Happy Birthday to My Husband

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday Mr. Super Dad and Husband....
Happy Birthday to you!

To my home renovating, kid-wrangling, even-tempered, cleaner, cooker, (ok- no laundry doer- but I'll take it!) pms-deflecting, all around wonderful husband on his birthday,

I love you with all my heart.  I am so lucky to have you in my life and that you are the father of our children.  They love you so much.  You are our rock. 

Have a wonderful birthday.  We will enjoy cake later-  Maggie insisted you wanted a pink polka dot one with streamers.

I am sure you did.

Love-

Your nutso, overworked, overtired, pms'ing, sometimes bitchy, wife in modification...

Battery Life

I went on an almost 3 mile run today without my Nike Plus to track it.  The sensor battery went dead, and I did a 'Map My Run' when I got home to track the mileage but not clocking that mileage in on the Nike Plus was disheartening to say the least.  And I didn't get to the store to get a new sensor so now I head on a 4 day business trip to much better weather where I will have to guesstimate my mileage out among the cacti. 

And speaking of the trip, have I mentioned how much I hate to fly?  I know it is some sort of control thing.  This is why I am a backseat driver, a perpetual worry wart and, well kind of annoying about the whole thing.  I used to get prescribed meds for the flights, but since I keep travelling for work, I don't want to feel lousy or groggy so I have given it up and gone for the whole, 'I am sure I am not going to die today' mantra instead.  Leaving the kids home is awful.  My anxiety levels go through the roof thinking about something happening to me while away and that they will become motherless.  I know how irrational this is.  I know about the data and statistics- you could get hit by a bus walking the street tomorrow- blah, blah, blah  But it doesn't make it any easier. 

I hope that my battery life extends into seeing my children get married, into meeting my grandchildren, hell- even the great grand-kids.  I hope that I am a marathon running old woman who loves to take her grand-kids shopping and for Chinese food.  I hope that I don't kaput too early and while taking airplanes away from my family always makes me think of this; I cannot live life in fear.  I have to go and live it the best I can, each day to the fullest, without thinking too much of the unknown.  Easier said than done my friends but I certainly am going to try.

I write in a journal the night before I leave my kids for any trip.  My mom suggested I do it and I started it the first trip I took away from Maggie.  It always begins with 'My dearest darlings, Maggie and Ben' and always ends with 'Love you both always and always, Love Mom'. I write about the little things happening in our lives, some big things happening in the world and the hopes I have for them.  I hope that someday, they and all my grand and great-grand kids will sit together and read it and know how much I loved my Maggie and Ben. And how everything I do is for them.

So, when I run through the cacti  in the nice 60 degree weather after arriving at my destination tomorrow, I will think of them at school and hope that they will not miss me too much. And maybe I will round up on the mileage when I track it all down.  I mean, I know it is the journey, not the destination, right?

Fell of the Wii Wagon

After a couple of days tackling EA Active challenge and I went away for the weekend and let it all go to hell. So, I am getting right back on the horse.  I did a 1.89 mile run with the two kids in the Double Bob jogger today.  An estimated 250 plus calories burned there!

And am going to attempt to get back on the challenge train tonight...

I travel for work soon, so I have to just hit the hotel gym and keep running.  I only have 114 days left until the half-marathon and I want to run it feeling great and better than I ever have. 

Being healthy is sooooooo hard. I'm not a natural.  It is going to take time.  And even with this bit of fluctuation, I am going to get there. 

The Winter Beauties and the Future Rock Star Cousins

Ben and Maggie look awfully beautiful in the cold, frozen snow...

And after a nice relaxing weekend with the family, we saw our future Jonas/Partridge/Hansen bunch rock out together...