Half Marathon

I ran my first half-marathon today, so I guess I technically PRed as well! It was misty and cool, perfect running weather. The course was pretty hilly, but I had an amazing group of supporters there to cheer me on. Ryan volunteered at the race and was at the finish line cheering me on. Lyndal brought the kiddos to see me and did the morning routine with them all on her own, Matt and Shellie made me an inspiring sign and cheered me on all over the course, Jaime and Noah were at the finish line and had plenty of hugs...it was a great morning.

                                                   

A good friend encouraged me to post my time of 2 hours and 5 minutes.  My goal was to run at least min 10 minute mile pace, and not get injured (it's been a long time since I have been able to run!)  My final mile pace was 9min 35 seconds. In fact, my 5k time averaged 9:30, my 10K time averaged 9:30, and my end time averaged 9:30. It was good to see that I knew how to pick a good race pace for my body and keep it consistent for 13 miles. 

I'm already building my next goal and planning for my next race...I had so much fun!

Wednesday Morning Hello

Good morning Ryan! Thank you for working so hard in the office, around the house, and for the kids and me. Here's Josiah at his first gymnastics class. (It is only 5$ to drop in any time you want and just crawl, bounce, jump, sing songs, act silly, and try out the balance beams and trampolines...What fun!)

Good Idea, Bad Idea

Good Idea: Using an old milk container to mount your country mailbox.

Bad Idea: Using an old kitty litter box to mount your country mailbox.

So you know you live in a redneck town if... you've passed by these mailboxes hundreds of times and the second one never even stood out.

Older Good Idea, Bad Idea Posts= http://ryanandcamille.blogspot.com/2011/08/good-ideabad-idea.html

Easter Highlights

These are a few of my favorite moments from Easter this year.

1. Sader Dinner - My friend Jaime invited us to an amazing, real Sader dinner. She prepared all of the traditional Sader foods, printed the script and even had a little "Plagues Bag" for Josiah. The Sader dinner was a beautiful way to remember God's provision during the passover and read His word with our good friends. It was the perfect way to sit and really focus on the intricate process God took His people through on their way to presenting His Son Jesus. It helped prepare our hearts and minds for the Easter Celebration.

2. The Hunt- Josiah actually hunted easter eggs this year! It was so cute. He would scream and run, grabbing them up and showing us. The best part was when he found all the hidden eggs. We just walked behind him, sneaking more eggs out of his basket and re-hiding them. He had about 20 eggs in his basket but he probably "hunted and found" around 75. He never noticed that the basket always had the same amount, and everyone around just couldn't stop laughing!

This is Ryan sneaking some eggs out...

3. Both Kaila and Josiah are really growing into little unique personalities, and it was so fun to see them interacting and playing with eachother. Every holiday we celebrate becomes more and more fun as we get to continue old traditions and share God's story with them.

3. Great Grandma Lois and the Kennedys were able to meet Kaila for the first time. Ryan and I were especially excited about Grandma meeting her, and Kaila just smiled up a storm for her as Grandma held her all weekend.

Our Family Easter Photo, Kaila is represented by the monitor, where she is soundly taking her first nap upstairs.

Happy Easter

Mommy Brain and the Art of Triple Tasking

I have friends who blame things on "mommy brain." Well, to clarify, first it was "pregnancy brain" and then it was "mommy brain." For those of you who aren't in the parenting loop, that's when you seem to forget everything. You just plain forgot to call someone back, you have no memory whatsoever of a certain conversation, you go all day with your shirt on backwards...the list goes on.

I never noticed it myself. Not because I don't forget things, but because, as my mother would say, "it's a good thing that your head is screwed on otherwise it would just roll away!" In other words, I have always been a pretty forgetful person, that's just how I am...right?

Wrong.

It got worse, and I'll tell you why. It's because with the little ones, I am rarely able to finish a thought without being interrupted.

Let me illustrate.

Me: " Hmmm...I think I will open my Bible and then make sure to return that book....."

Josiah: " Hi!...Hi!..up!?...up!?" (break for Josiah time)

Me: " Let's see, where was I, where did I put that book..."

Kaila: "Aaaagh, aaagh....uuurgh-aaagh!" (Her newfound favorite pose of tummy time doesn't mesh well with a full stomach. Break for clean up and change in position.)

Me: "Ok, got it, I'll just set it on the table and get back to it later..."

Both Kids: " hi! hi! hi! ...arrmmmmmph, waaah, waah,...muah, muah!" (glance down to see Josiah simulaneously smothering-hugging and kissing Kaila)

Shortly following this attempt at one continuous line of thought, agitated screaming makes it apparent that it is time for breakfast and a nap for Kaila. At this point, the book is gone.

Enter the Art of Triple Tasking.

In this photo alone, I am making eggs, listening to a crying Kaila on the monitor, eyeing my unpoured cup of coffee, doing a few dishes, taking out the trash and feeding Josiah in the background. It takes me about 5 minutes to attend to all of these things.

Then there is the inevitable cost-benefit-analysis that takes place anytime I am actually getting something done. For example, as I clean up from Task A-breakfast, I have to ask myself, "is it worth it?" because previously-non-existent Task B and C are being created in that exact same moment.

My survival technique? Efficiency.

If I see something that needs to be done, and I have 2 minutes before I have to go do x,y and z, then that bathroom is going to get the most amazing 2 minute clean-up it's ever seen. If I'm walking back to Josiah's room to change a diaper, then my arms are going to have two babies, a pair of socks, last night's pajamas, and a misplaced blanket in them.

Some day it will pay off. I will be a more effecient, just normally forgetful, person. But for now, I am just glad to have all those tasks done quickly so I can get back to enjoying the important stuff. And who cares if I can't remember anything, like if I put deodorant on today? The ones who really love me will just tell me I stink, and love me all the more for it.

March 18, 2006

March 18, 2006

On March 18, 2006, Ryan and I were married. We both can't believe that we have been married for 6 years, together for 7 1/2. We have had so many adventures, been all over the world, are friends with, and have met so many interesting people, and now we are experiencing having kids and a home together. I feel so blessed to be with him, honestly, every year we are together I feel luckier and luckier to be given the gift of sharing my life with Ryan. He constantly grows in ways that increase my love, admiration, and respect for him year after year.

This year we had two nights in a hotel on the beach in Pismo. I booked the hotel with a wonderful sunny weekend in mind. Unfortunately, it rained. We had a rough start, looking at each other exclaiming "Failed!!" as each of our plans went down the drain.

Surfing.....FAILED!

Hiking....FAILED!

Cal Poly Botanical Gardens....FAILED (Sign says closed)!!....or was it!?

Things did turn around quite quickly. We had a great leisurely breakfast at our favorite restaurant in Shell Beach, then found another entrance to the Cal Poly Botanical Gardens that was indeed open. Strolling around together, we saw some awesome plants, got some landscaping ideas and sprinted around seeking shelter from the rain in between.

Ryan's inspiration for the back yard, rock tiers with herbs and drought tolerant plants.

Plants from all over the world!

Seeking shelter from a sudden downpour!

Some cool flower structures we couldn't help but admire.

Strolling around the nursery section.

From the botanical gardens, we went downtown. We hung out in Barnes and Nobles, looked at magazines and drank hot chocolate. Then we cruised the local art galleries and shops around town.

A girl's gotta glam it up on her anniversary to go....bowling!? Yep, that's right! We stopped by the hotel where I put on some make-up, dressed up and then went to the Pismo Beach Bowling Alley. We played pool and went bowling. Ryan beat me at every game, but he's just lucky. We quit playing before I could get my big turn-around in and beat him.

We finished the night off with a nice dinner in Avila, a more fitting venue for my snazzy attire, and then retired for the night.

The next morning, we had this view from our bed, complete with the rainbow. What a beautiful way to spend a stormy Anniversary Weekend!

Side Note

In case you were wondering about the kids, my mom and dad were here to babysit them all weekend. They generously offered to watch Kaila overnight, but since she still wakes up about one time a night, I didn't want to burden them with a 4am wakeup that they aren't used to. Kaila actually was a little sweetie and even slept till 6am one night. She was so easy to have with us at night. We just picked her up before we retired to the hotel room and put her to bed...in the closet! Check out her cool little private room!