5 Days and Counting...

Until I attempt to run my first marathon here.

Well, actually not here and I'm a little miffed about it! Unfortunately, there was a mud slide in Big Sur resulting in a road closure on Highway 1 so the course had to be changed. Instead of a 26.1 mile, one-way route from Big Sur to Carmel, the race is now an out-and-back from Carmel. Meaning we no longer get to run over the Bixby Canyon Bridge {insert Death Cab song in your head} which I was really looking forward too :( I mean, look at this pic, how cool!!

Oh well, I'm still pretty excited {and nervous!} about our trip and I hope to report good news on Sunday!

Carter

Our nephew, Carter Matthew Hake, was born on April 7, 2011 at 5:09 pm (eastern). He was 8 lbs, 4 oz and 21 inches long. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. As you can see, he's adorable and we are in love!

Ain't he adorable!!!

Uncle Phillie is smitten!

Aunt Mer & Uncle Phil

I love this pic!

Pops & JoJo

Cheaha Challenge

Philip did the Cheaha Challenge on April 17. He did it a few years back but wasn't in very good "bike" shape and only did about 60 miles. This year, as part of his Ironman training, he did the full 100 miles. Part of which includes going up Cheaha, down the back side, and back up again! I don't know how he does it! His parents were there and his Dad did part of the race as well.

A little tired...

Happy after riding 100 miles.

Philip finishing up

Bob after his ride.

3/4 Life Crisis

Apparently my dad is going through a 3/4 life crisis. They went to Birmingham a few weeks ago to visit family and came back with this...

Doesn't every 64 year old man that drives 7 blocks to work need a Mustang GT convertible??

Mud Run 2011

Saturday was the ROTC Mud Run. Tim {in the yellow} is in the Navy {obviously} and a professor in the ROTC department at AU. He recruited Philip, Hiro and Mary for this race last year and had no trouble getting them to do it again this year. The course changed a little this year, had more obstacles and walls to climb over, but they all had a blast and we think got second place in the co-ed division!

Philip, Hiro, Mary, Tim- before the race

Hiro was having a good time, apparently.

Sheer determination.

{and a pretty good idea of why I do not participate in this event. mud...eeeew!}

I love this picture. Tim looks like he has spotted some unusual creature or something.

Very Bear Grylls.

**Photos courtesy of John Wild {my old boss at the Tourism Bureau}. All race photos can be found at http://www.wildtimesphoto.com/.

Yowzer!

This is what is left of the cover on our porch. It really didn't seem that windy last night but I guess the wind hit it just right and off it came!!

This is over our neighbors side. The supports and everything ripped off in one piece. Thank goodness it didn't land on any cars parked below it!!

This is our side. Pieces of the metal support had fallen all over the porch and what was left was all bent up like a paper clip. Pretty crazy!