Is it too early to start carb loading?

Okay you're right, I'm clearly just "stress eating."

And that isn't even something I usually do.

(Boredom eating on the other hand.... guilty as charged.)


What on Earth am I talking about?

Oh.

Right.

This is the post where I officially announce that I have lost my mind.


You see, (and I've mentioned it before a few times) for a long time now, I've sort of kind of maybe wanted to run a full marathon.

And now I am going to do it....

I mean, not three years ago I would have seriously doubted my own ability to run any distance upwards of one single mile.  But then about 2 and a half years ago, while Matt was on his last agonizing deployment, I decided to take control of my life a little by starting to work out.  And, as all the regular readers of this blog would know, this evolved into me starting to run more and more.  And then eventually I sort of bully-dared Matt into signing up to run his first half marathon in exchange for my doing a 5K.  And then from there things quickly spiraled to his running full marathons and me running half marathons.

So, all along during these past 2 years since I ran my first 5K (on Mother's Day in 2012) while I was training for my first couple Half Marathons I made friends with other runners and I heard about other great running events.

I had a friend that year who won the lottery and got a spot in the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco that year in San Francisco.  A had another friend who won too, only she did the Full Marathon.

And if you aren't familiar with those races, let me just sum up for you what I find interesting:  1. Women's event (yes men are welcome, but it's kind of aimed at women.)  2. Nike (I'm sorry if you disagree, but I L-O-V-E Nike running shoes and gear.)  3.  San Francisco is cool.  4.  The finisher's get a Tiffany's Necklace instead of a traditional medal.

Just, wow.

That fall (2012) when my friends ran the event, right as I was in the final weeks of my big training for my first half Santa Barbara, I was so envious that I wasn't there too.

And then Matt ran a couple full marathons and made me kind of want to do one too, just to be, I don't know, almost as good as him.  (Haha.)

But then of course, last year, I had Lucy in September and was barely even mobile when the event rolled around again in October (2013.)  But that one friend of mine ran the Full AGAIN.

*sigh*

To torment me further, one of the mom's from A.J.'s preschool class ran it too (the full) and she had the finisher's necklace and a jacket that had this big fat 26.2 across the back practically mocking me and I was just.... SO JEALOUS.

 I wanted to run a full marathon.  And, honestly, I wanted one of those necklaces and one of those jackets and somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind I began to slowly start convincing myself that I was going to try to do that race and get my prizes.

Except... yikes, San Francisco is CRAZY hilly.  And also, Nike is extremely tight with details about the race until about 6 months out.  And also, it's a lottery to get into.  Maybe this was all a really terrible plan!

So then last weekend was Nike's other big annual race, in DC and I knew that once it was over I could expect to hear details finally about the 2014 Nike Women's fall race in SF. As the time came to enter the lottery and try to earn my chance I grew nervous.  What if I didn't get in?  What would I do then?

Hmmmmm.

I wondered if there was a way to guarantee my spot.

I called Team in Training.  I've had friends in the past who've run races to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  I've seen the coaches and racers at events.  Maybe I could run with them, get a guaranteed spot in my "dream" race AND get the wonderful added benefits of their coaching staff and training plan to get me ready, help me succeed AND I could raise money for a great charity along the way.

By Monday evening I had decided it was a plan.

Except Tuesday morning, Nike finally posted details about San Francisco this year.  And much to my shock and dismay, they are only hosting a Half Marathon this year.  Half Marathons are so much more in demand for runners.

Let me just be honest.  I cried.  I was upset and mad and I had already committed myself mentally to the task of raising money for LLS with Team in Training and along the way I was going do that FULL and get my jacket and necklace at last!  Except now, almost as quickly as it had happened, no, no I wasn't.


Shush.  I know what you're thinking, I decided to do TNT on Monday evening and on Tuesday when my plan to run my full marathon fell through (like 12 hours later) how upset could I have really been?


Pretty upset I'll tell you.

When I dive into something, I'm all in.  Forget the fact that I'd been pondering this race for over a year, but I'd basically already laid up most of the night strategizing about fund raising for my Full marathon and now it wasn't going to happen.

The lovely folks at TNT said I could still run the half with them.  And I seriously considered it.

But another half?

That's nothing to laugh at for sure, but why would people donate money to my cause for me to do something I've already done 3 times before?  I certainly didn't NEED the coaching and support for another half like I would for a full.

NO!

I wanted to run a FULL MARATHON.

I called TNT again.

They offered up the Chicago marathon instead.

I hemmed and hawed for a couple hours, and discussed it with several people.  And just like that, I got over the Tiffany's necklace and that jacket I coveted.  Chicago would give out a medal (just not a Tiffany's one) and sell finisher's jackets too, right?

Right.

Also, some of my best friends just moved back to Chicago.

And....

AND!!!

Chicago is flat.

FLAAAAAAAAAAAT!

Great, glorious God Almighty!!  I kid you not, I think it was his plan.

Why on Earth was I going to KILL myself trying to prepare for the intense, psychotic hills of San Francisco over 26.2 miles when I absolutely HATE hills and I really should just be worrying about covering the distance some place flat.

And also I'd get to see my friends.

And the fund raising requirement was a little less.

(So that's nice too!)

I'm in.

I signed up.


Assuming everything goes as planned, and I can raise the money (NOT for me, but for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) on October 12, 2014.... I'll see you in Chicago.

Our training season officially starts late next week.

I'll be posting more about it, I'm sure, but for now, let me recommend you all visit my TNT Fundraising page. There you can begin to read a little bit more about why I am doing this with Team in Training (instead of like, waiting around for another marathon to try) and, if you are able and willing, maybe PLEASE help me out with a donation.

Let's see..... who's willing to give me $25.  That's basically one dollar for every mile I will run in the race and as a thank you, I'll even go ahead and cover that last 1.2 miles for you for FREE!!!!

Haha.

Please?

Every little bit will help.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Easter Sunday

So, the Easter Bunny came and brought the kids lots of treats and surprises for Easter morning.

Peter's basket.

A.J.'s

Lucy's.

Underneath each basket everyone had a book.  Peter and A.J. each had a large sticker book as well and Lucy had a baby puzzle and a stuffed animal as well.

The Easter bunny may have gone overboard and spoiled them a bit, what can I say?

On Sunday morning, Matt was up at 5 as usual.  He made sure the doggies didn't get into the baskets or attempt to eat any of the eggs which were hidden around the house.  I was up somewhere around the same time to feed the baby I think but then went back to sleep for awhile until around 6:30 when Peter came tumbling out of his room.  

That boy is like a rooster I swear, no matter the time, or how late he was up the night before, the second the dawn light appears on the horizon his eyes pop open and he is out of bed.  (This was the same baby who regularly slept until 8 or 8:30 every morning for more than the first two years of his life.  What the heck?)

I heard him get up and dragged myself up too.  I grabbed the camera and found him looking sleepy still as he poked around the kitchen and bugged his father investigated the baskets.

He continued to vibrate around poking at things while I went to try and wake up the girls.  

Needless to say, A.J. wasn't having any of it.

She would much rather sleep in EVERY day.  That's my girl!

(Ironic that she was the baby who never wanted to sleep anywhere or any time at all.  Sometimes I still think she's trying to catch up.  Me too baby girl, me too!!!

Lucy, as usual had been up to eat earlier and was now sleeping again.  On regular mornings she is the last to get up, purely because the safest place for her is in her crib while I fight to get the other 2 up and dressed.  

Love her little bunny feet.

Heck.  Even the dogs were still sleeping.

Brutus was curled up looking like a pumpkin spiced donut on the recliner and Molly was snuggled up on Matt's pillow beside where I had been just moments before.

There seems to be a big divide in this house actually.  The weirdo boys get up early.  The girls and the dogs need their sleep.  Haha.

Anyway, I went and woke up Lucy.  She was instantly all smiles.

Matt went to get A.J.  It took a bit, but soon enough she came out.

OMG that hair!  And also, I just love her acting skills.  Nice sweet/innocent look of surprise A.J.  Lol.

Peter, the reporter, who always has to be the one who KNOWS about everything, quickly starting informing his sister about their Easter baskets.

A.J.took a look.  She instantly went for the rubber gecko toys.  

She has a whole zoo's worth of rubber toy animals, but her little toy gecko "Zippy" got left or lost when we went to Florida and she was thrilled to see several replacements finally.  (SO. WAS. I. It will be nice not to hear about it anymore.)  

Matt and I helped the kids move everything into the living room where they could sit and spread out on the floor and examine everything in their baskets.

Haha.  Maybe somebody wasn't quite sure what was going on.

No to worry.  Lucy was so cute once we put her basket and surprises down with  her.

Peter and A.J. got started digging into theirs first by having an argument about
whether the carton of malted milk robins eggs contained actual milk or candy.

Lucy just put everything in her mouth.

Peter started pulling out toy cars and planes and A.J. grabbed all her lizards.

What a weirdo.

She was so happy.

Alright, well, that teething toy actual belongs in her mouth so that is good.

Both kids got these peep lollipops and I'm kind of hoping neither of them wants to eat them so I can.  

It's almost as big as she is but look how happy it makes her.  

The Easter Bunny FINALLY found the girl plane Ishani!!!!

Who on Earth thought it was a good idea to put the paper Easter grass in the baby's basket?

With the baskets "done," for the time being, we got a pictures of all of them together.  

And by "all of them" I mean, Peter, Lucy, Lucy's new Bunny Monkey, A.J.
and...the star of the show... A.J.'s untamed morning hair.   :)

Next it was time to hunt down all the plastic eggs hidden around the house.

Matt gave them a "ready, set... go!"

The bunny hid some of the eggs up high!

With her older siblings distracted, Lucy took the opportunity to check out their toys.

Peter ran around collected the eggs like a mad man.  A.J. moved slower and frequently became frustrated that she didn't see any.  (This answers my question about why she didn't get many on her own at her school's egg hunt.)  Matt and I guided her and mostly just tried to slow him down.

In the end it didn't matter because after they opened all their eggs to find their little candies, Peter mixed the piles up so that it all became Community Property.

We had a few minutes to play while Matt made breakfast.

A.J. helped her sister with her new puzzle.

Lucy was easily just as interested in the box her puzzle came in as the actual toy itself.  

But Daddy is still the funnest thing to play with of all.

While the kids ate breakfast I went and showered for church.  Then while I dressed the kids I left my shoes sitting out and off to the side while Matt showered.

A.J. was the last to get dressed and found my shoes while she waited for her turn.

Soon we were all dressed in out Easter finest and ready to head off to church.  

Mass was good.  We skipped the crowds at the main chapel and went to the Holy Family Center where they hold a separate "over flow" service that starts 5 minutes after the one at the main church.  The Holy Family Center is huge and spacious and beautiful, with lots of fresh air and bright light so it was way better to just go there straight away anyway.  (When they first opened the place, they tried to hold the "main" services there on holidays.  It was still crowded at both places but people complained that it didn't seem enough like "real" church.  I don't know about that at all, but I've been to services both places on holidays and think both are fine, although with the kids I do prefer to be where ever is the least crowded.  A.J. and Peter found it confusing though and didn't seem to think they needed to behave or pay attention as well as they usually do with out the real pews and regular churchy environment.  

So that was good until we were leaving.  Matt had the baby and A.J. and went out first and I was behind with Peter.  As I went through the door with him following me I let go of the door to let it swing slowly shut behind me while he snuck through behind me.  Except, no.  He was too distracted and not paying attention or moving fast enough.  I should have known better than to have trusted he'd get through and let go of the door.  He dawdled and looked over his shoulder as he meandered through and then the door swung to close and slammed into his forehead.

He started to sob immediately in shock and started sucking in a big breath of air to let out one of his trademark horrendous, yelling, screaming, cries.  

I grabbed him immediately in my arms and held him close and begged him not to scream.  "I'm so sorry buddy, I know that must have hurt, but please don't scream.  Don't you DARE start to scream!  I can't fix it or help you when you start to holler."  

He mostly obliged my pleas and looked up at me with big, sad, wet eyes.  A large blue-green bulge was already appearing on his head.

OMG.

Poor kid.

I dragged him back inside and off towards the bathroom for a cold wet paper towel to put on the bruise until we got home and could get an ice pack and who should we run into but his class's teacher's assistant.  She saw me and his head and looked shocked.  I quickly explained and wondered allowed why this kept happening to him and she looked down at him sadly with a  sympathetic "Aww, Peteeeeer!"

Last week on Monday morning he'd run ahead toward his classroom across the playground and tripped and stumbled and smacked his forehead on the asphalt.

On Tuesday morning  I was chatting with another parent when he ran in front of a little girl on the swings and gotten himself kicked in the face and laid right out.  Seriously.  The little girl's dad picked him up and brought him to me before I even knew what was happening.  Both time he'd been screaming and while I fully acknowledge his right to get upset and cry he gets so ridiculously loud when he screams like that that I literally can't think.  

Ugh.

My one friend who knows him well commented that at least the only time he ever cries or screams is when he's hurt.  So that is a plus, except that lately he seems to hurt himself a lot.  

The incident with the girl on the swings had resulted in a big bloody fat lip and I swear it's a wonder the boy is only minus one tooth so far.

It's not really any wonder his teacher was feeling sorry for him.

So anyway, we got his paper towel and got back to the car and goodness the size of his goose egg already. I was wondering if we'd be visiting the ER for a head scan before the day was done.

Easter Goose Egg anyone?  Good Lord!!!

When we got home I got Peter and ice pack and asked him to lay down and relax for awhile.

Then we decided to try to get some pictures of A.J. since she looked so pretty in her Easter outfit.

At first she wasn't interested in participating until I offered to take some pictures with her.  (Blah!)

After that she did better posing...

And give us some attitude.  She really is a bit of a diva.  (In a good way, of course.)

Lucy slept for awhile in her car seat.  She passed out right after church and waking her to put her in her bed seemed silly so she stayed put and we started one of A.J. new DVDs for the kids to watch until she woke up again and we could try to get pictures of them all together in their nice clothes.  

Eventually she woke up.  I thought about taking her outside for pictures but it was REALLY bright, so we decided to do them inside with some eggs instead.

This is my favorite even though for some reason it isn't quite in focus.  

Then of couse, I decided to put her in a basket to see how that would go over.

Um... it didn't.  Oops.  

Finally we paused the movie and put the three kids together.  It's hard to pick my favorite of these, so I guess that's good.

A.J. watching her Barbie horseback riding DVD.  She was very involved.  

Lucy still in her nice dress enjoyed crawling around.  So many layers of tulle and and taffeta.  She made a lot of noise wherever she went.  Teehee.  

We spent the rest of the day just hanging out together as a family like we do most other Sundays.  Matt made a big ham for dinner with noodles and green beans and fresh dinner rolls and we had a nice feast.

How fun.  It was a good day.