Turns out I don't run much without my BFF

My BFF and her hubby adopted a new baby recently. Kind of a big deal. I am thrilled for them. They have added the most adorable baby girl to their family.

BUT - this was a trainwreck for my workout. Turns out I don't run much if no one else is showing up at my house or expecting me to show up at their house to burn some calories at 5 am. I would set the alarm and then snooze and snooze and snooze until I would finally reset it to get up later. My husband loved it (not). One morning he said "Was it too not-rainy for you today?" I really had no excuse.

After three weeks of not running I was really grumpy and really tired all the time. One day at work someone said "Maybe you should have some more coffee." I was not fun to be around.

With the threat of wearing a swimsuit imminently upon me for an upcoming vacation, I finally dragged myself out of bed twice in the morning to go last week. The first day I stepped out I realized it was already somewhat light out. Completely different than just a month before. There was a bright full moon. When I finished the sun was coming up. Already I felt better. The next day I snoozed a little too long so I only went 4 miles instead of 5.5 but felt good to go two days in a row which I rarely do anyway.

These two runs allowed me to get in a longer run on Saturday yesterday. My BFF ran with me for the first three, then she headed back (she is easing back into routine from being gone) while I did some additional miles to get a total of 8 in. It was hot and humid.

So far I've been more awake and in a better mood. Turns out exercise may truly actually make you feel better. Who knew :)

So thank god my BFF is back! I need someone else to hold me accountable for getting up. Plus it's my therapy for the week to chat (and work) it all out.

The trip that wasn't meant to be

I had originally planned to run the Oklahoma City half marathon last weekend. Candi and I had picked this race because of the time of year, it proximity to KC and I also liked it because my friend Molly's parents live there. At the time we signed up Molly had taken up running and planned to run with Candi and I in OKC. I was going to stay an extra night and hang out with Molly, her little girl and Molly's parents.

A few weeks ago Molly called and sadly let me know that she has a back injury and couldn't run. She still hoped to make it to OKC but that her little girl (who is so adorable) has been sick off and on for weeks and really they needed to stay home to get her better. TOTALLY understood. No big deal.

I moved my return flight to be a day earlier, knowing that I didn't need to hang out with her parents without her :)

Then, a week before the race Candi called. The birth mom they were adopting the baby of went into labor. Totally legitimate excuse for not running :)

So, I could have flown to OKC to run a race by myself. But that didn't really sound like much fun. I had just traveled almost constantly for a week, going to Indy for work and then San Antonio with the kids to see my brother so I was exhausted.

Canceled the trip. Great decision. I still feel behind. And tired. Can't seem to get caught up. The race was also delayed by 30 minutes and cold and rainy. Ick. Not sorry I missed that.

And I totally haven't run in more than two weeks. Turns out I'm not a very good runner with out my running buddy.

Happy Birthday Anna!

She is getting so big. Her party is this weekend and is a Hello Kitty theme. I even found a Hello Kitty card with a 7 on it. As if it was meant to be! She got today's outfit, a tooth fairy pillow, a diary and an Easy Bake Oven (which I think Carter was just as excited about!) I have one more gift I realized I forgot to wrap so I'll give that to her this weekend at her party.

On this day 7 years ago I worked in the morning, went home to meet Kevin and get my bag and went to the hospital to have a scheduled c-section. I think it was a Monday.

Anna,
At 7 you're about to finish first grade. You've read all of the Junie B Jones books except the last one. You love chapter books. You're on to Ramona and Beezus.

You LOVE playing house and luckily Carter obliges. You narrate what's happening... "And you were surprised and you said 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe this!'" and then Carter will say "Oh my gosh, I can't believe this!" He plays right along.

You love writing stories. Tonight you narrated a story to Baxter. He was in it and you kept saying his name. He loved it.

There are a few little spats with other girls at school. One day "she's" a friend the next day "she's" not.

You love gymnastics which you go to once a week.

You're learning a few hard lessons about homework coming first and playing outside or playing DS coming second. You're like a mini-me playing your latest DS game. Something about owning a bunch of pet boarding buildings and taking care of pets and earning money to buy food and more buildings. People come and ask you to take their pet but sometimes you're full as you have to say no. And sometimes they tell you how great you are pampering their pet and you get extra money. At 7 you're a manager. Maybe all those management podcasts I've been listening to in the car are rubbing off on you already!

You love your American Girl dolls Gracie and Kitt.

You want a pet goldfish.

You always want to go some place on the weekends. You like to go go go.

You love the older movies like Mary Poppins and Sound of Music.

You think tooting is hysterical.

You're about to lose your two top front teeth.

You seemed to have sprouted two inches but gained them from the waist up. All of your shirts look short.

You look older to me this week. It's sweet and sad at the same time. Like a little lady. Love you love you love you. Love that you still love me to love you. My sweet big baby girl.

Toy Story 3 on Ice

Candi and I took the kids to see Toy Story 3 on Ice. It was fantastic! Probably the best ice show I've seen (and I think I've seen 4 or 5). The kids were great.

I enjoyed the Barbie number! The music during the show was great. This number included Girls just want to have fun and "I'm a barbie girl, in a barbie world..."

They even had army men flying from the sky! 

Bad Dog, Baxter

 This weekend Baxter discovered mud. I caught him in the raised garden beds digging up the composte treasures Kevin had just mixed in with fresh dirt two days before. Mmmm, delicious old egg shells and avocado peels.

Bad dog, Baxter. Bad dog. What a mess!

Gross.

Spring Break!

I only worked two days last week. Woo hoo! Anna was on spring break so I took some days off. Wednesday I spent for myself, getting my hair high and low lighted and getting my nails done. Thursday I took the kids to the zoo, then to Party City to get goodies for Anna's bday party coming up, and then Carter's soccer practice. Friday we went to see the Justin Bieber movie in 3D, then went out to lunch and then to Kaleidescope. Saturday we went to Paradise Park all afternoon and then the grocery store. Today we stayed home. Carter is now running a fever and seems a little lethargic.

But we had a great spring break! I'm not really ready to go back to work, but I only have a 4-day work week this and next week so that should help!

Making some new recipes this week. I've moved on from foodnetwork.com to bhg.com.

I'm Suddenly the Suburban Soccer Mom

My mom told me I just began "10 years of taking kids from one activity to the next. Until Anna can drive."

Anna has started gymnastics once a week. And LOVES it.

Carter has started soccer practice twice a week. And LOVES it.

A few weeks ago Anna also did a dance practice one night with the high school girls and then performed a few nights later.

She also had a music performance at school along with a book fair.

AND, my job has convinced me to go back to work full time. No more day off for me to catch up on errands, laundry and appointments. I'm now squeezing everything in on the evenings and weekends. When I tell people this they all have the same reaction "Weren't you working full time already?" Apparently this is only news to me.

I also became an aunt in the last few weeks! I can't wait to meet my first nephew Sam. I look forward to spoiling him, cuddling him and watching my kids play with their first cousin at family gatherings.

Next week is spring break! I'm taking a few days off to spoil myself and then spend some QT with the kids. Hopefully we will find some fun activites to be had outside (if the weather finally holds out - it has been so weird over the last few weeks - snow, ice, fog, rain, bleh.)

I've been fighting a stupid cold for three weeks. And pink eye for two days.

A few weeks to my first half marathon this year. The next one is just four weeks following that.

2011 is looking to be a busy year of travel. Should make for some fun and exciting blog posts with lots of pics.