Marathon Mayhem and Memories

I believe it makes life adventurous to have a bucket list.  For me, my list is comprised of both personal goals and dreams (that may or may not come to fruition).  On Sunday, May 1 one of my personal goals was completed.  With the support of my running buddy, Andrew, and the amazing support and love of my family and friends, I was able to finish my first full marathon.

Andrew and I began training in the cold air of January.  We followed closely a 15 week training schedule that adequately prepared us for the strenuous 26.2 mile course.  Little did we know that training in the cold air of winter would get us ready for a crazy weather day in May.

It began raining at 5:45am as we walked toward to starting gates and it rarely stopped throughout the morning.  In addition to the steady rain, we also had the pleasure of "enjoying" a northerly wind and some hail stones.  To my surprise, my body responded to my training and felt good the entire race.  Andrew and I were even able to give a smile for the camera!

Andrew - having run in a marathon last year - tried to emphasize to me the importance of encouragement from others throughout the race.  I thought I understood what he meant; but, I really had no idea.  As I ran through the cold rain and wind, there were times that I started to slow down or even shut down.  But at just the right time my family would show up with shouts of encouragement.  My favortie part was the signs they made!  I am so grateful that they were willing to brave the weather to cheer us on!

In the end it was exhilirating to cross that finish line. Andrew and I received our metals and promptly went and consumed two cheeseburgers each! I will never forget this day of accomplishing this goal, the love and support of my family and the discipline it took to finish.

Our New Addition: Baby Boy Kayman Lewis

Kayman Lewis Hobbs came into this world screaming.  His Papa said, "Yeah, he saw his daddy and started screaming!" Which I was perfectly happy with because our 3 1/2 year old son Kaison waited a good 25-30 seconds when he was born to say anything.  This picture describes it all!!

It was moments after this picture was taken that I had the extreme pleasure of cutting the umbilical cord.  After watching my wife push with EXTREME vigor and determination, Kayman came sliding (sorry if that was too graphic :) out and the nursing assistant handed me the scissors.  Now, in my estimation, husbands do nothing to help with the birthing process; but, we take great pleasure in taking the scissors and waking away at the fleshly cord.  Is it more "manly" to cut than push?  I don't know....I'm just stating what happens...

Any whoo, Tara did all the work, God provided his providential care and Kayman came into the world safely.  Here are a few family pictures that shows how proud we are of our new addition:

Perhaps the best quote of the day belonged to Kaison.  He typically is a whitty three year old, but this fair out weighed them all.  When he arrived at the hospital to see his new baby brother, he proudly announced, "Where is baby Kayman, I want to pet him, I want to pet him...!"  As you can see in the above picture, he finally got to "pet" his brother.

Gentlemen, lest we forget that the women in our lives are strong all the way through, let me remind you of something.  My amazing wife gave birth at 12:24pm on Monday and we went home at 3:00pm on Tuesday!  That is simply unbelievable to me!  So, after we had the cermonial ribbon cuttings (id braclets at hospital), we packed up our little man in his car seat and took him home.  He weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20 3/4 inches long.  He was a big baby for our family, but we can already tell that he is even bigger at heart.

Proud new parents,

Micah and Tara                                                             

Pictures at the Park

It always amazes me how the Hobbs family is able to get some good pictures at a photo shoot.  These days of our lives one would think it would be simple to get a few good pics; but, it never fails that the kids last about five mintues before the complaining/bickering kicks in.  And like a vaccum I allow there bad moods to suck me right in and before I realize it, my smiles have turned to mean glares and sharp tones/inflections in my voice threatening the kids with their very lives if they do not smile at the camera.  Sound familiar?  But, in the end, we somehow end up with a few wonderful family pictures.

My favorite memories of family pictures while the kids are toddlers will hands down be their cheezy smiles.  No matter who the photographer is they always say something like, "Okay, on three, say cheese...one, two, three!" And my kids throw up the most awkward - Chandler-like (for those Friends fans out there) - smiles I've ever seen.  Cracks me up every time...

However, my favorite part of this photo session at Will Rogers Park was being reminded of what a beautiful wife I have.  Nine months pregnant and she is still as beautiful as the day I met her.  As most of us guys out there, I married way out of my league.  I am truly blessed.

Grateful Husband and Father,




Micah

Annual Pumpkin Patch Trip

We never have to wonder if we are headed in the right direction to find our pumpkin patch destination.  The kids see the over sized, two-story high pop bottle and scream, "Pops! Can we stop there, daddy? Please!"  But, we keep going and turn right somewhere out in the middle of nowhere Arcadia...just past the round, red barn.

This year it was fun to go pumpkin perusing with the Mullins family.  As you can see from the above picture, the kids did not mind it either.  They practically knew that the picture was coming, so they all turned and smiled.  The optimist in me calmly thought, "What nice smiles, this can not be good..."

Overall, it was not a bad day.  The weather was great!  Kadence enjoyed the pony rides and the huge tire swing.  And Kaison enjoyed crawling up on the big, green tractor.  By the look in his eyes below, he thought he was in total control.  I could not help but think, "Look at him, he could take me for a ride on his big green tractor."

Perhaps the best part of the day was climbing onto the hay ride and the tractor driver breaking out in some hill-billy, slap your knee folk song.  It felt like we were on an old episode of "Hee-Haw"...for those of you who cannot remember this show...Google it.  It is good for a laugh or two...but not three.

A grateful pumpkin patch participant,

The Husband of the Blogger

PS - for those loyal readers out there I'm trying to revive Tara's passion for blogging...so far it has fallen on deaf ears... :)

Threads of Compassion

I have started a new project tonight.  My friend Jessica has started a ministry in Oklahoma City called Thread of Compassion.  She is making scarfs for abuse victims and donating them to YWCA.  The give the scarfs to ladies who come to their facility seeking help from any kind of abuse.  You can read more about her ministry here.  Also, if you link to her blog you can be entered to win a free scarf.  So, if you know how to crochet or knit, she could always use help making scarfs to send to these women in need!

Blue Photo Contest

Check out Mandy's Friday Photo Contest. Here is my entry!

Seeing Red

My favorite picture of Kaison at his first Christmas photo shoot. Photo contest at Mandy Stansberry Photography