All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy...

That pretty much sums up spring break.  I took last week off to be home with the boys.  What was meant to be a "stay-cation" turned into a "work-cation".  Hubby has been working like a mad man for the last two months and there was a mountain of things to do around the house.  I didn't even touch a computer last week so I have a lot of catching up to do in the blog world.  Speaking of catching up...I am back at work...I have a ton to do....I'll try and keep this brief....try.
FYI this is the second time I am writing this post.  The first time I accidentally deleted it.....and so completes my spring break....

BTW Alice in Wonderland was fantastic!!! We actually saw it twice in 3D last week it was so good! Definitely recommend it! If your kids are able to watch the Narnia movies they should be able to watch this no problem.

Here is my week in review.  

I'll start with my running.
Last Sunday I ran 15 miles.  I felt surprisingly good, my legs felt strong(thank you Jillian Michaels). My running went down hill from there.  Monday 3 miles. Tuesday nothing. Wednesday nothing. Thursday 3 miles. Friday 1.5 miles. Saturday and Sunday nothing.  Today is the No Boundaries group run.  I am leaving straight from work to get to the track early and put in 8 miles before everyone gets there. To meet my goal of 100 miles this month I have to do about 5 miles a day for the rest of the month.  Totally doable.

Monday, rainy and cold. We watched movies and played games until the boys got totally bored with me. The rest of the day I did laundry.  Literally the rest of the day.......Spring Break off to a great start.

Tuesday, more rain and cold. I woke up to an all too familiar, horrible, smell.  The smell of mildew.  I found another water leak.  If you remember we just finished repairing the water damage that we found in Littlest Prince's room.  Thankfully we already repaired the source of the leak this damage just took a little longer to be visible...or smellable.  So my morning was consumed with making preparations for that repair.
Thankfully the neighbor boy was home and Little Prince and Middle Prince went to his house to play. Littlest Prince played with army men and followed me around every where "helping".
Tuesday afternoon,I painted the ceiling in our guest bathroom, apparently, I forgot to paint it last year when we painted everything else.

Wednesday, I decided we were going to get out of the house and I would do yard work.  I spent the next 8hrs running back and forth to Lowe's, airing up tires on the lawn mower, putting the utility trailer together, and trying to get the hedge-trimmer to crank.

Thursday, the sun came out and it warmed up to 70! I was ready to do yard work. This time everything was prepared.  Thankfully the boys LOVE to be outside.  We spent the next 2 days outside from sun-up to sun-down.

Friday, more yard work.  Started a worm farm with Middle Prince, and dug a "bunch" of holes in the mud with Littlest Prince.
Friday afternoon I went to the podiatrist to pick up my orthotics(they have been ready for 3 weeks).  I have also been having some pain in the ball of my left foot that radiates into my big toe.  He gave me an anti-inflammatory patch to wear and wants me to go back in 2weeks.  He said it might feel better after I've been wearing the inserts for a while.  I like them....the orthotics...they feel pretty good.  I haven't wore them on a run yet, so we will see tonight how they do.

Saturday, I was supposed to run the Rocket Run 10 miler, I didn't.  Two reasons, #1 No babysitter, #2 it was a work day at church where everyone comes and plants flowers and we do any repairs that need to be done on the grounds.  We(me and the boys) finished around noon.  The rest of the day we just played.

Sunday, church in the morning, nap, church in the evening.  Sundays are my favorite.  They are the days I feel like I get recharged.  I had been feeling like I was starting to lose my joy.  I let myself get so busy that I hadn't spent very much time in the Word or in prayer.  When you get distracted by your circumstances it is easier for the enemy to come in an steal your joy and your hope...and depression can set in.....I was reminded of this scripture. "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." -Psalm 16:11
I hadn't spent enough time in His presence.  That is easy to fix. Less distraction, more prayer, more reading the bible.

So that sums it up. I got a ton crossed off my to-do list, the boys swear it was the worst spring break ever...I assured them that it won't be the worst. 


Oh, oh!!! I got a package in the mail last week!!! I had totally forgot about winning the Champion Giveaway from Run,Zoe,Run!
This is what I won:
Champion Purple Double Dry Seamless Top (size M) 
Champion Black Double Dry Fitted workout pants - M
Champion Black Double Dry Running Jacket  - L

Everything fit perfectly!!! I wore the whole ensemble on my 15miler last week and loved it!! I have had a ton of compliments on the jacket too! My favorite part is that the sleeves on the shirt and jacket are long enough for my amazon arms!!! Love it!
I will post a picture later this week!  Thank you so much Zoe!!!

Did any of you watch the Cantore Stories on the Weather Channel yesterday? It was called "Surviving Death Valley" it was about the 2009 Badwater UltraMarathon.  It was amazing to see!! Dean Karnazes is a rock star!! Click HERE  to see some of it!

I have 48 followers...I am amazed that there are 48 people interested in my ramblings.  I have decided that when I hit 50 I will be hosting a celebratory giveaway!  I have been thinking about it for a while and I'm very excited about it!

If you're new to my blog, welcome! If you're not new, thanks for stopping by!  I love reading your comments and feedback!

Grace and peace,

A Little of This & That

RUN
I really don't have anything pressing or inspiring to post. Just a little of this and a little of that.
I had a great run today! I ran 5.2 miles at a 9:30 pace.  It was beautiful out, 60 degrees and sunny.  Feels like an early spring day. I've been taking it kind of easy this week and have kept my daily mileage under 4 miles everyday, though today I just did NOT want to stop.  I have a 10 miler planned for Saturday and I'm praying the weather stays nice.

Dirty-Nasty
It finally arrived!  Our new couch!
It took us almost 6 months to decide on a couch that we both liked and that could also withstand 3 rough and tumble boys.  Our old couches were so nasty that when we had company over we would keep the lights turned down low so that they couldn't see "dirty-nasty" in all it's glory.  A word of advice for anyone buying furniture B.C.(Before Children), do some research.  When we first brought Dirty-Nasty home, she was beautiful!  She was a  light, sage green with soft cotton fabric and big overstuffed cushions.  We loved her...... until Tyler was born.  The first time his projectile spit-up hit the back of her cushions we knew we were in trouble! No matter what we did the spot would not come out.  Flash forward a few years, I woke up one morning at 5am and found Tyler, then 3yrs old, sitting on the couch eating a stick of butter, his reward to himself for the lovely artwork he had created on the couch out of butter.  Two whole sticks of butter MASHED into the couch!  We started tying the fridge shut after that!  That was just two of the many incidents and accidents that have happened on that couch.  Oh we have had Dirty-Nasty professionally cleaned several times but she was never the same.  The last straw was 6months ago when Sebastian had the stomach bug....just use your imagination.....YUCK!!
So this time we went with leather.  Hubby called me at work today around lunch and the delivery guys had just dropped it off.  I can't wait to see it actually in the house.  Would it be wrong to make the kids sit on the floor from now on? LOL! Just kidding........but really?

Today is the end of my work week! I am going to take advantage of the spa g/c that Hubby and the boys gave me tomorrow.  I'm going in for a sugar scrub body polish and a one hour deep tissue massage. OOOOhhhh I can't wait!  Then tomorrow night is "Ladies Night In"!  This is a night when several of my girlfriends and I meet and one of the ladies' houses and eat, talk, play games and just hang out with no kids.  We do it once every month or two.  Will be a good day!

I am really enjoying reading all of your blogs!  I have found inspiration, encouragement, and great tips on running and life!  I hope you all are having a wonderful week!!

*Oh almost forgot! I have been reconstructing my blog. Do you like?  I love green!  I am working on a design for the header but have not had time to finish it yet....so stay tuned! ;)
I really don't know what I'm doing and am surprised I haven't messed anything up too bad.


Grace and peace,

My Race Report- FINALLY!

I attempted to sit down and post this several times...to no avail!  I have had the last several days off of work so there should have been plenty of time, right? WRONG!!  Hubby left to go on a hunting trip and left the 3 boys and I to do everything but blog! The fact that I have even been able to get in a run today is borderline auh-mazing!! That being said, here is my race report.

Winter Misery One Miler- Race Report

First of all thank you to RunningLaur for hosting such a wonderful virtual event! 
I thought this would be a great race to run with the boys, so Christmas Eve morning we got up early and bundled up.   The temp was 50 degrees with wind gust up to 40 mph.  We pinned on our racing bibs and headed out after snapping a few pics.

Sebastian's game face!

Ready, set, go!!

Off we went to do a little warm up around the block.  After about 4 mins of running into the wind(which was brutal) the boys decided it might be best if they went back and got their bikes.

This was fine with me, I thought it would give me a chance to really push it and maybe even PR my mile.

I felt pretty good and was on course for a 7min 30 sec mile. Then, Sebastian fell off of his bike. I didn't want to stop (he wasn't hurt) so I slowed down to a jog, grabbed him and his bike, threw him back on it and continued to run. That and a combination of the 40 mph wind gusts set me at a 8min and 10sec mile.  Not a PR, but I'm happy with it.

We all had fun and maybe next year the boys will finish. They should be seasoned runners by then;)!

I didn't have a chance to do a Christmas post, so here are a few pics from our Christmas:

After Santa came to visit

That is a look of excitement!! He finally got a camera!

 

I ♥ Sarah Palin

totally hubby's idea!

Again....thanks to hubby!

 

Maddox was so exhausted from all the festivities he fell asleep half standing!!!

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I have really been praying and meditating on this past year and the new year to come. Hopefully I will have the time this week to post about it!

Random note:
Hubby's Uncle has been very sick and they don't expect him to make it much longer.  The family has asked me to come to Nashville sometime this week to pray with him and the family before he dies.  I am so humbled and honored that they would ask me.

Giveaways:

RUN FASTER MOMMY  is raising money for a great cause by hosting a raffle for an amazing prize! If you have the chance, go check it out!

 Hopefully I will post my New Year post tomorrow, if not, I pray you all have a wonderful and safe New Year with many blessings to come!!

Grace and peace,