Shocking, shocking news: Mike and I went away for a weekend. This has happened once before in our marriage, mainly because trying to figure out what to do with our kids makes it very difficult. Luckily we have wonderful friends here who shuffled them around and kept them happy for two nights. In fact, I don't think they missed us at all. They were especially excited to pack in their new duffle bags. Note: these bags were for only one night. I think they were mostly filled with stuffed animals.
The reason we went away was because Mike ran the Big Sur Marathon, which ends in Carmel-by-the-Sea. I know, a tough place to have to go stay. Sylvie was very emotional about the whole thing. She made Mike a special poster and cried at bedtime every night that we were gone.
On Saturday we picked up Mike's race packet and wandered around with all the marathon crazies. The craziest ones were the Boston to Big Sur runners, who ran the Boston Marathon on the previous Sunday, then flew across the country to run Big Sur the next Sunday. There were a couple hundred of those nuts. Then we walked out on the Pier and Mike held a bird. We went for a run on the beach in Carmel, then found the house we were staying at (through Airbnb). It was located around the block from the finish line, which was really great. We went out for dinner to an Italian place, Favaloro's Big Night Bistro--very popular with the running crowd. The gorgonzola gnocchi, crab stuffed fried avocado, and the creme brulee topped cheesecake were real highlights. Yum yum!
Sunday morning was really, really early. Mike had to be at the buses by 4:15, so we were up at 3:45. I dropped him off and went back to bed, but the finish line announcers started chit chatting into the microphone around 7:15. The 5k and the 9 mile race were out and back races, so they started from the finish line around 7:45. Mike reported that his GoodWill gear kept him sufficiently warm at the starting line and that the mood was generally cheerful and upbeat. He stayed pretty close to the pacer and enjoyed chatting with some of the other runners as they went along. He also managed to snap a few pictures as he ran. He enjoyed the piano player and the strawberry stand and did a great job managing his food and hydration during the run, so he felt pretty good at the finish.
While Mike was running and running and running, I went for a 4 miler past the Carmel Mission and down along the ocean. It sure is a beautiful place. I always think of Allison Dunn when I think of Carmel--I remember her once telling Mom about how beautiful it was and that someday they should go there for a girls' weekend.
I had plenty of time to shower, eat breakfast, and then wander over to the finish line. It was fun to watch the runners come in, and surprisingly emotional to watch people achieve such a big goal. I gave Mike my best cheers, and he was able to muster a smile and a thumbs up. After strolling around in the finish area for a while we headed back to the house and Mike showered and rested for a few minutes. We packed up and went back to the Pier for lunch--nothing like chowder in a bread bowl!
Mike's chowder was topped with crab and cheese and baked.
We got home around 7 to a rain burst, a rainbow, and our kids happy and riding around on rollerblades. They were tired, but really weren't that excited about our return.
This one just nodded off mid book. You could tell it was a big weekend for everyone!
My shopping helper--she didn't want to carry the cow, so she found a place for him to ride.
Did I mention the weekend wore her out? She fell asleep before lunch on Monday. Monday night we went to Jake's Desserts for dollar scoop night--the beginning of a beautiful friendship, I think. The ice cream was so good! Cora opted for a pink cupcake instead of ice cream.
Remember that one time I spent a whole day cleaning Jens's room?
Cora and I have been having a weekly date to the library and the zoo. She loves the "wallberry" and seeing all the animals.
Wednesday morning little Miss Mischief got busy playing with my computer. Boo! Mike spent quite a while fixing the fixable keys, but it is still a little wonky. Sigh. You can't have nice things if you have kids, we always say.
We went to STEM night at school. The kids liked making fruit loop necklaces, building with marshmallows, and spinning the probability wheel to get candy.
Swim season is upon us--Cora is looking for an ant.
Story time with Sylvie.
Cutie pants.
