FFF

1. This is a fabulous day! The sun is shining, my tank is clean, and we are gonna get out of here. We're heading to Utah. I.Am.Excited. I can't WAIT to see my family!

2. God is good. So good. Nels is coming with us for part of our trip. We weren't sure if he was going to be able to, but things have worked out.

3. I am seeing physical progress as I've continued to work out. When we first started working out, running 1/4 of a mile was asking a lot (sad, huh?!), but last night I went 2.75 miles in 30 minutes and less than half a mile was walking. There is still a lot of room for progress, but I've come a long way in 6 weeks. I'm going to sign up for a 5K this Fall.

4. Clara has started saying "hi"and waving. Cutest thing EVER. She also gives kisses and says, "na-na-na-na-na-na" and shakes her head back and forth when she doesn't like what I'm trying to feed her. I love my baby!

5. Elsie finally decided to RIDE HER BIKE! She's been able to (easily) since this spring, but has refused to do it. Even after I pressured her into it in March, she still would ride her tricycle - never picking up her two wheeler. (so frustrating) Last week, without any forewarning, I picked her up, sat her on her bike, gave her a big shove, and told her to pedal. She finally DID and never looked back. :) Silly kid. I have SO loved watching her ride all over the neighborhood this week and be so happy with her own independence. We took a long bike ride on Monday and she did beautifully.


Now! Off to pack!!!! Yay!

Friday's Fabulous Five

1. Hazel lost her tooth! I'll post a picture later today, when she's home from Preschool, but she was so brave and looks so cute! I'm really proud of her!

2. I have run consistently for the past two weeks! Hooray for me! For the past 4 times, I've run 3+ miles --- well, that's technically not true --- I've gone 3+ miles . . . while stationary in my basement . . . on my treadmill. :) I've walked/run 3+ miles and the past 2 days, 2 miles of that has been running. . . . If that makes any sense. :) I'm proud of me for sticking with it. I've never really loved running, however, I've found that for me - I push myself harder when I'm running by myself with music. I don't usually like my music to be too loud. However, when I run I may be in jeopardy of permanently damaging my ears. :) I seem to do better zoning out everything else and pushing myself. When I run with someone else, I give up much easier. It's weird. And maybe as I get better at running, that won't be the case.  ---- Hmm. I'm kind of like that with lots of things in my life. I don't really like having other people OBSERVE me struggling with something. I can openly talk about things that I do or have struggled with, but I don't like people watching me go through the rigors of things that are genuinely hard for me. Hmm. I just noticed that. While it's not true for ALL things, I think it's true for a lot. 

3. Hazel watched Elsie for me while we were outside yesterday SO WELL! The other day I had asked her if she would keep an eye on Elsie for me while I was vacuuming out the van and they were all outside. Elsie is more of a wanderer than my other two are or ever were and I told Hazel that if she would just make sure that Elsie stayed in the yard, I'd get her a treat at the store. Two minutes later, I turned around to find Elsie nowhere in sight. She was in the neighbor's yard and Hazel was devastated that she didn't get to have a treat. Yesterday she did so good at helping that I couldn't help but dole out gushy praises on her. She followed her around for more than half an hour bring Elsie back into the yard every time she wandered. What a big girl! She's learning how to do so many big things. I love my Hazel so much!

4. Today is supposed to be sunny and I'm going to mow my lawn for the first time this year! There are mostly just a few spots where it's starting to get a bit scraggly, but it will look (and SMELL) so great. I'm happy!

5. Nels and I are going out to eat dinner - just the two of us! - on Saturday for my birthday! I'm excited -- as I can't even remember the last time that we went on an actual date without our children. I'm certainly not complaining, as I love to have them with us and I think it's fun to be all together, but it will be fun. What a great husband I have! He works so hard for us and gives so much. I couldn't ask for more than I've been given in my life. I have so much to be thankful for!

Exercise

I've had a couple of people ask how my running is going - so just a little update. It's going GREAT! I'm only on week 2 but I really feel like I'm going to be able to do this! I must say, running has never been my favorite workout - but you know what? It's free, it's an incredibly good workout, you get some fast results, and it's also (in my opinion) therapeutic.

In the past week, I've felt SO much better than I have in months (if not years) physically. I think I've been in need of some good, hard physical exercise in a LONG time. It helps regulate my moods better, which is appreciated by one and all, as well. I honestly think that MANY physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments can be cured with just some healthy eating and some good exercise.

Five K

Okay, in reference to my previous post on wanting to work out - my lovely sister emailed me this link and asked me if I wanted to train with her (virtually, of course) to run a 5K at our annual family reunion coming up in August.

I am TOTALLY going to do it and I just thought that I'd post the link, for anyone else interested in a great little regiment to get in shape. OF COURSE, this is easier if you can find yourself a buddy, but at the same time, having something that you're working toward can make it a lot easier, even if you only do it yourself! :)

5K Training

P.S. to Deanna - Are you interested in doing THIS with me?

Serious takers ONLY.

Okay. A few months ago, I joined the local YMCA because I NEED to lose a little of my extra baby weight. Yeah. Well, I think I've only been a total of 2 times in the past 3 months. This is clearly not working. They have free baby-sitting set up, which is fabulous and the one of the main reasons why I joined. I can even take Elsie - which is great. Only thing is, I don't feel comfortable leaving Elsie when she's so little. She puts everything in her mouth and lately has developed some separation anxiety. So I don't want her sick or screaming the entire time I'm working out. So - ANSWER? - I COULD go in the morning before Nels leaves to work. This has been my plan all along. ---- But let's get real. That hasn't been working out so well either. - Not that I've been really sleeping in, but there are a lot of things that I'd like to be able to get done in the morning and this hasn't been one of them. 

SO. I've cancelled my membership and I'm going to just try to take the girls over to the park and walk about 2-3 miles a day. Hazel can ride her bike and Lilie bawling that she wants to get out and play is GREAT incentive to walk faster. Only thing is, I think I could really use a buddy. In the past I've had problems with this because my "buddies" have consistently flaked out on me. I drop by their house to pick them up when I've dragged myself out of bed at 6 in the morning and they come out to the car and say they're not going this morning! (LOL! You KNOW who you are! :) SO - if no one wants to commit to going walking with me about 3 to 5 days a week, that's fine and I understand, but I'd love to invite anyone who also wants to lose a little extra weight and have some HILARIOUS company to join me. I would (of course) prefer someone in the area (ha ha!) but I will even take virtual walking friends. I could even set up a separate blog to help keep track of our progress. 

Anywho - if you're interested, let me know. And if there is anyone out there who is one of my "closet" blog readers, you are welcome to join as well.