Swimming

The pool right around the corner from my house is so great! Adult swim 5-7pm, Monday-Friday and free! Not only is that sweet, both times that I have gone we have had the pool to ourselves. Granted, it is pretty dirty. While I was swimming yesterday I saw a big clump of hair/weave on the bottom of the pool. (I am just remembering this now, I can't belive I didn't point it out to Leann. )
So, who wants to come join me swimming? Monday, Wednesday,Thursday perhaps? Despite the nasty it really is nice. So refreshing on a hot day. Bring your goggles so you can see all the interesting crap at the bottom of the pool!
Madeline wanted to try on all my swim garb.

Hardcore Training

Around 5pm today Marni and I went over to our local pool to do a couple of laps. It was kind of amazing to walk over to 6th and Master (2 blocks from our homes) and have a huge pool all to ourselves. She helped me with my strokes and we swam until we were tired. When I got home Marlee had made homemade vegitarian chili. It was awesome. Jesse and I made the last minute decision to go on a long bike ride after the kids went to bed. We did a 13 mile, two climbs ride. Halfway through the ride I decided I was going to run afterward. When I got home I literally ran out the door. I ran 1.8 miles. I am really tired now. Go figure.

I had been feeling ultra lazy today, I guess I just made up for it.

Inspiring

Over the course of our vacation I heard a story about one of our friends. I was told that he and his wife were able to recycle and compost almost all of their trash leaving only one bag of garbage a month. I recycle but have never been very consistent. Nothing really motivates me more than a challenge. I know that with 7 people living under one roof it is impossible to only have one bag of trash a month but maybe I can get it down to one can a week.
A couple new life style changes:
-I bought a bunch of nice micro fiber rags and haven't used a paper towel since Saturday
-Made a paper trash bag next to my regular trash can
-Noticing and savoring ever time I realize that "that plastic I can recycle" (duuhh...yogut tubs!)
-I bought my first reusable grocery bag
-I bought a diva cup

Hopefully this trend will stick.

After browsing through my friend David's inspiration list I came across this drawling. There is something about it that resinates with me. It makes me feel safe...even though there is a slug and weird bugs. (I am not a bug person in the least.) Maybe it is a reminder that even the icky parts of life are beautiful. The things that I am scared of can be drawn from a different perspective. I think I really needed so see this picture.

Hand and Dish Soap

In the midst of a very hectic morning I was able to cross stitch covers for my dish soap and hand soap. The kitchen sink looks a little more welcoming now.


It seems like I always put way too many things on my "to do list." I surprisingly get most things done but it is usually sacrificing my sanity. Today was a particularly frustrating day with the girls. I really shouldn't complain, I had an amazing day yesterday.
On Monday I went up to Langhore to my inlaws house where I spent the morning and afternoon. I left the kids there for an adventurous sleep over. Jesse picked them up last night after work. It is kind of unbelievable how much I could do in just one day without the kids. It was so delightful to have "alone time." I trained for my triathlon, went out to lunch with a book as my date, started the much over due project of painting the trim on my first floor and was able to clean up just a bit.

I am just going to hope and pray that when they wake up from their dreamy naptime siesta they will be little angels. They better be because we have to grocery shopping.
sigh.

Sandy Children

Our much needed vacation has been so relaxing thus far. I love doing "whatever". It really does feel nice.
The girls have been loving it too. Madeline loves the sand at the beach but is terrified of the ocean. She keeps so busy making sand castles and sifting the dry sand through her toys. Jane loves sitting right where the waves and the beach meet. She loves kicking her feet in the water. There also is a pool at the house we are staying at. Madeline goes crazy jumping into our arms in the water. They are both having such a good time.








I was hoping to be doing a little more training on my trip down here. I have run every day but they haven't been long runs. I tried swimming in the ocean but I forgot my bathing suite that doesn't fall down. (I am not really into exposing myself in pubilc, ha!)
Jesse and I went on a bike ride on Sunday and are planning on going tonight. It is really nice to be able to go out after the kids go to bed. I am so glad that we are here with a bunch of other families.

Beautiful Baby Girl

Last Friday I attended another birth. I am finding that I have found where I am supposed to be, in the delivery room. It was such a life giving experience (literally and figuratively).
When I was pregnant with Madeline I was terrified of birth. When it came time to deliver Jane I was so excited. The delivery room is such an empowering place to be. How amazing is it that I can share in the intimate, powerful, beautiful part of a laboring women's life?!!
I am truly finding this new part of my life so rewarding. I love all parts of it. Especially holding the new little baby.

My first open water swim

Marni and I left around 6:30pm this evening to start the swimming part of our training. Wow. It totally kicked my butt. I always have felt that some people were born swimmers and others not. I am not a swimmer. I am in decent shape though- I just thought I would do better. The scary thing about swimming in open water was that there was no floor to stand on when I was tired. I was really discouraged that I won't be able to do this triathlon, but I was reminded that this was only my first time swimming. (training swimming)
I am excited to keep doing this. I already feel my body "working" and it has only been a couple of days of serious training. I could just be really sore. ha!

Wenonah Lake was really nice. There was a playground, a little beach and the water was the perfect temperature. The gross part about swimming in a lake was the mud. I was covered in it when I got out of the water. It clung to every hair on my body. I felt disgusting and super tough. It felt good. It also felt like an amazing excuse to take a long shower. These days I hop in and out as fast as I can...there is just too much to do.



Hopefully vacation will be filled with amazing runs, awesome bike rides and refreshing swims in the ocean. I know you are suppose to relax on vacation but having some time to myself sounds like vacation to me.

Adventures in Packing

This weekend we are embarking on a week long vacation to VA beach. This is pretty huge for Jesse and I. We are both desperately seeking some good "away time." Maruke has been counting down the weeks, now days, until we leave. Hopefully all the anticipation will get us through the 6 hour drive. I am a little nervous about how the drive will go.
I have been filling my days this week with packing and doing laundry. We never have really gone on a family vacation so I really don't know what to bring. 2 porta cribs and a lot of beach stuff I guess.?
On monday I made these towels for the girls:



I have been trying to find little ways to foster the creative side of me. Marlee and I decided we were going to have craft night every Wednesday which has been an exciting thing to look forward to. After all the children went to bed though we decided to have a girly whiskey night instead. It was so refreshing and amazing. I love that girl. Hey, moms probably need to wind down at the end of the day more than anyone else!

Last weekend we went to the burbs. My daughters loved it but came home covered in insect bites. (i am not 100% sure that they got the mysterious bites from the suburbs but they were playing in grass which is a rarity) Jane was dressed to kill in her little workout number. I have been having a dilemma about what to do with her knees. She is so independent right now and wants to walk everywhere but falls right on the concrete scraping her little knees. I am not the kind of mom that completely freaks out about scraped knees but I do try to find a solution. I tried making baby knee pads out of old socks. I think I need to make an actual pattern. Since they were just the tops of socks they kept sliding down. Maybe that will be my newest project post vacation.

The little jumper

The last couple of weeks I have been making jumpers to sell on my online store. This is my first real attempt to sew clothing. I kept it easy with a Simplicity pattern. I really was able to work on my button holes which is exciting. I might try to cut some new fabric this afternoon but have been feeling increasing lazy about sewing the last couple of days. I think the heat is getting to me.

In other news, my friend marni and I are starting to train for a triathlon. I am pretty nervous about if I will be able to do it or not. I am not a very good swimmer and I have never done anything like this before. I started my training on monday with an easy 2 mile run. Yesterday Jesse, Marni and I went on a 14 mile bike ride. This was particularly difficult for me being that I was riding my fixed gear bike and wearing my skate helmet.

 

Getting Started

I am going to attempt a blog. Please excuse me if I am not so good at...I am pretty bad at "the internet". ha.

This is my chance to share my journeys as a mother and wife, a creative person and a woman who exercises.