10K under Lisa's belt and she's STILL Alive!!!

Here's my bib Number. I wanted #1, but they didn't give it to me...

Hope STILL refused to run this race with me.

But Tigger was pretty eager to run it!!

The worst feeling: I thought I was just yards from the finish line at this point because we'd heard the cheering and the people all around, but alas, as we rounded the corner, we still had to race another 0.2 miles to the finish line.

Sprinting to the finish line!!! I had three track girls that kept running back and forth to get in front of me during the 6th mile, so I decided to wait until we were all really close to the finish line, and I sprinted the last 100 feet to beat all three of them. What a great feeling to beat those young whipper snappers!!!

Breath, mom, Breath!!!!
OK! Next stop: triathlon or the 1/2 marathon. Still deciding. Maybe after a good seafood dinner with lots of chocolate for dessert, I'll think about it.

First 10 K Run

I hate running. I never get that runner's high, and when I'm out running, I never enjoy it.

But this year's resolution was to run a 10K, so on Saturday, July 26th, at 7am, I, Lisa, will be pounding the pavement for 6.214 miles from Woodmen and I-25 all the way down to Monument Valley Park. Paxton will watch on the sidelines with Hope, as I trudge my way through the paths with other sadists who probably think a 10K is nothing compared to a nice 26.2 mile marathon.

I've been training since January, running on the treadmill during the snow, and slowly coming out to run real roads in the springtime. Paxton has been my ruthless trainer, putting a workout schedule on the refrigerator for me to check off when I've done my miles.

I am on my last week, doing a few miles here and there just to get my body ready for the race, hoping I don't "bonk" on the fifth mile.

Gatorade and polyester have become my friends.

Because of all this training (Paxton runs with me during my long Saturday runs), Paxton got pumped up to do a triathlon at the end of August. Now, he's decided to train MORE intensely with running, biking, and swimming. He has suggested that I do a triathlon with him.

I told him, "talk to me after my 10K. If I'm still alive, I'll consider it."

What are the benefits of this? Hope sees us out training all the time, and now, she wants to race. She's put on her running shoes and has run the last 100 feet of our training runs.

Last night, we ran the 5K beer run at Jack Quinn's. It's just for fun and FREE, but if you run it 10 times, you get a free T-shirt. We don't drink beer (it dehydrates anyway), but it's fun to run with 700 other nuts who think this is a great hobby. Hope wanted to run with us, so towards the end, she got out of her jogging stroller and ran and ran for about 1 minute before she peetered out. Hey, pretty good for a three year old!

So, if you live in Colorado Springs and want to run the "beer run" on Tuesday nights, let us know, and we can all run together. Discounted beer for those who like the stuff!!!

Officially Pre Approved

As of today, July 9, the Chinese government has "officially" pre-approved us to adopt little Josiah. Here are his latest "stats":
Height: 60cm or 23.6 inches (he's a shorty)
Weight: 10kg or 22 pounds (Hope was this weight at 11 months vs Josiah who is now 25 months. I wonder who will beat up on who...)

This is our approximate time frame from now on out:

• We are now waiting for the LOA or Letter of Approval from China (this is the real OFFICIAL letter), which takes anywhere from 2 to 4 months. Earliest: end of August. Latest: late October. But we all know that China can do whatever China wants.
  
• After that, there is the TA or Travel Approval, which can take another month.
  
• Then there is the TD or Travel Day, the day we actually get on the place to fly over there. That may take another month!

In summary, we will travel earliest October-ish and latest December-ish. Does this make any sense? It's quite the guessing game. If something is completely out of the ordinary, we'll let you all know. Of course, this entire process has been out of the ordinary, so we'll just have to keep updating you on the comings and goings of the Melon Jar family. We are all praying for an October flight. Hope wants to go yesterday. Yes, she will travel with us. Perhaps, all the grandparents will travel as well. Family reunion in China!!!!!

Below are some updated pics of Josiah:

"Can't you see that my pants are hiked way too high here?"

"I have to wear a helmet or my brains will be smashed to pieces? Is my to-be mom in the health profession or something?"
"Are you telling me I will have a sister that will beat up on me so I better take some kung fu lessons? Hmmm"