I am just me

So as of late I have gotten the road race bug. I ran the peachtree this past July and did really well finishing it in 48 min...considering the large amount of people and the fact that we started the race in the back (wave s). I had a lot of fun doing it more then I thought I would so my next attempt would be the US 10K...something I have always wanted to to since I started running in High School. My goal was to beat my Peachtree time. While talking to different people at the start of this race they basically told me I should tack on 4 min because the hills are that bad. Well I beat my Peachtree time by a whole 6 mins..and WON my age group. Next I thought well I should train for a half marathon. A full would be too hard with two kids and a husband who is rarely home but half I could do that. There is one scheduled on my birthday (oct. 3) but its downtown Atlanta and I will more than likely have to play tennis etc. So I found one in Kennesaw for Sept. 19th so close to my house with a start time of 7. Plenty of time for me to get home for my tennis match. Well, I have been running around 11.2 (long run) with Reese in the jogging stroller in around 2 hours. I was shooting for bettering that time of coarse tacking on 2 more miles. At the start of the race I got a little antsy and before I new it I was at the front of the pack with a few other runners. Pretty cool since I never have really considered myself a runner, meaning I don't have the expensive shoes, all the running garb, etc. The corase I thought was kinda hard but not manageable. I just kept telling myself you are doing great look at what you are doing. I even passed a guy at the finish and finished with a time of 1 hr. 35 min. What made me feel really good was this girl finished right in front of me and then gave me a high five, I asked her about her running if she does a lot of these etc. She told me she is a cross country coach and logs about 115 miles a week. Then she asked me I said I log about 35. She was shocked and said job well done. Once again won my age group and finshed fourth overall for the girls.

I came home and then had to play 2 1/2 hour tennis match which we won!!!

But, I guess what really bothers me is all of a sudden people are questioning my running since I have been doing well in these races. Like do I do because it keeps me skinny...do I actually like to run etc. Do I have runners bulimia???? Seriously, people...if you know anything about you you know that I have ran since high school. Was a pretty good runner then. I ran all through out college. I would go on a five mile run after soccer practice it wasn't out of the ordinary to go see me run through the streets of Dahlonega. I was approached by cross country teams of both colleges I went to but didn't accept for one reason cross country is in the same season as soccer. I do admit that I have self body image problem. I will be the first one to tell you that I do. I think I am bigger then what I am etc. But, its nothing I hide. I am the first one to admit I am obssesive compulsive about what I do but I don't harm myself or the people around me. I don't starve myself because of it I eat whatever I want and do whatever I want. I am a fishaterian eating fish maybe once a month. I haven't had a piece of meat since 1999, I don't eat anything fried and I do watch the fat intake. All apart of me being healthy not beause I am sick.

So in part,I just started running these road races for something new to do and I actually enjoy them...which I must be honest I never ran one because I didn't think I would like them and I really don't like running in a crowd. I have come to learn that I still run by myself just like I did when I was younger. I guess I have shocked some people! I wish people wouldn't speculate and if they had a question for me or about me I wish they would just ask. I will answer anything I don't hold any regreats or have any skeletons in my closet. I am just me!

The longest wait!

Saturday of this past week Johnny took the girls along with his mother and younger brother to Indiana to visit family. I stayed behind to do some house work and to "rest" as Johnny put it. Johnny hasn't been alone with the girls for more then 4 hours at a time and I haven't been alone in the past 6 years. Everyone including myself was saying what in the world are you going to do with yourself. The first night (that Saturday) was tough. I cried to Johnny begging him to come home. I didn't want to be here not by myself this was our home and I wanted him and the girls with me. He told me that I needed this that we all needed this and they would be home soon to just take some time to myself. It is now Wednesday night and they are due back tomorrow evening. I can't wait to smother them all in kisses. I have been able to get a lot of stuff done and have put some on the back burner....I did rest of coarse. I love talking to Ry and hearing all the fun stuff that she has gotten to do and then of coarse talking to Reese and hearing her cry when Johnny takes the phone from her. I think when they get home I will wrap my arms around them and hold them till I can't hold them anymore.
On top of it...Johnny and I will be celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary on Friday. I can't believe that we have been married for 5 years already. It seems like yesterday to me. He means the world to me and has given me the greatest gift in our children that I could ever want. I am so thankful that he puts up with my quirks loves me for me and doesn't waiver!

Praise God!!!

For awhile Johnny has been teetering on the thought of leaving Harrison High School to come teach closer to home. Harrison isn't really that far about a 35 min drive from where we live but when there are plenty of schools near by why not??.. He had only been at Harrison for 2 years and really loved his kids and co-teachers. However, with all the things that the county had been going through with pay cuts and furlough days he was thinking more and more about leaving. The week before Spring Break he had an interview with Blessed Trinity Catholic High School which is literally 10 min from our house. He was offered the job the very next day. The pay is more he is closer to home and the class room sizes are so much smaller. Not to mention instead of his paying getting cut he will actually be getting raises. So he took the job. Upon returnig to Harrison after Spring break he told the principal that he would not be returning which he said the prinicpal wasn't too excited about because he is a really good teacher. He told him that he was still going to be secured a job if he wanted it. Well, more bad news from the county. More jobs being cut....Johnny was called into the principal's office today and was told even though they knew he was leaving the county was letting him out of his contract...meaning jobless. Not only him but several teachers before and after him are getting let go with no job. I couldn't believe it. It gave me chills. So thankful God is on our side and helped him get the interview and job at Blessed Trinity. All you have to do is believe:)

My sweet one year old!!!

This past Saturday April 3rd we celebrated Reese's first bday party. It was cupcake themed and my Mother in Law hosted the party at her new house. She has a great backyard and the older kids were able to run around and enjoy the great spring weather. The food consisted of fried chicken, beans, mac and cheese, broc casserole, pot salad, and fruit. I was so very blessed that my friend Kim was willing and able to help provide some of the food. My parent's also helped. I got everything set up the Friday before so that all I had to do was set out the food and pick up the cake. We had a cupcake pinata that I had filled for the older kids and made goodie bags. They seemed to have a lots of fun. For the cake I went to Super Target and did the cupcake pull apart cake it was in the shape of a giant cupcake in bright pink and purple. If you have seen the pictures on facebook you know she loved it. I tell you though it was a bit stressful making sure that all the little details were finished and making sure that I had enough of everything for everyone. I def. lost several hours of sleep over this party. Not to mention since it is spring my allergies decided to act up and not feeling the greatest sucks when trying to do a bday party.

Monday the 5th was her actual bday and it was funny. When Riley woke up she asked when we were going to go to Gramie's house so we eat cupcakes again since it was Reese's actual bday. I said oh we already did that and I don't think I can do that again for a while. Chuck E. Cheese might have to be called upon to do it next year!!!

They are on loan!

Yesterday was a tearful day for both Johnny and I. We spent the afternoon at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Roswell honoring the life of Miss Merrill King. She passed away from complications due to Cancer earlier in the week. She had been batteling this disease for the past 6 years. Johnny and I met Merrill when she was 11and in remission. We coached her a few seasons in soccer and what a remarkable young lady she was. Nothing could get her down she was a ray of sunshine. The mass was beautiful and packed with people who loved this child. Johnny and I were both doing well keeping it together until her older sister (who isn't that much older then her) gave the Eulogy. That is when we were both blowing snot bubbles out of our noses. After the mass they had a luncheon at the hall in the church where they had a slide show of pictures set up to music. Again when the baby pictures appeared nothing but tears from me. It hit home really hard for me. Made me want to wrap my arms around my own two girls and never let go. Merrill also has a little brother and the three of them where so close. I had told Johnny that I hope Reese and Riley are like that. After the slideshow was over Johnny and I talked to a ton of people that we haven't see for awhile. We coached several of the girls that were friends and classmates of Merrill and of coarse they were there along with their parents. I told Johnny that before we left I wanted to talk to Merrill's mom whose name happens to be Tracy as well. We were there for a long time the crowd had shrunk and I made my way towards Mrs. King. I hugged her and told her that it was so beautiful. She thanked us both for coming that playing soccer under us was one of Merrill's favorite things and she still talked about frequently. We talked about Riley and Reese because she didn't know we had another baby. She looked at me and said love those kids as much as you can because they are just on loan. Such strong words from such a strong woman!!!

Riley is FOUR!!!

My little baby turned four on December 2nd. I can't believe it how fast time goes. I look at her and remember when my water broke, waking Johnny up at four in the morning scared to death about c-sections and all that entails becoming a first time mommy. But, now I see how smart, beautiful, and joy she is and it makes me smile. She went from a newborn to a little girl a baby to a girl who is starting to read.

For her birthday she decided to have a High School Musical party at the gymnastics arena where she currently takes gymnastics. She wore her halloween costume (high school musical cheerleader),had all the decorations as High School Musical, and the cake from Target was awesome. We had 15 kids there and they all seemed to have a blast. I will tell you that I am so glad that birthdays only come once a year. They can be very tiring especially when people rsvp at the last min.

Reese also had a birthday on the day of Riley's party. She turned 8 months old. She now has 4 teeth and is working on some more. She still isn't really crawling really well she does the army crawl but she gets around. The kid loves to stand wherever she is. She will just stand holding onto something for the longest time. If you pull her away boy she will let you know...put her back!!! The best is that Reese now says ma ma. I will say it and she mimics me and smiles. I love it.

Now that we have a computer fixed thanks to my very smart husband I will hopefully get some pictures posted...as I haven't in a long time.

So little time

Do you ever feel like you don't have enough time in the day to get all of the stuff done that you need to do? Sometimes I wish that there were more of me especially now that I have two children. It so hard to keep track of everyone's schedules and make sure that I am where I am suppose to be at the right time. I am a very planned person and if it weren't for the weekly calendar posted on the fridge I would be so lost. Although, my husband tends to throw curve balls at me all the time that keep him from being home for hours on end and leaving me to rework the schedule that I have painstakingly put together. I am notorious for wearing myself out. I run too much, I workout too much, I play too much tennis, I don't get enough sleep, I don't eat enough....and on top of all this I am a mom first and foremost 23/7 and wouldn't change it for the world. I do get flustered when I am trying to bathe Riley and Reese is sitting on the floor crying because she wants her mommy to hold her. Or I am trying to get lunch togeter and Reese has just puked all over me. I know you mom's out there have lived through all of this. I just want to bury my head and cry sometimes. It can be overwhelming but then I realize this is the path that I am suppose to be on. My kids are both so bright and healthy. They are well taken care of and are happy. That is what is most important, not the lack of sleep or the puke on my shoes...its the smiles on those two beautiful faces (that look like their mommy).