31st Memorial Day Bolder Boulder

The Bolder Boulder is the largest 10 K in the United States and the second largest road race in the United States with over 54,000 participants and over 80,000-100,000 participants and spectators. The race weaves up and down steep hills throughout Boulder, CO (an ideal racing town at a high elevation) and finishes in the CU Stadium. It is really cool to sit in the stadium and watch all of the people run in and over the finish line. Right outside the stadium is an expo with booths of free stuff (t-shirts, food, water bottles, ect) and it is bustling with music and all sorts of different people.

All of the pedestrian runners have to be done by 11:00 am and then they start the international professional races. These runners were so amazing to watch. The fastest male did 6 miles in about 27 minutes. After the professional racers get in there is a sky dive by the Mile-Hi Sky Diving Team, each carrying a flag from a branch of the U.S. military as well as the United States Flag, A 21-gun salute and presentation of the Colors, the National Anthem is sung and there is a formation flyover by military jets.

The entire race is emotional because you get to see people struggle and reach their goals. You see parents pushing their children forward. You see elderly beat their age and bodies limitations. You see people beat weight, sickness, fatigue and doubt. It is awe- inspiring to see the dedication and commitment on the runners faces.

The final portion of the program when they dedicate time to the service of the military and the memory of the country, it brings the dedication and commitment we saw on the faces of the runners into a new perspective and shows the dedication and commitment that others had for our country. It was an amazing moment that felt like time stood still.

The flyover of the military jets ended the program and as the last jet flew over the rain began to poor. It was also a slightly awe-inspiring thing that the rain waited for us to have that moment. It was a great morning; we got to see Erica run in (I am so proud of her) and got to see other people we know complete their goals. I feel almost silly to be so emotionally attached to those moments I had this morning but they helped me remember that I am proud to be an American!

Godfather to a Gibson

We got to go up to Loveland to visit our friend Amy and her new baby, Kate Fay! Amy had Kate while Danny is on deployment in Iraq for the Marines. They had an inspirational story that was in the newspaper and even on national TV. It was so wonderful to see Amy (she is a great mother and has always been such an example to us) and to get to talk and catch up. Kate is so small and looks like her Dad (but we all think that’s because of her hair).

Ben immediately fell in love with Kate and decided that even though he is not Catholic he is going to be her godfather. (He said it was a "Father Agreement".) Amy told him that means he has to pay for all her schooling, wedding and monthly installments! Ben agreed and said he would pay for anything… he is so smitten he is already passin’ out the cash!

Sod, Sweat and Tears

We are finally beginning to reconstruct the backyard. This past week we prepared the main backyard for sod; tilled the ground, spread compost and clay buster over the entire thing and then tilled it in. We also started arranging and laying brick, weeding the flower beds, getting the flower gardens ready and planting the flower pots. Then on Friday and Saturday we laid 4 flats of sod. It was a tiring week but it looks great and the yard is starting to look more normal. It is great to see the fruits, or fields, of our labors!