Well, since my parents just sold their house in Jensen beach it was exciting for me to see them buy their next house in Miami.  Now I was hoping for a more glorious house, because they deserve it for working so hard these last 29 years, but regardless my parents bought their new house cash which alone is very inspiring.  It was definitely a huge fixer upper, but a great investment in a great area.  It’s been fun to hear their stories about seeing the house transform into a great livable space.  The house they bought was a foreclosure short sale dump that everything was ripped out of the house and stopped being taken care of.  I couldn’t believe how easy the transformation was and how great my parents handled it all.  I unfortunately don’t have any photos but hope to take some real soon.  I also hope they get to start really enjoying the retired life they deserve.  In addition to eating right and staying as healthy as possible.  I hope one day they get to see some grand kids, even if it is seeing Taylor some more.

I’ve always wanted to go on a big family vacation and fortunately to some great in-laws we got the chance to do that this March.  A simple 4 day cruise to the Bahamas with Taylor and the Taylors.

From Cruise with Taylors

We had a great time and I couldn’t have asked for a better vacation with some great people. I really appreciate my in-laws and what they do for their kids and they are very inspiring people. It was simple vacation with no major activities other than going to Senior Frogs. As you can see in the photos:

Cruise with Taylors

We’re still all about Taylor the newest addition to the family. Also I created this video (which currently is one of my favorites) of Mandy and Taylor dancing. She is such a great baby!

Cruise with the Taylor(s) from Zeus on Vimeo.

What a dumb idea!  Not totally but a little! On February 7th, 2010 I ran the Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon. It was something my good friend and I decided to do.  Of course it was my dumb idea and my easy convincing was due to the fact that we had run 3 Disney Races (the Fall Series of 2009) which consist of Expedition Everest 5k, Race for the Taste 10k, and Tower of Terror 13k.  Those were some great races that we really enjoyed for the atmosphere, challenge, and of course bad ass medals.  Now this race was more than a challenge to say the least because the day of the race was not just a marathon race, but also a half marathon race.  The reason I say this because after running for two hours straight at around mile 12.8 there were probably 25 people that went left to the finish line to finish their 13.1 miles half marathon and only 1 other person that went right to run another 2 hours to complete the 26.2 miles for the full marathon!

That was one of the hardest things to see and be a part of.  I never realized how challenging it would be and I envisioned a completely different experience.  I knew it was going to be ridiculously hard, but this course was not like just a long run around a city.  This was one loop over two cause ways we had to run over 4 times.  After that half way point there was no one on the course to cheer us on, that alone hurts and makes things challenging.  Then there were some points on the course that ran out of cups for water and drinks.  The course was supposed to have bands all along the way, but only two of the bands played some great rockin music to keep us going, while at least 4 bands weren’t playing when I ran by, were small orchestra and playing very melodic music that could have put anyone to sleep.  So throughout the course I would just look at the beautiful sky with the sun shinning and the little bit of clouds showing and start to cry wanting the whole experience to be over.  I did receive some great support from Team Thompson and Mandy, they all ran with me throughout the last 4-6 miles of the marathon and really helped me keep going.

Despite it all it was a great experience, and would recommend running a marathon to anyone, but the only marathon I would run again would be a Disney Marathon.  I’ve seen it twice with Mandy running them and the experience although painful is much more bearable and enjoyable.  So if you ever plan to run a marathon, run one of the larger marathons you can, because there will be more people to help you keep going.  Here are other photos from previous races of Rowland and I.

Running Pictures

• Running a marathon
• Cruise vacation
• Parents house
• My house bathroom office and guest bedroom

Day 4: See Day 2

Seriously, I love me some GUAC and I had no idea until I came to Mexico and the stuff is everywhere! As I sit in the hotel room, in my Mexican Cowgirl Hat, my Dos Equis and having just finished a plate full of chips, pico de gallo y guac, I decided I needed to tell everyone how much I love guac and Mexico. The guac here is ALWAYS FRESH, not like the browning stuff you sometimes see at Chipotle,; this is seriously, always FRESH and so yummy!

Yesterday we met the nicest family from Vancouver, which we are totally friends with and plan to summer in Vancouver with and perhaps even attend the 2010 Olympics (yes, we’ve gotten invited). Anyway, we were poolside yesterday and today and loved every minute of it. The sun is high, the water is blue, the drinks are cold and the company is awesome. Zeus and I are having a great time and to be honest- neither of us wants to return. While we only had one excursion, we’re just enjoying chillin pool-side with a cool cocktail. While our new friends are from Canada (which there are A LOT of BTW) we’ve met folks from Vegas as well. They booze and smoke way more than we ever would (especially the smoking since we aren’t smokers), but we got an invite to contact them the next time we’re in Vegas.

So now we’re watching “Taladega Nights” with “Little Baby Jesus” and enjoying a cold one before dinner. We’re got a couple more nights left in Cabo and hope to eat at “The Office” tomorrow evening with out new Canadian friends.

Until then… we miss everyone at home…

Love, Mandy y Zeus

Toady was an awesome day and we’ve got PHNOM pictures to prove it. While the morning started out as a cluster, the day got progressively better.

You see, our confirmation for the Cabo Outdoor Adventure said to be there at 6:30 am; thus we had to get up insanely early (despite it being considerably late EST), and we had to find our own mode of transportation. And we did, a taxi pulled up, and we took it. We were dropped off at the downtown Cabo Marina, in front of the Dolphin Center, which was empty with no one inside. So we meandered up and down the Cabo Marina saying “no” to every fisherman who asked if we wanted to fish, trying to find someone who could help us. After a good 30 minutes of wondering, a back employee entrance was open and someone was there that was slightly educated and he said we were very early! “Thank you Captain Obvious” for the enlightenment. Anyway, I digressed, so we had to wait another 30 minutes before the check in opened up…and what do you know, when it does open and we’re trying to check in they can’t find our reservation. WHAT?! WHY?! What kind of people run this place? But wait, upon further investigation of the paperwork, our reservation was actually for YESTERDAY! Yea! So, we were up at the butt crack of dawn, freezing our tail feathers off, fending off the “Barracuda Mexican Fisherman” for nothing! I had to step away from the check-in counter needless to say however, Cabo Adventure came through and we were booked on the 9 am tour.

So, we went to have what turned out to be a wonderful breakfast at Café Canola, which overlooked the marina, and watched the sunrise. It was quite lovely actually.

Finally, we made it back to the Dolphin Center and were properly checked in and ready to go! Never the shy types, we made friends immediately- Oz & Jessica (the newlyweds from Dallas), Marette & George (step siblings from Seattle), and eventually Rachel & Matthew (engaged and get this, from ORLANDO!)

So… you’re asking yourself… what did you do?! Get on with it already… OK….hold onto your running shoes and tutus people…. We went zip lining, rope climbing, hiking, rock wall climbing, free ladder climbing, Tarzan swinging, bridge crossing, rock wall rappelling, river crossing, finally finishing with the mother of all zip lines- soaring above a rock quarry at 45 miles an hour! IT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!

I’m signing off here to go wash the funk off . XO to every Gringo y Cubano back home…

Mandy & Zeus

P.S.
Anyone thinking I’m not the “out-doorsey” type, can kiss it! Enjoy the photos! Lots of Love from Cabo!

Photos Here