Weekly Roundup: 6 of 52

Monday 2/4:

This combination starts any day on the right foot.

I am on an Almond Joy kick right now and it totally makes me feel like an adult.  Anyone else think of those as adult candy bars?

My 10 lbs of potatoes led to Potato Soup.  It wasn't bad... a little thicker than I would have preferred.  ... And I still have 5 lbs left... 

Tuesday 2/5:

My boss came to town to do reviews.  It was my first time meeting him. (He's in KY).  I usually just wear jeans to work, but felt the occasion deserves dress pants..and my hair down! And FYI... Boss is great. Of course different looking than what I pictured in my head.... Review went great.  Pretty much confirmation that I am darn awesome. 

Wednesday 2/6:

This girl turned 8 months old and earned herself a trip to the Doctor.  For the past week she hadnt been finishing her bottles.  (Only eating a few oz of her first bottle of the morning after not eating for 12 hours...) I had emailed the doctor earlier in the week (the GREATEST tool ever!) regarding it and she said to bring her in if she stopped sleeping and got crabby.  For 3 days she has woken up multiple times thru the night and seemed fussier so I brought her in.... verdict: She is just a terrible teether. 

Thursday 2/7:

Sported a little poka-dot & leopard to the office. 

Friday 2/8:

Daycare was closed for teacher development so I had to take the day off with the girls.  I told Leah it was a "Girls Only" day since Daddy had to go to work.  We started off the day with hitting up Krispy Kremes.  Leah was a bit upset to find boys there... obviously it was supposed to be girls only day for everyone everywhere! ... she also was amazed by the donut making. I love this picture.

We hit up a few stores and mommy finally made it into Jareds to get my rings inspected & cleaned. Another ban this year for our 5 year?  I think yes.... please Brian?

Leah was being such a good girl I knew she needed to burn off some energy so we of course had a Chik-Fil-A visit. I love that place. Sadly they are all pretty far away from our current house... 

I knew I would be receiving my IA grade sometime during the day but honestly had completely forgotten about it until I was sitting at Chik-Fil-A watching Leah play.  I checked my phone and Gmail was not even signed in!  Once I signed in, the first email to pop up was from "elearn" and I pretty much went straight into an anxiety attack.  My heart stopped, my stomach dropped, I began to freak.  I did not want to open the email there incase it was bad news.  I knew I would cry. I somehow waited till we got to the car.  Usually I check any sort of exam results with Brian on the phone with me, but since I was in the car and not on a computer it was a little hard so I had to be brave.... And my day was made when I saw those 8 words :"You have been graded as Meets Minimum Requirements."  I am now only a Final Assessment & one exam away from my first designation!  This is HUGE!  I have been working on this process since 2009 and I am so close to an end point (sort of). This year, its happening! 

A mothers dream ... Leah stayed asleep for a nice long nap, but Em woke up about 10 minutes after we got inside.... 

Since Big Sis was fast asleep, Emily actually got to play without someone constantly hugging her, moving her, rolling her over, taking her toys.... It was AMAZING to see how much this girl could actually move and play without someone harassing her!  ... and I love how she sits like this!

A few minutes later she started yanking on that cord..... hmmm how to baby proof that!?

Once Leah woke up, Emily went down.... it actually was kind of nice.  I was still on the high of passing my exam so I decided to conquer our closet. I removed all of the clothes that do not fit and moved that dresser from the bedroom into the closet, thru the bathroom, ALL BY MYSELF! We had kind of always planned to have it in there since the closet is so ridiculously large... and we need to make room for our future King size bed that we hopefully will be getting sooner rather than later! .... and that would be Leah stealing a pair of shoes to walk around the house in... 

Saturday 2/9:

Brian called while at work and asked for us to meet him at the bowling alley so that Leah could experience her first time bowling.  The girl LOVED it. And I LOVED watching her and her dad enjoy this experience together. 

And yes, it was cosmic bowling at 12:30 in the afternoon. 

Sunday 2/10:

The rainy morning was spent with Leah & I making valentines from the $5 Target kit. 

And then I made them into a banner! 

Once the rain passed and the Sun graced us with its presences the weather was perfect out! The evening was spent outside... Leah prancing along the entire time with her pom poms.  This girl is turning girlier and girlier by the day!

It was Em's first real stroller ride and she was kicking her feet the whole time!  Cannot wait for the spring weather to arrive for good for nightly walks! 

And of course we had to get the car out.... Leah even let our neighbor Brayden drive!  Brayden is an older man... in Kindergarten and Leah thinks he is the bees knees. ...  I admit I am nervous for their future... 

And Emily became a climbing, pulling up fool!! I don't know how many times we found her body surfing on her toy basket! 

It was a good good week... 

Guess Who's 8 Months Old!

Body After Baby: Half Marathon Training Week 3

Day 1 - 5 miles

The weather was FANTASTIC in the upper 50s so I did the 8 miles I  missed the day before.  It was an awesome run.  I felt amazing. I tried to run with water, and then tried GU for the first time... GU = grosses texture EVER but I think it works well. Its basically like frosting.... gag me! I took it around the 6 mile mark. The water bottle only lasted me till the 4 mile mark where I took about 2 drinks and threw it away. ... thats more than I have ever drank while running so its progress!  I felt like I could have easily ran longer. 

Day 2 - OFF

And I did... I even skipped boot camp. my hamstrings and butt were SORE from that 8 mile run I guess.... It felt nice to rest intentially.

Day 3 - 6 miles MP

This run was supposed to be at a "marathon" pace... or about 30 seconds faster than my normal pace.  .... I didnt so much achieve that, nor did I try.... but I did take the route that covers some MAJOR hills... you can tell by my times that I hit these miles right at the 3 mile mark... that 4th mile is brutal!  The Half marathon is notorious for its hills so I need to keep at this route... Overall... 5.57 miles. 

Day 4 - 5 miles

I was in the office and 5 miles on the treadmill just did not sound like something I wanted to do.... so instead I did some speed/interval runs on the treadmill before boot camp class.   I did the first 2 miles at under a 8:30 minute pace, and the 3rd mile was done at 7:30 minute pace for 1.5 minutes then 9 minute mile for 1 minute intervals.  It really kicked my butt.  I was DEAD for boot camp class and slacked a little.... which means the teacher/trainer harassed me the whole time.  

Day 5 - 6 miles

Bad Kim skipped this run again.... I was SORE from the day before and could barely walk my butt muscles were hurting so much... plus it was super chilly out....

Day 6 - 6 miles

I finally did what I was supposed too!! ... I dropped the girls at my parents house and ran on the new trail that runs from valley park to big bend/270.  Its pretty flat, and along the river... I will definitely head back there again.  But since it was my first time on the trail, it seemed like it made the run take FOREVER! I kept checking my watch wondering how far I had gone... hopefully next time its not like that! 

Day 7 - 5 miles

Woke up to surprise snow!  My running group had planned for 3 miles at a local park, but the snow made them all ditch.  I tried to go anyway since I was already up and dressed.  I got to the park (after sliding a bit on the snow) got out of my car, walked to the trail, and decided that it was just too icy and not worth getting hurt over.  So instead I stopped by Bread Co (Panera for you non St. Louis folks) and picked up breakfast for the fam.  I thought I might head out later once it warmed up and melted the ice, but as the day went on, when I finally found time, I studied instead. 

Let's review... 

Kim is no good at following the training plan.  

I am pulling the  "adjust as needed" card frequently. 

I started mouthing the words to the music as I run.  I think it really helps keep me at a good pace and keeps my breathing in check.   People that drive past me probably think I am talking to myself... 

And I think all runs on the treadmill will now be interval/speed runs. 

Weekly Roundup: 5 of 52

Monday 1/28

It was ridiculously warm so we spent the evening outside. 

And dinner on the deck! 

Tuesday: 1/29

Back to the office. Much better than last week. 

The humid weather made Leah's hair gorgeous and Emily's short hair crazy.  Seems like Em might have her sisters curls. 

Wednesday 1/30:

I thought we received zuchinni with our last Co-Op haul but turns out it was cucumbers.  Leah is obsessed with them and even requested more when we were at the grocery store today. 99cents per cucumber... I cant complain... 

Thursday 1/31:

They make a great crunchy snack for me too. 

Friday 2/1

Slowed by a train... looking thru the openings towards "downtown eureka" made me feel like we live in small town USA... 

This week's CO-OP haul.  

An exciting Friday night in the loft/playroom with the girls... 

Saturday 2/2:

I found more art work decorating our walls by the 3 year old.  This time she did not tell me about it.... I think its purple paint... in her walk in closet. ... I yelled at her, but admit I kind of love it and it will hopefully stay there forever. The idea of a chalkboard wall is sounding better and better...

Sunday 2/3:

Playing around in Em's room while she refused to take a nap led to mommy playing with the hair accessories. 

Sadly this was her first time wearing a headband at almost 8 months old.  Poor 2nd child.... Mommy now knows they are not worth the effort. 

What about a big star bow?

I think Em is more of a clip girl..... 

Hung a ribbon in the playroom for Leah's art.... I got the idea from her classroom at school.  

Sadly this was all art work that she brought home on a single day from school... I have picture frames with hooks that I NEED to hang up.  My sister n law made them for me Christmas 2011 and they are still not up! I am bad... but I finally have the supplies I think to hang them up, and they will be going up here hopefully this week!  

Body After Baby: Half Marathon Training Week 2

Day 1 - 4 Miles

Uh, yep... that didnt happen.

I spent all day shopping...

walking around...

That should count for something right!?

Bad Kim.

Day 2 - 4 Miles

If you read my post yesterday, you would know that Tuesday was pretty much a disaster.

I only ran 3.5 miles on the treadmill at work.

I was running late getting the girls and I just was trying to fit something in.

I atleast ran them really fast... I think it was 30:30 or something that I did it in...

Day 3 - 5 Miles

Finally back on track!

Done and it felt good.

Day 4 - Rest

No running but boot camp happened.

It was a "kickboxing/self defense" themed class.

Lots of punching and kicking.

I did not feel like I worked very hard, but the next day...

I was SORE!

Day 5 - 4 miles

Finally a run outside again!

Day 6 - 4 miles

January's organized race with Mel.

(She did a great write up on the race if you want to click on over to her site!)

The weather was PERFECT.

Sunny and chilly.

And it felt SO good to run fast!

 I amazed myself with that time!!

It was in Forest Park too which is HILLY!

I was 6th in my age group out of like 29 ladies I believe.

And 165 out of 492 runners.

Not too shabby.

From the looks of people, everyone at this race seemed like pretty experienced, dedicated runners.

Oh and my watch told me this....

Fastest 5k = 25:31!

Can I please re-race my brother now!?

Cant wait to run a 5k again so I can see what I can do!

Day 7 - 8 miles

And I did nothing....

We went out the night before and I had 1 beer in preparation of getting up early and running...

And then we woke up to freezing rain!

I follow some of the running stores on facebook and they were all posting about how they were canceling their group runs and wanting people to stay home and rest because of the weather.

It warmed up later in the afternoon and was still drizzling. 

I thought about getting in maybe 4 miles, but then ate some chips and dip instead and decided to keep my butt on the couch.

Spoiler alert...

I did the 8 miles this morning and am already starting off to a FABULOUS week!

Weekly Roundup: 4 of 52

This week was a doozy....

Monday 1/21:

Em and I (and Cora) started off the morning sending a picture to daddy who was out of town for work. 

This was the table before I spray painted the handles... totally the highlight of my Monday!

I also hit the mall in search of jeans... and clothes that fit in general.  I bought this shirt, and was loving these pants, but needed longs... I just checked online and the Loft has zero jeans in Longs right now! What on earth!?

The kitties checking out the new furniture... 

Tuesday 1/22:

Let me just explain how this day started... 

Em woke up around 4 am.... 

I took the girls to daycare but forgot Emily's bag of bottles and baby food at home so I had to run back home, then back to daycare, then back home to get to work... 

But I was not able to log on!  I tried to have a coworker at the office restart my computer but it then would not stop restarting! (I remote into my work computer...) 

So I had to head into the office just so I could talk to IT...

I hadnt showered and I only changed out of my sweat pants.... 

I got to the office only for IT to steal my computer...  so I spent the day studying...

and looking out the window watching it unexpectantly snow... 

Finally around 2:45 I finally received a brand new computer! 

Wednesday 1/23:

Hit the work treadmill to get my stress out... 

Thursday 1/24: 

My awesome inlaws took Leah for Wednesday evening to give me a little break so Thursday morning was a kind of relaxing morning getting ready to head into the office for the 3rd day in a row!  That hasn't happened in probably a 1.5 years! 

Friday 1/25:

All is right in the world and I am back to working from home...and I ended up buying this tree off of Zulily after some text message discussions with my sister n law... Its for the wall... it goes along with my problem of decorating when the hubby's out of town... 

Saturday 1/26:

Life is good again... Hubby is back home... Monthly organized race with my girl Mel 

Starbucks even after I had already had my morning coffee, redbull, and a tea... Leah asked for a cakepop and the thought of starbucks just sounded really yummy! 

Tried out a new hair-do for the evening... dinner at Bristols with the hubby, YUM and then the bar for my sister n law's 30th birthday. 

Birthday girl in the black, and Brian's cousins Kelly and Kaitlin in the front... I love these girls! 

Sunday 1/27:

My cousin just gave birth to a baby boy on Friday and I was eager to go shopping for a gift!  It is the first baby boy in the family and reason to buy boy clothes!  I absolutely LOVE this robot sleeper!  I might have to go back and get another one for my niece or nephew that is due in July!  My sister n law said her baby will be wearing robots even if its a girl!  

And just like last week Leah passed out in her bean bag chair... 

And I hid for a bit in the spare bedroom... Leah spent most of the day in trouble for numerous things and Emily seems to be teething pretty hard... I just needed a break and a little peace and quiet.  Yes, Brian helps, but there is only so much he can do when Leah is a complete mama's girl and Emily has to try to look around and find me anytime she hears my voice. 

Next week will be better.