Happy Birthday to me!

Let's get this out of the way: I love birthdays! I love MY birthday! Why? I don't know. Maybe because it is the one day of the year I hear from friends I love dearly. Maybe it's because I know I will get to spend the evening with my family. Maybe it's because I like attention & this day is all mine!!!

 Ok, just kidding about the last part.  Let's be honest- your birthday as an adult is not as much fun as when you're a kid.  Who wants to add another number to that "age"? Not me.  Much like my mom, I tend to fabricate my age.  As a matter of fact- about 3 months ago, I was filling out paperwork at a Dr.'s office & I put my "pretend" age (not realizing it) & filled in my actual birth date (the year).  They must have thought I was completely mental.  Oh well... I'm sure they figured it out.  What does your age even mean? I'm clearly old enough to vote, drink, rent a car and pretty much anything else legally I want.  The next "good" birthday is the one I officially am considered a senior citizen so I can get my discount at the Movie Theater.  Not much to get excited about.  So... my age is how young I feel.  Today... I feel...  older than my 20s... I think- early 30's.  That sounds good to me. 33? 34? Who cares?!  As my Grandma Goey always said, "It beats the alternative!"

Well, It's official...

I am officially signed up to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon February 2016!

I honestly am not sure how I feel about it- excited, nervous, confident, NOT confident, disbelief...
Anyway, I AM going to do it! My goal is to get into a faster corral so I will have time to stop and take some pics with the characters.  In order to get in a faster corral I will have to submit an official time from a 10k between August & November.  So... that being said:
I have signed up for my first 10k! 
Shaun & I are going to run it together.  Well, he'll be running much faster, but we will be in the same race. It is the 3rd Annual Moonlight Dash 10k. 

 

 

I have done a 5k, but never "seriously".  My C25K will be "finished" the week following the 10k, so we will see how that works out...

 

Speaking of my program, I started week 2 today.  It felt like I hadn't run in a few days, but I only took 1 day off.  Today, I ran for 90 seconds, walking for 2.  I felt really good, but again I was on a treadmill.  I'm going to try to run at least 1 day a week outside so I don't get too spoiled on the treadmill.  Tomorrow is my birthday, and I am going to try to run outside early in the morning.  We shall see!

I'll let you know!



 

I'm baaaaccccckkkkk

Hi! We are just going to pretend I haven't logged on in almost 4 years...
I will probably finish the blog challenge I started (again... 4 years ago) but I really want to talk about my attempt at running a half marathon! This is really therapy and encouragement for me so feel free to skip the running blogs if that bores you. :)

So far, I've made it all the way to week 2 of the C25K- yes you read that correctly, week 2.  That means I've run a whopping 3 times, but at least I did those 3 times, right? I also managed to work in a class at the Y 1 day! So, let me sum up my 1st official week of running:

Day 1
"I can do this..." This mantra is how I started my run.  I left my front door ready to take on my neighborhood.  Shortly after I began running my "I can do this" turned to "Holy Guacamole it's hot out here!" (It was probably around 7 in the morning).  I pushed myself to finish though.  I had not hydrated myself before the run (or the previous day) so I was thirsty.  I also forgot to take my puff (my inhaler for exercise-induced asthma).  I just can't seem to take deep breaths or get the air into my lungs when running or working out.  Needless to say,  it wasn't the best experience ever, but I was happy I finished it- even if I wasn't very confident I would be able to do much more than that. 

Day 2
It is actually 4 days later- Rather than run outside, I opted for the treadmill.  I knew it would be "easier" than running on the actual ground, but I justified it by thinking, "I will work on my lungs first, then my legs".  I did a lot better! I ran a few seconds more than I was supposed to run each time.  I felt like I could have gone a bit farther running, but stuck to my little trainer on my phone.  (I'm using the C25K app by ZenLabs).  It made me happy that I felt better about the run.  I was excited to see my results. BUT- As the screen was showing me my workout results, I hit a button & it restarted a new program, erasing all of my data.  :( I was very sad- But at least I felt better about the run. 

Day 3
Literally less than 12 hours after my Day 2 run- Back to the treadmill I go. Once again, I opted for indoors.  I am sure I'm going to be fussing at myself when I do go back outside.  Anyway, I figured my legs would be tired from running the night before, but they were ok.  I elevated the treadmill a couple of inclines hoping that would help me outside.  I guess we will see. 
I felt good about this run as well! I am trying to figure out my pacing so when I do go outside, I don't just start sprinting. Obviously, when I do this- I don't make it very far.   I am not good at running "slow".  I'm not really sure how to work this out.  Time, I guess?
Anyway, I only ran 1 1/2 miles, but it felt good.  I felt like I could keep running after she said, "Begin Walking".  Next week (This week) my "run" time gets longer so we'll see how I do with that...

So, if you're wondering why I've decided to take up running (other than the obvious health reasons)- I want to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  I have never come close to running something like that, but I think I can do it! I have lots of people tell me, "If I could do you, you can do it".  I hope they are right! Registration is Tuesday.  I'll let you know if I get in!
Have a great afternoon!
~Summer

Let's Play Pretend...

Hello,
"What are we going to pretend," you ask? Well, that I haven't sat down at my computer to blog in ALMOST (not quite) 2 years.  In my defense, I have been busy.  My oldest went to Kindergarten last year. 

I thought my life would slow down a bit once she started school. Boy was I wrong! I really can't believe I didn't write at all during her 1st year of school! We were blessed with an amazing teacher our first year! She could not have been a better answer to my prayers.  God is so good!
Sami also started "school" last year. 

She attends a MMO program 3 days a week & loves her sweet teacher as well! I'm very blessed with the 2 schools my babies attend.
However, NOW my sweet Ashlyn is in FIRST grade! How does time speed up so fast?
Anyway, Sami is getting ready to begin her 2nd year at her school & I'm ready for a break! Hopefully, now that I know what to expect, I'll have more time to sit and unwind here at my computer.  Even if it means trying to think/write while I have two sweet angels running around me dancing & squealing.
So, Again, I'm not making any promises, but I hope to see ya real soon!
~Summer

Blog Challenge Day 6: Something that makes me smile

Blog Challenge Day 6 : Something that makes me smile

Well, Hello out there! I hope everyone is doing well. I've finally found the time to finish this post regarding things that make me smile.  I've uploaded a few of my very favorite things that make me smile...

1. Obviously, my precious daughters make me smile! Ashlyn and Sami are the best thing I have ever done and watching them makes me happy... which makes me smile!

2. Shaun- my sweet husband who puts up with a lot being married to me! He's a great husband and the best father I could want for my two sweet little girls! 

3. My family- My husband, and my 2 little girls I have already mentioned.  However, my family would not be complete without my Daddy, Momma, my sister, Ashlee and her 2 sweet girls- Maggie & Georgia.  I am very blessed with the family God has given to me.

4. If you thought this was not going to be on this list, you must not know me very well and if that is the case: Hi! Nice to meet ya! Thanks for reading my blog.  Oh, and by the way... I LOVE DISNEY WORLD!!!  Honestly, I'm always truly happy at Disney World. (my other "home").  I just love the feeling walking down Main Street USA! I really could go on and on here, so I'll just skip on to the next picture...

5. Christmas! I LOVE Christmas!!! Again, there is nothing like that time of year when so many things seem child like again.  I enjoy watching the old classics on tv, hearing all of the songs and yes, I can listen to them the ENTIRE season; I love watching children act out the Christmas Story in church.  I enjoy bringing down all of my boxes from the attic and turning my house into my own little winter wonderland (without the snow of course!) Now, I love experiencing Christmas as a mom.  I am enjoying passing down family traditions to Ashlyn and creating new traditions for my family.  It's a great time of year & I LOVE it!

I like to think of myself as a pretty happy person so there are obviously LOTS of other things that make me smile; however, I don't have pictures of them.  In college I made a list of 50 things that made me happy up to that point. Maybe one day I'll post that here somewhere, but for now, this will have to do. 

Y'all have a great Friday!!!

~Summer

 

Blog Challenge Day 5 : My Siblings

Blog Challenge Day 5 : My Sibling

Hey there! I told y'all I was going to sit down again and write a little more this week! I've actually been looking forward to telling you about my sibling for a while now! I'm sure most of you know her quite well, but for those of you who don't... I have one little sister, Ashlee.  

To say we were always close and were best friends growing up would be a bit of a stretch.  We fought a LOT! Mom swears I loved her when she was a baby, but I don't really remember that far back.  Here are a few pictures from way back then:

I think this was her 1st trip to the beach.  She was probably about 3-6 months old?

This was her 1st birthday- I guess I still liked her...

My mom was afraid to take us out in public. I wonder why? OK... So, Ashlee fell out of her crib, breaking her arm.  I was tripped while running and smashed my face into a huge glass flower pot (really a tree pot). 

This was us when we lived in Texas. I was 7, she was 3... and apparently afraid of drowning!

 

There are very few pictures of us together from the time I was about 7 or 8 until I was about 16.  Thankfully, once I got older, we started getting along a lot better.  It was sort of sad because we really got close my junior and senior year of high school.  Then, of course, I graduated and left for Troy.  When I graduated from Troy and moved home, she graduated from high school, and moved to Troy.  Then, when she came home, I got married and moved to Augusta.  When I moved home from Augusta, we were both here almost 1 1/2 years before she moved to Nashville.  Now, we're both here and neither of us are planning to go anywhere! It's weird to think we've been "apart" almost longer than we've been together!



OK, about Ashlee... what can I say?  She's one of the funniest people I know.  She's always been witty, but she loves to laugh... and it's contagious, at least to me.  She can be telling me a story, and laughing about it, and before I even know what's so funny, I'm laughing hysterically as well!  She's just a funny and crazy girl all around.  You never actually know what she's going to do.  She can get herself in quite the predicament...

I honestly do not remember the story that goes with this picture, but I'm sure it was a good one! Besides, shouldn't this alone speak 1,000 words?

Ashlee is a great cook! She spent a lot of time in the kitchen with our Daddy growing up, so not only can she cook, she's really confident about her meals!  She can alter a recipe to fit her needs, spice up a bland dish and make sure everything is ready at the same time!

Growing up she LOVED baby dolls.  She probably had 20 dolls in her room! Some were eating, some sleeping, some even sat in the time out chair.  Here is a picture of her with one of her favorite dolls:

I think the doll even had a Teddy Bear???

It should have been no surprise that she would love babies as well.  She & I both took care of our younger cousins as we got older, but she LOVED the babies! When we'd be around family with a baby, she was always in their lap wanting to see the baby, hold the baby, just love the baby!  Even now, she loves to work with babies.  She could sit and love on them all day long- and I'm not talking about her babies, or even mine! She loves ANY and ALL babies! She's happiest surrounded by a room full of sweet little ones. 

I couldn't talk about my sister without telling you she is one of the strongest people I know.  I'm not sure if it comes from being a mother or if she's just always had it in her.  She takes her punches and rolls with them... the best way she can.  After learning her oldest daughter was deaf, she just put her "big girl panties" on and did whatever she could for Maggie.   Whether it meant choosing to put her 18 month old through a major surgery, or picking up and moving to Nashville (where she didn't know a single soul), she found the strength & courage to do it. 

Like I said, the older we got, the closer we got.  I'm SO thankful she now lives less than 5 miles from my house! Her daughter, Maggie & my daughter, Ashlyn are best friends and we're pretty sure our babies, Sami & Georgia will be too, especially since they are only 1 month apart!  (I don't think we are giving them much of a choice)

So, there ya go! My little sister, Ashlee- my one and only sibling, my best friend, a great aunt to my girls and the mother of my precious nieces. I'm sure most of you know her, so feel free to leave your own thoughts about her as well in the comment section!



Time...

Hello there. I know it has been quite a while since I've been on here, and I'm not happy about it.  I never thought I'd be able to write more than a couple times a week, but this is just sad! The really bad part is, I've wanted to sit down quite a few times, but I always come up with something "better" to do.  Most of the time, that something better is Ashlyn or Samantha so it's not so bad.  Other times, it's the mess in the house calling my name... making me feel guilty for not using that sweet precious "free" time (even if it's just 5 minutes) to throw another load of clothes in the washer, pick up in the den, sweep my kitchen floor... you get the point.  So, now I'm here... and I have 1 little one asleep and another... uh oh. I may have typed too soon... I think I hear Sami now.  I'm going to go, but I do promise to get on here again at least once this week!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
~Summer