The Route 66 Marathon

 Nicole and I have each birthed four children.  We honestly had nothing to prove.  Every couple of years we have a baby and this year instead of having a baby, we trained for and ran a marathon.  I was really grateful that I'd already experienced labor and delivery, because pushing through the end of that marathon came pretty close to the same mental toughness it takes to finish.  From about mile 18-25.5 I almost closed my eyes (I could still see the road), calmed my face, tried to relax my shoulders (everything was tight and hurting at that point) and pushed through.  When we came up that last hill (there were a lot of hills) and saw our families cheering for us at the finish line, it took everything in me to hold back the ugly cry.  My official finish time was 5:14:21.  In two more years, when the next "baby" is due, it'll be even faster.

My best cheerleader/supporter through it all took me to Wolf Gang Puck for the celebratory dinner.  It was fabulous.

To make all of this possible, my parents kept the kids for the weekend and gave David and I a huge birthday gift ...drum roll please ... 2 nights at the Mayo in the heart of downtown and only a couple of blocks from the starting line.  Then my sweet sister and brother-in-law drove us from the finish line to QT for ice and back to the hotel where I packed my legs in ice, showered in this huge shower with three different shower heads, then collapsed for a while in a king size bed with a crazy-high-count on some sheets.  Serious bliss.  After our dinner that night I hit the sack early and slept for 12 hours straight.  We hit Brookside by Day for breakfast and got a head start on our Christmas shopping.  Felt great to stay loose through the day.  I taught my class Monday night (a little on the crazy side there), and it's back to the real world.

I am a marathoner.  

Taper, taper, taper

In a great effort to get warm after this frigid morning run, I took a hot shower and made some coffee.  Anyone who runs when it's 23 degrees outside is crazy.  Frost everywhere, or "farkles" as Adelle says (sparkles - she also calls "smarties" "farties."  We have her say that one all the time.  Or, "I'm so fart."  Haha!). My breath hangs in the air like a trail of smog.  My joints refuse to cooperate and warm up.  It's only 4 miles.  It's only 4 miles.  It's only 4 miles.

Race day is now only 6 days away.  I have trained my life away the past few months.  I'm so glad I took on the challenge and have almost reached my goal, but I'm also really glad it's almost over.  It's been hard for me to think too far beyond November 18th, but we're almost there.  It's like the anticipation of a due date - those last 6 weeks are brutal, and I'm about to go into labor.  Oh boy.

Clean, shmean, shower, shmower

I would just like you to know that I look like this all the time.  Showering is such a hassle.  I'm going to invest in some cute hats and call it good.

So this bandit runner didn't get arrested.  Katie and I had a great run on the streets of Tulsa.  

I finally got my driver's license issues resolved.  I had to go see a driver examiner.  The other three times I visited different tag agencies I had actually showered, fixed my hair and put make up on, prepared for my photo shoot that I have to live with for the next four years.  But, you know, I figured it's probably better that I look like I always look on my ID.  So I went to see the Driver Examiner in my ponytail, no makeup, and no nap.  And I wasn't even stolen.  Some crazy computer glitch.  So he took my picture and that was that.  Glad that's over for the next four years.  Isn't it so cool that my driver's license renewal always happens with the presidential election?  My almost eight-year-old thinks so.  :)  Pierce said, if there's someone else out there with your name they probably don't have a Hudson, Pierce, Alayna and Adelle.  Just show us to them.  :)  We saw a bunch of red balloons flying away and he said, "What happened?  Did somebody shoot a clown?"  He's always joking around.  This morning he hopped around with a piece of turkey bacon hanging out of his mouth, cock-a-doodle-dooing.  So Adelle, not fully understanding this joke, put a piece in her mouth and started mooing.  It's always so much fun here.  ;)

This is Nicole, my marathon training buddy.  We just ran 22 miles Saturday.  I think we were delirious. 

Shan Wheelie can appreciate these mad braiding skilz.

This is what I look like when I shower, in case you forgot.  The boys are doing 5K training for the Thanks Giving Day Hog Jog at our Y.  We had to get some chocolate milk and a protein bar for recovery after their first training run.  ;)  

Adelle was doing her best Ninja pose with the boys in this shot.

Princesses and Ninjas - so cute.

(and in the time it has taken me to load these pictures and type this nonsense, I have yelled at my kids three time to leave me alone and let me finish this, which is why I don't update this thing very often.  Confession of a too busy mom).

Alyson Frederick has been stolen

This is how I start every morning.  I just came in from a short run (it's cold out there!).  Poured myself some coffee and sat down at the computer.  It's not long before I hear little bare feet slapping across the tile floor.  "I waked up, mama."  It's hard to believe my baby is so big.

We're in countdown to marathon time.  I have a 9 miler this weekend, 22 next weekend, an 8 mile taper weekend, then the official 26.2.  I missed registration for the 9 miler (Tulsa Run) so I'm going to try to bandit run.  I'll let you know if I get arrested.

Speaking of getting arrested, I went to renew my driver's license yesterday.  The lady said I needed to go to a corporate tag agency (didn't know there was such a thing) because they couldn't do it there.  I'd gotten it done there before.  I've lived in Owasso for 32 years and I don't even have a ticket on my record.  What in the world?  She said someone with my name or birthday was probably into some trouble so I just needed to take my original birth certificate and social security card to prove that I am who I am.  In other words, stolen identity.  Maybe.  I guess we'll see.  I'm going to try to get it all fixed today.

I'm leading 2 Choose to Lose teams at the Y for the next 4 weeks.  These are weight loss accountability groups with a personal trainer (me) and nutritionist to coach you through each week.  So awesome.  I love these classes!  I don't really have time to add more things to my training/teaching schedule, but these are definitely worth the extra effort.

My stroller classes will come to an end pretty soon with this weather changing.  We were out walking and running yesterday in the 75 degree morning when the wind shifted and the temperature dropped 20 degrees in a matter of 2 seconds.  Craziest thing.

I LOVE it when Target cleans out their seasonal flavors.  

Four bucks for good coffee.  Don't mind if I do!

Give Thanks, Embrace Peace and Joy

These are just a few excerpts from one of my favorite blogs: When you are giving everything you have and you can only take so much — Christ kneels close with arms stretched open wide: “Let Me take the rest.”

… “be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16–18).

Thanks to God is what that calms the wild heart.  Anger makes us sick and weak and bound and the therapy is in the thanks. Thanks therapy is God’s prescription for joy.

I couldn’t sleep. Until I started Thanking Him. For everything. It was the only thing that calmed my heart…”

No big trial here.  Just the daily battle of a tired mom training four children to follow Christ, be thankful, embrace joy instead of anger, and peace instead of strife amidst the busy schedule, dishes in the sink, etc.  

No matter the jarring, a jar of fresh water can’t spill filthy water. When you’re upset, you upset what’s really in you.

What do I want my children to remember — my joy in clean floors, made beds and ironed shirts — or my joy of the Lord? You will be most remembered — by what brought you most joy. The joy of the Lord is your strength and the person of Christ is your unassailable joy – and the battle for joy is nothing less than fighting the good fight of faith.

"You don’t think about how you can open your mouth and let the sharp side of your tongue tear the innards out of a soul —- and there’s no way you can stuff the whole bloody mess back....

Busyness and tiredness are no excuse to lose it.  Peace lives in me.

Nap time: most anticipated time of day.

Many people have said to me, "I don't know how you get it all in." So, here's the secret and the key to staying motivated, energized, and on top of it all (if you're a stay-at-home-mom)...TAKE A NAP!

Seriously, I'm up at 4-4:30 every day of the week to workout and pray uninterrupted. When I'm back from my workout the kids are waking up. Breakfast, get ready, school, school, school, lunch, NAP TIME (for the girls and I - boys get quiet time in their room).

Before children I envisioned nap time being the catch up, clean house, mommy creativity time. That was delusional. ;)

And I got a hair cut and a little more blonde. Fun!

The Menu

Eating Clean in October - Breakfast, Dinner and Snacks are recipes from He & She Eat Clean and Lunch recipes are from 100 Days of Real Food

Monday, October 1st, 2012

Breakfast: Egg quiche muffins and java

Lunch: apple slices with peanut butter and raisins

Snack: Pumpkin Protein bars

Dinner: Blackened Salmon with Mango Salsa, steamed broccoli and smashed sweet potatoes

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

Breakfast: Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats

Lunch: Peanut Thai Pasta

Snack: Pumpkin Protein Bars

Dinner: Zucchini Lasagna

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 (Pierce's 6th Birthday)

Breakfast: Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes with real maple syrup

Lunch: quesadillas on homemade tortillas

Snack: Protein Bars

Dinner:Homemade cheese pizza

Thursday, October 4th, 2012

Breakfast: leftover pancakes

Lunch: leftovers

Snack: fruit

Dinner: Tilapia and steamed veggies

Friday, October 5th, 2012

Breakfast: leftover oatmeal

Lunch: Veggie Pancakes

Snack: Protein bars

Dinner: Quinoa and Mixed Veggies with Chicken

Saturday, October 6th, 2012

Breakfast:  Eggs and biscuits (homemade)

Lunch: Cream Cheese on Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread (He& She Eat Clean)

Snack: Pierce's Birthday party!!!

Dinner: Black Bean Sweet Potato Turkey Chili in the crock pot

Sunday, October 7th, 2012

Breakfast: Protein Shake with Toast (homemade bread)

Lunch: Grilled Cheese and Chicken Noodle Soup in the crockpot (use chicken broth instead of water, add garlic and carrots, use whole wheat pasta instead of egg noodles).

Snack: Protein Bar

Dinner: Protein Shake & Popcorn

Hard Work

The painting continues. I did the porches and the well house today. I may get a couple of doors brushed before the night is over. Someday soon we'll stick a sign in the yard. Until then, I'll train for a marathon, train and teach too many fitness classes, homeschool my four wild and wonderful kiddos, cook, clean, paint, and consume outlandish amounts of caffeine. And Someday soon, I'll detox! ;)

Sisters

I got to go with my parents to St. Louis a couple of weekends ago to visit my little sister and her husband (Yes, my parents are awesome).  We had so much fun eating and exercising and hanging out.  I really, really, really wish they lived closer.  

Roomies - Shannon and Me

Here's a full circle weird thing for me. In less than a week I will be 32.  When my mom was 32 she had Shannon.  I was 7 1/2.  My oldest son is 7 1/2.  He is where I was and I am where my mom was.  That's just wild.  Anyway, as a 7 year old, I remember Shannon coming home from the hospital and  sharing my room from pretty early on.  I remember her waking up at night and me getting her out of her crib and bringing her to my bed.  We have this great picture of us sleeping.  She's taking her half out of the middle and I'm hanging off the side.  That's about how it was our entire growing up life.  Shannon could always walk around the house on her hands.  She was constantly doing hand stands or pulling her feet up over her shoulders and walking on hands all wadded up.  Now she's a yoga instructor - perfect.  (I, on the other hand, am the soft bookworm turned fitness instructor.  Crazy).

Roomies - Adelle, Alayna and Me, the mom

I love watching these sisters as their friendship develops.  They are so opposite in nature.  Alayna is so dramatic and emotional.  She can swing from chicken lip to laughter in seconds.  I've never seen anything like it!  She runs like Elmo.  She wads up in my lap like she has no spine.  Adelle is my little lion girl.  She runs like a bear and everything she does is full force and passionate.  She's strong and stout.  There's 22 months between the two of them, but only a 6 pound difference and they balance each other out perfectly.  They don't know how blessed they are to have each other - sister friends.

This Sister Post is a link to one of my favorite blogs.  Sister friends will love it.

Long run, long day, both fabulous!

Yesterday I ran 15 miles. That's the longest run to date for me, so I was pretty pumped about it...and sore and tired when I got home with a full day ahead. So I stretched, drank my recovery shake, took an ice bath, and headed to the Y to teach Pilates. I was tired and sore. It was really the last thing I wanted to do, but I actually felt better after it was done.

I took a short nap, drank a spinach, almond milk, banana, protein smoothie and drove the kids out to Victory campgrounds for a fun day with Mimi and papa. The kids and I got to zip line, go cart race and do bumper cars. Super fun, and my legs were feeling better for the hiking around. Pierce unclipped from the zip line and said to the crowd, "Don't twy this at home." He the king of quips and one-liners.

That night I drove back to celebrate the birthday of one of my best friends with burgers and bowling. We faced off against the husbands but they came with their A-game and pulled off the win. David won over all and coached my pitiful self through the two gruesome games. Someday I'll be good. ;)

I slept hard and feel great this morning. Staying active after long runs must be a key to recovery.

Back to School

I will forever be the blog-slacker. We've been back to school for a month but I'm just now taking official pictures and posting this from my phone in the back yard ... Because homeschoolers play outside on gorgeous school mornings instead of rushing to the bus stop. Were a little bit spoiled. ;)

So this school year will be our 5th at home and our 2nd year with Classical Conversations. We love our homeschool group and all of our friends. It's been the best experience for all of us.

Hudson is in 3rd grade this year. He's still the Lego designer extraordinaire . He's become a great helper, babysitting Adelle while I work with the middle two kids on their school work.

Pierce is in 1st grade this year. He's almost 6. He can read real books, add and subtract, and he's super proud of himself. In his spare time he's become a super spy. He even let's Alayna play this game with him. :)

Alayna is 4 and in pre-K, but does lots of kindergarten work. She's learning to read and loves doing school with the boys. She loves playing with Polly Pockets, and playing Spy or Security Guards with her brothers - ha!

Adelle is 2. Enough said! ;) She's a little spitfire of a girl in her tutu, holding her princess doll, jumping off the roof. I'm sure she's not the first of girls like this, but she's my first. Smart, tough, and lovely - icing on the cake folks!

Daddy is working hard for us, and playing hard with us when he gets home. I'm training, teaching classes, running, playing with the kids, etc.

We're thinking about putting our house on the market and shopping for something with a little more space a little further out of town. Let the caulking and painting and cleaning out and reorganizing commence.

It's going to be a busy day, folks. I better get moving!