I see your true colors

I think how people act on the road is indicative of who they are.

We live in tourist-ville in San Francisco on the North Beach Russian Hill border - we have Fisherman's Warf down the hill, Coit Tower up the hill to the right, and Lombard up the hill to the left.

Today I took the boys for a short jog down to the Ferry Building, but this 3-mile run turned into an obstacle course trying to make my way along the sidewalk. People, tourists especially I have come to think, love walking 3 or 4 in a row thus blocking the entire sidewalk. These same 3 or 4 in a rowers did not seem to want to budge today so my double stroller and I were forced to stand off to the side of the sidewalk behind lamps and bushes as people walked by. In fact, the only people who did move out of the way were two groups of who I would otherwise call "thugs." You really can't judge a book by its cover / person by their appearance ... but you can judge by how they act.

Weekend Roundup: over the bridge, and through the trees, the holiday wrap-up has come

I just got used to being on holiday and work is back upon us. This past (long) weekend was pretty awesome, though. The boys are more exhausting than ever, but luckily we're surrounded by amazing friends and family who help.

New Year's Eve didn't bring much partying this year - instead it brought a (wonderful) mellow evening watching the ball drop on TV in New York and bedtime for Matt and I at 9:30pm. Friday we went to my mom's house for the Wilson (family name, not baby name) family Christmas.

Saturday brought a GREAT run in the park - my first with the Bob!! - with a friend from Parents of Multiples while Matt climbed with Rob and Emily - then we went to Rob and Emily's new place for an amazing lunch and "chill" time in their new loft.

Cole is not loving belly time, but he is digging (faux) walking. Wilson has taken to lounging while eating - he's comfortable with everyone.










Sunday, winding down from the weekend, we spent the morning cleaning (a never ending task here now). I met up with GGRC at 10 for a nice 8mi run through the Presidio - GGRC runs are the only things helping boost my mileage, I have no idea when/how I'll get enough miles to give the Boston Marathon a proper go ... but I'll do it. Sunday afternoon Ryan (Wilson's Godmother) came over to play with the boys - we all walked through North Beach and made it to a local wine bar to close out the weekend.

Close the curtain, open the door - bring it, 2010!

And so it ends - a very busy (and spectacular) year.

In 2009, my resolutions were:

• Continue to try new things - camp (I hate camping but I'll learn to love it)
• Stay financially fit - cash is king!
  
• Balance - work/life (not on a beam)

I didn't camp, but I did try new things (like pilates and spin), balance work/life (I'm thankful for my company and awesome co-workers for that), and tried my hardest to stay financially fit. Sort of - gotta try harder on that one. 2009 also brought:

• My twins - they are introducing me to a whole new world and I'm SO thankful - I've never felt love like I have for them and seeing them see things in the world for the first time reminds me to open my eyes more and enjoy everything
  
• 30 - for some reason this ominous number scared me, but I'm digging my 30s
• Making new friends and "hanging" with the old - this goes hand in hand with the twins - we didn't know any other parents but we're forcing ourselves to get out there and meet some

In 2010, I'd like to:

• Work on the financially fit bit
• De-clutter
• Meet new people
• Run ... more
• Stretch
  
• Travel (we already have trips to Boston (for the marathon) and Santa Fe (for Lisa's wedding) lined up)
  

Taking the high road

No, I'm not going to rant on teaching the boys manners (although Mr. Manners is just around the corner), I'm taking a baby break and musing on my passion - running.

This weekend we were in Mammoth for Christmas and I suited up, made it out the door, and realized my goodness the altitude really gets you! Here are my tips for altitude running:

• Take it slow - I started out way too fast and died after just a mile
• Dress for the run - it was icy and snowy in the mountains so my usual running tights and t wouldn't cut it - I layered which also isn't ideal - my recommended cold weather running outfit is water resistant running tights, a sweatproof t, a windbreaker, gloves, and ear warmers (this is only really related to altitude running because in the winter I associate altitude with snow - different story in the summer)
• Drink up!
  
• Stop and stretch - at lights instead of running in place (what Matt calls my Irish dancing) I've taken to stop and stretch - the figure 4 and calf stretches are my favs as that's where my legs always seem to die
• Rest when finished
• Do it again! The only way to get good at altitude running is to practice - just like the body has to adjust for distance running, it has to adjust for altitude

Can't wait to get back to the mountains.

And so it went: our Christmas Tale

I love the holidays to a point - they're a great time of year to get together with family and friends, to splurge (within reason), and to (re)evaluate what's important. Let's be honest, though, the holidays are also friggin stressful! People lose the nice "spirit" when running from sale to sale and getting stuck in traffic on their way to (yet another) family dinner. So, to this holiday season - I have loved you and I'm glad you're over!

But before we say "The End" to the 2009 holiday tale(s), here is our Christmas Story:

Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the skies
The twins were first traveling
Much more than a mile high




The boys ate on the runway
Then sat in our lap(s)
After milk pukes and plane poops (my God that was a big one - gross, potty talk, sorry, back to the story)
They settled in for a nap

When we landed in Mammoth
To the cabin we went to sit by the fire
The boys met Rhiannon
Who truly inspires





When out on a limb
Fine, it was inside, not out
Matty got sick and went night night
And Wilson did shout! (from 10pm to 5am - and shout, and shout and shout ... waiting for Santa?)




The morning brought Christmas
With presents galore
But the time spent with family
Meant everything ... no, more






It was a weekend of laughing
Of love and of life
We talked ate and played
No worries, no strife




Then Sunday brought goodbyes
And sent us back to the skies
A delay made the boys' day
As they sat in the pilots cabin - hurray!







Now back in the city
Heart full, mind and body tired
Thanks Grandpa (Don), thanks Grandma (Kathleen), Gabe, Amanda, Rhiannon (brother in-law, sister in-law, cousin)
You've left us whole - (subconscious) Scrooge, you're fired!

Traveling with twinfants

Tomorrow marks our first trip with the twins leading up to our first Christmas with them - and we're bringing on the snow - hurray! We're flying up/over to Mammoth tomorrow (we're breaking into the air travel scene with a short 1-hour flight). My goodness there's a lot of logistics involved in getting ready for twinfant travel.

The boys helped us get everything together this evening - they made sure the laundry was finished, reminded us to pack burp cloths, and provided constant entertainment while we blitzed around the house throwing things in bags.Our bags are packed ... to the brim ... some highlights:

• PeaPod Travel Tentsfor the boys to sleep in
• Bjorns
• 6 outfits for 3 days (and I think we'll have to do laundry)
• Milk (some to declare, some frozen in the suitcase)
  
• Diapers
• Binkies and backups - the boys are teething now so having something to put in their mouths is key
• Blankets
• Christmas gifts
• Hand-me-down clothes for the boys' niece Rhiannon - who they cannot wait to meet!
• Chocolates and ear plugs for all the passengers around us ... now, seriously

Wish us luck on this flight ... :o) should be an adventure.

It's beginning to look a lot like ... winter running time!

This weekend marked the Xmas relay - the race where run clubs from around the Bay Area come to show their stuff around Lake Merced. This is the second year I participated in the relay with GGRC, the second year it dumped rain on the relay, and the second year I had an awesome time! This year I brought my built in cheer squad - two Santa's and the best gift there is (Matty).

The boys in their sleighThe must pic: crying baby, bored baby, tired mommy

GGRC had an awesome showing with nearly 70 runners. I had hoped for 7min miles, but came in at 6:30s - woot! I think part of the reason for my speed this time is I wanted to get back to the boys and out of the rain. I have to say, despite it being a short race (4.3mi) the final stretch was a killer - it was an incline of about 400 yards - not too steep, but enough to think "who the H puts the finish line at the top of a hill?..."