The children are WILD today. Of course its the day that Kip leaves me alone with them. They are both taking naps right now, even after listening to how "not tired" Bailey was for an hour, she fell asleep first. I might bribe them to go to the scrapbook store with me today. It's a bit of a drive but it would do some good to get them out of the house for a while and the parks are just too muddy for me yet.

I ran today. After being sick all week and only getting 3 hours of sleep last night I managed 3.7 miles outside. It felt so good. I can't wait until it stays light enough at night for me to go after dinner again. It was the perfect relaxation time for me last spring.

I did some reflecting of kindness today while out running. There is this house by Bailey's school that is always decorated for every single holiday. They currently have a St. Patrick's Day flag outside. There was a man working on the yard today when I ran by. After thinking for a moment I decided to turn around and thank him for always decorating his home and told him that my girls love it. He thanked me and said that was why he kept doing it. He said his children were older now but he kept it up for the little ones that he knows sees it. Good people. It's little things like this that I think are important. I think we forget to compliment and thank people daily. I can't tell you how many people Bailey makes smile when we go out because she will compliment something about them. She will say that she likes their shirt, or their shoes, or earrings...you name it. It's so her, and it's genuinley kind. I didn't teach her to do it, she just does it because she likes people. I think I am going to take her advice and do more things like this from now on. Last fall I stopped and told an older woman how much we love her home. It's the most quaint house you can imagine. It reminds me of a little cabin type home in England. All I did was stop to tell her how charming we thought her home was and she told me that her grandfather had built it for her grandmother. She had found a home pattern in Better Homes and Gardens that she liked, so he built it. So sweet and all the more meaningful that the lady still has that house in her family.

I will never forget when Kip's friend told him that our house always looked really nice. He said he was amazed that I work full time and have two little kids and still any time he has ever been to our house it has been clean. He will never know how much that compliment he gave my husband means to me. I work very hard to keep our house clean, not spotless, but clean and healthy. It's not a mansion or one of the fancy beachfront homes you see popping up all over, but it is ours and I am grateful for the fact that we have a place to call home. So thank you Dave, your words will probably stay with me forever.

I guess the message today is stop and thank someone for something you would never think to. I'm going to make it my goal to thank or compliment someone twice a week from now on. (I mean beyond telling a cashier thank you at the checkout...something more meaningful. I always tell people thank you.)

Lazy Saturday

(The above picture is from the ice festival a couple weeks ago. My camera is upstairs and I dont have the energy to go get new pictures off of it!)

So far it's been a lovely Saturday. Not a whole lot of cleaning this morning, a trip to Lowe's to get a new faucet, a stop a Target to find that they did not have black jelly beans (the horror!), and soon we will be going bowling with the children. The sun is out and its actually not bad out there considering the snow.

Last night we had new friends over for dinner. I met Tracie at Bailey's school this year and we actually have quite a few common interests. Her daughter is in B's class. It was a nice evening. Megan is still hitting though. She's going to find herself in a heap of trouble if she doesn't cut it out. I don't know where she is getting it from but it is NOT ok, I just don't know how to stop her. At dinner when she doesn't want to eat she looks at me and says "Megan go in time out" and punishes herself instead of having dinner. I've tried positive reinforcement. I would take something away but I don't know what to take since she doesn't really have a fav toy.

Tomorrow I am starting my running training. I pushed it off a week because I decided to run the Higgins Lake 1/2 marathon instead of the Sunburst. It will be more low key and easier for me as a first race I think. I still am consider the Chicago Marathon but I don't know. That's alot of people all packed together on the road. We will see if I even like the 1/2. Running may be something that I just keep to myself instead of running in large clumps of people.

Next weekend I'm going on my scrapbooking retreat. Very excited to enjoy some relaxing time with mom and friends. The hardest part is that my mom is coming down and the girls want to see her. I don't think Bailey realizes that she's coming or she prob would be throwing a temper tantrum about it by now. Speaking of Bailey that girl is reading! It's amazing. She has to bring these little books home and read them on mon, wed, and fri and she does an amazing job. I'm so proud of her.

Spring...Hello?

I am so ready for spring. It is very very cold today and very very windy, yuck. Kip is at the doctor's, wondering if we shouldn't take Bailey in as well. She has had a bad cough since Sunday. I try not to be one of the crazy moms bringing their kids in for every ache and pain, but its not really sounding any better.

Yesterday the little monkey (Megan) moved a chair from the kitchen table over to the counter to reach the last of the Twizzlers! I heard a small thunking sound and just thought she had tossed her sippy into the sink (it's her new "thing" to put all her dirty dishes in the sink) so I ignored the sound. I was quite shocked to walk into the kitchen and see the chair, then I found the culprit on the couch munching away. It's hard to be mad when she's so cute.

We are still using just one car so life has been a bit of a pain. It's good because it means I can't leave the house and spend money but bad because we are stuck at home all day and the children are restless. I think I am going to shoot for the curious kids museum one day next week.

This picture says it all. Megan is a handful alright. When I ask her to "say cheese" she squints her little eyes and says "cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese" EVERY SINGLE TIME. Needless to say I don't have many good pictures of her lately.

Ran 2 miles today and it was rough. I think I have been over doing it, but still I managed through it. I'm sure the bacon cheeseburger didn't help the night before. I don't know why but I cannot resist a good hamburger. I'm going to have to start though because today was awful.

Bailey had lots of fun at her friends house and stayed up very very late. I was told she was very sweet and thoughtful, which isn't normally what I hear so I'm a proud mama today. My child can be bossy and very energetic so knowing she was a bit more laid back is good. We are trying to decide what soccer team to put her on. We really need to get on that before registration is over.

I think I might get scrapbooky today. My problem is the whole entire house needs a good cleaning. It's hard for me to relax when so much needs to be done. I know I can just clean tomorrow after we get home from work/school but its another way for me to procrastinate actual scrapbooking for another day.

Saturday

Not much going on today. Bailey is going to a sleepover tonight and we are heading to South Bend to pick up an Olympic Bar Kip wants and hopefully some cold weather running pants. In the past week I have run a 3.1 mile run and 2 2 milers plus I have been doing some cross training with Kip. Next week starts the training for the 1/2 marathon so I've just been trying to ease back into it after my 3 month vacation.

I've been reading and researching organic foods and healthier options than the way we currently eat. I think I'm ready to start switching over but I need some more recipes first. We've been converting to more homemade snacks and dinners but not necessarily organic yet. I'm working on it, it just takes alot of planning. (It has been 1 week since my last diet coke. I haven't given up coffee yet but I am quite proud of the no pop.)

Scrapbook status: I have a ton of pictures to edit and print, plus I'm really backed up on pics already. I need a scrapbooking week! Does that exist? My mom and I have a weekend coming up here in a couple of weeks but I am not sure one weekend is going to cut it. Plus new CHA stuff keeps coming in and my basket is getting more and more full. I just have been in a funk. I don't know why I can waste hours away playing bejeweled blitz but I can't get a piece of paper out and glue down a picture. I think its because the basement needs a serious decluttering and It is stiflign my creativity. Really its just all excuses, I just need to get back to it. Maybe tonight.

First day as a Part Time employee and the children are C R A Z Y. Neither would take a nap, which I later found out was probably because they had oreo's and chocolate milk for a snack today. Megan brought me a handful of poo. Really they are crazy. But I guess if this is day 1 it can't get much worse. At least they haven't torn apart the house...yet.

October's almost over, yikes!

I can't believe it's almost Halloween. It has been a very cold October for us. This week the temps are a bit warmer but I am not being fooled, pretty sure the cold is coming back.

Megan is doing this funny dance. I have no idea where she picked it up but she basically jumps around in circles and says "I like cookie (prounounced Cuuuu key)" and then starts naming everyone in the house. "I like Mommy, I like Daddy, I like Meow, I like Dak, I like Bay". It's so stinkin' cute.

Bailey is doing great in school. I am very proud of her. Yesterday she remembered to take her library book back all by herself. I noticed it was tucked in her backpack and I didn't even have to remind her. We had a date on Sunday. The two of us went to see Where the Wild Things Are. It was a neat movie, but a little sad and dark for me. I'm not really sure how I feel about it. Yes it gave a great message but still I kind of would have liked something a little more light hearted.

Kip still hasn't killed a deer. Poor guy. He is trying though. He is going to be gone all weekend, yikes. I imagine it will be crazy around here. But in exchange I get to go scrapbooking in November for a weekend so it evens itself out I suppose.

The pictures are from our pumpkin trip. It was so cold we didn't do any of the fun stuff we normally do. At first Bailey was upset about it but I think she has forgotten now.

I have finally given in and joined the ranks of the facebook nation. It's great. I found some of my old high school friends and my college roommate that I haven't spoken to in years. Very nice to see what everyone is up to.