Halloween: Maia putting the green face paint on a very patient Ross.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Maia wins Third Place in an Art Contest
Maia entered the BC Days Kids Art Contest when Lance took her camping this summer at Goldstream Park We received the happy news that she had won third place in the kids 4-6 years category when we got home from Hawaii. Maia was thrilled! Her prize was a quite outstanding package from MEC and consisted of a day pack, a compass, binoculars, headlamp, water bottle, a first aid kit and other small items for day trips. Maia declared that the First Aid Kit was her favourite part of the prize.
To see Maia's Art go to the BC Parks website: bcparks.ca and click of the Kids Art Contest Winners. Maia's art is the 3rd place winner in the 4-6.
Here is the direct link: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/art_contest_2006/winners_2006.html
Yay Maia!
Maia entered the BC Days Kids Art Contest when Lance took her camping this summer at Goldstream Park We received the happy news that she had won third place in the kids 4-6 years category when we got home from Hawaii. Maia was thrilled! Her prize was a quite outstanding package from MEC and consisted of a day pack, a compass, binoculars, headlamp, water bottle, a first aid kit and other small items for day trips. Maia declared that the First Aid Kit was her favourite part of the prize.
To see Maia's Art go to the BC Parks website: bcparks.ca and click of the Kids Art Contest Winners. Maia's art is the 3rd place winner in the 4-6.
Here is the direct link: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/kidspage/art_contest_2006/winners_2006.html
Yay Maia!
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Halloween and PumpkinsI had better post this one, as no sooner had that annual pumpkin fest ended then Christmas decorations went up in the halls of the malls.
So here it is: Halloween and Pumpkins
Well, no sooner had we returned from our annual trip to Kona, then Halloween was here. I arrived home with the kids to cool fog in Victoria, after a week of sunshine, heat and humidity on the big Island. We went from swimming and wearing shorts and bathing suits all day long, to digging out the toques and fleece as winter settles in here on the West Coast.
Ross, who is learning more words everyday was quick to pick up ‘pumpkin’ and by Saturday afternoon we were off to the local pumpkin patch at Mitchell’s Farm to pick put a few good ones. I love Mitchell’s for pumpkins. The field is large and impressive as far as fields go…you can see the orange pumpkins a mile away and as you get closer you can see whole families tromping their way through the dirt searching for the perfect one.
Ross was typically more interested in anything and everything as well as the pumpkins, from the twisty vines running throughout the field, to the wheelbarrows used for transporting the haul to the scales, to the adjacent empty dirt field. Finally Dad and I settled on a few good ones and hauled them home.
When it was time for carve the pumpkins, I cut off the tops and Maia and Ross helped to dig out the seeds, pulp and strings. I tried to keep the goo confined to the newspaper on the kitchen floor but soon there were strings of flesh on the oven, the dishwasher, the fridge and most of the lower cabinets and Ross was using the ladle to whack the lumps of flesh and seeds around the floor as if he was playing hockey. When I figure out how to get video up I might post the video.
For Halloween night we chose to go to my friend Heather’s house as she lives in a great family neighbourhood whereas we live on a dead end street with no kids and no treat action. I decided Ross could be easily dressed as a bean, with his green sweatshirt, green pants and green toque. Maia completed the disguise by applying green face makeup all over his face. Ross quite patiently sat on the kitchen floor for 10 minutes while Maia carefully covered him in with green.
Maia was a sort of dancing Princess again this year for trick or treating but was most interested in helping her 2 year old friend Sylvie with the process of going door to door. She insisted on holding Sylvie’s hand most of the time we were out, occasionally zipping off to get in a quick house when Sylvie was dawdling too long.
Ross spent the evening 'ooooohing' at all the lit pumpkins that decorated the houses, until he figured out that there was chocolate involved and then began exclaiming 'choc-laht' and raiding the cany bowl at Heather's house. At least he hasn't figured out how to open wrappers...yet!
Lucy
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Well, I am just back from the race, having walked from the impressive War Museum through the paths to Wellington and passing two weddings on the way.
I had a successful day and another good race, though it did hurt like hell for the last 2k, when I decided I better increase my pace and go through 7 more minutes of pain in order to get to the line first. Yes, I am competitive when it comes to running races, just ask my friends. I won, in 33:52, slower than I thought I would run but there seemed to be lot of uphill from 3-8K. Sort of long gradual inclines.
I started fast, running the first kilometre in 3:07 because I felt like hammering the pace and stretching out the field, and then only Nicole Stevenson was with me at 2K and we ran together, and I could feel that she was rallying hard to stick with me. So at 8K (I had scoped out my 'GO' place as I was heading out) I turned it up a notch and hammered home. I knew I could go hard until 9K (another little crest) and then it was all downhill from there and I concentrated totally on turnover and figured nobody would catch me then. Crossing the line, I won my 18th National Championships.
Well, It was lots of fun and a good pay day. I felt strong and smooth, and I wanted to run the way Emilie would: with heart and a lot of desire. Before the race there was a short memorial for Emilie Mondor, who died tragically in a car crash four weeks ago. It was beautiful and her parents were there and of course I cried. I don't think I have ever been on a start line crying, but it was just so sad. After the race I ran back to talk to Emilie's parents in what French I could muster and although I didn't really know what to say, I just wanted to say hello. I can't imagine what they are going through but they smiled and told me they are just trying to remember the wonderful things about Emilie and they know they have to go on. I guess you just have to be sad, and be sad until it fades as there is nothing you can do when you lose a child this way.
Thinking about Emilie, and also my friend Tori who also died in an accident last year, I feel happy that I accomplished my goal of coming here to perform, and that I get the opportunity to keep racing and running with joy.
Lucy
I had a successful day and another good race, though it did hurt like hell for the last 2k, when I decided I better increase my pace and go through 7 more minutes of pain in order to get to the line first. Yes, I am competitive when it comes to running races, just ask my friends. I won, in 33:52, slower than I thought I would run but there seemed to be lot of uphill from 3-8K. Sort of long gradual inclines.
I started fast, running the first kilometre in 3:07 because I felt like hammering the pace and stretching out the field, and then only Nicole Stevenson was with me at 2K and we ran together, and I could feel that she was rallying hard to stick with me. So at 8K (I had scoped out my 'GO' place as I was heading out) I turned it up a notch and hammered home. I knew I could go hard until 9K (another little crest) and then it was all downhill from there and I concentrated totally on turnover and figured nobody would catch me then. Crossing the line, I won my 18th National Championships.
Well, It was lots of fun and a good pay day. I felt strong and smooth, and I wanted to run the way Emilie would: with heart and a lot of desire. Before the race there was a short memorial for Emilie Mondor, who died tragically in a car crash four weeks ago. It was beautiful and her parents were there and of course I cried. I don't think I have ever been on a start line crying, but it was just so sad. After the race I ran back to talk to Emilie's parents in what French I could muster and although I didn't really know what to say, I just wanted to say hello. I can't imagine what they are going through but they smiled and told me they are just trying to remember the wonderful things about Emilie and they know they have to go on. I guess you just have to be sad, and be sad until it fades as there is nothing you can do when you lose a child this way.
Thinking about Emilie, and also my friend Tori who also died in an accident last year, I feel happy that I accomplished my goal of coming here to perform, and that I get the opportunity to keep racing and running with joy.
Lucy
Ottawa, National 10k Championships 2006
Friday morning I woke to the beep-beep-beep of my watch at 5:45, instantly aware of and amazed by the fact that Ross was still asleep in his crib, and had, in fact, been there all night, like that: asleep. From 8 PM until now, he was still asleep in his own bed and I had received a full nights' sleep myself. As you can tell by my surprise, this doesn't happen very much. In fact, there was a small part of me that wanted to go lift his little body up over the sides of the crib, to hold his warm soft body close in my arms and feel his silky hair against my cheek and lips. I wanted to hear his soft sighing breathes. Being a parent is so crazy. For nights, he has woken us constantly with his teething fidgeting, wakefulness, crying. Now he sleeps and I have gotten over 6 hours of consecutive sleep and I am wishing he is here with me.
Though. I had to get up and have a shower and leave in 30 minutes for the airport to catch a plane to Ottawa for the National 10k Championships. Ross was still asleep at 6:20. At that point it was a good thing, as I find it unbearably hard to leave the house if he's crying and reaching towards me with desperation like I am abandoning him forever. 6 year old Maia got up though, and despite the early hour wanted me to fix her a bowl of Rice Crispies before I left.
So. I drove out to the airport in the early morning dark, along wet, shiny roads, filled, as I always am, with the inexplicable emotion of leaving my children. As soon as I drive out of the driveway I am free in a sense, free for 48 hours of the responsibility to care for them minute by minute. That freedom expands outwards into the longing that forces its way in. Longing to see them again right now, to touch them and hug them and make sure they are OK, which I know they are, as they are in the capable loving hands of my father (Grandad) and Janet our babysitter.
And. I don't stop thinking about them. Maia and Ross, my shining beacons of love, light and joy. Even in the silence of the aircraft, or the muffled, fabricated serenity of my hotel room here at the Delta, their spirits fill me.
I arrived in Ottawa in the early evening yesterday, and after a short course tour, I went for a little jog before I lost daylight. After sitting all day in planes and busses, I felt surprisingly light (maybe those compression socks really work!) and light hearted as I ran up Wellington along the broad stone sidewalk. I ran beside the historic edifice of the Supreme Court of Canada and entered into the front gate of Parliament Hill. The evening sunlight glowed warmly on the massive building, the sky was blue turning to pink and I had one of those beautiful moments where everything feels just right and as it should be. Right at that moment I was where I wanted to be and I did not wish to be anywhere else. The huge, almost full moon was rising. It expanded into the pink air between two buildings like a glowing balloon. It occurred to me that so much of my running life has been like this. Moments of experiences all over the world.
I slept well last night, after the dog in an adjoining room stopped barking and whining. I don't know what struck me more odd: that a dog was in the hotel, or that a dog had been left alone in the hotel room to feel obviously desperate at being left alone. In any case the dog was quiet after midnight, which was still only 9PM my time so it was OK.
Went out to find Starbucks this morning. I know this section of Queen Street too well after years of trips to our nation's Capital; I knew there was a trusty 'bucks over off the lobby of the Marriot. Then I walked around breathing the fresh autumn morning and took a look at the sculptural waterfalls in the Garden's of Canada. While I was there I decided to memorize all the flowers of all the provinces and territories. After all when I was doing grade 8 geography, Nunavut (Firewed) did not exist. I wondered how long it would take Maia to memorize them?
Lucy
Friday morning I woke to the beep-beep-beep of my watch at 5:45, instantly aware of and amazed by the fact that Ross was still asleep in his crib, and had, in fact, been there all night, like that: asleep. From 8 PM until now, he was still asleep in his own bed and I had received a full nights' sleep myself. As you can tell by my surprise, this doesn't happen very much. In fact, there was a small part of me that wanted to go lift his little body up over the sides of the crib, to hold his warm soft body close in my arms and feel his silky hair against my cheek and lips. I wanted to hear his soft sighing breathes. Being a parent is so crazy. For nights, he has woken us constantly with his teething fidgeting, wakefulness, crying. Now he sleeps and I have gotten over 6 hours of consecutive sleep and I am wishing he is here with me.
Though. I had to get up and have a shower and leave in 30 minutes for the airport to catch a plane to Ottawa for the National 10k Championships. Ross was still asleep at 6:20. At that point it was a good thing, as I find it unbearably hard to leave the house if he's crying and reaching towards me with desperation like I am abandoning him forever. 6 year old Maia got up though, and despite the early hour wanted me to fix her a bowl of Rice Crispies before I left.
So. I drove out to the airport in the early morning dark, along wet, shiny roads, filled, as I always am, with the inexplicable emotion of leaving my children. As soon as I drive out of the driveway I am free in a sense, free for 48 hours of the responsibility to care for them minute by minute. That freedom expands outwards into the longing that forces its way in. Longing to see them again right now, to touch them and hug them and make sure they are OK, which I know they are, as they are in the capable loving hands of my father (Grandad) and Janet our babysitter.
And. I don't stop thinking about them. Maia and Ross, my shining beacons of love, light and joy. Even in the silence of the aircraft, or the muffled, fabricated serenity of my hotel room here at the Delta, their spirits fill me.
I arrived in Ottawa in the early evening yesterday, and after a short course tour, I went for a little jog before I lost daylight. After sitting all day in planes and busses, I felt surprisingly light (maybe those compression socks really work!) and light hearted as I ran up Wellington along the broad stone sidewalk. I ran beside the historic edifice of the Supreme Court of Canada and entered into the front gate of Parliament Hill. The evening sunlight glowed warmly on the massive building, the sky was blue turning to pink and I had one of those beautiful moments where everything feels just right and as it should be. Right at that moment I was where I wanted to be and I did not wish to be anywhere else. The huge, almost full moon was rising. It expanded into the pink air between two buildings like a glowing balloon. It occurred to me that so much of my running life has been like this. Moments of experiences all over the world.
I slept well last night, after the dog in an adjoining room stopped barking and whining. I don't know what struck me more odd: that a dog was in the hotel, or that a dog had been left alone in the hotel room to feel obviously desperate at being left alone. In any case the dog was quiet after midnight, which was still only 9PM my time so it was OK.
Went out to find Starbucks this morning. I know this section of Queen Street too well after years of trips to our nation's Capital; I knew there was a trusty 'bucks over off the lobby of the Marriot. Then I walked around breathing the fresh autumn morning and took a look at the sculptural waterfalls in the Garden's of Canada. While I was there I decided to memorize all the flowers of all the provinces and territories. After all when I was doing grade 8 geography, Nunavut (Firewed) did not exist. I wondered how long it would take Maia to memorize them?
Lucy
Friday, September 29, 2006
Someone at my yoga class asked me "When are you going to grow up?"
I laughed out loud.
On the one hand, I feel very grown up. I am married, I have 2 children, a house and car. I am very busy with life. Maia is in Grade 1 and Ross is eighteen months old and on the go from 6AM until he crashes at 8PM. In between taking care of them, I get in my training and my work.
But.....I don't feel very grown up. I live in athletic apparel and Nike running shoes. I trained on my beautiful Orbea time trial bike for 5 + hours all summer so I could race Ironman Canada. I often show up at Maia's school in my running shoes and go for a run when I drop her off. I can do monkey bars with the best of the 6 year olds as long as they are high enough. I spend my Saturday mornings running around trails with people 15 years younger than me. At 39 I am still competing and racing better than I did at 29, and it's WAY more FUN. In fact, the more I stick with it, the more I feel like the kid that raced around the school yard in Grade 2.
I started this blog because family and friends who live far away are always asking for photos of the kids and updates on which race I just did. This blog is for you and I hope you laugh and smile at the photos and posts.
Lucy
photo www.geoffwilkings.com
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