Quick & dirty notes: 

• The race was close by–6 minute drive door to door.  Sweet!
• Weather–Beautiful.  Balmy and reasonably cool morning. 
• Finish time–WELL under my goal.   More on that below, but let’s just say…I was PUMPED!
• Running with people I knew….  It was neat-o to see the little (old) lady who comes to mass in decked out in high heels and dressed to the nines in her jogging clothes and sneaks.   It made me smile! 

So my second 5K finish time was 41:01.   That is a 13.23 time.    PR.   Though a note about the PR stuff.  It is great, to finish faster, but when one is running 16 minute miles, there is only one direction to go…down (time wise).  

One of the best things about this 5K is how good I felt at the end.   Tired, yes.  Exhausted and kicked to the curb, no.   It made me think I would like to try some other longer runs.     Ever since the 12th, I’ve seen TONS of triathlon bumper stickers around town.    If it were an “easy” one…I might be tempted.   It has me thinking that my sister-in-law might not be as crazy as I thought she was….   What?   Oh, sorry.   She wants to do a 1/2 marathon in the spring….  When she mentioned it I thought she was a little crazy (ok, a lot crazy–sorry Shan), but now…she might be onto something.  

This is the finish line picture from Hub, who brought the Sunshine kids to the finish line.   I got a little choked up to see them all there and the kids each ran with me for a bit.   Way to go Sunshines!

I’m looking for my next 5K in October…not sure where or when just yet.  

November???   We’ll yes indeed, I have some plans for that run.   It will be participating in the GO FAR race   .   I’m helping to start a GO FAR group at the school.   It starts this week and I can’t wait!!!!!   Any ideas on how to get parents & staff on board??

I’ve said (and written) this to a bunch of people, so forgive me if you’re one of them.   Running and pregnancy/labor have a bit in common.   They are both difficult & joyful.    When they have ended, it is bliss.  You think (at least I did)…NEVER again.  For most people though, there is another.  

My second 5K race is tomorrow, The Knights 5K Run for Disabilities .  I signed up about a month after finishing the first one.   After I told my neighbor, J, not to let me sign up for another one.  She knew I was talking from exhaustion.   Thank you J for not reminding me I said “Never let me do this again.”  

Originally, I found Hal Higdon’s training and I was working it and feeling better, running better and was excited about the race.  Then August arrived with its humidity and nasty air.   Hal’s training schedule of 6 days running and 2 days strength training (otherwise known to Hal as “rest”) was too much.   I slacked off bigtime and only ran SIX days in August for a total of 15 miles.   Cooler air and  seeing “RACE DAY” in big, black Sharpie helped get me kick started again.     Hal, once this race is finished, I’ll be back.   You’re a man with a great plan…just not for girls who live in NC during August. 

So, about the title.  I was looking at my sneakers.   They are New Balance.   They are wide and pink & grey.   I love them.   I was giving them a once over the other day, before heading out and it struck me how far these shoes have carried me traveled with me.  According to Daily Mile, I’ve logged 57 miles since July 1st.   These are just runs and they don’t count May & June runs before I fell in love with discovered Daily Mile.  The runs have been around the neighborhood, usually in the morning.   I always have my iPod on, but I consider the music to be my soundtrack, rather than something to “do”.  I realized, looking at these shoes of mine, that running is not exercise time for me.  It is time to think, pray, worry, plan, brainstorm, and  time to NOT do anything except put one foot in front of the other. 

I have other shoes and they all tell different things about me I’m sure, but my running shoes give me a glimpse into that better side of myself. 

What do your shoes say about you?    I’ll be back soon on how my shoes did this time around.

Dear Sunshine Daughter,

You started school today and you were very happy.  Ridiculously, over-the-top, love-it-like-chocolate, happy.   I want you always feel that happiness when you think about school.    Some years will be hard.   People will tease you (hell, your brothers will tease you!).   But I know the excitement you felt getting into your uniform, getting your backpack & lunch ready gave you a great head start for all the years of school you have before you.  

Your teacher and co-teacher will be wonderful, of that I have no doubt.   I know you make them laugh, smile, and sometimes shake their heads with the crazy wonderfulness that is you.  I’ve had four years of it.     They will hold a very special place in your heart.    You will have a special place in their heart too. 

You are the baby of our family.   I am the oldest of my family.  Sometimes, because of that, we clash.    Your father and brothers let you “get away” with many things.   I let things slide with you.   As the youngest, you tend to exploit the…advantages your birth order has brought.   Hey, I understand.  Life can be hard.  Brothers can be mean.  A girl has to do what a girl has to do.  I get it.   Despite this and general parent/child clashes, I have  loved every moment of my time home with you. 

I must tell you however, today was a very difficult day for me.   I was not happy.  I knew it would be hard, but I was not and actually as the second day approaches, am still not, prepared for your absence.  I have spent the last seven years feeding, cleaning, fetching, caring, reading, cuddling, disciplining, and who knows what else for you and your brothers.  Some days, it was annoying and hard as hell.   Sometimes I resented it.   Most of the time, I just moved onward, in a kid induced, sleep deprived haze. 

When I got home today,  though it was just me.  I could eat breakfast without a dissertation on Dora versus Deigo.  I could go to the bathroom without awkward questions to answer.   I could listen to NPR without hearing how you HATE talking–despite doing it all the time.   I could do anything I wanted.  It was just me.   Just. Me. Alone.

“They” tell you time goes fast and one day you’ll be grown up.    “They” tell you that one day, you’ll miss all this stuff.  Struggling through babydom, toddlerville, and THREE hell, I didn’t believe “them”.    I believe them now.   Now my kids are school age and I am home wondering what to do, how not to feel useless without you here.  I cried…most of the day.

Leaving you at school was one of the hardest things I have done in my seven years of parenting.   Every inch of me wanted to say, “No. No, I don’t think she’ll be staying today…this year.”   But, as you  hugged me goodbye & walked to your name labeled spot on the rug–still smiling–I wiped my tears away, gave you another wave, and left you at school for your first day.   I was not ready.   You?  You were ready. 

Your first day?   “AWESOME!”    You were fine.  I told you, it was me that wasn’t ready to let you go.  Other details of your first day?  You finished your lunch before everyone else, even though no one could start till everyone was sitting down.  The only math you know is 1+1 = 2.  You can’t wait to go back for more school.  

Thank you Sunshine Daughter for teaching me for the past four years.     Although I still don’t want to let you go tomorrow, I will.   Just remember:  You are a trooper.   You are a princess.  You are pink on the outside, but a tough cookie on the inside.  You can do whatever you want in life–army recruiter, astronaut, mom, or all three!   No matter what, breathing gets you through. 

Love,

Mom

We are in search of the “perfect” campground.   A place to return to each year, one with hiking, swimming, canoeing, quiet, good weather, you get the idea.  We’ve gone to the Price Park on the Blue Ridge, Badin Lake, Morrow Mountain (well, sort of…), Claytor Lake in Virginia, Goose Point in Virginia,  and this year: Hanging Rock.   Although HARO (as the NC Park system affectionately labels everything) won’t be our “perfect” week long campground, it will be our “we’ve-got-t0-get-out-of-town-but-we’re-broke-and-HARO-is super-close” campground.  

If you know of any campgrounds in NC, lower VA, or SC, spill.   We prefer the cheap frugal non commercial state campgrounds, but we’d be open to a small family owned campground too. 

Tom takes over the Canoe

That sounds negative.   It isn’t.  Hanging Rock is close by (just over an hour) and there is hiking and a lake (though you have to pay, even if you’re camping–NOT cool) for swimming and boating.   The staff is nice and there are a few programs for the family and for kids.  4 out of 5 stars on the Sunshine camping scale.    We’re still looking for that perfect campground, but in the meantime, we’ve found a darn great close getaway.   And if you happen to be stranded at the visitor’s center will young children, there is an air conditioned room with 20 minute videos they will show.   Thank you Hanging Rock for a GREAT vacation! 

The thing I like best about camping is the ability to just do nothing.  Sit around at camp and read, sleep, knit, chill out, play solitaire, whatever.   This was the first time where I got to do that.   I read some Jane Austen (Emma), knit (Silk Kercheif), and just drank coffee with no goal in mind.   It was, for the first time, what a camping vacation is supposed to be….relaxing.  

We hiked up to Hanging Rock, the Upper Cascade waterfall, the Window Waterfalls, and the Hidden Waterfalls.   All were good hikes but they made me realize once again what a massive worrier I have become when it comes to the kids & my husband.  Of course the signs that read “serious injury & death may result” don’t help much either. 

Of course it was not all perfection on our trip, but the tent stayed dry, the worst injuries were bug bites and sunburn (me!), and we all ended up home safe and sound…though all in need of a bath!

you curl up in a ball and cry

thow them out wish they were limes to use in Coronas

wonder what the hell you are going to do with all these damn lemons!

I know what you thought I was going to say…the whole lemonade thing.  Well, I’m really not one of those optimist types.   I’m a pessimist in disguise.   My life seems to be one giant lemon right now.   Writing about how awesome my birthday was must have been the universe’s signal to start sending in the trials of Job (sorry for all the mixing and mingling of metaphors). 

Since Tuesday (7/21) the following things have happened at chez Sunshine:

• Minivan–Does not start.  Repair estimated to be over $1000. 
• Oven coil–sparking and needs to be replaced
• Vacuum–engine burning, no suction, & no back wheels making pushing actual exercise
• Air conditioner unit–leaking water caused by a huge blockage of dust and grime.  This problem was fixed at least temporarily.  
• Our house is a damn mess.  There is stuff every where.  People (ok, even me) drop things where ever and don’t put anything away
• Going to have to find a part time job or even worse attempt to compete for a teaching job that I don’t really want to pay for the damn replacement minivan. 
• I have a giant cold sore the size of Montana on my lowe lip.  It is hurting and making me irritable. 
• Some unwanted and gross pests have returned after I thought they were gone for good. 

So things could be worse, right?   Well, with my luck right now I’d rather not see about that.  The hidden pessimist comes out.   I tried being positive and look-at-all-I-do-have on Friday and frankly it didn’t make me feel better.     I KNOW I need to thankful that everyone I love is safe and healthy and reasonalby happy…but still I am getting dragged down. 

Even doing something I love is making me think about all this negative crap.  For example, I checked out Julie & Julia by Julie Powell yesterday.  It is a great book–funny and insightful.  I am laughing out loud, that’s how great it is.   But as I read it, I think of how this woman did something.  She did something with her life.   There are those kinds of stories all over the place.  People doing what they love and making money or just being happy.   What do I have like that?   Nothing.   I’ve created nothing.   I have no discernable talent(s).   I have no drive to “become” something.   I feel stuck and all the appliances and machines in my life have only reinforced that feeling.   I’m jealous of all the greatness around me.   Petty yes.  

So, what the hell am I going to do with all these lemons?  I don’t know.   I am hoping that by writing all this down, I will look back on this week and recognize the good that came from it.

Not particularly in that order.  

Camping.  

• We planned (though please use that term loosely) a camping trip for this weekend plus part of next week.   We are heading to Hanging Rock, NC.  Please send cool DRY weather wishes our way. 
• My companions on this trip could tell you the exact countdown of time left, but I am ignoring them. 
• I am nervous about not having packed something important.   I guess I won’t know about that until its too late.  
• My camp knitting is packed:  dishcloths (duh, of course!), silk kerchief, & baby yoda sweater for new-on-the-way nephew (thank you for discovering the sex of the child, I appreciate it!). 

Friends.  

• I have some rockin friends.   They are knitters and I love them all!   I am lucky to have found you.   I don’t say it enough.   Thank you for being great friends. 

Running. 

• I’m still running.  The past few days, I’ve even seen another person running.   Wow!  I have been reading lots of running blogs lately.  This morning as I walked in the house, a strange voice came over the ipod and said, “This is Tiger Woods.  Congratualtions on running your fastest mile yet.”  Wowie, powie.  
• It was a junky run this morning, neither my brain or legs seemed to be interested.  The music was so-so and part of me wished I was still in bed.  
• I stumbled onto Hal Higdon’s website and I’m using his 5K training for intermediates.  It is interesting doing the interval training.  Not sure how the “long” run is going to go, I’ve never run 5 miles before. 
• I downloaded a few new (to me) songs onto the ipod: Single Ladies, Big Country, Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) amoung others.   Any good running tunes I’m missing?   I heard those three in a row yesterday while running and I felt like I was flying!  It was wicked sweet. 

Birthdays. 

• I had a great birthday this year.  I don’t know what it was that made this year so great, but if the birthday is any indicator of the year, it is going to ROCK!   Bring on 36!  Maybe it was the presents; ipod nanos and nike+ sensors certainly don’t hurt.  Maybe it was the BBQ/swim party we went to in the afternoon.  Maybe it was the fun time we had at the fireworks–great show, perfect weather, and all around great time.   Whatever it was, I had a great time.   
• Happy Birthday to you whenever your birthday is!

Sorry for the lack of links, pictures, or actual useful information.    I have a feeling there will be camping stories to tell.   Have a great weekend!

What’s a girl to do when she is broke but still needing to exercise?  Sign up for a 5K run and get out there!  You weren’t expecting that were you?   I’ve always said (at least I’ve said it in my head), “I only run when someone is chasing me!”.   So what inspired me to do this?  Well, alignment of the planets, the biggest Loser, temporary insanity, a little extra money in my pocket, and oh yeah, an incentive from WW to get something “free”.  

• “What the HELL am I doing?”
• “Crap, those 12 year old girls (the ones in the pink shirts in the above picture) are going faster than me.”
• “What the HELL am I doing?”
• As I made the turn at the one mile mark, the eventual winner for the 5K overall, passed me, going the other direction.  “Crap.” 
• “Do not stop.  Small children are going through chemo and all sorts of horrible other things, you CAN and WILL finish this. Do NOT stop.” 
• “I think I’m going to throw up.”
• Just as I got to the 2.5 mile mark, the winner of the 10K race passed me.  “Crap.” 
• “What the HELL am I doing?”

You get the idea.   The girls in pink proved to be a saving grace for me.  Since they were wearing those bright pink shirts, I could see what was left–1/2 mark, turnoff toward the finish, etc.   Thanks girls in pink!  I might have given up if it weren’t for you showing me how much was left.  

The other person who gave me a boost was my sister-in-law, Shannon.   Shannon cheers my crazy younger brother on when he runs, bikes, and attempts other acts of athletic wackiness.  She did a great job getting me pumped up and then she helped me finish the race.   She kept me going.  I would not have run up that hill without her.   THANK YOU SHANNON!

Getting to the end

My official time was 47:10.   I figure I was running about a 16 minute mile.   I read later on that moving at this pace is technically called jogging, not running.   Oh, well.   

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Getting your big arse out of bed at 6:00am is worth it. 
• Even though running itself is cheap, the accessories, not so much.
• Running a 5K was alot like labor and delivery.  It sucked and was painful along the way, but now it is through, I’m thinking it wasn’t that bad.   I swore I wouldn’t (in both cases), but I’m going to run another 5K and hell, I’m game for another baby too!
• It really helps to have great friends & family cheering you on.  Thanks Ken, Tom, Joe, Kate, Tom, Shannon & Jacquelyn for the cheering and running beside me at the end.  
• Water is an amazing drink. 

So, what’s next?   (here she goes with the bullets again)

• Another 5K in September.  I’ve started training and although I haven’t set my overall goal, I’d like to see the pace time around 12-14 min per mile. 
• Help my kids and the kids at Triangle Lake Montessori School get running.  I’m not sure how I’m going to do this yet. 
• Reading all I can about running and training.   Got any good running blogs?   Most of what I’ve found seem to be ads for something. 

Although I can’t  say I love to run, I can say it is growing on me.  Guess I better start running faster!

Ignore my bad grammar.  

I’ve been twittering or is it tweeting?   Anyway, the other social media have been taking over my life..or at least spring break.   So sad…but still entertaining.   I’ve begun thinking in 140 characters or less. 

So let me fill you in on what has been going on.  Besides Twitter, I’ve been working on PTA stuff.  Did I tell you about PTA?  No?  I must have been trying to block that out.  I’ve been the PTA prez at the Sunshine boys school for a year.  I’m also delusional enough to have signed up for another year.  Crazy,fun, exasperating stuff but surprisingly addictive.  

Family Fun Day–the biggest school fundraiser we have–took up most of my Feb and all of March.  Check out the parade and pictures!

Sunshine daughter will be going to Pre-Kindergarten next year.  Sad times yet joyful too.   Now, I need to get a birth certificate to prove I didn’t just pluck her from the cabbage patch.  Hopefully the price of that document didn’t go up since she was plucked born four years ago.   Some days I wonder how those teachers are going to put up with her 4 yr old going on 15 yr old self.  Then I remember they’ll have a room full of ‘em.  Makes me glad I don’t teach. 

Sunshine Boys # 1 & 2 had their 7th birthday a week ago.   Every parent says this, but WOW, I can’t believe it has been that long.  I miss the little bitty boys I snuggled.  Every so often I get a glimpse of them and it makes me sad.   I looked in on one two weeks ago and he looked exactly like he used to as a baby.   So serene and kissable.   Here are their cakes:  Space Shuttle & Lego Rock Monster.  

Weight Watchers…wow.  Been gaining and losing the same weight.  STILL.  There is no try.   I’ve not even been trying.  Time to write it and behave like an adult.   Bad habits are hard to break after almost 36 years.  Excuses I know.   Say something to kick me in the a$$ (about the weight loss anyway!). 

Happy Easter!   Here are some of the pictures of the day.   The church really cleared out quick this year and hubby was left holding the camera.  

Thanks for reading the brain dump at Land o’Sunshine.  Hopefully more cohesive thoughts will come since Family Fun Day has ended and the year is slowly drawing to a close….  Have a wonderful spring…happy itching & sneezing!

As for knitting.  I’ve been working on stuff, but have not been using Rav.   I knit the shrug Sunshine daughter is wearing.  It is the Jane Austen Shrug from Knitting Outside the Lines from MDK.  Great little pattern–through check the errata or you’ll think you’re going crazy.  Ask me how I know.   There’s been other stuff, but nothing spectacular.   My knitting mojo is off twittering somewhere….

Except, maybe you do know.  Ever since having kids I retell stories and forget who I told what, and most of the time just forget stuff. 

Rules:
Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you. you are obviously exempt if you have already posted.   ***I think the tagging is bogus.  I won’t do it.  Feel free to post it on Facebook or your blog, but really, this isn’t first grade, so enough with the tagging.***

Here goes.  

1.  I’ve posted more tothe blog in the last two weeks than I did the months of October, November & December combined. 

2. In some circles, I’m called Martha.  Don’t ask.   (I’ve forgotten so I can’t tell you anyway!)

3.  I buy Extra sugar-free gum just about everytime I go to a store that sells it.  Current gum pack count:  2 unopend, 2 half empty, and 2 small four packs scattered into single sticks.  

4.  I once pretended to revive a fetal pig.   It was funny.  

5.  I once went to Paris, France for the weekend. 

6.  My birthday and anniversary are on the same day.   It seemed like a good idea at the time…now, not so much.

7.  I’ve seen Phantom of the Opera in New York City & Toronto.  Toronto was better.  

8.  Grolsh and Goldschlager are wonderful things. 

9.  I frequently don’t friend people (Facebook & Ravelry) because I’m afraid they won’t remember who I am.  

10.  I have ODS.   Oldest Daughter Syndrome. It is a horrible, incurable, syndrome seen in the oldest daughter in a family.   

11.   I am often a little bit jealous of friends whose parents live close enough to watch their children on a regular basis. 

12.  I have obsessions not interests.   Facebook, Ravelry, CatholicMom, Weight Watchers, knitting, sewing., scrapbooking, etc.  I devote myself to whatever it is and then become so wrapped up in it, I lose sight of every other hobby/interest.   

13.   I wrote a book of poetry in 10th grade English class (Mr. Kelly) and dedicated it too…oh wait, didn’t almost every 10th grade girl do that????   

14.  When my boys were two days old I remember crying because they were boys and I would spend my time as their mother “training” them for another woman to marry.   Can we say hormones?

15. Each Christmas, we make 10 different varieties of cookies to give as gifts.  That is about 30 dozen cookies.   Surprisingly, I spend the weeks before Christmas wondering if people really want these cookie trays or if they are any good. 

16.  My husband is Jewish.  

17.  My confirmation name is Esther. 

18.  I just deleted my original #18 because I was afraid I would hurt someone’s feeling.  No it wasn’t you, I promise! When hubby & I took our marriage prep class, we won “the newlywed game” that was played the first day.  

19.   Having a single child is sometimes harder than having twins.   Not often, but sometimes. 

20.  My friends are all wonderful, smart, crafty, and I am incrediblely lucky to have found the SSSK.  

21.  I seriously don’t “get” the mind of a six year old boy.   Right now, they are “breathing” on each other.   Why?   It is the beginning of the unfathomable depth (?) of the male brain.

22.  I have a very difficult time choosing color and color combinations.   Some rooms in our house are currently off-white because I can’t decide on the color to paint them. 

23.  I was a tomboy.   My daughter is a girly girl.   It really drives me crazy. 

24.  I really dislike crossword puzzles.  

25.   I now remember why I hated this meme.  So that was really cheating.   After I post this, I’ll find a bazzillion more witty and amusing things I could have written.   Sometimes I will subtly encourage my children to say things the wrong way because I think it is cute.   It will bite me in the a**, but it makes me smile.   Example: One boy used to say “What doonin? ”  Translation:  What are you doing?   Another loves to learn about Abraham Lincoln, but he ONLY refers to him as A Lincoln.    It really cracks me up.   Oh, and the girl…she calls Hello Kitty, Hello Cat.   

So, to wrap up the reading of the 25 random things about my FAMILY!!!

Edited to add/change #25 & #18

Dear Children,

I love you.   I really, really love you.   You are funny, smart, kind and good kids.  

However, your six and four year old selves are driving me crazy.   If we are going to live in this house for the next 14-16 years, here are some friendly reminders: 

• When I ask you to pick something up, I mean pick it up THEN, not sometime in the future or a to-be-determined date. 
• Stay out of my craft supplies, scrap-booking materials, yarn, and basically anything else that might be piled up on my messy little space.  
•  YOU MUST GO TO CHURCH!   Its my job to get you there and teach you something.   I don’t want to go all the time either.  Really.   It is worth it though. 
• Please pick up your socks.   Better yet, keep them on your feet. 
• Play nicely and stop the bickering.   Is it the cold weather and being stuck inside?  I sympathize, but seriously.
• To the male children,  be nice to the girl.  She adores you.  
• To the girl, STOP WHINING!   Ack.   That is why they don’t want to play with you.  
• PLEASE, please, please use a napkin to wipe your hands & mouth at dinner, NOT your clothes.   Let’s try to not recreate the ninth century at the kitchen table, ‘kay?
• The words please and thank you go a LONG way.  Please use them, thank you. 

Dear children, I say write this to you so our lives will be pleasant and peaceful.   I love you.   Thank you for all the things you teach me and putting up with all the quirky things I do. 

Love,

Your mother