While reading an article online today (I'm thinking that is where I get most of my blogging ideas) it said that parents of older kids wished...and then they had a whole list...Well one of those items on the list was that they wish they had written down all those moments when your kids made you laugh...And while I have made a small effort in that area with this blog I totally forgot about Sunday's adventure so here goes....
So my last Sunday with just me and the kids, we are heading the mall and I had this conversation with Brooke...
Brooke : Mom I want a bunk bed
Mom: Probably not babe!
Brooke: Well dad can make me one.
Mom: Yeah, your right, if your on the 20 year plan
Brooke: Well China can make me one.
Yes my child, you are right China can make you one...
Meanwhile, it was a good thing I was parking because I was laughing so hard.
Then later in the day...Tyler is watching the Bronco game and he comes to find me doing laundry and says Tyler: "Mom it was 3rd and 7 and they ran the ball, why would you run the ball?"
Mom: "I'm not sure buddy, I wasn't watching!"
Tyler: "Mom, I'm not happy about this, they didn't make it!"
Mom: "I bet it will be all right buddy"
Tuesday afternoons are reserved for Tyler and I to hang out. Yesterday Tyler decided that he wanted to play wii and I had some Christmas things to attend to so I decided that would be fine.
Mom: "Tyler we need to get going because we have to pick Brooke up"
Tyler: "Ok mom, just give me a few"
Mom: "You have three minutes"
I continued reading my stuff, while sitting on the floor...he comes up and knocks me over "Mom, you just tackled like in tackle football!"
Mom: while trying not to laugh "Next time can you just give me a warning that I'm about to get tackled?"
Tyler: "Yeah, I guess, I wouldn't want to injure you!"
Next time you stop by the house just be prepared to tackled!
07 December 2011
30 November 2011
Universal Answers
Isn't it funny how the world or universe has a way of answering questions?
Yesterday I was all set to go run the track with some girls from the running club. I had been going back and forth all day long because at the gym my knee was sore, I'm sure from the 4 road miles I was finally able to accomplish. Anyway, I was gonna go to the track and just run 3 miles...I would slow down even, just be able to run, be with some friends. Well Brooke was all worried that if I went running I would be late to pick her up (which really makes no bearing on my choice) and then walking up the stairs to my front door to change I felt the pain in my knee again (for the 120th time that day) and thought maybe running on it wasn't the best idea. However, I'm not one that easily skips a workout, I need validation that it is ok to miss the workout, your not going to get instantly fat and your not going to loose all the strength you have over missing one workout. However, I don't want to go the other way...over do it again and be back at square one. Anyway, I missed the workout, kinda felt guilty (ok really felt guilty) etc etc...
Again you ask where I'm going with this right? How did the world answer any question? Well, in my inbox this morning was my daily RW quote of the day and guess what that was? The very wise Ryan Hall said...
"I actually think being a more balanced person makes a healthier, happier, and thus faster person. The question I try and ask myself when I consider whether or not to train more is what is my body craving and what is my body ready to absorb? Sometimes pushing harder is not the answer. It takes self control, confidence, and intuition to know when to train and when to rest, but when in question error on the side of being over rested."
Isn't it interesting to find out that even the 'professional' runners (ok, maybe just the runners that are far better than me) struggle with the same questions? But to hear them say it is ok to error on the side of rested makes my life a little less guilt filled...maybe. But, also when you read the quote again, it says it takes self control and confidence to know when to train...maybe that is the answer. I know when I want to train (every day for about 6 hours), but I also know when I should train and the bottom line is when those two don't agree I question myself, I seek validation from other people and then I feel guilty.
The thing is I've been pretty safe, having good runs around the track and a little track and road combinations. I've been running pain free and good times for me and so when I ventured out a little bit and ran totally on the road and came across a little pain I get scared. And I question if it is real pain or is it phantom pain of something that used to be there that my body is used to feeling? So, I'll run another 4 miles on the road, I'll limit my hills and wait to see what happens. And I'll obviously have to move around a few workouts so I can rest/recover longer between runs. Hopefully, it is the phantom pain thing or just strengthening pain so I can continue on the road to recovery...
Yesterday I was all set to go run the track with some girls from the running club. I had been going back and forth all day long because at the gym my knee was sore, I'm sure from the 4 road miles I was finally able to accomplish. Anyway, I was gonna go to the track and just run 3 miles...I would slow down even, just be able to run, be with some friends. Well Brooke was all worried that if I went running I would be late to pick her up (which really makes no bearing on my choice) and then walking up the stairs to my front door to change I felt the pain in my knee again (for the 120th time that day) and thought maybe running on it wasn't the best idea. However, I'm not one that easily skips a workout, I need validation that it is ok to miss the workout, your not going to get instantly fat and your not going to loose all the strength you have over missing one workout. However, I don't want to go the other way...over do it again and be back at square one. Anyway, I missed the workout, kinda felt guilty (ok really felt guilty) etc etc...
Again you ask where I'm going with this right? How did the world answer any question? Well, in my inbox this morning was my daily RW quote of the day and guess what that was? The very wise Ryan Hall said...
"I actually think being a more balanced person makes a healthier, happier, and thus faster person. The question I try and ask myself when I consider whether or not to train more is what is my body craving and what is my body ready to absorb? Sometimes pushing harder is not the answer. It takes self control, confidence, and intuition to know when to train and when to rest, but when in question error on the side of being over rested."
Isn't it interesting to find out that even the 'professional' runners (ok, maybe just the runners that are far better than me) struggle with the same questions? But to hear them say it is ok to error on the side of rested makes my life a little less guilt filled...maybe. But, also when you read the quote again, it says it takes self control and confidence to know when to train...maybe that is the answer. I know when I want to train (every day for about 6 hours), but I also know when I should train and the bottom line is when those two don't agree I question myself, I seek validation from other people and then I feel guilty.
The thing is I've been pretty safe, having good runs around the track and a little track and road combinations. I've been running pain free and good times for me and so when I ventured out a little bit and ran totally on the road and came across a little pain I get scared. And I question if it is real pain or is it phantom pain of something that used to be there that my body is used to feeling? So, I'll run another 4 miles on the road, I'll limit my hills and wait to see what happens. And I'll obviously have to move around a few workouts so I can rest/recover longer between runs. Hopefully, it is the phantom pain thing or just strengthening pain so I can continue on the road to recovery...
21 November 2011
Should I be a stay at home mom?
As of recently I have had an abundance of time to spend with my kids...and I do have to say I'm beginning to understand why stay at home moms are stay at home moms. Don't get me wrong I love my job, and the independence away from the kids and talking to adults...but when I hang out with the kids I am laughing all the time..I'm not sure if it is because they are so goofy...or masters of the obvious, or whatever...
Tyler recently told me that I was only allowed to kiss him until he is 10, then that is all...Which I just laughed because if I really am still able to kiss him when he is 10 I'll be amazed but then he revised his statement and told me 12 was the new number... I might make him sign a contract!
Brooke, while telling me about her 'boyfriends' recently told me that Usher, yes the singer, was my boyfriend...This intrigued my interest on what her definition of a boyfriend actually was...she said it was a boy that was nice to her and she liked playing with. I asked if any of these boys had any idea that she thought this and she quickly replied "no, I wouldn't dream of telling them that!" I'm not sure why she thought Usher was boyfriend, clearly she doesn't have my 'type' down.
So, because Christmas is coming and because I feel obligated to get the kids pictures taken once a year...although I'm not sure why because it is pure torture for me every single year...I had their pictures taken and the photographer did a fabulous job of capturing their full spirit as of recently.
And while I'm not bragging...I do think my kids are pretty darn cute! Ok I am bragging, just a little.
Don't worry, though, I do love my time away from the kids so I'm thinking the chances of me quitting my job any time soon are slim to non...
My running as of recently has been kind of halted. Not really, I'm still running 3 days a week, I just wonder some days if I'm making any progress...After running a long 16 laps on the track I was given permission to convert slowly to the road...so I did the 3 miles on the track 1 on the road and things were great...I tried to go to the 2 and 2 and had to cut the run short so I tried again 2 and 2 and the run went great...I averaged an 8:52 mile so I was happy about that. One more time with the 2 and 2 and then I'll try for the 3 on the road and 1 track before I do 4 miles on the road...However, I'm still only allowed to run 3 times a week and will very slowly build my mileage back up...When I say slowly, I mean like no 1/2 marathon until May...This process is painful but I know it is the right thing to do, and I don't want to go back where I was...so I'm listening!
Tyler recently told me that I was only allowed to kiss him until he is 10, then that is all...Which I just laughed because if I really am still able to kiss him when he is 10 I'll be amazed but then he revised his statement and told me 12 was the new number... I might make him sign a contract!
Brooke, while telling me about her 'boyfriends' recently told me that Usher, yes the singer, was my boyfriend...This intrigued my interest on what her definition of a boyfriend actually was...she said it was a boy that was nice to her and she liked playing with. I asked if any of these boys had any idea that she thought this and she quickly replied "no, I wouldn't dream of telling them that!" I'm not sure why she thought Usher was boyfriend, clearly she doesn't have my 'type' down.
So, because Christmas is coming and because I feel obligated to get the kids pictures taken once a year...although I'm not sure why because it is pure torture for me every single year...I had their pictures taken and the photographer did a fabulous job of capturing their full spirit as of recently.
Don't worry, though, I do love my time away from the kids so I'm thinking the chances of me quitting my job any time soon are slim to non...
My running as of recently has been kind of halted. Not really, I'm still running 3 days a week, I just wonder some days if I'm making any progress...After running a long 16 laps on the track I was given permission to convert slowly to the road...so I did the 3 miles on the track 1 on the road and things were great...I tried to go to the 2 and 2 and had to cut the run short so I tried again 2 and 2 and the run went great...I averaged an 8:52 mile so I was happy about that. One more time with the 2 and 2 and then I'll try for the 3 on the road and 1 track before I do 4 miles on the road...However, I'm still only allowed to run 3 times a week and will very slowly build my mileage back up...When I say slowly, I mean like no 1/2 marathon until May...This process is painful but I know it is the right thing to do, and I don't want to go back where I was...so I'm listening!
02 November 2011
Halloween
As I type this I wonder...What did my parents think of me when I was trick-or-treating? I remember them taking me and following me street after street for hours. I'm not sure why, or the goal as I never really ate the candy...I suppose it was just something to do, then as I got older it was fun to hang out with my friends and there was one year that we started at 1 point and traveled 12 blocks south hitting house after house after house... To this day I'm not really sure what we were thinking but I sure loved the hot cider at the destination house. And as a side note; I'm pretty sure that costume manufacturers of little girl costumes never, ever thought about little girls in Colorado! We freeze, even when we try to layer clothes underneath...there is no way to accomplish the feat of enough clothes underneath a costume and still look like the costume...Just sayin!
Anyway, my children continue on the tradition of trick-or-treating...again we aren't sure why except that is what you are supposed to do on Halloween night...And still 20 years later little girls still freeze in Colorado...Nothing has changed on that avenue! However, my confusion comes with my Brooke...she kinda wimped out on us...about 45 minuets into the trick or treating and Tyler is really getting excited as he finally has remembered to say BOTH 'trick or treat' and 'thank you' Brooke tells us that she is cold and doesn't think she wants to go any further. I'm sorry, what? What child hates this tradition? And Lou and I are thinking how great this night is, not too cold, we don't have to go to the door, we can talk to a few neighbors if we want etc etc etc... We convince her to just go to the end of the street and then we will turn and start heading home. But then she just started walking slower and slower and we kept telling Tyler to slow down and wait for his sister. Finally though, when I told her she was going to have to skip a few houses for going too slow did she pick up the pace. I think next year Tyler and I will go out all alone and travel 12 blocks until the boy is worn completely out...
Anyway...here are some pictures of the costumes!
Anyway, my children continue on the tradition of trick-or-treating...again we aren't sure why except that is what you are supposed to do on Halloween night...And still 20 years later little girls still freeze in Colorado...Nothing has changed on that avenue! However, my confusion comes with my Brooke...she kinda wimped out on us...about 45 minuets into the trick or treating and Tyler is really getting excited as he finally has remembered to say BOTH 'trick or treat' and 'thank you' Brooke tells us that she is cold and doesn't think she wants to go any further. I'm sorry, what? What child hates this tradition? And Lou and I are thinking how great this night is, not too cold, we don't have to go to the door, we can talk to a few neighbors if we want etc etc etc... We convince her to just go to the end of the street and then we will turn and start heading home. But then she just started walking slower and slower and we kept telling Tyler to slow down and wait for his sister. Finally though, when I told her she was going to have to skip a few houses for going too slow did she pick up the pace. I think next year Tyler and I will go out all alone and travel 12 blocks until the boy is worn completely out...
Anyway...here are some pictures of the costumes!
Obviously, Tyler is super excited for his night!
And Brooke seems excited here!
But the more impressive part here, Brooke carved that pumpkin completely by herself...That is also another fabulous thing about the kids getting older!
31 October 2011
More running issues...
You know, there was a time on this very blog that all I did was talk about my kids...and I will eventually get back to having nothing to talk about except my kids...but for now...I'll continue on my running stories, issues etc...
After getting clearance to try and work off of running on the track I decided I would run my 2.75 miles this way... .9 mile to the track, 3 laps and then .9 miles home...which I think works out to 2.8 but I promise I stopped at 2.75 and walked the rest of the way home. I felt great (aside from the small problem of getting trampled by the local high school football team and getting run over by a truck on the track...yes you read that right) It was fabulous to be out just running and not in circles...to see the scenery (that I have seen a thousand times before) and look forward to the hills and my next turn etc etc...However, when I woke up to go to the gym Tuesday morning there was a small pain in the same freaking spot! I was severly disappointed, but went to the gym and rode the bike. I did ditch the swim last week on account of the freezing whether and not wanting to be in it while wet...Because of the snow on Wednesday I choose not to run and after talking with the coach and the doctor decided I would go back to the last workout that didn't hurt, which was 9 laps around the track, as the surface really is a lot better and more forgiving for such situations. Well Saturday came around and I went out there...thank goodness for no football team practicing at 7 in the morning. Anyway, I was feeling good so I did 10 laps. Again my knee felt great and even with the swim this morning there is not any pain. So now the big debate...do I try to run there again, run the track and run home? Or do I step it up to the 12 laps? Seriously, 12 laps? 3 miles sounds so much better! I suppose I should just go run the 12 laps...After all I am going to have to take my kids trick or treating tonight and why make them wait? Then I won't have to worry if the pain will come back.
I have been trying for a long time now, to keep the frustration away thinking I just needed a break but slowly it starting to come back...since I haven't been able to go run with the club and my runs are limited to the track I can see where people get bored. However, I am thankful that I can at least do that instead of just sit home. I will say I am getting more things accomplished at home. Laundry is actually getting folded and dinner is getting made...Interesting how that works out.
After getting clearance to try and work off of running on the track I decided I would run my 2.75 miles this way... .9 mile to the track, 3 laps and then .9 miles home...which I think works out to 2.8 but I promise I stopped at 2.75 and walked the rest of the way home. I felt great (aside from the small problem of getting trampled by the local high school football team and getting run over by a truck on the track...yes you read that right) It was fabulous to be out just running and not in circles...to see the scenery (that I have seen a thousand times before) and look forward to the hills and my next turn etc etc...However, when I woke up to go to the gym Tuesday morning there was a small pain in the same freaking spot! I was severly disappointed, but went to the gym and rode the bike. I did ditch the swim last week on account of the freezing whether and not wanting to be in it while wet...Because of the snow on Wednesday I choose not to run and after talking with the coach and the doctor decided I would go back to the last workout that didn't hurt, which was 9 laps around the track, as the surface really is a lot better and more forgiving for such situations. Well Saturday came around and I went out there...thank goodness for no football team practicing at 7 in the morning. Anyway, I was feeling good so I did 10 laps. Again my knee felt great and even with the swim this morning there is not any pain. So now the big debate...do I try to run there again, run the track and run home? Or do I step it up to the 12 laps? Seriously, 12 laps? 3 miles sounds so much better! I suppose I should just go run the 12 laps...After all I am going to have to take my kids trick or treating tonight and why make them wait? Then I won't have to worry if the pain will come back.
I have been trying for a long time now, to keep the frustration away thinking I just needed a break but slowly it starting to come back...since I haven't been able to go run with the club and my runs are limited to the track I can see where people get bored. However, I am thankful that I can at least do that instead of just sit home. I will say I am getting more things accomplished at home. Laundry is actually getting folded and dinner is getting made...Interesting how that works out.
21 October 2011
A letter
Dear Left Knee...
I want to take this time to apologize to you...for many things really...Lets start with apologizing for all the overuse, all the time really but I know the month of August was rough. Next time I want to go hiking every weekend, then running 10-12 miles, then speed workout, the hill repeats up Ward hill, then the Georgetown 1/2 marathon all the while continuing my gym attendance of 3 days a week etc etc I will try to spread it out to allow proper time for you to heal. Next, I want to apologize for continuing to try and run after you had informed me of such issues. If I would have slowed down right away I might have been able to rehab much quicker...But I do want to thank you for allowing me to run the Oktoberfest 5K as it currently is my PR time to beat...Finally I want to apologize to you for being so frustrated when I finally found out the real issues, I apologize for my frustration of not being able to run and only blaming you as the culprit...You see, you have taught me a lot about running and exercising in this little stint. First, I learned that while I was busy blaming you for not being able to run, when in reality my whole body needed a break...body, mind and spirit. I might have been a little bit burned out on running but I also thought I was using that as my life line. Do you know how much better of a mood I'm in after a long run...whether the run was hard or not my mood is always lifted when I'm done. I thought running was the only thing that could do this. Well...I biked and I learned to swim...and my not being able to run has actually opened a whole new avenue for me. There are other workouts that can improve my mood. Swimming isn't bad...and I have actually improved and enjoyed the improvement. Funny when you practice something how much better you get! Still not in love with the biking. So, left knee, I want to thank you for opening all these avenues...for helping me see that running isn't everything. I'm sorry I ever doubted you! I know it took me a while to see your side of the story and become flexible to your line of thinking but I'm glad I did!
Love,
Trisha
I want to take this time to apologize to you...for many things really...Lets start with apologizing for all the overuse, all the time really but I know the month of August was rough. Next time I want to go hiking every weekend, then running 10-12 miles, then speed workout, the hill repeats up Ward hill, then the Georgetown 1/2 marathon all the while continuing my gym attendance of 3 days a week etc etc I will try to spread it out to allow proper time for you to heal. Next, I want to apologize for continuing to try and run after you had informed me of such issues. If I would have slowed down right away I might have been able to rehab much quicker...But I do want to thank you for allowing me to run the Oktoberfest 5K as it currently is my PR time to beat...Finally I want to apologize to you for being so frustrated when I finally found out the real issues, I apologize for my frustration of not being able to run and only blaming you as the culprit...You see, you have taught me a lot about running and exercising in this little stint. First, I learned that while I was busy blaming you for not being able to run, when in reality my whole body needed a break...body, mind and spirit. I might have been a little bit burned out on running but I also thought I was using that as my life line. Do you know how much better of a mood I'm in after a long run...whether the run was hard or not my mood is always lifted when I'm done. I thought running was the only thing that could do this. Well...I biked and I learned to swim...and my not being able to run has actually opened a whole new avenue for me. There are other workouts that can improve my mood. Swimming isn't bad...and I have actually improved and enjoyed the improvement. Funny when you practice something how much better you get! Still not in love with the biking. So, left knee, I want to thank you for opening all these avenues...for helping me see that running isn't everything. I'm sorry I ever doubted you! I know it took me a while to see your side of the story and become flexible to your line of thinking but I'm glad I did!
Love,
Trisha
04 October 2011
Things
So after the whole knee debacle I've been 'banned' from running (for a few weeks). The first 2 weeks was incredibly difficult to miss the running. Unfortunately, it is easier this week, which worries me in a whole different way. I have since taken up biking and swimming to both fill the void and help to rehab the knee and at first that was complete murder. Biking is not that fun and swimming seemed so high maintenance. My husband, however, put things in way better perspective...why is swimming so difficult? My excuses included that I had to make sure the swim suit was out and I have drive somewhere and a towel and pay to get it etc etc etc. So in total Lou fashion he mentioned that most of the time I went running I would drive somewhere, whether it be the track, or Ward hill or the Sunday morning meeting place...And I had to get dressed didn't I? What difference was it if it was a swim suit or running clothes? And you actually have to remember your music and making sure it is charged and water so swimming isn't that much more high maintenance it is just different maintenance. Is that the problem? You have to be flexible? Yes, as a matter of fact, that is the problem. I like my routine...I'm a creature of routine. Sick, I know. And I'm afraid I've breed that fabulous trait into my children. So, since I have become more flexible the swims are not so terrible and I can even see progression in how well I'm doing, which is exciting. The biking is still biking, it is just there.
So all of that brings me to my new found realization. That how hard we try not to...how we stick with our routines day after day after day we all change and morph and adapt to new things. I just hope at the end of it all that all the changing has made us a person that we like, that we want to be, a person we like! My very loving 8 year old told me :"Mom, do you remember when you were 29? You were nice when you were 29." She had far different reason for asking the question but I took it to...Wow, I didn't think I had changed that much in 2 years but apparently, somewhere I have changed. Then this morning a friend and I were talking and she mentioned in high school she ran track. I thought...wow, in high school I thought the people that did track and cross country were crazy... and look at me now. I have a hard time taking a few weeks off of running and exercising...The question was...do I like who I have become? I think so...I think I like being the exercise crazed person always looking forward to my next workout, balancing that with the fun family mom and then crossing in some friends and gatherings. I would like to think I balance everything well enough while not allowing one certain thing define me. I'm not only a mom, or an employee or whatever.
Yes, after my mild depression induced from lack of exercise and mind clearing running this is the best you get...The realization that I think I like myself!
So all of that brings me to my new found realization. That how hard we try not to...how we stick with our routines day after day after day we all change and morph and adapt to new things. I just hope at the end of it all that all the changing has made us a person that we like, that we want to be, a person we like! My very loving 8 year old told me :"Mom, do you remember when you were 29? You were nice when you were 29." She had far different reason for asking the question but I took it to...Wow, I didn't think I had changed that much in 2 years but apparently, somewhere I have changed. Then this morning a friend and I were talking and she mentioned in high school she ran track. I thought...wow, in high school I thought the people that did track and cross country were crazy... and look at me now. I have a hard time taking a few weeks off of running and exercising...The question was...do I like who I have become? I think so...I think I like being the exercise crazed person always looking forward to my next workout, balancing that with the fun family mom and then crossing in some friends and gatherings. I would like to think I balance everything well enough while not allowing one certain thing define me. I'm not only a mom, or an employee or whatever.
Yes, after my mild depression induced from lack of exercise and mind clearing running this is the best you get...The realization that I think I like myself!
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