Think Spring

Well, I won't hold my breath...we do live in Minnesota after all...but has spring sprung? I fear I may be too optimistic since there have been some serious temperature fluctuations over the last couple weeks. I can't help but post some of our outdoor time from some of the warmer days we've had in March. It sure has been nice to get out of the house after this long, cold winter.

Paige was a natural on the rollerblades
(a vast improvement from last summer).

Blake playing hockey.
Did I mention that Blake likes hockey?

Paige hangin' out with Jack.

The sandbox is a fantastic place for Moon Sand...
It makes cleanup a breeze.

Blake and Henry had their bows out
for the first time this year.

Ready, Aim...

"I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now."- Forrest Gump

Angel on the Road

(My Photoshop skills are a work in progress.)

The weather finally warmed up enough for me to run outside.  I have been looking forward to this for weeks and am so excited.  I am not a year-round runner.  My favorite running temperature ranges from around 40 degrees to 70 degrees so I put on the most miles in the Spring and Fall.  My first day out this year was Saturday.  I ran 6 miles in less than an hour.  Needless to say, I was really pleased with myself all the way up until the next morning.  It was not a pretty sight.  I was having serious issues walking down stairs and sometimes just walking, period.  My quads were SCREAMING at me and I decided I should take a rest day on Sunday.  Google, being a wealth of all kinds of knowledge, led me to the recommendation of a "recovery run" on Monday.  I figured it would either be the best medicine or it would leave me completely unable to walk.  Three very slow miles later, I felt great.  I was craving a run on Tuesday but couldn't find the time.  Wednesday morning I decided to do the same 6 mile run from earlier in the week.  After 5 miles, I decided I still had a couple more miles in me...so I kept on keepin' on.  After 7 miles, my legs seemed to have gained the ability to speak, and they weren't saying very nice things.  Apparently they didn't think the added mileage was a great idea.  By mile 7.5, my legs had convinced my brain that I was completely insane.  The great thing about running outside is that there is built in motivation.  The motivation being that unless you are up for a little hitch-hiking, you have to finish what you started.  So to make a long story longer, my grand total for the day was just shy of 8.5 miles, my longest run ever!  I already can't wait to hit the pavement tomorrow.  

Mom, It spoke to me.

Notice anything different?

Paige saw a little girl getting her ears pierced at the mall recently and thought it might be something she would want to do.  Henry and I weren't so sure.  He likes the idea of a tomboy.  I own three pair of earrings (I only actually wear one pair.).  If I wore a bracelet on my wedding day, that would have been the last time (I don't remember.).  The last time I wore a necklace, I was pregnant with Paige (I think I own two but neither has ever been worn out of the house.).  She doesn't get it from me, but I have no objections to Paige wanting to be a girly-girl. She has been on a jewelry kick lately and thinks Claire's is a wonderland.  Last week she brought me a bracelet and asked if she could have it.  I didn't really think it was necessary until Paige stated her case, "Mom, it spoke to me."  She made me chuckle...so I bought it (figuratively and literally).  I am sure she heard that line on a movie: no points for originality but definitely points for style and delivery.

Well, yesterday Paige and I were at the mall making some returns when she asked if she could get her ears pierced.  I said we needed to call Daddy first.  He reluctantly gave the go-ahead. She was so excited and so nervous.  It was cute because I don't think I have ever seen her truly nervous before.  She was even shaking a little.  They did one ear at a time and Paige didn't flinch or make a peep for either side.  She said it only hurt a little.

Nervous Before

     

          Excited After  

I am indifferent about the new holes on her head, but it sure is fun to see my little girl so excited.  Paige wanted me to take pictures so everyone could see her new bling, pink of course.  She is already asking to go shopping for more earrings.  She was a bit disappointed when I told her she can't take the starters out for 6 weeks.  "Ugh, 6 weeks!"  I could have said 6 centuries and it would have elicited an identical response.  She doesn't understand how long that is but it sounds like an awful long time to have to wait to accessorize.

  

Don't Sink!

Swim Time

This weekend was Blake's final Jamboree for the year, and we thought it would be fun to go to a hotel the night before so the kids could hang out in the pool. Thanks to Steve and Sheri for finding a hotel with a water slide. The kids (Blake, Paige, Cameron and Brooke) had a great time swimming, going down the water slide, and playing hoops in the pool.

After a couple hours, we left the oppressively hot pool area for a short time to eat some pizza. The guys were still eating and chatting so us girls headed back to the pool. Paige and her friend were back in the water when I noticed that Paige was in over her head - literally. She hadn't put her water wings back on and ended up in the deep section of the pool while trying to grab a basketball. I'm sure it was only a couple seconds but felt much longer. I stepped to the edge of the pool but realized that there was no way I could reach her. She said "mom help" and went under again. On TV, they always take time to kick off their shoes. She looked so scared. I slid into the pool - shoes, blue jeans, hooded sweatshirt and all. Paige was fine but I think she was pretty impressed that I came in to get her with all of my clothes on. She gave me a big squeeze and asked, "Why did you do that?". So I asked her "Why do you think I did?". Her reply..."Because I was sinking?".

Wet Aftermath

I am surprised that I have made it this far as a parent without ever having to jump in after a child. I wasn't the least bit upset that I had to do it, but rather just really grateful that I was standing so near and paying attention. So I am officially giving myself a "Good Mommy Award". This is pretty exciting as I have been fairly liberal with the self-giving of "Bad Mommy Awards" over the last 7 years. I think us mothers tend to give ourselves a hard time over the slightest guilt inducing incident. We don't hesitate to give a mental reprimand but rarely, if ever, bother with praise. Blake recently upgraded my status to 'fun limiter' (a step up from the long standing 'fun hater' title). That's cool. But it is even more cool that, even if just for a moment, I was Paige's hero. That is until she was ready to hit the water again.

Rockin' Robin

Paige had her third Just for Kix dance performance this past weekend. The song they danced to was Rockin' Robin. There are two more performances left this year...or maybe forever...Paige says she wants to play hockey next year. We'll have to wait and see. She looks cute in hot pink fringes, but she looks really cute in breezers.

Hockey Girl

Dance Girl