Big Chief- THE BEST

Completed the long 10 Mile run last weekend with other Charity team runners.  Sunday was off Monday and Tuesday ran 3 miles each followed with some more speed work on Wednesday.  Moved the long run for this week up to this Saturday and completed 12 miles.  Nostradamus would be proud as Sunday was a complete washout as the Preston household was overtaken by the stomach virus.  Apparently someone slipped some "Big Chief" into Maggie's Birthday cake and completely wiped us out starting with Maggie and Molly on Thursday/Friday and culminating with a Back to Back to Back throwup-athon of Matt, Jimmy and Pam.  Here is a pic of the girls and how they spent Friday (note the Strategically placed bucket)

Video replay of the weekend's events brought to you by The Sandlot (Matt's Favorite.) Sandlot sidenote: Jimmy has now taking a liking to the phrase "You're Killing me Smalls" after I said it to Molly when after she was freshly bathed, changed and ready for bed she decided to have some massive diaarhea.   The Preston household where the fun never stops.

Holiday Greetings-Love the Prestons

Tuesday ran an easy 2.5-3 mile loop.  Decided to add some speed to the workouts on Wednesday and that seems to be the plan to make every Wednesday a speed workout.  Thursday was a nice 4 miles at an easy pace.  Friday was a 3-4 mile run through Breakhart while Maggie got her "Tumble On" at gymnastics.   The plan for the weekend is to do a 10 mile run with the other members of the MDSC team in Medford.  

This weekend is also when we begin the wonderful, heartwarming and beautiful process of taking the Christmas Card photo.   In the past we have also used this time as sort of an impromptu renewal of our wedding vows.   That is, of course, if our vows consisted of "You're not doing anything to help," or "You're the worst picture taker in the world," or "G** Dammit make them smile," and my favorite is simply "Do Something."  Aaah good times, good times.  The problem is we took a great picture of Maggie and Nellie for our first ever Xmas card photo that it's been hard to top that.  We also have the law of diminishing returns working against us as the longer we keep the kids out there posing for the camera the more antsy they become and the more agitated Pam becomes at me (primarily because I'm in the antsy category alongside the kiddies.)  We're just going to keep snapping photos until we eventually find one we can live it.  Next year it's a fruitcake and a handwritten note to all.....

House of Pizza

Previous Wednesday added some speed work followed by a couple of 2-3mile runs on Friday and Saturday.  Sunday was a long run of 8 miles through the streets of Andover, MA.  Slowly increasing the long runs on Sunday and it was a good measuring stick for what to expect with winter training as it was cold and a little windy.  It was good to see how busy the Preston calendar is and still be able to get the long runs in.  We had a rather ambitious Sunday planned beginning with Church, picking out a Xmas tree, some shopping, napping the babies, Xmas pictures and possibly yardwork.   I was able to channel my inner Jr High mentality  in succesfully negotiating out of going to Church.  Starting in Jr High if I had sporting events on Sunday morning I could go to Church on my own at a different time than the rest of the family.  This always turned into a cat and mouse game of how do I get around going.  Eventually I figured out that I could walk over to Church pick up a bulletin (the proof I was physically in the Bldg.) and then head over to House of Pizza for a slice and some time spent playing the Spy Hunter video game.  I do feel bad about it and have promised to make amends this week by taking the family to Church on Sunday...I wonder if House of Pizza has Booster seats???


Remember by clicking on the underlined "Follow this link" it will direct you to the donation page.


Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress

What are you Honking at!!!

After the Thanksgiving turkey Pam ran for about 45 mins (4miles approx) followed that up with some running through the XMAS list by grabbing some Black Friday deals.  Saturday was another 2.5-3miles on the treadmill and Sunday was an elongated 8mile long run (elongated because Santa was coming to town and was tying up all the main roads and had to find an alternate route.)  Monday was an off day and Tuesday was another 3 miles. 

There are some moments when raising your kids you stop and smile because they say or do something that shows you are doing right by them.   Maggie asks why Molly doesnt talk as much as Jimmy (in all fairness nobody talks that much) to which Pam replies, "She just needs some more help which is why I take sign language lessons."  Maggie responds with, "well then we should read my sign language book every night so I can help her too."  Add that to the exercise in Maggie's pre-school where they were all printing out pictures of what they want Santa to bring them for Christmas (Catholic preschool so save the letters to the State Dept as Santa is still ok there.)  All the kids were cutting out pictures of Dolls, Wii games and everything else that they wanted and Maggie had cut out pictures of finger puppets because, "I wanted to make sure Santa knew what Molly would like for Christmas."   Of course all this was preceded by the time I had all 3 kids (a modern miracle I know) and were attempting to go to the bank in Downtown Wakefield.  We're hobbling along in the crosswalk on Main Street when a car beeps their horn and not a split second later a sweet little Maggie replies with "JESUS CHR*** Lady what are you beeping at!"  That last lesson brought to you by her 25% Italian genes.....