Running around

It always seems like we are running from one thing to another - work, to school, to birthday parties, to the grocery store... and on and on. Over the past few years that has been the bulk of my exercise - with a crazy work life and 2 little kids, who has time for anything else?

In the past few months, I thought I needed to do something more - something for my own health and wellness. I was talking with neighbors about schedules and working out (which I had NO time for) and one neighbor described it differently then I ever thought of before. He works out because you should. You should for your own health, for your future with your kids and grand kids and because it is essential to live a long and health life. I always thought as exercise in a different manner - it was a way to tone up, to lose weight, to look better ... notice it was all about something in it for ME - more like something to be gained. After this conversation, I thought about it more as something that you just should do. Period. To have better health and set a good example for my kids - just something that needs to be done as a priority in life. Keeping that in mind, I re prioritized.

I began running the Couch to 5k program (http://www.c25k.com/) in mid January and this past Saturday marked the completion of the program. I capped it off by participating in the Milliken Earth Run 5k. The past 2 months training went really well - I made time to run where time did not exist, and added in cross training (weights, etc) about half way through the program. Gradually I went from gasping after 90 seconds of running to trucking along for 3 miles with tired legs but strong lungs. I couldn't believe the progress! Jason and girls came out on Saturday in the dark and cold (first Saturday after the time change is usually the best sleep in day of the year!) and cheered me on. Hearing the "goooooo MOMMY!!" at the halfway point gave me the boost I needed. The course was all grass - great for the knees, but tough on speed and energy as the soft ground absorbs your momentum. Excuses aside, the race was run and the time was not that great, but the fact remains that I am building my strength and endurance all for a good cause. A happy and healthy life.

My cheering section (the start pack is in the background)


Half way there!

About 3 miles in - the end is in sight!

After the race, we ran (haha) back to the car to head home so I could take a quick shower and head to Niki and Jeremy's son, Caleb's, first birthday party! The girls loved playing with all their friends.

Chloe getting shoes off for the bounce house



Birthday Boy Caleb


Ethan & Alex

Brooke & Nathan

Jennifer & Myers

Maeve & Claire

Chloe & Ethan

Oh Poooooooo.....

*warning* ... if you don't like hearing poop stories then stop now.

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Today I picked up Chloe from school. Wednesday is my day to pick her up because Jason and Claire go to gymnastics. When I walked in Chloe's class she was wearing some random grey sweat pants that were a school spare. Her teacher immediately pipes up - "she's not wearing shoes because there is poop on them." I didn't notice Chloe wasn't wearing shoes, being the smallest kid in the class, her spare pants were hanging over her feet and dragging the floor (yes, size 2T.) That explains things - she must have had a diaper malfunction that spread to her shoes. Although Chloe is the keep-my-stuff-in-my-diaper sort of girl. (Claire was NOT that type. I have many stories of abandoning clothes in public restrooms due to blow outs!) The teacher then fesses up a little further... "You might want to wash her shoes. Really well. It wasn't her poop." She's completely grossed out. I ask for more details and it turns out that a friend in the class did have a Claire-like blowout that got all over the floor, which of course turns into a kid magnet that many other little ones have to run through. I look around and notice that several other little kids aren't wearing shoes! Groooosssssssss..... I can just imagine the teacher's frozen looks of horror as twelve 18-24 month olds start stampeding through a pile of poo. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. I'm sure they (the kids) thought that was hilarious. Thankfully Jason is a expert poop cleaner. Chloe's shoes are clean, shined and drying in the garage. That would gross me out because it is not my own child's poo... which brings me to my next story.........

Sunday I was on nursery duty at church. I picked the 12-18 month class - the oldest nursery room that Chloe was not in (major clinging problem, so I can't be with her!) I've had nursery duty before in younger classes, but had a lucky streak going where no little ones made a "stinky" while I was on duty. That all changed this past Sunday. I guess this age means that the little ones are experimenting with all different kinds of new foods, that in turn all different kinds of odors. The other girl on nursery duty catches a whiff... we track down the offensive odor and dig out the assigned diaper bag to the little girl with the poopy diaper. Because I don't have a child attached to me at that moment, I land the diaper changing duty. I take a peek to see the damage and the little one is wearing a cloth diaper. I have no problems with cloth diapers - to each his own, and I am all for saving the environment. It just so happened to be MY first cloth diaper experience. We decide it is just best to bag up the diaper and send it home with mom and dad. I can tell you - I have left outfits far less soiled then this diaper in public restroom trash cans. I could not imagine coming home and dealing with this stink bomb - but again, very glad that people are environmentally conscious. Much better then I am. I dig out the wipes that were in the diaper bag - a chlorine free, organic, environmentally friendly variety that would not wipe poop off, no matter how hard you scrubbed. I probably used 15 of these things. Not exactly green living to use that many, but the child had to have a clean bottom, right?? I scrubbed and gagged through the whole thing. NEVER had I gagged through my girl's change but, I admit, never have I changed another child's diaper! I truly have a new sense of respect for my pre-school's teachers. I could not, not, not do that. And this Sunday, I am once again on nursery duty in the same class. I think I might bring my own wipes!

Events of the week

We had some big events this week! Event # 1 was the official kindergarten registration for Claire. I haven't figured out the school system yet, and maybe I am just a little too wound up.... I just found it odd that I had to go out seeking 1) what school I belong to and 2) when I need to register. Isn't it law that kids have to go to school? Why is no one sending me letters saying I need to do this? I guess it is also required that parents know their school zoning, and know when the age cut off is to enter. Claire is close to the cut off, so it did require a little thinking. She barely qualifies as a kindergartener this fall (by 2 weeks!) But now that I have educated myself, I am completely familiar with the kindergarten curriculum to make sure we are completely prepared. :)

I called our elementary school to figure out the enrollement protocol. To them it was simple: immunization cert, birth certificate and 2 proofs of residency, with one (or two) proofs being a power bill. Sounds easy, but I don't get paper utility statements and really didn't want to call up the power company to get a copy. I start asking questions - could I bring a property tax bill? a voter registration? a drivers license? Hmmmmm ..... silence on the line. No, a power bill is a must have. Seriously? Yup. Next line of questioning - WHEN am I to register? Now is the time! The preference is to come between 9:30 am and 2:00 PM - right in the most convenient time of day for working parents who work > 20 minutes from the school, right?

We got it done. Power bill in hand, 1/2 day vacation used up and 6 pages of forms filled out in a #2 pencil later... we are officially on the roster!

Thursday of this week the old guy of this house turned a year older! We celebrated Jason's birthday with a dinner out with his mom and dad and capped off the night with a yummy cheesecake assortment. Claire erupted into a fit of whining when she heard Jason choose cheesecake as his birthday treat - no frosting? What kind of cake is this? One that she ended up loving, and eating sans fork, using 2 hands. She and Chloe both had a second helping tonight.

We're looking forward to this weekend - super nice weather and a bunch of birthday parties to attend! Welcome back to Spring!!