Life is so tragic!

Gosh, Life is hard and can be so tragic!

In the last couple of weeks two families here in Frederick are suffering the death of their 2 year olds.

Andrew Palmer, was a student at a pre-school where we do Fun Bus classes.  He fell asleep and never woke.
Marra Olsson a little girl from church.  Saturday she was hit by a car.

Yesterday, a devastating tornado in Oklahoma.

I can only imagine what pain each of these families are going through.  All I know to do is pray for peace and healing and to know this is only our temporary home.

In the last few weeks some lessons I am continually reminded of is don't take a single breath for granted,
love like crazy and NEVER let your prayin' knees get lazy!

My vice is my phone...I am lost with out it.  I could easily find tragic by checking a "quick" text while driving or miss a cool trick one of my kids just did because I had my face in Facebook.  How dumb.  While I have to have my phone and computer near so I can run a business and make a living, I am setting up times to be unplugged.  Sorry, to the person that leaves a message and can not wait 2 hours to get a response...and believe me those people are out there!  As a matter of fact..one is ringing my phone now.  Aye yai yai!

Today, I'll leave you with a poem that I found in my Siti's (grandmother) journal coincidentally my mom carries the same one in her purse. :-)

Too cute for words!

Yo Momma.

Happiest of Mother's Day to the bestest mommas in the whole wide world!

Our moms are the most hard working, always loving and incredibly giving!
Each of you do way too much and we are so very thankful for you!

Thankful for my husband that truly let's me live my mommy dream! He counts crafting, lots of outside play, napping and play dates my job...and the rest he is incredibly helpful with..i.e. laundry, dishes, bed time, etc.

Happy Mother's Day, y'all!

Crazy for color

I was invited to do the Color Run. 3 weeks ago it was a fine idea. Last night I started to panic a little. After almost a week of recovering my knee still hurts. I've researched "runners knee" and it's seems to be a very common ordeal. Thursday I tried Zumba and it was fine except for ALLL the squats.. Ouch. And Friday my knee was worse. Oh great.. I totally thought I was going to have to walk the 5k.

As much as I wanted to I didn't duck out..I didnt. I woke up early and headed to Baltimore. After all the color run is "the happiest 5k on the planet". It was so weird my knee hurt until I started running and then poof it went away.

I smoked the 5k..ran the whole way and dare I say-it was a piece of cake. So I did get something out if my half... It made my 5k easy peasy.

Back to running I go...short running, fun running, social running, crazy running.

Things I have learn training for 13.1...

Running a lot does not make me skinny! Bummer..huh! I actually gained a few pounds and my butt is a little more ghetto than it already was. Corey turns into a bean pole when he is training so I was hopeful. Not the case for me.

Chewing gum helps me run. Helps with breathing, helps with dry mouth, you can blow bubbles and it takes your mind off running...

The ability to tell someone you ran 13.1 miles feels amazing!

ASIC shoes kill my heels..this is the case in running and Zumba. No more Asics for me. I ran my half in Nike but I love New Balance too.

There are lots of fat people and old people that run faster and better than me!

I should drink 65 ounces of water on any given day. 90 ounces the day before a long run. Hints my GI issue..I was not even close to that on my long runs. 100 ounces before my half and I was golden..no stomach issues!

Running is a total mind game. If you think you can't then you won't!

Sports beans make me crazy! They made me feel like I was on drugs... Not my thing. You don't need enhancements. Just believe you can and you will.

Running is addicting.

Trail running is my favorite! It's peaceful and pretty.

Excuse are for sissies! Just RUN! Put on your damn shoes and go! Walk if you must but get out there!

Dry shampoo and shower caps are a must!

I have to make the time to run and sometimes there are sacrifices to do so! I never regret going! Never!

Ice baths sound miserable, but at this point with the knee pain I'm thinking that could have been helpful.. Maybe not even a full submerge just packs of ice would have helped I bet...

13.1!!

I did it!  I freakin' did it!!!!  What an ordeal that was...and man am I glad I'm done!  It was HARD..Super HARD!  Making time for the long runs, GI issues, running, drinking water, eating carbs and protein, running and more running.  Let me set this straight- I love the title of "runner" and now I feel like I have earned the title for sure.  But there is NOT a bone in my body that EVER wants to run over 8 miles!  Not a single bone.  There is nothing enjoyable about it for me!

Saturday we "carb loaded", I literally drank 100 ounces of water, I worried, I worked a little, and I worried, I got my race packet, and I worried, we went to a play, and then I worried some more, we took the kids to my parents and them I worried some more.  Y'all I was friggin' obsessed!  I could not stop being nervous.  I was more nervous than when I got married or gave birth to either of my kids.  It was ridiculous!  I was sooo scared.  Scared of what?  Scared that I trained soooo hard but it wasn't enough, scared that I would disappoint myself if I did not finish in under 2 and half hours like I had planned, scared of the unknown...I don't freakin' know but I was a basket case!  Poor Corey, I am still wondering how I am still alive and how the hell he didn't punch me in face.  I was a wreck.

Sunday, we woke up at 5 am and I was much better.  Not sure how or why but I was better.  We laced up our shoes and ate breakfast (coffee, a cliff bar and a bagel).  We got Lauren at 6 am and I was still ok.  We got to the race and it is all fuzzy...

Sweet Caroline played, then the national Anthem-  Goosebumps!  It was awesome.  Me and 6,000 of my fellow runners were off!  Miles 1-8 were fine(ish)..mile 8- started to suck, mile 9- I was hurting- I got water, drank a little, walked while a drank it (that felt great!), mile 10 - was the same, something was hurting I can't remember what but it was unpleasant, mile 11 - was hard as shit!  I was digging deep...something was happening to me- I felt really weird, like I might past out, tears came down- but I sucked it up and kept on, mile 12 - was miserable!  Would you believe that they put a huge hill right at the end- JERKS!!  Total jerks!  I hit 13 and THANK You Sweet JESUS, I saw the FINISH line!

2:21!!!(9 minutes under my goal) I did it!  I freakin' did it y'all!

True Story: Corey runs much faster than us, last year he beat my time by 34 mins.  He had planned on running the first couple miles with us and then go on his way but for some reason he decided to stick by me.  I can count on one hand how many fights we have been in.  We don't fight.  He knows I'll win.  :)  well yesterday we fought...I cursed him out actually.  He had a watch on and was keeping time...I was so flippin' done I asked if  I walked the rest of the way if I'd make it under my goal...he said "no", then he said "we will start running again at the street sign" and before the street sign he started running...so I yelled at him "that's why I f****** hate running with you..(other stuff was said but I can't remember now)". People scattered around us..they were scared!  I have to laugh now...we don't fight and I NEVER say that word!  Geeez Satan?! Get behind me!

Anyways, that was my 13 point freakin' one in a nut shell!  Thank you to Corey for sticking by my side, and Lauren for being my partner (let's not do anything that stupid again), to my parents for keeping the kiddos and making signs and shirts!, to Addie for the "after race package" that consisted of candy, a pedicure gift card and a Starbucks gift card and to all my friends and family for encouraging me with emails, texts, and words.  Y'all rock my face off!

Today, my knees are killer!  Feels like someone beat them for 2 hours and 21 mins on pavement yesterday..oh wait.  I am literally crawling up and down the stairs!  I actually feel fine other than that though.

All and all I am glad I did it.  It was clearly NOT easy at all!  and I have no desire to do it again.  I still like running, I am just not a fan of long distance running.

Now for pictures....

Testing..testing...

4 more sleeps until the BIG race.  I am excited but more nervous than anything.  Last night I thought to myself-"I've never been good at test." (in which this race is a test- right?)  I quickly reminded myself that, that statement was indeed not true...anymore that is.

If you remember, I returned to college at 29 years old.  It had been 6 years since I had been in school.  The first time around, I was not good at test...probably because I did not apply myself (Watch yourself -my mom is about to jump into me...).  Perhaps actually going to class, being interested in the subject, getting the right amount of sleep and not distorting myself with alcohol was part of my testing issue...just sayin'

Turns out I was a honor student- yup!  Me, a honor student!  Still blows my mind.  I guess you do get wise with age.  Anyway, so applying that back to my thought this week.  This race was my test, yes I am nervous but just like I was when I would take a test in school BUT I breathed a little easier knowing that I prepped for the test...and results showed.

So, with 8 weeks under my belt of running my little heart out, I am as prepared as I'll ever be!  I have prepare but running faithfully and A LOT, I am interested in it and I like running (when I am done), I get good sleep and I don't drink (for now).

Let's do this damn thing!