A run, some driving, and a cup of coffee

A Run

Today I ran my longest run ever----EIGHTEEN MILES!!

I was really just tagging along with a friend. A friend of hers came, too......someone I never met before...funny, after 3 hours of running I feel like she's an old friend.  I know all about her and her kids, and her friends.

So, basically, I ran instead of doing my long "to do" list.  So I had to work fast once I got home.

Some Driving

Wow! I also did a lot of driving today.  I drove to the Lower School, to the Upper School, to the middle School, later to the Lower school, to the Middle School, to the Lower School, and back to the Middle School.  Then I drove to the Upper School, and then home, then back to the Upper School.  Whew!

 A Cup of Coffee

What a nice ending....tonight after putting a batch of ceramics in the kiln, my DH and I went to the Cheesescake Factory to get a takeout piece of cheesecake (my reward---see above).  Then we went to Barnes & Noble and used a gift certificate to buy some running books, a soda, and ......a delicious Carmel Machiatto Decaf Grande cup of Starbucks coffee at Barnes & Noble.

 

Now-----it's time for a hot bubble bath----sweet dreams!

 

Oh, one more thing....here's a poem by my Middle School daughter ( I think in honor of my sister Heidi):

Ode to Cows

O Cow!

You majectic, loveable Cow.

You give us milk when we are thirsty.

You make children happy with your ice cream.

 

O Cow!

You are a most king-like creature.

You have a built in fly-swatter so humans

don't have to swat the flies for you.

 

O Cow!

You come in many different colors.

Everyone loves to just sit and stare at you.

You brighten up the day of many fast food restaurant workers.

 

O Cow!

You are the best animal alive.

 

 

 

All dolled up!

We enjoyed our school's auction night. In the photo below you can see one of the items we bid on and won: a  mirror framed with artwork from my daughter's class.  We had fun.....and what fun, too, to have a son old enough to babysit!!

Have a great week!

P.S. The "doll" reference refers to the "Silly Sally" challenge!

Just a little color here....

On a challenge from my sister I scouted out my yard a few days ago looking for "color."  I looked and found a little, but it was all a little winter worn.....and so small that I couldn't even photograph it very well.  But I got two good shotsshots-----a halleoboris above-----and I know that is not spelled correctly.  And some holly berries.  I have some pansies, too.....but with some recent temps in the teen, there looking a little cold.

 

Ran almost 15 miles today.....just took two Advil for my knees.  It was a little easier than last time.

Have a wonderful weekend.  :)

 

P.S.  My camelias won't bloom for at least 3-4 weeks.

Saturday

Listening to....my husband's music.....he's got CMT (Country Music TV) on while working on our Sunday School Lesson for tomorrow.  My son's girl friend is coming to visit today, so we've been cleaning up.  Her dad is bringing her.  They live in the next state over and the trip is about 4 1/2 hours.  Per the advice of my eldest sister who has 3 boys, I've promoted this long distance relationship----besides the girl my son likes is the sweetest---impossible not to like.  :)

My youngest daughter had her basketball game at 8 a.m.----needless to say, I went straight to Starbucks afterwards----I'm not a morning person.

 

I love the middle of the night when it's quiet and peaceful.

Did my long run yesterday.  12 miles.  My knees hurt a bit last night, so I took Advil.

Took my second son to see the school play last night---Little Shop of  Horrors.  It was definitely rated PG-13, and I was glad that I didn't take my daughters.

Another basketball game for my older daughter this afternoon, hanging out with DS's girl and dad---we'll go to Cheesesake Factory for dessert----should I get the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake???  Of course!

Have a sweet weekend----let's stretch out Valentine's Day a little longer!

GREAT QUOTE

Listening to my son's itunes music....he said Toby Mac is safe.....he's a Christian musician......

 

Was checking out my sister's site and re-read a line she wrote a couple days ago:

 It's LIFE we're living here, girls!  Live it, don't watch it!

 

Isn't that a great quote!  I'm trying, Sis!

That reminds me of a ME quote that I have up in my bathroom that I look at everyday.....

"Don't count the days, make everyday count!"

 

Just another day in paradise....

Whew!  What a morning......Kids to school, Curves, shopping at Target, the bank, the cleaners, making cookies, serving Hot Lunch for my son's  (#2) homeroom class, clean-up at home.....and the day's only half over

I had fun shopping at Target!  Our church is sponsoring a refugee family from Burma, and I was getting stuff for their apartment.  Things like flashlights, hangers, foil, kleenex, tape, calculator, clocks, laundry baskets, etc.  The stuff we all have, but sort of collect over time and take for granted.  This family came to the USA  with NOTHING. They have 2 boys -- 13 and 15.

Yummy hot lunch:

Ceasar Salad

Bread

Buttered Fettunni

Chicken and Bowties

Lemonade

 Italian Ice

 And my famous chocolate chip pan cookies

 

Wasn't sure how the cookies would turn out.....running late nad literally dumped ingredients in the bowl, some without measuring.  But they were great!

 

My eldest son got out of school early today, so he helped me serve.

 

Went to Curves today instead of running as it was FREEZING out side -- mid 20's.  I ran the past 3 days, so I decided today would be a good cross training day.  Curves is great anyway--I would highly reccommend it.

 

Had a wonderful Valentine's Day yesterday.  Kept finding surprises from my husband all day.  Two vases of flowers, chocolate, etc!!!

We had a romantic candlelight dinner with takeout from Macaroni Grill.  Our daughters joined us for a little while.

So there you have it....."just another day in paradise!" 

.

Fun shopping at Target.

Second Try

Public vs. Private.....hmmmmm....going back and forth on this........in doing so lost the sweet comment from my sister, which I shall paste here:

Comment from: hwoodred
"Wow, what a treat to read your blog!  The song that came to mind was "Band on the Run," except, it's "Mom on the Run..."  You painted a good picture of your life, full of many things.  I had to go find my CBD catalog to see what new books the authors you mentioned have released.  All that running! I run up and down my stairs, do I get any points for that? :) And, a boardgame everyday!  Wow!  It must be really fun to have four kids at home! Enjoy!  Congrats on your first journal entry!"

There!

More running today...just 3 miles, but I did almost 8 yesterday. The group of ladies I run with is contemplating going to Disney for a marathon on January 7 2008 - seems far away, but if we start now, we'd definitly be ready!

Getting ready for Valentine's Day here---lots of candy freely flowing! Had friends over Saturday night and we had chocolate fondu for dessert-yum!

Took a trip to California last week to help celebrate my dad's 80th birthday!  Funny, he doesn't seem 80.  Quick trip.....had lunch, had dinner, slept, ran, had breakfast and came home. Would do it again in a heartbeat!  Thank heaven for frequent flier miles!

So our 5 year old computer finally wouldn't cooperate any more. My computer whiz brother-in-law told us in December that hte end was near.  So we got a new one. Wow!  What a differnece!  Then the night before I went to California, our 10 year old dryer broke...got a new one Sunday......kind of hard to have 4 kids and no dryer.  I told my mom about it and she said that things breaking like that just keep happening and they come in "3's" she sadi....hmmmmmm.....I wonder what's next?

I'm still on my games kick......was so happy to get to play Hearts on Saturday --real Hearts with a deck of card and four people....I refreshed my memory of the rules last week on the computer.  It's much more fun in real life.  Nevertheless, I played on the computer last night.....hadn't played a game all day and had to get one in before I went to bed.  Did I mention my game journal before?  I can't remember.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Loved a card I saw in Barnes & Noble this week-- "I don't want to fall in love....I want to fall in chocolate!!".