Saturday, May 14th

Making mud pies in the planter

Decided that since the weather was going to be questionable on Sunday, I'd move up the long run to today. I really needed to pull off an 8 mile run since I hadn't been running much of late. So I mapped it out, just a little over 8 miles, and off I went. I had to take my waterproof jacket just in case since it looked like it could rain at any given second! I didn't get wet though, and the sun came out in full force around mile 6, those last 2 miles I thought I was going to die from the heat... it was close to 80 degrees out there! Because of all the cloud cover during the beginning of my run, the darn gps malfunctioned and screwed me out of 0.6 miles of my run! I had to come home and remap it to see how far I really went. So I ended up pounding out 8.4 miles, and didn't bother with stopping the gps/timer at stoplights, so I had a 13 min/34 sec per mile average. Not bad considering I'm in allergy hell, hadn't done the midweek runs at all, and hadn't run more than 3 miles in the 3 weeks prior to that! And I had some excitement...there were two young boys, about 10-11 years old, riding their bikes on the sidewalk on Fivemile, side by side. The one closest to me told me to move, so I pointed and said that's what the bike lane is for...the little shit spit at me! Lucky for him it didn't hit me, and lucky for him my hubby wasn't with me, or he'd have gone home injured! And since there were 2 of them I didn't do anything, just pretended that I didn't notice, and kept on running. After rehydrating with a protein shake (chocolate, banana) and some lunch, we headed out to do yard work. I worked out front with the flower beds and shrubs in the one large one right in front of the house. I was sooooo excited because I got to an area of the yard that has gone untouched for the 5+ years we've been in this house! And after Casey was done with the lawn we started setting up the new gazebo! I can't wait to see the finished product! But we had to stop because a big ol' storm was rolling in, and we were both exhausted. To keep the boys entertained while we worked on the gazebo we set up the pool for them again. They still had their water gun fights today, but their main focus was on making mud pies in the one raised planter! They are such boys!!! My Uncle Byron and Aunt Darcie stopped by for a quick visit. She did the Couch to 5k program, and has lost a ton of weight and looked great!!!! She had also done her first 5k that morning at the Great Potato race. I remember doing my first 5k a year ago at Race for the Cure. I told her that she should train for a half marathon and we could do one together next year...she now thinks I'm crazy! Exhausted and sunburnt from running and doing yard work we made the executive decision to order pizza! Oh how I love Papa John's pizza and their amazing parmesan/garlic breadsticks!!!! Thank goodness I went for my long run that morning!!! After dinner we watched the movie The International...meh...thank goodness I screwed around on the computer, updated the blog a little, and ordered my new headphones. Casey liked it ok, but I wasn't impressed. I can't wait to get my new headphones. I must have small ear canals, so I've never yet found a pair of headphones that will stay in my ear well, without me having to push them back in repeatedly during my run. They say that the unique shape of these will keep them in place, GUARANTEED! They'd better for $50!!!

Friday, May 13th

Tried to explain that today is Friday the 13th to the boys on the way to preschool...superstition is a very difficult concept to teach to a 3 and 5 year old...so I gave up! After lunch we headed off to the grocery store, and then the boys played outside while I put groceries away. I bought some steak and marinated it, and when Casey came home he BBQ'd it...it was his best job with the BBQ on steaks yet! Can't wait to start using the grill more...if only the freaking weather would cooperate. I know some people grill year round, but neither I nor Casey want to stand outside and freeze our butts off when it's cold and wet out there! All 5 of the caterpillars are in their chrysallis now. Sometime this weekend I need to transfer them into the butterfly house! Right after dinner I headed over to my friend Lacy's house for a Tastefully Simple party! I cannot wait to get my stuff! I ordered some adult beverages, and some yummy cookie bar mix, and some yummy dip mix that combines jalapenos and bacon...hoping the hubby will love it! I started the party planning for Zach's party today. Boo on Disney for not yet releasing anything Jake and the Neverland Pirates for kid's parties. I realize that there is a ton of pirate stuff out there, but Zachers doesn't want Pirates of the Carribean, or the generic stuff...he WANTS JAKE! Life will go on, but it would make my life oh so much easier if Jake stuff was out there to purchase! I did find some fun party ideas, and now I can't wait for July 9th to get here!!!!!

Thursday, May 12th

It was a very nice day!!! We started the day off with a fabulous time at swim lessons. It was safety day, so they did everything in life jackets, and the boys thought it was super cool! Only Zach forgot to ask permission to get into the pool because he was so stinking excited about his new swim trunks, and was dying to tell and show Coach Amber the new trunks! After lunch we headed over to Tully Park for some fun in the sun! Lucas is always smitten with the older kids at the park, and today showed me one of the lovely (heavily laced with sarcasm) tricks he'd learned from the big kids...he went down the tunnel slide, on the OUTSIDE of the slide. Not really a big deal except for the fact that the kid is a clutz, and his little brother loves to do whatever he does. I'm sure the days until our first broken bone are numbered! : ) They played for a very long time at the park. There was a group of big kids there, and they were all playing so nicely together. I must admit, I normally cringe when I see a herd of big kids at the park because they usually don't look out for the little guys...but they proved my stereotype to be wrong...just this one time! We came home and of course the boys were not in any hurry to go inside yet, and after playing out in the back yard for awhile they conned me into setting up their pool for them. It was a bit too cold, but oh my gosh did they ever have fun!! I wish all days could be this much fun for them...it was an absolutely perfect day! And to top it all off, when we got home, we got the news from my father in law that he is cancer free!!!!! The margins around the prostate were clear, and the lymph node was clear as well! Hallelujah!!!!! I guess some score for the cancer was high, so they'll watch him closely for awhile...but at least there isn't any need for chemo or radiation at this point! Casey took lunch with him to work so that he could attend a Fidelity investment seminar. It was mostly a waste of his time. He figures that we need 2.3 million to retire and live our current lifestyle. The good news is that he'll let me retire once we reach this amount. The bad news is that we need another 2 million to hit that mark, and that means I'll be working until the day I die, the way that I blow through the money!!!! Oh well, at least I have a goal to shoot for now!

Wednesday, May 11th

Lucas made it through the night without further vomiting episodes (thank you Zofran!!). I however, still felt terrible! I don't think that I had a single thing to eat all day. And thanks to having taken some zofran myself, I also had a hellacious headache. I called Donna to warn her about the sickness in our house, in case she didn't want to come for a visit! But I'm glad she decided to come over anyways. She stayed and we chatted for a few hours! She made me realize even more how wonderful my mom is! And made me realize even more what a great relationship I had with my mom. I feel sorry for all of those in the world that have really strained relationships with their moms, or that have abusive moms. I have always been a proponent for the motto, be glad that you still have yours, no matter the case! Not so anymore!! Donna brought the boys some fun stuff...coloring papers, paints, color wonder bubbles, & Mtn Dew and Rootbeer flavored chapstick. They colored her a picture for their Thank You card, it was cute! Today was the first day that the caterpillars started forming their chrysallis! It must have something to do with size because the 2 larger caterpillars were up top and in position. And the 'very hungry caterpillar' was the first to go into the chrysallis! The pictures don't do the coolness and at the same time, the creepiness of the chrysallis justice! I am convinced that I am WAY more into all of this than the boys are, because I have to check on them several times daily!!!!

Tuesday, May 10th

Started the day off with Starbucks since I couldn't get to sleep, and/or stay asleep, and I was dragging some major butt! The best news of the morning, a new frappuchino to try...coconut mocha frap...YUMMY! If only the rest of my day had been as wonderful!! I had really wanted to ride my bike to work (even though that means skipping out on my Starbucks), but the weather forecast was calling for rain in the morning, and I'm averse to showing up drenched to work. So I drove instead, and could've rode the bike! There wasn't any rain to speak of the entire day! Hate it when the weathermen are wrong! I was so wiped out when I got home from work that I couldn't bring myself to go to zumba! I even conned the hubby into taking me out to eat. I did have to give in to the chants of Red Robin however. Lucas started complaining about how tired he was and acting real tired and lethargic at Red Robin, and didn't devour his mac n cheese and cantalope like he normally does. And as he got ready for bed we found out why...GI bug! He barfed several times that evening. And my tummy was on the rampage AGAIN! I was like, seriously...just one week without anyone ill in my house, it would be like heaven! And with me getting it again that makes 3 times in as many weeks! So much for getting serious about that half marathon training again this week!!!!!

Monday, May 9th

Started the day off on the total right foot with a Mother's Day Tea at preschool with Lucas! He was so excited to do his little program for me, it was really cute! They sang us a few songs, You are my sunshine, Happy Mother's Day, and one I'd never heard before. Then they went around the room and told everyone why they love their mom. Lucas wrote down on the picture that he drew that he loved me because I give him hugs. He told everyone that he loves me because I take him to the pool! Either way, it's all good with me!! Had lunch with the hubby, and then off to work it was for me. And of course that was a roller coaster ride, AGAIN! Our tech hours are being cut AGAIN, and we had a lot of crazy stuff going on that night. It was almost 11 before I even tried to lay down and sleep! Wish that I could curb my spending habit so that the hubby would let me work less...I'm quite sure it'd be better for my mental health!

Sunday, May 8th

Happy Mother's Day! Still a very bittersweet holiday for me! I miss my mom so very much, but I'm so proud to be a mom to my sweet little men! And while I had to start the day without them, I was oh so happy to be able to sleep in until 9:30 that morning!!!! Grandma was going to bring the boys home after she took them to church with her. So that gave me lots of time to get things cleaned up from the party. I had gotten as much of the rest of the house cleaned on Saturday so that I had as little cleaning as possible to do on Mother's day!!!!! I got my cards from Casey and the boys, and I had already received my shoes and new bras earlier in the month. Lucas came home with a 'flower' that he'd made for me at church. The card said, My mom is ....., and he got to fill in the blank, he chose the word 'pretty'. Fills my heart with joy every time he tells me that he loves me, or gives me a kiss or a hug....it absolutely warmed my heart to think that my boy thinks his mom is pretty! My favorite mother's day card thus far!! I decided that I didn't want to cook on this mother's day. So the boy's treated me to dinner at Casa Mexico! Imagine that, I picked Mexican food for my choice of meals! Got a cute pic of me and the boys at dinner, even one with funny faces for all of us! I did decide that after all of the extra calories I'd had Saturday at the fiesta, and then at dinner, I HAD to go for a run! So after the boys went to bed, I headed out for a quick run before the sun went down. I did 3.3 miles, at 13 min/mile. Could've been faster, but oh no, I was the fountain of snot! Probably offended a lot of people that were driving past me as I ran because I kept spitting out copious amounts of snot. The only good news is that I forced myself to run the entire time, and since it was the first time in 3 weeks that I'd gotten out to run, I felt it was an accomplishment! A very Happy Mother's Day indeed!!