10 Miler

I figured I would write a review of the 10 miler I ran on Sunday. It was supposed to be my last race. At least my last running race. I am a huge fan of road races, especially the longer ones. I love the atmosphere. There is nothing like the high I get after completing a long race. It is hard to run 10 miles. But, it feels so good, like you have really accomplished something. I was a little intimidated by this race however. We had been out the night before and it was supposed to ran. We didn't set up a babysitter for the kids so my husband would have had to bring the kids. It was a point to point race so I drove to the finish, parked the car, and took the bus 10 miles south to the start. The internet said parking would be difficult after 6:00 a.m. so I wanted to make sure I got there in plenty of time to park, ride the bus, and drop off my bag before the start of the race. Since we live one hour away, I left at 4:30 a.m. for a race that started at 8:00 a.m. There was plenty of time for me to stand around for 2 hours before the race started. I thought I was going to be exhausted for my race, but it was fine. I met a lady who had parked her car in front of me on one of the side streets and we waled to the bus together. We chatted during the two hour wait we had and as it turns out even though we started at different places because we got separated dropping our bags off and using the restrooms we are within a minute of each others time. I also saw a former track athlete from my coaching days. She ran great! Oh, to be 27 and have time to devote to training. I am lucky to get three runs in a week! This afternoon, both my husband and I want to run and he needs to replace the faucet. Sounds like life to me! The race was so beautiful. It meandered along the river. It was overcast and foggy. It was humid as all get out! When I started it was down right cold. ditched my fleece after a mile. Ran with it around my waist for 9 miles. Yes, impressive for some reason the $3 fleece that I specifically wore to throw away somehow made it through the 10 miles and back into circulation in my wardrobe. My time improved by about 40 seconds per mile over last year's half marathon. For two days after this race, I was questioning my knee surgery and still am a little bit. But, I know I need to do it and to listen to my surgeon. It is just so hard when you love something so much and shouldn't do it. I know that long term it doesn't make sense to continue running. I can bike and find races and I am sure the friendships are similar. It is just unfamiliar and truly biking doesn't appeal to me that much. I would prefer to mountain bike and that is difficult where we live. Not too many mountains or trails for that matter. My run was great! I love to run, but I love my family too and to be sidelined while they hike, bike, and ski would kill me. So I have to be smart and make the right decisions long term!

Post It Note Tuesday!

Saturday Shout Out

Today's shout out goes to my husband who had a coffee cup ready for me this morning when I got up, for working out and looking super hot (shallow, I know), and for be an amazing father and husband! Love you!

Being Grateful

In my quest to think and be more positive, I am continuing my Friday theme of positivity. Those of you who follow my blog know that I am not the most positive of people. You also know that Mutt has had a difficult winter healthwise. Nothing major, thankfully, but a lot of little things that make me uneasy. His most recent are his enlarged lymph nodes on the back of his neck and this Tuesday night arm pain, headache, sore throat, and a high temperature. When he woke up in the morning all the symptoms had disappeared. He had his IPV (Polio) booster earlier in the day, however the physician on call did not think it was related to that and our pediatrician concurred the next day. It is so frustrating to have to deal with all these little things and worry about Mutt's overall health. I have been listening to the local christian radio station more this week, as it provides me with comfort. One of the bits was about being grateful. It really made me think about what I have to be grateful for. It also made me think that if I focused on those things I would be more positive and have an overall better outlook on life. So, that is what I am trying to do. I am a praying person. I thank God for the great day that I have each day but, I am never really specific. So last night, I was. I thanked him for each thing that day that I was grateful for. Well, maybe not each thing but for those things that were really important to me. I thanked him because Mutt had a good day. So in my effort to focus on the positive, I am focusing on being grateful for what I have and for what me day is like. Yesterday, Mutt was o.k. (He really is o.k.) I took the kids to the park and ran into three other moms from the neighborhood and we got to chat. I made dinner and me husband complemented me on it. Mutt ate dinner! Indy watched the NFL draft and really enjoyed it! He even used his helmets which makes me smile because most kids don't set up their own draft! But, that is my Indy! I got to hang with Monkey because, well she hates football! And even though ESPN fell at the park and scraped his knee, I know that is what happens to kids and he got right back up and kept playing and if my kids never get those scrapes then I am not giving them the opportunity to really be kids! So what will I be grateful for today? Well, so far the sun is shining! Mutt has the best smile! My kitchen organization has lasted all week so when my family comes over for dinner tonight I don't have to spend hours cleaning up before hand. All this and I haven't left the house yet! So much more to come! Gosh being grateful is really great!

Post It Note Tuesday!

Saturday Shout Out

This week's shout out goes out to ESPN! Happy Birthday buddy! You are such a big boy! The second shout out goes out to my niece B-nut! Happy Baptism, sweetie!

A Spring in My Step

As part of my mid life evaluation, I am determined to have a more positive outlook on things in general. My husband recently said that I am the most pessimistic person on the planet when I realized that I had lost five pounds and followed it up with "do you think I am ill?" He said he loves me, but if he had none how negative I was it never would have worked out! Good thing I lost those five pounds so I look good and keep him around! He, he, he! In any case, last night I was cooking my son's birthday dinner while the kids and hubby were outside on the new birthday moon bounce ESPN received as a birthday gift. The back door was open so I could hear the birds chirping, the kids giggling, and I thought to myself I love my life! I love those kids so much! You know! You all love your kids like this! But, sometimes I get caught up in the daily grind and the yelling and frustration take over. Of course I don't love them any less during these trying times. But, I don't often actively think about it. My house is a complete and utter disaster all the time and this afternoon my sister in law and her family are coming into town for the weekend. I will scramble this afternoon to run errands, actually run, fold all the clean laundry sitting in the hallway, and possibly go to BUNKO. But, I wouldn't trade that craziness for the world because my kids are excited out of their minds to see their cousins. They are only sad that the cousins are only staying two days and there is a big track meet that my sister in law will be tied up at all day tomorrow! I love that my kids are super excited to see their cousins! I think it is fantastic that they are years apart in age and they can all still get along and really are inseparable when we get together. It is rare that a nine year old and a three year old can play together for days on end without getting totally frustrated with each other and beat each other up. You know they are not siblings for sure! All this love has put a spring in my step and smile on my face. Let's hope it will stay. I realize I have so few of these days! I guess that is why I am working on it!

Blown Glass Studio

Check out this amazing find. I was on a fellow blogger's site and saw pictures of the amazing work of this studio. http://www.mcfaddenartglass.com/home It is absolutely breathtaking!

100th Post: Positive Vibes

Wow! 100 posts! I did it! Recommitting to my blog has been great! I have posted more this year already than I posted all of last year!

For this post, I decided to step outside the box, out of my comfort zone and post about the positives in life. For those of you who follow my blog, you know that there is always something negative that I am focusing on. My poor husband was fooled for a while until he really got to know me. Sadly, I am so negative a little rubbed off on him. For the most part, he is extremely positive, but I do hear complaints now, which I pretty much never heard in the early years!

So, on with the positive show. Yesterday, we took Mutt to the doctor for these enlarged (huge) lymph nodes he has in the back of his neck. He has had one since he was a baby (I noticed it at 4 months). But, last week another popped up and then a third. They were painful this time and while I was pretty sure that these were due to either a bug bite or a blow to the head from all the toys ESPN has been throwing lately, the pessimist in me took over and started freaking me out! However, after our visit to the pediatrician, I am assured that exactly what I logically thought is the truth! Thank God for that! And, I didn't even stick him for a blood test for my own reassurance! Progress I tell you!

I made a craft with the kids yesterday. Got this great idea to have the kids decorate a beach bucket, write their name on it and then use it to collect those things that congregate on the kitchen island during the day. At the end of the day, the kids are supposed to bring the bucket upstairs and put their "stuff" away. If they don't I throw it away. Win, win for me! I just want it out!

I am also almost prepared for ESPN's birthday! He is having a "baketball" cake. Of course when asked he told me he wants Gabba! Too bad kid. I have the icing color and everything Basketball it is! I have gift cards from when he was born that will start to loose their value next month that I need to use so his birthday gift will basically be free! How bad is that? Oh, but there are $95 in gift cards! Think of the gift!!!!

Company this weekend. And I think I have my act together to get the house clean in time! Amazing!

All this could stress me out, but I will not allow it. As part of my 100th post, I am going to focus on the positive. It takes 6 weeks to change a behavior. so, by June 1 I should be a positive thinker, a glass half full person. Check back to see my progress! I bet PINT will tell all! If those notes are like yesterday's, not so good! However, sarcasm is also a good coping strategy so I would say that would be o.k. on those post its! Thanks for stopping by! Here's to my next 100 posts!

Post It Note Tuesday!

MeMe Monday: Crab Farts

First of all, let me just say this is post number 98. PINT will be 99, so come back and see what's is in store for post 100. I have no plans yet, but I am on a mission!

Crab Farts:(brought to you by the late Captain Phil Harris of the fishing vessel Cornelia Marie). It means exactly what it says. Captain Phil used the crab fart method to locate crab on last season's Deadliest Catch. He took to the deck and sniffed in various locations until he smelled them. And, he found them!

I started using crab farts when Captain Phil passed away in late February. It is a substitute for pretty much any one word cus. I get on my kids all the time for saying stupid, crap, etc. When they were little we used to say "Oh pickles". Now that they are getting older, they don't use the term anymore. I think they feel "stupid". So, I am introducing them to crab farts! Nice huh? But at least they will not be walking around saying crap and the like! Or at least that is the hope! So, when something doesn't go my way, you will hear me say crab farts!

Saturday Shout Out

Today's Saturday Shout Out goes out to Mutt. Good luck on your first soccer game, buddy! I am so proud of you for being so excited about playing soccer this spring. What a big boy!!

Post It Note Tuesday!

See my post from yesterday, its long. But, we had a great time!

Great Wolf Lodge

Last Wednesday, we took a trip! We went to Great Wolf Lodge! It was absolutely amazing! I have not stopped talking about it and it has been 5 days! We arrived at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, checked in, got our water park passes and were off and running. Our room was not ready yet (they guarantee 4:00 p.m., but you an use the park beginning at 1:00 p.m.). We left our cell phone number with them and since your wrist band for the water park is also your room key, they call you with the room number when it becomes available and you do not need to return to the check in desk. So, we went to the water park and changed into our swim suits and hit the pools! The kids were off and running. We let our older two go off and check it out on their own, instructing them to check in periodically. We stayed with the younger two in the "kiddie" area. After about 15-30 minutes our five year old asked to go on the slides and I took him, while my husband stayed with the youngest. I had so much fun riding the slides with Mutt. He had a great time and no fear! After about 3 hours at the water park and a lot of fun times, we went back to our room which was ready by 3:30 and got dressed for dinner. We opted to eat of the hotel grounds. We had heard the food was not that great. We went to Outback, which was a treat since we hadn't been there in a while. After dinner, we returned to the hotel and Monkey and Mutt went back to the water park with me, while Indy and ESPN toured the hotel with their dad. Unfortunately, someone had an accident on one of the slides so they had to close all the slides and the lazy river, which is fed by the same water source for 30 minutes. So we went in the wave pool and then opted to run back to the room, put on PJs and race to the Clock Tower Animated show and story time by the fire. The kids thought this was pretty cool especially because they got to have Dippin' Dots! An absolute favorite. After story time, everyone was ready for bed and fell asleep rather quickly, including me! In the morning, we ate cereal in the room and got to the water park when it opened at 9:00 a.m. This is the best time of the day there, because it is the least crowded. People are still getting up and only those who have spent the night before are there. You can use the water park until it closes at 9:00 p.m. the day you check out. We spent 3 hours playing, ate lunch and spent another hour playing before retiring our suits for our street clothes. Then the kids played int he arcade and we were gone by 3:30 p.m. We made a brief detour on the way home to get some of my husbands new favorite microbrews and were home in time for dinner. The trip was a birthday gift for the kids. For the first time we said no to birthday parties so that we could celebrate all four on a magnificent family trip! I have to say it was well worth it. I had to expectations because I really had no heard too many great things about it. People said it was expensive, it smelled, it was crowded. I thought that it was perfect! It was expensive. The room rate was high, but it was a nice room and factoring in the park passes, it wasn't terrible. The food tasted fine for concessions and the cost was not outrageous. It was comparable to other amusements parks. The hotel was actually very nice and despite the number of wet visitors, it was surprisingly clean and dry and did not smell at all of mildew. As far as being overcrowded, it wasn't. It was full and there were a lot of people, but we did not wait more that 20 minutes for even the most popular attraction and there was plenty of room for the kids t move around and play and no one was ever bored or tired of waiting in line. To top it off I was very impressed with the lifeguards and their attention to the pools at all times. They even rescued a young boy in the wave pool who was too close to the edge and was unable to get to shallow water. They performed several drills while we were there and the lifeguards were eyes on the pool 100% of the time! I would go back in a heart beat and recommend Great Wolf Lodge to anyone who wants a great family getaway!

Saturday Shout Out

This week's shout out goes to my sister Ali for helping me start my business and allowing me to photograph her kids! Check out her beautiful babes at Firefly Studios.