3 small kids+tons of sweat= Half Marathon Bling Bling

This past year my blog has been sporadically updated. The reason is that I was training for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon which took place on the 10th of January. Though the half marathon is not the longest of races, please keep in mind that when I initially signed hubby and myself up for this task I had never run a mile in my life, never mind 13.1. With determination and trepidation, a trainer was found, a gym was revisited and a new hobby was to become part of me.

Running is not for the faint of heart I have learned. It is a life commitment. A new drug. A fun way to bond with others. A community unto itself. It is an escape from the hectic life of two pre-schoolers and one toddler.

In preparation for the big event, several smaller races were run. Completed. Finished. Who cares about timing at this point? Because let's be honest. A 36 year old completely out of shape woman was happy to just be able to run without collapsing.

Today, my second year as a runner starts. It is an anniversary of sorts. And one that was completely my doing. Other than my husband and three kids, there was a lot of emotional support, but not a whole lot of outside help that was not paid for. The fall was full of runny noses and a treadmill was purchased that is now used for training for our next races and hopefully the VT covered bridges half marathon in 2010. And who know? Perhaps we will actually finish the marathon before we hit 40.

"Oh, Thursday doesn't even start"

Today is the first day of the rest of my life and the Cure is stuck in eternal repeat in my head today. For the first time in over a year - Wait! In over four years- I woke up feeling like, well, myself. Does that even make any sense? Today, for the first day, I felt like Erika, not the twins mom, or that little boy's mommy...just plain old, run of the mill, Erika. And know what? It felt great.

These past two weeks have brought more than just rain. With them, a sense of relief at no longer being part of a draining venture. So, like or hate it, here I am. Standing here on the abyss of cyber-space, writing to please me. Not anyone else's sensibilities or fickle tastes.

The school situation is all sorted out, two of the three have been potty trained for a few months, and I feel a general peace right now. What more could I want? Three children in bed not trying to eck out a few more minutes of play time. A vacation. Perhaps a latte with non-fat milk and a giant cupcake? But, really, other than that, I am happy as a clam-ah-toe.

My New Best Friend

This spring in a pact with dear hubby, I have a new best friend. Now for those of you who actually know me, please do not laugh. I have become a gym junkie in training.

That is right, along with the body builders and Young at Hearters, there I am lifting weights, doing exercises like planks, hip abductions, etc., and becoming one with the elliptical and my new best friend the treadmill.

I am enjoying the solitude of my iPod and the sound of the machines in action have become my new addiction.

What caused all this? Well, I kind of signed us up for a half marathon. Never ran a day in my life. This is a good thing...

Cawc-oh-lat and Roses

Happy Valentine's Day!

Already this is promising to be an interesting day. G is cranky and refusing to sleep while demanding more and more milk. I am ignoring him now - nice Mummy, no? And on a holiday and all to boot. And hubby is asking me why I didn't get the milk. Hel-lo! I did, like 8 million times. The joys of the terrible twos are settling in.

Hopefully your day will be filled with cawc-oh-lat and roses and not demands for milk at all hours of the day.

The Eve of Saint Nicholas

'Tis the Eve of Saint Nicholas and all of the preparations have our three angels revved up like tops about to go ballistic! Perhaps it is my fault. In an effort to help our three year old twins and their one and half year old brother understand what is going on we have been singing St. Nicholas songs for about a month. In addition, they know that he brings chocolates, apples, and oranges...

Today we have hit a new St. Nicholas low. The girls are holding over each other that each and every infraction the other commits will lead an empty boot tomorrow morning. The whining and whinging has hit new levels and my normally curly hair is now straight!

Basically, I think that Holiday overload has crept into our quiet household. Erm...quiet isn't exactly what I would label this mayhem, but let's just say that the decibel levels are out of control. The apples are being pilfered and even the Advent calendar was breached!

So, now holding the fact that St. Nicholas is only a call away has become my desperate plea for the last hour. Sitting here, I am wondering where we went wrong. Was it the light displays we visited? The attempts of sitting on Santa's lap for a wee photo? The gift shopping? I am not sure, but all I know is that Christmas is still over two and a half weeks away and these little munchkins are wound up so much that something may burst. Or implode.

With this mayhem in our happy house, my hubby and I have come up with a three part plan:
1. Stop all talk of Santa in the house.
2. Hide the Advent Calendar and all remaining chocolates - all 5 of them.
3. Take a deep breath, enjoy the moment, imbibe if necessary for the first part of number 3 to be feasible.

So, Happy St. Nicholas Eve. Put out your boots and if you have been very good this year, perhaps St. Nick will leave something for you tonight!

Toilets Are Fun!

What is it about toilets that cause toddlers to want to stick their hands in them and splash like no tomorrow? While responding to an email, and thinking that my three darlings were dancing in the next room to Ernie singing the alphabet, I started to hear a splashy noise. At first I thought that it was simply the song. The CD is new, and I was not listening too carefully.

All of a sudden, with dawning clarity, the origin of the splashity, splashing became crystal clear in my mind. How could I have missed the fact that the door to the bathroom was not actually locked, and actually, there was light pouring from the door. All THREE of my cherubs were arm deep in... TOILET WATER. Let me repeat that: all THREE were ARM deep in TOILET WATER.

After a quick scrub with lots of hot water and soap. Followed by three complete clothes and diaper changes. They are now in their bedrooms waiting for me to calm down - or finish this post, which ever comes first. I have had various requests for snacks, stickers, books, even potty runs... Are they serious?

Toilet training will be the end of me. I blame every gray hair I have found on this time in my life. I guess on the plus side, at least this does not involve a $150 call to Roto Rooter...a story for another day.

Where's the love?

A few days ago, H and C were in the back row of the mom-mobile with their little bro, when they began to discuss who and what they loved. The list went on and on (in no particular order):

• Grammie


• Grampy
• Opa
• Oma
• Tante Beate
• Onkel Axel


• Auntie


• Uncle Larry


• Kellie


• Mu-kel


• Ellen


• Stevie


• Kaitlin


• Janice


• Brother


• Mrs. Cindy


• Ms. Erica


• Dolly


• Elmo


• Tinkerbell


• Dora


• Strawberry Shortcake


• Ribbit (Kermit)


• Doggie (Clifford)


• Playdoh


• Crayons


• Puzzles

Well, you get the point. Suddenly, the back row became extremely quiet. H said, "I love Mama." C looked at her and said, "I love Papa." At a stop light, I looked into the rear view mirror to see H wrinkle up her nose and say, "No, (shaking head) I love Mama. Not Papa." C now followed suit and said, "Well I love Papa," again wrinkling the nose and shaking the head, "I don't love Mama."

What? Wait? What did she just say? Did I not have the worst pain in my entire life and the worst experience of my life having this child, and she does not love me? I am lower than Playdoh?

Where is the love?