Training 10/31

I've gotten behind again. I skipped Saturday and didn't run on Sunday, went on Monday morning instead. So I pushed Tuesday back to Wednesday, but didn't get up this morning to run. I suppose I could make the kids run while trick or treating tonight. I have a feeling I'll be going out either at 4:00 after school, pre-tot or after 9:00, post-tot. I thought about running on the treadmill while DH takes kids out. But I will be home with B and will have to answer the door for tot-ers. So, treadmill is out.

On top of all of that I'm getting some upper respiratory/sinus infection thing. I'm coughing up a lung, headache from hell. It's lovely, especially facing a 4 mile run.

Running schedule Oct 21

• Wednesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles (on Saturday)
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 6 miles

Running schedule Oct 28

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 2 miles
• Sunday - 10 miles

Training 10/27

I'm totally off schedule this week. I ran Thursday today so I'll miss the 3 miles for today. Tomorrow is 6 miles. Ugh but at least it isn't 12.

Running schedule Oct 21

• Wednesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles (on Saturday)
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 6 miles

Running schedule Oct 28

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 2 miles
• Sunday - 10 miles

What to do???

The DH & older kids left for Autumnfest. The baby is down for a nap. What should I do? I have three knitting projects I could work on. I have multiple shows on tivo waiting to be watched. I could combine the two of those if I skip working on TW.

Or I have an empty bed and no one to wake me (except the alarm clock which I must set so I don't sleep the afternoon away and skip my volunteer shift at Autumnfest)

I'm thinking that sleep is going to win.

training 10/25

Running schedule Oct 21

• Wednesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 6 miles

Running schedule Oct 28

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 2 miles
• Sunday - 10 miles

Halloween Pumpkin

Here's the Halloween pumpkin for the school's Autumnfest on Saturday.

 
Haunted House

 
Spooky Tree

 
Graveyard

FO: Headband

Here's the headband for my niece. It is made from cascade fixation. The colors look nice but the lycra in the fixation pulls the lace pattern too tight so you can't really see it. I tried blocking it (the orange towel looks lovely behind the pink, no?):

 
But it didn't help much. It pulled right back together. But it still looks good on. I don't know if niece will ever wear it. My sister tried to put it on her head when she opened the gift. She ripped it right off. At least I got a picture of A wearing it before we gifted it.

 

Wow on the neighbors

We were sitting here enjoying some nice quiet time. A was reading, boys were playing. DH & I were at our respective computers. Then the doorbell rang. I looked out the window but didn't see anyone.

I got to the door a realized why. The people there were too short. It was the 4 year old & 3 year old neighbor girls. Without their mother or father. I opened the door and said hello. Z (the older) walked in under my arm and said 'We're here to play with A' and walked off down the hall. F (the younger) followed right behind.

I had not idea if their parents knew they came over. But I let them in and sent them to the playroom with J & B. Eventually, maybe 15 minutes later, the mom showed up to make sure they had made it over okay. She asked for my phone number so she could check up on them next time. Then she said to send them home when we were sick of them.

Amazing!

training 10/22

Despite the fact that I was extremely tired, I went out last night to finish my week. I had already skipped on Saturday and my BIL was being my conscious. No more excuses I went. I wasn't happy about it so I walked the whole time. I didn't try to walk fast either. I decided that it would be a huge accomplishment for me just to finish. It is over.

Running schedule Oct 14

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles (skipped!)
• Sunday - 9 miles

Running schedule Oct 21

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 6 miles

I'm bored

Can you tell?

Baby B just went down for a nap. DH is out traipsing (that spelling looks wrong to me but I checked m-w.com, it's good) around in the countryside. He's working, so that's good.

My work is slow. I've read the forums on ravelry & knitty. I've blocked the headband for my niece's bday present. I should work on other knitting or do some laundry or something practical.

Instead I'm contemplating cooking chickens in the slow cooker. I bought another rotisserie chicken from the grocery store this week. I think there should be a better/cheaper way to get chicken. I don't want to roast it in my oven. It's too wonky and just know that it would quit working in the middle of roasting chicken . So I thought slow cooker. I've looked up how to do it on the internet. I've thought about it. Now I just have to go buy some chicken. Maybe I'll wait for a good sale.

While looking for slow cooker roast chicken recipes, I saw that people make spaghetti sauce in the slow cooker too. Maybe I can stop buying all those jars of Prego and make my own instead. I can make a ton and then freeze it for the next time I need sauce. I should become queen of the slow cooker.

All this recipe reading makes me think about baking. I want to bake but I can't bake. I would eat way too much of it. When I worked in a office it was easy to bake, leave a little at home and take the rest to the coworkers. I can't do that anymore. So I'll just read recipes instead.

Chicken enchiladas

from Everyday Food magazine

Recipe: Saute onions & garlic, add canned tomatoes & salt, pepper & chili powder. Simmer for 20-30 minutes & break up tomatoes. Roll corn tortillas with chicken & cheese. Pour sauce over, top with cheese and bake.

Changes: There were suppose to be jalapenos in the sauce and on top. I left them out for the children. The sauce was okay but I think I would add some cumin, or maybe adobo next time for a litte more flavor.

Results: I made this and let it sit while we went to soccer practice. I baked it when we got home. As a result the corn tortillas got really soft & mushy. I liked it. It was a good quick meal. A&J picked at it. B only ate the chicken. But DH and I both enjoyed it. I wonder how long I have to wait until my Texas born children start to like Mexican food?

I don't like candy corn!

Baby B has sitting on the potty chair. He will sit on it for a long, long time. Especially if Noggin is on.

Thus I have the song 'I don't like candy corn' stuck in my head. I woke up in the middle of the night with it running through my head. Ugh. I tried to get it out of my head and in popped Fabulous from High School Musical 2. A was singing it in the car yesterday.

Why can't I get my childrens' music out of my head.

So back to the potty chair. B been on sitting on the potty chair for awhile now. He sits for a long time. Eventually he will insist on putting on his diaper. He then proceeds to wet his diaper and gets mad and insists on being changed.

Last night before bath he wanted to sit on the potty again. I put him on but no Noggin. He sat, read books, ran around and sat again. Eventually he got up and ran away crying. I went to get him so we could get in the bath before he had an accident. That's when I heard J say, B went pee-pee in the potty. Sure enough he did, and it freaked him out. He ran away from me crying. I followed him clapping & yelling 'Yeah, B, what a big boy! A & J joined in. Finally B slowed down. We showed him the potty and everyone cheered. He finally stopped crying and started laughing and clapping with us.

I don't know what this means. I'm certainly not ready for potty training. He's not even 2 years old. This morning we got home from taking the kids to school and the first thing he wanted to do was sit on the potty chair again. I guess I'm going to be forced into this.

FOs

 
Here's the umbilical cord hat

 
Here are the wristbands. The top one has a pattern of a ribbon purled in the st st. It didn't work out that great, so the second one is plain.

photo ops

This is Baby B after a particularly hard morning. He was playing I was working and all were happy. Suddenly he started throwing a fit. I realized that it was 12:30, we were an hour late for lunch and a half hour late for nap. I tried to skip lunch and just put him down for a nap, but he wasn't doing that. So I put him in the high chair and started to fix food. Next thing I know, here he was.

We went to an Oktoberfest party at a local shopping center. They have the party every year and every year we say we should go and never have. This year we made it. We saw a bunch of families we know from school & church and the kids had a lot of fun. We waiting in line for almost an hour for the face painter. A & her friend got matching flowery things. J & his friend got pirate skulls.

updates

Running:

My calf has been bothering me. I walked tonight and it wasn't too bad. I think I'll try running a little bit tomorrow.

Knitting:

I finished the baby hat for friends' new baby. It took me about a day to get it done. I finished 2 pink wristbands for my sisters' 3 Day walk. I'm glad that is done and out of the way. I need to get back to J's sweater. I emailed the lady who created the touring wrap. I asked her how many repeats she had in the original wrap. She responded and it is 44. I've only done 13. Who knows when I'll ever finish it, but I'll keep trudging along.

Family:

Not much new. I've been asked to decorate the pumpkin for the Autumnfest silent auction for J's class. Here's how that happened.

I make napkins for J's lunch every day. I draw a little picture and write something like 'Have a good day!' on it. I started picking pictures based on the letter they are studying, A is for Apple, B is for Bear, etc. The teacher thinks I'm very creative. She started keeping J's napkins and hanging them on the board. She told me she's going to make a napkin book and asked me to make some A's and B's for her since she didn't keep those napkins. So she thinks I'm some sort of artist and asked me to decorate the class pumpkin. I said okay.

But then I went into a panic. What was I suppose to do with it?? I haven't never looked at the pumpkins at Autumnfest before. I didn't know if there is a theme, if I was suppose to carve the pumpkin or not. I did a little asking around and found out:

1. You don't carve the pumpkin, you just decorate it
2. You can incorporate the class by putting all the kids' names on it
3. There is a theme. Since it is close to Halloween this year, it is a Halloween theme. But nothing gory

So I talked to J & A and we decided on how to decorate. I'm going to paint a haunted house on the pumpkin. Then we're going to make bats & ghost with the kids' names, attach them to wire and push them into the pumpkin. It is actually a plastic foam pumpkin, not a real one, so I don't have to worry about it rotting. I hope it turns out okay.

Pictures:

DH is home with my card reader so I can finally post some pics.

training 10/17

I skipped yesterday and walked today. My stormy run on Sunday definitely didn't help my right calf. I've been limping around the past 2 days. It was feeling better today so I went ahead and walked.

Running schedule Oct 14

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 9 miles

Running schedule Oct 21

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 6 miles

training 10/14

I almost talked myself out of running tonight. I really didn't want to go. My right calf started hurting again. I really wanted to skip. But the kids went to bed easier and earlier than most nights, especially Sundays, and at 7:45, I found myself donning my running shoes.

I went out the door finally at 8:15, got to the end of the street and turned around to come home. I felt a couple of raindrops and thought I would skip. But I stood at the corner trying to decide what to do and it stopped, so onward I went.

I walked the first 3 miles. As I said earlier, my calf is hurting again. I tried running a little while and decided not to push it. I would just walk. I don't have to run a half marathon, I can walk it. I still need to train to walk 13 miles, so I walked.

After 3 miles, I thought maybe I saw lightning. At first I tried to convince myself that it was the streetlights flashing behind blowing tree limbs. But after a few flashes, I knew it was lighting. I kept going. I crossed Midway and the farthest point from home. I knew now I just had to get home, there was no turning around. That's when the sprinkles started. I got to the end of the block and the rain started. I turned the corner and started running. If I was going to be out the in the rain, I wasn't going to walk through it. The rain really started coming down. I was soaked and dripping. But I thought, at least it isn't a downpour. I got to Alta Vista and thought, I could turn here and go to the S's house. I could ask them to take me home. I was all set to turn when I checked my watch. It was 9:20. They have a 3 week old baby. I couldn't show up soaking wet at 9:30 and ask for a ride home. I kept going. The rain came down harder. I was almost to Northaven and miserable when I saw a car headed toward me come to a stop. If this was a woman offering me a ride home, I was taking it. But I ran past the car only to realize they wanted to turn left into a driveway. I turned down Northaven and thought less than 2 miles to go. I can do this. That's when the torrential downpour started. Waves of rain, wind blowing, ankle deep puddles of water. I was miserable but I kept running. Then I noticed that the Lenny Kravitz song, Stand by My Woman, was playing on my ipod. I don't normally run with the ipod, but boy was I glad I had it then. I turned up the music and ran through the storm.

The rain slowed down to a trickle when I had a couple of blocks to go. I was about to stop running and walk the rest of the way but God had other notions. I was slowing down while trying to convince myself that I could keep running. But I was also wet and miserable and tired. Just as I was going to stop and walk, there was a clap of thunder and another burst of rain. I ran the rest of the way home.

When I got home, Chris asked if I was alright. He's been sick in bed all weekend but he was contemplating getting a neighbor to stay with the kids and go searching for me. It seems I ran through a purple storm on the radar. I could have told him that!

I now know what I need to make me run. The longest I had run until tonight was 2 miles. Tonight I ran about 3 miles in 37 minutes. All I need is a torrential downpour and I'm good. Let's see how I feel in the morning.



Running schedule Oct 7

• Wednesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 4 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 6 miles

Running schedule Oct 14

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 9 miles

Pink wristbands

This morning I made it over to a LYS. I asked for the cascade fixation and was met with blank stares. They hadn't heard of it. But then they asked me what it was and I replied that it was cotton with lycra and she said Oh yes, we do have that. They had a nice pink colorway, it goes from light pink to hot pink. I only bought 1 skein so the sisters are only going to get one wristband each.



The 3 Day walk starts 2 weeks from yesterday. I have to cast on and knit quickly.

training 10/13

Running schedule Oct 7

• Wednesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 4 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 6 miles

Running schedule Oct 14

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 9 miles

The dreaded Baby Ruth

DH has been handling bathtime for the boys lately. The boys are happy because Daddy lets them play. I am a mean bath Mommy, according to J. I prefer to think of it as efficient. I stick them in without toys, douse with water, wash the hair, soap them down, douse with water again and out they go. DH puts them, gives them every imaginable bath toy, lets them play, washes their hair, lets them play, washes bodies, lets them play, rinses, lets them play. He'd rather wander around doing other things than sit in the bathroom with them. I know not the safest way to give a bath but I think this practice has ended.

Two baths ago DH was letting them play, when suddenly J yelled "OOH GROSS!!!!" Yes, Baby B had pooped in the tub. DH was not happy about it, but he handled it all.

Last night was bath night again. DH put Baby B in the bath. J, remembering the poop in the tub, decided to take a shower in our bathroom instead. BB was happily playing in the tub when I reminded DH of the last bath and suggested it might be time to get him out. DH promptly went to get BB out only to discover he was too late. He was mad.

He stomped around the house for awhile complaining that no one ever picks up. I got the other two shuttled in and out of the shower. While supervising teeth brushing, I realized that DH hadn't cleaned out the tub yet. The rest of the house was spic & span but he was avoiding the bathroom. I asked him when he planned to clean it and he said he did it the last time and it was my turn. I told him no. I don't let the boys play in the bath just so I don't have clean up bath poop. He was going to have to take care of it himself. He wasn't happy. More stomping, more grumbling, eventually the tub was cleaned, the toys were sanitized, and all was done.

But I have a feeling we are a family of 2 mean bath parents now.

Knitting obsession

I think I'm officially obsessed. I spent all night long dreaming about knitting. I dreamed that I ran out of yarn making something and I was trying to fold fabric into something that I could use to finish. Then I dreamed about knitting socks. Lots and lots of socks. I don't even like to wear socks.

Training 10/11

I didn't want to get up this morning but I did. 5:30 came way too soon. I finally dragged myself up around 5:45 and ran. One more day down.
Running schedule Oct 7

• Wednesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 4 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 6 miles

Running schedule Oct 14

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 9 miles

WIPs

Touring wrap, 13 repeats done
The flash really makes the zigzags of color stand out. They aren't that obvious in natural light.
 

J's sweater, about 1/3 of the back done
 

Dad's Club Night or Playing in Daddy's room

Daddy's room is Daddy's room. Generally, no toys allowed, no playing allowed, quiet sports watching is always welcome. We do bend the rules but it is easier when Daddy is out for the evening. Tonight is the 2nd Wednesday of the month, Dad's Club night. The gate to the fence wasn't closed before the dog house building started, complete with window.

 

 

Bootball
This is B cheering. He yells 'Bootball' for pretty much any sport. He's also a ham, so when he saw me with the camera, he started yelling and posing.

 

Here's A. She's hiding in her bed with the latest Highlights magazine, avoiding the boy chaos for awhile.

 

Training

I'm suppose to be training for a half marathon in December. I agreed to do it because it involved a trip to Jamaica but now I'm thinking that a trip to Jamaica doesn't sound all that great.

I hurt my calf a couple of weeks ago and stopped running. It feels better now, but I'm having a hard time motivating myself to start running again. I think I need to use this blog to keep me honest. Plus I need to change my running schedule. I was running in the evening but that was before school began and I started working. I'm finding all kinds of excuses not to run at night so I've switched to getting up early in the morning. Hopefully this will help me be more accountable.

Running schedule Oct 7

• Wednesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 4 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 6 miles

Running schedule Oct 14

• Tuesday - 4 miles
• Thursday - 5 miles
• Saturday - 3 miles
• Sunday - 9 miles

Tuesday that is Monday

Yesterday was Columbus Day and we all had the day off. We went to the state fair and had a nice day despite the heat. It gave me inspiration to enter the fair next year.

But it has totally upset my internal clock. I keep thinking that it is Monday. It's not Monday it is Tuesday. I've been feeling confused all day.

I need to take pics of my knitting progress. I got 16 rows of tw done over the weekend, plus a made a little bit of progress on J's sweater.

That's about it. Kind of a boring post. Oh well.

Green beans with feta

from Everyday Foods

Recipe: Boil green beans to crisp-tender. Drain & put in cold water to stop cooking. Make vinigiarette. Toss green beans with vinigiarette, quartered cherry tomatoes and 1/2 c crumbled feta cheese.

Results: This is a simple recipe. I didn't make my own vinigiarette, I didn't have everything and had a bottle in the fridge. The recipe called for white wine vinigar (my missing ingredient) and I at first I wished I had used the recipe. When I first tossed the beans with the red wine vinigiarette, it was strong. I could taste the red wine flavor and it was overwhelming. But the dish sat out until it was time to serve and all the flavors melded. It turned out to be a nice dish.

I have to try the leftovers out on the kids tonight. I'm not sure how A will do with the feta. J will be fine. I still can't get a vegetable passed those sweet lips of Baby B.

Strawberry Coffee Cake

from Coffeecakes book from Chronicle Books

Recipe: This cake is made from a simple cream cheese dough. Spread half in the bottom of a 9x13 pan, add a layer of sliced strawberries, dollop the rest of the dough over strawberries, sprinkle top with a mixture of almonds & brown sugar.

Results: The dough was yummy, but very sticky & hard to spread. I used at least 2/3 of the dough to cover the bottom of the pan, so not as much was dolloped on top. But it still tasted great.

Everyone in the family loved this. I'm not a huge strawberry fan. Okay, I don't really like fruit and I ate this. Okay, I did pick out the strawberry when there was a huge hunk of it, but I ate the small bits. Next time I might chop my strawberries instead of slice. Then there won't be huge hunks and I'll like it better.

I'm liking this book, I've really enjoyed the two recipes I've made so far. I've got my eye on my next one to try. Thanks to Kristin for a fabulous bday present.