The Artist will turn 7 on Sunday, and she has 12 friends coming to swim with us on Saturday afternoon to celebrate.
I just checked the forecast and there is a 40% chance of thunderstorms during the party.
AAAHHHHHHHHH!
So, feel free to pray with me for clear skies during the time of the party. But, if God chooses to answers the prayers of the farmers praying for rain, rather than my pleas for clear skies, then I need a back-up plan.
Any ideas on fun indoor budget-friendly ideas for 13 six and seven year old girls?!?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Update on Geraldine...
Today I wore a new pair of capri's in my goal size. They are a little snug and will fit better after a few more pounds, but I am almost to the end. Whew! Losing weight is SO MUCH WORK! I am mentally so ready to get to maintenance.
Still running a lot too, and enjoying it. I think running is like learning to play the piano. In the beginning, it is kind of painful and there seems to be very little reward for the effort. But then as the skill level increases, so does the enjoyment. In the past, I was never skilled enough to enjoy running. (Not that I have mad skills now, but I'm just saying...)
I started training this week for a Half Marathon at the end of August. I'm hoping to remain injury free and be ready to do it when the time comes.
This week I ran about 23 miles, including an 8-mile run this morning in 1 hour and 24 minutes. I realized only a few minutes into the run that I had left my charging ipod behind. And amazingly enough, I was okay to just be alone with my thoughts. (Name that movie.) I used to need the ipod to distract me from the difficulty of the run. That's another milestone.
My darling loving husband financed an exciting purchase to aid my training: the Garmin Forerunner 305. This awesome little guy is my new training buddy, and I got a raging deal on him too! With built-in GPS he lets me know how far I've gone, how long I've been running, what pace I'm running at, AND my heart rate. There are cooler things he can do too, but I'm not sure how to make those cooler things work yet. I am pretty thrilled with this phenomenal training tool.
On a final note, it is time to publish heartfelt gratitude for my best friend. My darling Dave has been so kind and supportive of my running. He's willing to drag the kids to a race 2.5 hours away to watch them while I run for over 2 hours. He doesn't harp on me about running rather than folding laundry. He doesn't complain if his lunch is a little less stellar than it could have been had I spent less time running before he had to leave for work. He listens patiently when I share a new running-related accomplishment or goal. He's encouraged me to get the right shoes, and even buy the Garmin. Running does take time away from our family, but I feel like my ability to perform my roles of wife and mother are greatly augmented because I run, and he understands this. His attitude towards my running has really made me feel loved.
(And on a truly final note...this particular picture is in honor of the fact that Dave took Max to see the Cubs at Wrigley today. It was Max's first game and the boys had a fantastic time. They rode the train and went with some friends, another dad and 3 year-old son. Dave has been counting down the days to this event since Max was just a tiny guy, shown here at only 2 days old, on the day he came home from the hospital. We forgot to send him with the camera, so more pictures will come when the disposable one has been developed.)
Still running a lot too, and enjoying it. I think running is like learning to play the piano. In the beginning, it is kind of painful and there seems to be very little reward for the effort. But then as the skill level increases, so does the enjoyment. In the past, I was never skilled enough to enjoy running. (Not that I have mad skills now, but I'm just saying...)
I started training this week for a Half Marathon at the end of August. I'm hoping to remain injury free and be ready to do it when the time comes.
This week I ran about 23 miles, including an 8-mile run this morning in 1 hour and 24 minutes. I realized only a few minutes into the run that I had left my charging ipod behind. And amazingly enough, I was okay to just be alone with my thoughts. (Name that movie.) I used to need the ipod to distract me from the difficulty of the run. That's another milestone.
My darling loving husband financed an exciting purchase to aid my training: the Garmin Forerunner 305. This awesome little guy is my new training buddy, and I got a raging deal on him too! With built-in GPS he lets me know how far I've gone, how long I've been running, what pace I'm running at, AND my heart rate. There are cooler things he can do too, but I'm not sure how to make those cooler things work yet. I am pretty thrilled with this phenomenal training tool.
On a final note, it is time to publish heartfelt gratitude for my best friend. My darling Dave has been so kind and supportive of my running. He's willing to drag the kids to a race 2.5 hours away to watch them while I run for over 2 hours. He doesn't harp on me about running rather than folding laundry. He doesn't complain if his lunch is a little less stellar than it could have been had I spent less time running before he had to leave for work. He listens patiently when I share a new running-related accomplishment or goal. He's encouraged me to get the right shoes, and even buy the Garmin. Running does take time away from our family, but I feel like my ability to perform my roles of wife and mother are greatly augmented because I run, and he understands this. His attitude towards my running has really made me feel loved.
(And on a truly final note...this particular picture is in honor of the fact that Dave took Max to see the Cubs at Wrigley today. It was Max's first game and the boys had a fantastic time. They rode the train and went with some friends, another dad and 3 year-old son. Dave has been counting down the days to this event since Max was just a tiny guy, shown here at only 2 days old, on the day he came home from the hospital. We forgot to send him with the camera, so more pictures will come when the disposable one has been developed.)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Would it disturb you...
if you had to live in a houseful of girls where your sisters did things like this:
to your dinosaurs
and you had to wait
while your mom took pictures to appease your sister, the future fashion designer,
while you stood by feeling the agony of your toys?
It disturbed me too.
to your dinosaurs
and you had to wait
while your mom took pictures to appease your sister, the future fashion designer,
while you stood by feeling the agony of your toys?
It disturbed me too.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Belated...
As in a Happy Belated Father's Day to Dave. I haven't posted much over the last couple months. Too busy living the posts I guess, with not enough time to record them.
Yes, I am still alive, and still waiting for summer. By my personal definition, summer is that very hot time of year where you are freed from obligations outside of the home so you can just play and swim at your leisure. I may just be holding onto my childhood feelings of the season, but so be it. This summer has not delivered yet because:
1. The weather this summer has been horrid. As a Cali girl at heart, I survive winter here only through the hope of summer. This summer has surely disappointed. If I hear one more person mention global warming, I may kick them in the shins; and
2. Swim team is obnoxious. Great for the kids, yadda yadda, but kind of a pain. Really.
But alas, this is the final week of swim team. Whew! And the final week of our summer camps, and swim lessons, and every other outside obligation. I am doing the happy dance. If the weather could just cooperate, I may truly be in my happy place, even if I still have to fold the laundry.
But enough of my summer lamenting, enjoy a few snippets of life here (even if they are a few weeks late)...
A fabulous Father's Day breakfast in bed (don't you love the special shaped pancakes?) with plenty of children to celebrate with.
That Princess is way too mobile now and needs extra supervision in high places (and low ones). Thankfully, there are plenty of extra helpers to make sure she stays safe.
There is something fun about girls and matching outfits. Once upon a time these outfits belonged to the Artist and Little Mommy. I loved them then, and I love them now.
Though targeted at adults and the youth (meaning 12-18 year olds), the Actress asked if she could run with me in a 5K organized through church. It was lots of fun, and she did a great job. I'm proud of her for wanting to do it, and completing the goal. (And a little proud of myself that I am setting the kind of example of good fitness for my kids that would inspire them to want to do such a thing.)
And this boy...oh, how he keeps me hopping! It's a good thing he is so darn cute. He makes big messes, but says the most awesome things, and gives the most wonderful loves.
Our Little Princess cut her seventh tooth today. She has had the first six for quite a while (four on top and the two lower middles).
We feel so blessed to have this little darling, even when she unloads the shoe bin, or practices her tantruming. She loves to sing and clap and puts on quite a show.
I'll try not to take so long to update again (since I am really not updated yet anyway). But to be honest, these days I can usually only make time to either run, or to blog, and running is just the stronger competitor at this season. So I'll do what I can, but I make no promises.
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