"I Get a Runner's High, Which is Why Now I Swim"

Angela, The Office (deleted scene from "Drug Testing")

About two weeks ago, I had a friend tell me that if she were going to run a long-distance race, she'd run a half-marathon, not a full one because a full marathon is just crazy. I brushed off her comment and responded with, "C'mon. If you're going to run 13 miles, why not just keep going?"

That was the day before my 13-mile run. Dude. 13 miles is far. I just found out last week that 15 miles is even further. I have a feeling that 17 miles tomorrow is going to be even longer. You've gotta' be a little off your rocker to run this far. Lucky for me, my rocker was never quite right anyway. I agree with my friend that running this far is a little nutty, but it is AWESOME!

I seriously do get a "runner's high" after several miles. It's sweet! I just feel like I could run forever and never get tired. It's such an amazing feeling! I'm on a "everyone-should-run-a-marathon" kick right now. Sure, I haven't run one yet, but the training is great. I'm in shape physically and I'm really challenging myself mentally. It's been surprising for me how much mental strength I've lost over the past 10 years. Honestly, my head is usually the body part that gets tired first. I'm working really hard on it though and hopefully I'll overcome this weakness before June because I've heard that 26 miles is even further than 17!

Please Leave Your Dynamite at Home

While viewing TSA's website about what you can and cannot bring on a flight, I learned some interesting facts that I thought would be nice to share...

Things you may not bring:
1. Dynamite
2. Hand Grenades
3. Tear Gas
4. More than 3 oz. of pudding (carry on)

Things you may bring:
1. Firearms
2. Cattle Prods
3. Nunchakus
4. Spear Gun
5. Swords
6. Sabers

Flosh Static Bea

Josh, Flo, and family stayed at our house last weekend for a big trip to... Disneyland!!! To see how their trip went, click here. It was so fun watching Sera and Andrew play together. Sera would run over to Andrew and say, "C'mon! Let's go play!" Most times, I don't think she really knew what she wanted to play, but Andrew would run after her, chasing her down the hallway and they would go play together. We had never really seen this side of Andrew before since most kids he plays with are his own age and not very interactive yet. It was such a blessing that I told Gabe we should have another kid right away, but we should have a 3-year-old for Andrew to play with. :)

Amelie is such a little sweetie. Although, I must say, she liked Gabe more than me. This is the only look she gave me, but Gabe got smiles and all sorts of other cute faces. Not a good start to a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship!
It's never too early for a lesson in static electricity. While folding the laundry, I realized that I must have forgotten the fabric softener... oops...Check out his hair! His face makes it look like he's getting shocked or at least frazzled by the static electricity.
Another great shot. This just goes to prove that frizzy hair is good for something!

Last week, we got to go up to Nevada City and stay with Gabe's parents. Although the trip was for his Grandma Bea's memorial service, we had a wonderful time with family, celebrating her life.
As soon as we got there, my bro-in-law, Jesse, and Andrew and I went on a hike. All of these shots are from right behind their house. It's so beautiful!!!

Andrew seemed to really enjoy the scenery and the dog that came with us. It was a well-deserved time out of the car seat!

What's up bro?
I don't know where Alice was when this picture was taken, but the three girls on the right are Ynez, Nora, and Simone. Those four girls entertain me to no end every time I see them. Tami (another cousin) got the world's longest hug from Andrew. They hadn't spent any time together and suddenly Andrew walked over to her, she bent down, and Andrew wrapped his arms around her shoulders for literally about a minute and a half! Then he wouldn't even go back to me. He only wanted Tami! It was so cute!

The Elephant

Ha ha ha! (This is SO my sense of humor!) By the way, teacher, this is when you get to dish out creativity points! How do you think I made it through college? :)

Did I beat her?! Gabe and Allie just sent this to me and I forwarded it to my sis, Sara. She replied and said she might put it on her blog... So, did I beat her to it?

Good Sir Knight

Doesn't little Sir Andrew look like he's ready to go out and conquer the world?... Or maybe he looks a little more ready for a nap. It's hard to say.

The Barber home (yet again) has been under attack by the stomach flu! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

This time, only Andrew and I got it, though. It's a really weird bug. It's not that bad (compared to the Nov./Dec. variety), but it's lasted for three days so far. Ugh! Not to worry my dearest Flo and sister Sara (both of whom we'll be seeing in a few days), we will be healthy with a cleaned house by then! (Please pray!)

This, of course, means I didn't get to run my 13 miles on Saturday. :( I was SO pumped for my run too! I was going to run to the home of the Shultzi and back. It's a big bummer, but hopefully I'll get my strength back soon.

Children For Sale in Orange County

I just wanted to give all of you a lesson in grammar. Please don't accidentally sell your kids on Craig's List. Click here if you're interested in purchasing a child.

Disneyland, Shredding, and More!

Another gift that Gabe surprised me with on my birthday was passes to Disneyland!!! Whoo-hoo! It's so much fun (and a totally different experience) going with a little one. We have a lot of fun with him there, but Gabe and I still love the "big kid" rides so we let each other go on the fun ones while the other one of us watches the little man. On my birthday, I got to go on my favorite ride which I don't know the name of. It's the crazy water ride at CA Adventure. The ironic thing (as you can see in the photo) is that the raft I was put on was all Chinese people and myself... I felt right at home! I wished I could speak Mandarin because I'm almost sure that was the language they were speaking. Either way, I had a blast! Man, I love that ride!!!
We also went last Monday and you can see Gabe towards the back of CA Screamin' here. Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
This is another one Gabe wanted to ride where they shoot you up REALLY fast and then you kind-of bungee back down... They have plastic shields in front of each seat. I think it's to catch the barf so it doesn't land on everyone below.
So here's my little paper shredder helper. Sure it may have been a little messy, but I got a lot of shredding done!

And he helped clean up! He really did! He can understand me now and sometimes does what I ask him to do. He carried this trash to the kitchen and then carried two bags outside to the big trash cans! Go Andrew!!!

Here's Andrew in his pj's and hiking boots. He insisted that I put the boots on him last night... I guess he had some exterminating to do.
A boy in his daddy's hat.