Morbid Monday Morning

"Still smiling"


This past Monday morning started off a little rough. First I saw this giant frog (well I think it was actually a toad - how can one tell?) and figured one of the dogs maybe "played" with it a little too roughly. Juliet saw it and instantly said "Warty!" She is pretty certain that this was the same toad we'd see from time to time, hopping around our front yard or even sneaking into our garage. So after a couple of run-ins she affectionately named him this. I do have a picture of it, tongue hanging out and all, but decided to spare you all and NOT post a picture. You're missing out though!

About 20 minutes later J and I were walking to the end of our driveway to wait for the bus and spotted this second dead little guy. The dead snake actually bothered her more than Warty and we speculated for a few minutes how he may have met his death. We can to the conclusion that Dad probably ran him over with the car. So she asked me, "Well if Dad ran him over with the car, how come he's not flat?" Good question, no good answer. She proceeded to say, "Mom he was still smiling. Poor little guy didn't even see it coming."

She is so sweet. Leave it to Juliet to feel bad for a dead snake of all creatures. She is such an animal lover. And the funny thing is, I went back later to check closer for myself and sure enough, the little snake WAS smiling. He really didn't even see it coming.....

Random thought

Okay, so I've been running now for about three months now, putting in around 25 miles a week to prepare for my half-marathon. But what I would like to know is why when I have the body type of "Olive Oil" from Pop-eye do I still have a jiggly butt? Seriously, I hardly have any junk in the trunk and yet my butt is still flabby! And I am not just being hard on myself either because Allison even comes up behind me after I get out of the shower and has a great time smacking my bum to watch it jiggle! "Mom your bummy is so wiggly! Cool!"

One of lifes many mysteries I suppose....

My baby is four now! WAAA!

I'm THIS many!

So I cannot believe that my little Al Pal is now a four year old! She made the transition on Sunday, September 21st (and ironically shares the same birthday with my brother's daughter who turned two) She had a "princess party" and cupcakes instead of cake (works for me!). Had I given Allison the choice she probably would have wanted all her friends over to but I just invited family because that still put us around twenty people! But what a GORGEOUS day it was! September can be hit or miss but man was it dead on! So we spend the afternoon outside, hanging out, eating, playing, and watching Al open her gifts.

Before her birthday I did try to convince Allie to stay a three year old and NOT have a birthday but to no avail. She always claims that if she can only get big like me, THEN she will be bigger than her sister! Well good luck to her but I'm pretty sure she won't ever catch up to her sister (who by the way, is almost four years older!) But alas, there is nothing like a good ole' sister rivalry!

I will say this a hundred more times, but I CAN'T BELIEVE MY BABY IS FOUR NOW!!! Oh, why do they have to grow up?

STALLING.....................still stalling

This 1/2 marathon thing is now pretty much staring me in the face. And it has been quite some time now since I've gone out for a longer run than 5 miles. So tonight I am going to lace up my shoes and attempt to go for a 6 -7 mile run. I am losing my drive for training for this race which is NOT a good thing. Now is NOT the time.

Ugh. I will be fine once I'm going but right now I just want to find an excuse NOT to go....BUT if I don't then I will be dogging it the entire race....Oh but I'd really rather sit on the couch and eat some of the yummy candy I got for my birthday.... But, if I don't go out then my much older sister Lisa (haha, j/k) will completely kick my butt in this race...But shoot, I really should spend the time here cleaning up the kitchen I destroyed while making soup a.k.a. dinner for the next 3 weeks or so....No, no, no if I don't go then I will regret it and I don't when my next opportunity to run will be....

Okay, okay I'll end this lame post and go for a stinkin run! Crap!

I will go with what I know

When facing a difficult situation, often it is hard to see how there could ever be a positive outcome. It is during these times when I need to stand on God’s many promises and “go with what I know, not with what I feel” The situation may look impossible but I know my God is bigger than any obstacle out there and he has a perfect plan!

The enemy is so good with trying to fill our minds with thoughts of hopelessness and feelings of defeat but I am equipped with a weapon far more powerful and I know that by speaking God’s word, I can reaveal wrong thinking and it will quickly lose its power. The word of God is sharper than any two edged sword! God’s word is just full of His awesome promises. And so, even on days where I am tempted to give up on my hopes because the situation seems hopeless and things are not happening in "my" time, I will I just keep praying for a miracle, but I will leave the outcome in God’s hands and in His time….

*Lord, help me to always be "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, and continuing steadfastly in prayer" Romans 12:12*

Garbage Disposal Withdrawls

So I forgot again that since moving to our new house we no longer have a garbage disposal! And scooping soggy Cinnamon Toast Crunch out of the sink with my bare hand first thing in the morning is not my favorite way to start the day. I hope I can get used to not having one. What do people do with left over cereal in the morning (not to mention dinner scrapes) if you don't have a garbage disposal to feed? And don't say "uh, the garbage" because that doesn't work! Then the milk will leave the garbage smelling even less than peachy and god forbid the bag springs a leak! I've tried holding the cereal back with spoon and letting the milk drain into the sink but without fail there are always some mushy boogers that sneak out. HOWEVER, if a garbage disposal-or lack thereof-is the biggest of my woes then I should be dancing a jig, not complaining on my blog. Moving on....

Note to self: **Repeat three times** "I no longer have a garbage disposal, I no longer have a garbage disposal, I no longer have a garbage disposal."

Pet Peeve

Juliet brought this home from her first day of school. Click on the picture and check out #3. Allison's whining is not her pet peeve, nor her hitting, or swiping her belongings - just Allison-as a whole-is Juliet's pet peeve. Said just like a true sister. Some days I can relate.

#11 is also note worthy. Though if I had $100 and could actually purchase a house with that amount of money then I too would "by a house". I'm no dummy either.

Blueberry picking

Ready to start picking!

I figured a good ole' country blueberry picking with good friends and beautiful weather is blog worthy! Jen, Karell, and I went to a place in Glastonbury to pick before the season was over and there was still really good picking! The kids did great and were great "helpers"! I ended up picking over 10 pounds! So far I have made blueberry muffins, pancakes, and two pies with the berries. The rest I froze on cookie sheets and then threw them in a ziplock bag so I can use them as needed. Hmm, what should I make next?

School Update

Well Juliet is doing GREAT with school. The first day she came home just BOUNDING off the bus and the first thing she said was "I LOVE riding the bus!" She also told me she made three friends and likes this school better than Washington because "they explain things better". I am just thrilled and this is truly an answer to prayer!

Fast forward to this morning and this was the reaction I got upon telling Juliet it was time to get ready for school. "I don't want to go to school. Do I have to ride the bus? Can't you just drive me?" Oh for goodness sake! Already?! In her defense though, she did snap out of it pretty quickly and got off to school without a hitch!