Bolder Boulder 2010 - the family edition

Call us dedicated, call us crazy but we actually flew all the way from the Philippines back to Colorado to participate in the annual Bolder Boulder 10K run.

Anyways, it's Tyler's 3rd year and Cody's first. And i run(ok, more like walk) it, every other year depending if i'm needed. Usually, i'm the one that slows the crew down. This year, due to some tragic traffic jam(didn't get to starting line on time) and my slow coach speed, we didn't even get to finish in the stadium :(

We were hoping that Tyler would do more running since he runs ALL the time, but no. The only time he's asked to run, he rather ride on Daddy's shoulders!!

And like the few previous years, Steffen is there with us providing mule power!!

First 1 minute into the race, lot's of enthusiasm from Tyler!!

Most of the way, it looked more like this

A few rare pictures of me

Tyler checking out some toys along the way..

Cody chilling out with Uncle Steffen, who provided a cozy ride

A family picture

Our little "runner" getting a drink

A picture with the Flatirons in the background

"This is how i run", says Tyler

Yippee!!! Unfortunately we were still miles from the finish!!!

I think we all had fun though it was definitely stressful trying to get 2 kids ready on time on my own. Alan spent the night with Steffen as they both were doing a "real" run before doing it the 2nd time with us. Both Alan and Steffen did well in their runs.

Special thanks to Damith and Sabrina, our shuttle crew, who got us to the starting line. We were late(not their fault) but at least we made it!!! :)

Bolder Boulder 2010 - The Best 10k in America - Alan's run

As voted by Runners World Bolder Boulder 10K is the best 10k in America .  I have run this for many years, and for the last three have run it not once but twice, the first time on my own the second time with the extended Millser Family (Tyler, Cody, Siew Gin and Steffen).

The event always attracts around 50,000 runners and I always say I am going to train, but never seem to get round to it.  This year  I had the opportunity to run a lot in the Philippines and traded heat/humidity for altitude.

I was hoping to finish in under 50 minutes, which is roughly 8 minutes per mile, this is a far cry from my glory days, but as I had lost weight and trained I thought my chances were good..

On arrival in the US I was planning to run a couple of times before the event to get used to the altitude, but Cody passed on his cough, so thought it better to rest and just see how I did on the day.

A very early start and a temperature about half of the Philippines greeted me as I started at 7:06am, I kept track of each mile and when I passed halfway in 23 minutes I knew that I would crack 50 minutes.  I finished in a quite respectable 47 minutes 1 second, probably could knock a further two minutes off if I hadn't felt so bad with coughing.

Here are the mile splits Mile1=0:07:11, Mile2=0:07:27, Mile3=0:07:47, Mile4=0:07:38, Mile5=0:07:31, Mile6=0:07:47, Finish=0:47:01

As you can see a fast start (first mile is partly downhill), and then roughly even splits..

I also crudely mapped the elevation and you can see that I pretty much follow the elevation, so on a flat course should have a much better time

This is the first time I have run 10K in a year, even in training I dont run this far, so felt good that I finished.

Finishing position was 2804 out of 55,400 or very close to top 5%...

Then it was back to the start and a chance to do it all again..

Malaysia Day 2 & 3

Turned out i didn't do TOO much on Day 2 and 3 so, i'm combining it. Besides, it might take me too long to catch up if i did one for each day!

We took a lazy day on Sunday and just went for a little shopping at KLCC and tried to go visit the Sky Bridge between the Twin Towers but we were too late. We went back to the hotel and found that one of my friends had been calling and leaving messages because he drove all the way to come visit. It was nice of him to wait around and wonderful to see him and his family. His family helped me a bunch when i was a newbie in the US and my last memory of his daughter was a little cheeky 5 yr old! Now is she a pretty young lady at the ripe age of 19 years old! Yikes!! It can't be!!

With the Yeohs

After they left, we decided to go relax by the pool while waiting for my parents to arrive. There were some royalties staying at our hotel and Tyler and Cody got to dip in the pool with the Prince of Johor and his chums!

The Boys in the pool

I think they one outstretching his arm is the Prince.. but i could be wrong..

Not long after that, my parents arrived and Tyler and Cody had a nice reunion with the grandparents. My sister and her husband also came after that to join us for dinner. My sister took us a German Pork Knuckles place that served pretty good food!

Mom and Cody

This is how he entertained himself while we ate

One of my friends from school as well as my parents came and spend the day with us on Day 3. Michelle was my study partner when we were in school but if you ask her, she'll say i spent most of the time snoozing!!(which is true!!) She has a lively little girl named Alycia, whom Tyler enjoyed playing with tremendously! We went to an indoor play area and they went on bouncy castles, giant slides, and ran around soft play areas. They had a blast! The adults just got REALLY tired running after them!! haha!

First stop.. sushi.. Tyler actually ate some! Not the raw fish kind obviously!!

A ride around with Thomas

You ready to rock, Baby??!!

The kids and my dad having a go on the Bouncy Castles.. so funny

Old partners in crime.. she the tough one, i'm the goody two shoe!! hahaha!

And of course, each night ends with a good meal. Michelle recommended this really nice restaurant(unfortunately closed). But the guy next door was not bad. Alycia and Michelle also came along and we had a nice yummy meal and lots of laughter listening to Michelle's tales of maids!!

Alan and my Dad

As it was our last night, a group photo with all the grandchildren that were there that night was in order. Why do people always wait till the end to take group photos??

My parents and the 3 kids

Next stop - USA!!!

Malaysia Day 1 - out with the Chua and Lim cousins

First agenda of the day after we got filled up on breakfast was for my sister and I to head out for a day at the hairdressers as i needed lots of help! It was going to take several hours so we told the dads(Alan, my brother, my brother in law and kids) to sort themselves out and we'll meet with them later.

A few hours later with a big hole in our wallets(mine significantly bigger), we found that the dads were still trying to meet up at the hotel. It was a good thing by the time we got there, they got their acts together and we set off to Aquaria which was a nice aquarium at KLCC. So, what is the fastest way to  transport 5 kids and 5 adults? All in one car - the Malaysian way!!

You can't tell, but my sister is carrying her baby!

It was quite the noisy but funny ride and you can see Tyler was completely enjoying the rare experience! Don't worry, we were just going round the corner. There were some questions whether the car was actually necessary!

So, the Aquaria was fun for the kids and adults. Tyler who only watched Nemo fifty thousand times was really excited about seeing Nemo and Dory and Mr Ray!

A photo op with my brother and his lovely boys - Daniel and David

My sister and her hubs and baby Cassandra who slept thru the whole thing

Just to prove Tyler was there that day.. was not cooperative with picture taking

After the aquarium, we walked to KLCC for dinner. On the way, while my sister were strolling and chatting, we looked back and saw this endearing sight.

The Dads..

Then of course we had to take a picture of the corresponding moms. My sister in law was unfortunately sick that day and was not able to join us in the outing.

The Moms..

As it was still light out, we decided to go relax by the fountains at KLCC which provided good backdrops for family pictures if your son were a willing participant. As you can tell, ours wasn't.

The beautiful fountain area of KLCC

He did finally complied to a full group photo!!!

The entire group for the day!

And of course you can't go to the Twin Towers and not take the following pictures.

Tyler with the twin towers

Cody!!

Anyways, here is a random photo of the babies and Tyler. And now that i'm looking thru my pictures, i realized i didn't get very many pictures of multiple sets of cousins together but you go try take pictures of kids!!

The babies

Anyways, it was a good day for me and my kids and i got to catch up with my brother and sister and all the kids had fun. I'm not sure Tyler understands the concept of cousins yet. I think he calls them "friends"! haha!

Tyler's trip to Ark Pavilion

As part of Tyler's curiculum in his school to learn about animals, the school took them for a field trip to Ark Pavilion in Tiendesitas. I tell you, i don't know how much time these kids spend outside their classroom! Oh, did ever mention they have a change of clothes for a 3 hr class everyday?? What a way to waste time!

Anyways, I sent Alan along with Tyler because u know on these outings, each child comes with a caregiver. So, Alan gets to hang out with the maids for once! haha!

Since i didn't go, i only have pictures to tell you that I think Tyler had fun because between Tyler and his daddy, there is very little talent in storytelling! hehe..

Here are all the little classmates on the trip

Tyler feeding hamsters with carrot on a stick

haha.. i think he's a little overwhelmed! i still find it's funny they put the kids in the cage!!

3 monkeys..

ooohhh.. where do you think you're going, my lovely??

My first guest in my Manila home!

As promised, i was on the quest to make some friends in order to make my life a little more interesting to write about. Miriam is actually a Filipina whom i met at the park where our kids play. She really is a very very sweet lady.

I invited her over to try to do some translation work between my maid and I and used lunch as a bribe! I was later invited over to her house on another day but i didn't take any pics!

Anyways, this is Miriam my first guest!

My first guest

My Three Stooges

This is what keeps my life from getting too boring...

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahha....

Cody is mobile!!

No, he is not walking! Not even crawling yet though he's doing lots of bouncing and reaching when he's sitting and if he sees your leg around, he'll grab on and try to pull himself up! He's probably only succeeded once or twice.

Anyways, I bought him a walker. I know most people thinks it's a death trap and all. But i grew up with it and i did do a little survey around my house and made sure it's safe.

What i found amazing was he is so much more inquisitive and mobile with it!! Going round the house checking everything out. Took him a few tries to figure out how to move in the right direction and now, when he sees something and he takes off after it(usually that's me!). Now, he can even come up to me and look at me with those pitiful eyes that cries "carry me" (the hands up and whiny voices give it away too!).

Cody in his walker

Wandering around pulling stuff to check them out..

 This is a typical scene in our house on a calm and fine day when Tyler is keeping out of his brother's way!

Mother's Day Celebration

This year's Mother's Day celebration was a 3 day celebration for me, starting with Tyler's school doing a mother and child Luau Party. As it was announced 1 day before, i didn't manage to get any Hawaiian outfit for Tyler or myself(couldn't find it in the mall). But i managed to find an old outfit for Cody, so he was our Hawaiian rep!

Our little Hawaiian!

The party itself was a little chaotic, but it's a building full of little kids, what do you expect?? The teachers all looked really cute in their hawaiian outfits and beautiful leis.

All the sexy teachers..

Sadly, this was the best pic of my two boys.. 

Then on Saturday, Alan took me out for a nice posh lunch WITHOUT the kids. Man, that was nice! I can actually enjoy my meal, relax, chill out.. Heavenly. All parents should do this frequently just to keep themselves sane. The meal itself was really good(watch out for the blog) and the company, wonderful.

Alan and I enjoying a very late but quiet lunch

And on Sunday, i was again taken out for brunch and this time with the mad bunch. But the kids must be trying to be nice to me that day. Cody slept the entire time i was eating and Tyler actually ate when we offered him bread and eggs. I was a happy mommy!!!

My little Codester before drifting off to sleep

Daddy showing Tyler how to use a napkin.. ha! look at his little angelic face!

Our best attempt for a family pic.. doesn't Alan look nice and trim??

Anyways, i know my Mother's Day revolved mainly around eating.. but what's wrong with that?! I loved it!! :)