P365 - 2017 - Day 151 - It's official

P365 - 2017 - Day 151 - It's offficial

It's official... Matty's new uniform came today.  He now officially plays for the Wall Breakers and has gone from number 18 to number 10.

P365 - 2017 - Day 150 - Stay Wild, Moon Child

P365 - 2017 - Day 150 - Stay Wild, Moon Child

My shirt and finishers medal for "Chase the Moon" came today and I was so excited!!!

P365 - 2017 - Day 149 - a lot of nothing

P365 - 2017 - Day 149 - a lot of nothing

My plan for the day off was to get all packed and ready for my upcoming Ragnar.  What happened was the exact opposite of that.  Faced with a much needed day off from both work and sport commitments, I did a lot of nothing.  It will get done.  Eventually.

P365 - 2017 - Day 148 - second place

P365 - 2017 - Day 148 - second place

It was the last tournament for The Boy with his current team before he moves on to Wall.  They played great all weekend and brought home second place.

P365 - 2017 - Day 147 - Memorial Day weekend tournaments

P365 - 2017 - Day 147 - Memorial Day weekend tournaments

All three of the kids had Memorial Day weekend tournaments... so we were split in three directions.  The Princess was with My Wonderful Husband and her team in a tournament in PA, The Bear was guest playing and I was with The Boy at his tournament.  My feet may not have been in the sand...but they each had a ball at theirs so it was a weekend well spent.

P365 - 2017 - Day 146 - struck by the scene

P365 - 2017 - Day 146 - struck by the scene

I spent some time after work finishing up bulletin boards and a few other things I wanted to get done before the long weekend.  I was worried about the traffic heading north on the island to get home and was running through my head everything that I needed to do over the weekend....until I was struck by the scene in front of me.  Even with the island filling up around me, as I turned to look at the school and the flags that the students had placed outside today, there was a stillness to the air and the only sound I heard was the flapping of the flags in the breeze.  I breathed in the salt air and took a deep breath and said a silent thank you.  Happy Memorial Day weekend.

P365 - 2017 - Day 145 - the start of summers past

P365 - 2017 - Day 145 - the start of summers past

With Memorial Day Weekend approaching, I can't help but be reminded of the start of summers past....when we weren't running in three directions but instead were hoping to get our favorite merry go round animals.

P365 - 2017 - Day 144 - using my time

P365 - 2017 - Day 144 - using my time

Using my time wisely during The Bear's practice...a little wind and chillier temperatures didn't stop me from getting 5 miles in.

P365 - 2017 - Day 143 - time management and a little help

P365 - 2017 - Day 143 - time management and a little help

It's all about time management and a little help from each other.  The Boy needed to get studying done before heading to practice and I was trying to get ready after work to make it to the gym.  So, The Princess stepped in and helped him study.  This makes me smile.

P365 - 2017 - Day 142 - J-O-Bs

P365 - 2017 - Day 142 - J-O-Bs

Guess who are old enough to get J-O-Bs this summer?  Working papers and jobs lined up.

P365 - 2017 - Day 141 - what is more nutritious than....fish?

P365 - 2017 - Day 141 - what is more nutritious than....fish?

I don't get to as many of The Princess' games as I would like because when there is a conflict with her brother's games, I have to take them since her dad is an assistant coach on her team.  So today when I realized I could go, I dropped the lesson plans and grading that I still needed to do and jumped in the car with her and My Wonderful Husband.  Unfortunately, when we got there I realized I forgot a snack AND the game was going to be delayed.  Thankfully, the organic nutrition store was around the corner and what is more nutritious than organic Swedish fish? ;-)

P365 - 2017 - Day 140 - planks

P365 - 2017 - Day 140 - planks

The Pooch doesn't understand planks.  Or does he?

P365 - 2017 - Day 139 - pockets of time

P365 - 2017 - Day 139 - pockets of time

It's sometimes a challenge to find the pockets of time to get my runs and workouts in but it's a challenge I accept.  Today, after work, I caught the second half of The Boy's soccer game and on the way back convinced The Princess to join me on my run to push me to go.  With her company, the 3 miles flew by.

P365 - 2017 - Day 138 - first

P365 - 2017 - Day 138 - first

The Bear placed first in the 400 meter with a time of 55:28.  He and his relay team also placed first the 4 by 400 meter relay helping SRMS Boys Track win first place in the Ocean County Meet of Champions.

P365 - 2017 - Day 137 - final trip

P365 - 2017 - Day 137 - final trip

It is almost official.  My Wonderful Husband left today for his final trip to campus until next January. Tomorrow he will leave and post this on his door.

P365 - 2017 - Day 136 - this peanut

P365 - 2017 - Day 136 - this peanut

Is it possible that in a month, this peanut will be graduating 6th grade?  It seems like yesterday that he graduated preschool!!

P365 - 2017 - Day 135 - poem

P365 - 2017 - Day 135 - poem

I loved this Mother's Day poem from The Boy.

P365 - 2017 - Day 134 - Happy Mother's Day!

P365 - 2017 - Day 134 - Happy Mother's Day!

They made me a mom..... they will never fully know how much I love them.  They are my heart and soul.  Happy Mother's Day!

P365 - 2017 Day 133 - his position

P365 - 2017 - Day 133 - his position

He came home from school yesterday feeling under the weather....so this has been his position since then.  Comforter, water bottle, ipad, and his protector never too far.  It was a perfect rainy day today to spend curled up on the couch staying warm and feeling better.

P365 - 2017 - Day 132 - wish you were here

P365 - 2017 - Day 132 - wish you were here

All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.  - Abraham Lincoln

Happy Mother's Day to the woman who taught me what it means to be a mom.  I wish you were here to celebrate with me.  

P365 - 2017 - Day 131 - this was the time

P365 - 2017 - Day 131 - this was the time

This was the time I was supposed to wake up.  Instead, The Boy came in my room at 6:30 to tell me the time.  I leaped out of bed in a full panic when I realized that the alarm that I set the night before did not go off.  Somehow the kids and all managed to get ready and make it to school and work on time.....if only a little worse for the wear....

P365 - 2017 - Day 130 - Chase the Moon

P365 - 2017 - Day 130 - Chase the Moon

In the hours leading up to midnight, these girls and I ran 6.7 miles in the moonlight surrounding Barnegat Lighthouse.  We were participating in Ragnar's Chase the Moon Event.  In a month we will be joining forces with 7 other girls to tackle Ragnar Poconos so this was a little preview night run.  We had a lot fun and many laughs as we ran.

P365 - 2017 - Day 129 - Teacher Appreciation Day

P365 - 2017 - Day 129 - Teacher Appreciation Day

It was nice to be back on the other side of Teacher Appreciation Day....I received this sweet and unexpected surprise from one of my second graders.....

P365 - 2017 - Day 128 - The Boy has turned 12

P365 - 2017 - Day 128 - The Boy has turned 12

I'm not sure how it happened but The Boy has turned 12.  As he enters this last year before becoming a teenager, I wish for him so many of the things that I have always wished...health, happiness and a year full of all the things he enjoys most.  But along with those, I wish for him patience and strength, humor and humility, the ability to see the best in the world and the power to be that best as well.  I wish for him a lifetime spent pursuing dreams, chasing passions, and absorbing all that life has to offer.  I wish for him a future as bright as his smile and as big as his heart.  Twelve years ago, this boy completed our family as he joined us on that Mother's Day and it has been our privilege to watch him grow into the amazing young man that he is today.  I look forward to seeing all the places he will go. Happy 12th Birthday to my "Littlest Leonard".

P365 - 2017 - Day 127 - a pretty good birthday present

P365 - 2017 - Day 127 - a pretty good birthday present

His team won today and he scored 5 goals.  Two of them were from about 30 yards out and another was a corner kick that he bent right in to the goal.  I'd say that was a pretty good birthday present.

P365 - 2017 - Day 126 - will always be my baby

P365 - 2017 - Day 126 - will always be my baby

Is it possible that this little monkey is about to enter his last "preteen year"?  I can hardly believe this cutie will be turning 12 on Monday!  This is the face that I still see when I look at him though.  All big saucer eyes as blue as the clear blue sea and cheeks for days.  Sorry kiddo, you might be growing up before my eyes as quick as can be but you will always be my baby.....but the days of calling him the "littliest" Leonard might be behind us since he is now taller than me.

P365 - 2017 - Day 125 - Let the birthday weekend begin

P365 - 2017 - Day 125 - Let the birthday weekend begin

It was a rainy, miserable kind of day...but there was a a ray of sunshine that the kids were counting down for.....Just in time to begin The Boy's Birthday weekend celebration, Skipper Dipper opened their doors for the 2017 season!  Thanks Skipper for always opening in time for The Boy's birthday - it made his day once again!   Let the birthday weekend begin.

P365 - 2017 - Day 124 - 5 miles done

P365 - 2017 - Day 124 - 5 miles done

I woke up today and my first thought and words were "I'm still tired."  But I knew that I needed to get my 5 mile run in tonight during The Princess' practice.  I rushed home to help The Boy study for a science test before changing and rushing out with The Princess for practice.  It was colder today that I thought so I was really glad that a) I found this cute windbreaker in TJMaxx and 2) threw it in my car before leaving.  5 miles done...and now I am ready to go back to bed.

P365 - 2017 - Day 123 - Ragnar Leg

P365 - 2017 - Day 123 - Ragnar Leg

There were some last minute changes for Ragnar Pocono and with 4 weeks until the big show, it turns out that my last leg is now the Ragnar Leg.  I picked runner number 8 mostly for this leg.  It's my biggest challenge...some serious hills.  I wanted to push myself and I thought it was pretty cool that I finish in Jim Thorpe, PA.  Now, as long as I can conquer this mountain, I will get the added benefit of of the Ragnar leg medal which is a cool bonus.

P365 - 2017 - Day 122 - You win Tuesday

P365 - 2017 - Day 122 - You win Tuesday

Yeah.  It was that kind of day.  Woke up at 5am to the sound of the dog puking.  Bailed on my morning run after cleaning up said puke.  Worked and rushed home right after school to make dinner, pack dinner, pick up The Princess from track and take her to her carpool and The Boy to his practice.  Rushed out the door with The Boy, dinner for The Princess, water bottles feeling like I had a handle on things.  Got to the bridge to sit in dead stop traffic...note the rise in my blood pressure.  Late to pick up the Princess and pushing up on late to drop off The Boy, I realize that I don't have The Princess' soccer bag.  That means a trip back to the island and then back again to meet the carpool.  Back in the bridge traffic.  I had hoped to get in the run I bailed on during The Boy's practice and my time was very quickly slipping away.  I'm going to say this, I was not a happy camper.  The day had run me for sure.  You win Tuesday.  Nicely played.

P365 - 2017 - Day 121 - beauty...brains

P365 - 2017 - Day 121 - beauty....brains

It was awards night at SRMS and this beauty also has some serious brains.....  Super proud of her accomplishments!