P365 - 2016 - Day 121 - I am ready

P365 - 2016 - Day 121 - I am ready

All the training, all the early mornings, the weather, the wind, the planning, the schedule....the worrying....  it is finally time to put my money where my mouth is.  This has been a long time coming and not just the past few months.  This has been years.... from that moment after The Boy was born when I decided that I was going to start running.  Up until that point I said "I can't run."  But at that moment I decided to try.  My mother was sick... I had three children 2 and under and I was going to start running.  What I found in running was peace and time to think.  I started slow and worked my way up.  For many years I ran.... but in the past couple of years I became a runner.  It only just dawned on me that I am, in fact, a runner.  I run because I can.  After all of the training I will finally run my first marathon.  I will run with borrowed wings from the two angels that will be by my side.  Mom and Dad, this one's for you!  xo  I am ready.

P365 - 2016 - Day 120 - decorated

P365 - 2016 - Day 120 - decorated

Teacher Appreciate Week is coming and some of the Student Council and I decorated the building with stars for all of the rooms and this great bulletin board.  I had so much fun planning this year's appreciation week with my co-chair and with the help of the student council.  I can't wait to see it all unfold.

P365 -2016 - Day 119 - "Take Your Child to Work"

P365 - 2016 - Day 119 - "Take Your Child to Work"

It was "Take Your Child to Work" Day and I have been subbing at the LBI School so The Bear and The Princess joined me and returned to their alma mater.   I was happy to have them there and they were thrilled to walk those halls again.

P365 - 2016 - Day 118 - so proud

P365 - 2016 - Day 118 - so proud

Another marking period....and as always, we are so proud of our awesome well rounded students.  They work so hard!!!

P365 - 2016 - Day 117 - all in all

P365 - 2016 - Day 117 - all in all

On my way to drop off The Bear at his coach's house so he could go to his game and I could get The Boy to his game and this was the scene through my windshield.  Black, ominous skies and traffic as far as the eye can see.  I was not a happy camper, but I got everyone where they needed to go, made it to The Boy's game in time to see a rainbow (even if I missed him score when I escaped to the warmth of my car) and The Bear and his team won in the quarter finals of the State Cup.  So, all in all...happy ending.

P365 - 2016 - Day 116 - my girl

P365 - 2016 - Day 116 - my girl

The Princess had a Monday night scrimmage that culminated in some penalty kicks.  I was watching from the warmth of my car so luckily one of her team mates got a photo for me.  Hopefully soon she will be in her real number (5) but in the meantime....that's still my girl.

P365 - 2016 - Day 115 - belly laughs

P365 - 2016 - Day 115 - belly laughs

It was what has become an unusual Sunday night... we were all home for dinner together.  So after a delicious dinner we decided that it was time to light the fire pit for the first time this Spring.  There is something about sitting around the fire pit and roasting marshmallows that brings out the laughs.  Real, belly laughs .... the ones where it is hard to catch your breath.  This night was no different.  I needed those laughs.  It has been a crazy hectic month and I really needed to sit my family and laugh.

P365 - 2016 - Day 114 - off to the semifinals

P365 - 2016 - Day 114 - off to the semifinals

Congrats to The Princess and her team The Storm.  They won the NJ State Cup quarter finals.  They are off to the semifinals!  Great job girls!!!

P365 - 2016 - Day 113 - EARTH DAY

P365 - 2016 - Day 113 - EARTH DAY

Happy Earth Day!!  Time to plant these trees that The Boy brought home from school

P365 - 2016 - Day 112 - the journey

P365 - 2016 - Day 112 - the journey

I had the day off of work, so My Wonderful Husband and I went for a short run and then out for a yummy lunch - seafood bisque was calling my name..  While we were waiting for our table, we saw that Prince had died.  Now, I know I don't know him personally.  Obviously.  We have also lost people in our lives that are indeed more important to us that we miss every single day.  That goes without saying.  But there is something about a person whose music was the soundtrack to your youth dying that feels...strange to say the least.  It just struck me that way at least... and then when I remembered this lyric of his, it made me think.... we are all just trying to get through this thing called life.  My Wonderful Husband and I had a great lunch together catching up and talking because lately it seems that we go in fifty directions and we need to schedule these "meetings".... we talked about the kids and not about the kids.  We laughed and we just enjoyed the lunch and the company.  And all I could think as the day went on and we went back to our crazy schedule is we are all just trying to get through this thing called life.  It's the journey, not the destination.  Thank you for the reminder Prince..

P365 - 2016 - Day 111 - not much of a dilemma

P365 - 2016 -Day 111 - not much of a dilemma

It is a tapering week as I get closer to my marathon.  Since that means less running that left me not much to do while The Princess had practice tonight.  Not much of a dilemma though...my legs were kind of beat and I was pretty tired (my body got the taper memo it seems and embraced it..) so I changed after work into a comfy sweatshirt, grabbed a book to bring with me and relaxed in the car - with the windows open!

P365 - 2016 - Day 110 - I will take it

P365 - 2016  - Day 110 - I will take it

It may have only been open a crack, but it was open.  After what feels like a million years of winter (I tend to be dramatic when it comes to cold and winter) it is finally warming up a bit and we actually slept with a window open, albeit only slightly.  But I will take it.  It means that spring is here and soon summer will march on in.  We all know I am a summer girl.

P365 - 2016 - Day 109 - give back

P365 -2016 - Day 109 -give back

It is almost Teacher Appreciation Week and a really love being able to plan a celebration of our faculty and staff.  We moved here four years ago and have never looked back... it all just fit and we have been so happy with our schools here.  I love that I can help give back.... and I have fun doing it. This year my co-chair and I have come up with a great theme and some special treats for the faculty and staff.  My favorite is a special way for the children to express their thoughts and thanks.  I love reading the things the kids have to say and I think it speaks volumes.

P365 - 2016 - Day 108 - all is right

P365 - 2016 - Day 108 - all is right

It's finally that time of year again... after a long, albeit not as cold as it could have been, winter this is a harbinger of not just spring, but summer!!  The Chegg is open and all is right with the world.  Some family time between more games and after my run.

P365 - 2016 - Day 107 - in between

 P365 - 2016 - Day 107 - in between

I came home in between a day of soccer games and running around and made myself a delicious lunch.  Hard boiled egg with avocado on a whole wheat english muffin with a snap pea, tomato, and feta salad.   It was the perfect yummy lunch to go with a good book and a little time in between games.

P365 - 2016 - Day 106 - the craziest thing

P365 - 2016 - Day 106 - the craziest thing

It was crazy hair day... or it was supposed to be crazy hair day, but I digress...  The Boy embraced his new short do by spiking it and adding some color.  I was headed in to sub at school, so we had to take a quick photo before we both left for the day.  My crazy hair you ask?  Do roots and a headband count as crazy? I thought so.  The craziest thing about this photo is not purple hair though.... The craziest thing is that The Boy is almost as tall as me now!  When did this happen??

P365 - 2016 - Day 105 - pleasant surprise

P365 - 2016 - Day 105 - pleasant surprise

I was so excited to find a race video in my inbox today!  In place of race photos, CGI does a race video.  I had no idea so it was a pleasant surprise.  I took some screen shots of the video...start line, about half way through and the finish line.  What a great reminder of a fun run!

P365 - 2016 - Day 104 - time for bed

P365 - 2016 - Day 104 - time for bed

It was, what felt like, the first time I had to sit down all week... After my taxi services were shut down, once lunches were made, when the kids were finally in bed, and when I had everything ready for the next day.  So I made myself comfy and grabbed my computer with the intention of catching up on this blog.  And this was the face that stared at me.  "Hey Mom, I think it's time for bed.  Is it time for bed?  I want to go to bed....... Hey, Mom...."  So, I shut down my computer and followed the advice of The Pooch because he was right.  It was time for bed.

P365 - 2016 - DAY 103 - field trip

P365 - 2016 - Day 103 - field trip

The Princess had her team field trip to The Franklin Institute.  After a little bumpy start and a tiny fender bender with the bus....and a text while I was working instructing me not to panic that everyone was fine.... she and her classmates made it and had a great time!

P365 - 2016 - Day 102 - Thanks for the reminder Universe!

P365 - 2016 - Day 102 - Thanks for the reminder Universe!

I get messages from the Universe every day in my inbox..... This one was a perfect one to wake up to on a Monday morning.  I really needed to read this.  Thanks for the reminder Universe!

P365 - 2016 - Day 101 - Philly LOVE Half Marathon

P365 - 2016 - Day 101 - Philly LOVE Half Marathon

I completed my first official half marathon.  The Philly LOVE Half marathon.  I sort of skipped over the half and went right to the LBI 18 mile three times.... but this was my first "sanctioned" half marathon so to speak.  I ran along with the SOL Running Club and had a great time running the city! I can't wait to do it again next year!

P365 - 2016 - Day 100 - ready

P365 - 2016 - Day 100 - ready

I got all of my "swag" today for the Philly Love Half Marathon tomorrow.  I am ready.  So excited for my first "official" half marathon and my first run with SOL.  Philly...here I come!

P365 - 2016 - Day 99 - SRMS track meet

P365 - 2016 - Day 99 - SRMS track meet

It was the first SRMS track meet for The Princess and The Bear.  They did awesome!  The Princess ran the mile in 7:25 and The Bear finished 2nd in the 400 with a time of 61 seconds and his relay team finished 1st in the 4x400 relay.  It was a great start to the season....even if it was freezing!

P365 - 2016 - Day 98 - a night of studying

P365 - 2016 - Day 98 - a night of studying

It was a night of studying for The Boy.  He has a vocabulary test, a spelling test, and a science test tomorrow, so we got comfy on the couch and went over study guides and words.  He's ready.

P365 - 2016 - Day 97 - Wednesday...you don't scare me

P365 - 2016 - Day 97 - Wednesday...you don't scare me

Until My Wonderful Husband is finished with the Spring semester (and I use the word Spring here very loosely...) our Wednesdays are pretty hairy.  Mind you, Monday and Tuesday are pretty hectic too but Wednesday was shaping up to require me to finally nail down that cloning theory and since I stink at "sciencey" things, that didn't seem like it was likely.  Here's what Wednesday looks like in a nut shell.... after getting home from work, I need to get dinner ready, help The Boy with homework and then dash out to pick up The Bear and The Princess from track practice and bring them home so they can change and eat before their respective soccer practices.  Seems easy enough right?  Except that The Princess' practice is at 6:30 50 minutes away and The Bear's practice is local at 7.  With no possibility of a clone,  the idea of a personal assistant "tabled" for "lack of funds to actually pay a personal assistant", and the unfortunate truth that the dog can not drive, I asked my cousin if she would mind helping me out.  Thankfully, she is pretty awesome and agreed to pick The Bear up at home after I leave with The Princcess and get him to practice.  Pfwew.  She is a life saver.  So, I left with The Princess and instead of sitting at her practice the whole time, I got a run in (in the freezing cold "spring" weather) and then we made it back down to The Bear's practice in time to pick him up. Wednesday...you don't scare me.

P365 - 2016 - Day 96 - irony

P365 - 2016 - Day 96 - irony

I will just call this photo "irony".  "Spring has sprung"?  Really? In which direction?  It was stupid degrees this morning with 20 mph winds and a freeze morning.  My Wonderful Husband texted me from work to tell me that there was some snow there.  At least the snow had the good sense to stay away from here, but still...really Spring?  Get your self together!  It's April for Heaven's sake!  Enough of this winter BS.  I mean it.

P365 - 2016 - Day 95 - a good book...some daylight...pouring rain

P365 - 2016 - Day 95 - a good book...some daylight...pouring rain

Spring Break is over and we are back to the craziness.... and counting down the end of the semester for My Wonderful Husband... On today's schedule, I had to pick up The Bear and The Princess after track, take them back home to eat and change, then take The Princess to soccer practice.   Luckily it had been moved inside for threat of rain, because rain it did.  It poured.  Thankfully I had a good book and some daylight left while I sat in the car listening to the pouring rain.

P365 - 2016 - Day 94 - Sunday

P365 - 2016 - Day 94 - Sunday

Today was my last long training run - 18 miles.  When my friend and I set in the morning it felt like 20 degrees and there were 30 mph winds.   Somehow we got through it and to celebrate I got sushi and My Wonderful and the kids and I had a take out dinner together.  Lately, our days of dinner at the same time have been very few and far between with games and practices and the craziness of life.. So even if the dinner was take out, a Sunday dinner together was a great way to end this day.  

P365 - 2016 - Day 93 - our day

P365 - 2016 - Day 93 - our day

This was our day... The Boy's home game was cancelled because of rain which was a blessing in disguise since it would have be much harder to juggle the already crazy schedule.  The Princess and I started out first to Franklin Lakes for her State Cup game.  My Wonderful Husband and The Bear started out later for PA for his game after dropping The Boy with a friend (an unexpected perk for him since his game was cancelled).  Then we all met in Mount Laurel for The Princess's second game of the day.  After leaving that game and picking up The Boy at his friend's house, I got home and felt like I had just gotten off of a roller coaster... I felt like I was still moving!  Two hours North, two hours South, then an hour West and an hour back East can do that to you apparently.  I will be interviewing personal drivers next week.  If you know of any that don't require payment that would be great.

P365 - 2016 - Day 92 - No April Fool's Day joke

P365 - 2016 - Day 92 - No April Fool's Day joke

No April Fool's Day joke here... The Boy really did cut his hair.  It was a day of haircuts for My Wonderful Husband, The Princess, and The Boy.  The Princess got a pretty good trim....but The Boy went for the drastic change today.  Goodbye long locks...hello short hair.  "He looks so much older." is what I keep hearing.... ugh, he sure does which makes me slightly sad.  But long hair or short, he is one handsome guy.  His dad isn't too shabby either and of course The Princess looks beautiful with her trimmed locks.