Confessions of an amateur runner

Memorial Day. Race Day. It is how many days away? I am in trouble. Getting ready for this season of races has been a challenge. Every obstacle has been in the way: weather, sickness, crazy busy, etc. I told myself if I am going to be ready, then I need to focus. Friday night, I took advantage of the beautiful weather and went for a run. The following is what was running through my head during the run ...

Ok, Steph! Let's get 3.6 miles in. No problem. You have been working out hard this week, you are ready.

Mile #1: Feeling pretty good. Good pace. Wow! My legs are sore from all those lunges and squats. Thanks a lot Jillian! A little farther down the track: Oh, no!! ladies from church. (I smile and say "Hi") Steph, you can't give up now. You will look like a wimp! Feeling good, time on first lap, good.

Mile #2: Hit a brick wall. What in the world! My legs feel like cement! Focus: put one leg in front of the other. Left. Right. Left. Right. I sound like a Dr. Seuss book. Don't think about the pain or your huffing and puffing. Listen to your music and enjoy the beautiful weather. Wow!! It is hot out here. Please God, send me a breeze. I am dying. I am not complaining, because the sunshine is nice. Oh, the ladies from church are coming up the track. Pick up your pace, shoulders back, and try to look like you are not going to pass out. Smile.

Mile #3: Do I really need to do this last mile and 1/2. Yes!! Quit your whining! Helen (biggest loser) is 48 and she ran a marathon. Suck it up. Get a grip. You are not going to die. My pace is slowing down. Remember to finish strong. Am I walking or running? I don't care what hurts, you are not quitting. What is up with this music. I need something to inspire me not lull me to sleep. Next song, no, next song. Ok, that is better. You are almost done. Now, sprint it out! Yikes, please tell me that I don't run like Phoebe from Friends. Just finish! Yes!! Catch your breath. Walk it out!

I wonder what real runners think about when they run? They probably don't think about what body parts are flopping all over the place, or why they are sucking wind. Oh well, tomorrow is a new day!

Oh, to be a kid again!!

Screams of delight filled our house yesterday when I announced to the kids that their friends were coming over to our house to play. They were very happy and asking me every few minutes if they were coming over now! Why did I tell them?
Tanner was thrilled when they walked through the door! He was a wild man and full of silliness! Here he is hugging a water bottle! I don't know why.



Rylee decided to challenge Landon to a game of Mario Kart. I believe that he was a little more focused then she was. There was some trash talk, which is hysterical coming from 5 year olds.

The whole gang coloring and making funny faces while mom takes pictures. So cute!

Feel the love!! Attacking Tanner (he loves it) and showing off the Oreo treat that they just enjoyed. Thanks for that Emma.

As you can see, the afternoon was a complete success. Thank you Landon and Elyssa for coming over and making this day special!

The down side to playing defense ... boredom!

On Tuesday night, Rylee learned that playing defense can be very dull. The ball only ventured over to her side a couple of times, so she soon got distracted by everything around her. She was playing with her fingers, watching her brothers and sisters play on the sideline, and even pulling grass on the field. Steve and I were trying to encourage her by telling her to be ready and watch for the ball. As you can see by the pictures, she was not convinced that she was going to see the ball anytime soon. At one point, a player from the other team got hurt and her coach told the kids to take a knee. Rylee was totally confused. "Now they want me to sit in the grass!" She did make contact with the ball a few times, but I know that next game she will be looking forward to playing offense!!

How sweet! I love this shot. I don't know what she is doing, but she is so cute!

She caught a glimpse of the camera. Might as well make the best of it. Get my good side!

By the way, thank you Mariah for taking these great pictures. My camera is still at war with me and I think that the camera is winning!!

Another one bites the dust ... swine flu?

I feel like a broken record ... yes, one of my kids is sick again with the stomach bug. I am getting ready to call Guinness, because we had to of broken some kind of record. Rylee (5) comes to our room yesterday morning and tells us that her tummy hurts. She rested, sort of, for 20 minutes then we made her rest on the couch. After the kids got out the door for school, I tended to the sickie. She kept telling me that she needed to throw up, but she would go to the bathroom and "fake" gag. I thought, well maybe it won't be too bad. She just needs to go potty and get some food in her stomach. Wrong!! Twenty minutes later, it started. Every 15 to 20 minutes, for the next several hours. Poor little thing. Her body was so tired. When she would get done, she would put both hands up in the air, as if to say, "STOP!" At one point she told me that she did not want to throw up any more. I told her that hopefully it would be over soon. Emma (3) and Tanner (2), not wanting to be left out of the action, kept coming in and asking what was going on and why was Ry throwing up, and when could Ry play. (They were bored) Finally around 1:30pm, I convinced her to try to rest and she fell asleep for 3 hours. She woke up happy and healthy. "My tummy feels better mom, I want to go outside and play!" What happened?? That was some powerful nap! Thank you, Jesus! My happy Rylee is back. She is happy because now she will not miss her soccer game tonight! If they are going to get sick, this is the way to do it.

Btw, day #2 in the workout and today, I only hurt when I have to use my legs or butt, which is all the time. Yeah me!!!

Getting those last few pounds off ... even if it kills me!

Why is it that no matter what I do, those last 10 pounds won't go away? I am convinced that my scale is broken and can't go below a certain weight. It is so frustrating!! I try to tell myself that I am working out and eating right, so who cares about the scale. But then my competitiveness kicks in and I refuse to let the scale win. So the other day, I am reading my friend Becky's blog, and she is talking about Jillian's 30 Day Shred DVD. Apparently, in 30 days my body will look like Jillian Michael's, I am in!! I know what you are thinking, "her body will never look like Jillian's!" You are correct. Having 5 kids in 7 years has killed that dream along with the fact that I can't spend 6 hours a day working out. (Well, that is just 2 reasons why I will never have that body. There are many, many more!) So today, Monday May 4th is day #1. I tell myself, I workout a lot, this will be no problem. Wrong!! I was huffing and puffing! What is going on? Oh no, my muscle are gone!!! I barely get through Level 1 and 2 and then crawl to the couch. "Good, day #1 is over, only 29 more days left!" I can do anything for 30 days, right? We will see. Good thing I am doing this with friends. We can be in pain together! Now that I have completely scared you, why don't you join us. It is probably not as bad as I have described. Just think, when the 30 days are up, it will be June, the beginning of summer and bathing suit shopping season will be here. Oh, goody! Maybe 30 days is not long enough?

Soccer season is upon us ... crazy but fun!!

Rylee's Game: 9:00am

Look how cute! The littlest girl on the team playin' goalie! Her choice! She was very proud of herself. I lost the other pics of her playin' due to the glitch with my camera. Mom was not happy! Oh well, I still got some ones!

Having some fun: Hayden and Tanner playin' hide and seek!

10:00am: Break between games, so trip to Tim Horton's for donuts and coffee. Mmmm!! So good! Warm coffee! I guess I need to get a workout in!!

Emma's Game: 10:45 am

Emma's first soccer game and she did great! She went after the ball and was loving it. We were so proud of her. Look at that form. She is a natural. Holding hands with her friends: priceless!

Kallie's game: 11:15am

Kal taking a breather. She doesn't stop very much. I jumped at the chance to snap a shot. She is so serious. It is game time!!

After the game, enjoying snack with BFF Juliane. You should of heard the screams when they found out they were on the same team. Pure joy!!

Soccer buds and best friends!!!

Strong personality ... yes, I would agree!

To say that our daughter Kallie (7) has a strong personality, is an understatement. She is strong and bold, she speaks her mind, she has passion, drive, and puts 110% into all that she does. She is funny and sarcastic, and full of life. She is beautiful and sweet! These are just some of the things that I love about her. All these traits help contribute to her firece competitiveness!! This girl won't let anything get in her way. As you can imagine, this sometimes gets her into trouble.

Ok, let's be honest, this gets her in trouble A LOT!! Let me give you an example ....

Steve comes home yesterday and tells me this story:

He in the fieldhouse doing some weight lifting with some of the students from school. Kal was with him, soaking up all she can learn from dad the best coach ever :) She wanted to lift weights with the kids and Steve told her no, the weights were too heavy and she could get hurt. Telling Kal that something is too hard or too heavy for her is painful for her to hear. She proceeds to explain to him why this just was not the case. You would think that by now she would have learned that you can't argue with dad, but she tries anyway. Once she realizes that this was not going to end well, she switches her attention to the girls in the gym. She goes on and on about how she is going to be a great b-ball player and that she has to be strong and fast. She is going to be way better than them when she gets older. (Her version of "trash talk")

My jaw drops and I tell me husband, "Please tell me that she did not say that!!" He responses with a smile. Oh, great!! Everyone is really going to love her. Steve said that the girls all thought it was funny, which I am sure only fanned the flame!! It seems that self confidence is not an area that we have to work on for her. Humility and tact will be our next hurdle!!

So Kallie, my sweet girl, I am so proud of you for all you do. Your heart and passion inspire me to be the best mom that I can be, but let us remember who gives us our talents and abilities. Jesus wants you to shine and your life to point to Him.

We are all a work in progress. Don't give up on us yet!!