2013 Resolutions Done. Now to think about 2014

2013 Resolutions for myself and the kids

For me

•    Complete my 13 in 2013 Challenge  Done!

•    Run 1 half marathon  Ran 3!

•    Spend more time outside this summer with the kids (they love playgrounds now that they are taller)  That was easy!

•    Spend more time with my mom outside this summer and anytime

•    Spend more time at my moms lake house. The kids love the water  They love the beach and it makes it fun now.

•    Get out kayaking again at the lake – never got the kayak out

•    Call my grandparents twice a month. Now that grandma has Alzheimer's that is progressing it really makes me sad and miss the time I should have spent more with her. Thanks to facetime the kids now talk to great grandma and grandpa

•    Finish school I never want to take another class again.

For the kids

•    Potty training Done 7/1/13

•    Big kid beds  Done for Sara in January and Danyal in March

•    get both kids drinking out of regular cups  June 4the all sippys hit the trash

•    swimming lessons again They are really loving swimming now. As am I since I don’t have to get in the water anymore

•    counting to 20 in all 4 languages (we are halfway there 2 languages down) I have no idea where to go from here

Spend more time with each kid one on one  hard to do but I figure a few minutes a day works towards it

Now I just need to think about the goals for this year. I have a few but need to think a bit more.  All I know is I want to run pain free, and get back to running for fun.

Flu season

It seems flu season has arrived. Danyal and I were both down. It appears from others moms and preschool friends that this weekend was IT! Everybody had it. So if you didn't get it be thankful :)

As for thanksgiving it was food filled at my moms. The kids had a blast. It has been difficult as no one naps anymore and by the end of the day they melt down. Danyal hadn't been eating but now I know why. 

I cannot believe they have been back to preschool for almost 3 months. The time flies and Sara has made so much progress! She has left blankie home twice and doesn't cry at drop off. The kids now have their own friends, but I am told they always know where the other is. As I figured Sara is way ahead on physical stuff and danyal on school stuff. Sara isn't behind she has just always been physical and would rather play with her dolls or sing before practicing writing. 

Danyal gets along great with adults as he likes people who speak I full sentances. He is such a funny kid and still kind of the ambassador for the school. They said he knew every kids name a month before anyone else. 

They grow so fast. Where does the time go?!

Big Sur Recap

What can I say except Carmel is amazing, Monterey is fantastic, and Pebble Beach is EXPENSIVE!

My great friend from grad school used to live in Pacific Grove and was an amazing tour guide.  We started off in Carmel by the Sea. Everything I have ever read about Carmel was true. I would love to live there but couldn't even afford a shack. Wine tasting rooms, amazing seafood, beautiful views, and the people are wonderful.  I loved Carmel.

Then we moved on to driving Big Sur and checking into out Monterey hotel. We managed to do our packet pick up early and found out that about 65% of the runners were female for this race.

As for race day.  This was a whole new feeling.  Not having to park and having the race end behind our hotel was amazing! It seemed so easy I would do it again.

The race had hills.  The big sur 1/2 is advertised as "gentle rolling hills" they are only rolling as you are not in San Francisco.
Miles 1  my phone range and it was the security company! I didn't answer I figured they would call 1 of my 2 back up people.
Mile 2-3 were flatter and great. It involved running in a tunnel that was an amazing view and there was a guy playing bagpipes.
Mile 4 My phone rang again!! Security company so I finally answered, gave them a back up number and called my mom.  It was a little hard to run up a hill and talk.
Miles 6-9 were tough as the road was something I have never seen before.  It was larger rocks that were sealed onto the road and they were actually painful on the feet.  This was the consensus of everyone around us too.
Miles 10-13.1 were great. We were back by Lover's point and there was packed sand to run on. This was a relief to the feet and I got some of my wind back.

Overall a finish of 2:44 Better than what I had planned after 5 months of physical therapy and basically 5 weeks to train.  All my running before that had to be 3-5 miles.

Now that the race is done my PT and I agree, 6 weeks to shut down the leg and then hit the running mechanics again. I can run but back to 3 miles to ensure no flare ups, no KT Tape, and no Lido patches. Our goal is to get me running with no items to "get me through".

The trip as a whole was amazing. I cannot say enough about these areas.

Heaven!

Bixby Bridge

Monterey Aquarium

Seal Rock

Wordless Wednesday

2 Weeks in, a Gait analysis, and a new generation

I am now almost two weeks into Gluten free. It has been way easier to change at home, however going out to eat or ordering isn't so easy.  I have come to realize I will never be eating gluten again. I tried to eat something with gluten one day. That was a huge fail. Pain within 10 minutes and curled up.

I did order food from a restaurant that boasts a lot of gluten free. However, they didn't follow guidelines as not to touch and mix gluten type stuff as my safe food turned out to be - not safe. This is just going to be a learning process.

As for the running.  I had to take some time off per my physical therapist.  I just had a run gait analysis and that was ackward.  What to say when someone says "well your not even close to being a train wreck" um thanks? I really only have 3 things to fix, and only 1 of them is what is causing my pain.  I call this a win.


I have to say it's odd.  Not my kids of the new generation.  No, I just facetime'd with my grandpa who is 87!! They wanted an iPad mini and I set it all up.  He can text message now too. It is amazing how times can change so fast.  It will be fun for the kids to see their great grandparents more.

Though great grandma has dementia her new medication seems to help a bit more. She has her bad times but those are usually later in the day.  In the mornings she seems to know and recognize everyone.  I hope it can stay this way for a while.

Great Grandpa reading to the kids

Running + bikes ='s duathlons

This is my hope for next year. That being said the bike I owned was what insurance gave me when mine was stolen. It would have been great when I was 16. Not now. 

So to work on training a few friends gave me lots of tips and off we go. A few rides and a few good workouts In I am lovig it. 

A new school year and the end of summer

I have no idea how the summers always seem slow and like they will never warm up in the start, but they always do. I have always believed that once my birthday passes summer flies by and is gone. This year was no exception.

The kids and I have spent tons of time on the playground in our yard this year. They are finally big enough!

Right before school started we picked up Sara's glasses and it is amazing to see the changes already.  Every morning she puts them on and every night she puts them on her night stand.  One morning she said "mommy look at the blue in the tree" I had no idea what she was talking about.  She could SEE the electrical connectors in the tree. I feel bad and wonder how much she has missed out on.  Just glad she has them now.

We have started the school year and it is busy already.  They are now in the 3 year old class and I have had to readjust my schedule for when to leave. Two kids who need to stop at home and school to go to the bathroom takes forever!! I am excited for October as they will start the MacPhail Music Program in the afternoons too.

Along with school they now have swimming again too. There is one big perk. They are 3 and I don't have to get in the pool anymore!! They both talk about wanting to go back the minute we leave. Here is to hoping I raise a couple little fishes.