Week #1 Update

It is Week 1, Day 4 (Thursday). The first half of my week was set up to look like the following:
Monday: 30 minute cross training
Tuesday: 2 mile run
Wednesday: 40 minute cross training
Thursday: Rest Day

So far, I have kept up with the training, except for the rest day. I spent almost two hours outside shoveling the snow, I think that could be counted as cross training if you ask me. Why did it take two hours? Because it was still snowing. There was already about three-four inches on the ground and by the time I was done with the driveway and sidewalk, I had to do the stupid driveway AGAIN!!! So much for resting.

The hard part will be to stick with the schedule for the next three days. I will hopefully have a positive update next time I check in.

Accountability

I think my plans for this blog last year did not nearly last as long as I would have liked them to last, but it is now 2011 and I am ready to try again. I am also in the planning stages of my race schedule for the year. What does accountability have to do with either of these things? Well, my friend Jessica is going to hold me accountable for keeping up with this blog and for my training. Why does this need to happen? Because I have totally lost my motivation for training. After last year it is going to take a lot for me to mentally and physically get back into training mode. What happened last year? Oh yeah, I forgot I didn't keep you all updated. Um... Where should I begin? OK, first of all, we moved across the country. Secondly, we stayed in a hotel for two months. Thirdly, we didn't have our household goods for almost five months (which meant no bike). Fourth, I was afraid to push my shoulder after surgery back to triathlon mode. So now that you have the cliff note version, it should be easy to understand why I need someone to help keep me on track.

My goals for this year:
1) Get back to doing triathlons (at least one) but hoping to finally accomplish my goal from two years ago to doing an Olympic Distance triathlon.
2) Doing another half marathon ( I completed my first in June of last year, yes it was the only thing done in 2010.) This time I would actually like to run the whole thing.
3) Joining the Hermes Road Race Series, which consists of running in a minimum of 7 races throughout the entire year. Joining is the easy part, completing the 7 races is another story altogether.

Happy Easter. I will have lots to share as soon as we get back to school and our normal routine.

A special surprise

I am finally able to sit down and type more than a few sentences. I am not sure where the time has gone, but it seems to have been more than a week or two since I last wrote. Two weeks ago, I had wanted to write about the arrival of Nana and Papa, but I was unable to share that news since my mother is a frequent reader of this blog. This would have tipped her off to the fact that it would be a possibility for me to join her and my sister in Vegas. This was a surprise we did not want ruined. Here is how it was all planned out: My mother recently celebrated her 60th birthday (sorry, mom had to share the special occasion). She also made the jump to retirement. Since this was all happening just after Christmas, we decided to combine the three gift giving holidays into one big one. My sister came up with the idea to fly our mom to Vegas for a long weekend. This event was shared with anyone who was willing and able to join us there. The big secret... she had no idea I was part of it. She knew I was helping pay for it, but that was where it ended. Why would this be a big deal if I was there? Well, for starters it would be the first time, I would be away from the boys. Not the easiest thing I ever did either. Secondly, Brian and I are usually not quick to throw a couple hundred dollars out there without a lot of thought given to it. Thirdly, Brian's job does not exactly allow me to just go out of town, since his schedule can change at the drop of a hat. By planning three months in advance, we were hoping to have covered all of our bases, the hard part was trying to keep my mother from finding out.

We bought my ticket, arranged for my in-laws to come for the weekend (well, Nana would be here longer, but that was just bonus time), and even coordinated with my sister so that the flights would be arriving in Vegas within an hour of each other. After everything planned and ready to roll, I had to prepare to say good bye to my two little ones for the first time (I had tried to go on a trip once before, but ended back home before going to sleep). They seemed to be doing better than I was, I guess it helped having Nana and Papa and their crazy Saturday Morning Activities to keep them busy and distracted. There were very little tears, which surprised me that I was not crying.

I arrived to Vegas just a half hour before my sister and mom arrived. It was close, because their flight was almost an hour early. My sister was able to get off the plane before my mom and friends. We made eye contact and then I watched as my mother exited the plane. She looked right in my direction and never saw me. I proceeded to follow behind them. Our friend, Cindy saw me and pulled my mom into and hug so that she was forced to look back in my direction. After she backed away she finally looked right me and completely started to turn away and then turned back and before anyone else knew it she was screaming. I am sure we got the strangest looks from passers-by, but mom did not care. She actually had tears in her eyes. I don't think in all my years, I have ever seen such a look of surprise on my mom's face. For the next hour or so, she kept pinching me to make sure I was really there. I guess we were all able to keep it a secret. It was the best surprise we could ever have given to my mom.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable St. Patrick's Day. The boys enjoyed the messes the leprachauns all made. Lots from this weekend coming very soon.

After keeping a secret for the last three months, i was finally able to surprise my mom in Vegas. First time without the boys. Love and miss them. Happy birthday mom!

Nothing Exciting

Nothing really exciting has happened here today. Brandon has had an upset tummy all day and it doesn't seem to be any better as he heads to bed. We will see how he feels in the morning. Not sure if I will be taking care of a sick little boy or helping Logan in his class. We watched the Absent Minded Professor this evening. The boys thought it was very funny. It is great to see them enjoy some of the older classics. It seems as though Brian is enjoying watching the movies that were his favorites as a child. Up next? Bedknobs and Broomsticks, one of my favorites.