Another week, another year, another year older - project 365....

A little late on this post.  Just so you know, it's mostly because last weekend was so activity filled that I spent this whole week recovering.  Read:Old and Tired.

Thursday, July 17:

Tonight, we had Olivia's softball team party.  Apparently, the season ended with a forfeit while we were out of town.  And, Mia is really starting to love having her picture taken.  Can't you tell?

Friday, July 18:

After we got home, and ate, we decided to take a walk to the park for the girls to play and Mommy and Daddy could chat while the dog observed.  It was a lovely ending to the day.

Saturday, July 19:

The beginning of a ridiculously busy weekend.  We started the day with tumbling and swim lessons.  Went from there to haircuts for the girls.  Then lunch at the new grocery store with salad bar.  Off to do some shopping at the mall.  Back home in time to grab some directions and go meet my brother to have dinner and see a really great play.  All to get home by about midnight (which is late for this old lady).

Sunday, July 20:

My birthday.  I'm officially 36.  We spent the day in Chicago, at the Lincoln Park Zoo and walking around.  Derrick met up with us and we had dinner out there too.  It was a great day!

Monday, July 21:

Back to the daily grind and trying to convince children that they need showers.

Tuesday, July 22:

We celebrated the end of the fiscal year at work today.

Wednesday, July 23:

Olivia let me take her picture.  Isn't her short hair cute?

Cupcakes, sprinklers, summer and (shudder) lice - project 365...

What a busy week!  And time is flying....

Summer is drawing closer to fall (thank you polar vortex), and we are filling our weeks with as much fun as we can.

Thursday, July 10:

Um..really...there are no words.  The girls were out in front, playing with the sprinkler.  I took my phone over to grab a few pics, and they were, uh, in a mood.  I didn't even have to ask for these awesomely nutty poses.

I'm kinda afraid she's a zombie and is going to eat my brain.

This one tried to attack me through the door.  Scary, right?

Friday, July 11:

After our company picnic, I picked up the girls and we got home where we had a very excited dog.  So, we took him outside to play for a bit.  He seems to be happy to be petted under the chin.  Also, he has a good case of 'bat-dog' goin' on.

A little later that night, after Olivia complained of her head itching, Tony grabbed the flashlight and took her to the bathroom for some head-checking.  Below is what he found.  Neither of us knew what it was.  We had to Google it.  Then, I had to go buy the shampoo to kill it and the combs for the eggs.  There weren't too many bugs (thank God), but lots of eggs.  And she has ridiculously thick long hair.  It was a long night.

Saturday, July 12:

After not sleeping real well the night before (see - lice, phantom itching, shudder), I was very happy with my mid-day snack of fruit salad.  Although, pitting these cherries made my hands look like I was butchering something a little more living than fruit.

P.s. Happy Birthday Mom!

Sunday, July 13:

Once again, no sleep for mommy.  Dog problems, kid problems, awake mommy until about 4 am.  Ugh.  The kids were harassing me while I was still in bed late Sunday morning.

But a little later on, I made cupcakes and the girls decorated.  They picked out their frosting colors.

Monday, July 14:

I got to go for a run, at work.  It'd been about 2 weeks since I'd run at work, and this felt good.

Tuesday, July 15:

I had to pick Rosanna Rosannadanna up from camp today because they found eggs in her hair.  Seriously?  We've been going through her hair daily, and somehow find more.  No bugs.  Just eggs.  Dead eggs.  I started cutting the hairs off her head today.

Later on, as I lay on the floor trying to get Tony to rub a knot out of my hamstring, this one decided it was time to jump on mommy. I...couldn't....breathe.  She thought it was funny.

Even later, we went to the new grocery store that opened up near us.  Yes, not only were my kids being obnoxious, I was enjoying that they were getting along and even took pictures of that behavior.  Yes, I was THAT mom tonight.

Wednesday, July 16:

My cat has a serious case of bitchy resting face.

Yep.

I'm a runner...

Today, on my run, it occurred to me.  

I'm a runner.  

Wait. What?

Weird, right?  I never would have thought that of myself.  Seriously!  I've been running for about a year a half, closing in on two years.  It started with walking.  Lots of walking.  Then, slowly, working my way up on the treadmill to add some running.  Then, setting some goals for myself and beginning to run outside.  I've gotten to a point that a normal everyday run is about 2 to 2.5 miles.  This may not seem like a 'runner' to you.  But,

I am a runner.

I run slow.

I run long.

I push myself to leave my house, my work, my hotel to run.

I run.

I ran today and had a personal best time.  1 mile in 11 minutes, 38 seconds.  Whew!  That is not a fast mile.  But...it's the fastest one I've ever run.

I had a running goal this year to run 500 miles.  At last count, I am be nearing 140 miles on the year.  I'll adjust my goal to be 200 miles this year.  This year I learned that I can push my body so hard that eventually, my body will trump my mind and will no longer agree to run.  I learned what it feels like to be dehydrated.  I learned what it feels like to run when it's hot, when it's cold, when it's windy.  Uphill.  Downhill.  Straightaway.  I learned what it feels like to be left behind (see, slow).  I learned what it's like to accomplish a goal (first 5K).

I am a runner.

I've learned that I like running.  Running gets me away from my family, away from the stress I put on myself, off of my couch or butt.  Running gives me the energy I need to continue the rest of the day and tires me out enough to sleep deeply and soundly on an almost nightly basis.

I am a runner.

When I first started losing weight, my goal was to be able to run 30 minutes a day.  I actually do this now.  I need to find a new goal now.  I am a little frightened of the half marathon.  I may decide to train for a 10 K first.  Or, I may kick that "fright" in the mouth and start training for a half marathon.  I'm not sure yet.  I'll figure it out because,

I am a runner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was inspired a couple of years ago by this girl.  Greta here was running (please read this sentence in Forest Gump's voice - that's how I hear it in my head).  She ran so many 5K's that my head was literally spinning while reading about her. She ran 13 5K's one year.  She's run half marathons.  She has four kids (oh yeah - you read that right - 4).  And yet, she still has found time to run.  What excuse did I have?  2 kids?  A helpful supportive husband?  All I really needed was some better fitting workout clothes since I'd just found my inspiration and had a direction for my motivation.

I had the pleasure of meeting Greta a little more than a week ago.  She and I found quite a bit in common, as we sat and chatted for about 2 and half hours.  And we didn't talk about running.  Funny.  I guess I can look forward to her inspiring me even more with running, among many other things.

P.s. Thank you Greta for suggesting the picture, because I totally would have forgotten and then been angry at myself on the way home for forgetting.  And thank you Tony for taking the pictures.

Project 365, Kansas Family Vacation Pictures....

This is my disclaimer.  I have chosen many pictures this week.  Mostly because we were on vacation and spent so much time together that my phone was out and taking many many many pictures.  Consider yourself forewarned.

Thursday, July 3:

The day was somewhat chilly for July, but the kids could not resist the hotel pool.  Olivia, being the smart one, jumped right on in.  Brrrr.....cold water.

Mia tried to go in slowly.  Still cold water....

Later in the day, we went to lunch.  Tony and I peeked at each other around the pole through the middle of our table.

Mia just cheesed it up.

Friday, July 4:

Tony and Olivia playing wiffle ball in the yard.

Olivia being all patriotic or something.

We went to lunch at a restaurant in a small plane airport.  Someone was very tired and no longer wanted her picture taken.

Across from the little airport, there was the old drive-in movie that I went to as a kid.  Lo and behold, not only was it open, but it was playing 2 kids movies, so we had a movie night.  We had watched fireworks the night before.

....waiting for the movie is hard....

Saturday, July 5:

Since the movie went until late, the girls woke up in their same clothes and then performed hotel gymnastics.

One of the primary reasons for being in Kansas, my cousin's wedding.  At a very pretty church.  And it reminded me of my wedding, kneeling in front of that alter for what felt like forever.

Sunday, July 6:

I got to meet a bloggy friend today, which was really cool.  Headed back, we stopped to visit my grandparents and aunts' graves.

Monday, July 7:

Headed home, the girls were enthralled with the flowers and sat still for a picture at a rest stop.

Mia got to play games with Uncle JJ and his iPad.

Tuesday, July 8:

This guy.  Just happy to see and hang out with my brother Derrick

Wednesday, July 9:

Getting back to the routine, this was TV and a cheese stick while dinner was cooking.

Week 26....

Ok ya'll. It's summer now.  We're in full sunscreen, bug spray, tank tops and shorts mode.  We have been cooking outside.  We have been active outside.  We have been burned and tanned, sweaty and wet, and the tornado sirens have gone off.  All this means, that it is truly summer yo!

Thursday, June 26th:

Ah, the joys of summer as a child.  We had some sprinkler fun tonight!

Friday, June 27th:

Determined to open her water bottle at one of sissy's softball games.

Saturday, June 28th:

My little technological wizard, amusing herself while we shopped for a phone for sissy.

Sunday, June 29th:

An evening bike ride to top off a great weekend! (Look Ma - no hands!)

Monday, June 30th:

On the hunt, for one specific book.

Tuesday, July 1:

Sissy's last softball game of this season.  She got her first hit!  Technically, she got thrown out, but she actually put the bat on the ball.  She was so proud of herself!

While sissy plays, this one finds a shady spot to hunker down with her carrots.

Wednesday, July 2:

....and we're on our way!