Race Week

It's race week. I can't believe it's already here. With four days to the Chicago Marathon, I have a mix of emotions.

I'm nervous...worried...


and excited.

I just hope I can finish within six and a half hours and that my knees stay strong. ::Fingers Crossed::

If you're interested in tracking me during the race, you can receive text messages when I've finished certain sections of the route. All you have to do is...

- Visit http://www.textinterface.com/pls/text/TF_BACM_DT
- Search for me: Nicky Thornton, Bib #: 45026
- Press "track"
- Enter your mobile number and press "submit."

It's that easy! I'll be sure to give an update once I've finished the race. Until then, here's a few pictures from our trip so far in Chi-Town.




The wall of marathon runners at NikeTown:



-N

Oh My!

Guess what came in the mail this week?? My participant guide for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and confirmation ticket for the Health and Fitness Expo.


I can't believe I'll be in Chi Town two weeks from today.


You know what's even more crazy! I received my bib number and it looks like my lucky number is...

45026

This is definitely going to be a wild experience!

-N

We're Going On Vacation

Photo Credit: Google Images

Since I have quite a bit of PTO to use before the end of the year, we've decided to take a week long vacation in September to Las Vegas for our anniversary (our honeymoon location!). I can.not.wait!! It's like the sun, pool, gelato and strawberry daiquiris are calling my name.

We're staying at the new Aria Hotel and Casino, which is in the middle of the Strip and just opened in December. The hotel had a 72 hour sale this week, which we just couldn't pass up. So, we made sure to take advantage of the great offer. Check out the rooms. Aren't they gorgeous!?!

Photo Credit: design:success

Photo Credit: Vegas Tripping

Photo Credit: Google Images

This week, we also booked our flights to Chicago for the Chicago Marathon. I guess there's no turning back now. I'm really looking forward to the challenge of the race and exploring a new city. If you all have any advice or recommendations regarding Chicago, please let me know. This will be my first real time visiting the windy city.

Here's a sneak peak of where we'll be staying while we're in Chi-Town...a Downtown Chicago condo. These are the real pictures of the condo, which is a block from the Magnificant Mile. Talk about a great location!

Photo Credit: VRBO

Photo Credit: VRBO

I know I've said this before and my family and friends will probably get sick of hearing this, but I can not wait to go on vacation. I know I still have to wait another 2.5 months, but it can't come soon enough. It's going to be so nice to relax by the pool and read. Until then, I'll be daydreaming that I'm sitting by the pool sipping a fruity cocktail.

Trip to Chicago - In Pictures

Last weekend, we made a quick/impromptu trip to Chicago to pick up a car (more on that later). Throughout the entire journey, I had my camera and phone by my side. Since, I love blog posts with photographs, I thought it would be fun to show you the 1,500 mile car ride through a lens of a camera.

On Friday afternoon, we drove to St. Louis to spend the night with Andrew's parents.

(This guy on the billboard makes me giggle.)

(When traveling to STL, you see lots of signs for Meramec Caverns. I've never been, but I'll have to stop one day.)

It's an exhausting trip to St. Louis. You have to travel through Lebanon...

...Cuba...


...and you even pass by the Vacuum Cleaner Museum. :)


One of my favorite parts of the trip is when you exit the highway and travel the quiet, curvy roads to Wildwood.



On Friday night, we ate dinner with Andrew's parents at one of our favorite STL pizza joints, Dewey's Pizza. As always, the food was delicious!!


The kids (including myself) love watching the employees make pizzas. It's quite a skill.


Then on Saturday morning, we woke up at the crack of dawn and started our trip to Chicago. I'm not sure about you, but I was thinking the trip to Chicago from St. Louis was going to be eventful. Places to see, billboards to read...you know, the normal road trip activities, but I was completely wrong. I NEVER realized Illinois had so much farm land. Billboards were a rarity and there were only two or three exits with restaurants and gas stations.

We saw lots of farm land,


...a few windmills,


...some chimneys,


...a nice lake,


...a cute dog,


...and a smiley face water tower.


Five and a half hours later, we reached our destination. Hello, Chicago!





After a "quick change," we were on our way back to St. Louis.


Even though I thought the drive to Chicago was really boring. After experiencing the Chicago traffic, the drive back to St. Louis was very tranquil. It's interesting how your experiences make you look at things differently.


We stayed the night in St. Louis on Saturday and traveled back to Tulsa on Sunday afternoon. Before we left, we made sure to play with the Beagles...

Pepper

Snoopy

Mia

...travel by my favorite St. Louis house,


...and drive on more quiet, curvy roads.





After 1,500 miles and 22 hours of driving, we made it back to Tulsa on Sunday night. Needless to say, we were a bit exhausted when we got back home. We're looking forward to recuperating this weekend.