1 Month Down and 8 more to go

Well, I'm now finished with the first month of "official" IM training. Until this week I hadn't missed a workout. Then the "ick" started knocking on my door Tuesday and I replied "the lady of the house is not home." Wednesday, I said "I'm not interested". But the thing about the "ick" is that it is the most persistent creature I know. So by Thursday I had invited it in for a cup of hot chocolate and missed my run. Then Friday was my day off, and the "ick" was polite enough to leave me alone temporarily. Saturday was a good workout, then the "ick" came back and said "uh hum, excuse me Angela. I enjoyed the hot chocolate so much, I'd like to stay for dinner and wait out the snow storm with you since you were so generous." Me and my stinkin' generosity! So I had to miss my brick session today. I'm drugged up, delirious, tired and just feeling like complete dog poo.

I've come to find out over the years, that the "ick" is not such a good house guest. It sucks you in making you believe that your are so nice and loved (with a false quick courtship) and then just smacks you around like a red headed step child bringing you back to the reality, that you too will eventually fall victim to it's inevitable filth and disgusting ways.

So to the "ick" I say...like the distant cousin that doesn't know when to leave...you are no longer welcome in my house. Please leave before I take drastic measures and call the doctor and really kick your @$$. Thank you and have a nice day. I'm ready to be back on training track thank you very much.

And before I completely forget...I haven't heard but I'm pretty sure that Dan and Natalie have had their baby. I'd love to know the stats and how things are going for you both. Natalie, hope you're feeling well and enjoying motherhood as much as you possibly can the first month!

Winter wonderland

This is what our Saturday morning was like today...sledding in, what is referred to as "the village" by all the neighbors. So the "villagers" were out in mass numbers this morning.

mommy, ryan and brayden. Notice who always has their eyes closed? But he loves it and can't wait to go again.

Alex, Brayden and Ryan in the wagon.

Me and Shauna

Mommy and Ryan on the linoleum sled...we ran out of regular sleds and had so many people that some of the neighbors (uh hum..Jonathan) decided to get old linoleum. By the way, it was the best slide out there for sure...except that your butt felt every bump on the way down.

Again, Ryan with his eyes closed!

Oh, I was wrong...the one shot with his eyes open, but notice there is no sled. He's on his bottom scooting down inches at a time. He so got that from me!I lovingly refer to this as the Brayden sandwich shot.

Big boys left to their own devices...we adults had as much fun as the kids. These are some of our neighbors Jonathan and Brian.
And following suit are Stephanie and Shauna...can't leave the girls out!

So all was well until Ryan threw snow and it hit Brayden in the face. Then it started snowing again and Brayden had had enough. So we came home, dried off and had some home made broccoli and cheese soup! Yum. Now Tim is watching Goodfellas with Chris and I'm about to embark on a 90 minute treadmill run in the garage while the kids nap. We've got poker and MMA tonight at our house. It should be a fun way to survive the snow storm...well at least for us it is one.

Little Green Thumb

Today is "Mommy/Ryan Day" as Brayden spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa last night and will not return until lunch time. When asked what he wanted to do today he replied "plant flowers." Uh, well it is the middle of winter and it is cold out but I knew immediately that he would not accept fake flowers or indoor planting...that's just not Ryan. Do it right or don't do it at all is he theory and he's too smart to pull one over on.

So off to Lowes this morning. We found some beautiful dark blood red pansies for our hanging porch baskets and some deep purple/white pansies for the flour beds out front. The next thing out of his smart little mouth "mom, we can't plant flowers without some water, they need water to grow. I think I need this sponge bob watering can." Seriously how do you say no? So we got the watering can. But I stopped him from getting the planting gloves, the spade and the pumpkin seeds...he was on a roll.

The entire car ride home he was so excited about planting his flowers and watering them...but I knew what was about to happen and he didn't let me down. When we got home, he helped with the first one and then sat down and said "I'm so proud of you mom, you're doing such a good job planting my flowers." And he just watched. Well, he kept yelling to the neighborhood "Hey everybody, come look at my pretty flowers." Then he proceeded to sing happy birthday to me at the top of his lungs for 15 minutes while I finished. He hasn't gotten the concept that birthdays are only one day. Oh well, it was fun and he sings really well so how can I complain.

Now he's on his third oatmeal, raisin almond cookie and I've got to hide the rest of them so daddy can have some tonight. I love Mommy/Ryan day!