Muffin Tops Rule Ragnar!!!

The last weekend of February I got to run the Ragnar Relay again. I ran it last year for the first time, and loved it, so immediately jumped on a team of 12 ladies, and we had a blast.

The Ragnar Relay is a 204 mile race a team runs from Prescott, AZ down to Tempe, AZ. We had a team of 12 ladies. 6 in each van. Each runner has a leg that they run, and we run 3 times. It is a continuous race from start to finish, and takes about 30 hours. So that basically means you really don't get any sleep that whole time. It's a blast!!

I was runner 5 this year in van 1. My 3 legs totaled 16 1/2 miles. I ran 5.5 miles around 10 a.m. the first day. Here I am somewhere outside of Prescott.

Then that night at 9:30 I ran 6.5 miles, down the side of US Highway 60 out of Wickenburg. It is all sorts of fun running at night by the light of the moon, all alone, and making sure you really get to the side of the shoulder of the road when a a semi is coming at you!

My final leg was from Cave Creek to the outside of Fountain Hills. It was only 3.4 miles, but it was mostly uphill. It was a little rough, because by now your legs have figured out what the heck you are doing, and are wondering why in the heck you are doing it, and they start to protest. But, I did it! And, I was only kinda sore the next day. By Monday I was pretty much back to normal.

So here is a picture of the whole team at the finish line. Because most of us don't actually have muffin tops (that we are willing to admit!) one of the girls made some fake ones. They are quite hilarious. She got some skin colored nylons and stuffed it with cotton filler. We wore them around our waist under our shirts, and looked like we had a sweet roll going on! It was funny. We got lots of compliments on our team name and creativity. :)

The awesome runners of van 1!!!!

At the first exchange - it was pretty dang cold up there! We walked around handing out mini muffins to other vans and runners. We were quite a hit!

Finally, lest you all think we are weird, I promise, we were pretty tame compared to some of the people. People really get into this. I don't know the name of this team, but I LOVED their outfits!

Now, because it is too dang hard to get these pictures in order, I'll just put them on in random order!

Here I am getting the hand-off from Rachel. She is 5 ft. 11, so it was fun to have another tall blonde on the team! :)

Me and Kristen with our Muffin Top flag on the van. You can't see it, but our "logo" was a pair of jeans with a big muffin top on top. Very cute and creative! May I also note that this was at the end of the race - on maybe 2 hours of sleep, and lots of sweat!

Like I said . . . some people are just really different and really get into it.

The whole team running in at the finish at Tempe Marketplace. Most of us have the muffin tops on.

We really had a blast. Now it looks like we are going to have to do the Red Rock Relay in Southern Utah that Keith told me about. Should be lots of fun!

The only downer to the race was an 18 year old kid was hit on the side of the road at about 2 in the morning and died a few days later. So, so sad. Just a reminder of how short life is.

I love that I can actually say I love running! What great therapy. Nothing like turning on the I-pod and running all your cares or thoughts away.

Addi's latest obsessions

Here's what we've been hearing a lot of at our house.

"I wanna watch Ogre!! I wanna watch Ogre!!" Of all the movies to become obsessed with - she chooses that one.

We also just got home from "Taco".

Otherwise known as . . .

Gotta love those 2 year olds!!!

The Disney Cruise!!

When you wish upon a star . . .

Yup, we finally took our first cruise ever, and decided to go with the "best" (as our brother in law Steve - the guru of all vacations, says).

The Disney Wonder.

Here's the kids at the pre-boarding area with the small replica of the ship. Yes, we were very excited!

Here we are at the "bon voyage" party on the top deck. Now you may notice we are missing the holy terror known as Addison. We sadly left her home in the hopes of actually enjoying the vacation, and not having to go high diving off the top level of the ship into the water to chase after her. As surely she would climb the railing and be overboard at the first chance she got! My friend assures me years of therapy should help her overcome the feelings of being left out when she sees the pictures in later years. I hope so.

We had a mandatory fire drill before we pushed off. Good thing we know how to put those life jackets on! And we are also sure the reflector tape on them works - as the flash helped us discover!

Here's a montage of the "setting sail" party. Wow, those Disney entertainers have a LOT of energy! We were in for a windy ride that night.

We left shore at 5:00 p.m. Dinner was at 6:00. We got there about 6:30, and all of us were feeling a little less than good. That ship was seriously rocking. It was very windy outside and I guess the ocean was a bit choppy. We ate the first night at Triton's restaurant, and I was actually shocked at how gourmet and excellent the food was. I wanted to eat a ton - after all we paid for it!! However, I really wasn't feeling all that great and didn't want to have to taste the dinner a second time around later. Fortunately (or not) I was able to fit some dessert! :) However, when the waiters asked Kayla what she wanted for dessert, she replied "nothing, thank you!" She was NOT feeling well. Well, they brought out everyone's dessert, and placed a plate with the silver dome cover in front of Kayla. She was confused and looked at me like "help!". Then, with a dramatic flourish, the waiter took the lid off the plate, and here was Kayla's dessert:

Kinda cute, huh? We had great waiters - which you cruise connoisseurs know followed us to each restaurant every night.

We braved the night and went to the show at 8:30 - because I always love a good show! After that, we all headed to our rooms to hit the bed and pray we felt better in the morning.

Thank heaven we did feel better in the morning, and for the rest of the trip. No one got sea sick again! Whew!

So the first stop was Nassau, Bahamas. We got off and took a taxi to Atlantis on Paradise Island. All I can say is Wow! What a place! I have seen it on TV several times, and we were really there! It was an amazing waterpark, aquarium and resort. It should be - it costs $110 per person to get in! ugh!!!!!

The second day we found ourselves docked at the Disney Island - Castaway Cay. I was starting to feel a little roly-poly already, so I did the morning 5K on the island. We basically ran from one end of the island to the other and back. So it is a small island. Anyway, it was a beautiful day, and a very relaxing time on the beach. We hurried back to the ship for the dress up night, and another great Disney show. Although by now we were starting to tire of every song being about how if you really believe it, you can achieve any dream! You just close your eyes, believe with all your heart, ** oh, and sprinkle some pixie dust ** then your dreams will come true! We were laughing when Lane said, "You know, not everyone can have their dreams come true. We need garbagemen and waiters, etc. Some people have to work here!"

Finally, I have to give a shout out to the service. They make really fun animals out of the towels in your rooms, and the waiters were great. We had Romy from India and Victor from Columbia. Romy did little magic tricks and brain teasers. The kids loved him. Lane and I loved using our Spanish with Victor.

So the highlight for Savannah and Conner was the "Oceaneer's Lab" where the kids hung out and played games, did experiments, met characters, etc. In fact, they escaped our ever vigilant eyes a few times, and ended up in the kids' club - safe and happy.

Kayla, sadly for her, but not for us, did not get her "true love's kiss" under the fireworks at the pirate party! In fact, because she was so sick the first night, she missed the teen "getting to know you" and never really did get to meet any teens! That's OK, she hung with mom and dad and was plenty busy doing all the stuff there was to do everywhere. She really enjoyed the shows each night. They really do have great talent on there and do a great job.

I can't even choose a highlight of the cruise. I really truly enjoyed it all. No cooking, cleaning or changing diapers! Heaven!!!

Lane says I can't put down what his favorite part was . . . hmm . . .

Yes, it was a dream come true, and we did "live our dream" for a few days. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and we ended up on dry land Thursday morning and headed for a couple more fun-filled Disney days at Disney World. That post will be next!

The Impromptu New Year's Eve party!

Ever the partiers we are. I was talking to my friend a couple of days before New Year's about how we are getting so boring and won't be doing anything because Kayla will be gone. She said I should have a party. Well, those of you who know me, know I am always up for a party! So, we threw one together and had a blast!

A little 2009 trivia Pictionary, Wits and Wagers, and of course a bunch of food and Martinelli's to bring in the new year made a great night! Sure beats the night we spent stuck in the snow in Utah with my mom and dad and their friends a few years back. We ended up getting out of the car and walking up the hill to the house and watching Legally Blonde. That will go down in the halls of history as one of the most "interesting" New Year's Eves ever!

Now, if I could just figure out how to arrange the photos in these collages and make people's heads not be cut off, that would help! Anyone want to teach me that? Just thought I'd ask!

A cougar????

So I have joked about becoming a cougar after seeing New Moon and drooling over "Jacob". Still team Edward, but Jacob looks way better in the movie! But, that is not my point. The newest, faddish definition of cougar is an older woman who preys after a younger man. Me 38, Taylor Lautner 17, ultra cougarish. So, I'm not a cougar.

However, this morning as I was texting my friend H - Kayla was laughing at me. She said, "Mom how old is she? Isn't she way younger than you?" I said, she's about 28, the same as my other friend S. (I am using initials to protect the identity of people who may not want to be known as my friends on my blog! ha!) That's only 10 years younger than me! Here is her response:

"Geez mom, you're a friend cougar."

Christmas Eve

The Cook family festivities began on Christmas Eve with the traditional appetizers, talent show and reading/acting of the Christmas story. We were severely short on boys, with Conner being the only one, and refusing to be in the play. (How can I possibly have a shy son? I don't get it!)

Darren and Ruth hosted this year. Too much food was consumed, and some budding stars were discovered in the talent show. I couldn't get Kayla to sing or anything, but we did get Kayla and Addi to do "UP". It is Kayla's cheer stunts she does with Addi! I am not kidding - it is so fun to watch. She gets Addi standing up on her hands and she cheers, "Go Fremont!" It is the cutest thing ever. I am going to try to video it and put it on the blog. Anyway, they were a hit.

At home we enjoyed opening the new pj's and ornaments we get every year. The kids then go have a "sleep-over" in Kayla's room, where not a whole lot of sleeping goes on. They are so excited they can hardly sleep, but eventually they do, and Santa can get to work - cause heaven knows he is very good to us every year!

My Sweet Savannah and Santa

Savannah left this note on the fireplace for Santa:

 

Yeah, there may have been a few tears in my eyes.