The boys have started sharing a room.
If you're not a parent, or a parent of one, this probably doesn't strike quite the level of apprehension in your heart as those who are parents to two or more...let me just say we've tried this TWICE before. Once when they were pretty little (2 1/2 and 6 months?) and once about 6 months ago. Neither time worked out because one or both of them would keep the other awake during nap time, at bed time or wake the other up SUPER EARLY. None of those scenarios worked for us at those times.
This time around they seem to be doing pretty well. Some of the keys to the success? I think they were ready for it - they both have started in on the constant request for someone to be in their room with them at night. We figured if they shared a room they'd have a built-in roommate ALL NIGHT LONG (said like the chorus on the new Eminem song!).
The other important thing that has helped with this success is moving them into a bedroom that wasn't just one of their's prior to the new roommate situation. Previously we'd attempted to move Big H into Big E's room and then Big E into Big H's room. Both times the room still felt like the original occupant's room, with some of the new guy's stuff added. If you have the luxury of using a room that isn't currently occupied by one of the children (think: guest room, office, etc), I highly recommend it. You can have the kids help move their stuff, they choose where it goes, and from day one, it's joint property.
On the flip-side, we've made sure to give them each their own corner. While their beds are stacked, their dressers, bulletin boards and certain toys are on separate sides of the room. I think it's important to keep a little separation and have each boy with his own space.
So far, so good - three nights in (during Day Light Savings time, no less!) and we're considering it a success...only time will tell!
Cheers!
Mama H
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Diva Day 5K, 2013
Where my ladies at?!?!?
There they are!
And, of course, I'll use any opportunity as an excuse to wear my pink wig!
Cheers -
Friday, September 27, 2013
Hello fall! So happy to see you!
And herein, I realized that fall really is my favorite time of year. Usually I say spring, er late spring. But man - fall has it goin' on!
Got to go for a run the other evening (hello! It wasn't 90 degrees and miserable!), with a friend, and celebrated wearing gloves, an ear cover thing and capris. First run of the season with those goodies. And it was fabulous! While I do love my early morning summertime runs, there's something about getting to go for a run whenever I want, totally not dictated by the weather, that makes fall the clear winner.
What's your favorite time of year? Favorite time of year to be outside?
Got to go for a run the other evening (hello! It wasn't 90 degrees and miserable!), with a friend, and celebrated wearing gloves, an ear cover thing and capris. First run of the season with those goodies. And it was fabulous! While I do love my early morning summertime runs, there's something about getting to go for a run whenever I want, totally not dictated by the weather, that makes fall the clear winner.
What's your favorite time of year? Favorite time of year to be outside?
Thursday, August 22, 2013
To Be Bigger
Sometimes I think that I want to be bigger than what I am right now. And then I wonder, how is that even possible? Right now I stay home with my boys. Two mornings a week they go to preschool, to get a little outside perspective in their world. And I want to use those two mornings to expand my brain, embrace the things I love and enrich my world. But, you know what? I can't figure out what it is I want to do. So, most of those mornings go to getting stuff done without my two sidekicks attached to me.
I know that, soon enough, I won't have sidekicks. They'll grow and change and only need me sometimes, not all the time...or nearly all the time. And I still haven't figured out what it is that I want to be when I grow up. Being a mama is pretty awesome. But at some point I'm going to have two little boys who grow into bigger boys and I'll be in need of a new direction.
How do I figure out what it is I want to do? What is the mark I want to leave? Is there a mark I want to leave? How do I focus myself enough to figure it out??
I see these amazing women doing their thing and doing it well. Women who have started their own companies, who seem to do what they love and juggle it with their family's well-being. I want that. Tips???
Cheers -
Mama H
I know that, soon enough, I won't have sidekicks. They'll grow and change and only need me sometimes, not all the time...or nearly all the time. And I still haven't figured out what it is that I want to be when I grow up. Being a mama is pretty awesome. But at some point I'm going to have two little boys who grow into bigger boys and I'll be in need of a new direction.
How do I figure out what it is I want to do? What is the mark I want to leave? Is there a mark I want to leave? How do I focus myself enough to figure it out??
I see these amazing women doing their thing and doing it well. Women who have started their own companies, who seem to do what they love and juggle it with their family's well-being. I want that. Tips???
Cheers -
Mama H
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Summertime
...and the livin's easy."
My dad recently discovered that song, which is amusing because it's been around for a few (!) years now. When he comes to visit he finds it on YouTube and blares it on my computer speakers. He is awesome.
The livin' has been easy these past few weeks. We've been busy enjoying the freedom of running around our back yard, in the door, out the door, down the block to the neighbors, meeting new friends in the neighborhood and exploring new places. I love summertime.
We've taken two camping trips with our tent trailer, too. Getting the old girl dialed in - my husband's parents bought in in 1997 and have taken crazy good care of it. We have a perfect parking spot for it, so we get access to it any time we feel up to it, really. The boys LOVE the tent trailer, though camping with two kiddos ages 4-almost-5 and just-turned-3 also has its hazards. Baby H tends to prefer his camping au naturel and at top volume. ALL.THE.TIME. Poor neighbors. Big E thinks camping is just an excuse to ride his Strider bike like a crazy man all over our (and neighboring) camp sites. Again, poor neighbors. Are you sensing a pattern???
If you're in need of summertime inspiration, click this link: You're Welcome.
Cheers -
Mama H
My dad recently discovered that song, which is amusing because it's been around for a few (!) years now. When he comes to visit he finds it on YouTube and blares it on my computer speakers. He is awesome.
The livin' has been easy these past few weeks. We've been busy enjoying the freedom of running around our back yard, in the door, out the door, down the block to the neighbors, meeting new friends in the neighborhood and exploring new places. I love summertime.
We've taken two camping trips with our tent trailer, too. Getting the old girl dialed in - my husband's parents bought in in 1997 and have taken crazy good care of it. We have a perfect parking spot for it, so we get access to it any time we feel up to it, really. The boys LOVE the tent trailer, though camping with two kiddos ages 4-almost-5 and just-turned-3 also has its hazards. Baby H tends to prefer his camping au naturel and at top volume. ALL.THE.TIME. Poor neighbors. Big E thinks camping is just an excuse to ride his Strider bike like a crazy man all over our (and neighboring) camp sites. Again, poor neighbors. Are you sensing a pattern???
If you're in need of summertime inspiration, click this link: You're Welcome.
Cheers -
Mama H
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Remind me to laugh
This will probably come off kind of cheesy, but it's something that Big E has been saying to me recently when I put him to bed. And it made me think. Kids: it's what they do.
The last couple nights, he has looked at me and said, "mom, will you lay down with me for one more minute, so I can make you laugh?"
Kind of a random thing to say. I mean, I think we laugh a lot, all day long, or so I thought. However, the last two nights, both Big E and Big H have said something to me, as I'm laying there next to them, snuggled in, working to calm them down and usher them into that night's rest, that has made me laugh out loud, a deep belly laugh, the kind that you can't stop. And, hello nurse, those kids are excellent laughers.
So, the thought that came to me, as I lay there next to Big E tonight, watching him giggle because I was giggling, which then made him giggle more, and on and on it went, was this: I don't think I really laugh hard in front of my kids very often. I think I'm busy during the day, trying to make sure we keep on task, don't paint the walls, please don't close your brother in the closet, never, ever kick the dog (even if she just ate your favorite cookie), don't pee on the dishwasher, get to school on time, have a healthy lunch, don't smear pizza into the couch, don't squeeze the kitten, have fun at gymnastics, use gentle hands, etc, phew, that I don't always listen to what they're saying. And man, these little boys can be serious comedians.
So, I'm leaving you all with this excellent quote from Big H today. I asked to see his superhero mask and he turned to me and said, "mom, this is not a superhero mask. This is a Henry mask." And then he giggled and ran off. And I laughed.
Cheers -
Mama H
The last couple nights, he has looked at me and said, "mom, will you lay down with me for one more minute, so I can make you laugh?"
Kind of a random thing to say. I mean, I think we laugh a lot, all day long, or so I thought. However, the last two nights, both Big E and Big H have said something to me, as I'm laying there next to them, snuggled in, working to calm them down and usher them into that night's rest, that has made me laugh out loud, a deep belly laugh, the kind that you can't stop. And, hello nurse, those kids are excellent laughers.
So, the thought that came to me, as I lay there next to Big E tonight, watching him giggle because I was giggling, which then made him giggle more, and on and on it went, was this: I don't think I really laugh hard in front of my kids very often. I think I'm busy during the day, trying to make sure we keep on task, don't paint the walls, please don't close your brother in the closet, never, ever kick the dog (even if she just ate your favorite cookie), don't pee on the dishwasher, get to school on time, have a healthy lunch, don't smear pizza into the couch, don't squeeze the kitten, have fun at gymnastics, use gentle hands, etc, phew, that I don't always listen to what they're saying. And man, these little boys can be serious comedians.
So, I'm leaving you all with this excellent quote from Big H today. I asked to see his superhero mask and he turned to me and said, "mom, this is not a superhero mask. This is a Henry mask." And then he giggled and ran off. And I laughed.
Mama H
Monday, June 3, 2013
Sicky McSickerton
Well, I'm pretty sure I'm dying. From the worst freaking cold-sinus-chest-awfulness ever. Dramatic? Me? Never.
Truly, though, I've been sick since Thursday. I had to text a friend (it's like dialing a friend on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) to decide for me if I should go for a run on Thursday. Once I was honest about how blah I was feeling, she was very clear in her recommendation - nope, nada, there's no way this one run will help you feel better than taking a day off to take care of yourself.
Turns out Thursday was the last day before TODAY that I felt capable of doing anything, including getting dressed, getting out of bed, eating and being even remotely presentable.
I have no idea what this post is about except that it's heavy on the whine-factor.
I want to feel better! I want to not have dry-heaved in the Starbucks drive-thru line this morning (hey, Starbucks, yeah, no coffee, just oatmeal, woops, hold on....nope, I'm back!) or gotten dizzy at the nursery where I was searching for more plants for our back yard (someone.stop.me.).
I guess what I've really been thinking about is this: who takes care of us? I still feel like someone will tell me when I need to just go lay down and I've done too much. But it so doesn't happen. I should know by now, right? I mean, I know when my kids or my husband or my friends need to stop moving and take care of themselves. So how come I can't see it for me?
So, this week, my to-do's are: GET BETTER and LEARN HOW TO STOP.
We'll see how those go...
Cheers -
Mama H
Truly, though, I've been sick since Thursday. I had to text a friend (it's like dialing a friend on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) to decide for me if I should go for a run on Thursday. Once I was honest about how blah I was feeling, she was very clear in her recommendation - nope, nada, there's no way this one run will help you feel better than taking a day off to take care of yourself.
Turns out Thursday was the last day before TODAY that I felt capable of doing anything, including getting dressed, getting out of bed, eating and being even remotely presentable.
I have no idea what this post is about except that it's heavy on the whine-factor.
I want to feel better! I want to not have dry-heaved in the Starbucks drive-thru line this morning (hey, Starbucks, yeah, no coffee, just oatmeal, woops, hold on....nope, I'm back!) or gotten dizzy at the nursery where I was searching for more plants for our back yard (someone.stop.me.).
I guess what I've really been thinking about is this: who takes care of us? I still feel like someone will tell me when I need to just go lay down and I've done too much. But it so doesn't happen. I should know by now, right? I mean, I know when my kids or my husband or my friends need to stop moving and take care of themselves. So how come I can't see it for me?
So, this week, my to-do's are: GET BETTER and LEARN HOW TO STOP.
We'll see how those go...
Cheers -
Mama H
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Margarita Mama
 |
| Margaritas from my trip to San Diego - it was happy hour. |
It is quickly becoming the time of year when a delicious margarita is just the answer to a long, sometimes stressful, very often exhausting day spent with tiny children.
Here are two of my favorite margarita recipes - one with tequila and one without! Both incorporate carbonated beverages (beer or lemon-lime soda), which give both drinks a lovely slight effervescence. Fresh limes are a must and I should clearly state that I do not believe in blended margaritas. Blech - no point to all that slushiness!
Beer-ritas -
Ok, so the name needs work, but these are my favorite margaritas ever (homemade, anyway).
You need:
- (1) can frozen limeade (light if you prefer less calories)
- (1) can of light beer
- (12 oz.) water
- (10 - 12 oz.) tequila (I use a "Silver" tequila)
- (2 - 4) Fresh limes
- Salt
Thaw the limeade, pour in pitcher and mix with beer, water, and tequila. Cut limes in half. I've used anywhere from 2 - 4 limes, depending on their size and how much you like lime. (I love lime.) Squeeze limes into pitcher, reserve a lime or two and throw the rest in the pitcher. Makes it waaayyyyy prettier.
Take your reserved limes and rub the lime juice on the edge of the glass you are serving the margarita in. I grind sea salt onto a small plate and then invert the glass onto the salt. The lime juice makes the salt stick nicely to the rim of the glass.
Add ice to your glass and pour margarita into the glass.
Garnish with a lime.
Virgin Margaritas -
You need:
- (1) can frozen limeade (light if you prefer less calories)
- (1) can of lemon-lime soda
- (12 oz.) water
- (1/2 oz.) orange juice
- Fresh limes
- Salt
Thaw the limeade, pour in pitcher and mix with soda, water, and orange juice. Cut limes in half. I've used anywhere from 2 - 4 limes, depending on their size and how much you like lime. (I love lime.) Squeeze limes into pitcher, reserve a lime or two and throw the rest in the pitcher. Makes it waaayyyyy prettier.
Take your reserved limes and rub the lime juice on the edge of the glass you are serving the margarita in. I grind sea salt onto a small plate and then invert the glass onto the salt. The lime juice makes the salt stick nicely to the rim of the glass.
Add ice to your glass and pour margarita into the glass.
Garnish with a lime.
Voila! Heaven on a sunny afternoon!
Cheers -
Mama H
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Mom today
I've been thinking a lot about moms and being a grown up and having friends and how all this changes us and what happens next, after we've mastered this whole mom thing and our kids grow up and move out...and, yes, that was supposed to be a run on sentence. You're welcome.
No, really, the last few years have been so intense. We went from the craziness of trying to get pregnant (two years of SUCH FUN doctor's visits!) to the relentlessness of being new parents. And just when Big E was getting a little more mobile and a bit less needy, we decided to try again. The drugs worked and we were blessed with Big H. My boys are a little less than 21 months apart. Which means that, today, as I write this, Big H is about to turn 3 and in a few short months Big E will turn 5.
Side note: My mind can almost not comprehend the fact that I will have a FIVE YEAR OLD.
Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about how I'm not getting any younger (I'll be 35 this summer) and if we're really done having kids. I used to jokingly say that I wanted five children, to spread out my crazy and make their lives easier. And after having two children, I can tell you, I'd like to have more. I'm just not sure I can handle the pregnancy part or the first year/breastfeeding/sleep deprivation part. Which is kind of a problem. And I know that adoption is an option, but I have watched a few friends go through that process and if you thought infertility was gut-wrenching and took strength to live through, you can safely assume that adoption is it's own crazy ride.
So, what happens to us once we've figured out this mom thing and then our kids grow up??? I love being a mom. I love staying home with my kids and watching them grow into little people. I love that I get to bear witness to their daily realizations about the world around them. But I know that in a few short years, the view will look completely different. Don't get me wrong, I know they'll always be my boys and that, god-willing, we'll still talk, and play, and spend quality time together. But it will be different. These moments right now really are priceless. And even on the afternoons where Big H has given himself a bloody nose with a garden stake, and Big E is screaming at us because we're not playing with the dump truck the way it is SUPPOSED to be played with, and Ginger the dog has thrown up on a pile of clean laundry, and Olive the dog is whining from the bedroom because she's old and can't figure out how to walk down the hall and find all of us - even on those afternoons - if I can hear my thoughts through the chaos, I try to pay attention to the quietest thought. The one that says, "this too shall pass and damn, will you miss it."
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Boy's Valentines cards
Well, Internet- world, I've been MIA here for a while...sorry about that!
Back today with a big THANK YOU to the blog, One Charming Party. I am in love with Valentine's Day...as cheesy as that may sound. I love it. It's a day dedicated to telling the ones you love how you feel, eating delicious sweets, and, if you're of age, drinking champagne. Or at least, in my book it is.
I'm all about Pinterest (me and everybody else out there, too!) and decided to search for some boy-friendly free printable Valentine's cards. Voila! One Charming Party came to the rescue.
I did use Picasa to add "To" on the printables...preschool is big on the kiddos learning their names and we wanted to personalize each card.
Happy Valentine's Day Eve!
Cheers -
Mama H
Monday, February 4, 2013
Four year old art
Big E took marker to paper and created the above artwork. I'm kind of in love with it. Then again, he translated for me. Would you like insight into his creative little mind?!?!?
How awesome is he??? Love.
Cheers -
Mama H
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Fantasy Shopping
My husband loves Fantasy sports. He's been commissioner of his Fantasy football and basketball leagues. Both children's birth stories include details about my husband finishing up his research on his picks for that year's draft. So, just so you know, fantasy sports are totally acceptable around here.
Fantasy shopping is also very accepted around these parts.
As a Stay at Home Mom, there's not a lot of dress code requirements to meet. Washable. Comfortable. Not super frumpy-making. All things fairly easy to accomplish on a daily basis. However, I still enjoy pretending I can indulge in my fashion-plate fantasies every once in a while. And thank god for the internet, because living in a small-ish town in Montana is not the place to go to indulge said fantasies.
You would think, since this is an activity not based in reality, that I would be all about finding things I like, clicking them into my cart, and moving on, with no regard for price. Oh, but you would be wrong. I'm a bargain-hunter, through and through. Even in my wildest internet fantasy shopping sprees, I search out the least expensive option. I can't help it. If I find something I like, or there's a particular item I want to research, I simply must search out other more affordable option. Sometimes this is fairly easy to do. And nowadays, there are even whole blogs dedicated to this (fashion here; home decor here)!
How far do these fantasies go? Far enough that I use this site to see if I can find some free shipping or coupon codes, just to get the price down a bit further.
Cheers and happy shopping -
Mama H
Fantasy shopping is also very accepted around these parts.
As a Stay at Home Mom, there's not a lot of dress code requirements to meet. Washable. Comfortable. Not super frumpy-making. All things fairly easy to accomplish on a daily basis. However, I still enjoy pretending I can indulge in my fashion-plate fantasies every once in a while. And thank god for the internet, because living in a small-ish town in Montana is not the place to go to indulge said fantasies.
You would think, since this is an activity not based in reality, that I would be all about finding things I like, clicking them into my cart, and moving on, with no regard for price. Oh, but you would be wrong. I'm a bargain-hunter, through and through. Even in my wildest internet fantasy shopping sprees, I search out the least expensive option. I can't help it. If I find something I like, or there's a particular item I want to research, I simply must search out other more affordable option. Sometimes this is fairly easy to do. And nowadays, there are even whole blogs dedicated to this (fashion here; home decor here)!
How far do these fantasies go? Far enough that I use this site to see if I can find some free shipping or coupon codes, just to get the price down a bit further.
Cheers and happy shopping -
Mama H
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Denim backpack - WHAT?
I'm sorry, where the heck did this come from????? 1987??????????
I mean, can you imagine the design meeting for this?
"Let's take some jeans...and, oooh, ooh, remember that backpack your grandma bought you to be one of the cool kids, back in 5th grade?!??!? Let's take jeans and make an updated version of that!"
Egads.
Cheers -
Mama H
"Let's take some jeans...and, oooh, ooh, remember that backpack your grandma bought you to be one of the cool kids, back in 5th grade?!??!? Let's take jeans and make an updated version of that!"
Egads.
Cheers -
Mama H
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Writer's block
Man, oh man, I've been suffering from some major writer's block. I know - I've left you and high and dry. I'm so sorry! I just don't know what to write.
The boys are good. I'm good. The husband is good.
What's not so good? The weather. Seriously. I'm over this:
I mean, really??? It says the low is supposed to be 19 degrees. NINETEEN. But that up there? You read it right: 1.single.degree. Ugh.
As if the bitter cold isn't enough of an insult, the reason it's this cold is because we're experiencing an inversion. Which is basically where the clouds have gotten together and decided to hold all this cold down among the lowly people, in the valley, and let the warm air have some fun up in the mountains. Which also means that the clouds have managed to keep all the pollution (smog, wood smoke, car exhaust, what have you) down here, too. Which also means that we've had a Stage II air alert for the past few days. You know what that means for those lucky sufferers of asthma??? Ugh, again.
So, I haven't run in two days.
Growl, growl, growl.
On that note, I shall try to conquer my dislike of January - a long month, full of cruddy, cold, weather, with no festive holidays - and regal you with some Juggle Like a Mama musings sometime soon.
Until then - keep warm!
Cheers -
Mama H
The boys are good. I'm good. The husband is good.
What's not so good? The weather. Seriously. I'm over this:
I mean, really??? It says the low is supposed to be 19 degrees. NINETEEN. But that up there? You read it right: 1.single.degree. Ugh.
As if the bitter cold isn't enough of an insult, the reason it's this cold is because we're experiencing an inversion. Which is basically where the clouds have gotten together and decided to hold all this cold down among the lowly people, in the valley, and let the warm air have some fun up in the mountains. Which also means that the clouds have managed to keep all the pollution (smog, wood smoke, car exhaust, what have you) down here, too. Which also means that we've had a Stage II air alert for the past few days. You know what that means for those lucky sufferers of asthma??? Ugh, again.
So, I haven't run in two days.
Growl, growl, growl.
On that note, I shall try to conquer my dislike of January - a long month, full of cruddy, cold, weather, with no festive holidays - and regal you with some Juggle Like a Mama musings sometime soon.
Until then - keep warm!
Cheers -
Mama H
Friday, January 11, 2013
Lust - style
Happy Friday -
Just saw these boots on Aldo.com and am lusting...really wish I had them to bust out tonight for a quick glass of wine with the hubs, or a friend, or just to prance around my house in!
$52.49 doesn't seem like too shabby a price for leather boots...just sayin.
Go here to check them out.
Cheers -
Mama H
Just saw these boots on Aldo.com and am lusting...really wish I had them to bust out tonight for a quick glass of wine with the hubs, or a friend, or just to prance around my house in!
Go here to check them out.
Cheers -
Mama H
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Amazon Prime
Hey all -
Just a quickie note...doin' a tiny Thrifty Thursday shout-out. We're an amazon Prime household and I have to tell you, it's awesome. The annual fee is a little crummy to choke down each year, but for the rest of each year, I thank myself every time I place an order and get FREE two-day shipping. In an attempt to save moula (and watch less crappy TV we also canceled our cable account this summer. With Amazon Prime, we're able to stream shows and movies anytime we'd like. Many of them are free to stream and occasionally we'll "rent" a movie (oooh, wild Friday nights here!).
Check it out, here.
Cheers, ya'll -
Mama H
PS I'm not getting anything for posting this review - just letting you in on thrifty secret.
Just a quickie note...doin' a tiny Thrifty Thursday shout-out. We're an amazon Prime household and I have to tell you, it's awesome. The annual fee is a little crummy to choke down each year, but for the rest of each year, I thank myself every time I place an order and get FREE two-day shipping. In an attempt to save moula (and watch less crappy TV we also canceled our cable account this summer. With Amazon Prime, we're able to stream shows and movies anytime we'd like. Many of them are free to stream and occasionally we'll "rent" a movie (oooh, wild Friday nights here!).
Check it out, here.
Cheers, ya'll -
Mama H
PS I'm not getting anything for posting this review - just letting you in on thrifty secret.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Winter Running
Winter running is something that I've spent the last few years forcing myself to do. It's not like I live in Southern California, or even Seattle. I live in Montana. When it comes to winter weather, I'm specifically talking snow, ice, negative temperatures, lack of actual day light and wind chill. In years past, winter would hit and my running would take a hiatus. Or else I'd attempt to run on the treadmill (Tre d'mille, or Dreadmill, if you're so inclined - pun totally intended) and wind up hating everything, or worse, injured.
A few years ago I decided my goal was to run outside one time per month for the whole winter (basically December through April). I know - some of you die-hards out there are laughing right now...baby steps, ok?!? That winter I achieved my goal - and it felt good. Chilly, but good.
Last winter I was way more into it, mostly because I met some other ladies who were willing to get out of bed and meet me at a park, in the dark, for a four-mile jaunt before work. Part of my problem with winter running in years past is that to fit running into my day, I had to get it done before the rest of my house was awake and before I had to go to work. That leaves the hours between 5:30 and 7:30 in the morning. Ugh.
This year has been a whole new way of life. I've been so lucky to get to be home with the kids since this past July. Which means that I can wait and run at a sane hour, like 11 a.m., if need be. And I thought that also meant I was pretty much done with uber cold temps. I was wrong.
Last week, I woke up to a 10 degree morning. Once it got light out, I got the kiddos to one of their two mornings a week at preschool and headed home. It was still right around the same temp as when I woke up, so I thought I'd get some chores done, wait for it to warm up a few degrees, and head out. No such luck. An hour later, the sun was shining and it was down to 9 degrees. Huh. Well, I figured I'd get dressed in my gear, head out and it would warm up some while I was out and about. To get dressed, I put on the following:
- warm winter running tights (these are good),
- Smartwool socks (I just use my thinner ski socks, but I know Smartwool makes running socks, too),
- running shoes,
- ice traction-gripper things (these, specifically) ,
- light fleece hat (race hat from an early spring run),
- neck gator (I like the Buff neck gator - it's light enough that I don't overheat and also versatile),
- fleece ear cover (under my hat),
- light running tank (included bra),
- thicker running shirt
- heavier running coat (OMG - received this as a Christmas gift and am so flipping in love with it!)
- gloves &
- sunglasses.
I used to run less in the winter - 3 to 4 miles seemed good. But I've come to the conclusion that if I'm going to spend all the time and energy to get all.that.gear. on I should spend longer outside. Right? Right. My longest cold-weather run, so far, has been 9 miles. It was a balmy 20 degrees, overcast and there was intermittent snow and ice on the ground. I ran on the road, trails and sidewalks. The road was the best maintained (least amount of ice and snow). The trail was the prettiest, but the snow and ice made me stiff and it felt like I was running through sand. These weren't the fastest miles of my life (that's for another entry), but it felt so good and like such a major accomplishment to get out there.
What's your winter-running secret??? Are you running in actual winter conditions, or are you oh-so-lucky and live in some temperate wonderland????
Cheers -
Mama H
Monday, January 7, 2013
First time skiing
This weekend we took our four year old skiing for the first time. Prior to this Big E has skied in a park and our back yard - safe venues, if you're asking. He's skied on little strap-to-your-snow-boots skis. He's held onto a broom, pulled by his dad, to "go fast!"
He's never clicked his boots into his bindings, climbed on a magic carpet or up into a chair lift, coasted away from the earth, ridden up, then unloaded at the top of a run and braved the icy hill down to where the fun begins.
He was proud.
He was brave.
He was awesome.
I was lucky enough to learn how to ski from my dad, starting at the age of two. He would drive me up to a nearby pass, carry our skis and me (!) up the hill, then get us all ready, hold me up on my skis, in between his own, and down we'd go. That never meant that much to me - how young I was - how much work that was - until I had Big E. And he turned two (too little!). And then three (too nervous!). And then four - and then? Then my firstborn got his own real, downhill skis.
When we got there, we signed him up for a private one hour lesson with, what turned out to be, an angel of a teacher. She was so great that Big E was ready to follow her up the magic carpet, without even knowing her name. He was high-fiving her, talking about his ski-prowess, and didn't need my encouragement to follow her over to their spot in line. When I came back an hour later (sneakily skiing around the side to watch his progress), he was skiing into the line to await his next turn. After a few minutes, he got out of line and sat down on the side. I panicked, of course,and rushed over, thinking, "he's hurt!"
He was just tired. And ready for hot cocoa. His teacher had great things to say about his ability to "make a triangle" with his skis and his impressive balance. We thanked her profusely for her lesson and headed down to the Lodge. Once we'd deposited our skis outside, we headed in for lunch (and cocoa!) and talked about his runs. And once we were finished eating? He was ready to head back out!!
After a couple more runs down the magic carpet, Daddy M and Papa B couldn't resist asking if he wanted to ride a real chair lift...you'd have thought they'd never ask with the enthusiasm he answered that question with. My heart was pounding, but I'm not willing to kill my kid's enthusiasm for skiing on his first day, so to the "big chair" we headed.
The first ride up was a little tricky - I mean, I've never held a tiny person on a chair lift, with skis dangling off his short, little, ski-boot laden legs before. Daddy M and I both had a firm grip on him the whole time. When we got to the top, we each scooped him up under one arm and helped him ski down the off-ramp. I figured out that if I held my ski poles across the front of us, placing him in between my skis, and kind of holding them out in front of us like a handle bar, he could hold on, gain his own sense of balance and practice his "triangle" (but only if I skied with my skis REALLY REALLY far apart - see my aching glutes, shoulders, every part of my back and outer calves today...).
We spent the next two hours riding the chair up, scooping him off, getting him set up, and teaching him to ski.
I'm fairly early into this whole having-kids-thing. My boys are four and two and a half years old. And I have heard, more times than I can count, that being a parent doesn't necessarily get easier, but that it's different at every age.
And we have our moments - moments when I think, "damn, I should have called this blog, Struggle Like a Mama. Cause today? There's no juggling - these pieces flat out can't be caught, let alone launched back up into the air to juggle."
But those days seem to be getting fewer and farther between. And now we're moving on to experiences like this weekend. This weekend where I watched my baby boy (he will ALWAYS be my baby) hurtle his little body down a snow and ice covered slope, grin, and, scream, as he approached the chair lift for another go round, "RADICAL!"
The boy is a force to be reckoned with and he got both his Mama and Daddy's love for the speed, peace, joy, humility, grace, thrill and adventure that skiing offers.
Cheers to that -
He's never clicked his boots into his bindings, climbed on a magic carpet or up into a chair lift, coasted away from the earth, ridden up, then unloaded at the top of a run and braved the icy hill down to where the fun begins.
He was proud.
He was brave.
He was awesome.
I was lucky enough to learn how to ski from my dad, starting at the age of two. He would drive me up to a nearby pass, carry our skis and me (!) up the hill, then get us all ready, hold me up on my skis, in between his own, and down we'd go. That never meant that much to me - how young I was - how much work that was - until I had Big E. And he turned two (too little!). And then three (too nervous!). And then four - and then? Then my firstborn got his own real, downhill skis.
When we got there, we signed him up for a private one hour lesson with, what turned out to be, an angel of a teacher. She was so great that Big E was ready to follow her up the magic carpet, without even knowing her name. He was high-fiving her, talking about his ski-prowess, and didn't need my encouragement to follow her over to their spot in line. When I came back an hour later (sneakily skiing around the side to watch his progress), he was skiing into the line to await his next turn. After a few minutes, he got out of line and sat down on the side. I panicked, of course,and rushed over, thinking, "he's hurt!"
He was just tired. And ready for hot cocoa. His teacher had great things to say about his ability to "make a triangle" with his skis and his impressive balance. We thanked her profusely for her lesson and headed down to the Lodge. Once we'd deposited our skis outside, we headed in for lunch (and cocoa!) and talked about his runs. And once we were finished eating? He was ready to head back out!!
After a couple more runs down the magic carpet, Daddy M and Papa B couldn't resist asking if he wanted to ride a real chair lift...you'd have thought they'd never ask with the enthusiasm he answered that question with. My heart was pounding, but I'm not willing to kill my kid's enthusiasm for skiing on his first day, so to the "big chair" we headed.
The first ride up was a little tricky - I mean, I've never held a tiny person on a chair lift, with skis dangling off his short, little, ski-boot laden legs before. Daddy M and I both had a firm grip on him the whole time. When we got to the top, we each scooped him up under one arm and helped him ski down the off-ramp. I figured out that if I held my ski poles across the front of us, placing him in between my skis, and kind of holding them out in front of us like a handle bar, he could hold on, gain his own sense of balance and practice his "triangle" (but only if I skied with my skis REALLY REALLY far apart - see my aching glutes, shoulders, every part of my back and outer calves today...).
We spent the next two hours riding the chair up, scooping him off, getting him set up, and teaching him to ski.
I'm fairly early into this whole having-kids-thing. My boys are four and two and a half years old. And I have heard, more times than I can count, that being a parent doesn't necessarily get easier, but that it's different at every age.
And we have our moments - moments when I think, "damn, I should have called this blog, Struggle Like a Mama. Cause today? There's no juggling - these pieces flat out can't be caught, let alone launched back up into the air to juggle."
But those days seem to be getting fewer and farther between. And now we're moving on to experiences like this weekend. This weekend where I watched my baby boy (he will ALWAYS be my baby) hurtle his little body down a snow and ice covered slope, grin, and, scream, as he approached the chair lift for another go round, "RADICAL!"
The boy is a force to be reckoned with and he got both his Mama and Daddy's love for the speed, peace, joy, humility, grace, thrill and adventure that skiing offers.
Cheers to that -
Sunday, January 6, 2013
The Motherhood
If you're a mom, this will make you laugh (and maybe cringe at it's accuracy?!?)...if you're anyone else, watch it and you'll have a teeny tiny insight into being a mom...
Happy end of weekend - new post tomorrow!
Cheers -
Mama H
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Why I Love Running
Today is the day I've dedicated to using my blog to wax poetic about one my loves, running. I haven't always been a runner. In fact, up until I was almost done with college I never, ever considered myself a runner and was pretty sure people who called themselves "runners" may as well be honest and just call themselves "crazy."
Growing up, my mother was a runner. She was the kind of runner who had to run every day - or at least it seemed like it. She'd be up hours before I could fathom rolling over in bed, let alone getting dressed and trucking out the door, decked out in running gear. Every once in a while she would try to get me to run, too. I remember doing a 5K with her when I was in junior high. It wasn't pretty. (Side-note: it was a fundraiser for a non-profit, complete with celebrity endorsement. I remember, very clearly, Valerie Harper, cheering her heart out for me as I - finally - crossed the finish line. How is that the image that's stuck with me all these years?!?)
Running back in those days, and actually, well into the late '90's made me feel like I was suffocating: my throat would close up, I'd feel like my shirt was slowly sealing my esophagus shut and I could not catch my breath. Are you seeing what it took me 20-some years to see??? Uh, yeah. I had asthma - mostly allergy-induced. All those years of sucking wind during soccer practice started to make more sense. I'm mainly only allergic to three things - unfortunately those things happen to be grass, dust and pollen. Huh - can you think of somewhere that has none of those things? Me neither.
Fast forward a few years, a bajillion allergy shots and every combination of allergy meds you can come up with, as well as a long-standing prescription for Albuterol, and my asthma doesn't really bother me anymore. I'm free to embrace this running thing for all it's glory. And, man, have I embraced it.
What I love about running is that anyone can do it.
I know some of you are scoffing at that statement. And to you, I say, find the next 5K in your town and go to it. You don't have to participate, you just have to watch the finish line. I guarantee that every kind of person imaginable will cross that line before the race is over. Old, young, skinny, overweight, fast, slow, etc, etc, etc. They are all there, giving it their personal best for that particular race.
Running keeps you honest. If you haven't put in the time, you won't get the results you want. You might get lucky and manage to finish the race you're running in the time you want, but it will feel terrible. If you've put in the time (and all the race-day stars align - hydration, weather, gear, etc), you will rock that race. And that? Is freaking awesome.
Running makes me appreciate the moment. Here's a photo of my view from a recent run:
I can tell you that a lot of people would look at this and think, why bother? Grey skies. Snow. Stroller (holding 60 lbs of toddlers). Phew - tough stuff. But, you know what? This was a great run. I mean it, great. Big E and Little H spent the whole time talking to me about everything we saw ("DUMP TRUCK!"), I swung by the grocery store and grabbed some sugar (so we could bake cookies when we got home), and I appreciated my surroundings (check out those mountains!). There's not much I do on a regular basis that makes me so thankful for the mundane details of my life. Thank god running relaxes my brain enough to let me own that appreciation.
Cheers, peeps -
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)