P365 - 2016 - Day 274 - What do you do

P365 - 2016 - Day 274 - What do you do

What do you do when you find a bag of chocolate chips hiding in the pantry and you are not at work?  You surprise the kids with cookies.

P365 - 2016 - Day 273 - #baddogisthinkingaboutit

P365 - 2016 - Day 273 - #baddogisthinkingaboutit

My Wonderful Husband makes THE BEST homemade pizza....I guess The Pooch is tired of hearing us all rave about it without sharing it with him.  #canIhaveaslice #donteventhinkaboutit #baddogisthinkingaboutit

P365 - 2016 - Day 272 - take my advice

P365 - 2016 - Day 272 - take my advice

I love when my kids take my advice and tips for studying.  Heck, I like when they hear anything I say sound like more than the adults from The Peanuts.... The Princess needed some help studying for a science test so we made a matching game out of her study guide and created pneumonic devices to remember definitions.  After some time going over her notes and the study guide, she felt confident for her test and I was a happy mama.

P365 - 2016 - Day 271 - vampire hours

P365 - 2016 - Day 271 - vampire hours

Since I am working this week but still need to get in my training runs, I decided to head out early before waking the kids for school and knock out an easy 4 miles.  Yes...that says 4:57 am...further proof that you can do anything you set your mind to doing.  If you would have told me I would be an early riser and that I would be running in the wee hours in the dark... I would have thought you were nuts.  But, as it turns out, I enjoy keeping vampire hours.  4 miles done before the sun - thankfully I have a friend who keeps vampire hours as well.

P365 - 2016 - Day 270 - finally

P365 - 2016 - Day 270 - finally

After two days, several delays, layovers, a night spent in Denver, connecting flights, and waiting for bags to show up My Wonderful Husband finally got back home from California late tonight!

P365 - 2016 - Day 269 - these three

P365 - 2016 - Day 269 - these three

Speaking of my babies.... after a chilly Sunday morning game for The Bear it was a lazy Sunday spent at home with these three.  That's one of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday.

P365 - 2016 - Day 268 - honest

P365 - 2016 - Day 268 - honest

I am going to be perfectly honest and say that I am having a hard time with my babies getting older.  Each milestone hits me like a complete surprise that they are another year older.  I watch in utter amazement as they grow into the awesome people are they are destined to become.  But at the same time, I mourn the loss of chubby cheeks, little fingers and toes, silly games, monkey hugs, and a multitude of other memories that seem further and further in the past.   I am proud of them beyond words, I love to watch them grow and change and find their place in this world.  But when I look into their faces and wonder at all they are, I will always see all they always have been.  My babies.

P365 - 2016 - Day 267 - So ends another season

P365 - 2016 - Day 267 - So ends another season

So ends another season of Skipper Dipper..... one last treat for these three and we'll see the Skipper in 2017!

P365 - 2016 - Day 266 - as promised

P365 - 2016 - Day 266 - as promised

As promised.... The Princess at her first SRMS home game of the season.  Here's to a great season.

P365 - 2016 - Day 265 - last sunset of Summer 2016

P365 - 2016 - Day 265 - last sunset of Summer 2016

It was a picture perfect sky for the last night of Summer.  Mother Nature outdid herself and this photo really does it do it justice.  The Boy and I rushed to the bay after Back to School Night to capture what we could of the last sunset of Summer 2016.

P365 - 2016 - Day 264 - actually won

P365 - 2016 - Day 264 - actually won

I can maybe count on part of one hand how many times I have won something... there was the John Travolta poster that I won at the Iselin fair when I was 6 and in full disclosure I think the girl at the game let me cheat.  (Don't judge btw, I was a huge fan of Grease)  There were a couple of coloring contests in my younger days...I think I won an Easter basket once and maybe a certificate another time.  But other than those that stick out in my memory, I am not one of those lucky people that calls a radio station and wins $1000 (I know this to be true recently since I just tried).  I don't tend to win things.  So when the Skipper Dipper ran a contest to win this box set of Roald Dahl books I gave it a go even though the odds were not in my favor.  But this is The Boy's current favorite author so I really hoped to win and I actually won!  Yeah!

P365 - 2016 - Day 263 - rest and recover

P365 - 2016 - Day 263 - rest and recover

After an eventful and exhausting weekend, with no work scheduled for Monday, I had a date with some icy hot and my pillow once I got everyone off to school.  I slept so soundly I was shocked to wake up to quite a bit of rain and flooding on the island.  I really needed that though and I woke up ready to tackle the rest of the day, the middle school class trip meeting at night, and the rest of the week.  Sometimes you just need to rest and recover.

P365 - 2016 - Day 262 - swim, bike, run

P365 - 2016 - Day 262 - swim, bike, run

I may have been been up for about almost three full days.... I may have run 20 miles during that time... I may have driven countless miles....but nothing was going to stop me from waking up in time to see My Wonderful Husband tackle his first sprint triathlon.  I am so proud of him and it was so much fun to watch him swim, bike, run!  He did an awesome job and finished 5th in his age group.

P365 - 2016 - Day 261 - I chased the sun...we met in DC

P365 - 2016 - Day 261 - I chased the sun....we met in DC

The second day of Ragnar was another long and eventful one.  After a little snooze while some of my teammates ran their legs, I was ready to tackle my night run.  I ran 9 miles through rolling hills and farms.  I had the last leg before the sun came up..... I chased the sun!  After the 12th runner ran and while the first van finished their legs, we drove to the next exchange and we started our third and final legs.  I ran 6 miles through Arlington VA and on the outskirts of Washington DC before meeting the 12th runner for the last exchange.  Finally, we met her at the finish line in DC as a whole team of 12 women.  This experience was awesome!!!  I am so glad that my friend asked me to do it all those months ago and I am so glad that I said yes!

P365 - 2016 - Day 260 - found my inner wild

P365 - 2016 - Day 260 - found my inner wild

This was a long day..... Day 1 of Ragnar started at 1am when 5 of the 6 of us met to load up the van and head to Cumberland MD.  After over 4 hours, we reached the start line to meet the other van and start the relay.  Since I was runner 11, I didn't begin my first run until about 5:30pm.  After that, I managed to get a shower before catching a few hours sleep in the van until "the next day" or to be more specific the very beginning of that next day...midnight.  So essentially, I was awake for close to 24 hours and somewhere during that time, ran 5 miles on a beautiful trail in Western MD along the Potomac River.  I am already hooked on this Ragnar thing.  I found my inner wild!

P365 - 2016 - Day 259 - Ragnar DC here I come!

P365 - 2016 - Day 259 - Ragnar DC here I come!

I am finally packed and ready to roll.  The dog went to the groomer, My Wonderful Husband and I had a yummy lunch, everyone had practices, and I went to Back to School Night at the Middle School.  After all of that, I am finally ready to get this show on the road.  Sadly, no time for a nap.... Just waiting for my niece-in-law to get here so we can head over to meet the rest of the girls with the van.  I can not wait!!!  Ragnar DC here I come!

P365 - 2016 - Day 258 - current situation

P365 - 2016 - Day 258 - current situation

This is my current situation.  I am leaving for Ragnar DC tomorrow night and this is the mess I am still dealing with.  I planned to pack today before working this afternoon but The Princess ended up coming home early from school and needed to go to the doctor for a sinus infection which threw off my whole day.  Looks like I will be packing tomorrow instead.....

P365 - 2016 - Day 257 - SRMS Soccer

P365 - 2016 - Day 257 - SRMS Soccer

It was the first game of the season for SRMS Soccer - The Bear was home and The Princess was away (which is why I didn't get a photo of her - look for a future post from her first home game...)  I left work as soon as I could and rushed over to see his game.  Here's to a great 8th grade season!

P365 - 2016 - Day 256 - newest

P365 - 2016 - Day 256 - newest

The newest 6th grader in the house is now the newest Safety Patrol member in the house as well.  :-)

P365 - 2016 - Day 255 - never forget...always remember

P365 - 2016 - Day 255 - never forget...always remember

I try to remember this every day...But today, the 15th anniversary of 9/11, seemed to be a good day to share this photo.  I will never forget.  My heart is with those who lost loved ones in that senseless act of violence.  I will always remember the kindness and humanity that I saw rise from the ashes.

P365 - 2016 - Day 254 - If you want something

P365 - 2016 - Day 254 - If you want something

With less than a week until Ragnar DC and the LBI 18 mile on the horizon, I completed my 16 mile training run.  At 4:30am.  Sometimes I even surprise myself. If you want something bad enough, you can do anything.  Like wake up at 3:30 am to leave the house at 4am to meet a friend to run at 4:30.....16 miles before 7:30.

P365 - 2016 - Day 253 - just perfect

P365 - 2016 - Day 253 - just perfect

A new season is approaching and with the Fall decorations out yesterday, that meant this frame needed to be changed as well.  I thought this was just perfect.  ;-)

P365 - 2016 - Day 252 - Don't judge

P365 - 2016 - Day 252 - Don't judge

I took advantage of the first day of all three kids in school all day and no work for me....  After a bike ride with My Wonderful Husband, I started the Fall decorating.  Yes, I did.  I am working the beginning of next week and then leaving for Ragnar and I wanted to get it done while I had the time.  Don't judge.  I like to decorate and as much as I love Summer, Fall is kind of pretty....

P365 2016 - Day 251 - here we are...6th grade

P365 - 2016 - Day 252 - here we are...6th grade

This guy set out for his first day of 6th grade - his last year in elementary school!  I'm not sure where the time goes as it rapidly speeds forward, but here we are....6th grade.  I hope he has an awesome year and enjoys every minute of it.  We are so proud of him and look forward to watching where he goes from here!

P365 - 2016 - Day 250 - these two...8th grade

P365 - 2016 - Day 250 - these two...8th grade

Another year begins.... and these two were off to 8th grade - their last year in middle school.  I hope they have a fantastic year and soak in all that it has to offer.  So proud of them both and can't wait to see what this year brings!

P365 - 2016 - Day 249 - #lastnightbefore8thgrade

P365 - 2016 - Day 249 - #lastnightbefore8thgrade

So tonight during dinner (the last supper...before the 8th graders go back to school) Nico was discussing an idea he and a friend had.... "We should go to school for one month then have a month off, then a month in school, then a month off...and so on until summer. We should still get summer." Stefi quickly responds with, "That wouldn't work. You need to be in school for 180 days.That's the law!" To which Nico responds, "Hello, this is a fantasy and in this fantasy we change the law and it totally works. That is how a fantasy works. You make new laws." 
I can not illustrate the differences between these two any clearer than this conversation just did. #dreamer #rulefollower #twins #lastnightbefore8thgrade
Here's to a great year in 8th grade!!!  xoxo

P365 - 2016 - Day 248 - more positive

P365 - 2016 - Day 248 - more positive

We woke up to a weather report that was much more positive than the one we went to bed hearing.  Tropical Storm Hermine had decided to move east and out to sea.  We were very thankful for the clear sunny skies we woke up to.  Weather is a a risk for sure when you live on this sandbar....but the flip side is this view.... Thank you Mother Nature for another day of this view.

P365 - 2016 - Day 247 - Here's hoping....

P365 - 2016 - Day 247 - Here's hoping....

After an early start and a full day of soccer tournaments, we came home and went to check out the ocean.  As of right now, Tropical Storm Hermine is churning up the ocean and the wind, but other than that all is ok for now.   Tomorrow is another day of tournaments but I will stay behind to monitor the tides and flooding to let My Wonderful Husband know if he needs to head home sooner rather than later.  Tomorrow night's and Monday's bay high tides are a concern but for right now we are hopeful and staying put once they get back from games tomorrow.  Here's hoping that Hermine is kind to the Jersey shore and this 18 mile sand bar that we choose to call home.

P365 - 2016 - Day 246 - Safety Patrol

P365 - 2016 - Day 246 - Safety Patrol

He has been waiting all summer for this letter and it finally arrived!  The Boy was accepted as a Safety Patrol. Can you see how excited he is?  Congratulations and here's to a great 6th grade year!!!

P365 - 2016 - Day 245 - September

P365 - 2016 - Day 245 - September

My Wonderful Husband and I actually sat down together to coordinate calendars this morning.  Because that is what it takes.  This is only September.... but with three kids - two playing school and club soccer and one playing club, along with work, a conference, a running trip, training, a triathlon, games, practices, tournaments, an out of state tournament, an 18 mile run, and an 8th grade trip to DC... the next three months on the calendar all look a lot like this one.  People tell me that I will miss all of this when the kids are grown so I try to embrace it all.  I vaguely remember the time before having kids and before their schedules required a meeting to coordinate.   But I also know that someday I will look back on this time fondly and sigh when I am no longer trying to figure out how to be in three places at one time.  So for the foreseeable future, or three pages of this calendar, I am pretty much booked and I will be actively trying to invent a way to clone myself.  See now that is something I could have done in my spare time all those years ago.