Fun Friday

Most mornings I do pretty well staying on task and getting the 3 big kids out the door for the bus. By on task, I mean they all got dressed, have shoes (and socks) on, have brushed their teeth, and are eating something that resembles breakfast food. Today was pancakes again. Not the gooey syrupy ones, but frozen pancakes heated in the microwave that have chocolate chips in them. I wouldn’t dare give them syrup to bounce off the wall for their teacher all day, although it’s more to do with potential messes kids can make using syrup. Just trust that my judgment on this one is correct for now. When the twins are 10, maybe I’ll reconsider.

In the midst of morning routine, I had a spontaneous clean out of the twins’ shirt drawer. They’re only 5 and I like the matching stuff, even if different colors. The rotation of shirts sometimes gets thrown off when there are spills or additional changes. When the two shirts separate, it’s like a life cycle to get them back together. With Spring around the corner, I pulled all of the shirts out of the drawer and put the folded matches together. I think only 2 have a missing partner, one may be in a school backpack in case of an accident, the other may be lost at my parents house after our visit last month.

On the horizon for the weekend: Scouts, baseball clinic, book report, practicum assignments, and a meeting later with some towns people. I didn’t intentionally skip running, but I don’t know if it will happen. It’s 20 degrees out and I was thankful for the close parking spot I got at school last night because it is a brutal kind of cold. Lent day 3: I’ve been writing on the blog. Not much else spiritually, but maybe I will find something to do that sticks. Have a great weekend!

Just Another Day in Paradise

Few things throw off a parent’s week greater than a snow day…. Except my kids have a half day today, just three days after the snow day. I appreciate reminders on these kinds of days, as a current stay at home mom whose schedule is pretty flexible. My only concern for an early release is that I’m out picking up groceries when the bus comes to drop off my kids.

Half day means my preschool twins don’t have school at all, so I get the bonus time with them. It’s an easy day when tablets are charged and the “right” episode of Spongebob or Paw Patrol is on. Snacks must be available every 10-15 minutes and then lunch better be something delicious. Don’t dare try to serve Uncrustables with chips or something I would have been thrilled to have in my lunchbox. Nope. Better have that Sun Dried Tomato Turkey from the Deli. On the right kind of bread. Sometimes toasted. Never with cheese for them.

I realized preparing lunch yesterday that I had few options. I had done a Walmart grocery order online and had a 1-2 window pick up. I can usually cut down on one snack if I serve lunch around 11, so we didn’t have much prior to the order. I had Turkey, though. I thought long and hard at making them a PB&J and saving the Turkey for me for today. 19 hours later, I wish I did that. I forgot to add Turkey in my order and one of the twins barely ate his lunch. It was Ash Wednesday so I considered how sacrificial it was to not eat it and let the other twin have it. Kept thinking, no more than two meals, and I shouldn’t cut the Hershey pie. Happy I reminded myself, maybe I will cut it today. Or after I post this. 🤷‍♀️

I woke up thankful I didn’t commit last night to running at 5:30 this morning. Which makes me nervous should I actually do a run this weekend. I’m the kind of person who does best with a 5k followed by a day off. Not a “run at the crack of dawn to begin the day.” Although I don’t have experience with that, just know from how I feel and act following a 5k. I want to eat and sleep.

My 9.5 year old is asking when the next 5k is, so maybe I should get my butt in gear.

It’s Possible

Today, my older sister sent me a text asking when my daughter’s 1st Communion will be. She told me she is considering running a half marathon this year to celebrate being 13 years cancer free (13 for 13), though technically a half marathon is 13.1 miles. But I digress.

I responded with the date and it’s a conflict with one of the May races she is considering. So she said she can do the one on July 7th in Waitsfield, VT. I’m reading her texts and something came over me wondering if maybe I should join her. It is a big deal, as my sister was diagnosed with Choriocarcinoma back in 2005 and has been in remission since 2006. I have certainly not been the most supportive sister (literally and figuratively, thanks to our little sister 😉 ), but maybe I can be more supportive now.

Today is still Ash Wednesday and I spent a good amount of the day thinking about what I can do for the next 40 days to get ready for Easter. Around the time I began contemplating the idea of running, my sister asked me if I wanted to join her. I told her I will gently consider it. The $80 registration fee is good for the next 50 days according to her text, and upon seeing the 50, I immediately considered the 40 days of Lent. Really, about 46 with Sundays. So my decision will need to be made about 4 days after Easter.

I Googled half marathon training and surprisingly, we are both within the possibility to do this and actually complete a half marathon on July 7th. I haven’t run since last August (I think) and I’m fairly out of shape, but it’s possible.

I reached out to a friend who runs and may hook up with their group this weekend. Tomorrow is hill day, at 5:30am. Sounds brutal. She will be volunteering for the Boston Marathon in April, she’s a rockstar and an inspiration!

I didn’t make it for ashes, but contrary to popular belief, Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of obligation so I get a pass. I did find out about a local parish with a great open door policy today which I thought was awesome. Doors open all day for ashes, confessions, 3 Masses and conversation.

40 days. Let’s do this.

Let’s Goooooo!!!!

Here I go again! I think this is my 2nd time officially starting a blog, unless the failed attempts to create a free blog on other sites count. I have lots to say, but writing doesn’t come to me as easily. I don’t know if it’s because my brain is just going a thousand miles a minute, or because I have some sort of anxiety that kicks in just when I actually need to get something done. Or want to get something done. I can have the greatest ideas ever, and as soon as it’s time to act on them, frozen like a deer in the headlights.

We always have a lot going on. We’re a family of 7 and all of our kids are under age 10. To half the population, this is shocking. To the other half, (or less than half), this is almost normal. There is nothing about our lives that feels normal.

Today is Ash Wednesday and begins Lent. I grew up Catholic and we raise our children Catholic. That doesn’t mean I’m good at being Catholic, but I do understand most of the teachings and try most of the time. Some of the time, really.

I don’t know what this blog will be about entirely, or what may come of it. But I’m one step in and we’ll see what the future brings.