P365 - 2016 - Day 60 - Leap Day letters

P365 - 2016 - Day 60 - Leap Day letters

Four years ago, I had the kids write Leap Year letters to their future selves.  We put the letters away to be opened today February 29, 2016.  The kids were really excited to read the letters and got some good laughs out of the things that their past selves wrote.  Then they wrote new letters to be opened in four years.  They made predictions and gave advice.  They told their future self a bit about who they are now....  I know that their future selves will love reading these letters and I honestly hope that this is a tradition that they continue for their whole lives.

P365 - 2016 - Day 59 - Eat, Sleep Run, Repeat.

P365 - 2016 - Day 59 - Eat, Sleep, Run, Repeat.

A friend of mine texted me tonight to ask if I wanted to join her relay team for the Ragnar Relay.  They were looking for one more girl.  My first question was..."What is it?"... then I googled it.  Turns out it is a 200 mile relay race, in this case from Cumberland MD to Washington DC.  Twelve girls, two vans, three relay legs each.  As my friend said, "Eat, Sleep, Run, Repeat."  I thought about it for a few minutes...honestly I was thinking of all of the reasons why I couldn't.  Then I stopped and though about why I should.  In a pretty uncharacteristically quick decision on my part, I told her I was in and paid my registration fee before I could change my mind.  It's a bit out of my comfort zone...but as they say, that's where the magic happens.  This was an opportunity I didn't want to pass up and I am pretty excited!!

P365 - 2016 - Day 58 - super proud

P365 - 2016 - Day 58 - super proud

All the report cards are officially in and I am super proud of my smart, hard working kids!!

P365 - 2016 - Day 57 - perfect

P365 - 2016 - Day 57 - perfect

It was time to change the seasonal frame....  and given my marathon training, I thought this Irish proverb was perfect for the coming month.

P365 - 2016 - Day 56 - new Vans

P365 - 2016 - Day 56 - new Vans

February is coming to end... Spring is around the corner (or so they say..).  That means one thing.  Time to trade in my Uggs - don't get me wrong, I love my Uggs and I am fairly certain they are not put away completely since soccer season is gearing up and early Spring soccer games usually require warm footwear.  But for now, it was time....and these new Vans were waiting to be worn.

P365 - 2016 - Day 55 - double rainbow

P365 -  2016 - Day 55 - double rainbow

My Wonderful Husband was on his way home from Virginia and sent me this text.... he drove right underneath the biggest double rainbow he had ever seen.    That was one benefit of a rainy Wednesday drive home.

P365 - 2016 - Day 54 - These days

P365 - 2016 - Day 54 - These days

These days, it seems that this is my only child that is more than willing to pose for a photo.  As a matter of fact, he really seems to enjoy it.  He was very happy that I managed to find some time to take a load off and sit down on the chair so that he could jump up and get some love.

P365 - 2016 - Day 53 - my Monday nights

P365 - 2016 - Day 53 - my Monday nights

Right now, this is what my Monday nights look like.  The Princess has soccer practice in Brick - it's too far to go back home and since I really try to avoid Rt 70 and spending unnecessary money shopping, I bring a book and park it.  Once she goes back outside, I might start using the time to get my runs in, but for now it's me and my book while the girls train.   I wanted to join them in their circuits but The Princess didn't seem to support that idea. ;-)

P365 - 2016 - Day 52 - done with injuries now, thanks

P365 - 2016 - Day 52 - done with injuries now, thanks

For the second Sunday in a row, we were in the Urgent Care for x-rays with one of the kids.  Last week it was The Bear, this week it was The Boy.  Thankfully both were only sprains, so as The Bear is getting out of his thumb splint The Boy is now on crutches.  He took quite a tumble during a basketball game yesterday and after 24 hours, it was still hurting and he was having a hard time putting weight on it, so off he went for x-rays.  I am certain that the novelty of crutches will be worn off in t-minus 12 hours.....  ok, I am done with injuries now, thanks.

P365 - 2016 - Day 51 - "my favorite daughter"

P365 - 2016 - Day 51 - "my favorite daughter"

Just a quick shopping trip tonight with "my favorite daughter".... Yesterday I was told she looked like my twin.  Not sure if that's true but it sure makes me smile.

P365 - 2016 - Day 50 - Love it!!

P365 - 2016 - Day 50 - Love it!!

We have been considering getting rid of my Mazda for a while now... we kept talking about it.  It wasn't the most gas efficient, I didn't really need a big car much anymore, and we were hoping to lower our car payments.  The problem was we couldn't find any time to get to the dealer...either My Wonderful Husband was at work, I was at work, or we were at basketball or soccer games.  My Wonderful Husband had cancelled his conference trip to New Orleans this week which meant he was home today when he wasn't supposed to be and I wasn't working.  When we realized we had some free time, we headed over to the Hyundai dealer with the thought of just test driving the Elantra.  I am a creature of habit so even though we were planning to get a new car, I wasn't completely ready to let go of my Mazda.  I tend to have irrational attachments to inanimate objects, so I usually have to warm up to an idea as big as getting rid of my car.  Years ago when I was pregnant with The Bear and The Princess we intended on trading in my purple Cavalier for a minivan (much to my disappointment at needing a minivan).  But when the time came to work up the trade, in my very pregnant and emotional state I cried and asked My Wonderful Husband to trade in his car instead.  His practically brand new Kia.  My reasoning was sound on that however... the Kia was a stick and I had no intention of learning to drive a stick and I thought I should be able to drive either of our cars.  To my husband's credit.... he went along with my craziness and ended up driving my purple Cavalier for several years.  That story serves to show how difficult it is for me to get a new car.  Yesterday's test drive quickly turned into a deal and we decided to jump... which then turned into about an hour of me debating colors.  My Wonderful Husband, our salesman, and The Princess (who ended up there after her orthodontist appointment) were all very patient with me while I finally decided on the silver. Long story, not much shorter.... I LOVE MY SILVER ELANTRA!!!  Love, Love, Love it!!

P365 - 2016 - Day 49 - peace

P365 - 2016 -  Day 49 - peace

It was a trip back "home" for My Wonderful Husband to celebrate the life of his father.  A friend took this photo on the lake they grew up on and I thought it was a perfect photo for the day and its events. It was a beautiful, sunny day on the lake - it looked so peaceful... and peace is what I wish for My Wonderful Husband as he remembers his father.

*Edward Leonard - June 22, 1939 - February 15, 2016*

P365 - 2016 - Day 48 - memory

P365  - 2016 - Day 48 - memory

I was reading a book and found a quote that I thought so appropriate for the sadness of the day.....

"If metaphor is one of the ways we have left to approach God, to begin to understand faith, memory itself is a living metaphor for the eternal life. Loss brings pain. Yes. But pain triggers memory. And memory is a kind of new birth, within each of us. And it is that new birth after a long pain, that resurrection- in memory- that, to our surprise, perhaps, comforts us. " 
-Sue Miller- While I Was Gone.

Dad - Bestefar - Rest in Peace.  
❤

P365 - 2016 - Day 47 - four siblings

P365 - 2016 - Day 47 - four siblings

It wasn't under the best of circumstances that these four siblings got together -  My father in law passed away.... They flew in and drove up and were able to spend the evening together, sharing stories, looking at old photos, and supporting each other.

P365 - 2016 - Day 46 - my Valentine

P365 - 2016 - Day 46 - my Valentine

This guy has been my best friend for 22 years and my husband for almost 19 years.  I am thankful every day that he is my Valentine.  Love him.

P365 - 2016 - Day 45 - on Valentine's Day and every day

P365 - 2016 - Day 45 - on Valentine's Day and every day

It may not have been the best weekend or a Valentine's Day for the record books... a crashed computer that hopefully didn't lose important documents, some very upsetting news yesterday, The Bear fell on his thumb at his soccer game last night and went for x-rays today (no break just a sprain), I had a tire issue last night an hour from home, My Wonderful Husband woke up during the night feverish and throwing up, and we cancelled our dinner reservations (which we rarely ever make).  All told, there have been better Valentine's Days.  But the big picture is we have each other and this family that we have made - me and my forever Valentine and the loves of our lives.  They are all my favorites and I am one lucky girl... on Valentine's Day and every day.

P365 - 2016 - Day 44 - notes

P365 - 2016 - Day 44 - notes

Yesterday was my last day as the long term substitute in the second grade class I have been with since early December.  These were some of the notes that I received from the children ...  I'm going to miss those kiddoes.

P365 - 2016 - Day 43 - super proud

P365 - 2016 - Day 43 - super proud

I am super proud of all three of my kids - Honor Roll and High Honor Roll for all three and Student of the Quarter for the two 7th graders.  They work very hard and we are very proud of all of their accomplishments!!

P365 - 2016 - Day 42 - just The Boy and I

P365 - 2016 - Day 42 - just The Boy and I

I can hardly believe that this is the first year that the kids are in school that the kids and I are not making valentines for three classes.  This year it was just The Boy and I  making valentines for his class and teachers. I feel the time slipping away but in the meantime I am glad my fifth grader still wanted to make valentines.  Have a Jolly Valentine's.

P365 - 2016 - Day 41 - crazy Wednesday schedule

P365 - 2016 - Day 41 - crazy Wednesday schedule

This semester, My Wonderful Husband is teaching an adjunct course on his way home.  Unfortunately that means that he gets home pretty late and I am not really able to wait up if I have to be at work the next day.  We are counting down the weeks of this crazy Wednesday schedule.

P365 - 2016 - Day 40 - colored some butterflies

P365 - 2016 - Day 40 - colored some butterflies

It is Random Acts of Kindness Week at school and today, my "kind person" gave me this coloring book and colored pencils with instructions to just relax,  I took that advice tonight and colored some butterflies.  It really is relaxing.

P365 - 2016 - Day 39 - on duty

P365 - 2016 - Day 39 - on duty

On mornings when My Wonderful Husband is at work, I am the one that drives the middle schoolers over to their bus stop. (it's too cold and dark for me to make them walk over...).  When I take them, I leave The Boy sleeping so he can get his last few snoozes in - he's not in middle school yet so he shouldn't be required to get up that early.  While I am gone, there is a sentry on guard either right outside his door or at the foot of his bed.  The Pooch is on duty until I get back.  He waits there until I get back and wake up The Boy for school.  Then he is able to relax downstairs.

P365 - 2016 - Day 38 - Super Plunge

P365 - 2016 - Day 38 - Super Plunge

The Bear and The Princess braved the cold air and water temperatures to do the St. Francis Super Plunge today.  The Boy wasn't really feeling it this year but might join them next year since they said they are doing it again.  Crazy kids.  I don't even go in the water in July temperatures.
Now bring on the Super Bowl!

P365 - 2016 - Day 37 - a day of games

P365 - 2016 - Day 37 - a day of games

It was a day of games... we started with The Boy's basketball game and a win.  He ran out in the second half of the 4th quarter so he could make it to his soccer game and another win.  I stayed behind for The Princess' basketball game and win.  Later The Princess had her soccer game - a great game and a tie.  The Bear had a bye for his soccer game, so we just had 5 games today (counting the one that My Wonderful Husband coached).  Totally manageable.

P365 - 2016 -Day 36 - this happened

P365 - 2016 - Day 36 - this happened

It was only days ago that the groundhog got my hopes up with a report of an early Spring.  Then this happened.  A snow day.  That is the last time I give that rodent the benefit of the doubt.  He is back on my list.

P365 - 2016 - Day 35 - last game

P365 - 2016 - Day 35 - last game

It was the last game of the season for The Bear and the SRMS 7th grade basketball team.  They had a great win to end the season and The Bear did an awesome job.  It was a fun season!

P365 - 2016 - Day 34 - some of my words

P365 - 2016 - Day 34 - some of my words

This post popped up on my Facebook today and gave me pause.  At 17 (or apparently 13 and even 10) you think you know it all and have it all under control.  While in reality you know relatively little and are still learning every single day.  I want my kids to be able to learn from My Wonderful Husband and I but at the same time I realize that they need to learn some things on their own and in their own time.  No matter how many things we teach them, they will inevitably still be able to look back at their 17 year olds selves someday with some words of wisdom.  My hope for them is that when they look back at their 17 year old selves, they don't have regrets and can mostly smile at the memory.  So, in an effort to impart some of my hard earned wisdom,  I will share some of my words for my 17 year old self.
- "Break up with him."
- "Work harder in school."
- "Never roll your jeans." ;-)
- "Ignore the mean girls."
- "Don't perm your hair."
- "That dress looked great."
- "Enjoy your senior year."
- "Go have more fun."
- "Go for a run!"
- "You are worth it!"
- "Don't go to McDonalds."
- "You are pretty smart."
- "Hug Mom and Dad."
- "Practice your parallel parking."
- "Go out for sports."
- "Be much more confident."
- "You are rocking this."
Hindsight is 20/20... hopefully I can help my children see clearly now so they don't need to wait.

P365 - 2016 - Day 33 - these will do

P365  - 2016 - Day 33 - 

My Wonderful Husband is fully in the thick of the Spring semester and he was in need of a taco break.  They hit the spot and were yummy - even if not as yummy as our local place that we love that is closed for Winter.   In the meantime, these will do.  

P365 - 2016 - Day 32 - Because...

P365 - 2016 - Day 32 - Because...

Because I haven't gotten a photo of all three together in awhile...
Because we were all home tonight for once...
Because they make me laugh...
Because it's the first day of February which puts us closer to Summer...
Because it's just as hard to get a good photo now as when they were toddlers...
Because they work so hard and make me proud...
Because they are the best thing I have ever done...
Because I love them like crazy....