Yesterday we baked cookies from scratch. They had half the butter that regular chocolate chip cookies have, and they were DELICIOUS! They were chewy and soft, but not quite as greasy as regular cookies. MMMMMMM!

We then took said cookies to a homeschooling group I recently joined, thanks to the invite from Julia and Kim (a mom from TJ's karate class). There were about six of us, plus kids, and it was really cool. The woman who hosted the meeting had a HUGE yard, complete with beautiful landscaping and fun kid stuff everywhere. Unfortunately, we also learned that there were plenty of spots that were maybe not so kid-friendly...or kid-safe would be a better word for it.

She had a giant see-saw made out of a wooden pole that looked like one of those ones they use for power lines. The kids were having a great time trying to balance on it, and early on a little boy fell off of it, but was fine. Later, TJ was balancing on it. He fell off as well. He immediately jumped up and yelled out, "I meant to do that!" Then I watched as he skittered off behind a tree with a big, sad look on his face. I went to talk to him, and he said, "My eyes keep trying to cry. STUPID EYES! STOP DOING THAT!!!" He rubbed his eyes over and over and hid his face, trying to hold back the tears. Oh, it's making me cry all over again! He was so embarrassed. It was cute and sad all at the same time. We talked, and after a few minutes he was fine, once I finally convinced him that no one was laughing at him. Oh, but it just broke my heart! My baby is getting so big! He's actually old enough to get embarrassed now, and he cares what other people think of him. I don't even know what to think!

So, we went back to talking about homeschooling and the kids went back to playing. Shortly after everything was settled again, a little boy fell and hit his head on a BIG rock. I heard it, from like, 15 feet away. It was LOUD. He cried, as expected, and his mom comforted him. After a couple of minutes, she asked him if he wanted a cookie (one of mine, oh yeah!), and he took it and was fine. I tell ya, the healing powers of good chocolate chip cookies! Makes me proud.

Pretty much the whole time we were there, Cole had been obsessed with the small pond with little fountains she had over by where we were all sitting. He played with the fountains every chance he got. After a while, he started to get gutsy, and was going to try to climb into the water. I put a stop to that. However, he wanted to put his hands in the water, so he'd lean over the side wall around it. He always bounced back just fine, so I thought nothing of it. Julia asked me if he was going to fall in at one point, and I said, "Nah, he's heavy enough on the bottom to hold him down." Yeah. So, naturally, two minutes later he would of course fall entirely into the water. He was DRENCHED. And upset. I think it literally scared the shit out of him, b/c minutes before he was fresh smelling, and after, he was pretty stanky! He was fine after a few minutes, and the host brought him a towel. Taryn must have thought he did it on purpose, b/c I looked over after I got him calmed down, and she had all of her clothes off, save her panties, and was trying to find the best spot to jump in! Well, at least they were feeling comfortable there!

Oh, and someone said, "Well, I guess he (Cole) won't be trying that again!" Yeah, that person didn't know my kids that well! Minutes after he was happy again, Cole was trying to reach into the water. Ahhhhh.....

So, we had a good time, needless to say. I think I got a few words in there with the actual meeting topics, but really, kids falling into/off of things, much more fun to talk about! Well, there was the one moment where one conversation ended while I was in mid-conversation w/someone else, and everyone else heard me say, "One of my kids was a murderer..." but that's another story for another day, I suppose!

Have a great day! Talk to you later.

I blinked, and look what happened:


Oh my goodness they've gotten so big!

So, I've begun my "MARATHON TRAINING". Not even a week in, and I'm bushed! What I find funny is that I actually have cut my regular workout down some, and yet it is killing me. I used to go on the elliptical machine for 15 minutes, then work my arms, legs, and abdomen on the weight machines, then go back to the elliptical for 15 more minutes. Now, I'm just walking on the treadmill as fast as I can handle for 20 minutes, then going to do the weight machines. By the end of that, I can barely make it to pick up the kids, much less go back to do more cardio! The treadmill KILLS me, and I'm scared, b/c next week I begin walking/running alternated, and I just know I'm not only going to look like an idiot, but I'm sure I'm going to fall off the end of the treadmill! I was proud of myself today, though, b/c I walked for a little over two miles, and I was on the treadmill for almost 35 minutes. Can you believe that, though? It took 35 minutes to walk 2 miles?! I was walking really fast. At the rate I'm going right now, it would take me four years to get all the way through a marathon!

So, I started on Monday, and after I finished walking and went to the weight room, I saw the trainer that I love who knows everything their is to know about exercising. I was talking to him about marathon training (his dad was a big marathon runner), and he was giving me some pointers, etc. As I was walking away to begin working out, he said, "Yeah, it's gets a lot easier once you get used to the pain." Uhhhhhhhh, what? Did he just say the word "pain"? Okay, okay, I realize that it is going to hurt, and that I am going to be sore, a LOT. I mean, already my legs hurt, and my feet were not liking me this afternoon. However, just hearing him say it did not make me feel good. I now envision days of excruciating muscle soreness and giant blisters on my feet. I see myself limping around the house and talking constantly about all my various aches and pains. Ummm, ewww! He really did stop me dead in my tracks and make me think really hard about whether or not I want to do this. I have decided, at least at this point, that it is worth it, and that I will carry on...but he did get my mind racing. It probably wasn't the best thing to tell the new chick!

Anyway, I was feeling quite crappy all day, and once I finished working out, although I was tired, I felt much better. So, it's already showing me benefits! The kids are also loving my renewed motivation to go to the gym. They love going to the childcare room.

As for what else has been going on this week: My dad and his wife, Wanda, came for dinner the other night, and the kids finally got their Christmas presents from them that I haven't quite made it over to their house to get quite yet (yes, they live about fifteen minutes away, but...LOOK, I'm a busy woman, okay!). Taryn got a makeup kit and a dress-up dress and slippers, and she could not have been happier. That night, she put on her lipstick and eyeshadow, and when I went to kiss her goodnight, she got upset b/c I was taking her lipstick off of her face! She slept in the dress, and within the first hour she was awake, she must have applied her makeup at least four times! I'm pretty sure she used her lip gloss as eyeshadow, and it was smeared EVERYWHERE! Later that day, I painted her finger and toenails, and then painted mine. We were so GORGEOUS! The makeup is now mostly gone, as she has used it at every moment she can find a second. Fear not, though, I got her a new set for her birthday in June!

So, for the whole week now, I've been wanting to go to the gym. Everyday I've planned to go. However, I have not made it once. Honestly, I probably could have gone and been okay, but I'd rather not take the chance. It seems that last Saturday, I pulled a muscle in my shoulder/neck (again).

See, what happened was I was playing boxing on the Wii for the first time. I really got into it. I can proudly say that I played Julia, Trey (twice) and my sister, Susan, and remain undefeated. However, in the process of kicking their asses, I wore myself out. Technically, I don't think I pulled the muscle then. I was very tired and sore when it came time to throw my Sunday papers a few hours later, though.

The next day we went to the Flowertown Festival. It's a local annual festival thing where people sell their wares and they have lots of food and little kiddie rides. It used to be a lot more fun when it was actually "local", but now that people come from miles and states around, it's mostly just crowded and hot! Trey's parents came b/c Trey had never been, and he thought they might enjoy it. I'm pretty sure they did. After we looked over the crafts and fudge and the like, we got to the kiddie rides section. The kids, although tired, were overjoyed. They rode a couple of rides, then we got to a giant blow-up slide. I thought nothing of it, since we frequent the bouncy house all the time. I handed over the three million tickets to get on, and up we went. Cole was too small to climb it himself, so I carried him. Taryn began to have trouble near the middle of the ladder, so I had to push her, too. At the same time, I was struggling to hold myself up and keep from falling. Little did I realize that this slide was much, MUCH higher and more steep than the ones I'm used to playing on! I believe it was then that I pulled my muscle...b/c I don't think my arms were made to hold small people, push them, and hold big people all at the same time! What sucks even more is that Cole did not enjoy the slide in the least!

Since then, I have been sore. It is not fun. Luckily, I happen to have some medicine left over from a few weeks ago, when I went to the doctor complaining about the same ailment. I do not think I have healed from that one yet. Needless to say, I'm trying desperately to get better (which is not helped by the fact that I have to throw papers every single day with the arm that is hurt!), so I can begin my MARATHON TRAINING on a good note come Monday. Wish me luck!

Oh, wait, on a more positive note, here are a few pics from the festival...mostly just of the kids riding rides, of course!

Okay, check this out. I am not a runner. It pains me to run to the other end of the living room. I am slowly becoming an exerciser in general, but have not yet ventured into the running arena.

The radio station I listen to, Free Beer and Hot Wings, runs in this marathon every year to benefit AT research. There is a marathon in Disney World in January that they run, and you have to earn money by getting sponsors and all that jazz. I want to do it. I do not want to do it this upcoming January. There is no way in hell. Not only am I literally not able, but I want that to be our big family trip to Disney World, and by this upcoming year the kids would not be old enough yet. I figure if I wait until the following Jan., then Cole will be three, and that should work. That gives me over a year and a half to prepare and train. In the meantime, I could perhaps run other marathons if I felt ready, or something like that. It seems pretty do-able.

So, I looked up training for a marathon on the internet. I found different programs, but the one that I liked the most was a 26 week one, which I'm sure would take me longer. No problem there, I have well over a year! I think it would be a great idea. I think I can do it.

Oh, but can I? How daunting this idea of mine is. I think about how if I started running and training how I would lose weight and get skinnier and be fit. How wonderful that would be! Then I think of how I have a gym membership, and how most days I don't make it just b/c I don't have time, I don't feel like it, or some other excuse. I was doing really well for a while, but since we came back from vacation, I haven't been able to get on board again with my exercise and diet routine. Do I really think I'm going to stick to a training routine that involves having to run at least every other day? I don't know. I feel like maybe if I tell people about it, and sign up and really dedicate and commit myself to it (ie-fill out the paperwork and tell people I don't even know that I'll be there!) that I'll do it. At least, that's what I hope! Also, there's a new group a different radio station I listen to started called the "Fit Club". They meet once a week and exercise together and diet or something. They seem to be doing great and all of the people are losing a lot of weight. I thought maybe I could join that and find someone of like mind. I also thought maybe, just maybe, I could convince Julia to train with me, since she is also trying to lose weight, and our families could all go together. I know, I just know, that her kids would LOVE to go to Disney World, and there is plenty of time to save up!

Okay, so tell me what you think. Do you think this is possible? I think it is, but man, it's scary to think about. I really do want to do this, but I feel like I'm really going to have to have some kind of support system set up to actually stick to it. Any ideas?