Ticker*

I've had to a * to my ticker. Despite my best efforts to be better at tracking my miles, I just can't remember if I added to it or not.

So if you look at my ticker and it makes you feel bad because you aren't running as much as I am, don't feel discouraged. I probablly added the same run twice on more than one occasion. And if you think you are better than me because you have twice as many miles, I probably forgot to run half my runs. And you are mean!

I think this * will work out well for me.

Lucky 7

I ran 7 miles yesterday, the longest I've run in over four months. Not only did I run seven miles, I crushed them. I tell people that I run a ten minute mile, but I ran it under 64 minutes. That's an average 9:13 minute mile.

During my six week break from running and my very gradual mileage increase, I did a ton of strength training and cross training. Obviously, it made a big difference in my time. I feel like such a stronger runner.

I've never been a stop watch kind of girl, and I care more about distance than time. But I have to admit, I kind of impressed myself. And that's why I run.

Puzzles

We had another snowday Friday, and I got the brilliant idea to go through all the puzzles in our house and get rid of any that were missing peices. We had 21 puzzles so it took the rest of the weekend to do them all. Only one had all the peices.


Most of them looked like this:



But some looked as bad as this (and this is after we found three peices of this puzzle in the train table):



We did find many stray peices in a little bin where I toss lost game and puzzle peices and were able to complete 5 puzzles. Although I was very motivated to toss puzzles when I started this project, I realized that puzzles missing one or two peices are still fun to do. So we kept all the ones that were missing just one or two peices as well. We ended up throwing out only seven. At the end we still had a random collection of puzzle peices with no puzzle. Where did they come from?



Doing puzzles is very calming for me, and I had some great chats with my kids while we did them. My daughter told me about her school projects, my son told me about all the junky things he wants to eat on his birthday and my three year old told me ghost stories about big foot.

Because I liked doing them so much, I have an urge to go out and buy more puzzles. I felt like I was cleaning, bonding with my kids, and playin all at the same time. My son's birthday is coming up in just a few days... But I guess 14 puzzles is enough for one household.

Kick Boxing Kicked My Booty

My friend Amanda convinced me to try out a kick boxing class she has been raving about. I've done my share of Turbo Kick and Tae Bo and have never been overly impressed. This class was at a martial arts center and nothing like the home videos I have tried.

I am so sore today that I barely lift my arms to type. When I laugh, it hurts. When I sneeze, it feels like I am being stabbed in the stomach. If this is the kind of workout you are looking for, I will try my best to remember the plan for you to try yourself.

First drop to a plank and do a push up, then return to standing. (Push-up Burpee)
Repeat, doing two push ups before standing.
Repeat, doing three push ups before standing.
Continue this pattern, adding on push up each rep until you have done ten push ups.
This video shows a push-up burpee, but don't forget to add on push ups each time you drop down.

Now you've already done 55 push-ups so if you want to stop now, I would still said you had a great work out. And you'll probably be able to function normally tomorrow. If you want to rip all your upper body apart so that you can't even lift your baby, read on.

Do 20 push-ups making sure your chest touches the ground. You don't have to push back up. Just go down until you touch the ground and get yourself back to the push up plank position.

Do 5 sets of 10 regular push ups each with a 10 second rest between. (I did these on my knees because my arms were already shaking).

This next exercise was called "a break to give our upper body a rest". I wish we would've just kept going, because it made my quads start to burn too.

Do one squat jump. (Touch the floor, bending at the knees and jump up.)
Do two squat jumps (make sure your fingers touch the ground each time you squat)
Do three squat jumps. (Rest only a few seconds between and stay in the squat position with your hands touching the floor when resting.)
Repeat this pattern adding a squat jump each time until you have done 10 squat jumps. Here's a video of a guy doing a squat jump, but this is what the last set will look like. You can pause just a few seconds in the lowest squat position between reps. .


You want to quit, don't you? But you are only 15 minutes into an hour and fifteen minute class.

So drop and do 10 triceps push ups (your hands close together, making a diamond under your chest so your tris are targeted)
Do five sets of 10 triceps push ups with 10 second rest between.
I confess that I only did 5 push-ups each set. I couldn't do these fast enough to keep up with the count. But I still think 25 push-ups after the million I already did was pretty good.

Do a burpee.
Then do a burpee but kick back to a plank pose and hop your legs between your hands twice before jumping to standing.
You guessed it. Add one more out and back each time until you have done 10 out and backs.

Now do a push-up that takes 10 counts. It's harder than it sounds. Hold just barely an inch from the floor for ten seconds. Now take ten seconds to push back up. Repeat these ten times. I found myself unintentionally lying face down on the floor almost every time I counted down. My arms were like jelly.

Now do a push-up and raise your right arm. Hold a second, then put the arm down and do a push-up. Raise your left arm and hold a second. Lower and do a push-up. These aren't one armed push-ups. You raise your arm between the push-ups. Repeat until you have done 10 on each side. This move really works your abs as well as your upper body. I wish I would have done it the beginning of the class because I was totally wimping out at this point. I could barely hold a plank pose.

Do 20 "races." You start in the push-up pose then go to your forearms, then back to your hands, and so on. Think "up, up, down, down" while keeping your core and legs steady. Do 20 on each side as fast as you can. Here's a video demonstrating this move.


I'm sure there was more to it, but the fact I could remember this much while in so much pain is impressive enough. I'm sure it's enough to get your arms, shoulders, back, and abs burning.

We then did 45 minutes of cardio kick boxing. My arms barely worked during this part, but I enjoyed it. Then again, I would enjoy anything after that grueling push-up "warm-up".

Let me know if you did this and how far you got before your arms just gave out.

1st outdoor run

I actually ran outside last week, but it has taken me a week to upload my photos to the computer and then from my computer to the blog. Another reason I *need* an iphone. (Mr. Hilarious, I am talking to you)

Last week, we had a beautiful 50 degree, sunny day. I took advantage and had my first outdoor run of the year. Altough most of the snow and ice was melted from the streets, the sidewalks weren't exactly clear.



But six miles flew by and I remembered how much better it is to run outside than on a tread mill, even if it does mean you have to hurdle over dirty mounds of snow. My new shoes, with only 30 miles on them now look officially broken in.



I am so glad I took advantage of that day because the weather quickly returned to the 20s, and we even had another snow day yesterday. I am eagerly awaiting my next outdoor run.

Unplugged

My son the Walnut told me and Mr. Hilarious that when he grows up he doesn't want to get a job. He wants to live in our basement and watch TV and play the wii all day. When we told him he couldn't live with us, he said that was okay. He would just find someone with a wii and live with them. Mr. Hilarious said, "Sweet. We just saved about 50 grand on college tuition."

I realized my Walnut was addicted to the boob tube. When he told me he didn't want to do a 100 peice jigsaw puzzle because it was too hard, I realized he was wasting his beautiful brain. I decided to unplug the TV during the week.




The first few days were a wild success due to a heat wave. After months of freezing weather, we saw sunshine and temps in the 50s. He played for hours outside. I praised my excellent parenting decision.

However, once the weather dipped back into the 20s with strong winds, my Walnut started testing me. He's always bored and pleading for some screen time. He hates playing alone so instead of writing during my youngest's nap, I have become my older son's playmate. I will soon have many blogs of the new, creative indoor activities we've tried. Unfortunately, he is taking up all my time so I will have less blogs in general. It's the price I pay for refusing to let his brain rot away on Mario Galaxy and Phineaus and Ferb.

Blogging Doh!

I have told a few people about my blog and started feeling a little self pity that no one actually stopped by to check it out. Then my mom told me she couldn't find it. That is when I realized I have a typo in my URL! I think as far as blogging goes, that's the biggest faux pas there is.

Maybe I should take this as a sign that blogging isn't for me. But I am a stay-at-home mom desperate for a writing outlet, so I am not giving up. I have checked out some library books on how to move a blog. I think http://mommyarathon.blogger.com just isn't going to work. It's going to be work for this non-computer mom so I may be absent for a while until I figure it out.

Valentine's Day Dinner

I promised an update on our plan to surprise Dad with a fancy candlelit gourmet dinner. We all looked fabulous, even Mr. Hilarious, who has to be blurred so he can keep his privacy. He says he's an accountant, but I think he may be in the CIA. Or the Mafia, but I don't think they have a strong presence in Indiana.


Our table looked very elegant with our fancy folded napkins, candles, and flowers.



Mr. Hilarious bought us all books and wrote us the sweetest love letters.

Okay. So here's what really happened. When there is a plan with many parts, it usually doesn't work out, and I have to rely on my excellent ability to just wing it while keeping myself from bursting in tears.

The grocery had no steak. Really! Who runs out of steak? I considered taking the three nuts to another grocery store, but instead I sighed and chose a marinated pork tenderloin. Still fancy, but much easier to cook since you just stick it in the oven.

We did not even attempt to make the paper rosettes. We ran out of time, of course. My daughter, the peanut, made the heart snowflakes, but my son, the walnut, refused to make them and made his own regular snowflakes instead. My youngest son, the Pinenut, ripped up both kinds of snowflakes, and they all cried. With a little help from Scotch tape, they were able to salvage enough to cover the windows.



Then it was time to get dressed. My middle nut is the most fashion conscientious in our family and the most excited to get dressed up. Unfortunately, I was not prepared and forgot that the last time he wore dress clothes was two sizes ago. I found him in his room desperately trying to keep it together while he gutted the closet searching for something to wear. Since I keep the bins of to-be-grown-into clothes in the closet, it was a huge mess.



I took a deep breath and shut the door. Then I called Mr. Hilarious and blabbed the surprise. He stopped by Kohl's and bought the Walnut a shirt and tie. He was thrilled. The Pinenut, wearing a complete suit with the tie OUTSIDE the jacket asked Mr. Hilarious, "Where are your pretty clothes?" So even Dad dressed up.

With everyone happy, we sat down to dinner. Of course the timing was off, and the tenderloin took thirty more minutes to cook. The mashed potatoes were cold, and the creamed spinach was soggy, but the wine we drank while we waited was perfect. And the torte for dessert was amazing.

Considering we have three kids and nothing ever goes according to plan, I would say that this Valentine's Day was a perfect!

Valenine's Day

I am a sucker for Valentine's Day. Even if Hallmark made it up, I love a day dedicated to making over the ones you love. This year, the kids and I are going to surprise Mr. Hilarious with a candle lit gourmet dinner. We will make decorations like this one from Family Fun Magazine:



We will attempt to make these super cute paper roses from Thrifty Decorating, but use a photo instead of newspaper.



For the main event, I will prepare pepper encrusted steak with a Marsala cream sauce and my all time favorite dessert - Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Truffle cake.




Like most of my ideas, they are easier to talk about than actually do. I will update on Monday. If it all fails, Papa Murphy's has heart shaped pizza!

Parent of the Year

Mr. Hilarious sent an email forward with funny photo capturing excellent parenting. This was one of my favorites:




It reminded me of a time I was shopping with my boys and we went to the wine/beer aisle to pick up a bottle of wine for a hostess gift (for someone else, I swear!). My Walnut spotted a Newcastle mini keg:



My son said, "We should get this because this is your favorite beer and then I can bring you and daddy beer all day and you would never even have to get up! I would just bring you more and more."

I caught the eye of the older lady in the aisle with me. We exchanged quick, weak smiles, and I got out of there before she called social services.

Night Off

Mr. Hilarious sent me a text while I was at the auto repair shop that read:

"I can take the kids to a movie tonight if you want a night off."

I looked at my two boys running amok in the tiny waiting room spilling goldfish all over the floor and felt like I had just won the lottery.

A night off is the best gift a stay at home mom can get. All I had to do to get it was literally scream in the kitchen after the four day ice captivity, "I am going crazy!"

I do not recommend this method. For one thing, it makes me seem, well, crazy. It also led to a heated argument about who cleans up after themselves more often. (Duh, it's me.)

However, I have a night off. I thought I would spend my hours writing in peace and quiet. I did, right after I watched two episodes of Grey's Atatomy, Season 1 on Netflix and ate chocolates. I felt like I was in the lap of luxury.

I do believe every mom, working, married, single, young and old, is entitled to a day at home with no kids, no cleaning, no laundry. It's so good for the soul. Next time, I'll just ask nicely.

Ice Day 3

Three days of school closings in a row. We had to get out of the house today. I don't think any family friendly magazine would actually recommend our ice day activity, but we tried it anyway. We went ice sledding on the little hill in our backyard.

It was absolutely hilarious and luckily my Walnut is a tough nut and didn't mind slip slidding all over the place. He took dozens of nasty spills, but laughed through the whole thing.

We had a complete blast and finally discovered a way to burn off some of our cabin fever. Here is my honest, real mom opinion (rating 1-5 astericks).

Set up: (****) Getting on all those layers and finding sets of gloves took some time.

Equipmentment (****) We didn't have matching gloves for everyone, but we were all covered with something.

Rules: (*****) None. The kids quickly learned the only way up an ice covered hill is groping along the neighbor's fence, but they had a great time trying other methods.

Minutes before complaining: (*****) 15. Although there were some comments of sore butts and cold toes, they were all said with a laugh.

Minutes before both kids quit: (*****) Over two hours. (!!!!)

Summary: This could be very dangerous and not for whimps. My very girlie peanut didn't even come out until the tough Walnut convinced her it was awesome. Even she had fun skating on the ice and sledding down the hill. I wouldn't recommend this without making you sign a wavier first, but we loved it and will be doing it again tomorrow. That's right. School's already been called off tomorrow.

Ice Day 2

Okay, repeat of yesterday. The sleet is still coming down making the roads too scary for school buses, and also me. Once again, we are trapped indoors.

Today we tried a version of indoor hockey. The kids played on their knees using wooden spoons to hit a sock/tape ball into laundry baskets. Here's my honest, real mom opinion (ratings 1-5 astericks).

Set up: (*****) 3 minutes, including moving the couch for more room, taping a sock into the shape of a ball, and emptying laundry baskets.

Equipment: (*****) Had everything we needed, and didn't even need to search the back of the craft closet.

Rules: (***) Problems arouse with goal tending and if a goal counted if the ball didn't stay in the basket. These should be decided before the start of the game.

Minutes until complaining: (*) 2

Minutes until both kids quit: (*) 4

Summary: The game started out fun with lots of laughing. However, the ball would pop right out of the laundry baskets so the goalie would claim no goal, while the shooter claimed a point. It was too soon before they both started complaining their knees hurt. I was amazed there weren't any injuries with those swinging spoons. They both said they didn't want to play every again. Bust!

Ice Day

We woke up to a thick sheet of ice and no school. I love not having to wake up early, heard the chickens through the morning routine and then drop the older two at school. However, an ice day is much different than a snow day. I walked outside to get the mail and didn't make it off the front step before I was flat on my back. I quickly crawled back inside before anyone saw me and am waiting for the thaw before getting the mail. We were all trapped indoors.

A family can only spend so many hours playing the wii, watching cartoons and playing board games before the kid energy starts boiling up like a volcano ready to burst. There are millions of suggestions for indoor active games, but are any of them really worth the time and effort? I tested one and here is my honest, real mom opinion (ratings one to five asterisks):

Game: Race on hands and knees with pillows on your back. Add pillows each lap. If the pillows fall, return to start.

Set up time: (*****) 3 minutes, including vacuuming the floor

Equipment: (*****) On hand pillows

Rules: (*****) Simple and easy

Minutes until complaining started: (*) 2 minutes

Minutes until both kids quit: (*) 2.5 minutes

Summary: Too hard for little kids. It's no fun to move super slow. Either do not make it a race or be as silly as possible. Regardless, this is a short game and will only take up a micro fraction of a shut-in day. Even though the set-up time is lightening quick, it was still longer than time my kids actually played it. Bust!