The Week in Pictures

Just a glimpse at this last week... in pictures!

 A certain little almost-1-year-old girl just got a new comfy reading chair for her room.

She most definitely gives it a two thumbs up.

Thanks Nana!

 And there is a LOT more solo walking this week. 

Marilyn reminds us of an orangutan walking with her arms flailing around up in the air.

Its just too stink'in funny.

 Who needs to go to the gym when you do this after a long day of work?

 Yes, Abbigail is pushing Marilyn around the playroom in her dolly's stroller.

Yes, I realize that Marilyn looks huge.  That's because she is big.

And finally, yes, Thomas used to push Abbigail around in the same dolly stroller.

I guess its just what my kids do.

 In a matter of one month, we've gone from plenty of snow on the ground to this...

 Someone tried oatmeal for the first time and L-O-V-E-D it!

 Abbigail lends a helping hand to her baby sister.

 Thomas had some guest visitors at his school this week to talk about bike safety and "stranger danger."  Can you believe that he wore this goofy hat for half the day?

 Marilyn is getting yet another free ride around the playroom... this time in the back of the dump truck.  After a couple of laps, Abby finally dumped her off in the building blocks pile.

And last but not least, our big news from way up here in Alaska...

... is Marilyn is now facing forward and loving every minute of it!

Friday Night Leftovers (the long week edition)

Oh this has been a long week...

• It might be because I'm at the half way point of my last class and frankly... I'm about out of steam.  Procrastination seems to be rearing its ugly head.
• It might also be because the weather has been a bit chilly and dreary this week.
• It also might have to do with starting to clean, meal plan, & activity plan for not only our first guests that arrive in a matter of days (yeah!) but also the ones who will be visiting throughout the summer.  Oh my... much to do!
• I'm sure it has a little something to do with my achy joints - laying around and relaxing would feel so much better than running around trying to get things done & checked off the to-do list.
• I also wonder if having almost 17.5 hours of sunlight has anything to do with making each and everyday seem so much longer & ultimately the week longer?  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE it.  However, I get up in the morning and the sun is already up before I've even had a sip of coffee; I go to bed well before the sun is even considering going down.  I mentioned this last week... thank goodness for blackout curtains & shades.
• I am looking forward to it being Friday... last run of the week, movie & pop-corn night with the kids & hubby and sleeping in tomorrow morning despite the sun rising at 5:15am.
• I'm also looking forward to a long over due date night with my sexy husband tomorrow night.

Have a great weekend peeps!

Blessing Prayer

For several years, at meal time we have said the blessing that Thomas and Abby learned at their daycare in Florida.  It was simple.  It was sweet.  It had a good message.  We all really liked it.  We still do like it very much.

Help us do the things we should

Help us to be kind and good.

Help us in our work and play.

to grow more loving every day.

Amen!

Let's Eat Now!

However, Thomas has learned a new prayer (he calls it a "blessing prayer") at his Christian preschool that, obviously, has a more religious tone to it.  Just recently, he asked if we could start saying his blessing prayer at meal time.  Although I've grown quite accustomed to our simple & sweet blessing, how could I say "no" to a change in a blessing prayer?  I have to admit, what I find heart warming (and a little funny) is that Thomas leads the prayer.  He insists that everyone's hands should be together and our eyes must be closed as we recite after him:

Thanks for this day

Bless this food to our bodies

Help us to not be hurt

and help us to be strong.

In Jesus' name...

Amen!

A few things always happen though during our blessing prayer.  Abby never closes her eyes - she wants to watch all of us as we recite after Thomas and she is usually smiling ear to ear.  For the life of us, Brian and I always have to hold back a huge giggle when Thomas gets to the part "bless this food to our bodies"... I think in large because it's so formal for a 4-year old to say... and it reminds me of my Catholic upbringing.  The last thing that always happens is Abby has now insisted on saying a blessing prayer of her own after Thomas is done.  Hers is short & sweet.  But most importantly, its her time to say what she wants as we give thanks.  With our hands still together and all of us looking at Abby, she let's out a very definitive and confident, "AMEN!"

Wordless Wednesday: Office Helpers

Every other week or so, the paper shredder gets pulled out & plugged in.

The office helpers come out of the woodwork to help Daddy.

Abby, especially, takes her role very serious.

Thank goodness this isn't a toy... I think she would play with this thing all day, every day.

I love Data!

 

As lifelong learners, teachers recognize that their professional practice continues to evolve as they reflect and act on new information. If teachers have information that helps them confidently identify the root of educational challenges and track progress, they can more readily develop action plans that will have a positive impact on their students. All teachers share a common goal: to see every student succeed.  One of the best ways to make this happen is to use data in order to improve student achievement.

When it comes to data, I’ve been focusing on it for years both as a teacher and as a prospective future administrator.  Data-minded decisions get results.  Some of the educational data that I’m referring to might include student achievement data such as teacher observational notes of students’ performance in class, samples of students’ class work, student portfolios, results of formal and informal classroom assessment, and report cards. Other student data relevant to the students such as student mobility, attendance data, behavioral incident data and homework completion or even contextual data that are not under the direct control of the teacher (such as students’ linguistic background, gender or community socio-economic factors) but are important to consider when planning for improved student achievement are ALL important kinds of data that are collected, analyzed and used in order to improve student achievement in schools.

So………. What does this have to do with me today?  Well, I love data.  I’m driven by data when it comes to getting results.  I need to see hard, concrete numbers in order to see where I am today and where I want to go tomorrow.  Whether my hubby and I are looking at our bank accounts and determining future purchases or looking at driving distances & gas mileage from Florida to Alaska to see how fuel efficient we are being – to me, it’s all about the numbers and what the data says. 

But I’ve really come to love data lately when it has to do with running and also weight loss.  Again… I’m all about the data.  Data gives me direction.  It tells me what kind of action plan to put into place.  Data gets me results.  The first thing I'm loving is my hubby's Garmin Forerunner 305 (which I got him 2 Christmas' ago).  I just started using it on my runs and I can't believe that I've waited this long. 

When it comes to data (miles ran, average pace, pace of each mile, total time of run, calories burned), it is amazing and I'm super excited to see how this changes my running. I've been running 3-4 times per week (3-4 miles each run) but I'm to the point where I'm ready to increase distance and also pay closer attention to the pace at which I run. And I'm quite sure this little techy gadget is going to help me do just that. For example, this mornings run with the girls (keep in mind I push 65 lbs = 2 girls + stroller) looked like this:

• mile 1 = 9:43
• mile 2 = 10:08
• mile 3 = 10:10

Total time of 3 mile run = 29:59.  Average pace was 9:59 per mile.  Not too bad.  But I'm looking forward to the improvement that is sure to come my way!

The other very important piece of data that has made a HUGE difference for me is the My Fitness Pal app that my sister (unbeknownst to her) shared with me.  Her and my brother-in-law have had huge success with tracking their calorie intake and cardio output = amazing weight loss for both of them (thanks for sharing Jen &Ash)! 

 My Fitness Pal

I can't believe how easy it is to use and keep track of what I'm eating and what the nutritional value is of everything I consume each day. Not only is it data at my finger tips, but it is a constant reminder for me what my nutritional and cardio goals are each and every day! Hello... run more and lose the last few pregnancy pounds that Marilyn blessed me with over a year ago!  I'm pretty sure that these two important pieces of data will be the winning combo (plus my hard work and dedication obviously) that I need to achieve my fitness goals.  I've already seen my running distance increase and a few unwanted pounds fall off.  Can I get an Amen?  I see a few road races (5K, 12K and maybe even a 1/2 marathon) in the near future AND fitting into my size 6 pants by summer time!

Did I mention that I love data?

When weeds really aren't weeds

Weeds.

I can't stand them.

I'm amazed at how quickly they grow once the snow melts.

Darn you weeds.

However, I have my children to thank for picking them yesterday for me.

They came inside, with big smiles on their faces, with these beautiful flowers for me.

This is a perfect example of when weeds really aren't weeds.

Walk & Roll for Hope

Daddy is home!

Despite the middle of the night pick up we had to do, the kids and I were super excited to welcome him home after almost a month of being gone!

Unfortunately, he caught some kind of yucky bug between SE Asia and his quick stop in Florida and ended up spending far too long in the ER Saturday morning.  So lot so liquids and rest is what the doctor ordered for him.  Knowing Brian though, he will be on the mend in no time and back to himself before the week is 1/2 over.

Meanwhile, I had promised my good friend Angie (and son Hugo) that the kids and I would join her team Saturday morning in the Walk & Roll for Hope 5K.  This special event fund raises money each year for individuals and families with disabilities achieve their dreams.  It was a great event to be a part of and see how many people in the Anchorage area came out to contribute and support such a needy cause.

Despite the chilly temps (high 30s), teams were ready to run, walk, skate, bike and even ride their scooters.  We were part of TEAM HUGO (thanks Angie for making some great t-shirts) and had a great time all morning long!



"The only disability in life is a bad attitude!"

Awesome view of the snow-covered mountains from downtown Anchorage

Thomas rode the entire race... all 3.1 miles!  

Even though I had planned on walking the race with the gals, there were times when I had to run in order to keep up with Thomas... you see him in the red shirt up ahead on the left-hand side.  Oh well... got more of a workout than I had expected and that is always a good thing!

We passed a few new playgrounds along the way... and I had to make many promises that we would come back to play on ALL of them!

A glimpse of the Cook Inlet (which empties into the Gulf of Alaska)

with Mt. McKinley across the way!

A quick water break stop at the 1/2 way point!

And because everyone did SO great on the 5K, and because much of the proceeds went to the Walk & Roll for Hope, I brought home some very, yummy cupcakes for us to enjoy later that day!

Delicious!

Cute Baby Saturday: Throwback

A glance back at what we were doing this time last year:

Friday Night Leftovers (aches & pains edition)

• My body seems to just be in a constant state of aches & tiredness.  I'm going to blame the fact that I've been running a lot more on this "getting old" feeling.
• Marilyn sleeps 12 hours a night.  Almost always without waking up.  I wish I was allowed to do that.
• So ready for Brian to be home tonight.  Finally I will be able to take my "Game Face" off and relax.
• We are minus 10 days until our first visitors arrive.  Holy Crap!  I need to get crack'in and I don't even know where to start.
• Whoever invented blackout curtains and shades should be a millionaire.  Just say'in.
• Last night, Thomas decided that he didn't want to wear his 'jammie shirt to bed; he said he wanted to be like his Daddy.  And sure as anything, there was my little man, still shirtless hours later when I checked on him before going to bed.  Too cute.
• Abby is in a state of constantly changing her mind whether she wants to be independent and "Me do it!" or wanting help with E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.  Can the girl just make up her mind?
• I think I'm more excited than anyone about turning Marilyn's car seat around to face the front of the car.  I'm not sure I can wait 3 more weeks.
• Have I mentioned that I can't wait for my hubs to be home tonight.  All will be right in the world when he is back home with all of us again.

Have a great weekend.  Enjoy!

About my Mommy Interview

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I thought it fit & appropriate to have an interview with Thomas about his Mommy.  In order to make it a little more realistic, I told Thomas that I was a reporter (and not his Mom at that moment) and I was writing a newspaper story about things he loved about his Mommy.  After getting a weird eyebrow raise and then a smirky giggle, he agreed to answer my questions.  So, here it is straight from an almost-5-year-old's vantage point...

Reporter:  What does your mommy do while you are at school?
Thomas: Work, like feeding Marilyn, and she does lots of things with Abby & Marilyn all day long.
Reporter: If your mom were an animal, what kind would she be?
Thomas: A camel - they have big things on their back. (I would really like to know what he is referring to here)
Reporter: My mom said the most important rule is...
Thomas: to always say, "please."
Reporter: I love my mommy because...
Thomas: she always says "please" when asking me to do something.
Reporter: What food does your mom make best?
Thomas: spaghetti (which is funny because Daddy always makes it, I only heat up the bowl of frozen leftover sauce that we stashed away)
Reporter: What makes your mommy laugh?
Thomas: When I make all of my funny faces.
Reporter: How tall is your mommy?
Thomas: [holding his 2 arms as far apart as possible] 1754 feet.
Reporter: My favorite thing to do with my mommy is...
Thomas: Make her laugh
Reporter: Nobody is better than [she is at]...
Thomas: giving me ice cream!

Wordless Wednesday - Summer Princess for Hire

This summer (dressed) princess has the same motto Daddy does...

"Measure twice, cut once!"

She is now accepting summer job offers.