if i could, you know i would.

if i could. i would…

run!!

i did some scrapping this past week that took me down a wonderful memory lane–albeit a little painful. how i long to lace up those running shoes and get out on the road again! it’s been 10 years tomorrow since i ran my first marathon. it continues to be one of my greatest accomplishments thus far…one of those times that i actually pushed my mind over the matter so to say. i really wish i could harness that power again sometimes. especially when i’m standing in front of the freezer pounding down another ice cream bar. 🙂

i don’t think i loved running when i first started. in fact, i didn’t like it at all. i remember being on the track team in 7th grade and running up to the water tower every day after school. i hated it. i was always last or next to last. and i used to think, “why in the world am i doing this? i am no good.” i realize now that i started to love running when it no longer became “me against them” but rather “me against me.” it took me a long time to figure that out. that’s when the passion set in. when i found myself battling my own mind to succeed. and along the way i found a time to think, to ponder, to push, to become better.

I like running because it’s a challenge. If you run hard, there’s the pain – and you’ve got to work your way through the pain. You know, lately it seems all you hear is? Don’t overdo it’ and? Don’t push yourself.’ Well, I think that’s a lot of bull. If you push the human body, it will respond.
– Bob Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers general manager, NHL Hall of Fame.

i miss it. a lot. someday i will get there again.
for now, the only place i find time to think is during my 5-7 minute shower. that’s where i get my “running” in these days. i get to step inside my transporter and just be for a few short moments. like i said, someday i’ll be pounding the pavement again. but don’t be surprised if i’m showering tomorrow with my running shoes on!

img_0091

© twopeasinabucket.com
hidden journaling reads: 2001 st. george marathon! the feelings i have after completing each marathon are undescribable. it is amazing to complete a goal you’ve worked so hard to achieve. running is my love. my passion. my therapy. i miss it so much! i can’t wait until my feet can hit the pavement again!

Continue Reading

do you need a little “pick me up” today?

well this little girl sure does…

pict4022copy

pict4023copy

this is my drama queen. in all her resplendent glory. i figured rather than try to reason with an unreasonable two-year-old, just take pictures instead so that when she is a teenager she can look back and see that she probably hasn’t changed much. 😉 how i love my sweet little bundle of estrogen!!

so about that “pick me up.”
are you are needing a little pat on the back today? maybe a little recognition for how amazingly talented you are at changing diapers? do you need to be reminded that you are indeed wonder woman? of course you do!
here’s what you do:
type yourname.youaremighty.com into your browser window and hit enter. for example, i would type cherie.youaremighty.com

now go ahead. feel the power! you are mighty!

Continue Reading

number five is alive!

he’s been wanting five. asking about five. counting the days until five. and now he is five. and how he loves it!
i hate to admit it but on his day…i didn’t take any pictures. oh the horror!!!! i am such a bum but i think i probably had a baby in my arms most of the day and couldn’t quite hold the camera at the same time. 🙂

but yesterday i tried to redeem myself. we went to the park for a picnic because it finally started to cool down to a lovely 90 degrees. hah!
we took his b-day bike for a test drive and i put the babe down and took some pictures!!

pict3999copy1_3

pict4002copy

pict4004copy

pict4003copy

pict4011copy

pict4013_copy

pict4021copy

(and just in case you were wondering, i did shower today) 🙂

Continue Reading

so this one’s for you, jeff.

this past week jeff has been asking every day, "when are you going to blog again?"
yesterday i replied, "well, maybe when there are four of me then i can."
i think i’ve had about 5 entries written in my mind but finding the time to type it out is a different story. i’d have to choose between blogging and taking a shower. and um…frankly i figured he’d rather go without my ramblings than have a stinky wife. 🙂

geez, life is full right now. not many moments in the day are available to just think quietly. except for maybe 2 a.m. and actually, i have on occasion stayed awake after feeding lincoln to do just that. be alone without anyone needing me for something. i often think of a quote from one of my favorite talks because she is a mother from elder holland.

With night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island.

but you know, it’s all good. it’s good because i know i wouldn’t have it any other way. sometimes when i’m in the thick of it all i jokingly i ask myself, "is this what i was born to do?" and sure enough i am reminded by the spirit that yes, this is what i have always wanted to do and be. sometimes motherhood may not always be exactly like i expected, but it is my greatest work. and truthfully somedays i wake up and don’t want to go to "work." some days i’d like to get a replacement or fake with my best "first thing in the morning raspy, hacking, coughy voice" and call in sick. but…i have three bosses who would see right through that one. 🙂

but i’m glad they would see through it because no replacement would love them as much as i do. or patiently clean up their food flung everywhere for the third time that day. or rock them gently back to sleep for the fourth time that night. or sing them the same song for the fiftieth time while they say go faster or slower. or run across the room arm outstretched with them pretending to be superman. or dance with them in my arms while we boogie to any beat. or read them the book about frogs one more time even though i want to hide it so i don’t have to read it yet again. or give them countless eskimo and butterfly kisses just before bedtime.

and even though my body breathes a sigh of relief each night as i close their bedroom doors, i am happy. happy to be their momma and to love them like no replacement can.         

 

Continue Reading

at least we know where he gets it.

a little humor from today’s doctor appointment.

while waiting for the doctor to come in, the sweet little latina nurse and i had a fun conversation. she was asking about my kids and i was asking about hers. we talked about birthdays, challenging two-year-olds, keeping everyone happy, etc.

then she went over to lincoln’s stroller and pulled back the visor to take a peek. with an alarmed gasp, she exclaimed, “oh my gosh, you shaved his head?!”

“oh, no.” i smiled. “that’s how he came.” i know most latin cuties need a haircut upon arrival, but surely she has seen bald babies before, right? 🙂

too bad jeff’s latin blood wasn’t enough to thwart my bestowal of baldness to the boy. who else can say that they were the recipient of the “oldest baby with the least hair” award? i wear that honor with pride, baby!

Continue Reading

hello and goodbye…

hello 3…..goodbye 2
hello buxom chest…..goodbye thick hair
hello night light…..goodbye sleep
hello feet…..goodbye cankles
hello scar…..goodbye tummy
hello rocking chair…..goodbye bed
hello ponytail…..goodbye make-up
hello spit up…..goodbye dry anything
hello lincoln…..goodbye another piece of my heart

Continue Reading

let us see what squirt does flying solo

and in this case squirt would be me.

let’s just say this. swimming upstream has never been my forte. um…well swimming in general is out of the question. 😉
it’s been a crazy few days since my parents have gone home and i’ve been left alone with *gasp* 3 children! i’ve been trying to harness some super human powers. but unfortunately elastigirl abilities are accessible for nursing purposes only. and it seems that i can’t quite disappear like violet either. although i have been hiding the baby in our walk-in closet during his naptime. but ella was onto that one in no time too. luckily i found her before any brutality occurred. i heard her sweet little voice calling out “baby, baby,” but the third time her tone changed as she muttered under her breath growling “bai..beee.” i managed to intervene and keep the jekyll-hyde at bay!
for now, i’m just trying to take it one tv show at a time. and hoping we’ll all survive until daddy gets home! 😉

Continue Reading