A Trip to the Park

I had the day off of work today so we took a little walk to the park in our neighborhood.  Owen just loves climbing all over the play structure and going down the slide.  He is such a big kid.  Lindy is more cautious and doesn't get up on the play structure, but she still has fun running around and cheering her brother on.  Enjoy the pics!

Sickies!

Since the week before Christmas, we have had some sort of illness in our household.  I am so tired of it, and I think it's part of the reason I seem to be in a funk.  Either I've been sick, my kids have been sick, or Ryan has been sick.  Here's a pic of my two little sickies watching "Barney" and drinking their Pedialyte.

With all that being said we have begun to discover some remedies that have actually helped:

Drink a lot of water - I know that water is the last thing you seem to want when you are sick, but I feel like it really does help flush all of the sick toxins out of your body.

Get some darn sleep - It's hard to actually say enough is enough and it's time for some sleep, but it really does help to stop and rest your body.

Enjoy the snuggles from your kids - My kids are pretty much past the phase of just wanting to sit and snuggle when they could be playing instead.  Yesterday, though, I got to sit with Owen for about an hour and half with my little tender guy.  It was pretty sweet.

Zinc Lozenges - These are supposed to lessen the length of a cold.  I feel like they have helped me out.

Remember the power of positive thought - I know this sounds kind of hippy-dippy, but I just think about my family all being healthy and happy again at the same time.  It will happen, and focusing on that instead of the fact that we are all sick can help me out tremendously.

Wash your hands - This one doesn't need much explanation, but a good hand washing can go a long way in  preventing the spread of germs.

Do you have any other tips you'd like to share?  We need all the help we can get here at out house.  :)

Running Update

I am in Week 9 of Half Marathon Training, and I think that's kind of crazy.  I gave myself 17 weeks to complete a 15 week plan, and as you may remember I had to skip a week of training right at the beginning because of a stomach bug in our house.  This means I will be more then halfway through my training after this week.  If I get enough runs in to count this week (because of a cold that's working it's way through our home and a Music Ed. Conference on Friday and Saturday).  Luckily, this is supposed to be a fairly laid back week without any hill or speed intervals.  If I can get in three runs I will be able to call it good.  Here's my plan for the rest of the week to make this happen:

Week 9 of Half Marathon Training

Monday, 2/11/13 - Rest

Tuesday, 2/12/13 - Rest (because I was sick)

Wednesday, 2/13/13 - Rest (still sick)

Thursday, 2/14/13 - 4-5 miles easy run

Friday, 2/15/13 - 3 miles

Saturday, 2/16/13 - At a conference all day.  Try to go on a walk during a break.

Sunday, 2/17/13 - Long Run 9 miles

Hopefully, I can get three runs in so I don't need to make this my other "freebie" week because I'd like to save that for Spring Break.  We'll see . . . . 

Motivation

My motivation has been low lately.  My motivation at work, my motivation at home, and my motivation with my running.  I am not sure what is causing this, maybe it's just the general manotiny of life (which really is a good thing, don't get me wrong) or maybe it's the weather (cold and generally blah).  I'm not quite sure, but there have been a few things I've been doing to try and break me of this lack of motivation.

In the running world, I ran my first 12k race on Sunday (Feb. 10th).  A 12k race is equal to 7.5 miles.  The race was the 9th Annual Fanconi Anemia Run/Walk  This is a great race that I also did last year.  Last year I did the 5k, and I remember talking to a lady who was doing the 12k, and I thought to myself, "Wow, I'd never be able to a 12k."  What did I know?  This race follows the Portland Waterfront right along the Willamette River.  It's just absolutely beautiful, and it's put on by some really great people who really are passionate about finding a cure for Fanconi Anemia.  My race went great.  I ran at 10 min/mile pace, and I was ecstatic about that.  After the race I ate a cinnamon role at the finish line, and then continued on for another mile so I could get my 8 miles done for that week.  Now I just need to hold onto my momentum gained from this race and keep on chugging along.  I think I'm halfway through my half marathon training, and I'm feeling really good.

In the working world I'm in the middle of preparing my 8th grade group for their District Festival Performance.  This is on March 21st, and I really think we are going to do great.  This group of 8th graders is pretty stellar.  They are all awesome musicians, and they are all really fun kids to teach.  I've been really motivated with them, but in my other classes I'm feeling a little worn out.  We're working toward our concert, but I'm just not feeling really excited about it.  I think I just need to start picking out some music for our final concert of the year, so I can keep moving the mind forward.  I really shouldn't complain, though because I love my job.  I work at an awesome school, I finally got some more hours this year.  I feel like things are on the upswing in my career so I just need to keep chugging along.

At home, I've just had very little motivation to keep the household running smoothly.  Being a Mom is so darn tough (as all Mom's know).  Sometimes all of the cleaning, organizing, book reading, food cooking, lunch packing just gets a bit overwhelming and boring all at the same time.  So I've been trying to get back into list making.  This makes getting the last piece of clothing put away a little more gratifying when I can cross it off the list.  I've also been up to my usual recipe hunting.  I find that cooking the family different meals throughout the week helps me stay happy about my job as Mom.  Hopefully these two things will help me get excited about my Mom job.

So is anyone else out there having a hard time staying motivated?  Maybe it's just a January-February thing.  We are all just trying to keep our heads up until Spring arrives.

Meatless Monday? Pfft . . . Meatless Everyday!

Over the last year, I have been gradually transitioning to a vegetarian diet.  This all started when I watched the movie "Forks Over Knives"  I innocently rented this movie from Netflix thinking it was just going to be all about how our overly processed diets were making us unhealthy.  This is indeed what the movie is about, but it is also about how eating a whole food plant-based diet can enhance your health in unimaginable ways.  So Ryan and I began to incorporate more vegetarian meals into our weekly menu.  It started with one dinner a week, then  2 or 3, and then 5.  Eventually, after reading a lot more on the subject, I decided to adopt a complete whole foods plant-based vegetarian diet.  One book that really altered my thinking was The Food Revolution by John Robbins.  If you are at all curious about the benefits of cutting animal products out of your diet then I highly recommend this movie and book.  

As of January 1st, 2013, I became a full fledged vegetarian.  This does not mean I plan to start writing a million posts about how being a vegetarian can save the world, and everyone must do it.  I am just pretty darn excited about this change and wanted to share it with all of you.  It has been a long transition for me, but I really do feel healthier and happier ever since I have made this change.

So now without much further adieu, here are my answers to a few of the many questions I receive when I tell people I am a vegetarian.

1.) Where do you get your protein?  Actually, humans need very little protein to have a healthy balanced diet.  They only need 2% of their total calories to be from protein.  In addition to this, I am sure to eat lots of green vegetables which actually have more protein per calorie than a steak.

2.)  Are you constantly starving?  No, and believe me this was actually a fear of mine when I first starting incorporating meatless meals into my diet.  I am actually very satisfied throughout the day, and when I do get hungry, I eat.

3.)  Are you doing this for health reasons or ethical reasons?  I first started cooking meatless meals for the health benefits.  As I have started researching more in the subject I have started to find some ethical reasons to have a diet free of animal products.

4.)  How can I start incorporating more meatless meals into my diet?  Just start by making one meal a week meatless in your weekly meal plans.  You don't have to eat anything "weird" like tofu, you can make a big salad, or a yummy pasta dish, or chili with chopped up mushrooms instead of ground beef.  You can also find products that you don't mind replacing with animal free products.  For me this was replacing cow's milk with almond milk.  For you it may be replacing butter made with animal fat with butter made from plant based fats.

Well, there you have it.  I feel like I've really gotten a lot off my chest.  :)  Now, if you feel like it, go out there and make a vegetarian dinner for yourself.  

Dancing Machines

Here is yet another dancing video.  I just find all this singing and dancing so adorable.  It just warms my music teacher heart (and dancing in a diaper, for some reason, warms my Mommy heart).

Quick Running Post

I just wanted to post a short running post.  Training went great last week.  I just did 6 miles for my long run instead of the 7, but that was the only adjustment I made.  It has been so dang cold here, and it has been hard to drag myself outside to run.  Fortunately, it's supposed to warm up this week.  Unfortunately, it's supposed to start raining.  I'm note sure which is worse.

This week's plan doesn't have any intervals or hill runs, and I'm happy about that. 

Week 6 of Half Marathon Training

Monday, 1/21/13 - Rest

Tuesday, 1/22/13 - Rest (because I didn't want to get out of bed)

Wednesday, 1/23/13 - 3 mile run with strides at the end

Thursday, 1/24/13 - Weight Training

Friday, 1/25/13 - 3-4 miles

Saturday, 1/26/13 - Weight Training

Sunday, 1/27/13 - Long Run (total of 8 miles)

"Watch this Mama Fly!"

Well, despite some snow, ice, and very cold weather, training went really well this week.  I got in two rounds of weight training and all three of my runs.  Now I am into Week 5, and I am feeling good.  I feel like my running base is building at just the right pace.  My hips aren't bothering me too much, and my heels seem to be doing pretty good, too.  My speed is building as well.  I am not fast by any means, but I am starting to be able to do a 10 min. 30 sec. mile without too much strain.  Otherwise, I am at about a 11 min. 30 sec. mile when I am just casually running.  Ryan said that I just need to start visualizing myself as a fast runner.  I think he is right.  

I have often put myself into boxes (and maybe not the boxes that I really want to be in), but I have slowly started learning that the power of thought is an amazing thing.  I have recently been working on telling myself various things to help me see myself in a different light.  For example, at work I tell myself, "You are an amazing teacher, who cares deeply about her students and is able to change their lives in positive ways."  Before I speak to my boss I tell myself, "You are a smart and professional educator.  Your ideas are well thought out and valid.  Your boss will appreciate your ideas."    One may call them mantras, but I do not repeat the same phrase each time so I don't see them as mantras.  They are just words that I use to help me begin seeing myself the way that I want others to see me.   

Now when it comes to running I actually do have two mantras that I repeat when a run gets tough.  My first one is, "You are a strong Mama!"  This one has motivated me since day one.  I figure if I can be a Mom each and everyday of my life, I can probably run one more mile even when I'm tired.  My second mantra is, "If the mind believes it, the body can achieve it."  When I am racing, this one often becomes, "Mind believe, body achieve."  This mantra has helped me set a few PR's.  Now I guess I need to come up with one to help me see myself as a fast runner.  Maybe something like, "Watch this Mama fly!"

With all that being said, let's look at what lies ahead for this week of training (and speed building).

Week 5 of Half Marathon Training

Monday, 1/14/13 - Weight Training

Tuesday, 1/15/13 - 4 miles - Easy

Wednesday, 1/9/13 - 2 - 3 miles - Easy - end with strides

Thursday, 1/10/13 - Interval Run (total of 3 miles)

Friday, 1/11/13 - Weight Training

Saturday, 1/12/13 - Rest

Sunday, 1/13/13 - Long Run (total of 7 miles)

It's supposed to be cold all of this week, but sunny.  It should be a great week for running.  

Week 3 of Half Marathon Training

I am a little late in this update.  My second week of half marathon training was AWESOME!  I got all my running in (3 runs) and 2 rounds of weight training.  That was all during the week of Christmas and Christmas Eve, so I was very happy.  Then came the third week.  I had my whole week figured out and then I got a head cold!  Ugh!  I still managed to make it work, though.  The week should of looked like this:

Monday, 12/31/12 - 4 mile run

Tuesday, 1/1/13 - Rest

Wednesday, 1/2/13 - Weight Training

Thursday, 1/3/13 - 3 mile run

Friday, 1/4/13 - Weight Training

Saturday, 1/5/13 - Rest or Fun Workout (Zumba)

Sunday, 1/6/13 - Long Run (total of 5 miles)

Instead the week turned into this:

Monday, 12/31/12 - Weight Training

Tuesday, 1/1/13 - Rest

Wednesday, 1/2/13 - Weight Training

Thursday, 1/3/13 - No Workout

Friday, 1/4/13 - No Workout

Saturday, 1/5/13 - 4 mile run

Sunday, 1/6/13 - 5 mile run

It wasn't a total wash, but I am happy to move into a new week.  Work starts back up this week for me which means more of a routine for me and my family.  I actually think this will help my training stay on track.  We'll see.  Here is what I'm expecting to do this week:

Week 4 of Half Marathon Training

Monday, 1/7/13 - Rest

Tuesday, 1/8/13 - Hill Training (total of 3 miles)

Wednesday, 1/9/13 - Weight Training

Thursday, 1/10/13 - 3 mile run

Friday, 1/11/13 - Weight Training

Saturday, 1/12/13 - Rest or Fun Workout (Zumba)

Sunday, 1/13/13 - Long Run (total of 6 miles)

A Trip to the Aquarium

We went to the Portland Aquarium today.  We went with my sister, Amy, my friend, Carrie, and her daughter, Maya.  The aquarium just opened in mid December so it was pretty fun to check it out.  It has three "touch" aquariums, and one of those is full of Rays (that have had their barbs removed so they are safe to touch).  It also has a cool Lorikeet cage where your kids can go in and feed the birds if they want to.  It will soon have a Puffin display and Sea Otter display that should be pretty cool.

Owen & Maya at the first aquarium.

Lindy checking out the first aquarium.

Owen & Lindy checking out the "touch" tank.  It was full of Starfish & Sea Anemone.  Owen loved that he got to touch the water.  Lindy was more cautious about it.   

Owen & me by a deep sea diver.  Owen was very cautious about this display.  :)

Lindy standing nose to nose with a Ray.  She could have stood in this spot all day.

Maya, Carrie, Owen & Amy checking out all of the Rays.

Maya & Carrie admiring the Rays.  Maya even got to touch a Ray.  She thought it was pretty cool.

Owen at the last "touch" tank.

Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation

Upon Grandpa's suggestion, we took the kids to the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation.  Owen & Lindy had a great time checking out all of the trains, and so did Grandpa Bradstreet.  I was quite amazed by the size of the engines and that they were housed in such an amazing indoor facility.  

If you are ever near Portland, OR, I highly suggest going to check these trains out.  It was good free fun.

Cold & Rainy Run

I am just slow, slow, slow right now.  This is my first run this week.  It was cold and rainy, and I only did 2.5 miles.  The way I look at it, though, 2.5 miles is more than 0 miles.  I have also gotten in one weight training session so far this week.  Woo-hoo!

Dancing Queen

Lindy loves to sing and dance, but she is quite particular to which song she wants to dance to.

Week One of Half Marathon Training

Unfortunately, Week 1 of my half marathon training did not really happen.  Owen & Lindy both came down with a stomach bug on the 14th (a Friday).  They were sick for 4 days, and Owen took a few mare days after that to really get back to normal.  I was sick with the bug from Sunday - Wednesday.  The stomach bug knocked us all out pretty good, and left us all scrambling to get everything prepared for Christmas.  This meant I only got 1 run in for the whole week.  Luckily, I've built in two extra weeks to my training plan just for occasions like this.  I am a little scared that I used up one of my extra weeks so early, but this is life.

My one run this week was a 3.5 mile run this morning.  It was decent enough weather, and I actually got to run at 8:00 am (instead of my usual 5:00 am runs).  I was pretty dehydrated still from my stomach bug so I was moving pretty slow.  I had also noticed some tightness in my right hip earlier this week.  I think it stems from holding my daughter while walking around the house.  I think doing some stretching this week should help resolve this issue, but it made my run today a little harder then it needed to be.

Next week's training looks like this:

Monday, 12/24/12 - 3 mile run

Tuesday, 12/25/12 - Rest

Wednesday, 12/26/12 - Weight Training

Thursday, 12/27/12 - Interval Run (total of 3 miles)

Friday, 12/28/12 - Weight Training

Saturday, 12/29/12 - Rest or Possible Run with Ryan & the kids (2.5 miles)

Sunday, 12/30/12 - Long Run (total of 5 miles)

I am optimistic about my training this week, even through I will have a lot of Christmas festivities to contend with.  I just need to stay focused, and remember that every workout will make me that much more prepared for my race.  

And this Mom keeps runnin', runnin', & runnin', runnin'

Some of you may be aware that over the past year I have become a runner.  People who have known me for a long time may find this hard to believe because I was not all that athletic for the first 22 yrs. of my life.  Anyway, I would still not consider myself to be an "athlete" because I feel that an athlete is someone whom participates in sports that involve balls in some way, and I still duck and cover when anything is thrown at me instead of trying to catch it.  However, I really do like running.  I think my favorite part about running is that I am able to push myself to do things I never thought were possible.  Forever, I have thought of myself as the awkward adolescent girl I was in middle school, and running has really taken that feeling away from me.  Running has made me realize that I am capable of anything I put my mind to, and that I am an important person with some pretty great ideas and attributes.  

I began running last year when my kids were 5 months old.  I started doing it as a way to get back into working out and start shedding my baby weight.  I did that Couch to 5k Plan, and I ran my first 5k at the end of October 2011.  In the next 7 months I ran five more 5k's and one 8k.  All this running really helped me start to feel like me again, but more of a new and improved me.  I took a break over the summer, but at the end of August I put back on the running shoes to train for my first 10k.  Now, I plan to run a 12k in February, a 15k in March, and half marathon in April.  My training for my half marathon begins this week, and I plan to keep you all posted on my training as it progresses.  

I know the training process will be tough at times, but I think writing about it every now and then will help me out.  I just need to remember that running makes me feel like a lean, mean, fighting Mama!  I can't wait to share my journey with you (and I hope that my running posts don't bore the socks off of you).

To wrap up this post, here's a pic for your viewing pleasure.  It's from my second 5k.  I did it with Ryan and the twinners in November 2011.

Now, here's to many more!

When you can't find the words

A terrible tragedy took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School today.  It was hard to understand why things like this happen.

A friend of mine posted this quote from Mr. Roger's on her facebook page, and I thought it was a way to put things into perspective:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world." -- Fred

I hope I can remember these words one day when my kids are old enough to understand and ask me, "Why?".  There are a lot of terrible things that happen in our world, but I really do believe that the majority of people out there are good people.  

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

It's official that the holiday season is upon us.  We've been busy buying presents, making lists, putting up Christmas decorations, and this weekend we got our tree.  It has been so fun to experience Christmas through Owen & Lindy's eyes this year.  They are really getting into the spirit of things and everything we do seems to amaze them.  

Here are some pictures of our Christmas tree outing this year.  We always get our tree from a nearby tree farm.  We get to cut down the tree ourselves, and we've made it a tradition to do this with Ryan's brother Brandon and our awesome sister-in-law Trudi!

Owen taking in all the scenery (and wondering why his coat is so enormous).

Lindy loving life and the tree farm.

We found our tree!

Owen helping Uncle Brandon cut down their tree.

Lindy helping Ryan cut down our tree.

We decorated our tree the next morning.  Owen & Lindy got a kick out of doing this.  I think the ornament may be moved many times by their little hands.  They are just fascinated with all of the sparkly things on the tree.  It will be interesting to see how long we keep the ornaments on the lower branches. 

Owen inspecting an ornament.

Lindy on ornament inspection duty.

Owen adding a sparkly branch to the tree.

Lindy adding a star to the tree.

Thanksgiving Fun

So this is a little late for my Thanksgiving post, but better late than never.  We had the family over to our house for Thanksgiving, and we had a great time.  We started our day with a walk to Joe's Donuts, and then we all got home and enjoyed an egg bake, our donuts, and mimosas.  Then we got the turkey prepared, cooked a lot, ate a lot, and then relaxed.  Below are a few pics of Owen & Lindy enjoying their turkey dinner.  Their favorite part was the candy turkeys (go figure).  

We have a lot to be thankful for this year.  I think that most of all I am thankful that I have such a happy healthy family.  It's cheesy to say, but everyday I remind myself how lucky I am to have such simple things like being married to someone who I am absolutely happy to see each day, kids that are pretty freakin' awesome, a dog that really is the best dog in the whole world, a sister who is my best friend, a Mom & Dad who love me unconditionally, and a family that makes me smile each day.  

Okay, that is the end of my sap fest!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and you are able to be thankful for something each and every day.  

Halloween Fun

Here are the pics from our Halloween adventures.  Owen & Lindy did great with trick or treating.  They walked the whole time (we just went around the block), and they carried their treat pails all by themselves.  They seemed to have a great time, and then the fun continued once we got home and handed out candy to the rest of the neighborhood. 

First Haircut

Owen got his first haircut today at "The Buzz" (a local barbershop here in Sandy).  Tiffany (who owns the barbershop), has a great set up.  She has a cool fire truck chair, a fun train table to play with while your waiting, and the parents even get a beer while their kid gets a haircut.  Pretty Sweet!  Here are some pics of Owen.  

 Before the big haircut!

 Checkin' out the cool chair.

  

This was our best "after" shot.  He had quite a bit of hair to be trimmed off.  I must say I'm a little sad his wild hair is gone (even though the haircut is great).  I may just have to let it grow out again and keep it that way.  :)