Valentine's Day Box Drama

Brooke and I had a conversation Sunday night that went something like this...

Brooke: " Mom, I need to make a Valentine's day box, there is a competition at school this year."

Mom: "Can't you just use the same one that you used last year that is up in your closet?"

Brooke: "No mom, I had some other ideas, do you think you can help me?"

Mom: (with a worried feeling growing in my stomach) "What are your other ideas?"

Brooke: "Well I was thinking a hexbug."

Mom: (laughing) "I don't think so, I don't even know what a hexbug looks like."

Brooke: "Well I knew you would say that, so what do you think about a box in the shape of a heart?"

Mom: "That sounds much more feasible, maybe when dad gets home we can talk to him."

Brooke: "Well I want it to have a post and stuff too mom."

Mom: "Babe, your getting out of my comfort zone on creativity here...maybe draw a picture of what you want and we will see what we can do...I would really like it, if next time we had a few more days notice."

Brooke: "I know mom, but look, this is gonna be great..." running off to get her supplies to draw a picture..."then we can paint it pink and white...maybe some red...this is gonna be great."

Mom: Defeated knowing there is Valentines box making in the very near future...

So after a conversation with her dad and more prodding of me here is the progress of her Valentines box that she will be using for the next 42 years...

Ok so maybe her dad went a little overboard...

Maybe her mom and dad went a little over board with the painting...

I'm thinking either she has the best parents on the planet...or we are just crazy for our kids...

How many of you worked on your kids Valentines box?

5k Racing...or running

I'm not sure why I am so consumed with 'facts.' Why can't I just be happy with how it happens. On Saturday I ran a 5k...and honestly when I went I didn't have any expectations for a lot of reasons...but mostly because of the weather. You can't honestly expect to run a PR when it is snowing and there is ice all over the course. So when they were handing out awards and called my name I was beyond surprised...

Yep, it says 2nd place female 30-39...I was initially excited, but then they said my time of 26:09...what? My excitement faded as I knew that couldn't be right. That time does not ever get you a second place finish...Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting the 26:09 (I know I had a tough run)...I just question the placement....When I was finally able to check the official results online, I found out why I was 2nd place... You see the overall female 1st and 2nd place winner was from my division...You can't win both the overall and the division so then my technically 4th place finish moves up to 2nd. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy! But wondering why we don't just say what it is...Lou just tells me...'Honey, I would kill for a 26:09 5k...you should be happy with that as well, especially in the conditions.' So I'm trying to put my mixed feelings aside and just be happy with the 2nd place award!

In this race Brooke also ran a 'fun run' of 150 yards...Keep in mind that Brooke has been in track for 2 years now, totally avoids any kind of track meet and really doesn't give too much effort. I still make her do track every summer because it is just so good for so many different parts of her life. Well after seeing the speed that she possessed during this 'fun run' I'm gonna be making this girl try so much harder. I'll run behind her and be that voice that drives her crazy but keeps her going. I don't want her to be 32 (like me) and have someone tell her 'I wish someone would have invited you to a track practice, you would have done amazing.' I want her to have the opportunity to be amazing and have the confidence that has taken me 32 years to achieve.

Artist

There are lots of 'types' of people out there...ones that are business 'types' some are more into the arts (both performing and creating) and the teacher type, the science type etc etc etc...My whole life I would classify myself into the business realm...give me numbers to crunch or processes to simplify and I'm there...I've discovered that my daughter is far different. She loves the arts, obviously with all of her dancing...but just recently I was shown that she loves to draw as well... Apparently her art teacher at school as known for quite some time that Brooke was talented but I was just informed...The teacher entered Brooke and 9 other students from her school of about 600 into a local art show...

The pink background with the sunflowers is Brooke's drawing.

Yes, my child is the shortest among all the 3rd grade!

Brooke is super excited (she totally shows her emotion here ;).)

When we got home from the awards show Brooke informed me that she thinks she will be an artist when she grows up...but she's not sure about selling her art work, 'that would be sad mom.'

Positive

I would like to think that I'm a positive person, that I am able to look at any situation and find the positive aspect...and although it did take a lot of practice I've become pretty good at it.

Well...Just the other day on my way home from my nuero muscular leg therapy stuff (which has been working fabulous) I got rear ended (again, 2nd time in 2 months) and so far I've got nothing for positive coming out of this situation. Don't get me wrong, the firemen and police were fabulous, the guy that hit the guy behind me was fine...and the guy behind me was pretty nice too...but I'm having a hard time with insurance...my neck, head, shoulders have been pretty much in pain since the accident. So right now the positive side of the accident has been pretty much missing...But I'm hoping that soon I'll figure it all out.

I guess there are a few good things that I didn't really think about...
   1. Since I have so much pain in my upper shoulder / neck / head area my leg feels really good!
 
Ok...only 1 good thing so far!

The wind...

Before I left for my long Sunday morning run yesterday, Lou and my conversation went something like this...

Lou: "Hey do you think it is smart for you to go run in this wind with your cold and coughing?"

Me: "I'm hoping the run will help the lungs, and I can't control the weather so it will have to be fine."

Lou: "Are you sure? Do you hear that crazy wind? And your going out to the reservoir?"

Me: "Yeah, it will be alright, I'm only going like 5 miles, plus I need to make up for all the missed workouts last week!"

Lou: "Well be careful!" It was more of a defeated...I tried to save you type answer.

After the run I'm thinking the conversation should have gone something like this....

Lou: "Hey do you think it is smart for you to go run in this wind with your cold and coughing?"


 Me: "You are probably right...that wind is brutal and I really have a hard time embracing the wind even when I do feel good...maybe I should just stay home."
 
Since the conversation went like the first example, here is what I have to say to the wind...and to my cold...and that giant hill...and even my knee / leg issue
 
Dear Universe:
 
I know you have a conspiracy to try and deter me from spending my Sunday morning running and I am listening...really. I have lowered my mileage by a considerable amount, I've been doing more and more to take care of myself and having plenty of rest days. The knee/leg situation...have you not noticed how I've been doing all kinds of different therapy and resting it? I know the acupuncture and the neuro muscular therapy have been painful and I have been respectful of letting the healing happen...However, just when things start to feel good the wind...and I'm not talking about a nice breeze that would cool you off...I'm talking about lifting you off your feet force winds. Last week, running into the wind was extremely painful and interesting...And it did slow down my times but it is into the wind...the workout your body goes through is amazing! So then last week when the cold (I'm talking about a cough till you throw up type cold) came around I thought it would only last a day or two... and I'll admit, here goes stubborn me to try and run the cold away instead of resting it away...not one of my smarter moves...Then add that crazy wind with a 400 foot climb in elevation (trust me I only know that because my run mapper tells me so) almost killed me. I think the only saving grace was that there were switch backs and so you would run a little way into the wind and then a little way away from the wind. My lungs were crying tears of pure pain and I'm still coughing and now loosing my voice. However, just so you know I'm not full of complaints...I did enjoy the top of the hill running away from the wind and no hill and the few times when I'm sure my feet didn't actually touch the ground, like I was flying. I'm sure that mile helped try to make up for my slow pace. I'm hoping that you will see, universe, that I'm not one that gives up easily. I felt like superman when I finished the run so I guess even knowing what I know now...I would do it again. What I'm hoping is that you and I can come to some sort of agreement...A compromise of sorts...you allow me to run with my friends on Sunday mornings without the wind and cough and leg pain and I'll  be a better person / mom / wife / employee / friend...really whatever you want! 
 
You let me know what your thoughts are!
 
Sincerely,
 
Trisha

Cancun 2012

We started off the new year with a vacation to Cancun! Possibly the first vacation when we spent most of the vacation in our swimsuits close to the pool and / or beach. It was fabulous except for our white skin getting used to being in the sun for extended periods of time.

This is the view from our hotel room! I tell you, life doesn't get much better than this!

I'm excited to say that the kids loved all the aspects of Cancun, the shorter plane ride, the taxi to the hotel, the hotel, the beach, the seashells, the pool, slide and virgin pina colada's. I will say, I was so excited to go running on the beach...so off I go and I didn't remember how difficult it can be, running at an angle, in the sand with the water splashing you. Typically this isn't anything to worry about until your clothes start rubbing your skin differently because they are wet, and your back gets sore because one leg is longer than the other and then a rather large wave comes and stops your rhythm. While I do love running on the beach with no shoes and the sound of the ocean I do believe I can only do this type of running 2-3 times per year. And I will admit that one day I did resort to the treadmill only because it was one of the coolest treadmills EVER and because I couldn't handle the beach and sand that day (or maybe I didn't want to be subjected to seeing people wearing Speedo's that had no business wearing Speedo's). One more thing, running at sea level is fabulous...Who knew I could run that fast?

Tyler was nicknamed my little brown baby because he just turned brown...No burning that boy...Unlike Lou, who was red...like fire engine red!

Tyler loved building sand castles and bridges for the water! He would have spent day and night sitting in the sand and building things!

Brooke has more of an appreciation for the pool rather than the beach...too much sand gets in places where sand shouldn't be she says. And she is scared that something could come and get her from the water! She did LOVE the water slide at the pool!

There was a professional photographer taking pictures around the resort. I love this picture!

Of course Brooke has to show off her flexibility! If I was that flexible I guess I would too!

I know, you were all wondering if there would be a picture of the two of us actually standing next to each other! Notice neither of us took the time to do our hair?

There is a good possibility that this is my new favorite picture of my kids!

One thing I do have to say about Mexico is that although I love the place I'm gonna have to figure out how to stop loosing things there! It is starting to cost me a fortune in replacing items! And another thing...the airport being far more organized then the last time I was there 8 years ago...still has a long ways to go as far as line waiting goes...But delayed plane and all we still made it home!

I hope your new year has started off as great as mine!

Gratefull

In the past 2 days I've read other bloggers writing things they were grateful for and I decided that I, too, have things to be grateful for...so in an age when what we have never seems to be enough I am going to take some time to let it be known what I'm happy that I do have!

~~ My husband (because lets face it, if I can't be grateful that an individual has put up with my crazy ideas for 17 years and still loves me than I have huge issues!)

~~ My kids (if only for the laugh that I'm assured of every day because they are so crazy)

~~ My parents (not only for birthing me...but for raising me to be the person I am today. And for being amazing roll models

~~ My friends (because they keep me honest and fun, I hope!)

~~ My running (because it allows me to eat what I want and because it keeps me almost normal)

~~ Ice Cream or Smartcow (not sure that this needs an explanation)

~~ The running club and the Coach (because any one person or group that can give me the confidence and ability to be able to call myself a runner is one amazing group of people...they must be magic!)

~~ My brother and my sister (lets face it, someone has to be able to tell you that your not as perfect as you would like to think and they are about the only ones that can do that!)

~~  My Job (or maybe just the paycheck, but either way the ability to provide for my kids and myself in a suitable fashion)

~~ My health (I know I'm not the type of person to just lay around and feel sorry for myself so its a good darn thing that I don't have to)

~~ My knee feels much better (those 3 weeks of non-existent exercise sucked so I'm happy, that even though I'm on short mileage I'm able to do something! And in theory that I've learned how to keep the joints stronger so I don't have those issues again.)

~~ My neighbors (for always, always watching out for my family...even if they know things I would rather they didn't.)

I think that is a good list to start with! I may keep a log as I think of them...Or maybe tomorrow I'll forget all my gratefulness and start making more resolutions...