I'm Committed

Well, it's official.

I'm officially listed as a 2012 Muncie Ironman participate.

Now before you get too excited, this isn't a FULL Ironman. It's only the half. That's:
1.2 mile swim
56 mile bike
13.1 mile run

But still. It's enough to scare me, thrill me, and excite me all at the same time. I can't believe I'm actually going to go through with this.

I got the racing bug last year, when I did a few sprint triathlons. I also trained pretty consistently on the bike with my girlfriend Kelly, who did Louisville (full Ironman) last year. I've become fully enthralled with the sport of cycling and my only regret is that I wish I would have known about this sport years ago. It's amazing. And if I don't say so myself, I'm a pretty strong cyclist. Considering I've never had any formal training, and have only been doing it for a couple of years.

One of the qualities I admire most in my husband is his mental strength to power through anything. Let's face it. He doesn't have a runner's body. He's a former lineman and wrestler. But he's always had this competitive edge and drive to power through any challenging obstacle his body may endure. It's part of being an athlete. And that's one of the things I regret most about not doing in my school years. I am so competitive in nature. And hell, if you're reading this than you know me and you know my frame. It's.......solid. I've got huge, wide shoulders, an extra-long torso, and some a$$-kicking muscular legs (Have I ever showed you my "shin" muscle?!?   No?   Next time you see me, ask me about it. Guaranteed to blow you away. Seriously.) And as much as I hated it, people would always ask me if I played softball in school. (Seriously?!?....why don't you just tell me that I'm beefy. Because that's what you're implying.) But point is this: I had the foundation to be a competitive athlete. I just regret the fact that I didn't participate in sports at the high school level.

But it's only been these last couple of years - pretty much when I entered the thrilling thirties - that I've re-prioritized my life. Put things into perspective, focusing my time and energy on the things that matter most to me. So aside from my family, my heath and fitness is at the top of that list. If I don't have a strong mind and strong body, then everything else suffers. And somewhere along this journey to a healthier lifestyle, I became addicted.

Addicted to the feeling of success. Addicted to the results I saw within myself. Addicted to the response I received from my loved ones, thus creating a stronger relationship on all levels.

Addicted to the drive.

The drive to fuel and push myself to my limits. To never give up. To push myself beyond any physical measures I could have ever thought possible. To have the mental strength to endure temporary pain....for a permanent accomplishment.

Which is why I'm doing the Muncie Ironman.
 

 

Valentine's Day 2012

This year, I got to spend my Valentine's Day with my little man because Nancy's was closed for the day.

We started the morning off with a "lovely" little breakfast of heart-shaped French Toasts and pink milk.

And even though I was home for the day, Emma still went school because she was super-excited about her Valentine's Day Party. They all made boxes the previous day, and she was over-the-moon-excited to put her Valentines in her friends' boxes.

Drewbie and I spent our afternoon at the Children's Museum............and let me just tell you that this kid is a WILD MAN without his sister! I don't know if he was just excited that he got my full attention or if he was just extra-rambunctious that day, but he was a HANDFUL!!! You would have thought that he owned the museum, the way he was taking charge and running from this exhibit to that exhibit. And forget about looking down for 2.2 seconds to check the time on your watch....if you left him out of your sight for even the slightest second, he was off! Polar opposite of his uber-responsible sister. She freaks out if she can't see you at all times.  Most of the time, she even holds my hand....which she never does anymore! (Could be due to the fact that she "lost" us once...)  Drewbie, though?!? He could care less if he got lost. It would just be an adventure to him!

I didn't feel like doing my hair that day, so I pulled it back in a hat.
So what did the Little Flirt want to wear as well?!?

The water station at Playscape is always a big hit!

That's "Da Crocadile. It'll chop your head off!"

He is SO MUCH FUN!

 
Even though Daddy had to work, we ended our day with some more love, complete with a heart-shaped pizza.  And heart-shaped pepperoni, of course!
 

Super Bowl XLVI

We had a FANTASTIC time at the Super Bowl. I still cannot believe that I actually went to it.

For free.

And while our Colts didn't make it to the big game....nor did my 2nd favorite team, the Saints (a'hem, Drew Brees....who SHOULD HAVE won the MVP of the NFL)...Eli sure made it extra-special for us hometown fans by kicking the Patriots' A$$ and OWNING Tom Brady! Leave it to the little bro to shut down what was sure to be the start of many talks of "The Dynasty" era of Brady and Belichick. Us Colts and Giants fans alike LOVED the fact that Tom Brady had to go crying back home without a Super Bowl ring.

Not in our House, Tommy Boy! Not in our House.

Okay, enough of the trash talk. The game itself was one heck of a game! Aside from the fantastic outcome (!), it truly was a great game.

And the Halftime Show! Wow!!!

Madonna KILLED it! It was amazeballs! I still get chills when I go back and watch the last song on TV, "Just Like A Prayer." That has got to be her BEST performance of that song of her entire career. It was amazing to be a part of the audience, holding the flashlight, while she sang a classic. [And Emma and Drew loved it!.....I'd say they've watched it about 25 times now. Emma knows all the words to "Just Like A Prayer" (Drew knows the chorus)........and it's awesome.]
 


The Luc, looking pretty

Ice Sculpture

Excited to be at the FREAKING Super Bowl!!!

Our view during "Just Like A Prayer"

Amazing!

G-Men Win!

G-G-G-Men confetti!