End of and Era

Mom and Grandma at the Relay for Life June 2012, 2 years ago

It's not an actual era, but it feels like one.

About a two years ago, my Grandma was very sick and survived her congestive heart failure and pneumonia.  She hasn't really been the same since then.  Her body has gone down hill.  She was not eating enough calories to keep herself going.  She needed constant care, which my amazing mom and our amazing home care woman gave to her.  In the past six months she has been admitted to the hospital for a collapsed lung twice.

Last month she had her last night with us.

Fun with my kids

Frozen, it's every where.  Three of my four kids Love it.  If you don't know what Frozen is, then you are probably living under a rock.  Frozen is the newest Disney movie, about two sisters.  One who is trying to hide from the world and keep her secret.  And the other who is overly optimistic and wants to see all the world has to offer.

The songs are very catchy.  I often find myself singing them.  Mostly because the kids keep quoting the movie and it makes me think of one of the songs.  My husband and Monkey are completely done with hearing any songs or quotes from Frozen.

Here is the fun part.  Ladybug, Duckling, Potato, and I were driving home from a friend's party.  Ladybug decided to play the movie on her Ipad.  Of course all three of them started singing along with the movie.  Potato even had his penguin do some dancing, he is such a ham.  Since we had recently watched some parents lip-syncing Frozen songs in their car, I got an Idea!  What if I pulled out my phone and tried to catch some video of the kids singing and having fun.  Check out our video to see and hear the fun we had on our long car ride home.

PS - Hope you all enjoy the view of my ear.

~Earthy Mom

Training for a 5k and more

3 weeks ago I decided I wanted to do a 5k.  Potato's school just had one last weekend, the Great Strides 5k.  All the money raised will go to the school's PTO fund.  I walked in it with my mom and my sister, and Monkey ran.  My mom came in 6th place for her age group!  And Monkey came in 4th place for his age group!
My sister and I plan to run in the Murphy's Mad Dash for a Cure 5k in May.  In September my husband and I plan to do our first Warrior Dash!

I downloaded a couch to 5k app to help me get ready for the Murphy Mad Dash because I haven't run since I played field hockey in high school.  I've been going out running 3 days a week right after I put Potato on the bus.  The other 2 days I've started doing strength training.  I love the way getting out and exercising makes me feel.  I feel like I have more energy for the rest of the day.  I feel motivated!  I am even beginning to look forward to my next run.  To see if I can run faster and further than I did the time before.

The first couple weeks were tough.  It was still very cold out in the mornings, 17-18 degrees cold.  I didn't want to go out, but I pushed myself to do it.  I bundled up in a sweatshirt, my winter coat, hat, and mittens.  I'm sure I was quite the sight.  I'm really enjoying the nice weather running now.  I will admit I'm not looking forward to the summer running.  I don't like really hot any more than really cold.  I'm kind of a 60-70 temperature type of person.

Time for me to get out and run!

~Earthy Mom

Hello Spring! I've missed you

First flower in my garden

I've been feeling great and really motivated lately.  And I think its is because Spring is in the air!

Winter is really hard.  I don't like the cold and it seems like it is always dark.

I love the spring time.  It feels warmer (even though it is only in the 40-50's).  The sun is out longer!  I can get out into the garden and I love seeing the flowers coming out.

Last night I heard the peepers, a sure sign of Spring.  I had to call my mom and tell her I heard them.  I drive the kids crazy making them come out and listen to the peepers every year.  The other day the boys and I checked out our flower beds and found 3 flowers!  The daffodils have popped up too and we can't wait for them to open up!

It just feels so good to see and hear all the signs of spring and new life beginning.

Welcome back Spring!

~Earthy Mom

Feeling like a single mom

Since the beginning of this school year I've been feeling like a single mom.  I've been wanting to write about it, but I was feeling too negative for a while.  Then I've been too busy to write.  So now I'm just going to get it all out there.

In September my husband took a new position at his job.  He now works from noonish to 9ish Monday - Thursday.  He is also taking a couple college classes in Electrical engineering.  Many nights he comes home and I get to see him long enough to say, "hi how was your day?  Good night, I love you."  He then stays up to do homework, while I head to bed.  He also has a class on Saturday mornings till noon.  I'm very proud of him for going back to school.  But I miss him and so do the kids.

Happy Eostre

Our family had a great time together on Eostre.  (Minus my husband who was at work and Duckling who is with her mom)
It started off as any other school day.  The kids got up and left for school.  I then proceeded to fill their baskets with goodies and hide about 42 eggs through out the house.  I also left a note saying to leave all eggs where they are until I got home.  Then it was time for me to head off to work.

When I got home all was normal, Boys watching tv and Ladybug playing on her Ipad.

New House, New Home

We just bought our first house a few weeks ago!  It's so exciting to be home owners!  We had been in the process of buying this house since August.  Our closing date kept getting changed because of lots of little things, but we are finally in our new home.

The past few weeks have been incredibly busy, and the time just seems to fly by.  My husband spent several days packing everything up from our apartment.  I can't believe how much stuff we have.  We did donate quite a bit of stuff.  I have spent the last several weeks unpacking everything at the new house.