My Boys, My House, Merry Christmas

Waylon had his first ever Christmas program at Preschool.  He did awesome.  I couldn't get over how much of a teenager he looked like in his khaki cargo pants and polo shirt accessorized with a nice yellow and camo hat on the way into the church.  I love that kid beyond words.  He didn't do one motion to the music, but sang every word even when he was distracted by the girl next to him.  He is such his dad. 

He still loves school and was a little bummed not to have it today because he was going to get to go in his Chiefs jammies. 

I have to mention that both boys told me how beautiful I looked this morning in my huge winter coat and scarf and gloves.  Not sure how anyone looks beautiful that way, but the comments are always welcomed!

Our house is loud and little people jump off of stuff people shouldn't jump off of:

 I can't get a good pic of Weston for anything


Last night the boys were playing an interesting game. They love that I have the couch away from the wall and two tables behind it creating a perfect play area for them that they can keep messy and not drive me batty. Last night they were sitting on the back of the couch then sliding down to the pile of blankets below. Nothing like a good game of TOILET to get us all laughing. Who pretends like they are a turd coming out of some one's butt? Only my boys. Dale acted like he was appalled but I think he was secretly kicking himself for never playing the game himself. It was grossly hilarious. Waylon plopped and Wyatt slid smoothly. Just in case you wanted to know.

The tan is left over from the holiday party.  Waylon is the master cookie decorator!

This was at the work holiday party.

This morning's drive in was interesting.  All 3 plus hours of it.  I love the snow but I hate driving to the city in it.  I was just about to take a quick little nap on 35 when I saw a truck driver reach his hand out of his window equipped with a Gatorade bottle.  That's an interesting color of..... oh.  The guy was emptying his bottle of piss right there gloriously splashing it on my nice shiny, snow slathered car.  Posting that on Facebook kept me entertained for the next hour. 

Usually we do Santa at work and have our own little appointment and special time with him, but that bum got a real job and left us to the long lines of screaming anxious kids.  The boys (the older two) did awesome and stuck it out.  Waylon was getting a little tired but Santa and that train came just in time.  What a great day we had together last Saturday.  I was so glad to have a day where we didn't fight, get annoyed, or argue, but we just enjoyed one another.  So many families that can't do that right now. 

I'm not even close to being ready for Christmas and I don't have an ounce of worry about it.  I've already made 2 batches of cookies, which if you know me, that is big time.  I'm so ready for the time off with my family.  We have no plans but to be together and celebrate the season.

This is probably one of my favorite pictures.  Do you all ever find yourself as you are waking up from a dream and have to remind yourself that you have little kids and to really tune into the sound of their laughter and the way their feet hit the floor and how their voices hug each sound of the words that are coming out of their mouths?  I find myself doing this a lot lately.  These little guys, they are mine for now.  I get this time with them.  As Weston keeps growing that mental voice keeps screaming louder to hold on and remember as much as I can.

Merry, Merry Christmas, Ya'll!

For no good reason

Yesterday I had the rare chance to go to the store by myself, not once, but twice.  Confession, I don't really care to go by myself.  I had one specific thing in mind, envelopes for the Christmas cards.  As I'm scurrying in and out of this store and that and making the most of my 10 minutes I still had before I had to pick the littlest two up I ran in to a mom.  She was smaller than me and I could only barely tell that the girl standing next to her was her daughter. 
"Liam" (through tight lips) "stop wondering around." 
She picked up the baby carrier to move into line behind me. 
"Mom, can I just..."
"NO, if I to get you something we ...."
"ok"
His shoulders slumped as to say he never gets anything because of all these dang brothers and sisters and his profile turned toward me and I was shocked how much his features resembled Waylon's even though he was much older. 
One of her daughters was over at a makeup bag slowly unzipping and looking at me and back at the bag and then at me.
The other little sister fumbling something out of her big sister's hand. 
"EMMA, gosh" in only a way a tween can sigh.
Six kids, all had to be hers.  They all looked so much alike. There's really no point to my story other than some people just stick in your head for whatever reason and it made me miss my kids.  When two moms are at the store with their kids, there is a look they give each other and they bond without saying a word.  You know that just because she is talking through her teeth she is actually quite a good mom by the way they follow her lead.  You know the same rush and stress she feels and most likely you're in it yourself.

When you are alone you don't get that.  The mom is too busy looking at you and pleading for you not to judge her for her kids that are taking up so much space.  Or that have chocolate slathered across their face and keep accidentally bumping into you.  Yesterday I found myself actually going into the boy's isle for no apparent reason other than I needed to feel like a mom.  Do me a favor, next time you are at the store and see a stressed mom look for a way to help her out, glance her a smile as to say I know what you are going through, or just let her go in line in front of you.  We all appreciate a kind gesture from time to time. 

On to the exercise update.  I'm on week 3 of cross training with P90x.  I'm S*O*R*E STILL!  Last week I got off on my workouts and ended up skipping 3 of them. I had a migraine Monday that I'm sure was triggered after working out too hard.  I ended up sleeping all day that day, for real, all day.  In hindsight I'm glad I skipped the workouts at the end of last week because I was exhausted and in such a horribly cranky mood.   I found out I was more exhausted than I realized. 

Back at it though and today I was actually able to do chest and back without the video.  Those pull-ups are kicking my rear. I think I'm to the point where I can do 2 unassisted out of around 100 pull-ups. 
Want to picture something funny, picture me hanging from the pull-up bar doing everything I can to budge a tiny bit toward that bar.  Comical!  The chair is my best friend and I have to make sure I'm not cheating too much. 

Yoga - I finished the entire workout this week and I enjoyed it, but it was hard and I was really sore in a few new places, which is always exciting.  Right inside my upper thighs this time.  And there are a few little ripples that are starting to show themselves in my mid section.  I never thought they would come back.  Three kids later I'm actually getting some definition again. 

I have to admit I really miss running though.  I spent 5 minutes on the treadmill this morning for a warm-up and considered spending all my time there.  It gives me great things to look forward to as the weather warms back up.  

The boys - they most certainly do not have anything that remotely resembles, or could possibly turn out to be Pink Eye.  Absolutely not!!!  Wipe your eyes, wash your hands, get to school!  WE WILL FULLY ENJOY A HEALTHY CHRISTMAS! (said through grited teeth)

My fear and my praise

I’ve been quiet, lost, mourning, fearful… angry. I can’t seem to find the right words and I am not even close to having any answers. I’ve listened quietly and I’ve read opinions. I’ve found people pointing blame, turning against one another. People mad at this group for saying something and that group for not. Pouring rage into someone because they tried to expand the light through the doors of the trouble our world is in and dimming the light off of this most recent tragedy. I’ve seen tragedy continue to happen and tears continue to fall.


When I first saw the scrolling news and first learned of the actions that took place all I could see there was my son. My tall, skinny, dirty blonde, blue-eyed son. Who’s biggest trouble in the morning is finding his batman mask and cape. I could see him in that classroom more afraid than he’s ever been. I saw myself on the outside as helpless as I could have ever imagined I’d be. A dream, an illusion, someone else’s reality that I allowed my mind to go and my heart to break. As the hours and now days have passed I still find myself troubled, so deeply affected. I can’t bring myself to study their names, to see their ages, to see their beautiful little faces. I’m not ready for that. It is a way to block the magnitude of the hurt and grieving that I know I can’t go to right now.

Some are screaming for gun control, others for more help in mental health, some of them thankfully, are pounding down doors and demanding that God take a presence where He has been removed. I’m not here to push any one agenda. Do I believe God should be in my life, my children’s lives, and yours? Without a doubt, I do. I’m here to say I’m scared. I don’t know what to do. What actions to take or even how to prepare my own kids for something like this in their lives.

My oldest son has recently started having daily meltdowns where he turns into a different child. He is normally a very sweet and loving child, who is more sensitive than his brothers, but recently he has started really acting out and showing such hate in his face. All of the sudden I’m looking for every bit of evidence that he has some kind of mental problem rather than just letting him be a kid and express normal human kid emotions the way a kid would do. As parents how do we know what to do? What do we treat, what do we not? What should we concern ourselves with and punish and what should we not? Everything is starting to be such a blur. Spank, don’t spank, don’t yell, make sure they feel love, but not too much love, don’t coddle them, don’t excuse them.

On the other side of things I find myself looking for escape plans and running scenarios through my head on the best action to take if someone approaches us in a harmful way. All the while drowning out their laughter and conversations around who can run faster or jump higher.

My husband, a teacher…. A teacher. I won’t even let myself go there with him. I can’t put my husband in that room as a teacher. It is way too close and way too real. I know exactly what he would do. Exactly. All I can hope is that he is still fast enough to get to the attacker before damage is done because I know exactly what action he would take. Every day he walks into that school could be the day it happens. There have been two instances at that school where I begged him to be careful. Two times when I thought it was getting way too close to our lives and that my husband was in possible danger. And this year, one suicide just a couple short weeks ago, and 3 killed in a murder suicide just this past weekend.

The fear is no way to live. It has no business having control in my life. Don’t be afraid to love and show love. Don’t be afraid to feel, love, and enjoy. Don’t be afraid to help, to get involved. Always let people know what they mean to you.  Let that tear run down your cheek because a group at work are signing traditional Christmas Carols.  Enjoy your life and live the best life you possibly can.  Pray and praise.  That's really all we can do. 

Changing Seasons and New Things

The weather is trying to change and that change is bringing me to new/different things.  I started P90x for my cross training as I don’t have any races scheduled until Spring time and the cold temps right out of bed are not appealing to me. I made my mind up to do that last week sometime. Then I talked to my sister about a training plan and then I bought a used treadmill. So, I kind of feel like I’m back in the indecisive mode. I want to build more muscle and have a stronger core. Running makes me really lean, but dang, I finally love my calves. I’ve always thought they were too small even when I was running in college.

Most of you know that what got me back on my feet again and running towards a healthy, best self lifestyle was Insanity last January. I loved it. It made me sweat big time and it gave me a good base. Thank goodness for some muscle memory. Last Spring I was offered free entry into a 5k thanks to my work. I had not been running whatsoever. I was only doing Insanity. I went out and ran the race and it felt so dang good!!! I was hooked. I spent Spring, Summer, and Fall training and racing 5k’s. I struggled at the end with my performance when I should have been dominating. So, time for a change. I’ve had P90x sitting on my shelf for a while. I always said it has too many weights or too many pull-ups and that I wasn’t interested in even trying it. Now it is different. I want weights. I want muscle. So, here we are.

This picture was taken after Day 1, Chest and Back in which I felt like it was more of an arm workout because my arms were shot and bulked by the time I was done.

I’m on day 4. I’m sore as can be! I feel really strong until I try to scratch my nose, wash my hair, pick up my pen, go to the bathroom, walk down the steps, sneeze or cough, or get up from my chair, or push open a light door. Then I want to cry like a baby.  It’s slow going and a lot of facial grimacing. I actually like it a lot. And, honestly, it doesn’t seem too bad.  What was I so afraid of? The pull-ups, yes, those are bad. I can’t do them unassisted, BUT someday I WILL! I’m really glad I’m starting it in shape and can keep pace with those on the video.

Today the workout was Yoga. Wow! I’m a Yoga virgin and it is tough. Probably the toughest so far and one and a half hours long, which I had to cut short. I wish the workouts weren’t so long. I think that is the only bad thing. I already get up too early and go to sleep late and the hour workouts, sometimes a little over, are hard to squeeze in and then get ready for work along with its long two hour drive back and forth each day, and the boys ready and out the door (Dale already helps a ton), plus breakfast and packing lunch. I know, I should pack lunch the night before, but I’m spent the night before and I don’t want a sandwich that has sat in the fridge that long.

Anyway, it’s going well regardless of hurting myself 2 out of the 4 days. The first time I hit my shin on the bar while trying to assist myself doing a pull-up. The second time I was doing leg swings over a chair and hit my calf on the first one right after Tony said I would probably hit my leg on the chair. It hurts, but it is hard to distinguish from the other pain I’m already feeling. Anyone have a backscratcher?

I do miss running though. I fear that I will lose some of my endurance because the cardio in P90x is just not the same as getting out on the road and running, but if I compare where I started last season to where I will this season, I’m already ahead. I will work at getting it back slowly. Hopefully I will remember why I do it all in the first place and not start hating it because of my own disappointment from being too hard on myself.  I really want to squeeze in a half next season.

Maybe I will get more occasional fun runs in on the weekends like this past weekend when I met an old friend and a new friend for some trail running, which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!    LOVE!     Running through thick trees, brush, over rocks and bridges, and on a path full of trotted leaves gets me so in touch with nature, myself, my beliefs. Such a free feeling.  Hard to explain, but did I mention that I LOVE it?  We don't have a lot of trails around here, which is sad.

Here's my Cher Bear!  I love running behind her and admiring her calves the whole time.  They're monsters!

I didn’t intend for that to be so long, sorry.

The house is decorated and ready for the season of cuddling weather. It is so cozy in there.   Only one problem, the weather hasn’t been much of cuddling weather. More like, “GET OFF OF ME, I’M FREAKING HOT” weather.   I hear that is supposed to be changing up here soon.  I'm kind of glad even though I hate the cold.  Putting up the tree wasn't a huge ordeal this year other than moving the furniture 100 different times.  I even put tables behind the couch which is so nontraditional for me and something I never thought I'd do.  If you have a tables in your living room they should be used to hold drinks or pictures or something.  These are used to hold lamps and that is it.  I actually really like them back there.  It gets the couch off the back wall.  I even have the loveseat in a place that is nontraditional.  I don't believe in having furniture in your living room that you sit on and can't see the tv.  What's the point in that?  But, I really like it there.

We sold the Tahoe – big sad face. That thing was almost like a family member and paid for.  It was kind of a last minute, "Surprise someone is coming to buy the Tahoe" kind of thing.  It was surreal and I about stopped the whole 10 second show because I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.  I mean, did you make sure to take our lives out of there?  I know it is for the better.  There is no way it would have held to the value we got out of it for much longer. 

I found a wine I actually like – I don’t drink a lot. Thank you, sneaky little Davids'!

Dale is sick, but IS NOT acting "man sick" – you know what I mean. He’s been a trooper!

I've been curling my hair the entire week and it is getting long.  BIG change for me.  I've worn my hair straight for the last few years and I think it was right after Wyatt when I chopped it all off.

You know those days when you feel like you wasted a good outfit?  That was me the other day and just sat at my desk all day.

And then today, I wore flowers and stripes.  (Gasp)  After looking at this picture, I don't like the layered shirt I'm wearing. 

And, I cancelled Christmas for the older boys.  As of right now it is still cancelled. I’ll explain later.

Random: If you are an Elf on the Shelf doer, do you let the kids touch the elf?  No touching Trucker here.  It's never been a problem with the boys either, but I always place Trucker in higher places.
Do you call the Loveseat a Loveseat?  Loveseat for me.
White or colored lights on your tree?  I used to hate white lights when I was a kid and even up to a couple of years ago.  Now?  I love them, but I still feel colored lights go with a kid spirited Christmas and that's what I like for my boys right now.  I'm sure they couldn't care less.

Winner Announced - Guest Post

First things first:  The winner of the Alphabet Photography giveaway is...

Karen Schlueter

Congrats, Karen! You are going to LOVE it!  Please email, Facebook message me, send me a tweet, a text - get ahold of me in whatever way you can.  You have until 1pm CST to respond or I will pick another winner.  We need to get your order in TODAY. 
Thank you all for entering.  I'm sorry I can't giveaway one to each of you.  It's such a cool thing to have on your wall or to give as a gift.  Please consider ordering one if you didn't win.  If you can't afford the framing you have the option to order the individual letter pictures for $5 each.  Then you can go out and find your own frame or possibly use one you already have. They are offering free shipping until the end of the day. 

Huge thanks again to Jen for such an awesome giveaway!!!

In other news, I haven't blogged because I wanted to make sure this giveaway was top priority.  So, I have a lot of catching up to do and that will come soon, but for now I guest posted for Tonya over at Letters for Lucas.  I got all verklempt writing a letter to my Grandma and Grandpa.  It would mean the world to me if you would go check it out.  Spend some time over there too.  Tonya is a great women whose story has grabbed me from the start of my blogging days.  She's got a great heart and has gained much strength along the way.  She's an inspiration. 

Alphabet Photography Giveaway

I am so beyond excited about this.  You all know that I don't do giveaways unless I love the product and completely stand behind what the company is all about.  This blog has been so therapeutic to me.  I've worked through a lot of stuff on this blog.  I have poured my heart out, told my story - chapter by chapter, I've shared my struggles, my love, my joy, my excitement, my inspiration.  This blog has truly been for me.  It has given me confidence and helped me accept a lot of things about myself and allowed for an outlet to express my love for my family and my friends. 

This blog though, it wouldn't have been half of all of that if it wasn't for the readers that keep coming back.  Maybe they comment every time, maybe they don't.  Maybe they email me, hit me up on twitter, mention something on Instagram or Facebook, maybe they mentioned something to my face.  The readers... YOU!  You have made this blog what it is to me.  I've found support and love, acceptance, affirmation... so many things because of you all.  I've made new friends that I care about.  I have rekindled some old relationships, people have gotten to know me at a different level, understand me for me.  You all got pieces of me that I couldn't ever speak about.  And for all that I say THANK YOU in a very cool way. 

Ready?  I don't think you are... this is so completely cool!

• On Facebook this company's page has 32,079 likes.
• They have recently been seen on CNN for the second time.
• They have multiple famous people recommending their products.  I've seen pictures of royalty checking out their product. No joke!
• They've recently put a Christmas music video together straight from their shop and straight from the associates that put your products together.  Want to know how many views that video has at this point? 102,589, pretty impressive, right?! 
• But wait, in 2010 they created a Flash Mob video, which happens to have over 38 million (REALLY) views and is the most watched flash mob OF ALL TIME.  I remember watching it, probably the first one I ever watched, in awe.  It brought tears to my eyes and at the time I didn't even realize who it was from. 

What am I talking about?  Alphabet Photography!  I've had our name in Jen's letter photography on my wall for years.  It hasn't moved and I don't plan to move it anytime soon.  I love it.  Jen, huh?  Yep, I went to college with Jen.  She was the roommate of one of my best friends there.  I've seen her in her jammies.  I think, I don't actually remember, but I was at the house late so I'm sure I did.  Regardless, Jen is so sweet and is blow-you-away-talented.  Her work is so much more than Alphabet Photography, you should check out some of her newborn photo shoots and the shots she did of Olympic athletes.  Just simply AWE-MAZ-ING.  I could go on and on.  Jen has so graciously agreed to offer this generous gift to one of my readers. 

This is going to be a short giveaway as time is running out and I wanted to allow you to get this as a gift for Christmas to keep for yourselves or give to a loved one.  And, right now through Wednesday they are offering free shipping.  So, we have to hurry. 

What you win - a customized word of your choosing up to 9 letters in a custom frame.  That's a $134.95 value.  An absolutely amazing gift. 

Here's how to enter:

• Like Alphabet Photography on Facebook - mandatory
• Go to Alphabet Photography's website and play around with the design of your word (so easy and so completely fun) - come back and tell me what word you would choose - mandatory
• Like 5 Sharp Lives on Facebook
• Tweet it
• Facebook post it
• Tweet it some more
• Facebook it some more
• Come back and tell me about it. 
• Comment as many times as you want - no limit - comment your hearts out. 

I will pick a winner WEDNESDAY morning at 9AM CST.  You will have until 1PM CST to respond.  If not I will give the next name 30 minutes.  If I don't hear from them I will go to the next name and will repeat until I find a winner.  The winner will be drawn at random. 

Sorry for the short time frames, but I want to give people a chance to see the giveaway and enter.  The last day for free shipping is Wednesday, so we need to get the order in as soon as we can once announced.  Check Facebook, Twitter, and your emails.  Make sure I have a way to get ahold of you. 

So, THANK YOU!  Now, get to commenting, sharing, and designing what word you would want framed on your wall.  And, thank you, Jen for such a generous gift!!! 

Honored and Inspired

Inspired, refreshed, missing it...

You guys, the 2nd edition of Another Mother Runner’s What a Mother Runner Looks Like has been published. You can find it right here. I’m choking back tears. I’m so honored to be included, inspired to pick up and keep going, and just overwhelmed by the women featured. Cancer survivors, mothers with 5 plus kids, women who have lost pounds in the triple digits. They aren’t perfect, none of us are, but they are all strong. All so inspiring. Proud of where they are. Every women featured has a story. You only get a snippet here, but there is a story there and they have all picked up their knees, tied their shoes, pulled that sports bra over their messy ponytails and hit the streets, the treadmills, the trails.


I’ve been pretty honest here, I think, about my struggles with my running performance lately. Now that the weather in the early mornings is reaching the teens it is even harder to find the motivation to get out there and run. It takes like 20 minutes just to get dressed with all the layers. I’ve been transitioning since I don’t have any races until Spring to train for. I’ve struggled with making up my mind on what I wanted to do next. Keep hitting the streets early in the morning or pressing play on the dvd player and sweating. I’ve wanted more muscle and I think I finally have made up my mind on what it is I’m going to do next. Honestly, I’m a little scared and it is hard to find the drive I had when I was running. I miss that feeling of dominating a workout and feeling so completely strong and confident and WANTING to do it again every day of the week.

I haven’t ran since last Thursday morning when I did my own little turkey trot before heading out to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. Again, the run was slower, the weather was warmer, but my performance was slow and I actually am starting to feel like I’m out of shape. The last thing I want to do is start over. My body, mainly my brain, had such a hard time adjusting to the intensity when I first started turning it on and I suffered with frequent aura migraines. I fear that happening again if I let up. I love getting out for a run when I feel like running without a second thought or a hesitation of fear that I will die or it will hurt too bad.

After scrolling and reading the blurbs on these mothers I feel so renewed and refreshed; aching for that feeling again. Last night we moved a tv downstairs to the basement and I’m starting P90x for my cross training/off season workouts. It will be tough. I’m a little scared, but I know once I get going I will be fine. I really want to knock out a half marathon next season sometime. Again, scared! But, I have to start somewhere. So, I will cross train until the weather is nicer then I will hit the streets again. I’ll hopefully shoot for a half sometime late summer or fall. We will see how it plays out. Right now, I’m excited just thinking about it. It feels good to be there again.

I’ve been too down on myself lately and I need to get back in the groove again. This was the perfect push I needed to remind me why I do it all. Go check out the post and if you have time check out the 1st one. There are some great ladies in there too. Come back and tell me what you think. I would love to hear your perspective. I also want to hear more from so many of these ladies featured. I found a new running/mom blog today, Small Town Runner, and a very impressive runner/mom on facebook through some of my already favorite runners. And, they have 3 boys!! Do you know of anymore?  Keep sharing their links. I love finding new ones. They keep the inspiration alive and hold me accountable for making sure I’m staying in the game. Ones with 3 boys are icing on the cake!!!

How do you train during “off” season?

Have you done P90x before? What did you think?

What running/mom blogs/facebook friends do you recommend?

Dinner Banter

Dale likes to eat. He’s a bigger guy, not fat, just tall and built pretty thick. He thinks that he has to have dessert or something sweet after every meal. Well, his dad had high blood pressure and cholesterol and he is known to have high blood pressure from time to time. His cholesterol was too high at the last check as well. It is no secret that we are getting older and things like medication for preventable diseases is possibly in our future. I have already made several changes to my diet and a huge change around living a healthy life a while back. Dale on the other hand is not so motivated to give up the foods that taste so good to him. He is and has always been active though. Thank goodness for that!


Lately, I’ve been trying to incorporate healthier items in our meals. One switch I thought I got away with was whole grain spaghetti. I made spaghetti last Thursday, according to Dale. I have no idea if that is right or not nor do I care. I thought it turned out just fine. I bought more whole grain spaghetti again to have ready for nights I needed an extremely quick meal. One of those nights came last night.

Dale: You know I love you, right?  You know I will always love you and that will never change, right?

Don’t melt in envy over my husband thinking he is so tremendously sweet and thoughtful just yet. This is a set-up, folks! He was carrying his plate to his seat. I didn’t answer him because I knew what was coming next. So, he repeated his words until I answered his questions.

Me: "Yes, Dale, I know you love me." Said in the most annoyed tone ever.

Dale: Ok, this is bull shit. Whole grain pasta? Don’t ever fix this again. You fixed this last Thursday and I wanted to gag, but thought I’d be nice about it thinking you would never fix it again.

Me: You didn’t say anything about not liking it. How would I know?

Dale: It is gritty and tastes like shit.

Me: You have to eat more healthy, Dale and I’m...

Dale: Eating healthy? This is not healthy. It tastes like shit and pisses me off, which raises my blood pressure and THAT is NOT healthy.

I think he was extremely proud of his reasoning.

All I can do is shake my head at the ridiculousness of his thinking.

He makes me laugh. For the record, this is normal banter in our house, ask our family and friends, it is no way abusive nor do I take offense to his lack of respect for the woman that feeds his ass.

I’ve also been brainwashing the boys to try to limit their sugar intake. Waylon now asks me how many grams of sugar are in everything I pick up. It is a good reminder. He sees me looking at labels and ingredients and knows what I’m looking for. Something I never used to pay attention to. That kid loves sweets as much as I do and will hide in his room or the pantry to get his fix.

Around summer time they were getting a little ridiculous with their juice and popsicle demands so I started explaining what was in those items and several others. Now they are accustomed to only getting one glass of juice and the rest of the night it is water. They take that answer rather well now days.

When Halloween rolled around with all of its candy goodness it was a good time to see if all that brainwashing would pay off. I explained several times that they would not just get to stuff themselves with candy but there would be a limit. Each time they asked for extra pieces I would ask them, “What does candy have in it?” They would so disappointedly answer me as they hung their heads and whispered, “sugar”.  "What does sugar do to you?" With the poutiest lip ever, “makes you unhealthy”.

This may not be the way you would choose to teach your kids to eat better, but it has really worked for me, yes, brainwashing. They know that if they pick a cereal with double digit sugar content, it isn’t an option. They pretty much know what they can choose from nowadays and what is off the table, literally. We are doing our best to teach moderation, what is healthy and unhealthy, and still trying to respect others that don’t practice what we practice. They like to tell their daddy that when he drinks a pop he will get unhealthy. The boys have been on board much more than their daddy.

There are times I can’t get full and when my need for chocolate is no longer a craving, but a necessity, I will make sure my body gets what it is asking for. Other times I try to do my best at keeping it as healthy as possible.

With all that being said, Happy Turkey Day! I will be eating until I am satisfied, not uncomfortably full, and most likely I will eat more than one piece of dessert, but you know where you are going to find me at 4:30am Monday morning right? Right… running in the cold.


Are you and your spouse on the same page as far as how you eat?

How do you teach your kids to eat in moderation and keep it as healthy as possible?

Running, it runs in the family



My last "race" of the season.  I say "race" because I did not race.  I threw out my goal of PRing a couple weeks back and I was ok with it considering a bunch of stuff.  So, I got there ready to run with the hubs.  We were up dark and early, dark because the sun still had a couple hours before it lazily rose to light our world.  I dropped Weston off at my parents at the ridiculous 4 am hour and we got the boys up for their racing debut.  But, not before a pit stop at their Aunt T's for an early morning nap.  

Remarkably we found exactly where we needed to be and we were on time, early even. (I was driving)  We didn't even argue.  A couple trips to the bathroom, figuring out where all we needed to go and do, a little strategy talk and our tired faces were ready to go.  This picture notes Dale's excitement perfectly.  Such a great sport with all the crap we do for running. 

The results, I was running slow for Dale and he was running slow for me.  Ooops, little miscommunication there.  We helped each other get a really crappy time.  If we would have been racing then he probably would have finished top 10 and I would have probably top 15.  I did get 1st in my age group, but that is only because the other girls my age weren't being such wusses and were running the much longer distances.  The times in the 1/2 were ridiculous.  I don't think I would have finished in the top half.  But, it did inspire me to get closer to wanting to reach those half marathon goals.

I said I wasn't going for time and I wasn't.  I tried beating myself up about it and I'm still trying to get over my really ridiculous running performance lately.  I just don't know what is going on.  Maybe I am just in slow motion mode because it is colder.  Like I said, I'm really trying to be ok with it and just run.  Like really really trying. 

As Dale and I watched finishers come in, I was more moved by the ones finishing in the back of the pack, running because this race meant so much more than just a race and a time or a PR.  It meant they got out and did something hard and finished.  I found myself getting choked up many a time.  Why can't I accept that for myself?  I don't get myself.  Anyway, it turned out to be an absolutely fantastic day after my pity party!

The left picture are the marathoners.  Go marathoners! and to the right are the 50k'ers. I think they should all be admitted.

Weston and my parents met up with us later to see the boy's race.  He was wearing a ridiculously cute caped shirt but I totally forgot to get a picture of him strutting around in it.  Trust me, it was cute.  He was not cute snooping in every one's bags, however and begging me for the Gu I got in my prize pack.  He doesn't accept no for an answer.  Apparently he was hungry or something.

Ever since I mentioned this race a couple of months back the boys have been asking if it was "kid's race day yet?"  The day finally arrived and it was the only way we were getting them up out of bed at 5am without whining and a complete fight.  They gladly got their gear on and switched questions to "when does it start?  Are we going to miss it?" only about 459 million times.  I was just glad they were excited about it.  

Right before the race at the awards stand.  They are the cutest, right?!  Waylon just got some new Air Jordan's and they make him faster than everyone in this whole world, if you were wondering.  Sorry to break it to you.

The kid's race was about a 1k up hill.  I was kind of surprised they tortured them with a hill, but they handled it like champs.  Wyatt insisted on running with a hat and his hood up.  He did awesome.  Out with a bang and never broke stride.  I got a little worried about Waylon.  Wyatt left him and he was running on his own.  Not something he is used to.  I thought he might get scared.  Thankfully daddy kept a good eye on him and jumped in when Waylon needed a little reassuring. 



Wyatt nearing the finish line.  He just kicked it up a notch when I was yelling for him.  This kid... makes me so stinkin proud!

And then I saw this and I don't think I've ever cheered louder in my life.  I wish I could blow this one up.  His face is fully determined and he looks so strong.  Plus, daddy is right there by his side.  No worries in his world.  MMMM, love it.  Dale told me as they were rounding the corner he told Waylon that they were almost done and to give it everything he's got. Did he ever... 



The proud little faces!  Love them so stinkin much!  They were extremely happy to have racing bibs and get a medal like mommy.



I know to some of you this might not come as a surprise, but I think running runs in the family! 

Not sure I'll post again before Thanksgiving, but I want to wish you all a very blessed one and name just a few things I am so completely overwhelmed with thankfulness about. 

• My husband.  For so many reasons!
• The boys that litter my door step and the floors throughout our house.  I love them to so many extremes!
• Last night when we came home from a little grocery shopping they stood on our doorstep waiting for the door to be opened.  All I could see was their dark silhouettes and heard the youngest calling, "mere, mommy" I was so thankful for them crowding the way when at other times it completely annoys me.  I have to pinch myself sometimes at the opportunity I get.
• My completely supportive family.  All of it.  I have a good family, in-laws definitely included!  Love you all!
• Our location in this world
• My job - our jobs
• All of my friends - let's just not get too sappy - love you all

There is a ton of stuff I didn't name, but my time is running out.  Safe travels if you are traveling and may love surround you and your families.  I love the holidays!!!

Oh, and today is National Hug A Runner day.  Consider yourself hugged and I'll act like you returned it!  I like tight squeezes. 

The Sweetest and The Meanest

When Weston still laid on the changing table to be changed, his belly making up the majority of him, I use to sing to him as I would trace my fingers down his head, to his shoulders, the sides of his round belly, down his chubby thighs, and to his perfectly small toes. I would stare into his dark brown eyes and feel my heart about swell out of my chest when his red plump little lips used to thin out to a smile.

Where is Weston

Where is Weston

Here he is

Here he is

Such a handsome little boy

He feels my heart with pride and joy

I love him

I love him

I loved singing that to him. I loved how quiet the room was and how much it was all about soaking up who he was right there in that perfect little moment. I did it as much as I possibly could.

I still sing him that song when he allows me to rock him in the dark of his room before I’m ready to let him down for the night. Now, he claps and says “gin, mommy”. I hope I never forget the way his lips shape when he says mommy.

Special little moments are few and far between now-a-days. He is too busy trying to keep up with his brothers and dismissing me with a stern, “I do it”. He is a handful to say the least. He still completely lives up to his nickname he was tagged with ever since he became mobile, “THE Destroyer”. And, I have a feeling this will stick for him for quite some time.

 

Our days are filled with his heart melting every time the boys are going to go do big boy things with daddy. He doesn’t even wait to see if he will get to go or not. As soon as they get around to getting ready he is throwing himself to the floor in a pile of wailing tears.

He is constantly scooting kitchen chairs around the house to get whatever in the world it is he thinks he needs.

No, is not an option for an answer.

Food is usually thrown to the floor to let you know he is done.

He can spend hours making truck noises and scooting the truck of the day around everything in the house including my face.

He always wants to eat, mainly apples, and he always wants meeeulk even though that means juice or something else but don’t you dare try and give him water if he didn’t ask for it.

When the boys have their shirts off, he wants his off.

When they go to bed he insists he is staying in there with them.

                             

He loves the bath and will not get out until the water is drained and you better not skip powdering his rear. Actually, he won’t let you forget.

Weston always lets us know he’s made a mess. “Mommy, speeeeult. Mommy, mess. Mommy, see. Mommy, boke.” With a “you really need to come take care of this” panic look in his eyes.

Last night, in fact, the house was a disaster and I couldn’t take it anymore. So, I started in the kitchen. As I’m doing dishes and we finally got the big boys in the shower, Weston was quiet as daddy watched tv. I had already kicked him out of the kitchen for climbing on the table and throwing everything to the floor right after I had cleaned that area. I mistakenly let the quiet go because I had too much to do and all I wanted to do was either relax on the couch if I could get away with it or go to bed. The Destroyer came around the corner with an empty bottle of syrup, “Mommy, boke” The lid was not screwed on so he was telling me it was broke. The immediate picture in my head was the pantry full of sticky syrup. I swiftly go around the corner thinking all sorts of cuss words in my head about the horrible mess I’m about to have to clean up in addition to all the other cleaning for the night. Oh, and he has now discovered that he can open doors by himself. This is not a trait he needed.

I opened the pantry door and found nothing. No syrup, nothing. You can probably imagine my surprise. As I was doing this he headed to the living room. I closed the pantry door and he came down the little hallway with a Tupperware dish that he loves to play with full of syrup. “Here, Mommy. Mommy, full.” WESTON! No way he opened that syrup lid and poured it in that dish without making a mess anywhere. But, I still couldn’t find the mess. He knew exactly what I was looking for and stepped to the side eyeing it like, “I know what you are looking for, but I ain’t sayin nuttin. She don’t see it.” I followed his eyes and there it was, syrup on the carpet. It didn’t seem like much, but as I was trying to get it cleaned up I could feel it was pretty soaked. It could have been much worse. Maybe he is getting better at his messes? I know, you’re kind of disappointed at the lack of mess, right?! Well I wasn’t.

He got mad because I took everything away, dumped the syrup down the sink (I considered pouring it back into the bottle) and went back to my cleaning while he grabbed one of my plants and tried to throw it on the floor out of his disapproval for him being in trouble. Mommy’s quicker than you think sometimes, buddy.

Our days are filled with little scenes such as this. But also, an hour prior he was sitting on my lap whispering that he loves me and turning his head to give me kisses without his eyes leaving the tv. He begs me to come sit down by him on the couch at least once a night and he won’t let anyone else sit on my “wap” but him. He’s the sweetest and the meanest. He keeps a reason alive for me to continue to workout so I’m not completely exhausted by him and so I can catch him as much as I can before his true destruction hits. But, I am so very thankful for all that he brings into our lives. There’s nothing sweeter than his I love you’s and waving goodbye’s. To hear him with his brothers and how they love to mother him is a true blessing. “Here, let Bubba do it. Want to come with Bubba? Bubba’s right here.” It’s awesome. And, completely makes up for the terror he bestows. I could stare at those deep brown eyes and perfectly formed little face for eternity.

Listen, Boys

It has lovingly brought to my attention that I have been negative about myself and maybe that is true. I haven’t posted anything funny in a while and I have had some “wins” here and there so maybe I should bring you all in on those as well…


I had an awesome workout on the track yesterday morning. This week is race week so the plan called for 6 x 200’s. They were supposed to be at 39.2.

 

1. 37.1
2. 38
3. 38
4. 38
5. 37
6. 36

 

Finally, a workout faster than it is supposed to be and I felt great. 29 degrees out with a very mild wind on the track. It actually didn’t feel that bad. Yesterday I thought my face was going to freeze off running 2 miles down the road. It was cold!!!

 

Another win, I have let go of my goal of beating 23 minutes in my next run. I’m ok with that. Getting sick set me back and my priorities are in order at home and with work. Training turned into working out to be healthy, not necessarily fast. I’ve gotten news that the course is hilly, which wants to send a little bit of fear down my spine, but I’m not going there. Dale is running this one and I am going to use this as a time to celebrate the blessing of running with my husband. Something that brought us together. He is much faster than me (2 time 400 state champ – just stroking the ego a bit) and always will be, but him offering to run WITH me this race makes me very excited. So, my new goal is to enjoy this race and try my hardest not to take it out on him when I’m feeling like crap and questioning why the hell I’m doing it.

Let's just get real... I'm PMSing like a motha and I'm not interested in being all positive and up on things.  My day started off fine with a little lifting weights in the basement without seeing a moving spider.  Win!  It was fine until the oldest one asked why daddy keeps making him wear the youngest one's shirt.  I say, I don't know and I don't know how it keeps getting in your drawer.  Then I tell him he can go pick out another one but not to make a big deal about it.  Good, great, life is grand and I'm tolerating PMS ok this morning.  THEN, he comes back in the living room in a Chief's jersey that he got out of the laundry (off his floor) that his brother wore 2 days ago.  Plus he had on camo pants, so he's looking like he just stepped out of White Trashville.  I swear I saw a rat tail on his shoulder. 

I am trying to be patient and help him out, but every shirt I pick out is wrong.  "It's too long.  "It will go down to here (right passed his boy parts) and I don't like it going down to here."  In the whiniest voice you have ever heard.  He is 6!!!!  I give up, say get a shirt, I have crap to do and the whole world came crumbling down.  Over a freakin shirt.  I go about my normal business a little louder and forceful than normal hoping like crazy he will get his crap together before I really lose my shit.  I go to start my car and soon I hear the screaming following me.  He is outside at the car in 30 degree weather without a shirt on demanding that I get him a shirt picked out.  It's a good thing we don't live in a busy neighborhood is all I have to say. We really can't get anymore White Trashville than a good ol' screaming fight with a shirtless boy outside in the driveway fresh out to start the morning. 

His much calmer parent took over and tried his hand at getting the boy a non-penis covering shirt even over his demands that he wanted his mommy to do it.  I think he ended up with a shirt on.  Who knows.  Wonder how Jackie, or whatever the hell her name is will like his puffy eyes this morning when he gets to school. 

Usually when this thick of drama is going on the other two stay out of harms way and keep their mouths shut, but this morning the other two decided to pick up where big brother left off.  They started fighting over the car seats and who was sitting where.  So, two out of three of them hysterically crying this morning over stupid crap while baby brother got his way and me throwing gravel with the tires as I left the driveway (more White Trashville).  I'm thankful Weston was in more than just a diaper when I carried him out on my hip.  Not bad, right?!

Boys, here is a lesson for you, you have 2.5ish weeks where you can pretty much do anything and mom isn't going to lose her shit.  She will be fairly patient, fairly kind, and give lots of praise and kisses and hugs, she will also play cops with you more often, playfully hiding and shooting you with fake bullets from across the room.  But, those other 1.5ish weeks, watch the hell out!  It might be good for you to start tracking when those weeks are in your favor if you want to live to see your teens!!!  Screaming like a girl and sobbing over what freaking shirt you want to wear or that you want to sit in the baby seat but your baby brother won't let you probably aren't good things to bring up on the 1.5ish side of things.  It's simple woman math!

AND L.I.K.E spells like, like, like, like, like, like.  "L" - this is a FREAKING "L".  T.H.E spells the.  the, the, the, the, the.  Not fffff, not you, not was. IT'S "THE"!!!!   Waylon, wipe your own ass, and Weston, stop shitting more than once a freaking day, stop scooting the chair to the bar stools to climb, stop jumping from the coffee table to the couch, shut the fridge and get out of the DAMN PANTRYYYYYY!!!

 

Freakin monsters!