S Club Mama

I think that that worst run was just the kind of motivation I needed to keep going. I got some excellent encouragement via comments (seriously, I have the best readers). Thank you all for being so sweet. I will say that my friend Shannon's comment about my running meaning a lot to her and inspiring really stuck with me this morning on my run. I think that encouraging others is one of my motivators. I am not a runner. I am a former softball athlete running. Maybe some day I'll really think of myself as a runner, I don't know. I don't love it but I do enjoy it (most days). And I'd love for me running to be inspiring enough to help others to do it for themselves. I know Mariah has said I inspired her to run, too - honestly that means so much to me. I have always looked to others for inspiration and motivation. But sometimes I think we find it inside ourselves. I started running to of course, lose baby weight but also to encourage my children to live active lives. B...

44 minutes + maybe 2 miles + really hot outside = one tired, tired, tired, tired runner. Isn't that awful time? I felt awful. Right from the get-go, I felt out of it. I know it's been since Thursday or Friday since I ran (Big A was out of town camping with his buddies so I didn't get my long weekend run in), but you would think I'd feel refreshed. I almost feel like I'm burning out running. I don't want to; I'm over halfway to the half-marathon. I need to start doing yoga again; it's been over a month. I don't think I'm cut out to be a hard-core runner; I get bored. With music, with podcasts - it'd be different if I had someone running with me who ran at my own pace and wanted to just talk (but walking is more conducive to talking). Any motivators out there? I think I need a pep talk.

I wanted to share with you this morning this cute little blog and shop that I've found (and read about through the blogosphere lately). Half-Pint House is (as her blog subtitle says) an acquired chaos. Well, I think it's more adorable than chaos. Megan blogs about her family and faith (sounds familiar to me). She has a great talent for writing and a big love for God - both things I greatly admire in a person. Megan also has a talent for sewing and she has been sewing her little heart out making little zippy bags and pencil holders and such. Why? To fund her way to the Relevant Conference this year. She's so close to her goal and I wanted to help. Since anything not in the "need" category has been outed in this household budget, I thought I would spread the news to you, my lovely readers. I'm personally in love with her Very Hungry Caterpillar zippy bag . That's my and Moose's favorite story - and the book that Squirt flips through most often, I...

Last Thursday, we met up with some friends (one from MOPS and one from church) at a nearby campground/swim area/play area. It was such a beautiful day to hang out - look at this sky! My pal, Sarah , is SO talented with photography. She brought along her camera and took some shots of us in the water and on the beach. AND she did while holding her youngest son - that is some major talent. And I wanted to share the ones she got of my boys and I (please don't judge me on the hat; it's Moose's and I had nowhere else to put it and I do realize I look like a boy). Oh seriously...have you seen a more perfect day?? Moose had such fun splashing in the water - although he tried to drink it, too. Gross. Me and my friend, Kim, with all the kiddos hanging out. The kids all behaved SO well! Squirt was so tired (but isn't this a great picture of him?).   He'd been up since 7:30 or so and we were out there until about 1:00. Such a trooper!! And he had fun splashing - no...

If you laughed yesterday at the Mommy Rhapsody (or if you didn't), you'll die laughing at this. Hilarious - probably because one of the dads reminds me of a dad I know. Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo .

Seriously such a funny (and true) video. Come share a laugh with me today. Mommy Rhapsody from Church on the Move on Vimeo .

Squirt has a fond appreciation (or possibly an obsession) with trying to get the most used devices in our home: i.e. computer keyboard, cell phones, remote controls, Wii controlers, and the toilet flusher. Generally speaking, I don't allow him any of this because it does become an obsession when he gets it (just like when Moose was littler). However, at their birthday party a few weekends ago, I gave up momentarily. Big A was sick so I was handling the children (and hosting the party) by myself. So when his Auntie Alyson gave him her cell phone, I was like "whatever." And he was ecstatic! Moose is a ladies' man. Always has been (despite old people constantly mistaking him for a girl - btw that's a BIG girl, people). Here are a few of his crushes of late. Miss J, of course. He has had a love affair (or possibly just a BFF affair) with her since...he started walking, I'd say. He loves her mom and dad (which is good), her siblings don't really seem t...