What are you really trying to say?

For the past several weeks we have had painters at our house.  The job seemed to take longer than I thought and having people in and out and around your house all day for over two solid weeks is interesting, they get to see it all.

Needless to say, we got to know the painters fairly well and they got to know us; the kids fighting, me yelling, the utter chaos that always ensues at our house 95% of the time, our ridiculous acts of getting in and out of the house and all sorts of other stellar behaviors that I am sure were witnessed along the way.

The last day they were here, Marco stopped me, as I was bustling about trying to get ready to leave for Grandma’s Marathon all the while putting the claw hold on KP’s forehead so he wouldn’t wrestle me to the ground or wreck anything in his path, and said “Senorita, you like seviche?”  Of course I like seviche and I would absoluetly love his sister recipe.

The conversation then moved onto, by the way my cousin takes care of children (because you clearly need some help in this area) and my wife owns her own cleaning service (which you certainly could use because I’ve been in your house the the past two weeks using your pooped up toilets and seeing dirty laundry all over the place) and I know she would just love to help you out.

My little plot

I have always wanted to plant a vegetable garden.  To be able to go out and pick something you need for a dish, that you happen to be making, sounds so romantic to me.

This summer I decided to unearth several hosta that are in waaaay too sunny of a spot (not from my doing mind you) and made myself a very teeny tiny, very manageable garden.  It contains the following plants:  sun flowers, peas, carrots, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, basil, dill, sage and parsley.

Every time the kids and I go out to look at it something new is happening.  What a small little joy.

Thank you Mother Earth.

Wow that made me happy

I keep things waaaay too long.  Again, for those of you that don’t know, I’m cheap or frugal as I like to think of it.

Yesterday I got out of the pool and per usual put my flip flops on.  These flip flops  I had bought while I was in high school.  I am now 38.

I purchased these flip flops while I was on a summer diving team that was filled with really cool kids.  They were cool because they were REALLY talented and some were REALLY cute and some were just REALLY a-holes that just thought they were talented and cute.  I got to dive with these people for the summer and at one of our meets there were vendors selling wears.  All the cool kids seemed to have Sensi sandals, so I too had to have them.  If my diving wasn’t good enough, at least I had the sandals.

So I bought them.  All these years they have never fit right, just a touch too small.  But far be it from me to throw something away that is perfectly useful even though it isn’t perfect.

Yesterday, when I put my sandals on and took my first step toward the showers, one strap snapped.  It broke.  When I looked down and saw that the sandals that I had headed to the showers with after swimming and diving for 23 years finally fucking broke, a smile so big broke across my face and all that ran through my mind was, Thank God…FINALLY.

When I replace them I’m going to make damn sure they fit because I may be 61 before I buy a new pair.

Marathon…check

Wow, all I have to say is…that was one fun marathon.

The night before the race our little running group went to Duluth to pick up our race packets.  We found the perfect shirts for the kids as they lined up on the streets of Duluth to cheer us on.  They read, “My mom is faster than your mom.”

We had dinner at Hell’s Kitchen.  Todd could not decide, so went with waffles AND spaghetti.  That should just about do it.

Rise and shine, 5:00 am.  All this early morning training paid off, we got up on time.

A quick shot before we catch the bus to the start line.  Can you see the nerves starting to surface?

Almost as quick as it started, it was over.  The day could not have been more beautiful.  The best part was sharing it with friends.

To Miss Erika, thanks to you for allowing me to run my trap for 4 hours and 37 minutes by your side, I am so happy we could share this experience.  Congratulations!

To Todd, way to go.  The first one is hard…you only get a better handle on it from here.

To Laura, welcome back!  Nice work on the marathon come back after three kids, I can’t wait to see what next year has in store.

To Jen, we missed you.

To Adam and my kids, thank you for always supporting me in my insane endeavors.  To see your faces on the race course is what sustains me…I love you.

Lists of lists

I’m leaving tomorrow at 1:00 in the afternoon for the marathon on Saturday.

We (our running group, with husbands and kids) will be staying the weekend at Laura’s cabin after the race.

I am not remotely ready to go.

Here are the lists of things I have yet to do (it is now 10:00 pm):

• gather and pack race items: food, drink, clothing, accessories
• make scones, raspberry butter and quiches for the weekend
• prep the rest of the food that goes with the rest of the food that will be made while at the cabin (I so do this shit to myself – I could have just bought something from the store)
• cooking utensils for the food items listed above
• kids clothes, sleeping stuff, misc. (like scar reducer medication)
• hamster and fish drop off, instructions and food baggies
• I know there is something else…I just can’t think of it, but I will be sure to put it on the list after I do it just so I can mark it off.

I think I’ll have a glass of wine and think about it all tomorrow.

I know my kids will cooperate while I get all that done, right?

26.2, again

And so this weekend, my running group (sans Jen) and I will embark on our marathon adventure up in Duluth. We each have different reasons for wanting to run the marathon, we all have different goals. I vowed never to do another, one was enough. How easily I am swayed by friends.

My goal for this race is to run with friends, that is the only way I would do another…with friends, starting and finishing with friends. Time doesn’t really matter this go around, finishing with a friend at your side does and Erika is nice enough to let me be by her side.

I am amazed at how I feel by taking the pressure off myself, the pressure of time or place. NO, seriously amazed. It is allowing me the freedom to actually enjoy the race, the process of the race and everything else it has to offer.

We as a group have trained hard and we have trained well. I can’t wait, I’m giddy with excitement…for all of us.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

The Passage of Kindergarden

It was right here, in this moment, the moment that was drummed up the night before by email saying ever so casually that you might want to come and see the teachers hand out certificates to the students.

It was as I was standing there, taking this photo, that my eyes swelled up with tears and all the emotions of making this major decision to send PJ to Chinese school came flooding back.

It was a hard decision, a leap of faith. Not all our questions were answered but we jumped anyway.

And as we jumped with a little bit of unease, she took hold with all her might and soared.

Hen hao PJ, hen hao!

Do you like to cuss as much as me?

Thanks to Mrs. Bickerson I now know I’m a total ass hole.

Birthday Cleanse

My friend Laura has this great idea for her kids.  She told them that before their birthdays they need to choose X number of toys/things (X=number of years old you will be) and give them away.

I love this idea, it feels so freeing.  Picking out 38 items in my life and giving them away.

What to choose…what to pick…what to give?

What would you give away?

Through the lens

Just in case you need a little photographic inspiration, try out the Superhero Photo Challenge on Shutter Sisters.

I haven’t snapped mined off yet but I will show you when I do.