11 May 2008

A Happy Day, Indeed

Had a good Mother's Day last year, had a good one again this year.

We started our day this year by running a 5K with a friend. The weather was perfect—sunny and warm but not hot. The course was great, too—a bit hilly, but with a good downhill to the finish. Who am I kidding, though? Any course would have been a challenge for me since I could count on one hand the number of times I've been out running in the past nine months.

The race is a fundraiser for cancer research. At registration, I filled out a paper flower indicating that I was running in honor of John. That was tough. I filled in my name, and Maddie and Riley's name, then filled in "John Kim/Daddy" for the "In honor of" slot. Hello, crying. Wow.

On a lighter note, I felt seriously famous as I was headed down the home stretch when we passed someone and she called out, "I think I read your blog!"

I called back, "Snickollet? I was just on CNN.com?" (How tacky of me, right?)

"Yes!" she called back. "But I read you before that!"

"Thank you! And you know I'm totally blogging this," I replied as I hauled ass to the finish, motivated by the thought of the goodies that awaited me including beer! Barbecue! Donuts! You'd think I'd run a marathon, not a measly 3.2 miles.

So thanks, Megan, for inflating my already plenty-large ego today.

Back to those snacks. The twins were as into them as I was.

They both had some Greek yogurt.


Maddie actually ate nearly three containers of it.


Riley also enjoyed some donut.


And many huge bites of banana.



Food coma ensued, so we headed home for a two-hour nap. A nap for the twins, that is. I took care of some stuff around the house so that I would have the evening free. One of the things I did during naptime was unload the jog stroller from the car. I have a seriously old jog stroller. I got it for free from another twin mom who had used it as her primary stroller for three years. Every time I take it somewhere, I think, "One day, this thing is just going to crumble into a pile of dust in front of my very eyes." Today was pretty much that day. I pulled it out and the front wheel snapped clean off. Time for a new jogger. If you have recommendations for a double jogger, please leave a comment. I don't need anything fancy—it's not like I'm out running miles and miles every day.

Anyway, after nap, we hit Mayfair at Harvard Square. (Maddie is evidently already embarrassed to be seen with me.)


Our one-track minds were still on snacking, so we bought the biggest bag of Kettle Korn available. It was EIGHT DOLLARS. Yes, I spent eight dollars on a bag of popcorn. Granted, it was as big as one of the twins, but still. Eight dollars? Seriously?

We strolled around, watched a guy make balloon animals, tried to make dent in the popcorn, and headed home after about an hour. We had to get home for dinner, you know. 'Cause we hadn't eaten ALL DAY.

Dinner, baths, bed, and here I am. It was a great day. Great weather, great friends, great kids. Hope you all enjoyed your Mother's Day as much as we did.

***************************
What good is a made-up Hallmark holiday in honor of mothers if not to brag shamelessly about how funny one's kids are?

From Riley at bedtime:

"Ri-Man, who loves you?
"Moo love you. Ba love you. HalmiHatchi love you."
"Who loves you most?"
"Harry Potter."
"Really? What about Mama and Daddy?"
"Harry Potter."
"Um, OK."

From Maddie in the backseat:
"Mama, both hands drive, please."
(Mads, I have to shift sometimes!)

***************************
Final note for the day: I remain woefully behind on e-mail. Bear with me.

40 comments:

10 lbs of awesome in a 5 lb bag said...

Snick, you drive a stick shift? Rock on.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful day! Well, no matter if Maddie has hit the "drop me off at the corner 'cause I don't want the other kids in preschool to see me with you" stage. Riley will be happy to have you around for at *least* another couple years (hey, I've got a 4-year old boy, I know what I'm talking about! ;)).

Happy Mother's Day to all moms everywhere!

Liz Jimenez said...

I'm no runner, but I am in love with my Bob Revolution Duallie. It's an awesome walk/run stroller, with the swiveling front wheel for walks, but you can lock it forward for jogging. We take it around Horn Pond in Woburn at least once a week (with other twin folk - it's a double stroller convention).

Anyways, love it love it, haven't met anyone who dislikes it. The only problem (it is a jogger, after all) is that it is still big & heavy when folded, so awkward to get in and out of the car. No surprise there.

Oh, and if you want to buy it at REI... sign up for their email mailing list and you'll get a coupon for 15% off one item. You can use that coupon online or in the store, and if you order online but have it shipped to the store, they don't charge you for shipping.

Can you tell I did a little research on how not to pay full price? :-)

Anonymous said...

Jogger stroller: I forgot which one I had..I sold it to Cat. But I like the ones w/the swivel wheel int he front.
Regardless, I was just on Walmart.com and I saw pretty decent prices there.

Rachel said...

Happy Mother's Day. Glad you had a good one. Love the Riley quote.

Anonymous said...

Hey, if you rank behind ONLY Harry Potter, you're doing okay!

Congrats on the 5K. You have made me feel very lazy today. :-D

Charlotte said...

Happy Mother's Day to you!

Cate said...

I like the Bob double stroller too. Craigslist often has them.

Anonymous said...

I usually just lurk, but I have the Baby Jogger double stroller and really like it. It is very wide, though, so if you think you would need to go through a lot of doors, it may not be the best choice. I use mine mainly outside (and occasionally for a walk to the grocery -- have to go to a checkout stand on the end to fit through). Anyway, I just saw it on sale (for $319 instead of $430)at REIoutlet.com. They hold their value pretty well, in case you want to sell it later.

amyinbc said...

What a great day! And you sound so happy :) Love the pics of you and the kids, more, more!

Too cool you ran into (a matter of speech) one of your readers.

Keen said...

Your Mother's Day sounds wonderful. I think it's so cool you ran the 5k. And the food sounds like it was good, too. During cherry blossom season, vendors wanted eight bucks for a not-so-large cone of candied almonds. Sheesh. I bought the small size for four bucks. So worth it, though, as I imagine the kettle corn was.

Oh, and I LOVED the twin pics!

L said...

Oh I love Boston so much. I'm envious of you and your location.
Riley looks so much like John I can't believe it. I know I've only seem them both in pictures but he is definite;y a "mini-me". I love the yogurt pics.

And good for you for being famous! Revel in it sister.

SO said...

I have only a single, but I would highly recommend anything by Chariot Carriers (www.joggingstroller.com). I have had two (divorce! new stuff! think...positive!) and they are disaster proof. They also have all these "conversion kits" so my chasis converts from jogger to bike trailer to regular stroller and therefore, justifies the expense.

I came across your blog via a Mighty Girl post about the Cnn.com story and I have been really touched. I'm so sorry for your loss and so impressed with how much you must do, just every. single. day. I can't imagine. Hang in there.

A good friend of mine signs out the way that I will. And seriously, everytime, it means something different to me. . .

Don't fall down,
Susanna

melanie ajumma said...

Awesome! Happy Mother's Day! (I read you before CNN too.)

Anonymous said...

Had to just tell you that it was neat last night when I learned that the next Survivor series will be in Gabon. Thought of you instantly! I had never heard of Gabon until your blog. Pretty cool. Thanks for sharing new pic of those little darlings.
M in MI

LJC said...

I love that you simultaneously blogged about exercise and junk food.

Theresa said...

Congrats on the 5K! You are an amazing mom! Happy Belated Mother's Day! :)

Anonymous said...

Hey there! Megan here. Nice job on the run yesterday! It was a perfect day for a race.

Anyway, I said I'd delurk and delurk I have.

Happy thoughts to you and the kids (who are so freaking adorable, btw),
MJ

Eliza said...

I LOVE the shout-out and the "you know I'm totally blogging this, right?" HAHAHA it's like something that'd happen to me if I ran 5ks or ever, you know, got off my arse at all. And/or was featured on CNN.com. Heh. But other than that my day was JUST LIKE YOURS because I ate my bodyweight in lasagna and key lime pie (my bodyweight has now doubled) and spent quantity time with the offspring!

Snickollet said...

10lbs.--

Learned on a stick, have always driven a stick, can't imagine not driving a stick. It's just . . . better.

-snick

Anonymous said...

Snick, Your children are BEAUTIFUL!! Happy Mothers Day.. I needed a nap after reading about your day!! (and a snack)

10 lbs of awesome in a 5 lb bag said...

"Learned on a stick, have always driven a stick, can't imagine not driving a stick. It's just . . . better."

To quote Paris Hilton, "That's hot." Both of our cars are stick shifts, but it's getting harder to find cars offering them.

Anonymous said...

Well, Megan may have read you before CNN, but I was reading you before Megan! I'm the big sister who introduced her to your blog. I was so tickled when I finished my ultimate frisbee game yesterday and had a voicemail from her saying, "I met Snickollet at my race!" Very cool...made me wish I was there with her, even though I can't stand running for distance!

Happy mother's day!

ashleyjnc said...

Have I mentioned how awesome you are? I stumbled on your blog from CNN, yeah I know you've heard it at least 500 times now, but I read your entire back log.. and ate up an entire evening/nite til 2am reading it from start to finish

Wordgirl said...

What cute pictures!

Sara said...

snick-
i found you on cnn, and now i'm absolutely addicted to your blog. i've been quietly laughing and crying at my desk at work, while catching up your archive.
anyway, you're an absolute jewel. thank you for sharing your life on the internet. as a korean woman married to a not-so-korean man, i can understand the cultural issues. while i was reading your entries on your in-laws, all i could think was, "oh my god. that's like my parents!"
and i love it that your kids use korean terms referring to their grandparents! it's so cute. my little cousin (also hapa) didn't know that harabuji meant "grandpa" until he was about 6 years old. all that time, he thought that harabuji was just a really cool old dude!
i look forward to keeping up with your blog.
a fan,
sara

Anne said...

What a fabulous day! Adored the pictures and the sweet twin quotes - please keep 'em coming. Sending you wishes for a fantastic week!

winecat said...

Yea for a great day. Adorable pictures even if Maddie is embarrassed by your very presence - lol

Julia said...

thanks for the smiles-- teh cute and teh happy is so good to see.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I totally found your blog courtesy of CNN and have been reading throught it for the past few days. Glad to say you've got another fan in me.

Kerry Lynn said...

Snick,
I have this stroller and LOVE it http://store.kaipukuki.org/item/52106_expedition%20double%20stroller.htm
They had it at BRU for a long time but I don't see it on their site anymore. Not sure where you can get it locally but at 179 you can't beat it! No need to spend 300 or more.
It's the only stroller we have so it goes on walks, in the mall, bjs, etc.
I know you're all famous now but I would still love to meet up with you some day.

Anonymous said...

Hello Snick,

I happened upon your blog from cnn.com and loved reading your story! Laughed and cried right along with the rest of the readers. You are an amazing example of how the human spirit can triumph. The twins are beautiful.
If someone hasn't said it already, seriously consider putting your words into book form because you are an excellant writer as well. I can relate to you as my husband and I are your age, have two young children and I have in- law issues. Had I been forced into the cancer situation, I would have done it the same way.

You just added a minneapolis/st. paul fan to your readers. When the going gets tough- we'll be there!

Becky said...

Ha, Maddie's face in that photo is priceless.

Mary Ellen said...

I've got a double Urban Mountain Buggy. (Or Mountain Buggy Urban??) They're wicked expensive. (See me? Talking like I'm from Boston?) But you can get them on Craiglist for considerably less than retail... Anyhoo, it's great. It has two wheels in the front that lock for jogging, and plenty of basket space for juice boxes, bananas, etc. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a drink holder for me... Good job on the race! I ran my first 10K this weekend and actually finished behind some people with strollers... but ahead of a 71-year-old woman. So, all in all, that's not too bad...

Sarahviz said...

Check out the Schwinn double jogging stroller from joggingstroller.com. You need the FRONT SWIVEL WHEEL. I've had mine for almost 4 years now and still LOVE it for my younger 2!

Katrina said...

I am glad you had a great mother's day!

(For the record, I started reading before CNN too!) ;)

Tiffany said...

You have some very cute kiddos. Congrats on running the race.

~ Jolene said...

Happy Belated Mother's Day Snick!!! So happy to hear you had a nice one. :)

misstj said...

1) stick shifts rock

2) found your blog from jen pre-CNN, you're pretty dang cool

3) double-jogger, just got one after tons of research. www.joggingstroller.com to get info is a great spot. i got an instep safari double on craigslist, NEW, for $150. no need to pay 300+. it's awesome.... just make sure you get the swivel wheel in front

4) thanks for your inspiring posts....keep it up!

Evie the evil Evelyn said...

YAY!!! I was just telling my daughter-in-law we need a double jogging stroller ...

Thank you for compiling recommendations :-)