Passing of the Torch

My son, Kellen, has started captain's practice for cross country.  Kellen is a soon to be 8th grader who is not very big at all.  He is pretty proud of his six pack and likes to flaunt his pecs, but compared to his peers he is on the small side.  You would never really know that because Kellen has a HUGE personality!!  He is always smiling, joking around, and pushing the envelope just a little bit.  He is everything I wish I was at that age!!  Anyway, back to practice.  Kellen loves to run which is funny because when he was a small boy he ran really funny - kind of sideways.  We almost took his to a doc for an evaluation, but we figured he would outgrow it kind of like Forrest Gump.  Well, he did.  Kellen shows up every day at captain's practice even though it is optional. He is the youngest one there.  He runs hard and has big goals. Wednesday he experienced the "runner's high" for the first time and now I am sure there is no stopping him!  When I picked him up from practice his face was bright red and he was exhausted.  Then he began to spew (yes, that is the right verb!) "Mom, that was the hardest run ever.  I ran with the fast guys and I kept up.  I worked so hard. I am going to do that again tomorrow.  I am so proud of myself!" And he went on and on all the way home as he made plans to  the set records in distance running.  LOVED IT!  Kellen is one of a kind!  Some of his traits that annoy me the most - his stubborness, his questioning of authority, his lack of caring what others think - are also the qualities I admire most in him.  I love that we share a love of running!!  We are planning on running a half marathon together in August.  I think sharing that love is a thread that will always keep us connected!

New braces!!  I love that he chose colorful bands!!!

Amazingness

I looooooooove summer! Part of it is the weather and a huge part of it isI have the freedom of a relaxed schedule!  This morning I woke up at 5, did a little around the house, and hopped back in bed for an hour more! Yesterday, I did a Body Pump class at 5:30 am, ran at 6:30, played taxi for most of the day, ran trails at 5:00 pm, in bed at 8:30 with a book.  My kids are busy with friends and so far only need me for money and rides.  Love this new part of my life entitled "Me Time!"  IT IS AMAZING!

My daughter, Macey, graduated on Thursday and we had her party on Sunday.  The weather in MN has been very unseasonably cold and rainy.  We watched the radar for a week and saw only pending rain.  On Saturday, we moved all of out furniture out of our main level to make room for people in case it rained.  It rained hard on Saturday.  It rained all Sunday morning.  It rained an hour before the party.  And. Then. The. Sun. Came. Out!  The winds died down to a light breeze and the sun was shining brightly for the entire party.  Guests said it was raining all around us - just not on our party!!  We had a great time!  My daughter loves to decorate so she was in charge of all of that.  She did a beautiful job! She also stepped way out of her comfort zone and greeted people as they came to her party.  We had a "build your own grilled cheese sandwich" (Macey's favorite food) bar which was a huge success!!!  And I had the best friends in the world manning the food for me!!! We had a photo booth so we have a lot of crazy pics of family and friends to put in a book for her!! My goal was to keep the party inexpensive and to show that a grad party could be fun without spending tons of money or remodeling any part of our house or yard. It was the best party ever and IT WAS AMAZING!

I bought myself a new little toy - A NutriBullet!  I am not good at eating my fruits and veggies during the day, so this little machine is perfect for me!  I am excited to try out some new recipes.  Today it was spinach, raspberries, blackberries, and almonds.  YUM!  I heard about the NutriBullet last week at 3 am while I was up worrying about my daughter's grad party - ha ha!  The infomercial promised that I would feel better and look younger!  Heck yeah!  Sign me up!  So far IT IS AMAZING!

Tonight is the first night of our second year of the Muddy Shoes and Brews Trail Series.  A couple of friends and I started it last year.  It is a very low key gathering twice a month in which we run the trails and drink beer after.  Tonight we are celebrating with summer ales.  There are 34 people signed up.  Meeting new friends, running, toasting with a good beer - this night WILL BE AMAZING!

Catching Up

I have been pretty absent from the blogging world lately.  I have been so busy and in a little bit of denial. A couple of weeks ago, I had this bright idea that I was going to write a blog dedicated to my daughter who is graduating this year.  I started it, but could not finish.  Her looming graduation was too much for me to think about. She is ready to face the world and has chosen a college that will prepare her for the path she desires.  So, I am not worried about her well-being at all.  I am just having a really hard time dealing with the idea of her leaving the nest.  She is a REALLy good girl - so easy to raise, honor student, fun, hilarious, she makes me laugh, we borrow each other's clothes, we shop together, we work out together, we talk, we talk, we talk...  And now she wants to leave me?  She is ready, do I have to be?  Well, last night she graduated and I could not be prouder!!!!

On a different note - I ran the Chester Woods 10 Mile Trail Race last Saturday.  It was the most fun I have had since I was a kid - cuz I felt like a kid! I stood at the starting line with 130 other runners and enjoyed the peaceful solitude of the sunshine - we have only had sun in MN for 20 of the last 80 days!!  It felt amazing to see blue skies and have the sun warm my back.  That area received 9 inches of rain the night before so the the trails were mucky, muddy, sloppy, wet, soaking (any more adjectives?) We were wet within the first half mile and continued that way for the entire race! I ran for a while with a friend - it so fun to share that joy with another!  After a while we split and ran our own races.  It was a course with rolling hills and a few steep climbs.  I loved the challenge of the terrain and the puddles added to the fun. I felt pretty consistent throughout the race and ignored my hamstring when it got a little cranky.  In the final half mile I was running with another woman.  As we looked ahead we saw what looked like a lake right in front of us.  I jokingly said "Looks like we will be swimming."  I assumed the trail would curve and we would go around the water - WRONG!!  The trail was under water due to the rain.  So with big smiles and huge gusto - we ran right through it!  And then on to the finish line!!  My finish time was 1:24 - good enough for a first place win in my age group!!!

Weird - the photo keeps wanting to go sideways!!  Anyway - love the unique awards at trail races!

PLEASE HELP ME OUT - QUICK

Reaching out to the blogging world - there is a blogger who has a fitness, health, diet challenge - I think it runs for a month.  She had a "get ready for summer" challenge during the month of May - I was too late to sign up but wanted to do her next challenge.  Anyone know who that is??