Triathlon Training

A couple of weeks ago, we got an e-mail from our YMCA informing us that there would be a free Kids Triathlon Training Program that would be offered for members this spring - which, for us here in Houston, is early February!  The triathlon is in mid-April.  Since we've talked with our kids about how good they would be at triathlons, we thought this would be a great thing for them to do.  Luckily, they agreed.

This kids triathlon involves a 100 yard swim, a 3 mile bike, and a 1/2 mile run.  The only thing I thought might cause them a little bit of trouble is the running part.  I'd been out running with our son a few times last year and it seemed like he needed to stop several times during a run of only about a mile.  So, this past weekend, I figured we'd better get the kids out and running ...and get our parental-selves off our ever-expanding rear-ends, too!

So, both Saturday and Sunday, we went running with the kids.  I ran with Fellan and my husband ran with Marxo and we ran from our house to our elementary school and back - about a 2 mile run.

Fellan surprised me.  On Saturday, he wanted to stop and walk about three times during the run, but on Sunday, I think we only stopped once.  Then again last night the whole family went running after we got home from work and school and he again only wanted to stop once.  Truthfully, though, I think he doesn't actually need that break, so we'll have to cut that out soon.

Marxo's running abilities have also been a pleasant surprise.  I expected her to whine and complain about doing this training, but it turns out that she's motivated and excited about doing this triathlon!  I feel like she might be the one person in our family who could probably be running faster than everyone else, but her endurance is a little lacking.

The husband and I are the ones who are really feeling beat up by this family running thing.  By the time Monday came around, I could barely walk and after last night's run, my legs still felt like jello.  It's good for both of us parents that we're starting this training with a fairly short distance.  Hopefully this will help us to start getting ourselves back into shape, too.  :)

Beauty of Houston

Ok, in an effort to make myself believe that Houston is not the Armpit of America, I decided I should take a picture of something beautiful about Houston this past weekend.  This is a view of our street in the pretty part of the neighborhood.  We live not too far from here, but don't have the full canopy of live oaks.

Canopy of Live Oaks

Why Houston?

So, a little over a year ago, we bought the empty lot across the street from us with the intention of building a house on it.  Actually, we want a pool and if a house comes with it, that would be great, too.

I didn't mention anything about it because I never felt like it would become a reality.  Turns out that I was sort of right about it not becoming a reality - the design that our architects have come up with is so super-cool and spectacular that we can't afford it.  So we're having to delay the project to come up with more money.  We're not giving up, but we've had to accept the fact that we will have to wait one more year for our pool.  *sob*

While we were in Colorado, we visited with some friends who kept telling us that what we really need to do is move to Colorado and build a new house.  It's always a tempting thought, but we just can't imagine doing it.  While we hate the Houston heat and humidity, we've gotten to the point that we love our neighborhood so much that we can't imagine living anywhere else.

I just need to stop looking at pictures from anyplace else in the world because they put Houston to shame!!  I mean, look at this.  And this.  And this picture has been my wallpaper for the past few weeks.  Every time we return from vacation and drive from the airport or the outskirts of town, I'm struck by how ugly this place is.  It's too bad, really.  If you read about the history and culture of Houston on Wikipedia, it almost makes you want to live here!

Actually, that's sort of the point we try to make to people about Houston - it's a good place to live, but there's not much reason to visit.  And as long as you don't mind complaining about the heat and humidity to anyone who will listen, you'll be able to endure.  Houston - it's worth it. (!!!???)  Oh my gosh, if you don't click on any of the other links, you must read this one. It literally made me LOL. :)

Back to work

After 17 days off from work, I had to finally come back to work this week.  We spent a nice Christmas at home and then headed off to Colorado for a freezing-cold ski trip for the New Year's week.

Unsurprisingly, I'm finding it hard to get back into the swing of work and that apathy has taken the place of any eagerness about blogging.  Too bad, too - on Monday, I was this close to posting a snippet about our vacation that I'm sure would have been engaging and cute in its brevity, but that enthusiasm seems to have gone missing sometime around 4:00 Monday afternoon.

Ah well.  I'll leave you with a picture of our Christmas Eve Aebleskiver instead.

Aebleskiver - worthy of a King, of course!