hot chocolate race

richy ricardo and i are pretty much olympian runners now! :) for real though, we ran another race! and we rocked it rockstar style! ;) granted, this was a shorter distance than our last race, but we did better overall.  rich ran the 5k and placed in the top 14% of like 6000 male runners and i ran the 15k and placed in the top 4% of about 6000 female runners! :) it was my best pr and i ran it in the 7 minute per mile range, so i think running with my hubby must have motivated me to exceed my record! :) also...i had to keep up with him because he was cruising so fast! after the race, we got delicious hot chocolate and hung out with some friends who ran it too.  it was a way super adrenaline filled fun day!

we had to wake up at like freakin' 5am but i t was worth it!

we got matching hot chocolate shirts.  presh.

rich had to capture the moment. lol!

minutes before we started...

minutes after we finished!

the chocolate was so rich and smooth!

leanne, maryann and ana (ana runs in every single freakin' race!)

ana, maryann, mary and leanne

Monster Dash

my amazing richardo and i ran the monster dash half marathon! i know you are thinking: WHAT#*$^?! rich hates running?!  false.  since about...march, rich started running with me about twice a week and gradually rich has been hating it less and less.  is he obsessed? not yet.  maybe never...but he doesn't hate it now! miracles happen! also, i must say, running with rich is awesome. ;) ahah! the race was awesome! it was a monster dash/costume contest run, so we dressed up as clowns (if you couldn't tell).  there were a lot of glorious costumes and it was definitely one of the funnest races i have ran in.  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

hey hot clown man... ;)

we ran along the lakeshore and wow! it was so beautiful i wanted to stop and takes pics!

ana payne, an amazing nurse at ABH, who literally runs in every marathon/half/5k/etc race in chicago!

winning!

big bro visits sister

my big brother, mickey, had a break from work in texas, so he came and stayed with us! it made me feel cool and special to have him come see me because i was and always am the annoying little bratster, but luckily he is too cool and looks past that.  thanks mike! it was short visit but we still partied!  mickey went running with me in the mornings (he is a fast dude), and i showed him some sites in downtown chicago and we did the city thing.  we also went to naperville and did the suburb thing.  mostly we just annoyed each other, but that is what we do best. :) love ya brother!

it's naturaaaal

these dork clowns should start their own show

mike, if you wanna eat, you have to take a pic with me! look at the camera dangit! he still hates taking pics with sister. ahah! some things never ever change!

signature room views

country boy in the big city :)

more views.  it was suuuuch a gorgeous day! perfect fall weather.

we went shopping downtown and at navy pier.  i helped mike find some awesome updated clothes (in my personal fashion opinion at least).  then, i got rich the exact same awesome updates clothes.  lol! those two have a tendency to be wearing the same thing....my fault! :) but if the shirt is cool, rich must have it too!

millenium park

lookin' cooler than cool at cloudgate

al bawadia

one thing i love about chicago is all of the cool people we meet.  the second thing i love is how all those cool people we meet introduce us to delicious, delicious food.  dr. m (from abh) introduced us to some amazing indian food.  yummy! look at the huge ginormous feast he ordered.  i don't even know what half of it was, but the lamb dish makes me salivate just thinking about it! 

Nurses take on Six Flags

adventist healthcare (one of my employers) rented out all of six flags for an entire day and let all of it's employees run loose and take over the park...hospital style! ahah! just kidding--we were still somewhat professional, but it was a blast.  we hung out with bernadette, one of my favorite nurses ever, and her hubby, marcin, and went on some rides together.  it was super fun day! thanks abh!

beauty stars

all pooped out! thanks for coming rich and hanging with me and my cool colleagues! :)

hostage negotiator tips

when i run, i listen to the radio.  sometimes i hear random words i like.  today i heard a hostage negotiator give four tips for active listening.  enjoy.  :)

1.  listen to what the other person is saying.  really listen.  don't interrupt, disagree or evaluate.   hear them out and listen all the way. 
2. show signs you are listening.  nod your head or make a brief acknowledging comment like saying right or yes.
3.  repeat back what they say from their frame of reference (without being awkward)
4.  inquire.  ask questions that show you have been paying attention and that move the discussion forward.

minnesota summer lovin'

winters in minnesota are a definite avoidance...summers in minnesota are a definite do not miss! rich and i both had a break from work and school that coincided, so we went to the land of 10,000 lakes for a little small and big town fun. :)  some of my favorite adventures include:

• taking walks at sunset with my honey and puppy to the river, lake and golf course ;)
• getting our water and sun on every day at the st. olaf lake! we (amy, rich and i) even swam across the whole lake! ahah! we almost got killed, but it was totally worth it.  thanks for the dare, richard...
• getting our ballgame on at a twins game.  it was a gorgeous day and pop's even came! woohoo!
• getting our weirdy fun on at the minnesota state fair!  mom, laura and kissy performed with their clogging team, so it was a blast watching them.  they have gotten so freakin' great!
• getting our adrian peterson on at the metrodome and watching the vikes preseason game.  SKOL VIKINGS!
• having a delicious breakfast of everything you could ever want at tom and jessica's cute home   

please enjoy my photographic documentation attempts.  :)

they are my cute little all american boys! :)

some all american men! ;)

jesse, brayden and zack (it took many camera attempts to get one normal shot)

"daddy...i want cotton candy" baby sister! xoxo

hey all you good lookin's!

laura is the only one with the appropriate attire! i couldn't find my twin's shirt....ugh!

"you'll be my american boy, american boy"

the metrodome.  they are building a new stadium.  it will hopefully have a better roof.  ahah!

mikey and breia came with us to see the vikings! i freakin' love these two! so much fun it is ridiculous.  the best part was tearing up the handouts and throwing paper in the air...ahah!

the wild rose cloggers! they kick butt.

go girls go!

it was about 95 degrees....but they made it look like a breeze.

yes.  yes.  yes.  that is my husband. wearing a big sunfish paper hat.  singing along in a giant karoake.  best thing ever!

i definitely had to join that!

yummy breakfast!

amy and i got lucky ;) aren't they cute together?

my mom/the gardening diva and puma!

taking a last sunset walk with richy

home sweet home