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!!

There she rolls!

We spent Sunday afternoon at Claire's friend Maeve's 5th birthday at the Anderson roller skating rink. After spending the first 15 minutes discussing with the Anderson natives how the place hasn't changed since middle school - not the carpet, bathrooms, snack bar or music. Do roller skating rinks ever change? Nope.

Claire suited up into her head-turning, stylish rentals and promptly wiped out, with Jason giving her a yank back to her feet before she hit the floor.

Claire & Maeve

It took them 45 minutes to make a pass around the floor - Claire kept the same scowl on her face all the way around while big kids whizzed by.






After fueling up on some pizza, ice cream and cake frosting (why bother with the cake?) she begged to go back out onto the floor.... and got the hang of it!

She shuffled her way around and around with only a few bobbles - but no hands needed! Chloe and I watched from the sidelines and cheered her on.

Patrick & Bailee

Then came the small meltdown when it was time to leave, a definite indicator of a good time!

Happy Birthday, Maeve!

Or so I thought...

... that I was going to survive this week.



Jason is out of town for the week - first time in a while, and I was looking forward to this week with dread. Chloe is in the I-must-be-held-by-mommy-constantly stage every week night, making things a bit of a challenge to get dinner ready. I just find it difficult to hover over boiling pots or open a 400 degree oven door with a screaming child glued to your knee cap.


Claire was very sad about Jason going, but trying not to be too pouty about it. We walked in her classroom Monday morning and she had a sad look on her face - a genuine one, not the fake lip poke. Her teacher asked her what was wrong and the crocodile tears started to flow - "daddy is out of town and not back until Friday..."


Monday night we walked in the house around 5:45 (early!) and I got dinner started. About half way through dinner I noticed that there was NOT something clinging to my leg. I glanced around - and Chloe and Claire were playing together! Riding their trains around the house and cooking in their own kitchen. It was fabulous! To commemorate the occasion I even snapped a photo of our lovely dinner: Parmesan crusted baked tilapia, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, garlic bow tie pasta and salad - and fully intended to post a blog entry about how my little Chloe is becoming so independent! *sniff*

Then Tuesday came. When grocery shopping this weekend, I picked out some quick and easy meals that would not make a ton and were kid friendly. Claire asked what was on the menu tonight while we were driving home from school - Tacos! Yes, the one from the "kit." Claire asked why we just didn't go through the Taco Bell drive through if we were having tacos? Insulted, I explain that HER mom cooks meals for her. Not (gasp) pick up some heart attack in a paper bag. (haha - like Old El Paso makes a "healthy" taco...)

I knew I was in trouble when I walked in the door and Chloe had the death scissor grip of her legs around my waist. Maybe she realized that she forgot to cling on Monday? Whatever the reason, there was nothing that could convince her to put her feet on the floor - not a snack, not a trip to the potty with big sis, not refilling the dog's food bowl. Nothing.

So, the tacos were cooked with one arm - the other toting a 26 lb toddler. Next time we're going to Taco Bell.

A Valentine's Dance!

The excitement has been building in our house all week.... for the annual Goddard School Valentine's Dinner and Dance! What is more cool then having mom and dad and your little sister enjoy a hot dog, a bounce house, and a awesome DJ playing all your favorite tunes in your school's gym??

Before bed last night Claire insisted that she and Chloe HAD to wear "red dresses with leggings underneath." Understanding the importance of being fashionable to the school's big event, I dug out appropriate outfits.

When we arrived, the party was in full swing and Claire immediately sprinted outside to the "bouncy thing." It was freezing outside, but Chloe and I hung around until Jason got there - then headed inside to check out the dining options. Claire and Jason eventually came in to join us for a hot dog, chips and huge cookies - all number one fav's for kids!

The Valentine's "Tattoo:"

The gym was packed with kids, the big kids in the front and the little ones clinging to mom and dad's legs. Claire and her pals danced the night away to "Ride that train" and "The Hokey Pokey" and others like it.

Claire and gal pal Ava:

Chloe and buddy Carter (his mom is Claire's teacher):

Caleb working on standing alone so he can hit the dance floor:

Chloe retreating to the corner when the big kid dancers get a little wild:

It was a very nice party with only a small meltdown when it was time to go home. We really appreciate the school putting on this event!

A snowy vacation!

We've been saying for years that we were going to go visit my cousin Carrie and go skiing in the Poconos. (So she's not really a 'cousin' but she is my mom's mom's sister's daughter's daughter. Did you follow that?) Regardless, she and my mom have always been like cousins, so cousin it is. Carrie and her husband, Brian, and her boys, Andrew and Michael, have come down to the lake a couple of times to visit, always leaving with the invitation for us to come up in the winter to visit and ski.

Finally we decided this winter was the time, and my mom and dad booked their flight from Florida and mine from South Carolina - and decided February would be a good time where snow would be a sure thing. After all, they have a condo in the Poconos near Jack Frost / Big Boulder ski area and a snow mobile all about 2 hours north of their home outside of Philly.

We head out for a VERY early flight out of Greenville - girls happy (so far) with their sausage McMuffins. The flights actually went pretty well even with a plane change in Atlanta with a cold rain that eventually moved up the East coast and turned into "Snowmageddon."

Friday we hung around the condo and played with the girls in the couple of inches of snow that was outside. It doesn't take much to thrill them when it comes to snow!

Saturday we headed to Jack Frost early in the morning to enroll Claire in the Snow Monsters ski school. According to the weather guy, it was 16 degrees when we headed out with an expected high of 18. That is why we all look like bank robbers in the pictures - but the 15 layers of clothes did actually keep us warm. The huge snow storm hit the Mid-Atlantic states Friday night and into Saturday. Unfortunately, the Pocono's only got 3 inches - which was really a good thing because it would have been difficult to ski on all that fresh powder.

We took turns with Chloe in the lodge, and Claire did fantastic in school. She couldn't wait to hit the big slope and Brian skied with her using their harness, and she just loved riding the chair lifts. All the skiing was great - no broken bones or frostbite!

Sunday we went back to Thornton (20 min from Philadelphia) where the boys dug and blew through the 28 inches of snow. We got the sleds and saucers back out and all had a great time playing! I couldn't believe how much snow there was! That night, Uncle Steve and Stephen (Carrie's dad and brother) came over for pizza and the Super Bowl. What a family reunion!

Monday was our travel day, and thankfully we didn't have any major delays with it being the first day the airport operated in 3 days.

We took tons of pictures, so here they are in a slide show. (All the good ones were taken by Carrie!)