It's a gong show in here

Happy Love Day

2012-02-14T18:56:00.001-08:00

Ten reasons running is a better Valentine than Ryan Gosling.

1. Ryan Gosling would probably get you a cheesy card and maybe some chocolates. Running will give you sick calves and strong quads.
2. Running will never be too busy and famous for you.
3. When was the last time Ryan Gosling gave you a finisher medal?
4. With running you get to use cool words like fartlek. With Ryan Gosling you get weirdo on a dirt bike.
5. Running will make you look good. Ryan Gosling will make you look bad. Seriously, try standing next to him. No one will even know you are there
6. Running lowers your blood pressure. Ryan Gosling could potentially be bad for your heart.
7. Running lets you eat carbs. Ryan Goslings abs will make you want to shoot yourself.
8. Running will never leave the toilet seat up.
9. Running will never make you cry at the end of The Notebook.
10. Running gives you endorphins and stuff. Ryan Gosling will probably never know you exist. Ugh.

(stolen from Ben Davis' blog . I give all credit to him.)

Pride

2012-02-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

I'm a proud mama and a proud teacher today.

Some of these kids are mine, speaking up against bullying.

And my toothless kid got the first goal in his game this morning and got the MVP helmet today for the first time this season.

The kids in my life constantly amaze and inspire me.

(read the post below too)

18 years ago...

2012-02-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

... a boy took a girl out on a blind double date. We saw a terrible movie, sat in a movie theatre with a guy who didn't get what was going on, and then we blinked and it was 18 years later.

18 years. Two kids, one house, one dog, lots of love, lots of hockey, lots of laughs.

The Story by Sara Ramirez. It's my story.

(not the greatest video but the best song and I love watching her sing. Amazing.)

Making homebirth sexy

2012-02-10T13:08:00.000-08:00

This man makes me happy. Seriously. And this makes me ecstatic. So many babies are arriving into my life in the next few months. Hopefully some of them will arrive during a planned homebirth. Unfortunately, Ryan Gosling will not be there, so neither will I.

Check out his page for more homebirth sexy.

Old lady gifts

2012-02-05T09:47:00.000-08:00

I had a lovely evening with some of the best women in my life (with some notable and missed exceptions). These women spoiled me with gifts. I believe the gifts really represent me and I love them. However, note the theme of old lady:

- books (a novel, my favourite baby book that I read to my babies and that is in desperate need of replacement, and the coolest children's counting book of Pride and Prejudice, seriously)
- tea, many different kinds (one in a Kate and William tin)
- a tea set, with pot and cups (gorgeous)
- a Pride and Prejudice themed bag/puse (the most beautiful thing ever!!)
- a plant
- Cadbury chocolate fingers
- some Lotto scratches
- various treats including my favourite shaving cream, salsa and other random but much loved stuff
- season 1 of Downton Abbey (this was from my mom earlier in the week but still, cool and old lady)

So you see, I love all my gifts but I do believe that I am an old woman now.

Newbies

2012-02-03T23:35:00.000-08:00

I'm a newbie. I am new to my school. I have to take what is offered to me in order to ensure more time at the school. It sucks. Because sometimes what is offered is not the best thing. Sometimes the thing that is offered is a drastic change from what I expected and it causes me stress and anxiety and risks the new friendships that I am forming. That happened this week. My job for this semester is changing as of Monday and I am nervous about it. I am scared to start this new position because it is really out of my comfort zone. And it also frees me up to apply for another job that will put me to full time while at the same time screwing over a friend. A new friend. Who I value. It's not really screwing her over, I deserve the job and I have seniority, but she was expecting the job to be hers. Teaching is weird. Temporary contracts are ruthless. The whole thing kinda sucks.

On the other hand, tonight I spent the night bonding and connecting with my co-workers over stupid amounts of alcohol. It was fun times. And it solidified my desire to stay at this school. I love the people I work with. Really, really love them.

In other news, my boys continue to shock and amaze me with their astounding intellect and development. They are so adaptable and kind. They fight a lot, with each other, but at the end of the day they will sit as close as possible beside each other on the couch. It is a constant torture to be away from them but at the same time, I feel re-energized and more like myself again now that I am working and feel comfortable at work.

My life is predictable, work, home, kids, hockey, run, rinse, repeat. Again and again. But every now and then I throw a wrench in and disrupt the minutia with a night like tonight. A night where I feel young and I have fun and I am not Mrs. or mom and instead get to be Sara. It's good times when it happens. And it allows me to face tomorrow with a new energy, revitalized, as long as I am not too hung over.

Today I'm old

2012-01-31T18:04:00.001-08:00

and it sucks. The day sucks, my mood sucks and being old sucks.

(Un)happy birthday to me.

(the thing that is terrible about facebook is that everyone wishes you a happy birthday on it and you feel so loved but then nobody calls or comes over or does anything personal anymore so at the end of the day you don't feel loved, you feel ignored. facebook isn't real life but no one remembers that.)

My day

2012-01-29T10:52:00.000-08:00

Started with a hockey game at 8 am. Continues with a 7k run (starting in about 2 minutes). Then onto the birthday party of chaos this afternoon (20 kids, 10 parents, sports, food, sugar, good times). As well as fitting in laundry, tidying, party prep, signing up for lacrosse (Kaleb, not me), prep for tomorrow (first day of a new semester) and the general busyness of life.

Just a relaxing Sunday.

Now, I must run, literally.

to run or not to run

2012-01-21T10:43:00.000-08:00

That is not the question.

duldrum

2012-01-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

I am in a blogging desert. Sorry, oh loyal readers. I have nothing to say. My life is daily routine of work, basketball, running, kids, and hockey. Rinse, repeat. But the semester is nearing its finish and next week is a slack week with exams and no real teaching. Oh. Joy.

January, despite being the birthday month of my first born and myself, sucks. It's been rainy and snowy and cold. It's dark and dreary. And at the end of this month, I turn old. Really old. Like, half way to death, old. And my friends at work who I can bitch and whine to are both not there. So it's been blah.

But I have a job. And my kids are healthy. And I'm losing weight. And I start training for my next half marathon on Monday. And my girl's basketball team is 6-0. So it's not all bad.

(look at me trying to be half full, instead of half empty...)

Now for the pictures. I realize that I have been negligent in my pictures so here is the last 3 or so weeks:

Ready to go on the ice for their first ever hockey tournament

Ryen trying to see over the boards to watch Kaleb play

My nerdy son playing chess with my nerdy best friend.

While the beautiful princess Grace watched on

Fresh out of her bath with Ryen. Seriously, this kid is gorgeous.

Ryen brushing Grace's hair.

More nerding out with Shea

Ryen working with my favourite Christmas present, my brand new Dyson vacuum. How happy am I that Ryen can push it around while I sit on the couch drinking tea?

That's my boy, in the net. He is a great goalie.

A boy and his dog

My crazy husband trying his hardest to make a rink in our backyard. It didn't work but I applaud the effort. Look at all the snow we got.

Another week down

2012-01-13T22:57:00.000-08:00

I don't like to wish away time. I worry that doing that will make my life go by even faster than it already is. But this week, I was praying for Friday. Praying for it. This week sucked. I sucked, I felt like crap, I acted like crap. Everyone was crap around me. It was not a good week. But it is over, we survived and in the end it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

I am remembering to have perspective.

Everyone else is good. They all survived the wrath of Sara this week. My boys are adorable, even if they never stop fighting with each other.

I have a difficult time not internalizing the problems of my students. I thought this was a side effect of working in the alternative school, but I'm doing it at Reynolds too. My at risk students have become sources of stress and anxiety for me. I worry about them. I think about them when I'm not at work. I invest myself in them. It's emotionally exhausting. And it leaves even less of me for my boys. I have to figure out to not be so invested in my students, or else get better at balancing it all. Balance, it's so hard to find the balance.

Our lives are slower now. They are still busy but we don't have a hundred extra obligations. It's nice. Weekends are a bit more relaxing and I feel rested at the end of them. Hopefully, this weekend will be a chance to get re-energized for next week.

My last week with these kids. Then a new semester, a new batch of kids. I have all Planning classes next semester, no English, no Socials. Bummer. But I do love Planning now, it's just not as challenging.

I promise to have some pictures of my cute kids soon.

a gift

2012-01-10T18:44:00.000-08:00

3 years ago today I lost a friend and gained a little more perspective. Every day I try to remind myself of the strength in which him and his wife faced his disease and the unimaginable strength and courage his beautiful wife has continued on with. She inspires me to dare to imagine a different life and she reminds me to be grateful, forever and daily, for the beautiful blessings that bring life into my house.

Today she reminds us to hug our loved ones close, so I am spreading the word. You never know what this life has in store for you, what tomorrow will be like, what could change in the next 5 minutes. Hugs and kisses and gratitude go a long way.

Sometimes I need the reminder, sometimes I need the perspective. And today I will show gratitude, in his honour.

A week in

2012-01-08T10:59:00.000-08:00

And it was a busy one. Work is weird because my two closest friends at work aren't there this month. One had a horrible accident over the holidays and has required surgery and at least one month off from work and the other got a contract at another school teaching Fast Track for a month. It's sad not having my usual people to vent to but it's good for me to create relationships with other people on staff.

My girls basketball team won their game this week, yay! So proud. They are such a good team and I love being involved with the team.

My boys eased right back into school and daycare this week, including a long day (I had a pro-d day after work this week instead of in April which means we get the April pro-d off). This weekend was very chill so the boys have been able to hang out and do nothing.

I met my goals for my first week, mostly. I ate well, exercised often and went to bed at a decent time, most of the time. I lost 3 pounds this week which is a great start. I'm going to run today too. I feel good about my first week. And I'm looking forward to this coming week. I'm also planning a cleanse for later this month.

Only 2 weeks left in the semester and then I get a whole new batch of kids, I can't wait. I'm really going to miss a few of my students but these classes are a pain in the butt.

A Challenge

2012-01-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

To kick start the new year and to inspire me I have joined a challenge group of over 500 people, all trying to make changes in our lives. It's 12 weeks, different challenges every week, and prizes.

This is week one: (if you are interested in more info on this, check out here )

Welcome to Week One and congratulations on taking this 12-week voyage. Let's get to it.
(for best results, print this page)

Week One Theme: Assess, Resolve, and Act.

Quote: "You have to act your way into right thinking."

Fake it until you make it. Sometimes that's what we have to do. A lot of times we find ourselves accepting our crappy habits, whatever they may be, as a way of life. Breaking those habits is difficult and we're not going to immediately adopt new healthy habits as a lifestyle. Sometimes we have to force them until they become routine. This isn't a bad thing. It doesn't mean we're not "cut out" for whatever change we're trying to make. Remember that.

This week is all about determining where we are currently and where we want to be. That is, after all, what a resolution is, right? It might be worth it to get a notebook or word document and label it "Do Life Challenge."

WEEK ONE CHALLENGES:
(Since we're all at different places in our health and fitness journeys, there will be some differing challenges.)

Write down five quantifiable goals for yourself. Emphasis on quantifiable. And they must be realistically achievable within one month (more on this below the challenges).
Assess yourself and write down your current stats in all five areas. Do you want to lose six pounds? Find out exactly where you are now. Do you want to run a 35-minute 5K? Write down your current time. Etc. You might need to get creative with assessments. That's okay. There is no requirement on your goals or your assessments.
By Monday night, get on the floor an do as many pushups as you can. Modified (from your knees) or regular. It doesn't matter how many you can do. Write this number down in a notebook or word document. Pushups will be a "fun" recurring litmus test throughout the 12 weeks.
Beginners: Do 120 minutes of exercise this week. The exercise can be anything physical as long as you're working that heart rate. Walking, running, cycling, rollerblading, yoga, weight-lifting, anything.
Intermediate/Advanced: Add 30 minutes to your average week and push the intensity during those 30 minutes. It doesn't matter if it's five intense minutes during six different workouts or one extra intense 30-minute session.
Identify your biggest excuse. Write it down on a wall in your house. Then in your notebook write a way to eliminate that excuse. Not enough time in the day? "Eliminate American Idol and Glee." Sorry
Each night before bed, write four things you did well that day.

Goal-setting:

I've been thinking about New Year's Resolutions and why they ultimately fail and I've come to this conclusion: We think way too abstractly, way too long-term, and way too macro. For example: If we tell ourselves, "in 2012, I want to lose weight" we are guilty of thinking too abstractly and long-term. That's way too much time. We'll find ourselves slacking and saying something like, "I'll just start in February; I'll still have 11 months to lose weight."

No. We need to be specific and we need to think shorter-term. Try this: "I want to lose six pounds by February 1st." Eliminate the abstract. Make it quantifiable. Even better, add appendices.

"I want to lose six pounds by February 1st by training for a 5K and eliminating soda."

Think micro. How can you get better TODAY? When you're driving in the car at night, you can't see your destination. You can only see what's just ahead. You end up at your destination, but you did so by looking at WHAT'S NEXT.

Now you have a plan of attack. That's what goal-setting is all about.

Saturday I'll make an official submission thread. By Sunday, post your weekly reflections, results, and thoughts there. Be sure to take pictures if you can. Get creative.

Anticipations for 2012

2011-12-31T18:34:00.000-08:00

In the grand tradition of non-resolutions, here is my annual anticipation list. These are the things that I am looking forward to, hoping for and setting as goals for myself. Every day brings the opportunity to change your life, every day is a fresh beginning, a new year is no more or less so. But in the time ahead, we will always think back to the years behind us.

So, welcome 2012, here is what I am hoping for from you:

-the most important, every year is health. Mine, my family's and my friends. I would like to up the ante this year and continue what was started last year for me. I am almost back up to where I started a year ago weight wise, which is discouraging, but I am healthier and more active.
-joy, oh so much joy.
-babies, 3 of my best friends are all expecting babies in the first half of this year. Babies, gotta love them.
-runs, lots and lots of runs. I'll be starting the year with one tomorrow, then a 10k in April, half marathon in May, another half in October and hopefully many more along the way.
-work, for Leigh and I. We are blessed with jobs we enjoy.
-travel, little trips (probably all focused around hockey) and ending the year with a big trip.
-a wedding. Not just any wedding but the wedding of one of my boys, the last of the men in my life to get married. I can't wait.
-time with my babies, for they are very quickly moving away from being my babies.
-hockey, lots and lots of hockey.
-friends, new and old. Family, crazy and sane (who are we kidding, there are no sane ones).
-small changes to our home.

I want life to move along exactly how it is right now. It's good. Life is good. I am full of gratitude and joy for my life. My abundant, complete, astounding life. It may seem simple but it brings me so much contentedness.

Happy new year. 2011 is over in 5 and a half hours and I am happy with what I accomplished this year and I am looking forward to what lies ahead.

Christmas Time

2011-12-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas trees at the Empress

Annual friend pre-Christmas brunch and gift chaos party. 12 kids, only 1 girl, plus one in-utero and all their parents at my house. Add in one pinata and you've got yourself some fun times.

Christmas eve at Auntie Bonnie's house.

The whole crew on Christmas eve

Christmas pajamas

cousins (actually they are second cousins but look how cute they all look in their pjs)

Ready for Christmas morning

Ryen woke up and immediately shoved chocolate in his mouth. I think he was afraid that we would stop him from having chocolate at 7am. We had to wake the boys up at 7 because my brother and his girlfriend arrived and it was time to start opening presents.

Our very non-consumerist Christmas. There were few toys, very little wrapping paper and lots of fun times.

Christmas dinner with the Kings. We had a roast, which it turns out is way easier to prepare than a turkey. We had a very relaxing Christmas day, eating, drinking, playing games, reading and hanging out. It was perfect. Now I just have to detox my kids from all the sugar.

Merry Christmas and happy new year.

Christmas Prep

2011-12-20T14:52:00.000-08:00

I'm off work and spending all my time with the boys. I love it but there are moments when it makes me crazy, like this morning when Ryen followed me around the mall screaming while I grabbed the last couple things I needed for Christmas. Seriously?!

We are ready for the holidays. I have wrapping to do and food to buy and make but we're generally ready for the fun to start.

Last weekend was the kid's Christmas production at the church. The preschoolers sang Away in a Manger and Kaleb was in the choir. It was a very cute and lots of fun.

This year I decided to use some of the fabric accumulating downstairs and I made gift bags to wrap gifts in this year. Don't they look pretty?

Gotta love the premade gingerbread houses. Gag. But the kids love it. So here it is.

HP love

2011-12-17T20:15:00.000-08:00

So because I am busy I have to run late at night, so I do a lot of my running in our basement on the treadmill. It's not ideal but it works. Plus, I'm a cold weather baby and don't want to run outside in the cold, rainy, dark. Yuck. While I run, I watch tv. I like to work through series because they keep me motivated and always wanting more. Last year and earlier this year it was "er" the 'almost complete' series. Now it is the Harry Potter series, from the beginning.

I look forward to my runs, not just because of the exercise and adrenaline but because I LOVE Harry and can't wait to escape to my basement and have a little nerd love.

I finished the second movie tonight. So, so good.

Why do I love Harry so much? Why did I wait so long to fall in love with him? I feel so foolish for resisting what was obviously meant to be.

Run #4 of the week done. Long run tomorrow (7kms), 2 weeks till the Resolution 10k.

Christmas trees and counting down

2011-12-14T22:02:00.000-08:00

I'm counting down to the Christmas break. Two more days. I can't wait. My students have checked out, I've checked out, I am ready to have a bit of a break and just hang out with my boys. Two days.

This is the story of our last two weeks:

our advent calendar, filled with daily treats for the boys

tree hunting. As usual, it was torturous trying to find the perfect tree. Everyone was very patient with me.

"I don't know about this whole tree thing."

"I cut you down."

after we found the perfect tree, we made it pretty.

The completed tree

my little polar puppy - today was Kaleb's annual "don't hint that Christmas has anything to do with anything other than consumerism and Santa" concert. He was cute.

Yup, I got it!

2011-12-08T21:49:00.001-08:00

I started running again. Really running. Yay! I signed up for a 10k on January 1st and I'm back into training. It's rough after such a long break but it'll get better.

Work is good. Kids are healthy. Life is plugging along. (Work actually sucks right now because of pre-Christmas crazy teenagers and I just want it to be the holidays, but boys are really healthy and life is actually plugging along.)

Ryen fell and busted open his head last week and had to have it glued back together. Awesome. So he had a shellacked eyebrow for his picture with Santa. Oh well, maybe that will distract people from the filthy pants that my children were wearing. Fun times.

Last week we went to the Santa parade, check out my cute kids:

I bought some hockey pads for Ryen, used, he likes to put them on and strut around the house. This kid is so excited for hockey and is completely obsessed with the sport.

Christmas cards are written and ready to mail, here's a little preview from our Christmas card photo shoot:

I promise I picked better picks than those to send out.

Getting in the game

2011-11-28T21:32:00.001-08:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again but I've been off my game. Time to buck up, step up and remember that this is my life and it's not a dress rehearsal. Time to get my shit together and start loving my body again. Stop eating shit. Stop sitting around. Stop drinking too much coffee. Time to stop and start.

So to help me to feel inspired again I watched this

Then I looked at this:

And this:

And then I remembered what it felt like to run. To achieve a goal. To feel my body work. It's time to get back into it. Time to get back in the game.

Escaping and other news

2011-11-22T18:39:00.001-08:00

We are busy and sick, again. Ryen has hand, foot and mouth disease and can not go to school for a week. Luckily, I have family and friends who can step up and help me out when I need it. The rest of us are fine and truthfully, he doesn't seem sick at all except for the rash.

Last weekend I went away for a girl's spa weekend in Parksville, with 3 of my best friends. It was lovely. I needed it. Now it's back to routine and chaos.

And the pictures. I have been negligent in my picture taking lately.

Kaleb went on a field trip to Goldstream Park to see the salmon run.

Ryen playing with goalie gear

Kaleb was the goalie at hockey this week. So cute.

Where I stayed on the girls' weekend

The beach

Yoko and I on the beach in the freezing cold

this is ice and slush, the ocean was freezing. I'm pretty sure that frozen ocean is a sign of the apocalypse.

There was snow in Parksville. Just a dusting. It was pretty.

The girls (Yoko, Kelsey, Breanne and I) we went away to celebrate Kelsey turning 30.

Best laid plans...

2011-11-12T11:30:00.001-08:00

One of the things I struggle the most with as a mom is changes in plans. I am organized. I am this way because it keeps anxiety at bay. So I plan ahead, know what to expect. This doesn't mean I lose it completely when things don't go as expected, it just means that I am less anxious in anticipation of things. So I'm organized. I plan.

Today I had plans. They included a birthday party, soccer, watching Zach play hockey, Kaleb's hockey game, and going to a Royals hockey game. It was going to be busy but I was organized and ready for it and looking forward to my crazy day of hockey.

Then, at midnight last night, Kaleb threw up. And then he continued to throw up all night. And now he is lethargic and laying on the couch. (see I should never had said that we were all healthy in my last post) So we are doing nothing. NOTHING. Which means I can't watch my nephew play hockey. Kaleb's grandparents can't see him play in a game, and I can't go to the Royals game tonight.

I feel bad for my kid, really I do. But I also struggle with this change of plans. I was looking forward to today and now I am disappointed. Also, now I have to make changes to the plans, find alternatives. It sucks. All around, this situation sucks.

11.11.11

2011-11-11T09:02:00.001-08:00

It's remembrance day and I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the incredible sacrifices that all those we have and do serve make for us. I am so eternally grateful. I did a wonderful lesson yesterday in Planning about gratitude and it sparked so much interesting conversation about what gratitude is. I used the following images.

Be grateful. Be thankful. Recognize what others have done and continue to do for you. Be humbled. Be overwhelmed. Be inspired to honour them.

Lest we forget...

Catching up

2011-11-11T08:47:00.001-08:00

What's new, you ask. Well...

I am behind in my 30 workouts in 30 days. I need to get back on top of it and do a few double workout days. I'm finding it even harder to work out at night because it's dark and I'm super tired.
This week was the first week since I started working that I didn't want to go to work. It was a rough week. We had a teacher assaulted at work last week, then job action crap this week, crappy students, early darkness. Sucked.
My grandma had a mild heart attack which was scary but hopefully is a blessing because now her heart is getting the extra attention it needs.
I always forget how much I hate November. There's nothing fun about it. It's dark, wet, miserable, no real holidays and nothing to look forward to. Blech.
except...I'm going away for a girl's spa weekend next weekend to celebrate my besties 30th birthday. I can't wait. Hopefully that will revive me.
Kaleb and Ryen are great and are such adaptable kids. I'm working later now which means I pick them up later and they just go with the flow. The house is a gong show but my kids are okay.
No one is sick (literally knocking on wood about that one).
We had a beautiful remembrance day assembly at work yesterday. Sombre, respectful. Even my rowdies enjoyed it.
I'm assisting coaching the junior girls basketball team. Fun times. We had try outs yesterday and we have to cut like 12 girls. It's going to get nasty. Hopefully they don't heckle me in the hallways.
I still love my job but sometimes I love it more because of my colleagues than my students. Just some days.
This weekend is all about hockey. The in-laws are here with Zach for a tournament and we're going to try to go to most of the games. As well, Kaleb has three practices, Leigh has hockey and we're going to our first Royals game (our new WHL team).
I love etsy and could spend (and have spent) hours on it looking through the incredible (and sometimes horrifying) things that people create.

my husband

2011-11-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

hehehe

Long Overdue

2011-11-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

I've been negligent. Work is busy, life is busy and this has not been a priority. Sorry to the three people who read this. Anyway, here are some pictures of what we've been up to.

Ryen on the morning of his birthday. He was pretty excited to wake up to presents.

Goalie Ryen - he loved his gift.

The party was polka dot themed so our house was crazy dotty.

The birthday boy

Raking leaves in our front yard.

Pumpkin picking at the patch

Before

After

Halloween - our monkey and jedi (Kaleb was so excited to get his first light sabre)

For some reason my weirdo brother needed to be in the picture

Leigh surprised Kaleb by dressing up as Darth Vader. Halloween was fun times. We had family over for dinner and then Kaleb and Ryen went out and collected lots of candy for all of us to eat.

30 days, baby

2011-11-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today is November 1st (pretend that I haven't been a terrible blogger lately, pretty please??) and I have decided to promise myself something and because I work well with guilt, pressure and public declarations of my plans, I am going to announce it to you, the three people who read my blog.

Here it is, are you ready??

I am going to do 30 workouts in 30 days for November.

That means running, gym, yoga, vigorous walks, etc, everyday for the next 30 days.

So now I must go and run.

I'll keep you posted.

A week of sick

2011-10-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

It started almost a week ago with Ryen, it continued with Kaleb and it's ending (hopefully) with me. The sick.

Kaleb hasn't been to school since Monday which has brought a whole host of complications regarding work. Leigh and I each took a day off and then Kaleb went to work with Leigh yesterday and came to work with me today since it was a pro-d. Working with sick kids is hard. It's even harder when you start to get sick. Now it's the weekend and I have a feeling it will be mostly spent at home in front of the tv, sequestered from friends to avoid anyone else getting whatever grotesque bug we have.

And the rain has arrived.

Blah.

Fall in love

2011-10-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

3 Years

2011-10-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

3 years ago, this arrived:

And he was perfect, so we kept him.

Then 2 years ago, this happened:

And then this life became so much more precious.

Now we have this:

A crazy, silly, rocking out, independent, funny, 3 year old.

I will never stop being astonished at the gifts that I have been given. This child, my baby, has blessed us in ways unimaginable before he arrived. He is full of life, full of energy. He is fiercely independent while still wanting cuddles and kisses and company. He is smart and has a great memory. He loves music and rocks out daily. He has the best sense of humour and sees the fun in everything. He is stubborn and wants things to be the way he wants them to be. He is the balance in our lives. He completed our family. He brings affection and love into our lives everyday. He is perfect.

Happy birthday my beautiful Ryen. You bring us so much joy.

A little HP, for the nerds.

2011-10-15T16:15:00.000-07:00

Not so pretty

2011-10-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

The run pictures are up and they are not cute. I am not a pretty runner, I wish I could be but alas, I make unhappy faces, get very flushed and forget to pay attention to the camera. So out of about 12 pictures taken of me by the race photographers, I am only willing to share these:

There's also a video of me crossing the line but I can't figure out how to embed it. If I do, I'll share it.

woohoo

2011-10-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

I just figured out my pace for the half: 12.34 minute mile which means that I actually ran faster than my last long training run, which was a 12.5 minute mile.

Yahoo.

Nancy took this photo of me about to cross the finish line - that's me with the pinky skirt and black shirt.

Post Run

2011-10-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

It's the end of the weekend. I've run. I've eaten. I've had some wine.

Today I feel good. My leg muscles are sore but not hurting. My knees were bothering me yesterday but are totally fine today. It's awesome. I've come to terms with my less than stellar time and now I feel immensely proud of the fact that I ran a half marathon yesterday and today I feel great.

Dude, I ran a half marathon yesterday. Yay!

Yesterday was our Thanksgiving dinner and I took a moment to be grateful for this body. It may still be a long way for it's ideal weight but it carried me over the finish line yesterday, sprinting, after running for over 2 and half hours. After I beat it up emotionally, after I doubted it's ability to do it, it did it.

Now I am going to give my body an extra couple days off and then I'm going right back into it. My next goal is a 10k in under 60mins. And a sprint triathalon. And probably another half next year. I might become addicted to the medals (I've framed my medal with my bib - so cool).

DONE!

2011-10-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

And it only took 2 hours and 40 minutes (yikes). I took a little longer than I wanted to (2:44:57 is my official time) and I walked more than a couple times but I did finish and I have my medal to prove it. It was really hard. I don't like morning runs, I had a headache, I have a cold, and it was 21.1kms through Victoria.

My family was at the end to cheer me on as I crossed the finish line. I saw Ben Davis running the marathon and yelled at him (nice, encouraging things). And we stuck around to see the course record be broken by a Kenyan runner (a marathon in 2:14 minutes - ya I could do that if I wanted to). Now I get to eat lots of turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Run day

2011-10-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

I am up at 5:45, making some breakfast. Gross. Sadly, my kids are both awake too. It's impossible to get up and not wake up Ryen since he's the world's lightest sleeper and then he's loud and wakes up everyone.

I did a very small, easy run yesterday to remind my body what running feels like since I've been sick (still am) and haven't run in a week. This morning I am going to run 21.1kms. Sick.

I thought about my medal last night while I was lying in bed trying to fall back asleep. I can't wait for the medal. I'm going to use that medal today to drive me. I am super excited. My first competitive run, my first half marathon. I've been training since April for this. I hope it doesn't rain.

I'm bringing my camera and I'm going to take pictures. I'll share later, as long as they're not rancid.

See you on the flip side.

still sick

2011-10-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

and it sucks. I was supposed to run 10k last night, 6k tonight. So far, no 10 and probably no 6. I am tired, sick and feeling like poo. But will this kill me on Sunday? Will I die when I start to run 21k if I miss runs from my last week of training or will I be grateful that I gave myself time to get better before the big run? I am torn. If I run tonight it could effect my getting healthy, but if I don't run it could effect my stamina on Sunday.

Ugh.

Why, oh why, am I sick?? Cruel.

Our life, in pictures

2011-10-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

I'm too busy to write anything of substance so instead, I'll let the pictures guide the story.

Adorably cute cousin. Seriously. He came for a visit with his grandma. We went to the beach. Good times.

The boys played with My Little Pony, on the beach, in late September.

Picking apples. We have a lot. Don't believe me? See below.

Believe me now? And there are still more on the tree. Excuse me while I go make more and more applesauce.

This is pretty much all I did that weekend. I made this face. But Kaleb's version is cuter, so it is featured here.

Another adorable cousin. So beautiful. This one came with her mom to run for the cure. She often looks at me like I'm either crazy or trying to pull one over on here.

Our survivor, in all her pink glory.

My pinked out boys.

More pink.

Three of the four sisters at the run.

Cowboy pink.

Me running. I ran alone. 33 minutes for a 5k. I felt like crap (too much beer, lack of sleep, getting a cold) but it was good to run in a group.

today, I sucked

2011-09-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today was not my best day. I was not organized. Not on the ball. I forgot things. Yelled. Missed things. Was late. Failed to do my best at everything I did. Not a great way to end a week and really not a great way to start an incredibly busy weekend.

I hope tomorrow is better.

too busy

2011-09-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

I'm too busy to write anything real on here and Kaleb is standing beside me patiently waiting for my attention. So, instead of writing, I leave you with this:

Rainy Mondays

2011-09-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

I had a surprisingly good day today. It was dark, cold and very wet this morning when I left for work. I had a lovely morning with my own class and covering a colleague's class. Then we had a Cops for Cancer kickoff assembly which was amazing and awe inspiring and brought tears to my eyes. I work at an incredible school that is so community minded. In the last 7 years, they have raised almost $200,000 for Cops for Cancer. The Tour de Rock group will ride into our gym on October 8th and we will present them with a cheque for (hopefully) over $50,000. I'm hoping to pull Kaleb out of school and bring him to work with me to be part of that.

One of my students is a cancer survivor. He had a rare birth cancer and had his leg amputated at only 3 weeks old. He stood up today and spoke in front of the whole school, over 1200 people. Such courage.

This is what 1200 students look like. We filled the bleachers and the floor of the gym. And they were well behaved, excited and enthusiastic.

These are all the male teachers who will be shaving their heads to raise money. There are also 2 female staff that will be shaving their heads (not me). Also, about 100 students (boys and girls) will be fundraising and getting their heads shaved. We are also doing a carwash, bake sale, bottle drive, adult dance and student dance to raise funds.

I am so excited to be a part of this. I'm also doing the breast cancer run this weekend. Lots of fundraising happening around here.

Good days on seemingly yucky days are always such a welcome and needed surprise.

farewell long run

2011-09-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

I'm not doing my 20. There was no way to make it happen, to work around the kid's stuff, the house stuff, the getting ready for next week stuff and the needing to hang out with my kids stuff. I have one little boy on the verge of being sick. I have another one with hockey and a dad that goes on the ice with him. It's just not going to happen. I'm going to try to still do a 10 today and I'm just going to hope for the best in 2 weeks. I did 18k, I can do 21k.

Maybe I can carve out some time one night this week to do 20k on the treadmill. Hope.

Man, it's hard balancing and finding time for everything. I can't wait till training is over and I can have more variety in my workouts and have more time on Sundays.

Torn

2011-09-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

I need to run 20k tomorrow. It's my last long run before the half marathon in 2 weeks. I've been psyching myself up for it all week. Now I have a problem. My kids have barely seen me all week. I'm working all day and our evenings are busy and rushed and then today I've been busy all day and have barely seen them. If I disappear tomorrow for 3+ hours to run, I will have lost another huge chunk of time with my kids and it sucks. I want to just chill out with them, get ready for next week, and rest a bit before I face another week.

I don't know what to do. In the game of balancing our lives, I tend to lose out when we get busy. The things that are just for me are the first to go.

Ugh.

nerd alert

2011-09-24T12:04:00.001-07:00

Today sucked

2011-09-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

Actually, most of this week sucked. I've struggled this week with eating, exercising, teaching, balancing. My students hate me (or at least they act like they do) and it's starting to wear me down. It's the third week thing, it's always the hardest, but seriously doesn't knowing that mean that it won't wear me down so much?

I'm tired, bordering on sick, miserable, grumpy and sitting in my house alone. Not good. I am so busy that I really don't have time for a social life, friends, anything, which means that when I need a friend, one is not to be found.

I'm going to use my time before I have to pick up the boys to go for a run, which is a good thing, but I would rather be cozied up having lunch with a friend.

Today sucked, tomorrow will be better, right?

this is me, tonight

2011-09-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

I don't want to run tonight. ugh. I'm tired.

(I will though)

ahhh, tum

2011-09-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

(hehehe)

it's coming, can you feel it?

pumpkin spice lattes have been consumed. sweaters are being washed. i'm ready for it.

my traditional oh i love fall post is to come, but for now take a deep breath and enjoy the imminent arrival of my favourite season.

18 by the water

2011-09-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

I ran from Beacon Hill Park to Willows Beach and back today. 18kms. In the sun and wind.

When I started is was beautiful and sunny with a lovely breeze. A perfect running day.

After, I went into the ocean to soak my legs in the freezing water. It helps with the pain and swelling. Like my new running skirt?

This is what the sky looked like for my last 4k. There was even thunder. I thought I would get poured on for sure, but I didn't.

I finished in 2 hours and 16 minutes. One more long run before the half in 3 weeks. I'm getting excited to have my Sundays back.

Another one down

2011-09-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

I finished the second week of school, the first 5 day week. It feels great to know that I'm doing it, getting back into work, keeping some balance and losing some weight. Since I started work, I have lost 5 pounds. I feel great. Tonight and tomorrow I have 6k runs and on Sunday I have my second to last long run. That's it. One more 18k, one 20k and then I taper before the run. The run is in 3 weeks. Holy crapolla.

I am so excited. And so freaked out. In the meantime, I'm working, planning the breast cancer run and having some fun with the kids.

Good times.

Skipped run

2011-09-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

I skipped my run tonight. I have insomnia again and only had 3 hours of sleep last night.

Today I'm tired. Tomorrow I'll run.

Tonight I'm sitting on the couch. And it feels sweet.

A reminder

2011-09-13T07:46:00.001-07:00

yay!

2011-09-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

No pain today from yesterday's 18. I went up and down stairs at work all day, walked around checking students' work and then went to the gym for some weights before picking up the boys. And I feel great.

But man, am I starving.

ps. still loving work.

18

2011-09-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today I ran 18k in 2 hours and 17 minutes. I'm proud of that time. The half marathon is only 3k longer. I did it and I'm not in terrible pain tonight. Let's see how tomorrow is.

Now the weekend is over and it's work tomorrow. The bags are ready, lunches are made, laundry is done, kids are asleep, house is clean. And I had a great afternoon at the beach with my kids. Feeling good.

a decade

2011-09-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched this happen again. It took my breath away. I had forgotten the feeling of that moment, watching hundreds of people fly into their death. I can't get the idea of their fear out of my head. The fear of sitting at the desk by the window, that second of realization before the plane hit.

Images of chaos, heroism, fear, death, hope, love. I remember not leaving the tv for days, watching it unfold, wondering what it would mean for our lives, our futures.

I don't feel like we've changed enough. I don't feel like the sacrifices of that day and the years that followed have improved us, taught us. Real people sacrificed their lives because they believed that the fight would be for the greater good. Was it? Was a war of fear worth the thousands upon thousands of dead men and women? Why can't we learn? Why don't we use history to teach us?

There is a hole in the earth where two towers went down, where thousands of people lost their lives. We need to remember. History is our opportunity to learn from the mistakes and triumphs of others.

What did we learn?

What can we change?

Today

2011-09-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

Today I ate a cupcake.

Today I ate some carbs.

Today I run 6k.

Today I fear the 18k that comes tomorrow.

Today is 29 days till my first half marathon.

Today is hot.

Today is peaceful.

Today I am going to feel good about my choices, even the cupcake and the carbs because:

And for that to be true, I have to accept that life will happen, cupcakes will happen but 80% of the time will be good food choices and that is exactly what it should be.

awesome

2011-09-08T21:46:00.001-07:00

Running the road

2011-09-08T19:06:00.000-07:00

I'm a Roadrunner now. Sweet. The mascot for the high school where I'm working is the roadrunner:

beep beep.

Work is good. Life is good. I love my job. I love my new school. The boys are adjusting well. Our house is running well. I've still fit in all my runs and I'm leaving for yoga in 20 minutes. It's all good.

I am super tired though. All the teachers are. It's an adjustment getting used to being so busy and standing all day. And it's hot (I'm not complaining) so I'm in a perpetual state of sweatiness while teaching. I probably stink. Suck it up kids.

Goodbye summer, hello school.

2011-09-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering, Ryen no longer likes rides at the Fair. (they had to stop the ride and let him off)

Recovering from his traumatic experience

Kaleb is tall enough to go on the bumper cars alone now. Yahoo!!

Ready for the first day of daycare/school.

My friend Kelsey peeked in on Ryen at daycare and she took this picture. He had a great first day of daycare. He didn't want to leave. Kaleb had a great day too, but still doesn't know which room or which teacher he has.

Getting real and getting skinny

2011-09-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow marks not only the first day of school, daycare and work but it also is the start of my rededication to lose weight. I have (awkward admission alert) gained back 6 of the 20 lbs that I lost before summer. Which means I now have about 30 lbs to lose to be where I want to be (which is skinny bikini bitch). I have no date in which to lose it by, except that I would like to wear a bikini in Hawaii for Christmas 2012.

So here is goes, my accountability. I am pledging to myself that I will get back on track with my food, do more exercise than just running and remember that nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.

I may need to make this my new life motto:

because today I am far less than calm and far from the fit I wish to be.

So tomorrow. Salads. Less carbs. More variety in my workouts. Routine. Structure. Weight loss.

I'll let you know how it goes.

and ps. Happy first day of school everyone.

Freaking out!!

2011-09-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I have to start a new job, meet new teenagers and go back to working every day for the first time in Ryen's life.

And Ryen has to start daycare. There was no orientation, no gradual entry, no opportunity for him to meet his teacher before the first day. I am going to drop my baby and run (actually Leigh is doing the dropping and he's staying till Ryen is comfortable and then I'm picking him up 2 hours later, but you get my point).

And I am freaking out. Ryen has needs. Ryen has toileting needs, asthma needs, allergy needs. He has clingy, breastfeeding, super attached to mommy needs. He has stranger anxiety. Fears of new things. Reluctance to obey. Refusal to participate. What was I thinking? He's a terrible match for daycare. And now he has to go there everyday, no choice. What if it's a dismal failure? What if I get called from work everyday? Ughh!!!!

I worked in daycare, I work with parents, I know that most moms worry about their child's adjustment to a new daycare, new lifestyle, changes. I know this. But I am still freaking out.

Today is the last day of summer holidays. Tomorrow our lives change forever. I'm worried.

(I'm not worried about Kaleb. He is so ready for Grade 1. He adjusts well to everything. He's friendly and everyone likes him. He's excited about afterschool care because he already knows everyone. He's going to do great.)

I have a lipe sabre in my pocket.

2011-09-03T19:46:00.000-07:00

My house is Star Wars, all the time. Kaleb has now seen the original three movies and seems to know everything about the entire series. It must be a boy thing. Leigh seems to know a lot about the movies too.

"Let's battle."
"Okay, I'll be Darth Vader and you are Obi Wan Kenobi."
and battle ensues.

All. The. Time.

It makes me crazy. Leigh loves it.

Do I have to?

2011-08-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

I didn't run last night to give my leg an extra night off (sore muscle).

Leg feels better today. Must run tonight.

Ate crap today (pizza - yum) so don't feel like running.

Must run tonight.

No excuses.

2011-08-31T13:25:00.001-07:00

My job

2011-08-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the blessings overwhelm me. How everything falls into place, after hard work and worry. But it does. And it has again.

My job is perfect. I am teaching Planning and English 11 in first semester and two Planning classes in second semester. At a great school. It's all coming together so nicely and I am so looking forward to the routines, the consistency and the time that working half time will still allow me to have with my babies. I have to prep for the first semester since I've never taught Planning but second semester I'll have very little prep and Planning has very little marking so I'll be able to focus and have fun with the teaching rather than always drowning in marking.

I won't be making much money but I will get benefits. I will be able to find time for the gym and running and picking up the kids early. I might even ride my bike to work.

So good.

um...scary

2011-08-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

Half marathon map.

Yup, I'm running around 3 large Victoria neighbourhoods in one morning.

This scares me.

Getting faster

2011-08-29T11:20:00.001-07:00

Last night my long run was only 12k (only, lol). I ran it at the fastest pace yet for a long run. Today I'm sore. But it's all good because last night I ran, even though my stomach hurt and I was tired and it was hot and it had been a long and busy day. I still ran. No excuses.

ps. be sure to check out the pictures below, lots of fun summer stuff.

Summer fun, in pictures

2011-08-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Making masks at Music in the Park

Hanging out at Shawnigan Lake

that's Kaleb towing Madison and Ryen in the canoe

Ryen and I in the paddle boat, minutes before Madison decided to climb aboard and tipped us. Later Ryen told her that he didn't love her anymore because she dumped us in the water and he cried.

At a beach in Cadboro Bay.

Climbing the playground at the waterpark.

Again up at Shawnigan Lake. Leigh and Kaleb paddling around.

Kaleb and Leigh out on the boat with Fraser.

At golf, on our 11 year anniversary.

Kaleb dunking a fireman for charity at the Johnson Street Festival

Hanging out on Willows beach

One hero speaking about another

2011-08-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

I love Stephen Lewis and was inspired and motivated by his eulogy of Jack.

The entire funeral was such a celebration. It brought our country together in a way that nothing else could. Canadians loved Jack, even if they didn't love his politics. It was hard not to love a man who accepted everyone, who wore shirt sleeves to political interviews, who played guitar and harmonica, who fully, without a shadow of a doubt, loved his wife. A man who was a devoted grandfather and father. He was a good man. And he could have done amazing things. Like the Reverend, Olivia Chow and Stephen Lewis all say during the funeral, it is up to us now to pick up the torch that he laid down and to continue his work.

Always have a dream larger than one life.

I am inspired. I am motivated. I will work to make change. For Jack. For me. For my kids.

Rest in peace Jack. You have inspired so many people to do better. To be better. To love, respect, accept and to be optimistic.

all there is to say

2011-08-27T09:54:00.001-07:00

Got a job, got a job, got a job

2011-08-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

Yahoo!! I will be working this fall. It's a small contract (barely enough to cover childcare) but it could turn into something bigger. And it's for the full year. At a school I want to be at. Teaching Planning 10. And maybe English 11.

I am a working woman again. So excited. And quietly very happy that it is a small contract in the fall and a bigger one in the spring - time to ease back into working.

Now I just need HR to call me and make it official.

11 years

2011-08-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

Our anniversary.

I have an incredible husband who I love today just as much, if not more, than I did 11 years ago. I am blessed. I am grateful. I am full of love for this incredible gift. I have no words so I look to the greatest writers to express my love.

What a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Darling, you want to know what I want or you. Many things of course but chiefly these. I want you to keep this thing we have inviolate and waiting - the person who is neither I nor you but us.

John Steinbeck

Whenever I love anything it is because it reminds me...of yourself.

Lord Byron

post run

2011-08-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

I kept up, or actually, she slowed down but we ran the 10k together, stopping to walk occasionally. It was dark (I tripped on rocks a couple times but didn't fall). We finished in 1:20 which is 12 minute mile pace. Not too bad considering it was hard work for me (we ran a rocky trail).

I have to get under 12 minute mile pace to finish the half marathon in under 2:30 but in reality, I will be just as proud of myself if I finish, regardless of my time.

Speedy

2011-08-24T15:26:00.000-07:00

I'm running a 10k tonight with my healthy, fit, skinny cousin. I'm scared I won't be able to keep up.

Who cares? I'll still be running, right?

Randomness

2011-08-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

I ran my Sunday long run yesterday. 16k down. And today I feel okay, so far. This week's long run is short, only 12k. Then I go up to 18k. Yikes.

Other things I love right now:

- The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Total trashy summer read but so much fun (think men in kilts, 1700's)
- everything and anything Harry Potter. I did it. I read the entire series and saw all the movies before the last one was out of the theatre. Leigh and I saw HP 7.2 last week and it was AWESOME!! I'm so glad I got on the bandwagon before it was done. My friends invested 12 years into HP, I invested 2 months. So worth it.

This is a Harry thing. If you don't get it, you need to see the movies.

- running blogs. I read a lot, everyday. See my side bar for my favourites. They help me keep focused on running and they give me great tips and ideas.
- the calm before the storm. School starts in 2 weeks. I have no work news yet. The postings closed last Friday so hopefully, if I'm getting a contract, I'll find out this week. Hockey, soccer, swimming and skating start soon as well. My life will be chaos. Plus I have to continue my half training. And add yoga for flexibility. Chaos.

That's my life. Reading, running, kids and planning. I am so boring.

ps. Thank you to those who acknowledged that you read my blog. It makes me feel like my writing isn't for nothing, although I think I would still write even if no one read it. Plus, kudos to all of you for reading this boring randomness. xo

Words I hold true

2011-08-22T11:31:00.001-07:00

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

Jack Layton

dark day

2011-08-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

My political hero has died.

I loved this man. He gave me hope for change.

He had such courage. He fought for us. He fought for our country.

He died for us. He sacrificed his health to continue to give us hope and to lead us.

Rest in peace, Jack. You were a great man. A truly great man.

Success

2011-08-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

36k done this week. Whatever. No big deal.

Over 5000 calories burned, just by running.

I'm pretending people still read my blog, no one does. I live in a bubble.

49 days till half marathon day.

Strength

2011-08-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

Taking a moment...

2011-08-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

...to watch a turtle.

Babyville

2011-08-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine and one of my baby catcher's (the student midwife who delivered Ryen) is part of an incredible new midwifery practice.

Check it out, baby lovers, it's awesomeness and makes me want another baby, almost.

The Midwife Collective

Luckily, I don't need to have another baby because those close to me continue to procreate and I can just baby love their babies.

I love Jillian Michaels

2011-08-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

I wish she lived here, in my living room. To motivate, to teach, to kick me in the butt.

as fast as I can

2011-08-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

This is morphing into a running blog. I don't think it will stay that way but right now I'm very running focused. Today I ran my furthest run and my fastest long run to date. 16k in 2:01:56. That's fast for me. I'm very excited. It means I'm on my way to running an under 2:30 half marathon.

In other news:

my boys, running through a field at the Saanich Farmer's market.

Hiking around Thetis Lake with Megan and our new student, Shiori

Madison and Ryen at Shawnigan Lake

We hit some traffic on the way home from Shawnigan. There was an accident. It took us over 2 hours to do a 45 minute drive. It gave me some time to play with the new photo app on my phone.

Kaleb did hockey skating camp last week. He improved so much in one week. He's really excited about hockey now.

Starting again

2011-08-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting the blog. I'm busy. I'm sick. I have nothing to say. But I am going to try to say more. Share more. I need this to be a place of connection but also inspiration. Accountability. I am about to change my life, again. This is a journey and I fall but the real test of my courage and strength is to get back up and start again. I have more to go. More to lose. More changes to make. I need to keep going. My life is what I want it be, except for this one thing. And I have the power to change that one thing. When everything else is out of my control, I need to take this back. My health. My weight. The friggin scale.

So I continue. Get back on track. Continue running. And look forward to the day when I can say that it was hard and it took a long time, but I did it. I need to finish what I have started.

For them. For me. For life.

Today...

2011-08-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

56 days till my first half marathon.

Just found out Ben Does Life will be running the Victoria marathon also (the full of course).

Maybe I can be creepy stalker and meet him.

I've already suggested it to him. Whatever.

Photo catch up

2011-08-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

My uncle Graham came to visit from Nashville, he had a lot of fun with my boys.

Me and Madison

Leigh and Ryen

Leigh and Nayumi, our student from Japan

Gaming nerds, Kaleb and Tyler

This is what Leigh looks like with a girl.

Seriously, this baby is so beautiful. Look at her eyelashes.

Our annual mini-golfing with the Jensens and MacGillivrays

Enjoying ice-cream

My boys and Grace

So little time

2011-08-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Summer means family, friends, and busy times. So no blogging. I promise to do a good post with pictures and stories of our last few weeks because they have been awesome, seriously. But for today I'm going to write a little note of congratulations to my super cool cousin, Chad, and his strong and brave wife, Morgan, who welcome their first child, a baby girl, to the world yesterday after an intense and long labour. Welcome to the world, Birch Smith, I can't wait to meet you.

And now, bullet updates:

I finally registered for the half marathon. Scary. I ran a 14k yesterday, almost died. My time was terrible. I'm going to have to speed up to be able to do a half in 2 hrs and 30 mins.

Leigh's back is improving. He's had the okay to play hockey this fall. He's pretty happy about that.

We have a new student arriving today for a month. I hope she doesn't suck, this is our longest student to date.
Our new fridge arrives on Friday and I'm am embarrassingly excited about this. I am an old, boring woman who gets excited about new appliances. Shoot me now.

That's it. Pictures and stories to come on another day. I'm getting out into the sun now.

OH NO!!

2011-07-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Look to the right, maybe scroll down (or up) a bit. 82 days!! 82 days till I have to run 21k. Crikey. Where did time go? Remember when it was more than 100 days? I do, fondly.

I have been off of my training. I was away for 10 days and then for some reason continued my feeling of vacation for another week after getting home. Today I ran. Tomorrow I will run. By the end of the week I will be back on schedule.

For now, I stress a little about the run being 82 days away.

And my weight still being 25 pounds away from where it should (I want it to) be.

In other news... Tyler and his beautiful girls are in town and therefore I have no time to blog. My time is spent grumbling about the crappy weather, entertaining bored boys or spending time with my besty and his family.

Road Trip Photo Extravaganza

2011-07-10T22:41:00.000-07:00

We drove, a lot, and the kids watched movies, a lot. This is what they looked like when they were watching movies.

And this is what Ryen looked like when he wasn't watching movies. Such a pleasant traveler.

Alberta bound

Photo opportunity somewhere along the Rockies. The mountains were so beautiful, I took a ton of pictures (which I won't bore you with). This was how we celebrated Canada Day - spending 10 hours in the car.

Red Deer, finally!

Did you know that Alberta is really flat? I didn't, or I forgot because I have been there before. But it really is flat and people drive really fast. There are windmills far off in the distance in this photo. I love windmills.

Dinosaur Land!!

Most of the cousins at the Royal Tyrrel Museum. It was a fun day checking out dinosaur bones. (Ryen, Kaleb, Victoria, Lucia, Zach, Ana)

This thing was huge, the picture doesn't do it justice. It reached the ceiling of a large room. I didn't even come up to it's front paw.

ROAR!!!!!

This is Zach trying to look scared of the big prehistoric fish thing. Pathetic attempt.

This is another attempt at looking scared, getting better.

Kaleb, trying to look scared.

She's got the whole world, in her hands.

The beautiful princess Lucia.

Ryen goofing off in our hotel room in Calgary. It was a good hotel. Waterslides, pool, gym. The kids loved the waterslides.

More dinosaurs. This one was a fake at the zoo.

Our eldest niece, Payton, looking her best.

There were signs all over the zoo enticing people to come see the gorillas. They were funny. And the gorillas were totally worth checking out, so cool.

The cousins, all 8 of them. (Lucia, Zach, Ana, Victoria, Payton, Alex, Kaleb and Ryen)

All the Manton siblings and their kids. It was so much fun all being together and I can't wait to do it all again.

The siblings, being dorks.

Goofing off with the bear.

The teenagers. I love these kids, so much.

Ryen, at Rob and Masako's house, with his ghoul mask, sword and Dora slippers. Such a great outfit.

Alberta and Vernon and all the stops in between were a lot of fun. I saw a few people who I love and cherish and missed a few important people who I am sad to have missed.

I am so glad to be home, sleeping in my own bed, despite the enormous amount of laundry I have to do. Let the summer begin!

The travelling family

2011-07-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

We are on the move. So far this month we have been to Red Deer, Camrose, Drumheller, Calgary and now Vernon. We'll also be spending a bit of time in Summerland, Kelowna and Vancouver before heading home on Saturday. This is a road trip. Everyday, on the road. My car is not loving me right now. Either is my bank account (wow, gas is expensive). But my boys are loving me and that's all that matters.

We have spent time with family and time together. We have swam, seen dinosaurs, checked out elephant poo, watched kids play baseball, eaten tons of fast food, watched millions of hours of movies in the car, sat in traffic behind an accident for more than 2 hours, driven through a thunderstorm, gotten lost in a major city, driven over 140 km per hour, driven less than 10 km per hour, had car problems, been made fun of by family, moved through a zoo in a group of 16 people, been eaten alive by mosquitoes, drank beers (actually, I'm doing that right now), ignored the diet, laughed, cried, screamed, and gotten sunburned.

Tomorrow is the beach.

There will be tons of great pictures when we get home (lots of pictures of mountains - the Rockies are gorgeous).

And sometimes, all there is, are pictures...

2011-06-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

I have nothing to say lately. I have lots to do. So instead of writing, I'll upload. Enjoy.

ps. I went to see Wicked yesterday in Vancouver with my mom, sister, step-sister and nieces. It was A-Mazing. I cry when I think about it. I want to go again right now. It was a fabulous day, all about women.

Diapers on the clothesline

Ready for Game 7

The beach

A boy and his dog, on the way to Father's Day camping

camping

my boys and their handsome faces

yup, I like s'mores

opening gifts and cards

please, can I have some more hot dog?

Do you know how many pictures we took to get this semi-okay one? Dog plus two kids makes for difficult posing.

happy faces??

I ordered a food box, which delivers fresh, local, organic produce, bread and eggs every week. This is what I get. Just incredible. I love it.

And in the wake

2011-06-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

The end of the hockey season has come and left it's mark. Sucks. The whole Vancouver loss/riot/chaos has blemished what was otherwise an incredible season. I hate that Kaleb has seen all of this and now thinks it's okay to act like a complete idiot if your team loses. We're having lots of conversations about why people rioted and why it was stupid. Up till now, Kaleb's experience and knowledge with riots has been political based. We followed Egypt and Libya. So he's having a hard time understanding all of this.

Learning opportunity, right?

We watched the game 7 at Royal Athletic Park, in a big field with 1000 people, soaking up the sun. It was a lovely evening (despite the devastating loss). Now it's time to move on. Put hockey behind us (and in front of us) and start to enjoy this incredible weather.

Picture Party

2011-06-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting the blog lately. I blame the gala (which was great and went perfectly, check out the pink gala blog for pictures). So to satisfy the grandmas, here's some pics of our recent fun.

Reading stories, all the time, everyday.

The Oak Bay Tea Party. We had a wonderful day at the fair and the beach. Ryen rode on rides without an adult for the first time. He loved it. That smile was on his face the entire time.

Watching the bathtub races and eating freezies

The City of Victoria decided to put a small playground on an empty lot on our street. It's fabulous. we go there almost every day.

Kaleb asleep with his lion blanket on. You can't see it, but his hands are in the paws too.

Ryen helped me do the baking for the gala.

At the gala.

Melissa and Amarys came to Victoria for the gala and I got to spend some quality time with my youngest princess. Isn't she beautiful?

Hitting a wall

2011-06-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

I run. 5 times per week. I do yoga. I walk. I hike. I eat healthy. I only eat 1300 calories a day (or less). I have carbs only at breakfast. I eat lean proteins and fruits and veggies all day. I've said goodbye to sugar, goodbye to alcohol.

I am NOT losing weight.

I am beyond frustrated. In 6 months, I've lost a pitiful 18 lbs. Since I reduced my carbs to once per day, I've lost a pathetic 2 lbs.

I have 27 more pounds to lose people. I'm not even half way there.

I follow a lot of weight loss and exercise blogs and I read all kinds of inspiring crap that keeps me going, but seriously, when is the weight loss going to pick up? I once lost 35 lbs in 6 months doing less than what I'm doing now

Any ideas??

The Help - I love it when they make movies out of books I love. Hopefully the movie doesn't suck.

2011-06-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Grateful

2011-06-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

Today I am full of gratitude.

My body. I am thankful for my body that keeps up to me everyday, allows me to beat it up with running and yoga and is responding well. My body is healthy .and despite my age, it is allowing me to change my life completely.

My boys. Kaleb who is so empathetic and kind. His capacity for love overwhelms me. And Ryen who challenges me and forces me to find a depth of patience that I didn't know I had.

My city. There's been a lot of talk this year about moving (not for real, just talk) and I love it here. When the weather turns lovely (it is so perfect today) the city comes alive. It is filled with culture, creativity and history. I love driving down the street and seeing ocean, blue skies and white capped mountains. Perfection

My love. Who loves me even when I call him and yell because the dog has left diarrhea poo all over the house. Who continues to work so hard, despite pain and numbness.

Today is perfection. The sun is shining. I feel good. My muscles ache in the way that I know I worked them and pushed them yesterday. My boys are happy, outside, doing nothing and everything.

So very very grateful.

Celebrating

2011-05-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to the 6th birthday of one of our closest friends. Last night I went out with an incredible group of women to celebrate a soon-to-be-bride and all her amazingness. Today, we're celebrating the 5th birthday of one of our favourite kids in the world.

It's an awesome weekend.

The sun is shining, the gala is coming together, the boys are happy and healthy, we are surrounded by people who love and respect us, we are blessed and amazed.

ps. and I ran another 7k today and it felt great.

Picture Party

2011-05-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've uploaded any decent pictures. So here it goes:

Kaleb and Ryen 'helped' Leigh build our new garden beds. Kaleb actually did help by doing a lot of measuring.

We had a long weekend barbecue and my brother came over and played soccer with Kaleb (and Lola).

At the Victoria Day Parade

Ryen didn't really get what the parade was about at first but he got into it. He gave us a running commentary throughout the entire parade (there is a fire truck, there is a man, there is a mom, etc etc)

during the lulls in floats the boys would all run to the centre line on the road and back, over and over again. We started a trend, eventually all the kids were doing the same thing.

The Terry Fox Marathon of Hope van - yes the original one.

Today both boys got salon hair cuts. It was Ryen's first one. So far, I've been the only one cutting his hair but the last time I did it, I did a terrible job. So I paid someone else this time. It's short, but cute.

Kaleb has such thick hair, it looked like an animal had died on the floor of the salon by the time his hair cut was over. But it's so nice and short now. Maybe we'll actually get to wait a month before the next cut.

Signs of Summer

2011-05-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

The boys playing badminton in the yard.

The hammock, set up and ready for lounging with a book.

2 of my 3 newly made (by my husband) vegetable beds filled with plants raised in my greenhouse.

(look closely) it's my newly installed (finally) clothesline hanging with Kaleb's wet-from-playing-in-the-sprinkler shorts.

It's starting to look like summer here. The weather is lovely. The boys live outside and my yard is getting so beautiful and usable. Leigh took a much needed 3 day weekend this weekend and we worked on the yard getting everything ready. It was a wonderful, laid back weekend.

Pages

2011-05-19T17:05:00.001-07:00

Wanna see what I'm reading? Check out the books tab. I just updated it.