"Let's Clean Out My Closet!"

I know I've talked about this subject before, but I guess I'm just amazed by little Zachary. The other day he said to me, "Let's clean out my closet and find toys to give away to the needy!" He said it with as much excitement as if he were talking about going to Disneyland. He love to help clean and organize, which I don't know where it comes from, but it is certainly nice trait to have.

So we cleaned it out, taking out most things in the closet, and finding a whole bunch of old shoes and puzzles that we could get rid of. We also organized a little bit and moved some of the games that were overflowing out of Kevin's closet into Zach's. One of these days he and I will tackle my closet.......I'm sure he'd be ready to do it tomorrow, it's just me that's putting it off!

For Those of you Not on Facebook

A long lost friend posted some pictures yesterday of her and I in our younger years.  I thought they were so funny I had to post them here so that all of you who are not on Facebook could enjoy them as well (especially mom and dad).  

In other news..... I ran 13.5 miles yesterday and it felt good.  I'm a little stiff today, but not bad.  Also I'm doing pretty well with the 3-day fundraising.  I have raised over $500 already and it's only February!

We had a week of sickness last week, with Kevin sick with the flu Sunday and Monday, then getting an ear infection to top it off.  Then Zach stayed home on Friday with the flu.  Thankfully Garrett and I did not get it, although I wasn't feeling too hot Friday night.  Hopefully we will be all back to a normal week this week!

3-Day Walk

I told you all back in December or January that I had some goals for this year.  One was the Rock and Roll marathon.  The other was the 3-day Breast Cancer Walk.

I am officially signed up for the walk, which will be taking place November 20-22, in San Diego.  I guess San Diego is the happening place for me this year.  So, as a walker I will be walking 60 miles over the course of 3 days.  I will be staying in tents that they have set up for us.  I will be eating at stations along the way.  I have joined with a group of 4 other women who have previously done the walk, only one of whom I've actually met.  Our team is called "Safe at Second".  I'm looking forward to meeting all the other women and doing some training walks with them.

Why am I doing this?  As many of you know, this past November my mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She been extremely lucky in that she was diagnosed early. The doctor said she should be the poster child for yearly mamograms! She just finished her 7 weeks of radiation after having a lumpectomy. I am so happy that she came out of this without too much pain. I do know that there are many others who are not so lucky and that breast cancer, cancer in general is not going to go away on it's own.  So this is how I am choosing to do my part in the fight against cancer.

The rest of the info is the generic part that gives you all of the information you'll need if you feel like helping me out.  I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to raise all of this money to participate, but I am starting here...and with Facebook, and from there I will see what else I need to do!  I'll be sending out letters to friends and family who may not be as hip as all of you and are not into reading blogs, so sorry if you get my information twice. (You could always donate twice!)

I'll walk 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

I've agreed to raise at least $2,300 in donations. I've set my personal goal at $2,500. So I need your help. I cannot do this on my own and although I don't like asking for money there is no way around it. Would you please consider making a donation of $20? If everyone I asked could give at least that amount I would easily make my goal!! Keep in mind how far I'm walking - and how hard I'll have to train. You can give online at www.The3Day.org. Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising webpage and make a donation. You can also call 800.996.3DAY to donate over the phone.

My personal page is http://www.the3day.org/goto/tashariley

According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, approximately 200,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and nearly 40,000 will die from the disease. That's why I'm walking so far. To do something bold about breast cancer. I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Off And Runnin'....Again

I just got these pictures sent to me from the Redondo Beach 10K, so I thought I'd share what's going on around here as far a running goes.  Matt and I both completed the 10K on Super Bowl Sunday.  It was a fun race and much better weather than last year.  Kevin says that next year he wants to run the 5K with me!  Even better than the race was the post race BBQ!!  

The night before the race I got on my iPhone at 10:30 p.m. and registered for the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon.  The next day the price was going up, so frugal person that I am just decided to go for it.  So, yesterday I ran about 11 miles....my first long run since the marathon in November.  I've planned it out so that if I increase my mileage by two mile every other week between now and the middle of May I will have enough time to get comfortably up to 23 miles and have two weeks left to taper off before the big race on May 31st.  Ahhhh, just when I was starting to enjoy walking around normally on the weekends! 

Dancin' Machine

Zach was showing me his moves.  I just had to have him do it again for the camera!

Trip To The Dentist

 I was not looking forward to our trip to the dentist yesterday.  Our previous trips have included both boys throwing up all over themselves, having to listen to Kevin cry while getting sealant put on his molars, and just an overall dislike of anything having to do with the dentist.  But we continue to go every six months.  It's a kids dentist, complete with movies during the cleanings, video games in the waiting room, and rooms that look like a jungle.  What more could you ask for?  

Zach was looking forward to it.  He likes the taste of the chocolate toothpaste.  Kevin was repeating over and over, starting when he saw the note written on the calendar, that he didn't want to go.  He doesn't like the flouride treatment at the end and to top it off he's had a loose tooth that he's been avoiding brushing, so he knew he teeth were not going to look great to the dentist.

Luckily, the trip ended up going better than expected.  The boys both did a great job and earned a trip to Costco (right across the street) to pick out a new book afterwards.  Both boys now have sparkly clean teeth and Kevin got his tooth knocked out during the cleaning so now he can brush better!