26.2

A few months ago a very good friend called me telling me some wonderful news…she wanted to come visit! I was so excited since it had been 2+ years since I had seen Jackie and I really missed her. With this great news came her suggestion that we find a marathon to run together. Neither of us had ever run a full marathon before, I had only run a half. I told her I would think about it. Think I did…for weeks. Finally we gave ourselves an ultimatum, we would commit to a training program for 2 weeks and see how we felt at the end of it.

 I was sure I would back out but after a couple of long runs I was feeling pretty happy with the plan. After all, if I was ever going to run a marathon, doing it in Europe with Jackie was as close to ideal as running 26.2 could be. I won't say the training was pleasant or fun - especially on weekends when we had busy Saturdays and my runs started at 4am. What did help was thinking of Jackie, currently training in the high mountains of Bolivia who was managing to get her runs in regardless of the extreme altitude. I knew I had little room to complain.

We decided on a marathon in the Loire Valley of France. Could it get any better? The race would begin at the Chateau Cheverny. Devin decided that rather than bring the kids I should go alone with Jackie for a girls trip and he would stay home. This was my first (but hopefully not last…hint, hint) trip like this and it was so much fun!

After planning my trip it worked out that Devin's parents would come the same week as it fit best with their schedule. I was sure the distraction of having Grandma and Grandpa Osterhout around would help the kids.

Jackie flew to England to spend a couple of days seeing the area I live in.  We spent a day in York and some time driving around the Dales.  Nell got to be our little companion for the day and was very good!

We then flew to Paris together. We had a wonderful day in Paris, enjoying the Touloureis Garden, walking around the city and a visit to the Orsay Museum before heading to Cheverny.  Here I am the first afternoon at the Pont de l'Archeveche where couples put a lock as a sign of their love.

Brrr..the morning of the race was very chilly. Here we are in front of the chateau, nervous but happy to be in this together.

Apparently the nice man who took our pictures together wasn't as cold as I was.  Jackie asked me to take a couple of her and I COULD NOT get my fingers to work, they were sooooo cold.  Here are the two attempts I made but obviously I failed!  I laugh whenever I look at these.  Sorry Jackie!

The race went really well. I felt great and while it was hard and my feet hurt by the end, I was very happy to have done it. Crossing the finish line with Jackie was an amazing and unique feeling!

We headed back to the hotel to shower quickly and check out before catching our train to Paris. "You're welcome" to the fellow train passengers that we talked the hotel into a late check out or your noses sure would have been sorry!  We did have a funny experience sitting on the train across from the bathroom and having the door fly open.  We thought it was picture worthy.

We had 2.5 days in Paris before going to London. We filled those days with the following:

• Louvre (you should have seen us the day after up and down all those stairs with sore muscles…a guaranteed laugh)  

• Notre Dame

• Amazing ice cream eaten in the sunshine on the Seine River

• Laughing a lot
• Sleeping some
• Icing muscles (well, mostly Jackie)
• Having a frustrating Bed & Breakfast experience (and it didn't include the breakfast aspect either)
• Enjoying Grom (my favorite Gelato stop)
• Seeing the Eiffel Tower at dusk/night (and bringing Jackie's son's cute Fin car along for the ride)

• Long long long long lines at Versaille - but getting to see Versaille (I was the head map reader and it was particularly windy that day at Versaille).

• Hauling oversized bags on and off the metro a few times
• Eating fondue and drinking our soda out of a baby bottle (every drink served this way)…oh, and climbing over the tables to get to our seats (again, standard protocol)

Here's the owner assisting us.

• Pastries, Baguette Sandwiches, Yogurt (some amazing, some not so good)
• La Defense and Arc D'Triumph
• ONE store in Paris - a children's clothing store we saw just before getting our last train. We shopped as fast as we could and each got an outfit for our kids. Such a cute store, we could have spent much longer.
• Delicious hot chocolate enjoyed at Angelina's our last morning in Paris.
• Sacre Couer in the evening.
• Slaughtering the beautiful French language as I tried to employ my 3 years of High School French.
• Hmmm…have I forgotten anything? Probably. It was amazing. 

After a busy couple of days we trained to London. We were really looking forward to staying in the same hotel for 3 nights and having maybe a little more down time. Our first night in London was set up for success. A delicious noodle restaurant that was so good we went again, Hummingbird Bakery (we went daily, be forewarned) and watching Hunger Games.  Here is Jackie very excited to find our first Hummingbird of the trip.

Now would be a good time to mention that the remainder of the trip, our motto went something like this:

The next day was FREEZING cold and rainy. Can you tell?

At least I'm still excited!

We saw Big Ben and the Parliament Building before going inside Westminster Abbey.

After this our main goal was to stay inside so we went to Harrods and Liberty of London. What a fun day. We ended it perfectly with Billy Elliott and then back to the hotel to eat our Hummingbird goods we had purchased earlier that day.

 Friday - our last day. :(  We wanted to just enjoy it so we started at Buckingham Palace and saw the changing of the guard ceremony as it was beginning.

Notting Hill and Portobello Road then took over most of the remained of the day. With of course a stop at Hummingbird. After shopping we ate at the noodle place again...yum!

After delicious noodles and pink guave juice, we wandered around the Seven Dials, Leichester Square, Picadilly Circus, Regent Street until it was dark. We then walked back to the hotel past the London Eye, Big Ben and Parliament all light up.

I think we both soaked this time in. The novelty of this opportunity was not lost on me. The chance to travel with such a good friend and have such a fun and memorable time was something I will cherish for a very long time.

While I did not miss traveling with a diaper bag, pushing a stroller around or worrying about feeding Jonas at a restaurant in a foreign language, I did miss my children so much. Jackie and I were sad to say goodbye but seeing our families was the only thing that made it better. I felt so guilty as she faced a 24 hour trip back to Bolivia and I faced a mere 3 hour - quiet - train ride.

I got home to the most adorable children. Nell gave me the cold shoulder, except that she wouldn't let me put her down. We've since made up and life is back to normal. See?

It was fun to see my in-laws for a day and to enjoy Easter with my family.  Here is a summary of our Easter in pictures...

Jonas wearing his gloves to dye eggs since he is allergic.  Seemed to work well!

Love this shot of Jonas with his Grandpa Osterhout

The children are obviously happier to be with Grandparents than parents,  compare expressions above and below.

"How to eat a giant Easter Egg", by Jonas Osterhout (The secret?  Pretend to be kissing it)

"How to eat a Peep", by Nell Osterhout (Apparently Jonas shared his secret with Nell)

Who knows when I'll feel like another 26.2 miles. Probably not for a while but I am glad Jackie was so good at convincing me this was a good idea. It was and I had a wonderful spring break!!