New Orleans--Trip #1

This time around while living here on the Gulf Coast, we've decided to try and get out more.  It helps that I am planning on running races all over the coast here.  But, Rick's mentioned going to the World War II museum in New Orleans, and I asked him if we could make it an overnight trip.  So, we left on Friday in the early afternoon and got to the Bed and Breakfast that we stayed at.  I wasn't too impressed.  It reminded me more of a hotel or hostel than a bed and breakfast.  But we've never been before, so who knows?  I was just a little peeved because internet didn't work (for my kindle to upload a book for me to read at bedtime), it was super tiny, and it was way too expensive for what we got.  Bedtime with the boys was really hard, but it was okay.

Anyways, after we checked into our Bed and Breakfast, the boys started eating everything that they could get their little hands on.  We decided to do an early dinner since the boys seemed so hungry.  We walked to a restaurant called "Joey Ks" which was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  Rick said it was only about .7 miles away from what he saw on the map.  I think it ended up being more like 1.5 miles away (one way).  It was quite a trip.  Thankfully we had the double stroller and the boys did well being outside.

The boys were entertained easily with all the cool cars passing by.

Another pic of my boys. I can't believe how big they are both getting.

Evan strikes a pose.

Logan chowing down on his yummy pre-dinner snack of teddy grahams. 

The boys enjoyed their food.  Rick and I got po' boy sandwiches.  Rick got 1/2 catfish and 1/2 shrimp.  I got shrimp.  I didn't have a problem at first with it until I saw this black line on the back of the shrimp and realized that they didn't devein them. I started feeling so gross and sick after that.  It wasn't the taste---it was definitely just seeing it that grossed me out.  Too bad too, because it tasted pretty yummy.  

After dinner we went to the gelateria next door for some gelato.  It was quite yummy.  I bought a pineapple with mint sorbet, Rick had root beer (of course) and the boys had cookies.  I wish I would have taken a picture but Logan ended up falling asleep on the way back with a 1/4 of a cookie tightly held in his little hand.  It's exhausting eating cookies.

We went back to the hotel and ended up just watching TV, relaxing and TRYING to get the boys to go to sleep.  Without much space in a room that was smaller than our old master bedroom in MD (which was pretty tiny), it took about 1 1/2 hours for both boys to fall asleep.  Evan you have to put in a body bind almost, he doesn't like to sit still. 

The boys before bedtime.  Evan wanted to jump into Logan's bed.

 Eventually we all fell asleep and woke up, got ready and head down to breakfast.  Breakfast was interesting.  They had a continental breakfast, but also had a waitress who told us that they had eggs, sausage and grits made to order if we wanted any of that.  Well, Rick and Evan both got eggs and sausage (and Rick added on grits to his).  I was happy because I could order egg whites.  And they were yummy egg whites, completely soaked in butter, so I am not sure how healthy they ended up being for me!  Logan loved the croissant and daddy's grits.  And the sausage (hot dog) was Evan's favorite.  He ate that all up.  

The next morning at breakfast.  Logan LOVED the croissant. 

Evan enjoying his food and especially his sausage and orange juice.

 We walked to the WWII Museum since it wasn't too far (not even a 1/2 mile one way!) and got there to see that it was two buildings.  While waiting in line, Rick told me that he wanted to do a movie also.  I said, "Sure, just make sure it's not too long because of the kids."  We got a military discount and walked across the street for our movie.  While waiting for the movie to start, Evan got to do some crafts.  I loved that most of the volunteers for the crafts and other things around the museum are WWII veterans.  What a cool experience having someone that experienced the war explain stuff to you. 

Evan drawing some nose art for his bomber.

Watching daddy color his Tuskegee airman.

Evan is a good supervisor. 

The movie that we saw there actually ended up being more like a ride or "experience".  It was called "Final Mission" and it was about the submarine USS Tang.  We each got a card with the name and photo of a sailor that was on the submarine.  We were given the job descriptions, stations, and ranks and we were told a little bit of information about our mission.  We headed into the submarine and were at our stations as we torpedoed a bunch of Japanese ships and in turn got hit ourselves.  There was lots of moving and when we got hit, we had a bunch of smoke come in.  It was like Star Tours or the Simpsons ride at Universal Studios.

After our "ride" we walked around to look at the exhibits.  We started in the building where the theater had been.  There was this cool interactive computer screen where you press the touch screen to see the battle, and they show on the map the movements of the allied forces while invading and whatnot.  I looked at the invasion of Sicily (since my Grandpa Espley was in that on the British side) and the Battle of Guadalcanal (since my Grandpa Carpenter was in on that on the American side.)

 We then headed over to the other building that had the main exhibits.  There was a seasonal exhibit on American POWs in Europe and then two D-Day exhibits.  One side for Europe, and one side for the Pacific.  Really neat displays.  I loved the pictures.  I am really, such a history nerd.  I was starting to tear up looking at some of the pictures.  It was really an emotional morning. 

Rick with his boys.  Logan looks particularly thrilled.

 I didn't realize that you weren't supposed to take pictures.  Didn't see the sign until we went over to the Pacific exhibit.  Whoops.  Oh well.

So, this picture I took mainly of the one in the middle (Russian and US soldiers greeting each other).  And the one in the far right corner of the dead soldier on the makeshift bridge.

Going in for D-Day (Omaha beach).

I really liked this picture too.  Just one guy standing up by all the wounded and weary. 

 Two of the things that I read on Omaha beach that I found particularly interesting were:  1) If the Germans would have known how hurt, desperate, injured and few in numbers the Americans were, they could have EASILY overtaken the American troops; and 2) The leadership really stood up and set the example in going.  They just had to keep going. And when they said leadership, they specifically mentioned the NCOs (non-commissioned officers) and the CGOS (company grade officers.) Since Rick is now considered a CGO, that was kind of an emotional AHA moment for me.

More D-Day pictures. 

Not the best picture, but this guy coming in the second wave.

As exciting as I found this to be, Logan was rather bored and fell asleep.  

No pictures of the Pacific side.  Some of the stuff was quite...disturbing.  Plus, by that time I saw the "No Flash Photography" sign.  So yeah, if you're ever in New Orleans, you should go to the WWII museum.  I usually get bored really easily at museums, but this one was great and interactive!  But don't bother with staying at Creole Gardens (our "bed and breakfast").  Go somewhere else cheaper!

Mardi Pardi 10K- Bay St. Louis

Yesterday I ran my very first 10K in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.  This week I had a minor breakdown because it was my first 10K and I was so very afraid of not doing well on it.  The one thing that I've had to learn about running in races is that very few people actually care about how fast YOU are, they really only care about their own times and setting their own PRs.  So, I told myself, that regardless of how fast I did my 6.2 miles on Saturday, I was still setting my on Personal Record by just running and finishing.  And, I did run.  I tend to pace myself.  I don't like to get going really fast at the beginning and run out of steam toward the end.  So, I was at a comfortable pace, all on my own. 

Me with my number before the race.  In true beach fashion it was cold but I still got burned.

It's kind of hard to run by yourself at first.  I was surrounded by lots of friends that were running their first 10Ks themselves.  But, I got over it and really soaked in the scenery.  Since we're now on the Gulf Coast, a lot of the races I will be doing are along the beach.  Nice and flat, for the most part, and the beautiful trees and beaches.  I really enjoyed the scenery of Bay St Louis.  Besides the 3.5 miles of the coast that I ran along, I also ran through the quaint downtown area that was so cute and out of the past.  I finished my run in 1:18 and I am very proud of that time, especially since I didn't walk at all.  I did have to stop and retie my shoe on my one foot because it was starting to hurt because it was too tight and I was toward the middle/back of the massive crowd of people.  I didn't run out of steam at the end---I was able to push myself even harder during that last quarter mile.  And I received compliments from so many people that told me "I set a mean pace" (that must be a relative term!) and "We were trying to catch up to you the entire time" (a group of four ladies that came in about 7-8 minutes after me.    Overall, I just love how friendly and kind runners are.  I feel like a lot of them have been in my shoes before, never having run races and they know what it's like to start at the beginning.  I'm looking forward to improving my time.

At the finish line.  I was so glad to be done.

I don't think I am ready for a 1/2 marathon training plan yet.  I may be ready physically for one, but at the beginning of this race, I kept thinking, "I hate running.  Why am I doing this?  I am not fast, and this isn't fun." But about 20 minutes into it, I was feeling a lot better and really took off after that.  So, maybe longer runs are better for me?  But around mile 4-4.5 I started having my knee hurt and I had to readjust my stride.  Running properly is really such an unnatural thing for me at the moment, I think I have to just watch HOW I run so I don't get injured in the future.  I am really starting to like running a lot.  (I'm not at the love stage yet)  And I am really looking forward to beating my last time for the 5K next month when I do the St Patrick's Day parade here in Biloxi. 

Evan was one of my fans!

My cheering section in their new wagon.

It was chilly in the morning.

Both boys stuffing their mouths with food.

Cute little guy in my big hoodie.

Evan looking like Gollum with his precious pretzels.

On the slide at the park.  They knew the run would take me a while.

These boys loved those swings.

Logan wearing my sweaty hat.

He didn't want it on. 

Telling daddy to shut up in his own little way.

But then he wants it back.

My Evan and I.

Handsome little boy!

A couple of Rick's officer friends that we ran in to.  They both won their age divisions for the 5K.  Maybe some day I'll be that fast?  Or not...

Long Beach 5K

So, I made a non resolution this year that I would run my first 1/2 marathon.  I am currently training for my first 10K (this weekend!), and I figured the next step would be a 1/2 marathon.  I currently have NO desire to run a full marathon yet.  We shall see.

Anyways, I was also thinking that in order to keep running, personally, I think I need an incentive.  And that incentive is to race.  So, I ran a 5K a couple of weekends ago in Long Beach.  Unfortunately, I have NO pictures since the boys all stayed at home so they wouldn't bother me!  I did save my number, though, because I think I might try to put a little book together or something.

So, I ran hard during that 5K.  Not so hard that I was dying at the end.  In fact, I had to tell myself, because I am quite competitive "The only person you're competing against is yourself", because I was passed by a few people.  My time ended up being 35:45, which I am absolutely thrilled with!  I wanted to get below 36 minutes, and it is!  There is room for improvement, and sometime I'd like to be under 30 minutes when I run a 5K.

To say that I felt a great sense of accomplishment after I ran is an understatement.  I didn't care that I was the middle to end of the pack, but I knew that I gave it my all and I didn't get injured, so I was quite happy with myself!

My next race is a 10K in Bay St Louis  It's going to be right along the coast and quite scenic.  I am looking forward to reaching my goal of my very first 10K hooray!