed along the "Fire" bike to his friend Sam. I took a picture so we could remember the "fire" bike without actually having to store it in the garage until Oscar at the age of 30 makes us get rid of it. Grandma and Grandpa E...Thanks for the fire bike the boy is crazy about bikes now! Today he did 5 miles!!!

mmmm...Pitas and Hummus!

I LOVE pitas and hummus...especially when they are home made! Today I made both and had some friends over for lunch. So, I though I would share our lunch with you...
Hummus...
2 cans Garbanzo Beans (drained, reserve some liquid)
1/3 Cup Tahini (you can find this usually by the peanut butter...or health food section of store)
1-2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
2 tsp Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp Cumin
1-2 TBSP Olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Take ingredients and place in a blender or food processor. Blend until it is nice and smooth. Add some of the liquid if the consistency is too thick. Add more lemon juice or oil to taste.
Make some Pitas and enjoy!

Pitas
The recipe I use comes from the Foodie Farmgirl blog.
2-1/2 cups bread flour
2teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 Tablespoons good olive oil
1 cup warm water (105-110 degrees)
My version is only different because I use a kitchen aid to do the kneading
This is how I do it...
Place water, sugar, and yeast in bowl and let stand 5 minuets or until it starts getting bubbly.
Next add oil, and salt. Begin adding flour, a little at a time until the dough is slightly sticky, but firm. remove from bowl and cut into 6 equal size pieces (the foodie farm girl does 8 pieces but I like bigger pitas) roll in to six balls and let stand on floured counter for 40 min. Cover with a wet towel while standing.
Next warm up the oven to 500 degrees. cover bottom rack of oven with tin foil. Roll out two-3 pitas at a time and place on pre-heated oven rack for 4-5 minutes until puffy and golden. remove and stack on top of each other, so they deflate. I put my leftovers (if there are any) in zip lock bags and store them or freeze them. They also make great pita pizzas or pita chips to go along with the yummy hummus.
For a more detailed recipe and pictures check out the foodie farmgirl.

I think these pitas are really easy and quick since they only have to raise 40 mins.
Enjoy!

Picture Updates

Today is gloomy and rainy...although it's a nice change from the 95 degree weather of the weekend. I can tell it is getting nice out because I don't frequent my blog as much as usual. Here are some photos of the past few weeks...
The Adorable Poppy...picture taken while on our daddy-birthday camping trip.
Lil'O and the Popster hug for a photo on a morning walk last week...
Daddy's flaming birthday cake...happy 31 to the dad!

Mother's Day Ride with fellow mommies, twenty kids between the 6 of us,(Sue on the top left has eight of them) The ride was 54 miles on Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes. The first 15 mi. were rainy but the ride was beautiful! We had a great time and so much fun!
When seeing O' in this position I asked what he was doing...he said "Diving in the ocean".
The Popster meets a fellow Poppy...She wasn't too keen it's smell.

Note to self...

When purchasing an item on-line and from the UK...It would be smart to note the exchange rate from pounds to dollars before purchasing said item. Rather than having the husband get the credit card statement and ask "how much was ___ item?" Only to find that it was double what I thought it would be.

Happy 31 Ricky!

You can see here by his charming good looks and great legs...why I can't help but gloat over such a great husband!
Saturday Ricky turned the big 31. To celebrate, me and the kids took him camping...ate at a little Old European restaurant (not so great), did a 15 mi run, and went and saw Shrek the Third.
All the while, he was his great, accommodating self for my sometimes less-than-well planned out activities.
Tonight, we had his tasty birthday cake. I can't help but wish that we had gone digital back when we were first married...oh, the good pics I would be able to post...but these are pretty good too!

Here is a glimpse at the fun and joy I have, being married to the Rickster. He certainly brightens our world. Rick seems to bring out the best in me...pushing me to new lengths (literally...yesterday he carried all of our water and support for our 15 mi run...Me? I carried nothing!) Not to mention that he frequently will push our two children on 13 mi runs!! His strength and endurance is quite amazing!
(I'm sure he is blushing right now as he reads this...) ;0)
And last but not least...I can't help but adore the fact he adores our kids...and they adore him. He is such a great daddy!
Happy Birthday Numero-Uno Big Papa!

Pics: Ricky on our mother's day ride, Ricky sharing the simple-

but cool things of the world with lil'O, and Ricky and Poppy on the

beach last fall.