6 Miles Baby!

That's all I have to say - I haven't done that in 10 years. I'd do the happy dance but I'm too sore so I'll just do the chair dance. Everyone do it with me! WooHoo! WooHoo!

Visit to the 1st Grade

This afternoon I got the chance to go to Makenna's class to read our Easter Bunny story and make our Easter Bunny car treat. She was so excited for me to come. I have to soak it up now because I know eventually, they won't want me there! Anyways, the kids all loved it, especially making the car and eating it. Who wouldn't love chocolate, marshmallow and frosting? Next week I get to go to Maddi's class. Hopefully they will ahve fun too.

Zeke is doing better today. His fever seems to be gone. Olivia and Maddi seem to be better too. Dillon is now complaining of a sore throat so we'll see what happens. As long as there's no more throwing up I'll be fine!

Running

I ran my two miles this morning. The weather was great. Much better than yesterday. I am really sore so I'm not sure what 6 miles will bring Saturday. I love the feeling of running. It makes me feel like I am accomplishing something. It makes me feels trong. It makes me more aware of everything else in life. I am looking forward to the 10K in a few weeks. It's one more step forward. It's one more step proving to myself that I can do it. My body has been through a lot with 6 babies and one miscarriage in just over 6 years. Now it is gaining strength and even though it may not look how I want it to look, it feels good. I have heard through my life that being overweight means your lazy or your a slob. Not true. But when I gained all this weight from babies, I felt like less of a person because of things like that that I had heard. It has been very hard emotionally to deal with. All the emotions of my timid childhood over took me agian and I became unsure and self conscious. Now, I am feeling stronger and I am proud of what me and my body have accomplished together. I've given birth many times, I take care of my family, I've moved many times, I serve in my church callings and now I am running. It feels good. It helps me. I'm grateful for the chance I have to do it. I'm grateful for the support I get from family and friends and I'm grateful for the strength that my body has to do yet another challenge.

Spoke too soon!

Well, I spoke too soon yesterday. Zeke ended up getting a fever and throwing up. Luckily it was in the bathroom and not on the couch. He is doing much better this morning. Hopefully the rest will not get it! Cross your fingers.

Morning at the Doctor

Maddi had been complaining of a sore throat today so I made her a doctor appointment this morning. She wanted to go to school because they were having testing so I let her go. The little kids and I had to leave about 9:30 to go get her from school. Then we went to the doctors. We had to be there 30 minutes early to fill out paperwork (lots of fun). Then we had to go wait for the doctor. It didn't take too long. We were put in the smallest room but at least there were toys in there. The docotor about fell over when he opened the door and saw so many kids in there. He started asking questions about the number of kids, if they were all mine, how old they were, etc... They did a strep test on Maddi but it turned out negative. Afterwards we went to Walmart to get throat spray and other stuff. Maddi had to get a new pair of shoes. Hers had holes in the bottom and her feet would get wet when she went outside because the water was leaking in through the soles. Everyone was tired, hungry and grumpy when we left so we grabbed something to eat on the way home. Zeke said he didn't feel good. He got really pale so I took everything away from him and moved the groceries from under his feet - just in case he started puking. We made it home with no problems. It was almost 1pm when we got home. Maddi will stay home the rest of the day. Olivia will take a nap while the others watch a movie and I will go get some exercise in. Long morning for all, but at least we don't have the nasty snow to contend with like the rest of the state does today!

Fun with Friends

Yesterday we had a fun afternoon with the Olsens. They came down and we got to play outside, drive the horse and cart and play in the newly finished basement. We had pizza, treats and tons of fun. It was definitely a visit that we all needed and enjoyed. Here are a few pictures from the day.

5K

Saturday I ran my 5K. There was quite a few people there. There were some pretty serious runners. I was one of the few not so serious runners that did the 5K because they also had a 2 mile run/walk that most of the people like me did. It was fun though. I did my personal best and shaved off about 30 seconds per mile. The weather was good, I actually overdressed for it and ended up extremely hot about half way through. Anyways, it was a good experience and the first time I have run one. I hve only been running for 5 weeks now so I feel good about my accomplishments. Next up is a 10K in April. Hopefully I will be able to make it there. For now I am focusing on the current task of 4 miles in the morning when it's cold!

WOO HOO!!

WE FINALLY HAVE CARPET DONWSTAIRS!! They just left a few minutes ago. I am so excited. It has been a while waiting for this to happen. Now we can finally finish moving in!

Another WooHoo for me today. I put on a pair of pants this morning that previously created a muffin top (if you know what I mean) and today - no muffin top! They actually fit. I feel so good. I still have a long ways to go, but I'm slowly getting there.

Tomorrow is my 5K race. Wish me luck!

Little Artists

I am so frustrated with my children and their coloring habits. I shouldn't say all the children, mostly just the boys. For some reason they find the need to color on EVERYTHING! Makenna does from time to time but has gotten better, the boys on the other hand... Dillon a while back colored with red crayon all over the wall in our dining room and hallway. This house was just freshly painted before we moved in. Dillon spent some time scrubbing that off. Later, after Michael and I had spent a weekend painting the basement, we went downstairs to find art work on 3 of the 4 walls. This time done by scratching a nail over the wall. After several finger points, we learned that Makenna, Zane and Dillon did that. That had to be painted again because it wouldn't wipe off. They all had to pay Michael for repainting it. This morning I found an ink circle on the brand new kitchen floor. Zeke finally confessed to that one. Then tonight as I went to snuggle the boys up, I found that Dillon had ink scribbles all over his sheet - I mean all over! It was his cowboy sheet. Dillon and Zane had done that while they were supposed to be cleaning their room. They denied it for a while and then finally confessed to it. They both got spanked - once for telling a lie and once for doing it. I was so angry! It's not like I don't provide these children with paper! They know the rules - they've all been punished in the past for it. They know it's wrong because they lie about it! Anyways, I am so frustrated! I don't remember any of us coloring on the walls, or floors, or bedding when we were little! They have coloring books, paper, contruction paper, notepads, why do they have to color on the house and their belongings? After getting in trouble they did go to sleep very quickly, so at least I have some peace and quiet while waiting for Michael to come home. Maybe one of them will be a famous artist! Get your autographs now.

New Furniture!

Last night Michael and I brought home our new couch and chair and 1/2 with an ottoman. I found them on Craigs List and fell in love with them. I got $150 off the asking price, which I was excited about. The little kids and I went and looked at them yesterday morning. They are almost brand new. The couch is about 2 years old and the chair is less than 1 year old. They are sage green, microfiber, and have been scotchguarded. It was just a young girl that owned them. She has joined the National Guard so needed to sell them before she headed to Texas. Anyways, I benefited from it and am very excited. I have wanted couches like this for years and never thought I would get them. The kids like them too - especially jumping from the ottoman to the chair or pretending to get stuck in the hole between them. Great fun!

I also got to go pick out carpet for our basement yesterday. I am excited to be one step closer to getting that done. Hopefully it will be soon. That is pretty much all we need to finish it all up down there.

Michael left early this morning to head to Waverly, Iowa (I think) to a horse sale. He went with a few guys from work. They said they would stay until they ran out of money - either tomorrow or Friday. Kind of throws a kink in my running but hopefully it won't throw me off track too much. The kids and I will be looking for fun ways to pass the time.