Spike

Time for a Spikey update.  I find it almost unbelievable how he can look so much like Max but be a completely different person.  This kid is not going to settle for being a Max clone.  He has much stronger opinions about what he wants and doesn't want then Max ever showed.  Yet like all my kids he is slow to speech and expresses his feelings with annoying squawks and grunts.  I feel I deserve an early speaker with the next kid.  He likes popcorn and cereal.  This kid cannot get enough popcorn.  They have installed a popcorn machine at the entrance to the associate store and I feel like it is now a 50 cent tax on my visits there.  Spike likes to take baths and loves playing outside.  He likes to dance and is adorable when he bounces his head to the music in the car.  We "pop some tags," in this house.  He has started giving hugs and it is the most enjoyable experience.  He hugs me, Jeff, Max but not Mae.  He doesn't like Mae and the feeling is mutual.  They avoid each other for the most part, but on occasion butt heads.  They remind me of co-workers; they do their own thing while realizing that they are stuck in the same office with the same boss.  So I guess it is good practice for their futures.  I adore putting Spike in old Max outfits.  It will just kill me if the next kid is not a girl cause there are just too many Mae outfits I need to see again.  (Disclaimer I am not currently pregnant, and no intention on being so this year.)  Spikey had a blast at Silver Dollar City this weekend.  He liked the carousel and the jumping water fountain.  He hated waiting in line and he hated it when his sibling could go on rides without him. We rode the frogs and butterflies together.  I love watching this guy barrel tummy first with all his speed toward his various destinations.  He loves attacking Jeff when he arrives home from work.  Spike says Mama, Dada and Yeah.  Love this little guy.

Also Blog FYI:  A few comments were deleted recently by accident.  Sorry.

The Kindness of Strangers.

I ran the big race today, the Bentonville Half Marathon.  I toyed with the idea of running it since last fall and committed to run it this past January.  It seemed like a good goal to set.  To be honest I thought it would be good way to recharge my weight-loss and push myself to do something hard.  While it didn't help much with the weight, I do feel like I accomplished something really worthwhile.  While training I dealt with some inner shin splints and a sore IT Band, but am happy to report no other injuries.  It was hard to devote so much time to the training, and the extra guilt of knowing that Jeff was giving up his Saturday mornings to watch the kids, and as the runs got longer, his afternoons to take care of the kids and me.  I hope that Max saw this sacrifice and struggle of ours to do something different and hard. 

It started off to a rough start this morning.  Part of the reason I started running was the social aspect of being with friends and pushing each other.  As we got closer to the date everyone else decided they had other plans, and then the night before I figured out I would be doing the whole thing all alone.  As I pulled up to the start it was hard seeing everyone so excited with their friends and teammates.  We started and the loneliness hit me pretty hard the for the first three miles.  I got to the point where I started crying and almost hyperventilated when I pulled into a ritzy neighborhood and saw a group of 5-6 ten year old boys in a rock band jamming their hearts out.  To top it off there was a young girl watching them with her pet chicken.  It was so absurd that it snapped me out of my depression and I was able to get going.  I ran into a friend at mile 6 and we ran together for about a half mile before she was off to relay with her teammate.  It was a nice distraction.

Props to the city of Bentonville for having speakers at the cemetery blasting, "Don't Fear the Reaper,"  excellent.  I think my favorite parts where when we went to areas I don't normally run through.  It was distracting to see new places.  I also loved running down North Walton which was closed to traffic.  I made sure that I took water at all the stations but it just kills me to throw the paper cups on the ground.  I know someone is gonna pick them up but it just feels so very very wrong.  I don't litter!   

I am so grateful for the kindness of strangers.  I was blown away by all the people out in their lawns cheering everyone on.  There were families cheering on loved ones, but they cheered just as hard for me.  This helped combat the loneliness.  I loved the little kids who put their hands out for high fives and the elderly people with encouraging smiles.  I know I have said it too many times before, but I truly live in the best place on Earth.  I will never leave Arkansas.  These people are so amazing and genuine.  I am determined to help out at this from now on.  Thank you to all the volunteers handing out water.  Thank you to all the police officers holding back traffic.  Thank you to all the organizers who set the race up, and thank you to all the people who cheered me on.  Thank you Kasey for the sidewalk message, and thankyou Meg for the cd.

I also want to give a special shout out to my Bishop's Wife, Jocelyn.  We haven't had a lot of interaction over the years given our different callings and children's ages, but we have been friendly.  She came across me running around mile 9 as she was out training for another, (harder run,) and she jogged with me for about a quarter of a mile offering encouraging words.  She then showed up at mile 11 and ran the end of the big NASTY hill with me cheering me the whole way.  I can't find the words to describe my gratitude to her for this friendship I was really needing today.  She ran me almost to the finish line where I saw Jeff and Max.  It was nice to see them.  It was a bit odd at the actual finish line cause I ended up crossing all by myself, and it was like the whole crowd had taken a minute check their phones til the next group showed up so there was not much cheering and no friends to say good job.  Jeff and Max found me and walked me to the car in a sweet but very anti-climatic finish to the whole thing.  But oh well it is over and now I know what it feels like. 

I don't think the human body was meant to run 13.1 miles.  While I am happy to report that my knee and shins held up pretty well, I have had some other unpleasant side effects today that well I'll just say I have been stuck close to ladies room all day.  Will I ever run another half marathon?  Maybe if I had a friend to run it with.  Will I ever run a marathon?  Probably not.  I think I'll be a 10K girl for now on. 

Another shout out to my mom.  She is not a fan of running, which she has mentioned more then once to me over the past, but she was amazingly supportive of me this past week.  She called me several times to week to encourage me and took in the entire recap with praise this afternoon.    Thanks mom.   

P.S.  I ran it in 2 hours 37 minutes.  I don't care that I ran it in this time, nor would I have cared if I ran it faster or slower.  I really don't care about speed or time.

Miss Mae

Miss Mae is adorable.  I cannot believe she is the same child that tormented us all a year ago.  It is amazing what a year and communication can do.  She is scooting right along in speech.  She talks more but has a long way to go to improve her pronunciation and vocabulary.  She sees a speech therapist for an hour a week, a development therapist for an hour a week and we just bumped her up to an hour a week of physical therapy.  After consultations with the doctor and a second physical therapist it was decided that she does not need leg braces but we upped her session time and bought a mini trampoline to improve her coordination and other problems.  Life is fantastic now that she has learned to buckle herself into her car seat.  It is so nice not to have to dive deep into the van to buckle her in.  She spends most of her waking hours coloring.  Our dining room table has basically become her art station.  She adores coloring either paper or books.  In the past few weeks we have played with play dough, paint, egg dye, and a few other medias.  I love her stick people cause they all have pupils in their eyes.  How random is that?  For Max it was tummies and for Mae it is pupils.  She still calls every child she sees, "Friend," and tries to hug them.  She got a hold of a pack of Avengers stickers a few weeks ago while I was napping and for the next two weeks I kept coming across randomly tagged spots.  It was like little graffiti superheroes everywhere below three feet.  Her outfits are changed at least 4 times a day, often more frequently and sometimes inside out.  She still loves all things girly and pretty, and is just a joy all around.  I love my little darling.

Mixed Media

Easter 2013

It was a good Easter.  I took Mae and Max to the city carnival.  I would have taken Spike but it was pouring rain and he has been sick all week.  Jeff spoke in sacrament meeting.  His topic was Finding Joy in the Atonement.  It went very well.  Poor Spike was so lethargic he just sat in my lap the whole time, which was nice.  I just blew $100 buck taking him to the doctor this afternoon.  Nice....Anyway, a visit and antibiotic later, we had a little hunt in our front yard and watched the Living Scripture DVD on the Resurrection.  I was remarking to Jeff that whenever I hear someone say Joseph of Aramathea I think of Monty Python, then I got a hankering to watch either that or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  I think either will be a nice break from The 10 Commandments.  I love me some shirtless Charlton Heston, but I always feel bad that my interest tends to fade once he gets all religious and clothed.  This next week should be good.  It is that time of year again, where Jeff has banked a bunch of vacation days he needs to use or lose.  So he is taking Friday off, purpose yet unknown.  Saturday is the big race.  Last weekend my good friend Kasey helped me to run 12 miles.  It was tough at the end, like when I got bitten by a passing dog, but we did it.  I am feeling confident that I will at least finish before they close up shop.  I am also excited for my sister Krista, who is expecting her third child any day now.  Lot of good things ahead this week.

FYI

I am deleting my facebook account at the end of the month.  So it's not you; it's me.  Actually that's not true,  it's you too, but mostly me.  But at least you know that it's all of you.  Don't you feel better knowing you're a group?

Running

 

Last week I went for a run after spending the previous day in bed with food poisoning.  I had skipped the Saturday before for my garage sale and so it was already set to be a sluggish run.  I got a late start and didn't make it out until 1 and by that time it was already around 70+ degrees.  Ooof I forgot how miserable hot running feels.  I am actually looking forward to tomorrow's 30 degree run.  It will be cold and long, (I'm shooting for 12 miles,) but it will also be my last long run before the big day.  I figure next Saturday I'll go for 7-8 miles.  I finally signed up officially, (meaning I finally paid,) and now I am ready for it to be over, and terrified of getting sick.  It is tempting to not send Max to school that Thursday and Friday just to make sure he doesn't bring anything home.  I am glad that I decided to do this though.  I am not one for setting goals so it was a nice experience.

Garage Sale

Photo Bomb!

I had a garage sale this past weekend.  It strikes me as funny that many of the people that I know look down upon them.  Well I just made $250, so there.  I have been given lots of hand-me-downs and have given many away.  Yet there are just some things that still have a resale value, and other things that helping hands won't take.  I think it is mainly a pride thing, "well I just give my stuff to DI/Goodwill."  How selfless of you.  I am sure that Jesus loves you more because you didn't degrade yourself out on your front lawn last weekend. 


Mmmmm Mae's leftover oatmeal.

I also find it funny that many of these people will go buy stuff from a garage sale or even ...craigslist.  As if craigslist makes it okay.  The other thing I found funny was when people would ask me what I'm gonna get with my earnings.  The question itself wasn't so odd as the tone and implication that sometimes went along with it.  Someone asked me in a very pandering way like, "oh good for you; interrupting your bon bon eating and soap watching to contribute to your family instead of burning your husband's hard earned wages."  It really did feel like that.  Here's the thing; if I really want something I buy it and don't feel bad using "Jeff's" money.  So what am I gonna do with the $250?  Well there isn't anything I am dying for right now so I'm gonna pay the electric bill and the water bill.  Wooo big spender! 

Mae in her element, coloring.

Wow, it would seem I am very touchy about my garage sale.  I will admit to being the judgy "DI/Goodwill," girl myself before my first sale.  Listen, they are hard work and I have a lot of respect for the people who do them.  I also have a great deal of respect to those who use them as an opportunity to earn cash to save up for something.  Pretty smart if you ask me.  I just don't budget with a his and hers budget.