The taking down of the trees...

This weekend, we will be finally stripping the house of signs of Christmas until it all reappears in November. For the record, we did unplug the lights outside, and we were NOT the last ones on the block to do so this year.

The holidays are always fun around our house with two cats, two kids, two adults, and two Christmas trees. Sounds like a land-locked Noah's Arc, doesn't it? I have to admit that it's better now than it used to be, but finding ornaments on the floor, or hearing a rustling from the other room while you're eating dinner are two things I could do without at the holidays.

Tasty?

One of the cats, to remain unnamed, ahem, but who has only one eye....likes to lick, climb, and play with the trees. The two eyed cat likes to wrestle and fight with the one eyed cat...particularly under the big tree. One might imagine fun and folly to ensue, but what really takes place is branches being dislodged and lights hanging lower and lower as the weeks drag on. And let's not forget those poor tree skirts. How many times do I have to fix the damn tree skirts?!

The fallen...

So this week, two eyed cat has decided that, in preparation for the taking down of the trees, it's time to return to her favorite past time - obsessing over the fish. I think she's trying to prove that she has interests that span beyond tormenting the Christmas trees.

Stalker. Or just dedicated.

Each year, the battle between the cats and the trees has its ups and downs. This year was no different. The cats are always up to the challenge that the trees pose with their sparkly lights, dangling ornaments, and cozy skirts. The trees are undefeated, not falling for the cats and their tricks.

And so, this weekend, it all comes to an end once again.

Dear Cats,
Until next time. We won.
Signed,
The Trees

Helping hands

A can of green beans. A loaf of bread. Fresh vegetables and fruit. For many of us, these are things that we have at our disposal in our kitchen cabinets. For others, it's a challenge to pay the rent or mortgage, and a bigger challenge to put food on the table for their family. In partnership with the Itasca Walk-In Ministry, the Itasca Food Pantry provides local families with vital resources to put meals on the table when they need it most. Today, the food pantry serves 75 families in Itasca.

This morning, members of the Itasca Runners Club and their families spent a few hours helping at the food pantry, sorting food, stocking shelves, and learning about the incredible work that the Ministry and food pantry do. The Itasca Food Pantry is one of the beneficiaries of the Club's annual Itasca Oktoberfast 5K, the Club's flagship event held every October. Proceeds from the event allow the Club to support several local charities, providing both monetary and tangible item donations to those organizations who give back to the community. Recently, the Club was able to provide a Sub Zero freezer to the food pantry, giving them more space to keep meats and other frozen goods that they provide to their clients.

Volunteers tour the room of stocked shelves

A newer offering by the food pantry is the Birthday Bag program. Launched just a few months ago, the food pantry assembles bags filled with items to help make birthdays special for children aged 1-13, including a cake mix and frosting, candles, table cloths and other decorations, and age appropriate gifts. All of these items are donated to the food pantry, and parents can choose a bag for their child, already sorted by age and gender. The food pantry believes that every child should have something that makes their birthday special, even something as seemingly small as a festive table. Today, the food pantry provides bags for 70 children in their client families.

Helene presents the Birthday Bag
program to volunteers

The Runners came to work, and that's exactly what we did! Adults and children alike went to work sorting canned foods from boxed foods, stocking the shelves so clients can find what they need, filling boxes with toiletries and personal items, and cleaning the work room.

Father and son, working hard

Dan and Mark filling crates
with meats

Jim stocking shelves

Teamwork at its best

These kids worked hard!

Club members learning about
the Walk-In Ministry

The food pantry presented the Itasca Runners Club
with a certificate of appreciation for their
continued support of the food pantry's mission.

Members of the Itasca Runners Club.

Club members and
future Club members their children.

I will be the first one to admit that our family does not volunteer nearly enough. When you hear the stories of families who spend years donating to the food pantry, only to find themselves later needing the pantry's services, it is inspiring to witness the work that the women and men who run the pantry do for their community. Through generous donations from the community, as well as partnerships with the village, local food stores, and a regional food bank, they are able to provide a vital service to the community. In today's world, none of us ever knows if or when we might need a service like this one, and it's nice to know that it is there when emergency assistance is needed.

Have you volunteered lately? Do you know where your local food pantry is? Call your local village hall to learn more about the health and human services that they provide to your community.

Untitled

Coming back to something you've spent time away from is not as easy as it might sound. Not that long ago, I was involved in the Mommy Project 52 where I posted an entry at least once a week, but usually more often. Looking back, I don't know how I ever found the time. On the other hand, I don't know how I have not found the time to write more in the last year or so. For me, it's time to change that.

The last six months have been busy. I did complete my first marathon, and have yet to offer a summary of that amazing experience. It deserves more than "it was a great experience", and I will give it due credit by making the time to write about it.

I've also been busy this school year in my first term as PTO President at the kids' school. It's only logical when you're a wife, mother of two, full time corporate employee, and training for your first marathon to take on a leadership role in a struggling group that needs direction, right? I thought it took forever to get things done in the corporate world, but oh how wrong I was. If you think corporate politics are tough, you haven't seen anything until you've worked with the education system. Between trying to strengthen a bare bones parent group, researching and dreading Common Core implementation, and learning how to communicate with educators, it's been quite the learning process, to say the least. I have also become interested and involved with the local School Board and Education Foundation for our District. What an eye opener it is to see the inner workings of the school system, and learn about the challenges faced by parents and educators alike, and how disconnected the two truly are (to no fault of either, really). Still, it's interesting and if I can do anything to advocate for the best for my kids, and my tax dollars, I'll do it.

Ethel turned nine in November, and we hosted our first sleepover birthday party. Nights like that make you thankful for pharmaceuticals and wine. These are the makings of treasured memories, though, and Ethel was thrilled to have her closest friends all in one room, enjoying movies, snacks, and laughter. It really was fun for everyone, even little brother, Fred. One thing to remind me of if I ever entertain the idea of a sleepover - don't let Daddy off the hook and make plans out with friends. Ya, going solo is one thing, going solo with five eight and nine year old girls is another. Repeat thanks for wine.

As far as Ethel's school year is going, we couldn't be prouder. She is an avid reader, and when I say avid, I mean that every waking moment is spent with her nose in a book. She is fascinated with Greek mythology and is counting every second until the October release of the next installment in the adventures of Percy Jackson. She has continued her excellent performance in math, loves science, and, of course, reads like a machine. This year she is participating in Girls on the Run. I couldn't be happier, and she's asked me to be her running buddy in the 5K at the end of the program. Yeah! We're looking forward to it, and hoping to make it a family affair.

The plague avoided us this holiday season, so it was much more pleasant than 2012. We kicked it off with our annual wine and cheese early in December. The 2013 party, a "Wine and PJ's, I Mean Cheese", was our biggest to date. Easily 100 people made their way through the house, most donned in some version of sleep wear, tasting wines, cheeses, and whatever food found its way into the house. The evening ended early the next morning with a dance party to rival Dance Fever in its heyday. All in all, it was our best party yet, and the bar is now set very high for 2014.

The winter of 2013-2014 took its toll on all of us. To say that it was a tough winter is barely scratching the surface of Chicago's 3rd snowiest winter on record. It wasn't just the snow, but the bitterly cold, aptly named, Polar Vortex. A seemingly endless cycle of snow and cold forced us to stay inside most of the winter, even causing school to be canceled four days in January. This also got in the way of any consistency in my running. Twice we were forced to an indoor track due to icy roads, and just about every week there was a generous snow fall that messed with everything. I really fell off the wagon, and am still struggling to get back to my running routine. The fact that my husband started running right around the time of the marathon didn't help matters much. After a while, he was running more than I, and this is not a healthy change for me. Now that the weather has broken, I am slowly getting back to the sport that I love.

Fred turned seven in March. His birthday party was much easier than his sister's. We took a couple of his friends to go see Mr. Peabody & Sherman. Hilarious movie, by the way, equally enjoyed by the kids and me and Daddy. After the movie we went back to our house for play and cupcakes, and it was a big hit. Fred has developed and grown in many ways since turning six. Not only has he physically sprouted, probably adding at least a half inch in height, he has blossomed at school. Since August, he has made many more new friends, become the featured beat-boxer in music class, and emerged as our very own little Good Will Hunting. His love for sports stems from a fascination with numbers and stats. Everything he does revolves around numbers, and after meeting with his teachers, we're trying to harness the power of this beautiful mind.

Work is work. I just had my 18 year anniversary with my company, which just blows my mind. I was barely older than that number when I started there! Last year I had a major change in my work schedule. After 8 years of being able to work three days in the office and two from home, I had to return to the office five days a week. This may not seem like a big deal, but I am still adjusting, 13 months later. Our child care expense more than doubled, and I lost a lot of time at home. No longer can I toss in a load of laundry, sit with the kids to do their homework a couple days a week, or have dinner on the table by 5 twice a week. First world problems, yes, but adjusting to this new schedule has been hard for all of us. We've created a new normal with this change, and so far we're managing to stay afloat. Still, I am thankful to have a stable career which helps me provide for my family. I'd like to say I wish I could stay home, but I know the grass always looks greener on the other side, so I'll remain thankful for the arrangement we have.

I couldn't tell you what we are busy with except just getting through each day. We run, play, work, go to school, not necessarily in that order. So often I tell myself I'll make time that night, or tomorrow, or over the weekend to spit out the blog post I just drafted in my head. Not running much lately has messed with my mind big time, and not blogging hasn't really helped matters because I need a place to dump my thoughts. How about if I try to post at least once a week? I'm sure I can do that. It's long overdue.

I'll leave you with a recent shot of the kids.

We love Easter morning!

Hello, Summer? I think we got disconnected...

Someone told me the other day that it is now August. Actually, that was in reference to the fact that it's almost September. September is just the month before October. October is when the Chicago Marathon happens. I'm running in that marathon. I've been training for it all summer. At least, what I think was summer.

A few days ago (OK, in June) I left for Ragnar, and when I returned I said, "I can't wait to write up my summary of this weekend!". I still can't wait to do so. This race reset my running brain, and proved that my body can accomplish so much more than I convinced myself I was capable of earlier this year.

Then I took the kids to their first day of summer camp. Each night after that, we scrambled to have clean, dry bathing suits and towels, lunches that would withstand field trips and bus rides, and oh ya, dinner. And getting to bed.

Then Fred started Rookie Ball two nights a week. Of course, Rookie Ball was the same two nights I run. Then Hot Dad's softball started on one of the same nights as Rookie Ball and my running. Let's not forget the softball league Hot Dad plays on with me on another night. At one point this summer, I wondered why we pay a mortgage and not rent a suite in a hotel for as little time as we seemed to spend at home.

Weekends have been additionally fun. I get my long runs in on Saturday mornings, usually before the rooster sends out the morning call. Still, as my running distance grew, my Saturday mornings were more and more consumed with my absence. Being home was then consumed with removing the grime of the miles from my body and resetting my mind back into Mommy-mode.

Hold on, 'just the other day' wasn't June. It was the 4th of July. Yes, that's it. The sun was up early, the birds were waking me for work and early long runs, and we could play softball casually without fear of darkness before the 5th inning. That was just last week, right?

That's about when Hot Dad got the running bug. He did the local 4th of July 5K for the third time and got a huge PR! Amidst all the ball games and my running, we squeezed in some time for him to get out and put in some miles.

The kids have watched a LOT of Animal Planet. I have run a lot of miles. Hot Dad has put up with a LOT of whining from all of us, and has made sure the kids are where they need to be each night. I have enjoyed plenty of wine. I drink a LOT of coffee.

I'm wrong, it was just June. We just got the field trip schedule from camp. We just put away the school back packs and got the new camp ones. Right?

I'll be honest, I feel cheated of a summer. I'm not sure how to justify that because I was outside so much pounding out the miles on the road or playing ball. Still, I feel like we were so crazed this summer that we, OK I, didn't get to enjoy it. There was no deep breath, no sitting by the pool, no time in the God forsaken tundra of weeds yard.

In my desperate attempt to keep some sort of social life, I tried to schedule times to see friends. This has been much harder than it sounds. Grocery shop? Do laundry? Clean the sticky spot on the floor? What's that thing in the corner with the hose that plugs into the wall? Vacuum? What language is that? Where's my wine?

I grew more and more tired as the weeks drew on. All of this, and we have only ONE kid doing any kind of activity!

Let's not forget the joy of weekday mornings with tired kids. Camp is enough to wipe you out, but when you have to get up at 6AM every day to go, there's a whole new layer of fun. I never could keep up with blogging our lovely mornings before camp with the daily pictures I take of the kids. There's been no time! Is there more coffee around here?

I am super thrilled (nobody says 'super' any more, why?) to be doing the marathon this year. My training is going well, I have been pain free except for the normal spongy legs and brain that go along with running through three towns, two counties, and then grocery shopping with two kids and then making dinners and trying to keep some semblance of order in the house.

Imagine my surprise when someone asked me if the kids were excited to start school "this month"! "This month"? You must be mistaken, summer hasn't yet begun.

In a mad attempt to find summer, we took our annual trip up north to a home away from home that I have come to treasure for its sunsets, indoor/outdoor pools, and its distance from home. I hadn't accounted for early morning wakings, though, to get in a run before the rest of the family was geared up for the pool. Still looking for that one relaxing morning on vacation.

I find myself, now, in the midst of school backpacks, homework, and making sure books go back to school. And lunches. But it's still only June, right?

Last day of camp

The glamourous life

I just love mornings. Being a full time working mom is wonderful. Waking your children up to leave the house for 10 hours every week day is just a blessing. Come on, you know you agree.

Some parents are weary of exposing the real truths of life at home with small children. I am not really one of them. There are things in life that you experience, and afterward you think, "Man, I wish someone had told me about that earlier". You know, like barfing and farting during pregnancy, truly sleepless nights with a newborn, colic, evil three year olds, and temper tantrums that don't stop after the phantom "terrible twos".

On one hand, we don't share these things because we feel pressure to live up to the Leave it to Beaver standard of family life. Still, there is a reality behind those cute little babies and perfect family pictures that we post on social media and hang on the walls of our homes.

Those of us in the trenches realize that if we really share these deep, dark secrets, then others won't be as likely to join us in the journey of parenthood and then we'd be left on the island all alone. Fighting the battle every day against single-digit aged enemies. We simply cannot have that. So we stay silent.

On the other side of this coin, we have to realize that when we don't share, we can't laugh at the huge mistakes we are each making when raising our kids. You know, stuff like forgetting to put candy in their lunch box, throwing out the four millionth an art project, and not doing their laundry when they wanted to wear that outfit to school. You know, THAT outfit! Ugh, MOM!

Thus, I offer you 60 minutes in the life of us, beginning at 6AM. Mind, you Mommy has been up for 60 minutes prior, because she has it easy. 

After the initial battle to get Ethel out of bed (20 minutes), I mentioned that I'd like to put sunscreen on both kids before they get their clothes on.

Begin battle royale.

Protest, anger, yelling.


Blood pressure - Mach 3

Meanwhile, Fred came out of his room, stark naked, and said, "I'm ready for sunscreen". Bless his naked little self.
This week at camp is a 'team challenge week', where the kids divide up on teams led by a counselor, choose a team color, make banners, and have little games. Yesterday, they were to wear their team colors to camp, and they did. Ethel decided to wear hers (dark blue) all week. I picked Fred's clothes this morning, upon his request, not knowing that today they should/could wear their colors (his is yellow). He came down the stairs, met with Ethel's instructions (whiny as hell) that he needs to wear his team colors. He tried to defend his (just fine) attire, to no avail. I told her it's OK, I didn't read it on the list of the week's activities, etc, her brother can wear whatever he likes. So, she got the flyer out and started to tell me that I was wrong when I told her {brace for sudden subject change} that they aren't going to Pool X today, they ARE going to Pool X, and why did I say they aren't?

I apologize (because I'm obviously an idiot, right?) and try to clarify what I was saying, at which point she interrupts me and says, "Stop talking!".

Blood pressure - Mach 7.

She continues this pissing and moaning through breakfast. No sunscreen, I told her to get a sun burn.


Suddenly, it was discovered that when I put their swim gear in their backpacks, I mistakenly put his towel in her backpack, and hers in his. Holy crap, how could I have done such a thing? Why did I do that? Are you joking? Apparently someone needs their Mom Card revoked. Thank goodness for kids who are right there to point out these kinds of flaws.

Finally, we got into the car. As I got into the driver's seat, Ethel screamed, "My diary!! I wanted to bring my diary!!". I explained that we're leaving and she should have thought about the diary earlier, and she hurled to me, "I FORGOT", very emphatically.

I was pretty much ready to drive the car through the family room wall at this point.

She tried to climb out the window. Literally. OMG.

I waited 'til she sat. I started the car and pulled out of the garage. Ethel screamed at me because she was not buckled. Obviously, I had not given her ample time to do so. Mommy's on a roll this morning!

{insert snotty, know-it-all intonation at full volume} "You'll get a ticket and it will be your fault because you didn't follow the rules!". I told her "I'm OK with that". She is now enraged even more, and buckles her seat belt. Loudly. With a grunt.

The drive to camp was not quiet. I got an ear full about how I hurt her feelings, I'm the one who makes the mornings difficult, etc. I asked her why life isn't so burdensome for Fred, when I ask him to do the very same things? {my first foray into comparing the lives of my children to make a point - fail} Of course I don't ask the same of him, she explained to me. I only asked him to put on sunscreen. Of course, how could I be so stupid as to not know what I ask of my children in the morning.

We got to camp and she didn't get out of the car. So I closed and locked the car door and began walking. Poor Fred just stood there. I felt so badly that he was stuck in the middle of this. Then I watched as Ethel climbed into the front seat (totally forbidden act in my car, btw, you do NOT climb in a car) because she knows I have the child locks on the back doors. Too bad, kid, I locked the car, you can't get out. She pounded on the door, crying and yelling.

I finally let her out (the back door) and she yelled at me for locking her in. Now it's my fault. As we walked to the entrance, and I told her it was not my problem, she PLUGGED BOTH EARS!!!!!!

Yes, I am the mom who grabbed her 8 year old in a headlock and pulled her backward several feet telling her, "Don't you dare". And she is the 8 year old who told me, "I had something in my ears!". Yes, we got some great looks from the other patrons entering the building. It was awesome.

Mind you, this entire time she is bawling. Yes. Good mom bringing her sobbing child to camp. At 7:00AM. It's already been a long day.

And you know what? I don't care. When you're having this much fun, it's only right to share with those around you and let them have some fun, too.

She cried all the way into the lap of her favourite counselor, whose lap she sits in every morning when we get there. And Fred, proudly, gave me multiple hugs and kisses, as he does every day, and made his way to a friend in the room to play.

Bless the counselor who tried to make me feel better and said, "Oh, I bet she won't be the only one. For some reason Wednesdays are harder than Mondays".

I wonder if that counselor babysits.

In the Mommy 'hood

Thoughts from last night's run:

This is how I feel running, into the wind, up long, steady inclines

Who runs with lipstick and eyeshadow?

This is how I feel as a parent, dealing with the constant demands, whines, objections, what-ifs, and general duties associated with young children.

 

 

Is this more effective than coffee?

And when all is said and done, the run is complete, the children are asleep, and Mommy is having some wine finally sitting down and relaxing {insert hysterical laughter here}.....

Minus the lipstick

Honestly, though, as I got through the run last night, I realized that there have been so many times when I just wanted to quit. Just stop, toss the shoes, not run the next run or race, and walk away. At home, I am overwhelmed. Some days I feel like I am not cut out for this motherhood thing. I want to run away more often than not, or so it seems. Ironic, right?

What makes me want to keep at it, or even do it again, is the feeling at the finish. Whether it's a race or a fun run, or kissing the tears off a cheek and seeing a smile, the feeling of knowing I did it really keeps me going.

The last few weeks have been tough, and last week I could feel it in my legs on every run. Last night, though, I could feel the stress of the day fade throughout the whole run. I remembered the feeling of being able to accomplish what I need to after a good run. It was a feeling I haven't had in quite a while, and it felt good to finally have it back.

And, to top off my night, I made it to Fred's first Rookie Ball game (just a little late). I got through my day, melted away some of the stress, and got to see him play in his first game.

I have terrible Mommy guilt most of the time, and being late to the game last night didn't help that at all. Still, getting a hug from Ethel, and watching Fred out there watching airplanes and running to first base, it was like a big reward for the day.

Smiling Monkeys

No, there were no smiling monkey pics yesterday. It rained yesterday. Streets flooded. I got road rage. This is what it looked like.

Actor reenactment

Today was much better. And they both smiled.

Actual kids, not actors

Smiling Monkeys

YEAH BLACKHAWKS!

Something new, Smiling Monkeys

I'm not the world's most creative mom. I work. I have two kids. Who has time for that stuff?

One morning last summer, my kids were just super cute as we made our way to the car on the way to summer camp. I had to snap a shot. It was such a nice moment {ie: no crying, protesting, no word 'no'...}.

It's true, we do have these kinds of mornings sometimes.

I have this picture as my wallpaper on my phone, and I adore it. They look so carefree. So summer.

It got me thinking a month or so ago, that I should take their picture each morning. So I started to do so.

Some mornings are more pleasant than others. Some, not so much. Still, I take their picture.

I post them to Facebook.

And now, I will post them here. I will try daily, but, hey, I'm human. I'm a mom. I go to work. I snap these shots as we dash out of the house. Cut me some slack.

Here is today's submission. Two relatively happy kids on their way to camp. Early in the morning.

"I'm going to live somewhere else"

We made it almost two years before giving her McDonald's. We made it five years before our first visit to the ER. We made it eight and a half years before she packed a bag and left the house for greener pastures.

That's right. Ethel decided today that we are mean, and she was going to live somewhere else. In a defiant act of unholy tantrum independence, Ethel got a duffel bag from under my bed, packed a few things in it, and triumphantly made a teary-eyed exit through the patio door. No good byes, no note on her pillow, no sorrowful look back with sad background music - she just left.

There was no looking back, and no cute puppy

 She went to the front yard. She went to the side of the house. She went from the front yard to the back yard, and back to the front. Daddy found her and tried to get her to take One Eyed Pete, her BFF cat. She said she would not take him because he would die. She didn't know how she'd get food for him. Despite the last minute nature of her decision, she had put some thought into it.

What horrible thing would drive an eight year old to decide to go where the grass is greener, you ask? Being told to change her clothes. Yes. In order to go see a play, in a theater, she was asked to put on an outfit that was color coordinated, if not a real ensemble. {insert shock and horror here}

You told your daughter to do WHAT?

Yes, we are mean parents that do not want our children to wear pink shirts and orange shorts with green socks and blue/green Crocs in front of the general public. Truly, our eye for fashion is skewed, don't you think?

We are obviously monsters. Unfit parents.

Initially very excited to see our friends' daughter in the play, once she discovered that her brother wasn't going and she would have to change her clothes, the deal was off. She.wasn't.going.

These are the times that drive a mom to drink heavily really question her parenting. And drink heavily. And yell. A lot.

Rest assured, Ethel returned home in less than 20 minutes. She figured out, faster than a college graduate, that life just ain't that easy. Honestly, I don't know why she came back in the house. She was probably hungry. Who knows.

She finally agreed to unpack her bag and write a letter of apology to the star of the play. She agreed to move home. She agreed to a few conditions, including apologizing to Mommy and putting away the things she unpacked. More conditions will follow, but we all need a bit of a cooling off period.

After some time beating myself up over everything from bad dinners to not teaching my daughter better fashion choices, I am now enjoying a beer blogging in peace and quiet. Daddy realized that we would all be on the news before long if everyone didn't make themselves scarce, so he took the kids to the library.

We almost had a mutiny on our hands when I suggested books that each of the kids should look for. Don't panic, crisis averted. They, quite wisely, conceded.

You thought I was kidding, didn't you.

Testing, testing, 1-2-3....is this thing on?

I have been absent. Bad blogger. It's not on purpose, or for lack of interest. I never could have anticipated how busy life would get with a husband, house, job, two kids, and the bit of a social life that I try to cling to. I feel like we emerged from the plague that hit over the holidays and hit the ground running, never looking back.

I can't juggle and I don't wear dresses

Fred has now completed kindergarten. His first year in institutionalized education went quite well, and I am certainly looking forward to his first grade experience. He has now lost six teeth (one of them at 2AM last week, which was awesome), and I'm still getting used to seeing him without his top fronts. He is very excited because without these key choppers, he proudly declares that he looks like a real hockey player (Duncan Keith of the Hawks, to be exact).

We've enrolled him in baseball for the summer, which he's really looking forward to. I can't count the number of cold spring days after the snow melted when he would take his tee ball set out back and set up a field and practice hitting and running the bases. I think the cutest part is the way he lays out the bases. His patterns are wonderful. :)

Ethel continues to excel in school and just finished up 2nd grade. She reads like it's her job and is still as artistic as ever. She began to lose some focus toward the end of the school year, something which we're trying to target to keep from getting too far off track. She's hot a huge heart, but often times her desire to help others keeps her from doing her own work. I admire her charity and am insanely proud of all her accomplishments this school year. She's excited to have a teacher she knows pretty well when she returns for third grade in August.

Hot Dad has finally found a hobby which I think is sustainable. He's joined a Lego User Group and spends lots of time building, researching, and sorting Legos at home. It's an activity the kids can get in to, and Ethel has taken to it like a fish to water. The two of them could play with Legos for days on end if I let them.

I have not just returned to running, I have regained my love of running. I started out slowly in the fall and slowly brought myself back to decent mileage, and along with that came some speed. I'm not breaking land speed records, but I am pretty happy with the way things are right now. I've run a lot, raced a bunch, and am having a great time.

I completed a Whole30 program in April as part of my attempt to kick start my diet and continue on the Paleo way. I can't say enough about how much I learned about food, my body, my mind, and my overall health. It was difficult at times, but I couldn't be happier with myself for sticking with it. I continue to eat clean and still feel great. I hope to soon post my daily diary that I kept during April. I also hope to jump the whole family into better eating, clean eating. We'll see how that goes.

Pictures and more details will follow, of course. I just completed my second Ragnar Relay Chicago, and am trying to readjust to life at home. It's funny how quickly one can adapt to the fast-paced life of Ragnar, living in a van with five others, yet, it takes several days to get used to being back to the life you spend every day living. It's crazy.

More will follow soon, I promise!

Finger paints vs the Red Swingline

The difference between work in child care, and work in an office

Board room or classroom?

Every once in a while I look back at my first job - an administrator in a day care center. I remember those days pretty well, and I remember taking the big plunge, leaving the industry to sell out and work for Big Brother. I used to pass this one office building on my way to the day care, often laughing at the skirts and suits hurrying to their pens to do their daily chores. I, on the other hand, was en route to finger painting, giggles, and playing outside with little kids who loved it when I wore pigtails to work. Wouldn't you know it, karma kicked me in the hind end and I became one of the skirts and suits sent to pasture in the pen to do daily chores in that.very.building. Thank goodness they went business casual before I started.

"The ratio of people to cake is too big"

I am not really much into following the herd, despite being Virgo, first born, and Type A. Yes, I like to follow rules, but, most of the time the rules become just guidelines and I try to find the loopholes and see how far I can push the limits. I went to Big Brother and still wore my pigtails, often wore neck ties (hey, it was the 90's, girls wearing ties was 'edgy'), and joked with upper managers (you said HI to HIM? OMG!). But I arrived and left on time and did the work asked of me. See, I follow rules. Sometimes.

So, 17 years later, I look back and recall those days of wiping noses and butts, enforcing teaching manners, and enforcing teaching personal space. It got me thinking, what is different about life in a pen cube, vs working in a classroom with the single digit set? I tried to make a list.

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....still thinking....
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Got one! They don't appreciate my Froot Loops necklaces like the kids did.
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Guess it's a shorter list than I thought.

How far we've come. A letter of thanks.

Hot Dad and I carefully selected a child care provider when we were expecting our first child, Ethel.  We have remained customers all these years, and now that the kids are older, and both will be in school full time later this month (he's not really going to kindergarten, is he?), we will be using the services of another program for before and after school care.  Our reasons are many, not the least of which is our bottom line.  Regardless, we've had a relationship with our provider for over seven years, and today is our final day of attendance.  I say we, because while Fred is our only child currently enrolled, our whole family is a part of his attendance. 

The cost saving is going to make a world of difference, but the emotional aspect of ending our tenure at the center is weighing on me today, our last day.  So I sent this letter of thanks to the director and staff. 

To the entire staff;

January 28, 2005 (it was a Friday) was Ethel’s first day at the day care. I dropped her off, hoping there were enough bottles and diapers for her for the few hours I’d be leaving her. This was my practice run before returning to work the following Monday. I was as nervous about her day as I was about mine. I wasn’t even sure I was packing the right things for her. Nonetheless, I packed her stuff, unloaded it in the infant room, laid her in a swing, and she was none the wiser. Not a peep. With no fanfare about things, I kissed her forehead and went grocery shopping. Alone. It was awesome.

Two years later, in 2007, Fred joined the army of infants and we went through the same drill. A kiss on the forehead, barely a blink from Fred, and Ethel and I were off to visit a friend and spend some time together. What a difference two years made. Still, I was unsure of how many bottles and diapers to send, and whether I sent the right outfits for him.

Guess what – it all turned out fine. They both did great on their first days. And so did I.

So much has transpired in those seven and a half years. The kids grew (despite my constant demands that they not), they started walking and talking (often to my dismay), they began eating solid food, writing their names, and discovering the world around them, all thanks to the love and care they have always received at the day care.

As parents, we all want what is best for our children, and we make decisions based on what we feel is best for our family, and what works for our family. It’s never easy to leave your child, let alone your infant, in the arms of another person, but, I assure you that we never had a doubt that both kids were in the right place. Ethel and Fred have both thrived in this center, and for that we couldn’t be more grateful.

There are too many memories to recount in a simple letter, and there are too many thank yous to list in even a few pages. Every one of the staff in this center today has helped Ethel and Fred grow and become the individuals they are today. The kids have changed, so have so many things here at the center, and we are proud that we have been witness to all of it.

The job of caring for other peoples’ children is not one to be taken lightly. We parents ask a lot of those who spend most of the work week with our kids. I believe that this staff understands that and takes that job seriously. From diapers and bottles to chairs and table manners, and from potty training to potty words, Hot Dad and I couldn’t have done it without all of you.

Ethel and Fred are probably too young to understand what a big deal their last day at Bright Horizons is, and I’m not old enough to have kids. OK, so that last part isn’t true. The drawers full of art projects and daily report sheets, the myriad of pictures of the kids in the classrooms, and memories Hot Dad and I will share with them will provide them the evidence of their first years and adventures over the last seven and a half years at the day care.

Thank you for all the love and support you’ve given our two kids. Thank you for the support you have given me and Hot Dad as we navigate the strange world of parenting. Cooperation and flexibility are things we’re working on with the kids, but something we’ve always had with the staff.

I hope we can keep in touch.  The kids have become as much a part of your life as you have of theirs.

Ethel is not good on the spot, and Fred doesn’t like to be told when to say something, so I will say this for them – THANK YOU!

Thank you, from me and Hot Dad, for everything. It will be a very strange thing not to be dropping the kids off on Monday morning. Very strange for all of us.

Sincerely,

Ethel and Fred and family

Mommy's Project 52:52 Active

I'm kind of sad that Mommy's Project: 52 is coming to a close.  I am really happy, though, that it helped me keep my blog active over the last year!  Having a topic to write about each week (I think I might have missed one or two, though, sorry!), meeting other bloggers, and touching on subjects I wouldn't have probably thought to touch on has been lots of fun.

In the last year, my daughter completed first grade, my kids turned 7 and 5, I completed my first half marathon, we took a family vacation, my husband started bowling in a league which he really enjoyed, and we're getting set to do all that again (minus the 7 and 5 thing).  In the coming year, my son will be in kindergarten, I will be working toward resolving the injury to my hip, my husband will bowl his second season in the league he joined, and the kids will turn 8 and 6 (I closed my eyes to type that because I don't believe they're going to be those ages), among many other things.  Time flies, it's amazing.

First grade

Love summer vacations

Someone's 7

A happy five year old

Big half marathon finish!

I have never been one to exercise, I'll be honest.  I used to run in college (once in a while), ran reluctantly in high school (thank you, Presidential Physical Fitness testing), but that is about the extent of the exercising I've ever done.  Every once in a while I would try to follow those "melt those love handles away with these easy exercises" from the magazines, but it's always short lived.  Once I started running in 2010, I knew I'd found something that could help me melt away stress, get myself in better shape, and handle things in my daily life better than I was handling them before.  Once I got injured in January of this year, however, things changed drastically.

Not being able to run, for much of this year, I had to find something to keep myself active, while also helping heal the injury to my hip.  Because the hip area is a complex system of more than just your waist and a place to wear your belt, I focused on work that would strengthen that entire area and enrolled in a core class.  I haven't taken a class in years.  I took yoga and pilates several years before the kids with a girlfriend, and admit that I did yoga at home on a semi-regular basis until I got married.  This core class, though, is really making a difference, and I plan to stick with it for a while, especially while I recover from this hip injury.

I play coed softball and have since I was about 18.  These days, I play once a week in a beer league that I organize at work.  Hot Dad joined our team last year, so we get to play ball together again like we did when we first met.  During summers, softball gets me out of the house weekly, I get the opportunity to socialize with coworkers outside the office, and when we can get a sitter it's a break from the kids for me.  Before running, summer softball was my only form of activity outside of chasing the kids around and grocery shopping.

The kids have also gotten in on the action by having run a couple of kids' races at races I've done.  I think they're both really liking it, and I am hoping that I can get Ethel to join me in a 5K some time next year.  Fred is taking t-ball this summer, and at summer camp I enrolled Ethel in swimming lessons, so they certainly aren't letting the grass grow under their feet this summer. 

I don't consider myself a 'blogger', per se.  I don't do it for a living, I don't write articles about hard-hitting social issues, and I don't have unending wisdom to share and make money from.  I started to blog to unload my thoughts in a media that wouldn't require a translator to decipher my horrific hand writing in a simple journal.  The conclusion of Mommy's Project 52 doesn't bring my blogging to an end, no way.  I feel like it helped me get in the routing of writing more regularly, and I look forward to the next 52 weeks, hoping to post at least weekly, if not more often! 

Thanks to Robin for putting this project together and bringing together those of us who participated.  I have enjoyed the activity, and following new bloggers and their families and adventures.  Through this process, I've met other moms, other runners, other people with a variety of common interests.  Thanks, Robin, this has been loads of fun!!

This is crazy!

Yes, I am a bad blogger of late.  I've fallen behind on Mommy's Project 52, kid updates, running updates, and basically being here.  Yes, I'm a bad blogger.  Please forgive me.

In the last month or so:

I went to Derby.  Loved it.
I finished PT.  Love that.
I ran a 5K, 3.5 mile, 8K, and a 10 miler, and a Ragnar Relay.  Loved them.
We had a garage sale and sold the Pack n Play (the last baby item).  I love that we made some money.  Jury is out on the PnP part.
I traveled for work.  Detroit - meh.
Ethel finished first grade, and her 7 years in day care.  I cried.
Fred 'graduated' from the pre-k program at day care and we went to the 'ceremony'.  I didn't cry.  That night.
Ethel started a new summer camp.  Loves it.
Fred started t-ball.  Loves it.

I need to update on my hip and my running, since marathon training started last week.  Ya, I kind of decided that this past weekend's Ragnar would be my first week's mileage, so I'll leave it at that.  I hope to get out this week for some more miles each day.  The weather will be great for it.

My hip is sore again, after 2.5 weeks of no pain at the end of April, beginning of May.  I guess when you start running again, there is going to be some amount of sore/pain to go along with it.  Sure.

I discovered my disdain for a song I hadn't heard before I spent time in a van with 5 other smelly runners this past weekend (review of Ragnar to come).  Suffice it to say, Call Me Maybe is now a fixture in my brain and I'm doing all that I can to get it out.  Enjoy that little clip of the impromptu dance party my van mates and I had before I ran my third (of 3) leg on Saturday morning at Ragnar.  :)

Anyway, all that to say, it's been very busy.  I will be taking time later this week to sit down and get some time online doing things like updating my blog and sharing stories of the madness that is our life here in the 'burbs. 

I've been trying to make time to savor a cup of coffee in the morning, and relax with a glass of wine at night, but that never seems to happen.  This whole adulthood thing is for the birds, I tell ya!

Hang with me.  I'm here.  This is crazy!

Where did my babies go?

Fred can fully recognize his letters (has for a while now), and their sounds. He is trying as hard as he can to read, to put letters and their sounds together to form words. He wants to read like Ethel does. It's so cute. I am trying to work with him without pushing too much. I know he'll get there, and kindy starts in the fall, so I feel good that he's at this stage.  Just last night I pulled out a workbook for him to try his hand at.  It's simple sight words, tracing the letters and identifying the (mostly three/four letter) words that belong with the pictures.  He killed it.  Scary.  I had to talk him into stopping so we could eat dinner.  I think he wants to be able to read what I write about him and his sister on Facebook.

They are working on numbers at (day care) school now, and he has gotten so much better writing them. His number 3 was horrific not long ago, but now it's recognizable as a 3. They are up to letter 8 or 9, and he loves practicing writing them.

Bookworms in the making

 I told Ethel that I'd like her to write a note, to both the day care director and to her first grade teacher, before next week when both experiences end. She asked if she can write to her first grade teacher and ask her to tell the principal that Ethel wishes she could go to school all summer. All year, even. She said it with the most glimmery eyes, with magic in her face, and a hope that you usually see from kids in a toy store hoping their parents will buy them all the Angry Birds on the shelf. Seriously, she loves going to school and has asked me several times if she can keep going all summer.

Evidence that perhaps she's not my child. {??}

Ethel gave me tons of hugs and kisses the other night. This is totally out of the norm for her, she rarely even accepts them, let alone give them. She was more loving that night than I've seen her in a long time. It was wonderful, and I told her how much I liked that, and that it made me feel good.  She smiled and smiled.  She even let me put braids in her hair twice in the last week.  I can't help but think she wants, or did, something.

Yes, I might be the most cynical parent on the planet right now. I'm OK with that. Or maybe I'm just in denial that my kids are growing up.  Either way, I am happy to see the progress both kids are making, and watching them grow up is something I treasure. 

For now, I still have a first grader (3.5 more days) and a five year old who is home with me on my work at home days (kindy starts in the fall).  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.  Now where's my coffee?  Is it too early for wine?

On Fred turning five

Dear Fred,

Today you turn five.  Yes, five.  Some moms might write a long letter filled with memories and loving sentiments.  Some moms might pull out volumes of pictures neatly displayed on ornate pages that they toiled over for hours, which chronicle each moment of the past five years.  Some moms might even throw a huge party and buy a huge cake.  You didn't get that mom.  Sorry, Kid.

Why can't they stay so tiny?

What I will do is tell you that I love you.  I will tell you that I remember the moment I first saw you and thought you had funny looking toes and beautiful eyes surrounded by long, wonderful eye lashes.  I remember being so proud that we made it through those few days in the hospital, and how gracious you were when your two year old sister held you for the first time.  I remember being in awe of this little boy and telling Daddy that potty training this one was all him.  I remember being relieved that I only had to deal with teaching about make up and periods one time instead of two.  I remember the first clear sounds you made after you got the tubes in your ears.

I remember the first time your sister made you laugh, and resenting the fact that she did it with such ease and yet you would hardly crack a smile for me.  I remember watching your sister dote on you at Easter and pile plastic eggs around you in your bouncy chair, and how you laughed at her and kicked and bounced most of he eggs out of the chair.  I remember Daddy's smile when you fell asleep on his shoulder, which was one of your favorite places to slumber.

I remember so many things from the last five years that the time seems a blur.  Today, your sister is your favorite person, cars and trucks are your favorite toys, and you have a strong will that I wouldn't want to come across in a dark alley.  You are imaginative, creative, and Daddy and I hope you'll be left handed like us and want to be a pro baseball pitcher.  Just sayin'.

Is that hair gel?

I love the way you laugh when I tickle you, and the way you laugh when your sister makes a silly face.  I love your little hand patting me on the back, and I love your voice when you tell me I'm pretty.  I love the way you stammer and stutter when you're so excited to tell me something, and the passion with which you tell me those things.

We've had countless sleepless nights, and our share of doctor visits.  You've dealt with the ear infections your Mommy passed down to you, the tubes to fix them, and you still tell me you love me.  You had your thumb fixed from crooked to straight and I'm always thrilled when you give me a thumbs up. 

There wasn't a more handsome one year old

You are a force to be reckoned with, and the ladies better beware.  You are a charming young man with long eye lashes and blonde hair.  I love your enthusiasm for everything you do, and hope that your charm works well for you in school. 

The first lost tooth.

Thank you, Fred, for all that you have taught me, and for all the challenges you continue to present me with.  You brighten my days, even the ones you start at 4AM.  Or earlier.  OK, maybe not those days.  Still.  You make me laugh, you make me cry (seriously, forget the word "no"!!), but most of all, you make me happy.  You make me happy to be your Mommy, to have a wonderful son like you who is so excited to live every day and show Mommy how to live full steam ahead, never look back, and have no regrets.

 I love your kisses and hugs, and the way you say, "I love you".  I love the passion you have for the things you love, and the things you really.don't.love.

You are five now, Fred, whether Mommy likes it or not.  There is so much more I could write, but I fear that the internet is not the fad I thought it would be, and you'll come across this when you're a teenager.  By that time, memories of your stinky poops and farts, your temper tantrums, your revelations about all things obvious, and your love for your Mommy will be only a source of embarrassment. 

In conclusion, Fred, happy fifth.  May you enjoy every year with as much zest as you have these first five.  Minus the tantrums, ear infections, and croup.  And early mornings.  And....aw, forget it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRED!!

On the eve of 5