Miles and Miles

Here it is the last day of February and I was able to squeeze in a little more running and working out thanks to the extra day this month courtesy of Mr. Leap Year. I'm breaking in some new running shoes and trying out some new workouts to mix things up and keep my body and metabolism guessing. Results are slow and steady and I just keep at it.

I wanted to try and run on average 50 miles a month this year. As of today I am at 95 miles, and I probably could have eked out more if I hadn't gotten sick and felt so rotten a couple of those weeks. Still having trouble getting all the junk out my lungs and getting my full breathing capacity back so I've scaled back on the miles for the time being.

Started back up with some free weights and my arms and back are feeling better. I've been reading up on healthy fuel for the body to restore and replenish exhausted muscles after a hard workout and found that chocolate milk is one of the best things you can drink post workout. A glass of low-fat chocolate milk and a banana and peanut butter (the potassium from the banana helps prevent muscle cramps and the peanut butter just helps me get a little more protein) are one of my go-to snacks now to help make sure my muscles are getting the refueling they need.

My challenge for March is finding more healthy dinner ideas that the whole family will eat and planning them way ahead of time. We are jumping full throttle into Riley's high school soccer coaching season, Kendle's soccer season, added onto school, work, church, piano, and everything else. We've been in a food rut so hopefully I can overcome that in the next few weeks and make good things happen.

Weekend

What a fun and relaxing 4 1/2 day weekend we had. Friday Kendle only had a half day of school (it was a furlough day). Kendle had another birthday party to go to that night that she was excited to attend. January and February have been super busy birthday months! It was a sleepover, but since she had an early basketball game the next morning we agreed to let her stay until about 9:00 or so instead. After much deliberation she decided that sounded fair.

Bright and early Saturday morning we went to Pasco High for Kendle's basketball game. Her team was missing a few players and have had quite a few people that have been sick so it didn't go too well, but Kendle had a couple of outstanding baskets the last little bit of the game. On one play all of her team mates pulled out of the key taking their defenders with them and left a wide open lane right down the middle for Kendle to drive to the basket. It was great. I wish they could do that more. Since she is not one of the taller girls out there she has to really hustle and try harder for rebounds. She does a good job of shutting down the other teams good players when she gets to defend them. There are only two more games left in the season and it has gone by really fast. I wish I could get pictures and video of her playing more, but it is hard when I'm wrestling little guys during the games.

Saturday night we celebrated my little sister Tamra's 22 birthday. She came home for the weekend from Corvallis. We went to Texas Roadhouse and stuffed ourselves silly and Tamra even got to sit on the birthday saddle. Yee-haw! It was fun to visit with her and her boyfriend Luke, and also Tucker and mom and dad.








After that we made a run into Ranch and Home so the guys could look at some "guy stuff". You know - guns, ammunition, out door gear, etc......We found a super fun little sandbox digger for the boys that was a total steal that looks like this:


Morgan has been digging some big holes already and loving it for his farm. We might have to go back and buy two more for the the other little farmers though! Good thing we still have that big patch of dirt for the kids to play in on the side of the house. Some days I hate it, but it keeps the little guys busy.

Monday we relaxed most of the morning and then Kendle and Riley headed to soccer practice after lunch. Riley is coaching Kendle's t-cysa team and also a tournament team he was asked to put together for the upcoming Blue Mountain tournament that is put on every year over here at our soccer fields. It will take place next weekend so Riley has been trying to cram in some practices beforehand with these girls who are mostly all coming from separate teams and have not played together before. Kendle will be playing up an age group and hopefully their team will do some good things in the tournament. It has been a lot of work having two back to back practices for the regular season team and then the tournament team and Kendle has been getting her soccer legs back under her on Monday-Wed-Fridays and then running more at basketball on Tues-Thurs-Saturdays. The regular season for Kendle's soccer starts March 2 and then softball starts in April. Riley also "officially" starts high school soccer in the next week or so as well. Whew! Hope we can keep up.

Little Getaway

Last week Riley and I were able to sneak out of town for a few days to Spokane where he was going to attend a convention for work at the historic Davenport in downtown Spokane.

I wanted to tag along for a few reasons:

1. I've always wanted to stay there, it's gorgeous and fabulous.

2. I needed some rest and relaxation time desperately. Like ASAP before I drove myself off a cliff.

3. Riley's birthday, valentine's day, and our anniversary all fall within a few weeks of each other so why not wrap it all up into one fun little mini trip?

With arrangements made with family to help take care of the kids, we were able to have a few days to slow down, spend some alone time together, and for me - sleep in. (I can't even count how many times I've been able to sleep in the last few years, but I'm willing to bet I could do it on one hand.) Riley and I don't get to do things like this very often where it's just us, so it was great.

One of the best bonuses of the trip? Riley gets reimbursed for pretty much all the expenses. We even got an upgrade to a king suite which was super lux. The beds were so comfortable I could have slept all day - best nights sleep of my life.  Not exagerating.

While Riley popped in out of his meetings with clients I lounged around, worked out, swam and sat in the hot tub, ordered room service, shopped, and got caught up on my addiction of Downton Abbey. In the evenings when he was done we shopped some more, went to dinner, and walked around. One of my favorite purchases of the trip was when we visited the Northface store and I splurged on an awesome new coat to keep me warm and dry during softball and soccer seasons. (If I have to sit out in one more rainy game, well at least now I'll be more comfortable.) Friday afternoon was also a treat. I got to meet up with my girl Nancie for some visiting, lunch, and shopping. It was great to catch up with her and do some bargain hunting (which I needed to do after buying that coat) and scored a super cute dress for only $3. Yep, that's right.

They totally spoiled us at the Davenport and we'll definitely be going back again. I could not stop staring at the unbelievable architecture and design that had recently been restored. It was nothing short of spectacular. I loved walking around taking in all of the beautiful features. The story of the restoration of the hotel is absolutely amazing.

I felt so refreshed and rejuvenated after our little time away. I realized we need to do things like that way more often. It is so worth it to reconnect, have that time to just think about yourself a little for once, charge your batteries, and a relief to know that your children are being well taken care of in the process.  I was glad they were in good hands and for everyone that helped us. It takes a team sometimes when you have kids in school, and sports, and everything in between.

Now we are already planning our next trip.........

My Valentine's

{I have severely slacked off on the photo challenge for this month. I'm thinking I might just have to take a whole bunch of pictures at once and post them all to get caught up in the next few days. More on that later.}

I think it is special that we have a day devoted entirely to those we love and hold dear. We give our kids extra hugs and kisses and make sure our spouses REALLY know how much we care. My family is so important to me and I hope they can always feel the love that I have for them. They make my life complete and even in the worst of times we can usually all share a laugh together. I feel so blessed to have this life.

These are my Valentines

Riley James

Kendle Ann

Morgan James

Cooper Channing

Kale Kruise

Quick and easy Valentine

While shopping at Target a week or so ago I grabbed a pair of their cute Valentine's socks they had in their dollar section. Kendle LOVES all different kinds of socks and I new she'd like some for Valentine's Day to add to her collection along with a few other surprises and goodies we got for each of the kids. Then coincidentally, the other day on pinterest I saw a card that said:

"I love you like Dobby loves socks." I knew I had found the perfect little quote for a valentine message to give to her.

{Now if you are a Harry Potter enthusiast you will know what that means, if not - this craft is probably not for you.}

I printed that out on a bit of paper and attached it with some curling party ribbon to the socks. I'm sure you could fancy this up more, I was just in a rush for time trying to get things done today.

If you have a child (or I suppose there are lots of adults like me who also love Harry Potter), I think this is a super sweet idea and very inexpensive. Kendle absolutely adores anything to do with Harry Potter and I'm pretty sure this will make her smile!

Day 3 Photo Challenge

(I am doing some catch up since I have been sick the last few days I am a little behind.)

*Hands*

Aren't those some deliciously plump little hands? Reminded me of this poem:

Day 2 Photo Challenge

So I'm going to cheat a little bit today. Today's challenge is words. I decided to just post some of my favorite quotes that have been inspiring me lately.




Every time I read this it reminds me that I need to be more compassionate, even with those I disagree with.





I love this quote because it can be applied to so many aspects of life. I first liked it because it applied to my fitness goals, but then the next few times I read it I realized it's all about enduring to the end. Sometimes in life we are just running at top speed and everything is awesome and we feel like nothing can stop us. Then other times we have to slow down and just do all that we can to keep going.





I so need to work on this. I raise my voice and get mad way too often with my family. I need to tape this one to my fridge!

Day 1: February Photo Challenge

I saw this idea on Pinterest for a February Photo a Day challenge. I thought this would be a great thing for me to try and do since I am always saying I need to take more pictures. Every day for the whole month I will be following the list and taking a picture of mostly every day things that I would usually never think to take pictures of. I think it will be fun and maybe teach me to look at the simple things I'm surrounded by in a different light.

The challenge for day 1 was to take a picture of your view today.

I snapped this picture on my way to pick up Morgan from preschool.

I love how green the fields along Sandifur already are and how this captures some of the rolling hills that surround us here in the Tri-Cities. It has been kind of a rainy and overcast day so the sky was kind of hazy. I love these little patches of farm land that have survived the never ending housing boom. They help keep me sane in a strange way. It's good to look at a big wide open space as I drive back and forth. Makes me feel like I can take a big breath and relax.