It Really Happened

At lunchtime I made sure the kids ate all their vegetables because vegetables are healthy.....
then pick up a pizza and breadsticks for dinner.

I cheered right along with my 4 year old because he was SO EXCITED he made a goal......
even though it was for the other team.

I got up at 3 am one morning because I had SO much to do during the day and needed the extra time.......
I spent the entire next day reading a book and accomplished nothing else.

I give my 2 year old a ride on the motorcycle to get the mail.......
okay it's actually my 8 year olds "electric" motorcycle but it's really fun to ride (he is at school, don't tell him)

I ordered my "Disneyland Book" from Amazon so I can start planning our spring break trip........
that same day my two sisters call and they are going to DL for Fall break, -together- with grandma and without me.  How come we don't have a Fall break? What a rip!

I'm gagging and shocked watching the foods the contestants on The Biggest Loser have been eating.....
while I'm enjoying my ice cream.
 (I watched the entire 2 hour show [DVR] in fast forward and I don't think I missed anything)

My next door neighbor, who is 4 years old, brings her dog Jessie over to play with our dog Jasper.......
My 4 year old says to our dog "Hey Jasper, want to smell Jessie's butt?"  He did.

Aside from the butt sniffing, not a whole lot of exciting stuff going on over here. Although my 2 year old did decide to paint her nails today when I was on the phone for 5 minutes.

Tomorrow morning I get to go to the elementary school and "volunteer" in the copy room.  An hour of my life I won't be able to get back.

Running news you ask?  Me running on treadmill at gym.  Husband running in Hawaii on Beach.

Is it Friday yet?

Happy Running, and Happy Weekend peeps!

10 Random things.....

I was tagged by Andrew to list 10 Random things about me so this post is for you buddy in honor of your first race coming up!  Good luck!

I thought I would list in chronological order:

#1 When I was in my mothers womb she was expecting to have me on July 1st and I arrived August 12th.

#2 In 5th grade I was voted by my peers for the "Miss Clear Creek" award because I snuck candy into camp and all the kids thought I was such a rebel.  It was awesome, the leaders were not impressed.

#3 In high school I played soccer, basketball and softball.  Basketball is my true love and I held the state record for most 3 pointers made in a game.  :)

#4  I went to a private Christian college whose rules were more strict than my parents which isn't easy to do. I loved it.

#5 While on a beach in Mexico the guitar player from Pink Floyd was trying to get me to go back to his beach house so he could "play his guitar" for me.  After a two hour conversation he realized it wasn't going to happen.
Conversation included lines like:
Him: "People shouldn't have so many kids because they use up the worlds resources"
Me: "Do you have any kids? (He is old and I am young remember)"
Him:  " I've been told I do."
Me:  "YOU'VE BEEN TOLD YOU DO?!, Wow, that is really impressive.  You lecture on the irresponsibility of having kids yet you don't even know or take care of your own.  Nice!"
Him:  "So you don't want to go listen to me 'play the guitar'?"
Me: "(trying not to vomit in my mouth) Dude? Really?"

#6 I don't drink coffee or alcohol but drink enough diet coke and eat enough chocolate to cancel out the good of abstaining from the first two.

#7 In my previous life (before children)  I got my BS in Health Administration and worked in the finance department of a large hospital.  I loved my cubicle, spread sheets and adding machine.

#8 I met my husband at a fraternity party.  I was the girl blending in with the wall asking "Why am I here?" Twelve years later he is still my best friend and we have 4 amazing kids. My Family is my life.  I gave up a career and chose to be a Stay at Home mom.  Once my littlest is in school I will likely go to work somewhere.  Trying to figure that out.

#9 I'm a Mormon

#10  Since this is a running blog I'll leave you with one random running thing about me.  The first race I ever ran was a Marathon.  I'm now training for a 5K  :)

Now to tag 3 people, I think I'll go with some of my Arizona peeps:
EMZ
Running Through Phoenix
The Boring Runner

Happy Running,
Adrienne

Morning after Regret

This morning I knew it was going to be a tough run as I rolled out of bed with my stomach feeling like there was a large rock in the bottom of it.  My two oldest kids have piano lessons Monday morning before school so I woke them up, quick breakfast, strapped on my running shoes and grabbed the Ipod and we were out the door.  After dropping them off at their lessons I debated about just sitting in the car and waiting for them and doing my run later but then like the sadist that runners have to be at different times to get through those runs I decided I better get a move on.
You see the problem wasn't really the running it was the night before Nacho "run" binge that I decided to partake in at 10:30 pm.  I mean it's one thing to ruin your good eating habits with a night out at a fine restaurant where you savor every bite but quite another (in my mind) to ruin it with a hand full of marshmallows chased down with nachos and a diet coke (good thing the coke was diet right?  That makes the rest okay).  So as I started my run I knew I wouldn't feel great.  Who would?  But I was hoping it would serve as a reminder to me that the next time I want to hit the local gas station when it's already past my bedtime I will think twice.
Lesson learned.  Let's hope I don't have to learn it again anytime soon.

I didn't have a Garmin on but I ran for around 40 minutes so I'm estimating around 4 miles.

IOU to ShutUpandRun

So over at ShutupandRun she asked her followers to post about their days and since she doesn't have very many followers I didn't want to make her feel bad by not contributing.  So here is my day...at least today...every day is different-THAT'S what makes my life SO exciting! Try not to be jealous.

Around 7:30 as I lay in my soft cozy bed I hear the first rumblings from the children and I begin to get up but the nanny beats me to them and has them bathed, dressed and breakfast cooking while she goes through their arithmetic to be sure they are ready for their test that day so I pull the covers up over my head and drift off to sleep again.  A bit later the kids come in and I bid them farewell and kiss them goodbye and they head to school.  I roll out in time to get ready and meet my girlfriends for brunch and a day of shopping and the spa followed by..... MAMA--I STINKY, MAMA! MAMA! STINKY BUM!

6:30 Wha? What? Oh-that.  I ACTUALLY wake up.
Quick prayer
The rest happens in a blur.
Change 2YO diaper and get her dressed.
Wake up 10YO and 8YO
Start Breakfast-toast and eggs

The smaller plates are mom and dads and 4 and 2YO's, 10 and 8YO started eating us under the table a few years ago?  What will my grocery bill look like when they are teenagers?

Give orders- 10YO piano, 8YO Reading and study for spelling test
30 minutes later switch--8YO Piano, 10 YO read and study spelling
Wake up 4 YO
Everyone eats breakfast-toast, eggs, and fruit smoothie
Mom (me) eats in <1 minute and has kitchen cleaned before many others have taken first bite
Go check email, FB, and Read a couple of blogs
Make the rounds checking bedrooms and telling kids to hurry up and make beds and have their rooms clean before they go to school
Make my bed
Go to the bathroom
Pack 4YO lunch

What 4YO would not love to eat a dinosaur turkey sandwich?

Write checks for 8YO and 10YO lunches
Pack gym bag
Everyone else finishes breakfast
Ask 10, 8, and 4 YO if they have brushed their teeth.
Answer: no.
ME: Go do it and get your shoes on.
Mom cleans up everyone else's breakfast plates and starts the dishwasher.
Kids goofing off and running around.
Me: Have you brushed your teeth yet?
Answer: no.
ME: Go do it and get your freakin shoes on!
About 8:20
Me:  To 10 and 8 YO--Why do you not have your shoes on yet?  How many times do I have to ask you?! Seriously!
They go get their shoes on.
Me: Did you brush your teeth too?
Them: No
Me: GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH!
Them: They go brush.
Backpacks on, quick prayer, hugs and 10 YO and 8YO are out the door for the bus.
8:40 Time to get little's (4yo and 2yo) into the car.
Notice the garage door was open all night.  Lovely.
What I was thinking "Hopefully they stole a bunch of stuff so I don't have to organize it. Again"
Pulling out of the driveway and I spot THIS on the Lawn!

Don't think it's hot in AZ?  Ask this guy.  Sad :( 

Car comes to sudden stop.
Me, running in the house yelling up to hubs in his office: "TRAVIS COME HERE QUICK!"
Travis: Comes running down thinking something is wrong.
Me:  Look at that!
Him:You mean the Frog?
Me: Ya
Him turning to head back to office: Ya I saw that a few days ago.
Me: WHAT?
Him: Whaaaat?
Me: Why didn't you take care of it then you dork!?
Him laughing: I will, I will.
Me: I gotta go, put it in the garbage.  It's gross, and sad, but mostly gross.
Him: laughing and trying to kiss me, -k- bye
Drive 4YO to preschool and drop off
Drive to gym, check 2YO into "Kids Club"
Run 6.2 miles at goal 10K race pace--cha ching!
Thinking: I need to pick a race.
Shower at gym-get out and I forgot to pack a towel-NICE!
Try to "Air Dry" as best I can.
Get dressed.  No non-running shoes packed in gym bag. Crap!
Looked like a moron wearing this with running shoes.  (EMZ don't tell Peanut)

If my shirt didn't have a BIG ruffle on it I might have got away with the shoes but not the case. I chopped my head off the picture for obvious reasons.

Picked up 2YO and headed to car and I really needed/wanted a QT Diet Coke w/Vanilla but then I realized in all the frog commotion this morning I grabbed my gym bag but not my purse. Crap!
Found 90 cents in money thing in car!  SWEET!  3 cents to spare!
Went to QT- got my beverage.
Gave clerk the 90 cents and his reply "You're all set"
Me: Deer in headlights/crickets.
Him again slower: "You're all set"
Me: Thanks, nervous laugh and fake smile, (walking away thinking that guy just STOLE my 3 cents!--whatever!)
2YO threw a tantrum on floor because she did not get her usual slurpee (no money) and I was sad for her.  I told her I would share and gave her my drink.

Sadie loves to wear her "new" hat everywhere--love her!

I know, I know, I shouldn't give my 2YO a Caffeinated beverage but it wasn't like it was a BEER or anything.  I mean WHO would do that?  I can't think of ANYONE that would do THAT--Can you Q?
Drove home.
Looked at lawn.
Guess what was still there.

In case you missed it the first time.  This is a bullfrog so I'm guessing he was trying to make his way to our water feature as you can see didn't quite get there.  Travis fertilized the lawn a few days before I noticed him so maybe that somehow contributed to his demise.  RIP little froggy.

Me: Grrr.
Me walking in the house: "TRAVVVVISSSSS!  YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT FROG!!!
Him still in office (upstairs): I will I will.
Me: SEARRR--EEEE----USSSSS-LLLLEEE!!!
Him laughing: I WILLLLL!!  Don't be a FREAK!
Me thinking: "Did he just call me a Freak?"
I waited 5 minutes then did this.  Snuck out side door, went around to front door and rang the door bell then snuck back in side door and went and opened the front door.
Me in sweet wife voice: "Travis the door is for you"
Him, all suddenly nice: "Okay thanks, I'll be right down"
Me, evil laughing inside.
Him, going to door and looking outside.
ME-shoving his sorry A** out the door and locking it!
Me laughing HA HA HA HA HA HA while saying "Whose the FREAK now SUCKAH!!" Along with doing a victory jig!
Me: Your not coming back in here until you throw that frog in the garbage FREAK!
Him: shaking his head
(It's times like this that the words you said all those years ago...you know the ones....."til death do us part" start sounding more like a goal rather than a commitment.)

Anyway, that's all I've gotten to so far today but I'm guessing it's probably TMI already.  I'm heading off to make lunch and get back to our "normal" life.  TGIF People.

NRR

P.S.  I did eventually let Travis back in, eventually :)

Red Rock Relay and Cherry on Top Award

I wanted to give a SHOUT OUT to my H-School friend Matt who is a crazy ultra runner who runs 50, 100, and 150 mile races and happens to be the race director of  the Red Rock Relay this weekend in Southern Utah.   It is a fairly new relay with this year being it's second year.  Lots of my friends ran it last year and said it was awesome!  The course alone looks completely amazing!  To quote what is says on their website: "Leg one begins with a ride up the ski lift at Brian Head Resort to the pristine air at 10,500 feet.   Legs 2 through 24 travel the extreme beauty of Cedar Breaks National Monument and the quiet evergreens of Dixie National Forest.  Legs 25 through 36 will take the team through the stunning beauty of the Pine Valley Mountains, Dammeron Valley, Snow Canyon, and St. George.  Team members will gather and complete their race at the finish line at the entrance to Zion National Park."

Check out a picture of areas you get to run through.  Pretty amazing.  It's something that's going on my bucket list. 

So last week I was tagged for the Cherry on Top award and I debated about whether I wanted to do this as I think it is sort of winding up but decided after reading several of these (especially Angie Bee's honest candid answer) I would.  

Rules if you haven't heard about this award:
1. Answer the question: If you had one chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?
First thought was---How should I answer this?  Should I be witty? Funny? Flippant? or the dreaded Sincere?
Against my better judgement I've decided to choose the sincere route.  Mainly because not doing so would feel like a lie.   So at the risk of putting myself out there and letting my guard down here goes.
Answer to the first part of the question is a NO.  I wouldn't change anything in my life. Sometimes what we would like to change in life are mistakes we have made that have caused heartache, pain or suffering and sometimes they are things that just happen that we have no control over.  I really think that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% on how you react to it.
Six years ago when I was pregnant with my third child my husband and I made our way to the hospital and when our baby was born we held our precious tiny little baby in our arms but her spirit had already gone on to our Father in Heaven.  We weren't able to take her to our earthly home but she is forever in our hearts.   At the time I would have done anything, ANYTHING to change that.  Our world stopped yet everybody else's moved on.  Through the years I have realized that  having her was and IS a great blessing in our lives.  I don't take things for granted.  We were blessed with two more children and you wouldn't have ever heard me complain about my pregnancy, delivery or the sleepless nights as I did with the first ones.  Sometimes when things happen, perspective and priorities change, and you learn and grow if you are willing to.  I'm fortunate that I know about The Plan of Salvation and I KNOW that I will be able to be with my little girl again someday. So how could I ever want that to change?
 There is no good that can come of asking why me? or what if I did this instead? because it is DONE, you can't change it so learn from it and let it make you a better person for today and tomorrow.


2. Tag 6 people to receive this award:
The Running Melver's
Any of my ladies over at Mind over Mileage
Sean over at In Clean Air
My newest follower and soon to be dad Foges welcome!
To Tomas for having some of the coolest race photos on your blog!
To my sister Tami because you need to blog more so I can see what's going on in your life!


3. You have to thank the person (people) who gave you the award.
Thank you (I think) to The Turtle's Pace for tagging me for this award! 


Upward and Onward
Love to all,
NRR

Wednesday night is the new Monday morning

Did you know that more people blog Monday morning more than any other time/day of the week?  It's true.  I don't make this stuff up.

I have a CONFESSION to make.  I haven't run for 11 days. 

I imagine this is what a blogging runner must do on their blog in order to be "redeemed"

So I haven't blogged in a week because after my 10 miler last week I didn't run again until the following Tuesday.  Not the Tuesday after the Friday but the one after that Tuesday.  You know 11 days.  WHAT!  I think that is a record.

I don't have any good excuses.  I'm perfectly healthy.  I could have found time to run but didn't.  Sure I could blame it on the kids football (X2), soccer, piano (X2), trumpet lessons, SAGE, homework(X3), scouts(X2) and the husband being out of town for M-F for the last 3 WEEKS  leading to me thinking I was going to lose my bloody mind didn't help! Plus I was doing a lot of this. But truth be told I was just tired.  Physically? Ya. Emotionally? A little. Psychologically? Somewhat.  At any rate.  I know I broke the unwritten running "rule" that says something like "Thou shalt not miss more than one run or else all is lost" but let's face it.  I've been breaking rules long before there were rules to break!  (my attempt at sounding like a Bad A**)

Tuesday I really felt like running, made my way to the gym and cranked out 3 miles at my 10k pace.  Wasn't even hard.  Running out of time (story of my life) I ran the next 1/2 mile at 5K pace and still wasn't dying so I ran the next 1/2 mile at 30 faster than my mile pace.  I would have liked to run longer but alas the football kids were calling to be picked up.
This run led me to a few conclusions:
Conclusion #1  I should take an 11 day break in between runs because it makes running a lot easier.
Conclusion #2 I think it's time for a new time trial because I think I need new goal paces
Today-Wednesday I decided I needed a hard run workout because yesterday's (although I was expecting it to be hard because I hadn't run for so long) run workout was too easy.
I decided to do my 15's workout.  This workout sucks rocks.  Went to the gym.  Warmed up with a 10K speed mile which is a 10:30 pace for me.  Then cranked the treadmill up to a 8 mph speed and I would run 15 seconds on then jump off for 15 seconds and every interval I upped the speed by .5  until I was at 10 mph which is a 6 minute mile speed. I held at 10 mph for the next mile.  It was hard.  Considering I'm almost doubling my speed.  Now I just need to figure out how to stretch that 15 seconds to another 5:45 Ha ha.  I'm joking.  I finished off with 4 miles total.  It was a good run workout but I still feel as if I could have done more but again...the ticking of the clock made me head out earlier than I wanted to.
Conclusion from second day run:
#1 I really need a new time trial
#2 I should pick a race because without a goal it's easy to be a slacker and yet how can I when all my Saturdays and Sundays are booked solid-not to mention my M-F days?  Hmmmmm, dilemma dilemma.  If anyone knows of a race at Midnight in the Phoenix area let me know I think I have that time open most days or shall I say nights.

"I iS sMaRt"

This morning after cooking a delicious nutritious breakfast oatmeal for my kids my 5th grader was finishing up some math homework and asked me to help him with one of the questions.  Something about factors and to the 5th power but all I heard was blah blah blah.
 I replied with a "I don't know" from across the room.
To which he then responded with a very innocent and non sarcastic,
 "How did you ever graduate from college when you don't even know 5th grade math?"
 I pulled up short and went over and smacked him in the head and looked at him and thought:

"I iS sMarT"!

Nothing like having kids to help you feel like a total Moron!
So to answer the question "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader" that would be a NO.