New Job!

On Friday, I will be closing my door at Guilco and opening a new door at a private independant school here in town.  I.am.so.excited.

It all happened randomly.  I wasn't looking for a job at all but as these things happen in this profession, a former colleague called to tell me about this opening (she also happens to work there. Oh and is now going to be my boss, but that's NOT how I got the job.)

I was on vacation at the River with my sister having the best.week.ever. and she called.  I talked about the job to friends, family, anyone who would listen and I decided to interview.  Monday after I got back from vacation.  Following Will's allergy check.  Ha.  What's that saying? "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing?"  Yeah, that's me.

So two weeks, 3 face to face interviews/meetings/tours, one skype call with two volunteers, I got the call that I'm hired! 

It's a great school that will offer my boys a great education.  Mo' money, reduced tuition, better insurance, better, better, better.  Oh, and room for advancement and a commute that could*  involve walking to work.

Yahoo! I start on the 4th! 

*Let's be serious here. I'm a runner but I'm not really a walk to work kind of girl.

This guy.

This little guy is going to Kindergarten. In one week. Tonight is the school picnic and next Monday is open house and then Wednesday, we'll pack up his newly purchased school supplies and walk him into his new school.  In his red polo and khakis. 

I just can't believe how quickly time flies. 

14 and 15

My amazing running buddy, Hilly, recapped our 14-miler the best anyone could.  You can read that here, if you haven't already.

Let me recap 15 really quickly.

After 14, I didn't run again until 15.  I was not really interested in leaving all this to go run:

So on Sunday, I drove the 5 hours back to NC and ran 15 miles.  Easy right? Ha!

I decided to break it up into 3 5-milers.  I started at 5pm.  It was a cool 91 degrees.

The first mile was fab. The second wasn't as great but okay. The 3-5 were brutal.  I was so freaking hot that sweat was flying off in front of me.  So gross.

I got to my car, cooled down, ate a banana, and started on the 2nd 5. Good.  Those miles were fine. Slow but fine.  I had my groove.

Then I started on the last 5.  Knowing that Hilly was meeting me for the last 2 of the run energized me until about 11.5. Then, it was like my Garmin just stopped working along with my legs, my head, my arms. Everything.  When I saw her pull in, I was at almost 13 and I wanted to die.  My legs hurt.  I sat on the ground and said I wasn't moving.

So we sat and chatted for a few minutes and then I got up again.

We finished 2 more miles and I literally wanted to die.  It was a train wreck from mile 2 until mile 15. I was so happy to be DONE with it.

Luckily, this week the 4, 7, and 4 have been good and have restored my faith in why I run.

Tomorrow, lucky number 13.  We've got this.

Nags Head 2012

I went in to this trip sort of expecting the worst and it turned out pretty well.  The week flew by and overall, I was happy with how it went.  It's hard going from a house of 4 to a  house of 17..even if it's just for a week.

Regardless of the noise, it was so nice hanging out with my sisters and with Dana.  ("Bana" as Charlie calls her.  LOVE IT!)

We are home now and I am leaving on Saturday to take the boys to my sister's river house for a week! SO excited! There was no way I'd want to be here on the anniversary of my dad's death. I'm happy to spend it with my sister and our littles.

Enjoy the pics! I'm going to snuggle up to my little guy.  Marathon training is NO joke.

Nana and 10 of 12 grandkids.

Will with Jack!

This guy LOVED the water!

Poor Charlie. He hated the beach!

Me and my man!

Seesters!

Jenni and me with our grandmother (my dad's mom)

It's time!

Guess who is going to the beach tomorrow?

Yep. This girl. But only after I run 12 miles with these crazy girls.

Then I'll hop in the car with these cute guys and hopefully nap and stretch along the way.

I'm really quite sad that this amazing guy won't be with us this year.  Way more sad than I expected to be.  We'll miss him but I know we'll make new traditions and he would be happy we are continuing without him..

 And we'll have this great time from last year etched in our memories forever. 

Have a good week. See ya!

Pace

Who's ya mama?

Yesterday I was grumpy because 1. my wonderful running buddies that I love unconditionally (hi, running buddies!) bailed on me in the morning for our 5miler and 2. I had therapy yesterday and all kinds of grief work was started which is completely necessary but hard..

So I went for a run. And my, my did I rock it out!  I was so proud of myself.  I am pretty consistent in my 10 - 10:15 minute miles and usually when I run alone, I can squeak out a pace of 9:49/mile but 9:34?! WOOT! And yes, that's the average pace.  Not the pace for just one mile and yes, I did hills and turnarounds and all that jazz, ahem, Hilly.

Let's not talk about this morning's 4 miles at 10:47.  Oops.

Two.

Dear Charlie,

Today, my love, you are two.  TWO!  It's been a fun two years.  You've brought joy and love to our home. You've worried us and you've kept us on our toes.  You fit in perfectly.

This year, in particular, has been pretty big for you.  You've broken two bones, been treated for asthma, and are a talking machine.  Luckily, the first two haven't really slowed you down.  You run little funny (I call you my sandpiper) but other than that, I think you are just a 2-year old boy.  You are fast and furious when you want to get somewhere. 

I've been amazed at how much you say.  Everything you hear, you repeat.  Last night, you were up a lot because you have a cold and you wanted rocking.  Here's how the hour passed at 3a.m.

Charlie: Mommy! Rock, please.
Me: okay buddy.
Charlie: Lala! lalla!
Me: Charlie, you need medicine, it will make you better. Can I give you this medicine? (pointing to nebulizer)
Charlie: Okayyy mommy. Book? Lala? Monkeyyy! Medicine mommy.

Then I tried several times to lay you down in your crib. "Sing mommy." "Rock mommy." "Sit mommy"

And as you laid on top of me, you had your arms wrapped firmly around me with your head nestled into my neck.  I could sit like that forever and be a happy mama.  I love to have your weight on me and hear you breathe. 

Charlie, you seriously light up the room.  You have wonderful smile and a strong personality. Your spunk and sass is so... happy. And jolly.  We all just love to watch you and see what you might do next.  If we ask you a question, I can always expected an "okay" or a "NO Mommy!"  You spent last week with your grandparents and now you are saying "Huh?" whenever I ask you a question.  It's actually very funny even though it makes me crazy when your daddy says it.

This year, you also lost your PapPap.  It makes my heart hurt knowing that you will have never known such an amazing man.  I hope that you know he loved you so much.  My fondest memory of the two of you is at the beach just a week before he passed away.  You two sat under the tent and played for so long and whenever I would look up at him, I could see such joy in his face to be playing with you. I can't wait to tell you more about him and I so wish he could tell me what I already know about you..that you are one fantastic little boy.

I can't say enough how much joy you have brought to our family.  Will has so much fun playing with you and is always to help out when you need it.  You have become a great little helper from watching your brother, I suppose.  You love to put things in the trash, help me make my coffee, feed the dog, and throw clothes into the washing machine! I love how much you help!

Charlie, thank you for choosing us as your family.  Our hearts are so full because of you and your brother. 

With all my love,

Mama