Norah Started Play School and The Running Group Christmas Party

This week was a big milestone for our little Norah, and for us. She started attending the Monkstown Community Day School 2 days per week, for 3 hours a day. To say she loves it would be a huge understatement. This kid is so ready to be away from me, it's not even funny. When I dropped her off, they asked if I wanted to stick around for awhile but Norah was quick to let them know, that wouldn't be necessary - as she said to me "Mommy, you just go". Dagger in my heart.. but I'm trying to take that as meaning, she's "securely attached". Please let that be it. :)

When I came back after 2 hours, on the first day, she said to me "Mommy, I'm just going to stay a little longer, and you just go". Dagger! So, I convinced her she could come back the next day and we made a swift getaway. She has never been more proud and excited about something and it was really amazing to see her involved in something that didn't have to do with me. To know she's playing games, or make-believe, with someone else (adults we trust), and I don't have to be a part of it. Now she has something in her life, that's just her own - if that makes sense. I love that....and I also love spending 3 hours by myself. Oh, I love it. On day two, when I left her for the full 3-hour session, I went for a long run, then went to the gym, then had coffee by myself and then caught the bus back up to Norah's school. I felt so accomplished and free and...like myself, really. (also, keep in mind, this is not my usual behavior; to go for a long run before working out at the gym. That is the 2nd time this has happened 6 months which is why it was notable. I expect, most days she's in school, I'll end up coming home to do chores and fall asleep midway through) So, we're all really excited about Norah starting this - for her, for me, for the wooorrrrld.

 Norah saying "CHEESE"!

 Our 2 1/2 year old Norah, on her first day of play-school

Inside the community center - to the left is a door going into Norah's classroom, a one room "school" that was most likely a sitting room in this old mansion.

 

Dun Laoghaire Pier Runners 1st Annual Christmas Party!

This was at our "local pub" across the road - The Purty Kitchen - a well known restaurant and pub with the perfect Irish Christmas vibe.

 Over the course of the night, there were over 20 runners who came out to celebrate and it was really amazing to see how close we've become over this year. Clearly there was a big market of runners for this area but when I started the group, I had no IDEA it could become this. I'm blown away, constantly, by how wonderful all these people are and how lucky I am to know them.

I think runners are a dedicated bunch and clearly a strong bond is created when a group of people meet eachother every Saturday morning to push themselves to their physical limits. It's the only explanation I have for how close we've all become.

 The Dykstra Running Clan

 Here's Rob (by far the best runner in the group - a man who once finished a marathon in 2 hours, twenty minutes). So Rob wanted to say a few words:

Which ended with, him presenting a tiny plastic medal to "the runner in our group who ran the longest distance in the fastest time". He finished the Dublin Marathon in 3 hours 27 minutes (very fast!), finishing 1 minute ahead of Rob, who was his coach. You can see, Donal is mortified.

But, he was a good sport and wore the medal the rest of the night.

Here's Alan, our other marathon superstar, with his 'sampler'

It was a great night and these runners will continue to inspire me as long as I know them. I have no doubt about that. When I arrived in Dublin one year ago, I could run just over 5K. I mean, barely. Suddenly the goal was to run a 10K and I ran 4 of them. Then the goal became a half-marathon and here I am preparing for the second one of those. All in 12 months. Sure, I did the running, but I would say I owe that entirely to this group of people.