Snow Days!

Here in Preston County we tend to get a lot of snow days. In fact, last year we only had 1 or 2, and that was a very abnormal year! This year we have already had quite a few. I don't mind snow days really, but as a mom of 3 I've gotten used to a certain routine and schedule, and snow days really mess with the flow of our household.

Travis is about to turn 5, so he is the only one in school, Pre-K. Normally Don takes him to school on his way to work, and then I pick him up at 1. When we have a 2 hour delay I take him to school at about 9:30 and then I have to turn right around and pick him up at 1. There is not a lot of time to get stuff done on those days, considering it takes me a half hour just to get the babies in the car!
Today is our third snow day, thanks to those pesky Alberta clippers. I've decided that Pintrest has become my savior on these days. Why, you ask, well, lets start from the beginning....

I started Pintrest about a year ago. For about a year I had no idea what I was doing, or what it was all about. I pinned stuff from websites occasionally, but I didn't really know how it worked with the whole sharing thing, so when I figured it out, it changed my world! Now I am addicted!
One day I saw a cartoon pin that said something about "honey, you better bring home some dinner because I've been too busy pinning nutritional recipes to cook dinner." I thought, wow, that's so true. I've pinned all this stuff, but I've done nothing. So, I've decided to start actually doing some of my pins.

On Friday I made a crock pot stew recipe from Pintrest. It turned out great, and I didn't have to go to the store to get anything, I just used stuff I had in my fridge that needed to be used, like my potatoes, carrots, celery, and sweet potatoes, and of course some deer meet. This comes in really handy, because I live 4 miles from a store, and that's just the dollar store, so my options are limited.

After I was done throwing that all into my crock pot, I decided I would clean the microwave using something I saw on Pintrest. "1 c vinegar + 1 c hot water + 10 min microwave = steam clean! Totally works. No more scum, no funky smells. Easy Peasy!(need to try mine needs cleaning)". It cleaned pretty well, but it also needed a bit of scrubbing, nothing is ever really easy.

Since that went so well, I cleaned the toilets with vinegar via a Pintrest recommendation. This also went pretty well. The only problem, my house was smelling of zucchini bread and beef stew, after all that cleaning it was smelling like vinegar, but it only lingered for a couple hours.

Yesterday I decided to try a craft with the kids, since it was a snow day and I can only keep them happy with toys for so long. Again I went to Pintrest for something I had pinned months ago. I took all of our old crayons and cut them up. Pre-heat the oven to 250 F, put pieces of different colors of crayons in a mini cupcake mold (don´t forget to use paper cups or spray the mold with vegetable oil). Place the mold in the oven and let it melt for about 10 minutes, they melt very fast. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely before giving them to the kids. Even Eileen could help with this craft. They came out great and now we have favors for Travis' birthday party this weekend.

The Kids Crafting

our finished crayons

More Pintrest goodies next time....
I am progressing in my running finally. I'm not crossfitting very much, but as they say, the best way to get better at running is to run! I am still doing some "weights", and I've decided to do a pushup challenge that I found on...you guessed it, Pintrest! We'll see how that goes. I am focusing more on my core too. I think I've decided that the Plank is THE best possibly exercise for the core. Again, I'm still testing this theory. Tonight it is to the track for some 600 meter repeats. Hopefully my calves will hold up. And just in case you were wondering, if you are having calf issues, I highly recommend compression sleeves or socks. I have been wearing the compression sleeves. I know I need a massage big time, but who has time for that?

Pic of the week, Travis reliving his youth, he will be 5 on Sunday!

This blog post brought to you by Sesame Street!

What would I do without Wireless?

As we all know it has been frigidly cold this past week. Although I do have a nice weather cover for my Kelty double stroller, I really would not subject my children to that kind of cold (although I've read where they do it all the time in Sweden or Norway...one of those cold countries). So this week I've had to get creative with running and it's worked out pretty well.

Monday I got to run at Big Bear Lake while my babysitters watched the kids for me. What I would do without them I do not know! Then Tuesday I had an already scheduled indoor track workout with a couple of training partners. I realize I am VERY lucky to have access to the indoor track.

Wednesday I ran on the treadmill. This is where the wireless part comes in. I do not have cable or dish down in the basement where my treadmill is. I have tons of VHS and DVD's to watch, but after 8 years I have watched all of them more times than I can count. So now what I like to do is either watch a show on my new Nexus Tablet or bring the laptop down to watch a free show online. It's so nice! It keeps my mind off the fact that I am just a giant gerbil in my basement going no where.  (I just had a thought, maybe I could be like Ed Begley Jr. and make my own electricity, but then, I need electricity to work the treadmill...nevermind).

Thursday I was lucky enough to get outside and run on the rail trail while my wonderful (he really is wonderful, that's not just fluff) husband watched the kids during his lunch hour. The only problem here was that snow had fallen overnight and as soon as I started running my calf tightened up. I was not about to let that ruin an opportunity to run outside with my training partners, so I soldiered on and then hobbled around the house the rest of the day. I wish I could figure out why my calves keep knotting up. I guess I just need to go get a massage. Anyone want to watch my kids while I go get a massage. LOL!

Today I will be back on the treadmill since it is not only cold, but now it is snowing like crazy. We'll see how the calf holds up. 30 minutes is all I need for my streak!

ONTO EATING!
I'm on a sweet potato kick lately, so last night I decided to make some sweet potato pancakes and some sweet potato biscuits. The kids loved them and I loved them too. I just went with the Bisquick recipe for both and added in the mashed sweet potatoes. Yummy! Travis had his pancakes with honey and syrup!

I have some avocado in the fridge that needs eaten, so I've been thinking about making avocado & egg salad. I always have eggs that need eaten! Lately I've been cooking the eggs in a muffin pan in the oven for 15 minutes so we have basically hard boiled eggs that don't need peeled. It's very convenient. Of course I find all of these great ideas on Pintrest which I am now addicted too.

This blog post is brought to you thanks to Travis being at school, Tyler being asleep for more than 10 minutes (a rarity) and Eileen drinking a bottle which always occupies her time.

Daddy put Tyler in the laundry basket!

New Year New....Same old same old!

OKAY.... here we go again. I'm doing pretty good on my New Year's resolutions, so I might as well try this one again, again. I'm sure you can sympathize with me, being a mom of 3 along with a job and coaching and trying to get in runs at the same time. So I'm thinking you don't mind that I only write a post every 3 months or so, every time saying I will do this more often. LOL, I swear, I will do this more often.

Right now I am doing some work from home. I have been doing some computer work in the loft while my two older children fight over toys down below. It's so stupid really, "Get away from me, play with your own toys.. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH". I want to gouge my eyes out. I know that in a couple hours I will drag my three children to the track, give them toys and some dinner to occupy them while I try to get through a track workout without someone crying or hurting themselves. If I can do that, I will be okay for the day.

Done with my rant, on with my resolutions.
1. I'm trying to stop biting my nails. I've been biting my nails since before I can remember. It's a disgusting habit, I know, and my husband hates it. I've gone 2 weeks with no biting. I find the key is to keep them nicely manicured with a pretty polish.
2. I started going to church again. This past Sunday was the first time in a while. I picked a kid friendly church where I know a lot of people. It worked out great! I hope the trend continues.
3.My little running streak. I had one going after Tyler was born, but right before the holidays I got sick/injured and I took a few days off, so I officially restarted my streak in the New Year. My streak is I have to get in 30 minutes of running every day. The official streakers website says 1 mile, but my streak is more for fitness reasons, so I am opting for 30 minutes!

That's pretty much it. I am done with the official Crossfit craze because of time, membership money, and gas money. I will do mostly body weight workouts from home, focusing on my abs which, lets face it, need a lot of work after 3 babies in 4 years. I did a modified Paleo for 6 weeks and didn't see too much of a change for me, but decided that I really need carbs. Carbs are my friend. Now that I am back to a carb friendly diet and trying to up my running mileage I am getting leaner again, around the middle, where I need it. I have a little over 3 months before I get completely discouraged, meaning....They say it takes you 9 months to get this way (fat), so it will take 9 months to get back (not fat).

This is the end of this post because Tyler is in his walker screaming his head off!

Are we there yet?

Thanksgiving week! Hunting season, Turkey Trots, and driving hours for a large meal and tons of family. I don't know what I'm most excited about!

Tomorrow I embark on my 6 hour drive to the NY/NJ Metropolitan area with 3 little kids and no husband (poor man has to work). :( No worries, I've done the drive before by myself a million times, just not with 3 kids. In my head I have it all planned out.. stop every two hours to stretch our legs, get some air, and change diapers. Travis will be able to watch a DVD in the truck for the first time. Eileen is a little too young for the DVD's, but she should be fine, and I'm hoping Tyler just sleeps the whole way.
Now, here is how it's really going to go. Travis will get car sick watching the DVD's, but will insist on watching them because the kid would watch videos until his eyes bled. Eileen will have a major pooptastrophy and require multiple changes of clothes along with being cranky and whiny the whole day, and Tyler will scream for at least half the trip. I might bring some ear plugs just in case!

On to the Turkey Trotting....
This past weekend I rode in my first ever cyclocross race. I haven't ridden my bike in a very long time, and my sit bones were sore just from riding one lap on Friday, but I think I did ok, and I'm glad I did it.  It felt really good to be on my bike again, and you have to take the opportunity when you get it. This race was at our house, so I didn't have to pack the kids up and take them to a baby sitter.
On Sunday I did have to pack the kids up and take them to the babysitter. When I thought I had everything ready and I was going to put the kids in the car, Eileen with a poopy diaper. Never Fails! I still made it in plenty of time. I ran the Rowlesburg 5k and got my ass kicked by a high school kid. I knew it was going to happen, but it didn't make it any easier to take. What do I expect though, I'm still carrying 10 extra pounds and I haven't done any speed work, in fact, that was my speed work. On Thursday I will run a 5 miler which will be my second hard run postpartum. I'm hoping the plan of going out more conservatively this time will help with the hurt.

Paleo during the holidays....
The past week or so I've been pretty good with my diet. It is a team challenge, after all, so I feel I have to bring it! But this is Thanksgiving week, and I'm just saying right now that I will be eating everything in sight on Thursday, it's only right. That's the problem with being on a "diet" this time of year. I have three parties this weekend, then the Holiday party season will be in full swing in the coming weeks. I believe our challenge ends on Christmas Eve, I have a feeling I'll have many cheats between now and then!

Recipes....
Last week I made Paleo Beef Stew. I made mine with deer meat and it was awesome! I would highly recommend it! Unfortunately Travis is in a picky eating phase, so of course he wouldn't even try it. Eileen will eat just about anything though, so it only makes my life slightly harder when I have to make something else for Travis.
I can say I've eaten mostly bacon, sweet potatoes, eggs, chicken, salmon, and deer meat so far, and of course lots of veggies. Everything I've made has been great though. I highly recommend sweet potato hash with eggs on top, cooked in bacon fat of course!

Prepping for Beef Stew

Finished Stew with Avocado

Travis' Self Portrait

Mom's Self Portrait pre-cyclocross race!

To Paleo or not to Paleo?

Okay, before I get too far away from a post (like another 10 months) I will post! Here are the challenges to myself this winter!

Challenge 1: I am on week number 4 of Crossfit (google it). It's crazy, but good crazy. My friend Leah turned me on to it, and boy do I need it! Having 3 babies in 5 years does not bode well for the body. Although I managed to get myself in pretty good running shape in between each baby, I neglected my overall fitness. At 37 years old I am losing muscle strength anyway, so I figured I better get on it.
Right now I am going three times a week, and I am very sore most days (it's a good sore! I swear!)
I get my run in on the rail trail after class which means I am very tired while running. On the days in between I just run and maybe do some abs. I haven't done any real running workouts yet, so I'm hoping that all this strength training will pay off when I start trying to pour on the speed. It can't hurt, right? Or can it?

Challenge 2: Cook more...again. I'm thinking of trying this whole Paleo craze (google it! LOL)! I'm not totally sold on Paleo because it cuts out so many carbs that I am used to since I am a runner. Also, I just never really buy into a craze because I am a firm believer in "calories in and calories out", or "you ate in, negate it!" But I have seen the power of Paleo in action. They are doing a Paleo challenge at the gym for six weeks, so maybe I will take the challenge. Although, those six weeks run through Thanksgiving, and that means no stuffing or mashed potatoes. Come on! That's just not right! I live for the Thanksgiving meal which is why I try to find a Turkey Trot to run before I stuff myself. I feel I must earn my dinner.

Challenge 3: Be a better Mommy. I guess really this should be challenge 1 because it should be highest on my priority list. My two eldest children are at challenging ages. Travis will be 5 in February and Eileen will be 2 in March. Sometimes I find myself going through a day where all I've done is yelled or told them don't do this or don't do that. I have little patience sometimes, and they like to push each others buttons as well as mine. For example, last night while making dinner, the baby was crying...loudly, Eileen was whining...incessantly, and Travis was singing the Batman theme song. I just soldiered on figuring if I get dinner on the table Eileen will stop whining, Travis will stop singing, and I can pick up the baby so he will stop crying. Otherwise, I will start drinking. ;)

So, on Monday I will start my challenge, because Travis has been out of school since October 29th, and he goes back on Tuesday, and also the Paleo challenge starts on Monday. Right now I am baking my second loaf of Pumpkin Bread trying to perfect my recipe!

 Photo of the week!

Eileen as Tinkerbell

Has it been 10 months?

Last time I blogged I was getting ready to run Rehobeth Marathon in Delaware with my friend and training partner Ron. I didn't even realize that I didn't write a blog post about how the marathon went until a friend reminded me. So here it goes, and then some!

I went into the marathon feeling a bit sick and rundown. Now, at the time I had an 8 month old who wasn't sleeping through the night, so I just figured I had yet another cold and I would try to run through it. I did everything I usually do to prepare and I just hoped for the best. I stuck to my game plan the morning of the race. I went in hoping I could possibly win, which would be a first for my marathon career. In the early morning light I saw what appeared to be a fast woman! Dang it! Maybe she's just trying to run sub-3 like me, or even trying to get the last ditch Olympic Trials qualifier in, where she may wind up blowing up and I'll blow by her late in the race and win. Whatever..I just wanted to run sub-3 and chalk up another marathon!

It turned out to be a very windy day on the Delaware shoreline. I was feeling okay at first, but by the time I got to about mile 10 I was whooped. Oh well! I had second place pretty well sewn up, and I had never placed second in a marathon, so I was determined to finish. Somewhere around mile 16 my training partner blew by me. He didn't say much, just left me in the dust. I didn't have it in me to try and stay with him. I had just enough mental fortitude to make it back to the finish.

As we all know with marathons, sometimes you just don't have a good day. I was glad I didn't quit, but I was very disappointed in my efforts. I ran 3:07, well off my personal best, and over 10 minutes off of what I had hoped to run. After the race my partner and I went to the Dogfish Head Brewery so I could drown my sorrows. (I really don't drink very much, so this involved about 2 beers.) Then on home we went.

In the days after the marathon I didn't run much and I was already planning my attack on a fast 5k in March. I noticed my stomach getting a little pudgy. I thought, "well, I've not been running much and it is the holiday season, guess I better lay off the cookies!"

On Christmas Eve morning I went for a 10 mile run with some of my regular running partners. We had a great run, and I don't remember feeling bad, but something told me I should make a stop on the way home and get a pregnancy test. So I did, and it was positive.

I waited in the kitchen for Don to get home so I could give him our good news, our third child had been well on his way for a few weeks. He had even accompanied me in my marathon, all the time sucking the life out of me so that I had barely anything left to battle the wind for 26 miles.

So here I am, so many months later, with a nearly 7 week old, embarking on the same journey I have already been on twice before. I am 37 years old and I have 3 children under the age of 5. Exactly whose idea this was I do not know, but I can tell you it wasn't mine. But, so far so good. Our new little bundle of joy, Tyler Joseph, enjoys the double stroller, and older brother Travis is in Pre-K until 1pm, so I just have to make sure I can get my running in by the time I have to pick up Travis. Or maybe I need a triple stroller!

Today I was given the okay for full on exercise. I've been running for almost 4 weeks straight. I am trying to maintain a running streak. We'll see how it goes. Soon I will have to go down in the basement and dust off the old treadmill!

Travis, Tyler, and Eileen!

Taper Time

After months of training I can no longer put off the inevitable. The marathon is coming...Saturday!  I've never run a marathon this late in the year. The weather looks to be pretty good, albeit cold. 27 degrees at the start...BRR!
But I am ready. I'm not going after the time that I had originally hoped for, but I was under the influence of pain meds when I set that goal back in April.

I can easily say that this is the sickest I've been ever in my life. I feel like I've battled the same little cold just about every month since June. That's what happens when you have 2 little ones and one is in daycare and the other doesn't sleep more than 4 hours at a time. Don has been good enough to put both kids to bed this week so I can get over this latest cold and be healthy and rested for Saturday. I am feeling much better and I only have an annoying cough remaining.

This is taper week, which of course means a lot less running and letting the body rest and recover from the months of hard training I've put in. I don't do the usual taper. I taper down my long runs, but not really my regular runs until the final week. This time around I started a week early mainly because I was sick last week. I did my usual 10 mile long run on Sunday and then my usual 8x500 meter repeats on Tuesday. Now it is 4 miles a day and rest, rest, rest!

I have a nasty habit of thinking beyond the race when it gets to be this time. I am already thinking about how I will recover next week and when I will start my new training program. I am kicking around the idea of trying out Crossfit for a while. I feel that not only have I lost the usual muscle you lose with age, but I also lost muscle and strength during my pregnancies. I feel I still have fast times in me, but I'm going to have to get stronger to get there again. I also want to work on speed, so no spring marathon for me!! But, I have to remind myself first things first, lets get through Saturday!

Recipe of the Week
Hash Brown Quiche
3 cups shredded hash brown potatoes
1/3 cup butter, melted
seasoning salt to taste
1 cup diced cooked ham
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste 
 
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). 
Press hash browns onto the bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie dish. Drizzle with melted butter, and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until beginning to brown.
In a small bowl, combine ham, onion and shredded cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and a little seasoning salt. When crust is ready, spread ham mixture on the bottom, then cover with egg mixture.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until filling is puffed and golden brown. 

Don loved this, but said he prefers the regular crust, so I will try it again, only with the regular pie crust and no onions, because I thought they were a bit overwhelming. 


Pic of the Week

 
                 The Kids with Grandpa Parks, aka.. Santa