Because sometimes we need a goal on the horizon....

I have always been fully motivated in whatever my heart is into. I love fully, give fully, I exist in black and white, I've never excelled at doing things halfway. In some ways this is great, in other ways its a downfall. But be what it may, this is me...its just my personality. So when I re-joined a gym this summer (after a 6 year hiatus-ouch!) I found some new goals quickly as I dove head first into working out. I quickly re-gained the thrill I used to have from lifting heavy, I've always loved the challenge of increasing my weights each week or so, so as always, I went all in. I made major gains at first, as I had lost pretty much all my strength (and muscles) and I was loving it. I would throw in some cardio, a little elliptical, a bike ride, or a walk on the treadmill for good measure. I was satisfied with my progress. After some prodding from my best friend I decided to try out the boot camp group class and I convinced her to try spin class with me. I was hooked. I loved the challenge, the change each week, and I could do a LOT less than I thought. I had no endurance. As I began to go regularly, week in and week out, I noticed I could do a little more each week.

Fast forward a month or two. I have always wanted to try to run, but every time I got started it looked like this: lace up shoes, decide I am going for a run, head out and start running, less than 2 minutes later I am panting like I'd just finished the olympic sprint event and swearing that I'll never run again. This same scene has replayed year after year. My knees would scream, my hips hurt, and my lungs were on the verge of bursting. I was fully convinced I couldn't be a runner. They were an elusive athletic type and anyone who knows me knows that Jackie and athletic are laughable in the same sentence. I've always secretly harbored a jealousy for those who could just pop on shoes and go. It seems so freeing, so stress-relieveing, so unattainable for me. So, here I am spinning away several times a week, attending boot camp 2-3 times a week and building endurance. On the prompting of a friend who asks "lets go for a run" one day, I decided I'd join her, but made her fully aware that I not only didn't run, but I couldn't. Well that day I made it 4.6 miles. The LONGEST I'd ever run in my life. Now, to say it was easy or enjoyable, I can not. I was sucking air and cursing my legs the whole way. BUT, I made it. Thus began the brewing in my head of MAYBE, just maybe I can learn to run.

And so it began. A few days, a few runs (at my own pace) and I was finding pure pleasure in the abilities of my feet and legs to carry me. Since I'd already passed of a 5K distance, I wanted to find a challenge, a goal to work towards, so I picked a 10K. Then upon realizing that was within reach I signed up for a half marathon....and true to Jackie form, that I can do nothing half way, I might have signed up for THREE of them...one in February, one in March and one in April.
So here we go....this begins my new journey. One I never thought possible or within reach....and now it is mile by mile becoming a reality. I have reached a point where I crave the run and can't wait for the next. I'm still 10 weeks out from my first 13.1, but each week, each mile covered is getting me closer. I'm crazy, I know, but at least I'm only HALF crazy :) We won't talk about what might be next....I don't need any ideas!

2 Kids and a Dentist Trip

Today was the day to take the girls to the dentist, a new one, but a highly recommended one at that. Sara has been several times and I didn't think twice about taking her. Kate on the other hand does not as easily adjust to new situations and often pulls a freak out on me when faced with them. I was dreading this with and for Kate. I though that maybe if big sister, Sara, went first we could see how great she did and Kate would follow suit.
I should know by now that in life, any planning never seems to work in my favor. Sara freaked on me when we got her on the table and they started cleaning her teeth. Big crocodile tears, wailing, moaning....it was a scene, one I'd rather forget soon.
As they are cleaning both of my girls teeth at the same time I am not even near Kate. She's a champ, loving every second of this and soaking up the attention of the ladies talking to her and cleaning her teeth. They said they wouldn't try x-rays on her, but as they saw how awesome she did, they sat her up there and x-rayed away with no problems.
This momma was utterly shocked. Someone switched my kids and the freak out by Sara freaked me out totally. She's always so easy going and has had numerous dentist appointments that have gone well.
Needless to say I got them out of there and got her back to school. Why are these things recommended every 6 months, it's torture to me. Kate is ready to go back again and has told me hourly since leaving that she needs to go back and clean her teeth again.
I'm exhausted and glad that is done for today! Thank goodness its Friday- we need a weekend in this house!

 Kate before x-rays...she looks frightened, but was calm as can be.

Big girls in the tv/play room waiting on their turn to get their teeth cleaned.

Resurrecting the dead (by that I mean this blog)

I have once again attempted to resurface to the blogging world and have managed to fall off the wagon....again. One of these days I will get it. I will find a way to get off Pinterest carve out time for writing. I want to have a tangible way to look back at things we have done, times we have had and to remember. My first blog was a great way to relive many journeys I had been on. This will serve the same, if I can commit to it. 

My update on life is this....I have a 7 1/2 year old 2nd grader (how did that HAPPEN??) and an almost 3 year old (in November.) Life is busy with them and wonderful. I love my girls and love playing with them, teaching them, and making memories. Life is way to short to just sit back and let it pass by. My goal is to be present and active in every moment of it. Some days I do great, some days I fail. I am human, shocker....and this is my journey. 

We'll see how long this blog-thing reaches this time :) Join me if you wish! 

Ummm....fell off the blog wagon!

Oh my goodness, I said I was going to do better at blogging and I did...for a month and then off the wagon I fell. I just looked and realized the last time I posted was Spring Break! Really?!? Darn it, missed summer completely. (It was busy and great) and now we are back into the school year.

Sara started 1st grade and is still loving school. Kate also started playschool last week. She absolutely loves going. She's at that age where she thrives being around other kids her age and getting to play with her new "friends." When I tell her it's school time she bolts to the door and is trying to get into the car before I'm even near it.

Sara started gymnastics this year and loves it so far. Kate is ready to go in and do her "rolls" too...she'll be able to start in January since she'll turn 2 at Thanksgiving.

We are busy and doing life as it comes....and I'll try my best to update sooner than every six months.

Spring Break 2011 Recap

So...Sara created us a list last weekend of all we needed to do on Spring break. The list went as so...

-go the zoo (check)

-eat LOTS of Ice Cream (check-3 days)

-go to a park with slides and swings (check)
-go downtown to see the buildings (check)

-go the park and feed the ducks (check)

-eat yummy chesse pizza (check)

-play outside all day (check-many times)
-go swimming (check)

And that sums up our Spring Break. Lots of sun, fun, and mommy, Sara, Kate time. So, as I remembered the "list" she'd created us...we made sure by yesterday all of those were done. It was a busy Spring break. But Oh So Fun! Makes me excited for summer to get here so I have both my girls to play with every day. I know Kate LOVED having Sara around this week. It'll be strange next week when she's back to school.

Spring Break...YAY!!!

Well....I don't have a ton to say, but I'll bullet point the last few weeks:

-I was sick as can be the past two weeks. No energy at all...just recently starting to feel like "me" again, and only some days
-we've lived in our new house almost a year and I finally hung curtains....I LOVE them
-Sara will be 6 years old this month (OMG), birthday party planning has begun
-Kate is the most opinionated and strong willed 15 month old I've ever seen in my life. I bought "Parenting the Difficult Child" and will be pouring over that soon, very soon!
-Kate started calling my best friend, Lory, "Mimi" it is too cute :)
-Sara has spring break this week....we have no plans and I'm LOVING it :)
-My girls are the light of my life-couldn't ask for more.
-I am loving keeping a gratitude journal (more on that later) inspired by Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts"

Okay, so there's no rhyme or reason to my randomness, but that's my life. I love it.

Sickness abounds

this was Sara on Rodeo day at school....love my cowgirl

It is such a season of sickness, all around. I went to the doctor last week to see about my rash that I thought was poison ivy, well turns out it is not poison ivy....I have Shingles. And if that wasn't enough I also have a strand of mono that has literally wiped me out. I can hardly move, much less chase my little ball of energy around the house. It has been trying, and it isn't coming to an end any time soon by the looks of things.

Then yesterday Sara woke up in the middle of the night crying that her ear hurt. About 4am Kate wakes up and I go in her room to discover that she had thrown up in the middle of the night and apparently just slept in it-gag! I proceeded to clean her up, clean her bed, her room, her blankies,and everything else up. Awesome. Sara went the the doctor in the afternoon and has a bulging ear drum, so we started her on antibiotics yesterday.

So.... I'm sick, I'm exhausted, and I'm taking care of two kiddos who are wanting my undivided attention. This is so motherhood!