Random Thoughts

I'm trying not to pay any attention to the 8 inches of snow that fell last night and this morning (our town even made the news!). Actually, it is melting now and the snow has turned to a nice rainy drizzle (which is what we usually experience this time of year in the Seattle area).

 

I'm "womaning" the oven this afternoon - tending the evil decadence of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies - mounds of mouthwatering yumminess (is that even a word?). I only make these puppies about 4 times/year because they take an entire afternoon or evening to make. Don't let the word "oatmeal" fool you - while there are 5 cups of oats in them, there is also a full pound of butter, 4 cups of sugar and 4 eggs, not to mention 4 cups of chocolate chips. We leave out the nuts because our house is nut-free for the health of our son.

 

That leads me to my big question for the day: Should I even be making these cookies when our son can't eat them because they have eggs and butter in them (he's also allergic to those ingredients)?

 

Until today I haven't felt too guilty about making the cookies. We freeze most of them (they take up most of the freezer, though, because the batch is about 8 dozen LARGE cookies!) and have an alternate treat for our son when we eat them. But this afternoon he keeps asking, "Can I have that ingredient?" "How about THAT, is THAT on my list?" He also throws guilt-inducing comments at us like, "Mmmmmmm . . . . those sure smell good. I bet you'll really enjoy them, won't you?"

 

On the other hand I have my overworked husband who BEAMS and dances around the house giddily (again, is that a word?) for days when I make the cookies. You can HEAR the man smile at the mention of them. And today, he's run down with some sort of sinus deal (attributed, I believe, to the blooming cherry trees, which are now thorougly confused by this unusual snow) and so I thought the cookies would help him feel loved and cared for (because 2 children hanging on him all day isn't really doing the trick!).

 

So, tonight (assuming there are any left, as my son keeps delivering cookies to his dad to help him feel better!) the adults will have gourmet cookies and the kids will have orange jello for dessert. I guess I'll take comfort in the fact that we'll make my son's treasured pumpkin cookies later this week, but it just doesn't seem quite fair. I really hope that he outgrows these food allergies (and that my daughter doesn't have them, too), otherwise this might be the last time I can deal with the guilt of making them when the kids can't enjoy them, too.

 

 

A Hammer is a Tool

This has been a LONG and rollercoaster-like week for me, so I'll keep my post short (er, mostly) and light. Here's a funny little exchange between my son and husband on the way to my son's ice skating lesson:

son: Hey, Dad, can we listen to some loud music?
husband: Sure! What do you have in mind?
s: I really like Hammer!
h: Oh, you mean Tool?
s: That's what I said - Hammer!
h: Right. We can listen to Tool.
*turns on Tool, loudly, of course*
s (using a regular voice, rather unsccessfully): What instruments are they using, Dad?
h (yelling): What?
*turns down music*
s: Why'd you turn down the music? Now I can't tell what instruments they're using!
*music returned to loud volume*
s (using regular voice, again unsuccessfully): Is that guy singing? What's he saying, Dad?
*music turned down*
h: What did you ask?
s: Why'd you turn down the music? Now I can't hear what he's saying!
h: You were asking me a question, but I couldn't hear you.
s: That's because we're listening to it LOUD!
h: Which is why I can't hear you when you talk. What's your question?
s: Can we stop talking so I can hear the music?
*music returned to loud volume*

Of course, as my husband relayed this episode, he was all too happy to point out the difference between our rides with our son.

Rides with Mom (that's me!):
- ambiance music is some sort of kid-friendly, family-approved music, ranging from Kindermusik tunes to various guitar soloists to the soundtrack from the musical Frog & Toad (recommended, but not more than once/week, or you'll be singing that "Toad looks funny in a bathing suit!" in your sleep)
- breaking out into song is okay and everyone is encouraged to join-in
- conversations about anything!

Rides with Dad (few and far between : generally only to ice skating & to the hardware store):
- music is generally LOUD and may be: Phish (not too shabby), Tool (not Mom-approved), Grateful Dead (better than Tool), Moe (will do) . . . generally anything goes, ECEPT for items in Mom's car
- breaking out into song is okay if you're singing along with the LOUD music already playing
- music is playing to negate the need for conversation
- coversations are okay if they keep son's thumb out of his mouth (we're working to distract him from thumbsucking!)

Rides with Mom & Dad (weekends only!):
- music is generally off
- son interrupts any Mom/Dad conversations to have all focus to himself (unless music is turned on to negate conversations!)
- daughter happily enjoys sights out window while tuning out above mentioned conversations (smart girl!)
- breaking out into song is highly encouraged for all to deter daughter from crying when the trip has been too long

Ah, parenthood!

America's Kids Run

I love reading about other people's running experiences - the joy of setting a PR, the frustration with shortening a run because the snow is eyeball deep (I don't know HOW you people do it!), the elation of reaching a distance or speed goal. Lately I've been sitting at home celebrating alongside you blogging runners at my computer. I remember my early days of running (not so long ago, really - just back in 2003!) when I was seeing first-hand the joy of running as it bubbled forth from my third-grade students. There is nothing quite like a dozen giddy girls wiggling their hands over their heads to celebrate an upcoming run!

While reading about fellow adults is fun and motivates me plugging along with my own running, I'm THRILLED that I'll get to see this young passion for running again soon - I'll be attending the America's Kids Run Expo on Friday, April 26th in Spokane, WA and then staying to witness the kids in action on Saturday morning. I can't wait! 60 schools of children are participating in the event - well over 3,000 kids. Can you imagine the energy of that many kids harnessed at the start line? WOW!

The America's Kids Run developed in the 1980s as Junior Bloomsday to get kids excited about the Bloomsday race in May (a 12K race with over 50,000 runners - woah, baby!) and see how they could become fit and race, too (though at safer and more attainable kid-friendly distances). The run is still going, though the name has changed and the race reaches children on military bases, too (see the site to read about it!).

I faxed in my form today to be at the Expo, so it is all official. I'll be there - ready to see the future runners of Washington!

**** Goal Status Report ****

Hooray - the book is officially in 6 stores IN the state of Washington (and one store placed an order for MORE books because they sold-out their first batch already)! The stores out-of-state are now just icing on the cake . . . and I have 3 more business days to get a few more lined-up. Not too shabby. :) I'll hear from a store in GA next week . . . and am working on a few in NC and CA, too. I didn't really know when I jumped into this book publishing world that sales would be so challenging, yet rewarding. It's a good thing I just jumped in blindly, or I might not have done this . . . what an adventure!

We Are Girls Who Love to Run is on a RADIO SHOW!!!

At 8PM EST today (March 25th) you can listen to an interview on the radio show Following Your Passions (via webcast!) about how I brought We Are Girls Who Love to Run to life. If you miss it tonight, visit the site again in 3-4 days to download the show!

 

http://www.radiosandysprings.com/passions.php

 

It really was a fun experience, though I'm still shaking a bit from the excitement and intensity of it all!!!

 

 

Confidence

My husband took our son to his ice skating class tonight. I have yet to go see this fantastic showing of "Preschoolers on Ice" myself, but made reservations for next week. Since Little Sister was down and out with the flu for one day shy of a week, I thought it would behoove (I love that word and just HAD to use it!) us to give her this first healthy day at home without subjecting her poor little bod to a fresh batch of ice rink germs. Funny thing is, though, he was reluctant to go to class, which is a complete 180 from his first two weeks (after the first week he came home bellowing how great class was, skating around the kitchen in his socks singing about how great he was and how he was going to be the teacher for the next class!):

 

son: I don't have to go to ice skating tonight. I think we can just stay home and mow the lawn (his favorite outdoor activity since he was big enough to reach the handle of a plastic lawn mower)

me: I bet you'll get to play a new game this week. Remind me - what did you play with your classmates last time?

son: Goose-duck.

me: Oh, right! Duck, duck, goose. You came home and told me all about it last week!

son: But now I know how to play it. I'm just not feeling very confident.

me: You're new at skating. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel.

son: Nah. I can just stay home.

me: (feeling like I'm trying to tread water after 15 minutes of effort!) I bet Dad will rent skates again today and you can skate with him!

son: Maybe.

me: (feeling like we might have a breakthrough) And that will give you practice for when I'm there next week and WE skate together after class. You can show me all of your moves and teach me how to get back up when I fall.

son: Oh, I can do that. But, it would be okay if we just stay home.

me: Well, your dad left work early so you could have this special time together. So, why don't you enjoy hanging out with him on the way and just see how it goes . . . come on, let's go get your stuff together!

 

He wasn't feeling totally confident after that, but I did manage to get him ready to head out for class without falling apart and bailing. My husband resumed the cheerleading and some diversion conversations on the way to the rink (which, as luck would have it, is a good 45 minute drive *ugh*. . . I'm glad he was the one up for THAT stretch of convincing - whew!). The report upon return home was something along these lines (though insert about 30 other conversations between each of these comments for a true look at how it went):

 

son: I skated all the way across the rink without falling down!

husband: I skated 3 laps around the rink by myself as he watched, but he did join me for the fourth lap (last week he didn't!).

son: The best part was watching the Zamboni!

husband: I feel a bit guilty because one of the instructors spent nearly the entire class working with just him . . . but he didn't bail like another little kid!

son: We can all skate together next week. Do you think Little Sister can join us too?

me: Do you think they'll rent skates to 14 month olds?

little sister: (arms flapping - head nodding emphatically up and down) Yia . . . yia . . . dadadadada!

 

This is really our first experience with our son's wavering confidence (and I'm sure it won't be our last, because the little cutie just keeps getting older and finding new experiences to try!), so we're trying to be encouraging and supportive without being too pushy. We want him to learn to stick things out (unless there's a safety concern or he's just totally in a puddle) and give them a few tries before deciding to move on to another interest. I hope we've done that in a healthy way. We'll see after this series of classes (just 2 more to go!) if he brings up skating again next winter when we take him to a hockey game, or if this will just get tucked under his hat so he can tell his friends in college: "You think THAT'S crazy? My parents signed me up for ice skating lessons when I was THREE! They didn't even go out on the ice with me, they just threw me out there to fall on my face by myself with kids I didn't know and a few teachers!" 

 

I'm sticking with our version: "You have the coolest parents ever - they let you take ice skating lessons when you were just 3 years old! And your friend from school was even in your first class! Even better, your dad took off work early to take you so you could have special time together." 

 

 

Easter rain

Happy Easter!

 

Yesterday we enjoyed sunshine and near-60 degree weather, making it the perfect day for lawn mowing and weed pulling. The neighborhood was out in full force spring cleaning their yards - including our little family (our son even had his lawn tools out - mower, hoe, shovels, the works!). I'm sure it was a great day for thousands of runners, too, though our daughter hasn't quite shaken this stomach bug she's had for nearly a week, so we opted for the yard workout so we could be home for her to nap or snuggle with one of us.

 

Today the weather forecasters were dead on with their 100% chance of rain prediction. It has rained 100% of the day and doesn't look like it will let up anytime before night fall. That being said, the Easter Bunny had some quick thinking to do. Heaven help us when the Easter Bunny has to remember all of his problem-solving techniques next year (though we're counting on our detail-oriented son to help us stay on track). At our house the Easter Bunny thought it would be fun to draw clues and hide them in plastic eggs - the clues were then handed in for the actual items (with my son's food allergies, we stay away from the traditional candy stuff). For a 2 year old, this was great. The Bunny didn't count on him remembering those details for this year . . . so here's how the weekend went:

 

- Son's question: How will the Easter Bunny put clues in the real eggs? (last year we somehow missed the egg decorating tradition and went plastic - not sure why . . . )

- Our half-baked answer: Oh, he'll probably just put the clues beside the eggs. Your eggs are too pretty to try to pry open - and that would make a big mess!

 

- Son's question: Will the EB come at night like Santa?

- Our half-baked answer: The EB doesn't want children to have to hunt for eggs in the rain, so he waits until early morning to hide them.

 

- Son's question (first thing in the morning): I don't see any eggs. When will the EB come?

- Our half-baked answer: Well, since it is raining hard, the EB has to go into EVERY house, which takes longer than if he just hides eggs in the yards. Hopping from house to house in the pouring rain is hard work. He'll probably visit our place while we're at church.

 

- Son's question (when we got home from church): I still don't see any eggs! Isn't the EB coming?!

- Our half-baked answer (through silent eye-communication between parents): That EB is a good hider - you better go downstairs to find your egg collecting basket!

 

*While son and husband (carrying Little Sister) completed the basket-finding mission downstairs, clever EB quickly hid the eggs and forementioned clues upstairs*

 

The egg hunt was well received (even with the issues we had to tap dance around!) - he was thrilled to be able to read the clues and trade them in for his goodies. Before long the excitement of it all was nearly forgotten, as the smells of breakfast filled the air and our son was reminded that his stomach does, indeed, rule his life (and ours, too).

 

I'm glad the questions of the day are now documented so we can reference them next year!  The Easter Bunny sure does have a hard job - it isn't as clear-cut a mission as his pal Santa's!

 

 

Two-thirds of the way there!

Javamom is working on her B-Fit B-Day Challenge this week to celebrate her birthday (Happy Birthday, Lisa!) - and is nearly finished with her week-long swim, bike, run goals. I have no interest in triathlons myself (I'll need a good series of swimming lessons before you can convince me to do open water swims!), but I'm thrilled for the folks who are up for the challenge of them and will cheer them onto their goals. While Lisa sweats to cover her distanced related to the number 37 (guess why!), I'm plugging away at my less physical, but still challenging, goal of getting my book into 6 running specialty stores by the end of the month. With just one week left, I'm happy to report that my efforts are starting to pay-off:

 

- 2 stores already have the book in hand (one of which was thrilled to sell a copy within 2 minutes of having it out for shoppers!)

- a store in Idaho will have their books by the end of next week (not sure if I should count this, since my original goal was 6 stores in WA . . . but after I set the goal, I decided I should be more assertive and send copies to the entire Northwest region - with another target population of the Southeastern states next week because I lived in NC a few short years ago . . . this got long and probably didn't need to be in parentheses - sorry!)

- a third WA store placed their order today (hooray!)

- I'll touch base with another WA store at the start of next week (that should be Store #5 toward my goal - or maybe just #4, based on the above pondering!)

- And then, of course the calling continues for follow-up to all of the others who have gotten review copies . . . but, things are looking good!

 

I also am happy to report that I ran 2 miles last night (9:22 & 9:13 respectively) - proving to myself that my winter pace of 10:00 miles was not challenging and that it is time to work on distance now that I know I have some speed in these legs. The run felt SO GOOD - and I proved to myself once again that strong running (for me!) really is all about the breathing. If I wavered from my inhale 4, exhale 3 pattern, I'd get short of breath and start second guessing my abilities. Once I resumed the pattern, I was able to forge ahead, feeling confident and happy again. Hooray for breathing!

 

Wishing you all well on YOUR goals! No matter if your goals are fitness, work, parenting, or of another nature, I highly recommend breathing your way to achieving them - holding your breath is never helpful!  :)