Walking for MS

Last Saturday morning, we packed up both girls and headed out to join Chrissy's Angels for our annual participation in the MS Walk. I've been running so many races lately, it was a nice break to get out there for a leisurely morning stroll on a gorgeous morning.

Ok, does that sound good? It sounds nice and pleasant and not at all competitive, right? Yup, that's my official take on the walk.

Unofficially, it kind of drove this girl crazy to walk slowly along the sidewalk stopping every five minutes to let someone in or out of the stroller. Or up on or down off Cory's shoulders. Or, to get a drink. Or, to walk "by myself." Or, to complain that I'd forgotten their sunglasses.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm totally on board and totally willing to walk for the cause. I love to help out with causes that are dear to our or our friends' hearts. But, it was the actual walking with kids that was a bit annoying. It reminded me why I enjoy my solo runs in the morning so much. I love my girls, but it's about 3,000 times easier to run seven miles by myself in the morning than walk three miles in a crowd with both girls. Trust me on this point.

Keep in mind, we started at the very front of the the group. Chrissy cut the ribbon for the walk, so her whole team was at the very front. Where did we finish? Um, pretty much at the end. Ok, maybe it was like the last half. But, we were nowhere close to the front by the time we crossed the finish line. That is what happens when you constantly pull over onto the grass to readjust seating arrangements and snack containers for a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old. We're talking about slowly creeping along at about the pace of a sloth. It took us over an hour and 15 minutes to walk three miles. This is also why it amazes me when people are able to push kids in strollers during races. Side note: I really hate when those people pass me. 

Molly and Avery posing before the start of the walk.

Walk this way

Some people might say I'm obsessed with the weather. Cory, more specifically, might say that. I like to watch the weather every morning on the Today Show. I try to watch it every night on the 10 o'clock news. (Truth be told, sometimes I fall asleep before it actually comes on. Ok, truth again, a lot of the time I fall asleep before it comes on. It would be so much easier if it were the first thing on the news.) I even have a digital thermometer telling me the exact temperature outside my back door. It never occurred to me that this behavior was odd. I like to know. I like to be prepared. I like to know if I need to wear my shorts or a sweater. My snow boots or my rain coat. My bikini or my stilettos. Oh wait, that's not me, that's my thermometer's weather girl.

 When I bought the thermometer, I was excited for an illustration of how to dress in the different temps. I didn't realize this is what the makers had in mind.

And this? It's just ridiculous. I've had to hide her away so we're not constantly staring at the cover of Playboy in out kitchen.

Anyway, one summer, in college, I went to spend a week at my grandmother's house in Tucson, Arizona. I kept with my normal routine of getting up and watching the weather. It wasn't until about day three that I realized the habit was ridiculous in Arizona. Seriously, it was 95 and sunny every single day. No variation. Being a weather person in Arizona has to be the easiest job in the world. Being a weather person in Kansas? Not so easy. We all joke that our weather guys can never seem to get it right, but really, it's quite a tricky task. Remember just last week when I was lamenting the unpredictable nature of Kansas weather? I'm sure you all were just dying for a story to illustrate that point. So, here ya go: