8.26.2010

This Cracks Me Up......

Nike Girl has come home from school the past two days stating that she has been chosen to be a cheerleader for the boys kick ball team at recess. I asked her why she was not playing kickball because she loves kick ball. She said that all the girls need to cheer on the boys to make them run faster. I asked if she liked cheering and she said I guess. All the other girls do. End of conversation.
This morning she dressed for school with a white button down dress shirt with ruffled sleeves and a pink tailored skirt. She still chose her mountain climbing shoes. She had her hair pulled back in a slick ponytail and parted in the middle. Very flashy earrings.
I said , "Well don't you look ready to take on the world."  She looked at me and said, " I have decided to be an attorney for the boy's kickball team in case someone gets hurt and needs legal counsel." Yea. I had the same reaction. I just looked at her and said, "Great plan Erin Brockovich, get your lunch we are going to be late." She just gave me one of those you are crazy mommy looks.

Peace.
The " New Balance" Gal

8.25.2010

Date Night

Aww..date night. Over the years, we have found ourselves evolve through two very distinct phases of date night. The first I shall refer to as Pre-Kid Era Date Night. The night would start as soon as we got home from work. I wasn't really even tired. I would actually shower again then fix my hair, apply foundation, eyeshadow with a brush, and even mascara followed with that medieval eyelash curling device that makes you cringe every time you use it. Then I would iron my trendy new outfit and put on jewelry then head out the door.  We would usually  find a new restaurant, go to friends' houses, take in a ballgame or sit through a late night movie. Ok, maybe not late night as I have never been much of a night owl. The end of the date we would usually  take the dog for a long walk when we got home admiring the night sky. We admittedly took this phase for granted.

Now we have entered the Post-Kid Era Date Night coupled with middle age. Sigh.....I know there are many disturbing descriptive words used in that last sentence. This last Friday night looked something like this....I wanted to celebrate Converse's birthday with something  special. So I made reservations at a quaint little bistro that looked affordable but charming. I decided to be a little fancy for the evening. So I started to straighten my hair. A simple task in theory. In the process of straightening my hair, Weebok decides to find a marker and within a flash of a second she is tagging her entire face and body.  Nice honey, paper next time please. So I run some bath water and clean her up. Half my hair is straightened. She gets out of the tub and smiles again only this time nature called on the bathroom rug. Back in the tub she goes. Take rug to laundry. Nike Girl enters the picture and wants to fix my hair. So I let her try. Rules though of no big bows allowed. She actually was very helpful. Despite sweating with all the heat that had built up in the bathroom, I managed to apply foundation, eyeshadow applied with finger as I can not find the brush, and even a little mascara. All I need is lip gloss. Hannah Montana lip gloss would have to do as I couldn't find mine. Wow I am going all out. Throw on a wrinkled dress. Tell the girls bye and we head out the door only 10 minutes late. Pretty good. The evening was fun. We actually were able to finish sentences. The night ended with a lightning storm from Mother Nature. Thank goodness we parked close to the front doors. Converse enjoyed his birthday and so did I.

I guess Pre-Kid and Post Kid Date Nights really are not that much different when you think about it. Both result in  great memories despite the path you have to take to get you ready to head out the door.

Happy Birthday Converse!


Peace.
The "New Balance" Gal

Running Report: 11miles on Sunday early am. Lots of rolling hills.Good solid run. Not the best not the worst. The build up is always so slow and hard. Once the miles get up there running becomes fun again. I am waiting, patiently. I think all the carbs I ate at Date Night helped. Maybe we should have date night again this weekend. Wishful thinking.

8.18.2010

One Foot In Front of the Other

Entry Three:
The months and eventually years went by after I announced that I was going to run a marathon. I continued to run most days but never could bring myself to sign up for even a 5K. That inner voice always said that I was a jogger not a runner. That inner voice existed until we moved to Dallas and I met a co-worker who forever changed my running path. 
One day at work running came up. I mentioned that one day I would love to run a marathon but then mumbled how impossible that sounded. My friend asked why that would be impossible. I mumbled several excuses in a row. She invited me to run with her the next weekend. I am so glad I showed up that morning. She took me under her wing. After several months of running with my friend, she had talked me into doing my first race which happened to be a half-marathon.
I remember the half-marathon, which was 10 years ago, like it happened yesterday. I was so nervous I ended up running it somewhere between 10 and 11 minute miles. I vividly remember getting beat by two yellow labs and their owner. Converse loves to tell that story. But I finished and I was hooked and very very crippling sore.
Within 2 years we had moved again so no more running buddy. I did, however, find, a wooded trail that circled the most beautiful little lake by our new house. That was where I started training for my first marathon. The Walt Disney Marathon, it was suppose to be flat and fast. Sign me up.
During the training runs, which I did by myself, I learned about blisters, chafing, poor fitting shoes, and the importance of water and food. During my training runs, I saw lots of snakes and eagles, raccoons and deer, rain and sunshine. I was one with nature on that trail. It did my soul good. After 18 weeks of training, I was ready to get on the plane and follow by dream to the land of promised record speed and entertainment at every mile. I was goin' to Disney World baby.
To be continued.....

Peace,
The "New Balance" Gal

Running Report: Still training. I run 3 days a week and then one long run followed by a short work out the aches and pain run the next day. I took on a monster hill last weekend. It was relentless. God sent me a distraction though as there were two beautiful fuzzy lost dogs with collars and tags on running along side me. I tried to reach for their collars to get their names but they thought it was a game. Once we all made it to the top of the hill they darted into a neighborhood like they knew where they belonged. It was early in the am so not much traffic, thank goodness. I am running around 9:20-9:40 minute miles over the distance. Slowly getting faster. Fingers crossed. Hope you have a blessed day.

8.17.2010

Summertime means........

Surfin'
Carefree Wild Hair
First Carousel Rides
Backyard Fun
Super Hereos
Brown Backyard Grass
New "Enjoyable" Experiences
Make-Believe Cooking Shows
Fun Redneck Water Slides
pseudo-Cirque du Soleil
Nature Hikes and Waterfalls
Running and Running and Running some more
Flower Child
Butterfly Gardens
Sand Art

Long Naps



Good Times, Good Memories, Good Summer.
Great God.

Peace.
The "New Balance" Gal

8.01.2010

Sally on the Mend

We started naming our cars after taking Nike Girl to the movie "Cars".She insisted in the parking lot of the movie theater that Converse's truck would be Mater and our family car would be Sally. The names have stuck after all these years.
On Friday, Sally got a boo boo as Weebok simply states.(Yes, she is still speaking her second language, BooBoo).  She has no idea, of course, how thankful we are to not  have real boo boo's. In a split second, things could have changed for all of us. I was driving along minding my own business with Nike Girl and Weebok in the back. Nana was in town visiting, so she was in the car, too. I remember entering the busy intersection when all the sudden I had to quickly hit my brakes as the traffic slowed in front of me. I glanced in my rearview mirror only to see a car approaching us from behind not even hitting the brakes.

I remember briefly thinking, this is going to hurt. My mind and body prepared for the crunch. I can not even tell you how fear overcame me instantly with the girls in the backseat. It felt like I hesitated a moment to even turn around. Then I heard Nike Girl say, " What just happened Mommy?" I , of course, usually a non-crier, was instantly crying and told her someone hit us with their car. Weebok was just sitting in her car seat looking at me. She is a quiet soul anyways so I made a funny face at her and asked if she was ok. There was the dimple on her cheek when she smiles that big toothy grin. She was fine. After Converse arrived on the scene, we took her to the doctor just for our peace of mind. Nike Girl had no complaints other than the tight seatbelt across her shoulder. We were all shook up but fine even the driver in the other car. So very, very thankful!  
Once we got home, I had a chance to talk to Nike Girl. I said that Mommy is very thankful to God that we were kept safe today. She looked at me and said, " You know mommy, I already talked to God upstairs in my room. I told him thank you and he said , "Your welcome".  No words can describe the feeling you have when your child takes it upon themselves to talk to God and start building that personal relationship. Warm fuzzies!
So Sally is on the Mend. I am not sure how they will fix her. I do know for sure that thankfulness is the word of the week.

Peace.
The " New Balance" Girl

Running Report: 10 today in the early am before the heat index rises to an unbelievable number. It was a great run with a running buddy I hadn't ran with in awhile. Lots to be thankful for as my mind drifted on the run this morning. Hope you have a good day!