Summer Running

I don't run much during the summers because it is too hot. Actually, there aren't many races to enter because nobody wants to run in the sweltering heat. I do try to hit the treadmill at the Y a couple of times a week during the summer, but I can only run about two miles. I don't want to hog the treadmill for long periods of time while there are other people wanting to get on it. To be honest, I haven't been in top form since the Swamp Run last March. Lately, though, I've been feeling the need to go ahead and start conditioning because there are a lot of awesome races that I want to run in this year. So, I have participated in two 5Ks in these last days of summer. The first one was a brand new race called "Ready, Set, Glow". It took place on July 31st and began at midnight. It was really dark, but they gave you glow bracelets to wear so that you could be seen. I really didn't do that well. My time was 29:10. At least I made it in under 30 minutes. Although the race was hot and tough, it was a lot of fun. I've never run that late at night before, but it was pretty awesome. The race was sponsored by the Y, so my brother Sam and my friend Krystial ran in it (because they work there). My dad also showed up (at midnight) to watch the race. If he's there, then you know that that's the place to be. The pictures from the Glow Run turned out pretty good because we took pictures before the race. My running buddies and I decided that we were going to start doing this because we looked like death in all of our pictures last year....

...And just as soon as I say this, I totally forget to take pictures before running my second race of the summer. Therefore, I look terrible in the picture from the Harvest Run 5K. Although I look bad, I actually ran well (26:58) and placed second in my age division. I was awarded a trophy that- like all of my other running trophies- was immediately confiscated by Olivia. This is not a bad start to the new running season, and I am looking forward to cooler weather and more races.

Olivia's First Trip to the Dentist

...and she had a cavity! I couldn't believe it. We have been brushing her teeth (apparently not well enough). I was so disappointed! Even though things didn't turn out well at her check-up, I do have to brag on Olivia's behavior. She was a real pro. She hopped right up in that chair and did everything that she was asked to do. After leaving the dentist office, we drove straight to CVS and purchased all sorts of kid dental products. We are now on a strict dental regimen around our house- Owen too. Oliva goes back on Thursday to get her cavity filled. I don't know how that's going to go. Hopefully, it will go well and this will be the last time that I have to report bad news from the dentist.

Driftwood Beach

One major problem that Jekyll Island has is erosion. Go to a beach on the northern side of Jekyll and you'll find large stones- placed to slow the erosion process. You'll also find lots of driftwood washed up on its namesake beach. We were staying near Driftwood Beach, so we decided to walk down and check it out before going back home. On the way to the beach, we saw a sign that declared Driftwood Beach to be the "5th most romantic in the world". I don't know if I really agree with this title. The stones that were placed to slow erosion appeared to be breeding grounds for all kinds of critters (bugs?). Also, the water would wash up some yucky black substance. You can actually see this stuff in the picture of the kids walking on the beach below. Of course Owen and Olivia wanted nothing more than to go play in the water, but that was a big negative. I'm not trying to be too hard on the beach, though. It was definitely unique and kind of pretty in its own way. It was just not a good place for getting in the water. After a short trip to see this beach, we walked back to the car and headed home. We had a great time on our trip to Jekyll, and we are looking forward to getting together again with Brian's family soon.

Dinner by the Dock

There are no shortage of great places to eat in the Brunswick / Golden Isles area, and it really is a shame that we don't eat at them more often- especially since we only live about an hour away. We did get to try out two new places while we were on Jekyll last weekend, though. On Friday night we ate at a restaurant called Blackbeard's. It was right on the water, and the food was pretty good. However, the restaurant that Brian and I enjoyed the most was called SeaJays. SeaJays is by the marina, and according to Brian they had the "second best shrimp dish that I'd ever eaten". After the meal, we took the kids down to the marina to look at the boats. It was right around sunset, so it was really nice outside. I'm posting three pictures taken during our evening at SeaJays. The first two were taken down by the water and the third is evidence of what happens when a kid falls asleep at the dinner table. Poor Emory- I have a feeling that this picture will turn up again and again throughout his life.

The Chocolate Fountain

It was a hit with adults and kids alike and it's so delicious that it deserves its own post. Of course I'm talking about Pam and Don's chocolate fountain. I had heard about the fountain prior to the Jekyll Island trip, and it certainly lived up to the hype. The fruit spead itself was great, but dip that fruit into the chocolate and it took the experience to a whole new level. Here are a few pictures of everyone enjoying this yummy treat.

Jekyll Island

What do you get when you cross five kids, three villas, and one of Georgia's barrier islands? Why- you get a fun-filled weekend on Jekyll Island with the Schwallenberg/Ford family. Although our time together was relatively short, we definitely made the most of it. All together, there were seventeen of us, and we occupied three villas and an additional hotel room. This weekend was great for us because it gave us a chance to spend time with Brian's aunts, uncles, and cousins- which is not something that we get to do often because they all live so far away. I think that Olivia and Owen were also very excited to get to see their cousins- especially Emory who is about the same age as Olivia. Those three kids spent hours running around the villa playing chase and everything else that they could think of. The bigger kids- Otto and Dylan- even joined in and played a game that my siblings and I used to refer to as "baby team". (You know- the game where the bigger kids run away and hide from the smaller kids aka the "baby team".)

One highlight of the trip was getting to swim in the villa's very nice pool and kiddie pool. Even Owen, who has been very shy about getting into pools in the past, got in and had a great time. It probably didn't hurt, though, that he was tall enough to stand in the kiddie pool and that Papa Charlie was willing to carry him around in the adult pool. Here are some pictures of the time we spent at the pool. I have some more pictures of our trip, but I am still sorting through those, so there will be additional posts.

New Year, New School

This past week was the first week back to school for the Ware County School System. That meant that Owen and Olivia had to go back to daycare full time. Although it's not really a "school", I still like to take a picture of the kids on the first day back. Olivia will be in the same classroom that she was in last year because they put the three and four year olds together. Owen, on the other hand, is now in the two-year-old room, so he has a new teacher. The kids had gone to daycare part-time during the summer (so that I could do some work on my dissertation), so the first "official" day back was not a big deal for them. Other kids were crying, though. One little boy was actually screaming and clinging to his mother's leg- and that freaked Olivia out a little, but she still marched into her room like a champ. I felt bad for that kid because I know how difficult it is to be somewhere new. Ware Magnet- the school where I have taught for the last decade- was officially declared closed on July 21st. So, I am beginning this school year at the very large Ware County High School. It's a bit unnerving to be somewhere totally new and have to figure out "the system" at the new place. I knew what to do and who to ask (and not to ask) for certain things at my old school. It's going to take me a little while to get adjusted. I can say that my first week went well. I'm not going to compare this school to my old one because they are apples/oranges. I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed and hope that I will get on fine at WCHS.