Finding time for it all

As you know, I was on quite a sewing streak this summer.  That seems to have slowed down.  It's not that my list has gotten any shorter.  In fact I still have a long one that I need to get done before Christmas.  However, my days seems to fly by with little or no time for it since I started working out again.  I set out to just get moving.  I thought a nice stroll through the neighborhood after the kids went down sounded like a nice workout I could keep up with.  Next thing I know, I'm telling myself that it isn't enough.  I needed to up the intensity.  After 1.5 miles thoughout the neighborhood up and down the hills, I find myself running in circles around our culdesac by our house.  Running up up the hills is KILLER!  Our culdesac has a slight incline, but much more manageable at a jog than going up and down the hills, and there's something very comforting about being a few steps away from my porch when I'm doing it in the dark (granted there are street lights).

Jeff would like to sign us up for a 3K this November sponsored by the YMCA.  That sounds so exciting for me. He is a board member at our Y.  I have always wanted to be a runner but NEVER liked running. I gave it a short go before kids, but gave up quickly as running on a treadmill like a rodent quickly lost it's appeal.  Somehow running outside has been so invigorating.  I started doing this a little over two weeks ago as a way to relieve stress. With all the new behavior problems I have been dealing with at daycare, I could feel my blood pressure spike everyday.  Now I feel much more in control again.  There is something so peaceful and serene about walking/running on a brisk fall night underneath the stars.  The neighborhood is quiet and nestled in their homes.  My shadow made from the nearby lamposts is my running partner.  Nothing but me, my legs, and some good pumping tunes to take my cares away.

The feeling after a run is so great!  Your body just feels.....happy.  Hopping in a hot shower after a good run, OH!  Last night I even increased my reward filling my tub with hot water and some bath salts.  Then I put on my fuzzy PJs snuggled up in bed with a cup of hot tea, and an episode of Grey's Anatomy.  Sigh!  Yes, I hope to keep this up.

I know running in the winter is going to be difficult.  So I have started investing in the proper clothing to make that possible.  I hope I can keep up the motivation.  I have never been able to keep up a workout routine yet.  I started out doing probably two miles.  Last night I worked my way up to 4 miles.  Half of it was walking and half was running.  I think this is where I would like to stay for awhile.  I used to walk 4 miles practically everyday when I first started college.  I look back on that time with great fondness for my body.  My "prime" if you will.  What baffles me though is that I used to walk 4 miles in one hour.  I was able to do the same last night, but only with the combo of running and walking.  How in the world was I making 4 hours at only a walk before?  It must be the hills slowing me down.  Weird.

Needless to say, I am onto a new phase.  Sewing is on the backburner for now.  I miss it a little, but the break will be nice.  Come November I'll have to pick it up again or I'll never be ready for Christmas.  Wonder what my body will look like then after all this working out?  Can't wait to find out.

1st Bilberry and Roach Camping trip 2010

Last weekend we had our first ever Bilberry camping trip.  We were able to meet up at Lake Catherine near the Hot Springs area in Arkansas with the Roach Family.  It was such a relaxing trip.  Our time was spent watching the kids dig in the dirt, throw rocks in the lake, play on the playground, going for  nice leisurely stroll, eating good campout food, and having good late night conversations.  Keenan and Jeff  also took the older kids for a game of disc golf Saturday afternoon.

I had this all organized into a movie set to music, but blogger decided to change uploading format once again and I couldn't get it to upload.  Just when you figure out the old format it switches to a new one.  Grrrr!  Therefore, it is a little picture heavy.  Somehow, Sara managed to escape our camera.  Next time you have to pose for us Sara!

My favorite part had to be at night when the kids were all nestled in the tents, watching the moonlight reflecting on the lake, and sharing good conversation and laughter as adults.  Good times!

Can you guess?

Kadyn drew these recently.  Can you guess what they are?  Not bad for 4.5 eh?

Snips of the last couple weeks

Here's a little taste of the last couple weeks.  First up a trip to the park on a daycare day.  My littlest daycare gal was gone this week, so I loaded the three kids I had and we went on a field trip to the park which also included a neat creek to wade around in with lots of minnows and snails to play with.  It was fun!

Preschool time inlcuded a rather large unit on nutrition.  We made a ton of crafts which included a food group mobile,

and other various paper crafts.

 The kids also got to get a little messy on bread group day.  We made a teddy bear out of bread dough.

There were also some silly times.

These last few weeks have also brought out some interesting critters.  First time we've ever seen a live armadillo.

and a baby snake which we are praying isn't a copperhead, but sure looked like one to us.  He's dead in this picture and his body is twisted, so it's really hard to see his true coloring.   

There was all the precious artwork that Kadyn just decides to whip up randomly. Here's two of my favorites.  As you'll notice her name is backwards. I can't seem to break her of drawing letters backwards.  She says she wants to be an artist when she grows up.

Lastly, there were messy faces.  I wonder when they actually outgrow getting this messy.

Goodbye dear summer of 2010.  We will miss you and think fondly of you!

Lovely visit

A couple weeks ago the Chase family was in town and we got to spend some time with them.  Jeff spent a Thursday afternoon with Jon at an 80's video game arcade.  Then the following Saturday we both met up with them for the day.  First the ladies got a little time away to just be women.  Kerri and I ate together at a lovely restaurant, and then went to get manicures and pedicures.  Later we met up with the men, who had been watching all the kids, to go grab some dinner while Grammy and Grandad watched the kiddos.  It was a great time with some pleasant conversation, and a great chance to just go be adults.  We forgot our camera, so Jeff snapped a few photos with his phone when he remembered.  I forgot my phone, so I didn't get any pics of the girl's day out. Rats!  Anyhow, aren't their kids the cutest?