(Beginning of) Fall Fun

So, I'll be the first to admit I've been a complete slacker on the blog this year.  I have about 9 posts that are drafts I have yet to "publish" and for that, I apologize.  Some even date back to Rowe's birthday...which is in February.  Yikes.

Since I've been uber-lazy, I decided to just give you a quick update on what we've been up to since school started mid-August.  I apologize for the picture quality...these were all taken on my (crappy) phone.  (I have also been terrible about remembering my camera and taking pictures...what's happening to me???)

We walked to school...on a super cold morning

We (Katie) scored our first soccer goal

We played at parks

We made fun, seasonal craft projects

We played school

We gone on lots of walks/stroller rides

We climbed trees with friends

We let older women drive us

We got muddy

And, we've been silly

Random Rowe

Rowena is really funny.  I mean, crack me up, having me laugh out loud and shocked by her humor and thoughts.

Sometimes she means to be...
I was cooking dinner, and hear "oooooh" (think a child making a ghost sound) and then Rowena gasps and says, "Mommy did you hear that?  I think it was a ghost.  I'm so scared."  THen, again, the "oooooh" and yet another gasp.  "Oh crap, Mom.  I think there's a ghost in here.  Did you hear it?  I bet you're so scared."

Rowe farted and said, "That wasn't me, that was Uncle Joe."  When I responded, "Joe lives really far away." She says, "Well, he has really big farts."

And sometimes she just is (with no intentions)...
The other day, Rowena tripped and started crying.  She says to me, "Mommy, I hurt my own feelings."

Today she said, "I wish we could see the ketchup sign, I have to concentrate, $21, 21 days." And, she said this without a pause or break.

Rowe likes to take books off of Peter's book shelves.  Then, she'll get on our bed and tell me, "Mom, I have to concentrate." Then she opens up Catch 22, and proceeds to 'read.'

You might be Rowena's best friend if you are:
Ellie, Beth, Isa, Dylan, Patrick, Joe, Molly, or somedays, no one.

You know Rowe is not feeling well when she tells you, "Mom, my head is tired and my tummy wants to nap."

RACE DAY! First of Many...I Hope!

About 11 years ago in March I ran my first and only 5K.  It was the Shamrock Shuffle in Indianapolis, and it was a lot of fun.  I walked part, but ran most.  Then, sadly, I hurt my foot, so I stopped running.  Then I didn't start again. For a long, long, long time.

When I decided to get serious about my weight loss, I needed a quick, but good workout.  I am TERRIBLE and have *zero* discipline when it comes to doing workout videos, classes, or taking advantage of a gym membership.  So, I started walking with my good friend, Linda.  And, at the beginning of the year, as one of my New Year's goals, I decided instead of putting "losing 25 pounds" which is intimidating with that large of a number (for me anyway), I decided to put on something more specific and easily acheivable/measurable.  I decided I wanted to run 3 5K races.  Go figure, I wait until the last 4 months to cram them in!

So, Saturday and Sunday I was supposed to run a 5K, but due to the NHL's lockout, Saturday's race was cancelled.  Sunday I ran the Brookfield Zoo's ZooRunRun 5K. It was a lot of fun, and I finished the race running...and in 32:12.  Not as well as I'd hoped (this is an average of 10:24/mile), but I did well and I have a goal for my next 5K which is just weeks away.

 I was running so fast, the camera-woman (aka-my mom) couldn't get her hand off the lens in time to capture me.  But, those are my legs.  I swear.

I had a great cheering crowd.  I almost had to stop running because I got all choked up.  My favorite part of the race, other than sprinting across the finish line...giving my girls High-5's as I passed them.

 

Delaney told me she was jealous and she wants to run this race next year.  I'm all for it. There were tons of kids running it and they seemed to have a lot of fun.  She does like to run with me, but we usually only go about one mile.

The kids wanted to pose like they were running too.

After the race we spent the morning, and part of the afternoon, walking the zoo and looking at the animals.  And after lunch, in cold, the girls needed ice cream.  And, they each were able to get a new toy from Grammie and Charlie loves his Brown Bear.

 This is how I felt...exhausted!  I think after running the 5K, I walked at least another 3+ miles.  And, so did Delaney and Kate.

 All their animals...

Rowena Starts Kids' Connection

I believe I started this blog about five years ago, when Delaney began preschool at Kids' Connection...and here I am writing a post about Rowena's first day and experience with her own education.  It's surreal; that's she's starting school.  I'm not sure why I feel that way.  Maybe because it's been 4 years since we had someone "start" school.

Today was a simple "Meet the Teachers" kind of day.  It was only for 30 minutes and the parents were in the classroom the whole time.  We signed lots of papers while the kids explored the classroom and played.  The morning finished with storytime on a rug after cleaning and getting a stamp.

Rowe LOVED it.  She was quite upset when it was time to leave, as she wanted to stay.  However, and thankfully, she didn't throw a tantrum.  I reminded her that she gets to come back on Thursday and stay for a whole hour without me, and then starting next week she gets to go two days a week for 2 1/2 hours...and like a big girl (i.e. without parents).  She's very excited.  She's been looking forward to this for about 9 months.

Our Fisher(wo)man

I love her imagination and creativity...

Our Little LumberJack

How cute is THIS guy????

Just shy of 21 months, and his 12 month jeans are still quite loose on him.  He saves me so much money and time since I haven't had to buy him clothes in over a year!