Ben recovered shortly…more pics by clicking above photo.

Here we are visiting Santa’s Village on base. They had a lot of activities for the kids – antique fire truck ride, crafts, ornaments, malasadas, shave ice… They really work hard to provide good times for kids of service members, and that means a lot especially when one spouse is deployed.

I’m looking forward to getting to the starting line of the marathon tomorrow. The first couple weeks of Dec have been so busy with thinking about, creating and buying presents for those near and far, packaging and mailing 13 boxes yesterday, picking up race packet stuff, and then hunting down goo to eat at mile 21, stuff to make my feet sticky (so that my socks don’t slide around and cause blisters)…oy the list goes on. Even though I’m not uptight about how I do, nor do I have my heart set on a goal time, like any runner I hope for the best. I even sometimes let myself imagine that I run like a rocket (because I’m not pushing 100+ pounds of stroller and boys!). But however relaxed one thinks he or she is, the race still dominates the mind for months. I will be glad when it’s over and I can relax, maybe get feeling back in the balls of my feet…I will miss my buddy, Dave, who will be at work. He trained for this, then travel and work got in the way of being able to do it. I feel for him. That is really hard – to know a race is going on without you. I am healthy still despite my boys and my mom all battling colds. Poor mom has been sick since she got here three weeks ago! But she’s hoping to be at the finish tomorrow, and I’ll look forward to seeing her smiling face. Hopefully she’ll keep all her teeth…remember the San Diego half marathon, Jenni? 🙂 LOL! Well, funny now…not that day! Aloha…a hui hou.