Day 116 and 117

Day 116
Swimming for the girls and a 10 mile run for me, obviously I was feeling better today.  John could't get out on his walk which has become his usual for monday since I had such a long workout. 

Day 117
The girls did some weeding with Daddy in the backyard.  I think it was more playing in the yard than weeding, but hey, at least they were outside!  20 min thinks they were out there about 20 min, then he got to sneak out and go on a walk.

Day 112, 113, 114, and 115

Day 112 - Gymnastics for the girls, a walk for John and a run for me (1st time I've run with a friend this training season).  All of our "activity" took place late afternoon/late evening so no time for something all together.

Day 113 - Nothing I can even remotely conjure up as activity today.  I was off to a conference for the evening and John took the girls out for a date night to Jamba Juice.

Day 114 - Sickness has come to visit me again.  As soon as I got back from my conference this afternoon, all 4 of us took a nap until early evening.  This rarely rarely happens, but I think we all needed it. 

Day 115 - OK cold germs, can I please have my life back? I'm sick of being sick on the weekend and not being able to get in my long run or do anything else productive.  We did all get out on the boat this afternoon.  I went to sleep immediately once we were underway.  Washing the boat with Daddy is the only thing close to activity for the girls today. Then they got another trip to Jamba Juice with me - too tired to make dinner and Jamba Juice had a 2 for 1 coupon this weekend.

Day 110 and 111

Day 110
Yep, I did get my run, I'm sure you were all waiting with bated breath.  As soon as John got home, I was out the door.  After that, all four of us packed in the car and headed off to Hannah's school for a book fair.  The girls were so excited to see their friends and look at all the books.  They were drawn to any book that contained barbies, unicorns, fairies or fancy little girls.  If it was pink, sparkly, or rainbow, all the better. They kept adding to the pile of books they wanted to buy.  We had to limit it a little, but really, how can you say no when they are so excited about books, isn't that what you want as a parent? They even had a few tables of adult books, smart marketing, but it didn't work on me.  After this, John went home and the girls headed off to a baby shower at church where they got to be the "gift fairies" delivering the presents to the mom-to-be.  They insisted on bringing their new books to the shower and were showing everyone what they had just chosen.

Day 111

Wednesdays are getting easier in the activity department, John gets his walk in while the girls are at swim lessons and with no church tonight we had some extra time on our hands.  A friend let me know that the 50th anniversary party for the city of Lynnwood was happening this evening.  When I looked on the website to see if it was worth going and saw that Recess Monkey was performing at 6pm, it was a  no brainer.  Recess Monkey is a fun local children's band.  The kids have seen them before and even own one of their CDs and a DVD.  We have never been in the Lynnwood Convention Center so when we walked in to what looked like a main entrance and a main "ballroom" we assumed we were in the right place.  Birthday cake - check, free food samples - check, information tables - check, stage - check, Recess Monkey on the stage - uh, not exactly.  There was a Hawaiian dance troupe performing on stage with recess Monkey no where in sight.  I wondered if we had missed it, since it was already 6:10, but that didn't seem right, maybe they were running behind, I thought.  So, we settled in, got some food, greeted the SeaHawks mascot and waited.  I asked John to go out and see if maybe there was a 2nd floor or ballroom that we didn't see.  He came back and had not found anything.  We hung out some more, then decided to go explore the info tables.  It was then that we discovered we were actually already on the 2nd floor and there was a downstairs. We hurried the girls downstairs hoping that this was where the concert was but having a sinking feeling that we had probably just missed it.  We found them and they were still performing.  The girls got to hear about 4 of their songs.  They were shy at first, but soon got in the little kid mosh pit and started jumping and dacing around.  Hannah even saw a friend from school, who she had seen the previous night at the book fair and she was excited about that.  Later that evening, I went out on my run, John did some weeding, and the girls were outside playing hopscotch with the neighbors.  Some days we do this together/activity thing so well!

Day 108 and 109

These two days were if-we-piece-it-all-together-then-I-think-we-did-OK days. They were both such nice warm, sunny days, we just had to be outside.  So, though we weren't doing all our activities together, I think we met the goal to get outside and moving.

Day 108
Girls - trampoline time across the street, car washing with Daddy, helping mom make ice cream and slushies with our new ice cream maker

John - car washing, lawn mowing (are you seeing a trend here?)

Jen - 9 miles on the Burke Gilman

Day 109
Girls - swim lessons, weeding with Daddy, running around outside with the neighborhood kids.  Both girls got some extra time in with Mommy today - Hannah reading and Haley ABCs.

John - walking loop and yard work

Jen - this is my bonafide rest/recovery day, a part of the training program, and a good thing because I was sore and tired today. Well, technically I was supposed to do some stengthening and stretching but I opted for working on cleaing the house which is still no where near clean, decluttered, presentable, choose your favorite phrase.

Stay tuned for tomorrow when I figure out how the heck to fit my run in - it will be a busy day

Day 107 - Norman Rockwell this isn't

This picture makes it look like we had a wonderful blissful time snowshoeing - not exactly!  Just before and after this shot was the only time period where everybody was happy.  The lodge is only about 50 yards away up over the crest of the hill in the background.  I had just gotten the girls down to this area where it was not as windy.  Up on the hill behind us is a big open area where the wind was blowing at least 30 mph and it was snowing, though just on the verge of raining.  They don't call it Hurricane Ridge for nothing.  John was at the car getting the sled so we could drag the girls back from our snowshoe walk if needed.  The walk would have been downhill, so we were anticipating them needing help on the way back.We didn't even get that far.  Hannah was set on sledding and throwing a major tantrum.  The sledding area was closed for the day and we couldn't get her to understand that sledding wasn't allowed on the XC trail.  We should have never brought the sled out, she never got over her fit and we had to go inside.  Turns out her double layer of socks were wet and so were the top of her pants underneath her snowsuit, so that is likely the source of her uncooperativeness.  How she got her pants wet under bibs that come way up her back, I'll never know.  The whole episode seemed to only take 5 min, but we were actually out in the snow for about 45 min.  Just before this picture was taken Hannah had said twice, her exact words, "I could really get used to this".  So, I know she enjoyed the snowshoes, I think it was more the elements that we were battling.  Haley did pretty well, but could benefit from growing bigger so the shoes aren't such a big percentage of her little body.  Since we probably won't get back out on the snowshoes until next winter, she should be better able to handle it then.  I'm optimistic that they'll do great next winter.  We may need to work on getting them better shoes, actual hiking boots instead of cheap snowboots that come off and let in snow easily.  I just can't imagine spending that much money on a pair of shoes they'll only need a few times a year.  When we are on dirt hiking trails, their tennis shoes have always been fine, so really no need for hiking boots in the summer.

Later in the afternoon, back down at sea level, we all got more outside time.  John did his usual lawn mowing.  The lawn mowing at the cabin is work.  It is lots of area and an old old machine (not a riding mower).  Mowing just the bare minimum around the house takes 1.5 hours.  I snuck in a 4.5 mile run on the trail that I will run my half marathon on in June.  We took the girls hiking down in our gulley and even tried to get back up the hillside on a steep deer trail.  We didn't quite make it, but the girls were impressed with finding a "secret" passage way.  After that, we all took turns with the flying wheel toy. 

A great active day to make up for the days on either side of it.

Day 106

Not much to report for today, just lots of good intentions helping us to get in some activity and togetherness this weekend.  Haley and I went to REI in the morning to pick up new snowhoes for the girls - thank you REI dividend!  We drove out to our cabin in the evening so we could try out the snowhoes on saturday. We saw a beautiful sunset when we were on the ferry.  It is staying lighter later and later. We were proud of ourselves for choosing to go to Subway for dinner after getting off the ferry.  McDonalds is our usual stop when we take the ferry.  The Subway choice may not seem like a big deal but we are trying to make better food choices and little decision helps.

Day 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105

Finally - I'm caught up on all my posts!

Day 101
I was still sick, so no long run for me.  Since I was feeling better in the eveing, we went on a breif night walk 15 min.

Day 102
The girls started swim classes, they've had a break from swimming classes since last august. The classes include 30 min of instruction and then another 15 min of free play.  They were so tired when they got home, this is going to be a great way for them to get some exercise.  Dad went on a walk, mom was still recovering.

Day 103
A walk for Dad and then we followed the girls while they biked around the the neighborhood.

Day 104
Swim class - finally some activity for a wednesday.  At long last, I'm feeling better and I got in my long run so still hanging in there with the training schedule.  A beautiful sunny spring day on the Burke Gilman trail.

Day 105
Gymnastics for the girls, a walk in Edmonds for mom (Haley in stroller), and Dad got in his loop walk too.