Family Update - Been A While!

I have not posted here since January. I know this is not my main blog, but I feel guilty neglecting it nonetheless. There are so many things to update about since my last post on here.

Let's start with January:

I unexpectedly got laid off from my job at Boeing. It was stressful, but I luckily was able to get on quite a few interviews right away {6 in one week!}. Two weeks later, I had a job offer. I felt so blessed with the job market being what it is right now.

We had a new niece born - Peyton Grace.

February:

I started my new job - it's really cool right now because I actually get to work from home, and not really full-time. But I get paid full-time. They are a Dubai-based plastics manufacturer and wanted to open an office in Charleston to handle the US accounts. I am pretty much on-call and help with setting up the office, check my emails, etc. and am really still waiting on training since my manager has not been back in the US since he hired me. I guess I can just enjoy the free time for now. I also got a second job working at the gym on M, W, F mornings from 4:30-8.

Jake went back to Illinois mid-February to attend his grandfather's funeral. It was a sad time, but it had been a long time coming and we are all so glad he is no longer suffering.

I won tickets on the radio to see Rascal Flatts and The Band Perry {also meet The Band Perry} on Valentine's Day. It made an awesome date for the romantic occasion as we really didn't have much else planned.

March:

March started off on a very sad note. On March 1st, we lost our Tundra. For those of you that don't know, I got her off of Craigslist back in September. She was a Siberian Husky, estimated to be around 6 years old. Right off the bat, I found out she had heartworm. I opted to have it treated, and she was finally done with all of that in December. I thought things would start looking up, and I was able to walk her again, but somewhere around end of January, her breathing started sounding really bad. I stopped walking her as a precaution and waited it out a couple weeks to see if there was improvement. There wasn't so I took her to the vet for a chest x-ray and it looked really bad. They couldn't tell me exactly what it was, so we tried some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds to no avail. Her breathing continued to worsen and I ended up telling Jake that we probably had to put her down since she was suffering and we couldn't spend any more money than we already had with an outlook so grim. To our surprise, the vet offered to take her if we relinquished her an they would try some things pro-bono. Unfortunately, I found out later that she did not make it through that weekend. Turned out she had cancer that had spread all throughout her lungs and chest. She was a sweetheart and did not deserve to suffer the way she did. My only solace is that we were able to give her a loving home for the last 6 months of her life.

Later in the month, Jake surprised me by getting a puppy {from a breeder this time}. She is a Boston Bulldog {English Bulldog & Boston Terrier X}. We named her Sugar. She is so sweet and has definitely helped in my grieving. I greatly miss Tundra, but it's nice to have another dog around. She is very playful with the boys and quite a character. I love her so much already.

And now that brings us to April:

I am anxiously awaiting my 30th birthday this Sunday. I know Jake has some sort of surprise planned {he's bad at even keeping that part a secret} and I am excited for the entire weekend - we'll do beach and downtown of course. I am actually looking forward to this decade...I hear it's the best and I plan on approaching it that way.

Tanner has been doing very well in school, much better behaviorally so we are very happy about that. We are finally getting to a good place with all of that. It has been a long road, and I know it's not over, but it is nice to know we are going in a good direction now. He is happy, sweet and maturing more and more each day. We just love him.

Breckin is starting to test us now, but he's two, so of course we expected that. He is still sweet and fun-loving as always and just adored by anyone who cares for him. 

We are looking forward to a summer filled with beach and pool outings, popsicles, play parks, library trips, movies, sleepovers and more.

We also just finished repainting our living room and kitchen- thank the Lord! View that update on my other blog by clicking here.

Thanks for keeping up with us! xoxo

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Leaves

Who needs toys when you have leaves {and a brother}?

Hope y'all are enjoying your winter. It's still pretty much autumn here in Charleston {obviously}! These pics are from a couple weeks ago, but the weather has been pretty mild this winter. xoxo!

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

After-School Play Date: The Boys & Me

On Thursday evening, I decided to get out of our daily rut and try something a little different when I picked up the boys from daycare.

The weather was gloriously overcast, not too hot and surprisingly not many bugs out at the play park - that was a nice surprise!

I first went through the Chic-fil-a drive-thru to grab some chicken nuggets, fruit cups and chocolate milk {a special playdate calls for a special treat!} When I picked them up, they were so happy to see the Chic-fil-a bag on my passenger seat. {Holy cow, didn't mean to rhyme there!}

Off to the play park we went...

Tanner had already managed to get chocolate milk on his shirt within seconds of opening it. God love that boy!

"What Mom? Can't you see I'm too busy eating my fruit cup to be bothered with smiling for a picture?"

Exploring...

Tanner never has trouble making new friends...

I just love this cutie pie!

Breckin was trying to hide from the little girl...

Swing time is always a good time!

 It was nice to just let loose with them for a little while and change up the usual scenery...I feel like I'm always rushing to get home to get to my never-ending list of chores...but hey, they'll be there today...and they'll be there tomorrow too. Gotta make time for fun too - especially because these precious years will be gone before I know it.

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images.

If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Setback. Ugh.

So as you've read in previous posts, I'm not doing so well on this half marathon training thing.

It has been daunting. It's not just the running aspect. It has been a matter of finding the time as well as trying to beat this Charleston heat and humidity...to which I've failed miserably. I think I might have put too much on myself making my training be at the hottest possible time of the year. I'm not a good runner...I just never have been...so I need to train at a more comfortable pace {and temperature}. I guess I'm not a total failure since I have been running more in the last couple months than I ever had before, but I don't like that I'm not accomplishing my goal right now.

I received yet another email from www.active.com and found out about another half marathon coming up. This one is in late January and is in Charleston. I felt redeemed...not only could I take another stab at training, but we wouldn't have to worry about traveling and paying for a hotel {though I still think that would be fun...but maybe just for family and not a half marathon.}

So I counted the weeks and I have 19 of them to use for training, with at least three 5Ks that I KNOW I will be participating in during that time. Since I'm still kinda-sorta in training spirit for my would-be Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon, I'm just going to keep it up and work on just getting my body used to running this next few weeks. Then when the 16-weeks-to-go mark hits {Oct 1st}, I am going to follow the training program as closely as possible. I think it will go much better now that we are having more runner-friendly weather coming our way and my schedule is finally starting to chill out a bit.

My main issues to overcome {other than the weather} are my mental state...trying to get my brain to shut off the "I'm tired" or "I've got so many things to do..." switch and just focus on running and meeting my goal. That has proved to be hard this first round because as a working mom, I've got A LOT on my plate. I've got to get up at the crack of dawn just to get to work on time, let alone try to get up even earlier to get workouts in...I've got to keep Tanner focused on school/homework as well as keep up with all of the goings-on with his class and school...I've got to be there for my husband and sons every evening with dinner, companionship and play time...I've got to keep up the household...I'm just very BUSY. I've resolved that since I have to get up by 5am for work already that I need to now get up at 4am just to ensure I can get my training runs in, with my long runs being on the weekends. It's going to suck, but I have to do it. I've done it a couple times already, but really need to become consistent with it.

So please don't lose faith in me yet...for I don't want to lose faith in myself. I WANT TO DO THIS. I CAN DO THIS. {I have to recite that mental chat over and over...} I want to push my body harder than I've ever pushed it before. I WANT to be a runner.

So here's another motivational pic...though I don't like to believe it's true, I believe it is fitting for me...and I'm sure it probably is true. I need to just get my act together and do what I say I'm going to do...do what I'm setting out to do. xoxo

Tanner's 1st Day

Tanner's 1st day of 1st Grade has come and gone...we are looking forward to his first full week this week. He seems to be doing well so far. To see pics of him ready to go on his 1st day, click here!

Hope y'all are having a great weekend!

1/2 Marathon Update

So I have something I'm ashamed to admit. My training efforts for this half marathon coming up in October have gone out the window. Every time I screw up a week, I try to reconfigure the training schedule to work with the weeks I have left. I know not all hope is lost, but I feel incredibly disappointed in myself. I don't know what happened to me between this time last year and now...I used to be so fitness-minded...so determined...always finding the time to workout no matter what. Don't get me wrong, I've been taking barre classes, hot yoga and doing Insanity, but this past week with the hecticness of school starting and just all the things I have to get done every day between work and home, I've even sort of dropped the ball on that. I'm picking that ball back up today though. {Hmmm...today....did I mention that today is Saturday, and oh yes, I'm at work.} This is what I mean. I work TOO much. I started this job last October and I can pretty much pinpoint that as the starting point in which my fitness started dragging. I have to be at work at 6:30am. I work sometimes 2 full weekends a month in addition to that. I'm a wife, a mom and keeper of our home. I am TIRED.

So the problem I've continuously run into with this half marathon training is that I simply cannot find a good time to get my runs in. I've tried setting my alarm to get up an hour earlier than I already do - but having to be at work at 6:30 means getting up by at least 4am to get a run in before getting ready. And so far, I haven't been able to get myself out of bed for it...I think I did ONCE. So then, I figure running right after work before I pick up the kids would be my best option, except that with this Charleston, SC humidity, it's far too unbearable and I can never make it that long. I would do it at the gym, but the treadmill isn't giving me the same kind of training as a real run would and I can't see myself circling around the tiny indoor track {BORING} for miles and miles. My final option is to run after the boys go to bed, in the evening when it's a little cooler, but lately we've been getting thunderstorms at that time so it foils my plans each time. I am fed up, frustrated and disappointed. But my innermost desires have me WANTING to accomplish this. I WANT to prove to myself I can train for and run a half marathon. I just need to do this.

I have 8 weeks left to train. That is not much in hindsight. I suppose I could always try to find a different half marathon to run that's a little further out, but I really don't want to. I want to set out to do what I said I was going to do. At least with Insanity, it definitely helps my endurance and makes me run a little better, so hopefully I can really make myself push it these next 8 weeks. I suppose I'll have to get up at 4am...but I know if I can just allow my body to get used to it, that it can be done. I may need to be in bed at 9pm though! At least the weather is starting to cool somewhat, so maybe the afternoon runs will be possible too.

I hope you don't think me a failure, but I feel that admitting when you're messing up is half the battle...I'm not going to lie to myself or anyone else. How would that help me in the long run {no pun-intended}? I honestly feel the biggest hurdle I have in all of this is mental...I have to shut that little voice in my head up {especially at 4am} that says, "You can do it later." I don't have that kind of time.

Our Idaho Trip

It's been a month since I've posted on here! It's just been a very busy one...especially with going to Idaho to visit my family and all. We had a great time on the trip...

Head over to this post today on my blog, Style Oyster to read all about our trip and view the bulk of the pictures! xoxo