Berries!

Went to the berry patch this morning with Grandma Lana to pick blueberries. There weren't many ripe berries to be picked but it was still a fun outing. This is the best picture we could get of us...
Playing in the tunnel before leaving.
G thought he was big stuff. He would pick a berry, pop it in his mouth, chew it a bit, and then spit it out.

We ended up with quite a few berries and then bought some they had already picked. I think I'll make some muffins or a coffee cake for breakfast in the morning and then freeze a bunch for oatmeal later on.
M liked it for awhile but got bored quickly as usual.
In the tunnel. A fun time!

We love you Aunt Molly.

Aunt Molly lost her first baby, Owen today- we thought some pictures might cheer her up.

The kids LOVE to play in the van. It's apparently the best play place on earth.
We went to the park last week on an awesome day- here are some pics. G was totally irritated that M was getting on his dinosaur with him.
WAY cooler by yourself!
She was irritated that I wanted a picture of her.
Swinging is SO MUCH FUN!
Everyone loves to swing.
I love this park- it has tons of things they can do and not too dangerous that I have to be right next to them every single second.
Twas a fun day.

We can't wait to see you! Only a little over a week!!

At the car wash...

We washed the van this morning after my workout at Smithville. I did the 10 mile bike course and then ran the 5K. It went great! I feel really confident and proud of myself. I didn't end up swimming because it wasn't marked off and I didn't feel like getting all undressed and such to not even know what I was doing or how far I was going. Here are some pictures of the car wash!

He thought manning the hose was hilarious.

Lake Swimming

Well, Mom met me at Shawnee Mission Park last night so I could do my first open water swim. They have it bouyed off so you can tell how far you swim. The course is marked a little over 250 meters so twice around is my race length. I did it twice. I was really surprised how well I did! I was hoping to do it in 15 minutes (average) but both times I was about 10! There were things about it that were harder and things about it that were easier. The first time around I drank a lot of lake water figuring out how to lift my head and see where I was going. It was also a new experience not stopping at all. The second time I found my stride and did much better. It wasn't a big deal at all for me to not be able to see in the water!
I met this girl Amy who is terrified of swimming in the lake. She didn't even get her head in the water and freaked out when she felt a fish (she thought). She's super nervous about it.
In the midst. My new camera doesn't have much of a zoom- that's not what it's for. But it was awesome to have it with me since I can take it everywhere!
I get quite a bit of water in my right ear- should've worn my ear plug!
I feel SO MUCH better about the race! I am going to go up to Smithville on Saturday and ride the bike course and swim in the lake. I am finally feeling good- it's still stressful and scary, but I know that I can at least accomplish it and maybe even WELL!

Just some cute pics of the kids since that's really why you read the blog!

Overwhelmed- endings.

This has been a really hard week for me emotionally. I am so exhausted I can hardly keep my eyes open. My last day in the PICU was yesterday- it was pretty hard. I finally feel confident and in my element there and now I'm leaving. Cleaning out my locker and saying good-bye was hard. We went out for dinner and drinks after work and that was really fun. I was flattered that so many people went. It's hard to know if people are really sad that you're leaving or if they're just being nice. I guess it doesn't truly matter either way, but it would be nice to be missed. I know this is the right thing for me and for my family, but it doesn't make it any easier.

I am still getting ready for my race- it's 2 weeks away. My feet hurt so bad I'm soaking them in ice water (which doesn't feel great in itself). I don't really know what to do about it. After my race I'm going to take probably 2 weeks and do just pilates/yoga/swim/bike to let my feet rest and recover. I think I would really enjoy running at this point if nothing hurt. Tonight I go for my first open water swim in the lake. I'm nervous but I think after I get a couple of those under my belt I'll feel pretty confident and be able to relax a little bit.

Today was my last day of my boot camp class since I can't take it next session due to the new job. That was a serious bummer too. I have really grown to love the girls that take the class and of course, our trainer. It's been so nice to have that class to go to and feel so great afterward. I'm not going to lie though- it'll be nice to sleep past 5:03 am some days.

It just feels like so many things are changing- it's hard. I internalize my stress and then EAT to help with it- NOT GOOD. Today after boot camp I stopped for a coffee (usually black with splenda). What did I get? A SCONE and a light FRAPPUCINO! WHAT?! This is my biggest problem. I loose control of myself and just start telling myself it's ok to eat whatever because I'm stressed and it'll make me feel better, but it doesn't- it just makes me feel like an idiot for doing it. Oh well- this too shall pass eh?

On the other hand, the kids are doing really well. Mira is talking so much like a grown up it's scary.

This is our conversation the other day:
M- "Griffin got his hair cut yesterday."
Me- "No, not yesterday, last week but yes, he did."
M- "NOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo it WAS yesterday- DONT SAY THAT. It was Yesterday!"
Me- "Oh, sorry- I guess it was."

Where she comes up with this stuff is lost to me. She has serious conversations with ridiculous words included. She used the word "eventually" the other day. Weird. Bedtime is going so much better. I actually requested some library BOOKS the other day! A whole new world has opened up to me now that I have gained over 2 hours in the evening. It's amazing.
G is growing- I think. I'm not too concerned about it now. He eats ok and drinks his milk, so he'll get there eventually. The kids are doing so much better now that they are at Pepper's more often. There's no crying when they get dropped off and they're starting to get a real schedule there. I think it's a lot easier for her too.
That's all for now!

Boot Camp Babes

So for the last probably 1o weeks I have been taking a boot camp class on Tues and Thurs mornings at 525. Here are some of us girls being silly this morning! Syndee made the shirts for us- we all live in about a 1 mile radius. It was really my ONLY hangup with taking the new job- I won't be able to take it anymore. It's been great motivation that we all go at the same time! I love it! I'm going to miss Mendy (the trainer) so much! She has really kicked my butt! It's unlike any class you've taken before- after the picture we ran about 1/2 mile to the "wall" and ran up and down the hill where the wall is in the grass and then sprinted back around after doing kettle bell raises about 5 times. Then we ran back to the church and did circuits of lunges, planks, ab teasers, stairs, jumping jacks and 1 leg squats. GREAT fun!

New Camera.

I got a new camera for my birthday that is pocket sized so I can take it with me everywhere. It's nothing special but I LOVE it! Here are a few pictures from tonight just playing around.
M making pizza with daddy.
Watching her new movie Winnie The Pooh.
Eating cheese puffs after he ate his sweet potatoes and yogurt. I can't believe I am feeding my 1 year old cheese puffs...
Being silly.
Cute.