Balanced

This week has been wonderful and stressful at the same time. Dave had his first triathlon this last Saturday in Clermont. Oddly enough my first tri was there too, but that was SEVEN YEARS AGO! It was very nice to be able to cheer for him and be an encouragement and for him to understand that I had already swam that lake, biked those hills, and ran those miles. It was also bittersweet because it made me realise how much I miss training for something. Well, a little thing called 3 kids pops up and priorities must shift.
This is where a little thing called balance comes in. I struggle so much with this. Having played sports my entire life, you are always striving to be the best. You are competing with others and you must give 110%. I am struggling because as much as I want to give 100% to my husband, 100% to my kids, 100% to my quiet time, 100% to myself (training, running), I just can't and when you can't you feel like you are failing someone and then the guilt comes a knocking.
I need to be able to train for something and to make that training fit into my life so that I do not feel like I am taking time away from my family. Once again...I am struggling.
So, I am trying to cut myself a break on the mommy guilt and say that I am so happy that school starts Monday. School will allow me to be able to do the (minimum) training so that I can reach my 10K goal and who knows maybe even keep on training for the half marathon in March.
I will be able to give by 100% to everyone but I also have to be able to adjust my schedule and balance my time.

On a lighter note this month I have ran 58 miles. Not all at the same time but that is what training is all about. I am happy with the total so far and I am looking forward to October 11th with high hopes and a lot of happy kids too.


Happy Running!

Training Week 1

Training while family is in town is absolutely fabulous. I have babysitters handy to watch my kids whenever I want to get out and run. I was able to run daily and sometimes twice a day which is in my world- pure heaven. I love my children but sometimes I need a little quiet. My kids also know that a running mommy is a happier mommy and so we will continue running. So I have run a total of 26 miles this week. I am happy with that as it is my first week trying to get into a routine. Once school starts in 2 WEEKS I will be better able to get my runs in without feeling guilty. I am so happy to be a runner again.

A Huge Joke

Well after that last post running was still not a viable option because yes dear ones we have another beautiful baby girl in the mix now. Alexis was born November 18th 2008. We are so blessed to have all 3 of our kids in our lives but it takes away a lot from training time. I have officially signed up for 2 races. One a 5K in September and a 10K in October so we will continue with this blog as a journal of sorts to keep track of my progress as a "serious" runner. Wish me luck.

Vacation- Day1

So the kids and I are on vacation in Orlando while my mom is going to an IRS conference. I have to admit that although I am on my own with my kids all the time it is way different when you are not in your home and there are theme parks involved. Today was check-in so we didn't do all that much. We went to lunch at T-Rex which is probably one of my top five restaurants of all time. Then we came back and went to the splash pool here at the hotel. After swimming we decided to do what else but go shopping. We went to the Florida Mall and it was AWESOME, just like I remember from when we lived in Orlando. (A lot of good shopping memories at the Florida Mall!) Well, tomorrow we are going to Animal Kingdom so PRAY- pray hard for me with 3 kids by myself.

7 Months Already

Dear Lexi,

9 months ago I was in the hospital being told I had to stay until you were 36 weeks and that wa 2 weeks away. I never knew how much I loved you then or how you would brighten my days. You are the happiest baby in my world and you make me laugh and bring so much joy to all of our lives. Sweet baby girl how has 7 months come and gone already. I am sad that you are already 7 months but I am so looking forward to many more months and years with you. I love you darling girl:)

love, Mommy

Schools out for the Summer

I know that I haven't blogged in a while (it seems all of my posts begin this way) but we have been so busy with the end of the school year. I am a little sad because I think this year has gone by in the blink of an eye and my Ashley is now a first grader {when did that happen}. I am so proud of her. This last week we had her graduation and awards and I couldn't have been more proud of all that she has accomplished this year. She made effort honor roll all 4 semesters and she got a special award for being the child in kindergarten who read the 5th most books(that is our of 150 kids). She loves school and her class and I am so happy that we will have the same kids and teacher next year for first grade too.

We will be starting reading camp on the 15th just to keep Ashley used to schoolwork (i know I am a horrible mom :0))

Ryan has had some major improvements since my last post. We have started routinely going to the bathroom on the potty. He now tells me BEFORE he starts which is a major answer to prayer. He has started swim class at the YMCA and although he is the youngest in the class, he is the most daring too. He loves to jump in whenever possible. He is getting so big and will be starting preschool 3 days a week in the fall.

Lexi is getting so big. She is over 6 months old now and is wearing 9 month clothes. She tries to scoot every time I place her on the floor and grabs for anything in front of her (loves my cell phone). She is so even tempered and smiles at anyone who talks to her. She is such a tremendous joy to me. Since she is big enough now Ashley loves to carry her around the house. She is such a great bog sister to Lexi (ryan is another post all together).

Well it is almost time for swimming class- round 3. Check back in for our Sun in the Summer posts :)

A bloggy hiatus- unintentionally

It has been a while since I have had enough time to sit down, think through what I want to say, and remember to actually do it. Our house is always full of excitement. Ashley is almost finished with her first year of school-kindergarten. It has been amazing to watch her go from shy to confident in ten short months. She has mastered writing and reading (which she is gifted in) but she also excels at math and science too. She is exceeding all of the benchmarks and has only gotten a yellow light for behavior once the whole year (which went back to green before the end of the day). She is so stinking smart that I don't know whether Dave and I will be able to help her with her homework :) We are looking forward to summer and sleeping in (does 7:30 count as sleeping in?).

On to Bugga Boo- Ryan. Hmmmmm! Ryan and I have been working on potty training for a while now and everytime I think that he has it- we have an accident. We do not have many peeing accidents but oh my goodness the POOP! I have tried just about everything to get him to use the toilet but he is a stubborn boy so it is still a work in progress. Tomorrow I am going to sign him up for swim class so that he has a class to attend over the summer too. He is probably the funniest boy that I know and he makes me laugh so hard every day.

AHHHHHHHH Alexis. When I first gave birth to Lexi, people would ask me all the time, is it harder with 3, and I always would say, ask me in 6 months. Well folks, this next week Lexi will be 6 months old. I am so sad that half of her first year is already gone. She is still the happiest, smiliest baby that I have had. She is now teething and showing a little seperation anxiety when I am not around. She watches me all the time to make sure that I am still there. She eats EVERYTHING (hallelujah) and i do mean EVERYTHING. She is such a blessing!