Getting Ready for Christmas

This blog is because I promised my sister, Nicole, that I would post a blog about the things that have been happening the last few days!

Nicole came to town Wednesday Night.  It was exciting to see the girls and how excited they were to see their Auntie Coley!  They love their Aunt a lot and she clearly (anyone who would deny that fact, would be nuts, since all they have to do is see how Nicole is with her Nieces, and now her Nephew!) loves them back. 

Thursday was a long day.  Nicole, Jenni, Julio, Andres (my nephew!) and I went to the store because I needed to get the girls Christmas Presents.  So I actually made it under budget, which is a huge shock for me!  Then Nicole finished up the girls Christmas dresses, which turned out very cute!  Maybe if I bug her enough, she'll blog about the dresses!!

Then the girls and Auntie Coley helped me make Rice Crispy Treats!  I made them in the Christmas colors, and then Auntie Coley helped Lizzie cut out the shapes.  Kenna was really only interested in eating the treats, which I am sure she gets from her Auntie Coley!  Then we enjoyed a nice meal of Bean and Veggie Stew (made especially so Aunt Coley could eat with us!)

Lizzie and Kenna ready to cut into the Treats!

The Finished Treats!

Today was a rush of Auntie Coley finishing Kenna's dress, and me sitting the girls down to get Christmas Presents made.  I had planned to make cookies today as well, but I guess that is something that we will have to save for either tomorrow or Monday.

After nap, I gave the girls a bath, washed their hair, and then got them dressed in the dresses that Auntie Coley made.  They were so adorable!  We even made little bands to place onto their headbands!  Then the girls and I walked to the Church that is right next to our house.  The church had so many nice people.  They got us in almost right away. 

First we had our picture taken, the girls got so many comments about their beautiful dresses.  Then we (me and the wonderful lady who was our escort for the event) took the girls to another woman who would be watching them for a few moments.  She read the girls a story and then after that she'd take them to a craft room until I was ready to pick them up.  I was led up the stairs to some rooms where they had me pick out some toys for the girls.  Kenna is getting one of those shape hammer and nail toys and a cute bear.  And Lizzie is getting a build-your-own soccer bear and a Peter Pan doll.

The girls in their beautiful dresses made by Auntie Coley!

I was then led back downstairs and was given some food.  There was so much stuff in the bags I was completely amazed.  A whole Chicken, stuffing, Chicken broth, Apple Pie, Spaghetti and Sauce, Two bags of Rice, Pinto Beans, Green Beans, Chips, Canned Sweet Potatoes, Homemade Sourdough, and Pita Bread.  It was so humbling to know that these people could be so kind.  I was grateful that Lizzie's school recommended us for this event! 

Then I went to go pick up the girls.  They were in a room, making Angels.  They got to pick out their craft, and the lady said the angel was the first thing they went for!  The girls get such an amazing job on the angels, that I punched some wholes into them, tied a string into it, and hung them on the tree! 

Kenna (Right) and Lizzie's (Left) Angels

The picture, I then copied and framed.  I plan to give the picture to my husband as a Christmas Gift from me and the girls (I don't have to worry about him reading this, because he never does...haha).  But I think he'll like the gift a lot!  He'll be able to hang it right next to his computer!  Even if the frame is a little girlie! 

Christmas Present for Daddy!

Overall these last couple of days have been fun.  The girls were sad to see their Auntie Coley go, but I know they can't wait for the next time they'll get to see her.  Now it's on to Christmas!

The Oddity of My Children

So as most of my friends and family know...my husband and I are in fact...Nerds.  We love it, we live it, and we're proud of it!  Now I don't mean Nerds in the sense of super smart (although that does fit my husband to a tee!) but the fact that the things we like to do and have in common, are often the things other people (not our friends...mind you...who are also proudly Nerds!) consider weird, or stupid, or just plain childish. 

Now I've been weird and Nerdy my entire life...I was practically born and raised that way.  Sure people tried to make me more ladylike and proper and get me into things like shopping and cooking, but that was never who I was as a person.

So when my children came around, I had to decide how I was going to raise them, but I didn't want them only liking the things I liked.  But sometimes what I have planned isn't how it's going to go...as my children have taught me, nothing, is ever set in stone!

Lizzie trying a Ballet Class, but she wasn't ready yet

Lizzie is my oldest and she is into the randomest (I know it's not a real word, but I'm making it one...so there!) stuff.  If you ask her what her favorite movie it, she'll tell you:

The Labyrinth - the child eats that movie up!

If you ask her her favorite TV show she'll tell you:

Doc McStuffins!

& of course She-Ra!

She even has already told me that she wants to be She-Ra for Halloween!! That will be a fun costume to make!

If you ask her what she likes more then anything else in the world, she'll tell you:

Spider Man!

Yes my child was born to be a Nerd! 

Lizzie loves almost anything that is slightly boyish (yet Pink is still her favorite color in the world!) and she loves just being herself.  She doesn't care if others don't like her...which isn't an issue yet, because her teachers tell me that she's one of the more popular kids in her class.  And she isn't afraid to be weird and odd!  It's something I wish will stay with her, for her entire life, because being herself is way more important then how you look or act.

Kenna is a Proud Supporter of her Uncle Monkey!

However, Kenna is my complete Girlie-girl!  She loves everything Pink, and Princess, and Pink!

Kenna and her Baby...she doesn't leave the house without her!

Kenna loves her baby dolls and her stuffed animals...treats like the children!  She won't go anywhere without her main baby, and trying to get her to sleep without it, is like trying to get your toddler to take a nap! 

Kenna loves wearing dresses and twirling around claiming that she is a Princess!  She loves to watch Princess Movies and shows about Princesses...

But most of all Kenna loves anything that has to do with Elmo!  Yes Elmo!  She loves her little furry monster and she has plenty of them!  Lizzie is now in that, I don't wanna watch Elmo stage, but Kenna she can't get enough of him!  She knows all his songs, and she sings along to him everyday!  Elmo is everything to her!

Kenna's Best Friend!

I love my girls!  And their weirdness!  I love the drama they cause and the random things they say and the special quirks that they've managed to make all their own!  But most of all, I'm proud to be a Mom...even if my children are a little Odd.  But honestly, what child isn't odd?

Week Three Finished!!

So Week Three is done, and while I ache and hurt, I'm glad to see another week off my list!!  At first I wasn't sure I would be able to run for three minutes, since I barely ever made it through the 90 seconds, but thankfully I did six times in total!!  This week alone I managed to run for a total of 27 minutes this last week alone!  That makes me feel accomplished! 

If you don't remember Week Three is a Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:

• Jog 90 seconds
• Walk 90 seconds
• Jog 3 minutes
• Walk or three minutes

Knowing that I am working toward running for twenty minutes straight without stopping makes all this pain worth it.

Now I am on to Week Four, which is more in-depth than Week Three was. 

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 3 minutes
• Walk 90 seconds
• Jog 5 minutes
• Walk 2-1/2 minutes
• Jog 3 minutes
• Walk 90 seconds
• Jog 5 minutes

If you're paying attention you'll notice that I will be running for a total of sixteen minutes, which is HUGE.  A big leap from where I was before.   It will mean most likely that my legs will protest some more, and my foot may want to give out, and my back will murder me later in the week, but the fact that I'm actually managing to do this (no matter how slow the pace may be - thankfully I have time to work on my speed and pace once I actually finish this program.) means more to me than I ever thought possible.

This coming week is going to be harder to do, just because of the husband's work schedule.  I have to be back in the house by 7:15ish to allow him time to get to the bus for work, which means I'll have to be up early to get my running done. 

Some people would say, of well nights work, but honestly here in the desert, nights are worse then mornings.  Once it gets hot...it pretty much, stays hot.  So now I am on to another week, halfway finished with this program!  I'm honestly glad that my sister talked me into doing this!!

Routes and Changing Towns

Mom's usual route

This past week I've been in my hometown, for one of my best friends wedding and I knew that I needed to keep my running, and since my mom is doing the running with her, I decided to continue my training, because I worried about having a week break.  I had managed to start my first day of the week here in the desert, so I was sure that I would be able to handle the running in the mountains.  

So my mom took me on her route and man was it brutal.  So my mom's house is surrounded by hills and the elevation is higher then it is here in the desert, so I was sure that I was going to die throughout the entire run. The first day we ran her normal route, which has up-hill, down-hill, and most of all, no sidewalks...I managed to make it through the new week, but it wasn't without issues.  

Mom's and mine second day route

The second day my calf (on my right leg) started tightening up, and I couldn't figure out why it would do that.  By the end of the run, I was sure that the calf was going to give out on me, it was so tight and burning.  And my mom even shortened the route for me, because of the pain I was going through.  I literally hurt to walk (even though I was fine when I was running).  So I figured the day break would help my calf loosen, as well as a walk in my Aunt's pool.  

My usual route

Today I took my mom on my normal route, which isn't as curved nor does it have any hills as mom's route.  So we started and it was the first day of Week three, which includes - 

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:

• Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 400 yards (or 3 minutes)

 Now I haven't figured out how I'm going to know when I've gone the required miles to run a 5k, but I figured as I go along I'd figure it out.  But the route I've mapped out is currently only about a mile long.  In a couple weeks, I'll need to upgrade to a longer route, but I'm not going to worry about that yet.  But I've found this great little website that helps map out routes and gives you miles and whatever else you need to figure out your runs! 

Route Builder - check it out, and make your own running route!  I'm pretty sure that using this will help me figure out my miles and running routes as I get further along in this training program.  And hopefully I won't have this calf issue for long!

Week Two Day One

So Yesterday ended up being a slow day for me.  I didn't wake up in time to get out there before the sun and heat became an issue, so I had planned on going in the evening, but it was still too hot to actually do that, so I figured this morning would be fine.  I actually manged to wake up this morning, placed a movie on for the girls (who had woken - and I didn't want them waking Nick) and then headed out.  The walk started out fine, and the first run was fine, but the rest was brutal. 

I made it through the whole thing, but who would have thought that the running would feel so long, when actually it was less, because I was running longer but lesser times.  I was still winded by the time I finished the five minute cool-down walk, and I was sure that I wouldn't make it.  Thankfully I did.

So I now have two days left of Week Two and I have to decide how I want to do it, since Thursday I won't have time...leaving with my Dad and Darren at 6:30 in the morning.  We're going to drop Daddy off, then have some Darren/Stephanie time while Daddy works, before they take me to Bakersfield to meet with my Mom.

This weekend is one of my best friends wedding!  And I honestly can't wait to see her again, since it's been so long!!  This will be the first time (since becoming a Mom) that I will be going anyplace for a period of time without my girls.  Nick will be taking care of them (with Jenni close by at all times!  haha) for the entire weekend, a total of five days without my girls. 

I think sometime this week, I'll be going running with my mom, since she is also doing the same program (only she's a couple weeks ahead of me) but it will be nice to at least have someone to run with!

So here's to hoping that the next time I run, it will be slightly easier and better!  Especially since I almost wasn't able to finish that last run. 

Week Three is looking to be more brutal then Week Two, and I'm not honestly looking forward to it, but I'm hoping it will be easier once my legs are used to this longer running.

Week One Completed

May I just start out by saying...I HURT!  Everywhere.  My back is killing me, has been all week.  I can't sleep properly because it hurts to move it.  My knee-caps are screaming at me, while my legs want to buckle under my all the time.  Not to mention the ankles that have always been against me - they tried rolling on me many times.  But with all that aching I'm just hoping that it will get better from here.

Sure I may have to consult a doctor to help me through this pain, but I've made it completely through Week One of Couch-2-5k.  Week Two here I come...

Day Two started out slow...I woke up late, but thankfully my husband didn't have to leave for work until twenty after nine, so I managed to get my Day Two in.  It was painful, I wasn't sure I was going to make it the entire twenty minutes.  But I did!  It was hard, and it was painful, and my legs wanted to fight with me, and my sides were protesting, but I managed to make it with plenty of time for my husband to go to work.

But I at least managed to find a jogging route that would finally work for me.  It has some hills, some up and downs, and mostly, It didn't take me far from my house. And the best part is no stoplights.  I don't have to stop for any reason.

Day Three was so brutal I was sure that I would collapse before the run was over.  My sides ached after almost every run, and while the breathing was easier, I still wasn't sure how I was going to make it.  I once again slept late, but not late enough that it would have been too hot to run (but it was almost too hot, so I really don't want to sleep in again...that is for sure).

So now I have completed Week One and I am ready, and scared, to move on to Week Two.  It will be more brutal then Week One, with a 90 second run followed by a 90 second cool down walk - for a total of twenty minutes.  I've barely made it to the 60 seconds so I'm just hoping that my body won't give up on me. 

So bring on Week Two!  Now I will start getting ready for swimming with the girls and my friend and her girls!  Can't wait for that!!

Week One Day One

So this morning I got a late start on waking up, but I did thankfully manage to wake up before it got too hot outside.  Last night I was looking for anything to help me get through this, since I didn't have the money or resources to use the Couch-to-5k App, so I decided to go to iTunes to see what I could find, and after several misses I finally managed to find an Podcast that I really liked.

It's called NHS Couch to 5K, and yes before you ask, it is actually a British Podcast, but honestly that doesn't matter.  The music is actually pretty cool, and they formed songs that let you know when what you're doing, whether walking or jogging, is about to end.  The woman's voice is comforting and she's great at getting you motivated to complete the course.

iTunes Podcast Download - Completely Free!

So I decided, after not going for the last three days, to just start the week over, since it is a new week.  It's important to me that I do this, and knowing that I was able to do the whole 20 minutes without my sister there, pushing me, was inspiring.  It let me know that yes, I could do this, and yes it will be hard, but it will be worth it in the end.

Already I feel different then I did from the first time.  Yes I ache, but I can actually move this time.  Yes I wanted to give up when actually jogging, but thankfully the jogging was ending just as soon as I was ready to throw in the towel.  Breathing was easier, and afterward I felt refreshed and ready to go.

I'm actually pretty nervous about how I'm going to handle the weeks to come, but I now know that I really can do this!  I really want to do this, I want to accomplish this one thing that I never thought I'd be able to accomplish.  So here I am, Day One of Week One done!  Can't wait to see how well I do tomorrow!