First real snow of the winter

We are supposed to be getting about 2 inches of snow tonight.  We are all very excited here!  James has been waiting for it to snow so we can go sledding.  I'm hoping we get some and it sticks and it's as much as we are supposed to get.  We want to go sledding tomorrow!!!!

After dryland practice today I was going to go out for a run, but we are getting freezing rain right now.  Ugh...It's getting really slick out there.  I am getting a gym membership after the first of the year so I will be able to go run on a dreadmill when its bad like this.  It's just icky and icy out right now.

James and I went grocery shopping this morning because he's making dinner tonight and Thursday night.  We are having breakfast tacos tonight and homemade fish sticks on Thursday.  He really is a big help grocery shopping.  He picks out the fruit and veggies to go with everything and he decides on the lunch stuff.  James is really good at eating healthy things.  He keeps Mike and I on track.

I got up this morning and went in for dryland.  Only 7 swimmers showed up, but they worked hard while there.  We have a 2 hour water practice yet this afternoon.  I hope more are planning on showing up.  If they don't practice over these two weeks, January won't be pretty.

Right now James is starting on his Thank You cards.  He's busy working on them and we will start mailing them out tomorrow.  He is doing a good job, but we are spacing them out over the next few days so he won't get bored.

Well, I'm off to finish writing my torture...I mean workout...for tonight. Have a great day!!!!

Post Christmas and a Good Run

Christmas was really good this year.  We had a lot of fun leading up to it and yesterday was great!

Friday we went to the inlaws house for dinner because Mike's aunt and uncle were coming over.  It was a nice dinner and James opened his present from them as well as the present from Uncle Pat and Aunt Kristie.  He got Mouse Trap from Rick and Judith and spy gear from Pat and Kristie.  Both things had to be tried out when we got home.  We played Mouse Trap and then he tried his night vision goggles.

Christmas Eve we picked up the house since we had the wraping stuff and the dogs destroyed another tennis ball.  Everyone helped and we were done in no time.  We went back to the inlaw's house for our Christmas.  Mike's mom had to work so we did presents Christmas Eve.  James had a good time and loved all the Cars 2 cars he got and the new cookbook. 

When we got back home James found out that Nicholas went back to the North Pole but had left him new Christmas pjs that glow in the dark.

Christmas day was so much fun!  We were up early to open presents.

The animals even joined in the fun.

We went back to Mike's mom and dad's for breakfast.  When we got home we started setting up the Hot Wheels wall tracks we got.

Later in the afternoon we all kind of crashed.  James read a book that Great-Grandpa Vannette got him.  We all just kind of relaxed.

After we dropped James off at his mother's house, Mike and I went to Victoria Park and Waterloo Park with the dogs.  We had a good time and it was nice to get out and walk.

Today we are having a lazy day.  I did get out and go for a short run.  I ran just over a mile and I felt pretty good.  I haven't run for a month and I've been on the meds for just over a week.  I think they are helping.  I didn't feel dizzy at all.  I like that.  Now, we won't talk about how icky I felt after the run after not running for a month.  That's okay though, it will come back pretty quickly.  I run a 5k on Sunday and I know it won't be pretty, but that's okay.  At least I'm back out there and running.

Tomorrow it's back to practice and back to the grind.  I will be having everyone help me clean and James is going to make dinner for us.  It will be a lot of fun.  I'm really enjoying all the time with my family.

I miss running right now

I haven't been able to run and I'm really missing it.  I'm going through some testing to figure out what's wrong with me.  I haven't been able to run because when I do I get dizzy.  I know its my blood pressure dropping because I also get dizzy when I stand, sit, or do anything.  Hopefully the blood work will show what is wrong with me and I can be on the way to fixing it.

I do have a race on New Year's Day and that will not be pretty if I don't get some runs in. I'm really hoping that by this time next week I will know what is wrong with me and we will be working on fixing it. If not, I will have to go to plan B as soon as I figure out what that is.

Things have been really busy.  I've been doing my Christmas baking when  I can stay awake to do it.  Swimming is really kicked into high gear with meets before Christmas.  I was at a meet all last weekend and will be at one all this weekend.  Then it 2 more weeks of practice and we are on break.  Not that the kids won't be in the pool over practice, because they will be, but they won't have school to worry about.

James is getting excited for Christmas.  He helped bake cookied two weekends ago.  He loved it!  After he spent all day baking he made dinner that night for us.   Here are a few pictures from our cooking fun.

Nicholas, our Elf on the Shelf, arrived and James has been busy letting him know what to tell Santa. He loves trying to find Nicholas every morning

My Christmas shopping is pretty much done so that is one thing off my plate.  I have Monday off and my list keeps getting longer and longer of things that need to get done.  It seems that it never ends.

We just keep plugging along though.

New resume item...mouse hunter

*****I apologize in advance for my potty mouth.  I don't normally scream profanity, only while hunting mice.****

All day today the animals have been acting strange. Indy sleeping on the couch curled up with Mulder. Mulder and Indy staring at the window. Anya pawing at the curtains.

Well, about 20 minutes ago I found out why. There was a mouse in the curtins in the front living room window. I discovered it when it crawled across my shoulder as I sat on the couch.

Well, I screamed, jumped off the couch, and ran across the room. Luckily I remembered to grab my phone and called DH for help. He of course could be so much help in Pennsylvania.

He answers the phone and calms me down. Meanwhile, Indy is casually looking at the curtains and rumaging under the couch. The dogs are over by me on the steps. DH is saying that he will get it when he gets home and not to worry it won't come up to the bedroom. I'm in a panic. DH is trying to calm me down some more. I decide that I'm going to get this mouse tonight. I hang up the phone and find a container with a lid.

Now the hunt is on!

I first put the dogs in the playpen because their help would not be so helpful. I pull the couch out from the window. I don't see it on the floor. I start looking in the curtains and there it is. It's clingin to the curtain thinking I can't see it. I get my container ready and slowly pull the curtain so I can get at it. It starts to run up the curtains, but I was too fast. I slammed the container down and have it trapped against the wall. Now I'm trying to figure out how to get the lid on the container without the little fucker getting out. I get it on and start to close the lid and the damn thing jumps for freedom.

I scream, "Holy SHIT!!!!!!!!!!" and throw the container in the air. Mouse, lid, and container go flying. Indy comes running. The dogs sit in the playpen and watch the excitement. The mouse runs across the floor along the wall where the window is and goes behind a box.

I regroup and pick up the container and a stick thingy that goes to a toy or something. I pull the box away from the wall and the mouse just stares at me. Indy rushes to help by going to the other side of the box. I am encouraging Indy to earn her keep. The mouse is now trapped between me and Indy.

I'll be damned if that thing didn't turn and try to hide behind Indy. Do you know what that damn cat does????? She just looks at the mouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My freakin' cat sits down and just stares at it.

The mouse then turns and looks at me and dares me to come after it. Oh it was on then!!!!

I took that stick thingy and started to poke at it. Now the mouse gets brave and rushes me! I once again ever so bravely scream, "Oh FUCK!!!!!" and back up as fast as I can. The mouse runs back up the curtain and I once again slam the container down on top of it.

Now this little piss ant is brave and starts trying to jump and squeeze its way out. I was too quick this time. I sealed the lid on the container and go downstairs.

I get my shoes on and head outside into the freezing rain. Keep in mind that I am wearing Supergirl pajama, a tie dye t-shirt that doesn't match the pants, and my slip on flats. I head down the street and as I'm trying to figure out how to get the lid off without this mouse jumping out at me, I see a car approaching. I quickly pull the lid off and throw the damn thing in front of the oncoming car.

I return to the house and let the dogs out of the playpen and scold Indy for not earning her keep.

I called DH to let him know that I am alive, but won't be sleeping tonight.

I am now jumping at every sound and every move the animals make. But I guess I can add mouse hunting to my resume.

Hanukkah Hustle 5K

Today I got to run a race with my mom and grandma watching.  It was fun!  I have been hit and miss with my training since I haven't been feeling 100% so I was a bit worried about what this race would look like.  It was pretty good.  I ran a personal best of 34:55.  It felt good.  As I started running a noticed that we were running down the hills when we came to them.  In my head I was starting to frustrated myself by noting that meant I had to run up the hills on the way back.  I was not looking forward to that.  I did it though.

I felt so good at the end when I saw my time.  It has me motivated again to run more consistently and stick to my schedule.  I am already planning my week so that I can get my running in.  It will require me to be organized and just suck it up and forget the fact that I'm still not 100%.  I feel good after I run.  I feel like I've accomplished something. 

My next race is January 1st and it's a 5k.  Later in January I have an 8k so I'm trying to get ready for that.  I know I can do it because I want to do it.  I'm inching closer and closer to my 30 minute goal.  I know I can get that goal sooner than I think.  I have discovered that I do enjoy running in the colder weather.   Of course it hasnt been super cold and we haven't had snow yet, so we'll see.  I may change my tune come February.

I sat down and planned my race calendar for the next few months and I'm really excited about all the races coming up.  I am running a 10K in April and I want my first one to be pretty good.  I can't wait to run it!

After the race we went to Niagara Falls.  Mom had never seen it.  It was fun. We had a good time walking around and looking at the Falls.  We didn't go far or stay long, but it was still a lot of fun.

Here are a few pictures from the day.

At the starting line.

After crossing the finish line.

Grandma and I at the Falls.

A rainbow.

Here we are with our mounties.

Tomorrow they head back home and it's back to my routine.  I had a great time this weekend and can't wait for them to come up again!