Over the past few weeks, Dilly has become quite the kleptomaniac. We first noticed this behavior when we moved our sofas and found piles of toys thrown behind it and shoved into the cushions. Although didn't need confirmation that it was her, she did fess up to the crime.
Recently, Dilly has become a bit more bold with her klepto ways. Occasionally, she'll grab her sister's Nalgene bottle and ditch it in a random place. On Monday, she stole Dizzle's teddy bear and she tried to throw it in the trash can (I caught her as she was putting it in). And on Wednesday, when no one was paying attention, she took Doodle's pajamas and threw them away. We only realized this later when Doodle put something in the trash and noticed her monkey shirt in the bag.
Wanting to know what Dilly was thinking, I sat her down and asked. And I filmed it. Kind of like our own little NCIS investigation ...
And that cuteness is why she gets away with murder ...
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Three Things Thursday ...
Ignored - I'm confident that this happens to all moms, but when J is around, I pretty much disappear. My kids completely forget who I am and they all vie for his attention. On more than one occasion, I have been told, "Guess what, Mom? I love Dad." or "That's OK, Mom. I'd rather hang out with Dad anyway." or "Mom, go away!" This effect is amplified when there other "preferred" adults around. For example, at the mere mention of Grandpa or Grandma's name, the girls go crazy. And they completely ignore me.
Tomorrow, J's parents arrive, which means in 26 hours I will be rendered useless. Well, unless someone misbehaves. Because then, I'm the one who has to play mean cop.
Thanksgiving - Since J's parents are visiting this weekend, we are going to have Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. My first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian and I am kind of at a loss for a main course that isn't Tofurky. Most everything I find is really just a side dish. Any ideas on what vegetarians eat on a day that focuses on meat (other than pasta)?
Munchkins - In two days, J and I will go head to head in a Munchkin eating/running challenge at the Dunkin Donut Munchkin Run. I have no intentions of racing this 5K, in fact, I am going to run the whole thing with J (at his pace). And then I am going to eat more Munchkins than him. Because really, that's the true contest here. And although he's nearly twice my size, I think I have the advantage. Here's why ...
Tomorrow, J's parents arrive, which means in 26 hours I will be rendered useless. Well, unless someone misbehaves. Because then, I'm the one who has to play mean cop.
Thanksgiving - Since J's parents are visiting this weekend, we are going to have Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. My first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian and I am kind of at a loss for a main course that isn't Tofurky. Most everything I find is really just a side dish. Any ideas on what vegetarians eat on a day that focuses on meat (other than pasta)?
Munchkins - In two days, J and I will go head to head in a Munchkin eating/running challenge at the Dunkin Donut Munchkin Run. I have no intentions of racing this 5K, in fact, I am going to run the whole thing with J (at his pace). And then I am going to eat more Munchkins than him. Because really, that's the true contest here. And although he's nearly twice my size, I think I have the advantage. Here's why ...
- My 5K PR is 22:04.
- His 5K PR is 29:48.
- Running at his pace is going to be considerably harder for him than it will be for me.
- Since I will be running at an "easier" pace, I will be able to consume more without it bothering my stomach, thus winning the head-to-head battle.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
swim-phobia
Since marathon training is over (hopefully for an extended period of time), I am spending the next two weeks in recovery mode. It's a nice place to be. Run as little or as much as you want to, because there is nothing looming. Eat too much, because that's obviously the best way to regain your strength. Sleep like a log, because all of the pre-race jitters are gone.
Well, maybe that last one's a lie, because two nights ago, I woke up in a panic.
I had a race nightmare.
A nightmare about a race that is 20 weeks from now.
A freaking swim-fail nightmare.
As you may recall, I am not the best swimmer (OK, I've never trained a day in my life). My strongest stroke is breaststroke and even that is weak. In the past, I barely survived the swim portion of the triathlons I have raced. Seriously, I usually finish the swim in the bottom 5 of my age group. Thankfully, "the Quads" know how to represent on the bike and the run.
Anyway, back to this nightmare. I was in Texas (where my 70.3 is) and I was prepping for the race. We were about a week out from the event. For some reason, I remember everyone saying that it was next weekend. I had all my gear in place, but then it occurred to me ...
I never signed up for a pool membership. And with less than a week to go, I had yet to do a single swim workout. I was screwed.
I woke up in a cold sweat. No lie.
You can fake a sprint. But you can't fake a half Ironman. It's a 1.2 mile swim. And I'm pretty sure floaties are discouraged.
Can you say swim-phobia, anyone?
Well, maybe that last one's a lie, because two nights ago, I woke up in a panic.
I had a race nightmare.
A nightmare about a race that is 20 weeks from now.
A freaking swim-fail nightmare.
As you may recall, I am not the best swimmer (OK, I've never trained a day in my life). My strongest stroke is breaststroke and even that is weak. In the past, I barely survived the swim portion of the triathlons I have raced. Seriously, I usually finish the swim in the bottom 5 of my age group. Thankfully, "the Quads" know how to represent on the bike and the run.
Anyway, back to this nightmare. I was in Texas (where my 70.3 is) and I was prepping for the race. We were about a week out from the event. For some reason, I remember everyone saying that it was next weekend. I had all my gear in place, but then it occurred to me ...
I never signed up for a pool membership. And with less than a week to go, I had yet to do a single swim workout. I was screwed.
I woke up in a cold sweat. No lie.
You can fake a sprint. But you can't fake a half Ironman. It's a 1.2 mile swim. And I'm pretty sure floaties are discouraged.
Can you say swim-phobia, anyone?
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Team Tough Chik ...
As you've probably figured out by now, I am extremely brand loyal. When I find a product I like, I stick with it. Hence, the 4,000 skirts from Lululemon and RunningSkirts. And then there are the socks. Don't even get me started on the socks.
And if you've been reading for some time, you probably know that Tough Chik holds a special place in my heart. I love the Tough Chik designs and I love the Tough Chik story. I mean, I wore their "i run" shirt in RUNNER'S WORLD. You really have to love something if you display it for bajillions of people to see it.
I am a "Toughie" (Yeah, that's me rocking my Tough Chik shirt with Mark Remy and Bart Yasso)
My kids are "Toughies"
And you can be a "Toughie" too. From now until January 1st, you can join Team Tough Chik. You can be a part of the Tough Chik community and show those around you, "What Tough Looks Like."
Interested? Then click HERE to learn more.
Note: I was not asked to write this post or compensated in any way. I just truly love this company and what they stand for.
And if you've been reading for some time, you probably know that Tough Chik holds a special place in my heart. I love the Tough Chik designs and I love the Tough Chik story. I mean, I wore their "i run" shirt in RUNNER'S WORLD. You really have to love something if you display it for bajillions of people to see it.
I am a "Toughie" (Yeah, that's me rocking my Tough Chik shirt with Mark Remy and Bart Yasso)
My kids are "Toughies"
And you can be a "Toughie" too. From now until January 1st, you can join Team Tough Chik. You can be a part of the Tough Chik community and show those around you, "What Tough Looks Like."Interested? Then click HERE to learn more.
Note: I was not asked to write this post or compensated in any way. I just truly love this company and what they stand for.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Richmond Marathon Recap ...
Location: Richmond, VA
Date: 11/12/11
Temperature: upper 30's @ start, sunny
Official Time: 4:12:52 (9:39 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:12:55 for 26.42 miles (9:34 pace), 2:56 PR
Place in Age Group (25-29): 98/281
Place in Gender: 562/1647
Overall Place: 1716/3787
The Good:
Pre-race Fun - From bagels on Friday morning ...
to the expo on Friday afternoon ...
to carb-loading on Friday night ...
marathon excitement was EVERYWHERE.
The Outfits - G, Pixie Green and I looked epic. As always.
No Pressure - There is something about running two marathons in six days that kind of takes away all the pressure from the second race. I knew that regardless of how fast (or slow) I ran, I could boast about the quick turnaround. And knowing that, somehow made it easier to run a consistent race.
The Course - I love this course. It's scenic and beautiful and the downhill finish is enough of a reason to run it over and over. But as a member of the Marathon Training Team (MTT), I ran the course so often that I knew it like the back of my hand. Talk about an advantage on race day. No surprises. No mental games. Just 26.2 miles and me.
Sub-2 Half - From the start, my goal for this race was to run with whoever I started with for as long as possible and then just finish, even if I walked the rest. I lost G pretty much in the first 10 feet of the race, but I was running with Jess and her sister Jodi (they both ran MCM two weeks prior).
We just decided to run whatever felt good. And somehow, as we approached the half marathon mark, we noticed that we were just going to break two hours (we crossed in 1:59:20) and that alone made the race a success for me.
PR Baby - Not exactly sure how it happened, but 6 days after running the NYC Marathon and missing a PR by 8 seconds, I finished this race with a 2:56 PR. It was awesome. However, I kind of wish my plan of "run a strong first half and then have fun with the second half", wasn't the plan I executed. When I caught G at mile 15.5, I decided I was just going to stick with her. Then she left me. And then I caught her again. It wasn't until mile 23 or so, that I realized that even with my eased pace in the second half, that a PR was going to happen for sure. Maybe I should have picked it up sooner.
The Last 2 Miles - Once I realized a PR was in the bag, I was re-energized. Add that to the fact that most of the last two miles are downhill and I was feeling unstoppable. Seriously. This is me at mile 25.5, looks like it could have been mile 1.5.
GBA - Like usual, our run group rocked it on Saturday. I'm proud of each and everyone of them. But, I am especially proud to be associated with G (who ran through illness), KC (who PR'd with a sub-4) and 3L (who BQ'd in her marathon debut). I love these ladies and am honored to have them in my life.
The Bad:
Un-GU'd - Although I started the race with four GUs attached to my race belt, all but one of them fell off while I was shedding layers in the early miles. Total Spi-Belt fail.
Photo-Op - As a member of MTT, we were scheduled to take a team picture at 7 a.m., one hour prior to the race start. Most days, that would be no big deal, but it was cold on Saturday. I arrived at 6:30 a.m. and by the time the race started, I couldn't feel any of my toes. And the worst part, you can't see me (or anyone I know) in the picture anyway.
The Ugly:
Wind - As you approached mile 24, a place I like to refer to as the "Lombardy Suckfest", runners were greeted with headwinds so strong that they threw you back a little. Not the time in the race to have a physical barrier like that.
Date: 11/12/11
Temperature: upper 30's @ start, sunny
Official Time: 4:12:52 (9:39 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:12:55 for 26.42 miles (9:34 pace), 2:56 PR
Place in Age Group (25-29): 98/281
Place in Gender: 562/1647
Overall Place: 1716/3787
The Good:
Pre-race Fun - From bagels on Friday morning ...
to the expo on Friday afternoon ...
to carb-loading on Friday night ...
marathon excitement was EVERYWHERE.The Outfits - G, Pixie Green and I looked epic. As always.
No Pressure - There is something about running two marathons in six days that kind of takes away all the pressure from the second race. I knew that regardless of how fast (or slow) I ran, I could boast about the quick turnaround. And knowing that, somehow made it easier to run a consistent race.The Course - I love this course. It's scenic and beautiful and the downhill finish is enough of a reason to run it over and over. But as a member of the Marathon Training Team (MTT), I ran the course so often that I knew it like the back of my hand. Talk about an advantage on race day. No surprises. No mental games. Just 26.2 miles and me.
Sub-2 Half - From the start, my goal for this race was to run with whoever I started with for as long as possible and then just finish, even if I walked the rest. I lost G pretty much in the first 10 feet of the race, but I was running with Jess and her sister Jodi (they both ran MCM two weeks prior).
We just decided to run whatever felt good. And somehow, as we approached the half marathon mark, we noticed that we were just going to break two hours (we crossed in 1:59:20) and that alone made the race a success for me.
PR Baby - Not exactly sure how it happened, but 6 days after running the NYC Marathon and missing a PR by 8 seconds, I finished this race with a 2:56 PR. It was awesome. However, I kind of wish my plan of "run a strong first half and then have fun with the second half", wasn't the plan I executed. When I caught G at mile 15.5, I decided I was just going to stick with her. Then she left me. And then I caught her again. It wasn't until mile 23 or so, that I realized that even with my eased pace in the second half, that a PR was going to happen for sure. Maybe I should have picked it up sooner.
The Last 2 Miles - Once I realized a PR was in the bag, I was re-energized. Add that to the fact that most of the last two miles are downhill and I was feeling unstoppable. Seriously. This is me at mile 25.5, looks like it could have been mile 1.5.
GBA - Like usual, our run group rocked it on Saturday. I'm proud of each and everyone of them. But, I am especially proud to be associated with G (who ran through illness), KC (who PR'd with a sub-4) and 3L (who BQ'd in her marathon debut). I love these ladies and am honored to have them in my life.
The Bad:Un-GU'd - Although I started the race with four GUs attached to my race belt, all but one of them fell off while I was shedding layers in the early miles. Total Spi-Belt fail.
Photo-Op - As a member of MTT, we were scheduled to take a team picture at 7 a.m., one hour prior to the race start. Most days, that would be no big deal, but it was cold on Saturday. I arrived at 6:30 a.m. and by the time the race started, I couldn't feel any of my toes. And the worst part, you can't see me (or anyone I know) in the picture anyway.
The Ugly:
Wind - As you approached mile 24, a place I like to refer to as the "Lombardy Suckfest", runners were greeted with headwinds so strong that they threw you back a little. Not the time in the race to have a physical barrier like that.
Friday, November 11, 2011
bones ...
One might say that Dizzle is inquisitive. She wants to know as much as she possibly can before she commits. She loves to learn. She loves to talk. Some days I love this trait, and some days I want to put in earplugs and walk away.
On our way to soccer the other day, she was in a particularly inquisitive mood. It lead to the following conversation.
Dizzle: If we are made up of bone, how do we bend?
Me: Well, Dizzle, the bones don't bend. Our bodies are made up of a bunch of bones and we are able to bend at the places those bones meet. It's called a joint.
Dizzle: Oh, so our hands have lots of bones then?
Me: Yes.
Dizzle: So, that's why they can bend here and here and here ...
Me: Right.
Dizzle: Well, that's good, because if they didn't bend, we'd have to use magnet gloves to pick up everything.
(End of conversation. Until Dizzle starts talking to herself)
Dizzle: Wow. It's really hard to do anything with straight arms. I can hardly do anything at all. But, professionals can. But, not magicians. They'd have a hard time.
Me: What? What would magicians have a hard time doing?
Dizzle: Getting the people out of those boxes.
(Ensue laughter)
Seriously, Dizzle? This is what goes on in your head? Magicians who can't bend there arms can't get people out of boxes? And you can't do anything with straight arms but PROFESSIONALS can? What kind of professionals are we talking about? The amazing straight arm professionals? Because, I've never met one ...
On our way to soccer the other day, she was in a particularly inquisitive mood. It lead to the following conversation.
Dizzle: If we are made up of bone, how do we bend?
Me: Well, Dizzle, the bones don't bend. Our bodies are made up of a bunch of bones and we are able to bend at the places those bones meet. It's called a joint.
Dizzle: Oh, so our hands have lots of bones then?
Me: Yes.
Dizzle: So, that's why they can bend here and here and here ...
Me: Right.
Dizzle: Well, that's good, because if they didn't bend, we'd have to use magnet gloves to pick up everything.
(End of conversation. Until Dizzle starts talking to herself)
Dizzle: Wow. It's really hard to do anything with straight arms. I can hardly do anything at all. But, professionals can. But, not magicians. They'd have a hard time.
Me: What? What would magicians have a hard time doing?
Dizzle: Getting the people out of those boxes.
(Ensue laughter)
Seriously, Dizzle? This is what goes on in your head? Magicians who can't bend there arms can't get people out of boxes? And you can't do anything with straight arms but PROFESSIONALS can? What kind of professionals are we talking about? The amazing straight arm professionals? Because, I've never met one ...
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Three Things Thursday ...
Photobomb - Dizzle lost her 5th tooth on Tuesday. Like always, she freaked out when I told her I was going to pull it and five seconds later when it was out, she was still screaming in fear. When I told her I was done, she said, "Oh. That was easy." Obviously, she's is all about the drama.
Afterwards, she asked me to take her picture for Facebook. She said that she did not want Doodle to be in it. So, we put her tooth in a bag and I snapped a quick shot.
Yup, Doodle photobombed.
Epic Photos - Speaking of pictures, mine from the NYC Marathon were awesome. If I wasn't so cheap, I would totally buy some. Here are a few of my favorites.
Round 2 - And since we are on the topic of marathons, I am running my second in six days on Saturday, the Richmond Marathon. Unlike NYC, I'll have my posse and a ton of friends running this race with me. If you feel like stalking, my bib number is 2224 (how wicked cool is that) and if you are out on the course and want to look for me, I'll be sporting the same outfit as G. It looks like this ...
Afterwards, she asked me to take her picture for Facebook. She said that she did not want Doodle to be in it. So, we put her tooth in a bag and I snapped a quick shot.
Yup, Doodle photobombed.Epic Photos - Speaking of pictures, mine from the NYC Marathon were awesome. If I wasn't so cheap, I would totally buy some. Here are a few of my favorites.
Round 2 - And since we are on the topic of marathons, I am running my second in six days on Saturday, the Richmond Marathon. Unlike NYC, I'll have my posse and a ton of friends running this race with me. If you feel like stalking, my bib number is 2224 (how wicked cool is that) and if you are out on the course and want to look for me, I'll be sporting the same outfit as G. It looks like this ...
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