Life and Running….

Life:

Once again it has been awhile since I sat down to write.  I have been spending the last month focusing on being a better mother/wife and a more present mother/wife.  I really felt that I was missing so many moments in our daily lives trying to be a part of social media and the blogging world.  I know I was searching for a purpose outside of the home because that is what I was used to, and that is where I believed my worth would come from.  However, what I have discovered over the last couple months is that every day with my boys, even though it does not earn a pay check, has a purpose.

I spent a few nights reading "Hands Free Mama" (both the book and the blog) by Rachel Mary Stafford awhile back.  Really, it was exactly what I needed.  It has helped me shift perspective, love & forgive (mostly myself even though I am an imperfect mother who makes mistakes) and most of all I have put down my phone and stepped away from the computer. The memories we have created over the last few months having "Hands Free" meals and being "Hands Free" while we wait for the bus or appointments are so wonderful, they are not amazing, in fact many would just call them ordinary.  But it is in the everyday, ordinary conversations and moments that I am finding the greatest joy in these days.  It is in the hand holding, uninterrupted conversation, the giggle or smile, the little discoveries they make each day as they explore this new world.  All of the things that I can honestly say I was missing as I read blogs, checked various social media, and focused more on the laundry and dishes then the kids.  That does not mean we live in a messy house, in fact laundry is on it's way to being caught up daily and cleaning is getting done as well.  I have found the patience to incorporate the boys into these tasks even though they do not do them "perfect" or even the way I would.  I have learned to breathe, take a moment, just sit and snuggle and be in the moment without worrying about the to do lists or all the things I "need" to do.  Becoming "hands free" has been and will continue to be a journey.  There will be days that I make the right choice, some days I will not, but every day I am trying to make memories and remember to breathe.

Running:

Mother Nature has not given up.  She continues to make this winter one of the worst I can remember.  It is cold and exhausting to go for a run, in fact a quick run takes almost all of my running gear and turns into a load of laundry.  February will end up being less then 100 miles for the month (90ish depending on if I get out tomorrow or not).  A few weeks ago my treadmill literally started smoking and it needs a new motor.  On days that I am the solo parent I have resorted to strength training and using the elliptical.  It's not running, but it works.  I have managed to get all my longer runs in outside including a back to back double digit weekend, some 18 milers, and a 20 miler yesterday.  I still am amazed that almost 2 years ago I dropped down to a half marathon because I could not handle a 15 mile training run and now 15 is almost "normal".  Consistency has paid off, I am still not the fastest, but I would definitely consider myself a runner.

As of now the plan is to run the Mohican 50 miler in June as my training run for Woodstock, and at least 1 to 2 unsupported 50k's before then once the trails become decent again.  I have had some fun over the last few weeks trying out my new Ultimate Direction Jenny Ultra Vesta (LOVE! This vest fits fabulous, no bouncing or weird back chafing), experimenting with my Tailwind nutrition (Other then Nuun and the occasional Picky Bar before I start), this is all I have been using for fuel and so far am loving it.  Not stomach issues and drinking it every .5/1 mile it helps me avoid crashing) and even tried out some Zero Drop Altra.

Update: My sh*t is still not all together

So remember a few weeks ago when I wrote Operation Get My Sh*t Together, well I am still slowly but surely working on it. I got thrown for a loop when I went out of town for Red Eye Relay and when I got back it took almost a whole week to recover and regroup inside the house (but it was TOTALLY worth it!!!)

Things I have done:

• Updated calendars/Cozi/and schedules so I at least know where every one is/needs to be and important engagements.
• Found our routine again that includes getting as much done the night before so I can wake up a half hour before the boys and enjoy a cup of coffee in peace and while it is hot.
• Shopping Lists: I have updated our numbers spreadsheets with everything we have in the house and also our current shopping list.  It's nice to be able to quickly pull it up in the grocery store to see if we are running low on Ketchup.

What I still need to work on:

• The actual meal planning, I have done ok but there have been a few oops like planning hamburgers, but not having any buns, or the stove that kept shutting off today for no reason so we ended up ordering pizza.
• Returning Wednesday's to full on cleaning day, we have been using this day for fun/relaxing/enjoying life lately and really I am not to worried about it till school starts.
• Actually using 1-2-3 Magic, I am just not consistent and I know that for any system to work consistency is the key, but being out numbered most days 3+puppy to 1 it makes it tough.  I need to come up with a plan for sure.
• Still have not had the kids actually help me with a meal, mainly because the weather is nice to they have been playing together while I finish the last minute preparations.

Obviously this is going to be a long process, but we will get there...In the meantime we will be enjoying the daily life and the dream we are living.

Before you leave do not forget to head over to my recent post HERE and ENTER TO WIN a sweet pair of SLS3 Compression Socks!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Anyone racing this weekend? Long training runs? Any fun plans?

Operation get my sh*t together...

In all honesty I have never been the most organized person and since we are being honest I am not the best at completing most things I start (examples include the 1st borns baby scrapbook with 3 pages finished, half completed knitting projects let on needles, a half organized basement).  I have a hard time staying on task and I tend to get bored with projects that take longer then a few hours (some days anything over a few minutes).  Over the years I have gotten "better" but I still tend to get scattered and sidetracked, and life with 3 kids, a husband and a puppy can easily become chaotic on a good day and spiral quickly out of control on a bad day.  Since becoming a full time stay at home and adjusting to the husband's new schedule we have been "surviving" but it is time to get my sh*t together so that our days are happier, our memories better, our food healthier and my anxiety that comes with all the chaos is calmed.  So here are a few things I am starting with:

1. Schedule/routine:  

The whole house runs better when there is a schedule/routine.  I like things to be predictable and the boys do to.  It also keeps us focused and on task. We will be returning to a weekly house schedule that includes laundry/floors everyday, shopping on Mondays and our official cleaning day to be Wednesdays (it used to be Saturday, we would listen to NPR and clean all morning but since the husband is home on Saturdays we have gotten away from that since I have been going running resulting in some deep cleaning being ignored)

We will also start using our daily schedule again.  This allows the boys to see what we have planned for the day and what will be coming up.  It also gives them a bit of control because at the end of the day they can request an activity for the next day.

Daily Schedule: Laminated cards w/ velcro - adapted from the concepts used in AI classrooms

This also means I want to get back to my own personal routine which included some down time in the evening to journal and reflect.  Hopefully using the days more productively will result in a less exhausting day and the energy in the evening for this.  It was so nice to look back and see all the positives of the day and all the small things that make a person smile.  I miss that.  It also means preparing as much as possible for the next day after the kids go to bed.  Sippy cups filled and in the fridge, dishwasher emptied, counters clear of clutter, etc.

It also means getting back to updating our Cozi Family calendar so everyone in the family has access to our current week/month schedule and can easily see any updated appointments and engagements.

2. Meal Planning/Shopping Lists:

This is one of those domestic activities I really stink at, I can have the best meal plan but day of the meal I won't want what I planned and well, we end up eating out or ordering pizza.  The new rule is no matter what we are having what I plan! (This means making sure I have all the ingredients, that they are thawed).  Today I plan to reorganize and inventory our pantry, food shelf and freezer, then use what I have in the house to make a plan that includes 2 weeks of meals (minus fresh veggies and milk since we will need those weekly).

I get all of my meal planning printables from Organized Home and my pantry/freezer/shopping list is a simple Numbers document I save to my iCloud so I can have access to it when I am not at home on my iPhone.  I also use the shopping list on Cozi to keep some smaller shopping lists for things like Christmas or birthdays.

I also want to start getting the kids in the kitchen more, they are always begging to help but by dinner my patience is gone and I do not want to deal with the mess (yep I am pretty sure after this post my Mom of the Year nomination will be revoked, but hey we are being honest right).  This is going to take some planning and prep so that they all will have a job to do and we can safely cook our meal.

3. 1-2-3-Magic:

This is a big one! We used 1 - 2 - 3 Magic as our discipline system a while back and it helped SO MUCH (at least in my opinion) with the yelling (theirs and mine).  Not only did I stop yelling, but the time with the boys was so much better.  Back to this system we will go, I will be rereading the book tonight after bed time and sending the ebook to the husband for him to read, and tomorrow we start again.  My kids are great kids, they are just FULL of energy, excitement, strong personalities, and often times overly emotional which when all of those things are combined it equals fighting, obnoxious behavior and a ton of chaos.  I want to return to the laughter and joy instead of the fighting and yelling. 

Three things is enough to work on for now I think...I will check back in next Tuesday to report how it's going and if I am any closer to getting it together...

Do you ever have days where you feel like you know longer have it together?  Any tips for me on getting it together?  Any tips for getting kids in the kitchen and keeping it all under a decent amount of control?

Daily dose of adorable #puppylove #chocolatelab #labsofinstagram #Hunter #livingthedream

Meet Hunter, our 6 week & 2 day old chocolate lab that came home to his forever family on Saturday.  We are all over the moon in love with this little guy and so far he has fit in perfectly.  While the first few weeks may take some patience and of course our normal routines and schedules will change but this little friend is so worth it!

Originally when we found Hunter our plan was to pick him up on the way home from our family trip next weekend.  It was going to be a surprise for the little ones but little did we know our oldest learned to read and called us out when he read "Pick up Hunter" on our family calendar.  Well there went the surprise, except the family we got Hunter from was headed downtown to a Tigers game this past Saturday and wanted to know if we wanted them to bring Hunter.  Ok, operation surprise #2...This was going to be tricky because we needed someone to watch Hunter for the days we were out of town and had to come up with a way for the husband to sneak away from our oldest cake/ice cream birthday party.  Saturday, the husband snuck away and the grandparents and great grandparents kept the boys occupied enough that the kids did not even know the husband was missing.  As we were getting dinner out the oldest wanted to know where daddy was since he never misses a meal, I quickly replied "Oh daddy doesn't feel good, he will be downstairs when it's time for cake".  I got the kids fed, since I knew when Hunter arrived there would be no eating for them because of the excitement.  Perfect timing because just as they were finished with dinner the husband snuck around the corner with Hunter and surprised the boys.  I think more then anything they were confused and a bit shocked.  The oldest had been worried the husband was sick and now he was standing there with Hunter.  The middle son wanted to know why daddy had the puppy in his room the whole time. The littlest son, well he was just excited for "dog dog".  All 3 boys were very happy to have our newest family member home and they all have been so wonderful with him.

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/a8yyngxf5O/

(The Husband coming around the corner to surprise the boys)

Life seems to have gotten "busy"...

These last few weeks have flown by! Alvin started his Little League Coach Pitch so we have been shuttling him back and forth to practice and now games. On top of that the husband and I were headed to Hawaii for his annual work conference so I have been spending the last few weeks getting everything ready for everyone that was helping out taking care of the little ones. And because I was not worried enough about leaving the boys, Alvin had a fever of 102 only two days before we were leaving. Thankfully our family doctor has sick bay hours and it was only an ear infection, and the other 2 boys checked out just fine.
Then the husband and I were lucky enough to spend a week in Hawaii, seeing some amazing sights and spending some much needed time together to reconnect (it had been 2 years since we were able to get away together and only a handful of "dates" in between there). We even had the opportunity to renew our vows and spend sometime with Father Miles and talk about our strengths and struggles in our marriage to make it even better. I know I was worried when we left but the boys did wonderful in our absence and from the sounds of it they had a great time as well.
I look forward to going home reenergized and recharged, and I also recognize the importance of time with just the husband, we need to focus on our relationship just as much as we focus on work and the boys because our relationship is the backbone of it all.

Little things...

Like the boys lined up all in a row make my heart happy.

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/YQ4e_PRfxl/

Transition to stay at home mom "signing bonus" from the husband #dryer #domesticgodess #smallstepsseriouschafing

In all seriousness this was not actually a "signing bonus", it was simply replacing the broken dryer that never shut off, took forever to dry, and well stopped working for the second time in 6 months.  But there is some truth to the title, I am now a full time stay at home mom (at least for the most part).  Do to the husband's new position, demanding schedule and travel it was really what was best for our family.   It has taken several months for me to come to terms with this transition and to finally embrace the change.  See, I have working since I was 14, sometimes I even held 2 jobs, if I wanted something I worked for it, including a trip to DC and Europe when I was in High School (that is a ton of hours at McDonalds back in the 90's just so you know).  That is 19 years of employment, 8 of which were at my current employer.  Needless to say I felt a bit lost, like a part of me is missing.  It was not until these last few days when a change in attitude and a change in perspective really helped me to settle in and embrace my inner stay at home mom/wife.  I have never fully been 100% focused on my family because there was always work, and because I did not have a set schedule, work found it's way in at all hours via phone or email.  Now, all I have is my family, and that is more then enough.  I know eventually I will find my way back into the workforce (and I do plan on picking up some "work" here and there to stay connected because I really did love my job) and find a career that "fits" but for now, I am going to be mom and a wife (and of course a runner because once I kick this virus again I will have plenty of time to train!)

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/X5HevORf90/

Happy New Year!

I know, I know it's a little late...but sometimes better late then never! I have spent the last couple months focused on myself, my family, decluttering and of course the holidays.  As far as running goes, January was a month of maintaining and just enjoying the daily running without worrying about pace and miles.  I even took an entire week off! YES a whole week without running a single step, one reason was because I kept having a slight shin pain when I ran and knew I needed to rest it, but also last week I started the 16 week Furman First 1/2 Marathon Training Plan for Bayshore and I wanted to be rested and motivated since I remember how tough the workouts were.

Along with trying to enjoy the moments with my 3 boys (which somedays are much tougher to enjoy the chaos and crazy then others) I have started focusing on feeding the family healthier home cooked meals again.  We even started juicing again.  I love the fresh juice as does my husband and the little 2 boys.  The oldest tends to be pickier and anything with garlic or ginger he never seems to finish.  I have also tried focusing on the little things that make our day to day life special, whether it was a moment during the day, something one of them said, something we did as a family I have started "journaling" it in my new Erin Condren Life Planner .  I use the monthly pages for our events. (in reality as a family we are not that busy and I don't write down things like "swim lessons" or any other reoccurring event and I do not use it to log miles since I have my Commitment Day Journal for that)  Then I use the weekly/daily pages to write the little things throughout the day.  It is nice to take 5 minutes throughout the day and reflect or sometime the 20 minutes in the evening to just think about our day.  What I have learned and recognized so far after doing this the last few weeks is that even when it appears to be the most awful day there is always something to be thankful for and a happy moment that was/is worth remembering.

Erin Condren Life Planner with Collage Cover 

So here is to a new month and back on track with the blogging (since I got away from actually writing anything when I discovered how fun Instagram is)

(Full disclosure: A friend recommended the Run Less Run Faster Furman First Method to me last year after he used it to help him Boston Qualify.  I did purchase and read the book all on my own.  I also purchased the Erin Condren Life Planner after it was recommended by several friends and I do not regret it one bit! It's a great planner!)

Christmastime is scary this year for me...

Simon heading off to school in his Santa hat...

Last week Simon was so excited for Christmastime that he wanted to wear his Santa hat to school in place of his winter hat.  I let him, but spent the majority of the day with anxiety.  What if that Santa hat brought on unnecessary discussion about Santa and his existence?  He does ride the bus with older children, waits in line to go inside the school with older children...oh please do not let anyone ruin the magic for my little boy, I am not ready for him to stop believing in the magical time of Christmas.  This is the first year I was uncertain we would make it the entire season without getting busted by one of the boys.  I would rather have Simon use his critical thinking skills to figure out that the logistics of Santa are not possible (or legal since people cannot just go around climbing down chimneys), then someone at school telling him Santa is not "real".

In our house we believe in Santa and we are definitely an over achieving elf family.  Now, I know there is some controversy out there in Parent World about Santa (and please remember there is no right or wrong way, nor am I judging anyone that does it different then us, but this is what works for our family and why), but let me explain why he is a big part of our Christmas Season.  As a child I remember the excitement and magic that surrounded the holidays in our house.  The wonder and make believe.  The ringing of the bell on Christmas morning so we could come downstairs. (One of those bells still sits on my mantle year round and I smile when I see it because it triggers so many happy memories)  I do not know when I figured it all out, but part of me still believes in Santa.  Not the person himself, but what he stands for; the good in people, the giving without the recognition (I know when they figure it out they will understand it was mom and dad but for right now their smiles and joy are all the "credit" I need), the make believe and the magic.  Santa does not put the boys on the naughty or nice list though in our house, I have explained to Simon several times in his little life that just because he makes poor choices sometimes this does not make him a "bad kid", so we stay clear labeling them naughty or nice around the holidays as well.  This is also one of the reasons we chose to use Elf Magic Elves, because I was not a big fan of the Elf on the Shelf story that talked about him reporting to Santa.  We want them to behave even when know one is "watching", when they do the right thing because of their own self pride not because someone can see them.  I also did not like that you could not touch Elf on a Shelf, so when I found the Elf Magic Elves and the story behind them that talks about making memories and spending time with the family I was sold.  (You can really use ANY elf or any "doll" for the holidays and still have the same outcome).  Our elves really like to bring us activities that we can do as a family or activities we can do for others, such as when we bake our cookies for the neighbors or go shopping for our toys for other children.  I know many people roll their eyes at our little elf tradition or the amount of time and effort I put into it every year, but I will never forget the smiles and excitement I get to see every morning.  I will never forget the memories that we have made and will continue to make and I hope long after they figure it all out for themselves, they continue to enjoy the opportunity to imagine and believe even as an adult.  I hope that long after the material presents have been broken or outgrown; they remember all the fun we had as a family and they remember the little things that make the holidays special.

Over achieving Elf Family

When the day comes that Simon figures out the whole Santa business (which even if a kid at school does not spill the beans it will be soon I am planning since Simon is a pretty logical thinker) I plan to share a letter similar to the one written by another mother who explains it all so perfectly HERE.

What holiday traditions do you and your family enjoy?  What happened after your little ones found out?

Living out of laundry baskets...

Every week I start Monday morning off with all the laundry hung in the closets, folded neatly in drawers and baskets empty.  My goal for the week is to stay on top of the laundry, that means every morning throwing in the dirty clothes and every night put away the newly laundered clothes.  I try except that if something interrupts the schedule/routine I fall behind.  In order for this goal to be accomplished the following things need to happen:

1) No one wets the bed/Soils their sheets (normally Alvin)
2) No one soils their pants throughout the day (normally Simon)
3) We do not eat anything that can stain or make a child sticky (syrup, jelly, soup, juice, yogurt, bananas etc.)
4) We do not play in the sand/mud/snow/rain

All of the above immediately result in another load of laundry for the day throwing off the routine, because all of the above need to be washed promptly to avoid staining.

*Our dryer no longer shuts off so remembering that I put clothes in there is also helpful!

By the end of the week, countless outfits for each of the 3 kids later, the sheets changed on all of the beds and washed at least 3 times, I end up with 8 loads of clean laundry stacked by the dryer and we just search for the clean clothes we need.  (Mike is not a fan of this game, I pretend I am on an episode of Extreme Double Dare looking for that one sock in all those baskets before the timer goes off)

Empty laundry baskets make my heart smile

What works for you? I have found sorting clothes by child rather then darks/whites helps speed up the process.  What helpful hints/tricks do you use to make sure laundry is always done/put away?

Meet the Family

My other and sometimes better half Mike and I raise our 3 spirited boys the best way that we know how.  They are a handful to say the least and keep us on our toes.  Even with the daily hiccups we experience, our problems are pretty trivial compared to what many face in their lifetime.  We love each other unconditionally and are doing the best we can to live life fully.  We attempt to embrace our daily life...the small things that will ultimately become the biggest memories.  The family dinners, reading books to the boys, blanket and pillow forts etc.  Without anymore ramblings please allow me to introduce our little pride and joys:

Simon*: Age 5
Simon is my little scientist, mathematician and overall explorer of how things work.  He is sweet & sensitive, charismatic, cautious, analytical, perceptive, selective, assertive and persistent.  

Alvin*: Age 2
Alvin is intense, curious, creative, dramatic, energetic, and opinionated.  He was vocal from the time he was born and quickly turned those colic cries into an ever expanding vocabulary that he uses to express his thoughts and emotions.

Theodore*: Age 1
The jury is still out on our last little surprise blessing Theodore.  So far he seems to be just as spirited as his older brothers.  Recently he has been asserting himself a bit more and seems to be selective, curious, and dramatic.

(*For their safety on the world wide "interwebs" their real names will not be used and I ask any family and friends avoid their names in comments as well.  Thank you for your cooperation.)

Behind the name...and the blog

First the name...

Small steps:

The first part of the title not only represents my the small steps of my young boys (3 "high energy" boys all under 5), but also the small steps we all take in life.  It is very rare that any goal is set and reached with one giant leap, it is a series of small steps that gets us to that final destination.  There are also many times in life that those small steps and that journey become more inspirational, influential and overall more important than our final destination.

Serious chaffing:

This represents the stuff no one seems to talk about or just happen to leave out when they are telling you "what to expect".  When I started running I pictured myself in a cute outfit just jogging down the street...UM NO! I'm a hot mess with chaffing and runner's trots.   Motherhood as well...everyone talked about the wonderful hugs, kisses, story times and memories yet they left out the constant battles over the color of a breakfast dish, the fact that until all children in the house are over the age of 5 you will not use the bathroom alone or with the door closed because the children can get into trouble faster then MacGyver can get out of a sticky situation and they are just as crafty, or the fact that some days survival (till bedtime or the return home of a spouse from work) becomes the main objective.

The blog...

It is just a way to share a little bit of my reality with the world.  Expect some humor, stories about my life as a mother and of my kids and the crazy stuff they do.  I also plan to document my journey to a Boston Qualifying time and to complete an Ironman...I promise I won't sugar coat the journeys so everything is rainbows and unicorns.