A few weeks ago my FIL approached me about running in a local half marathon with him at the beginning of March. Because I seem to require a race to motivate me to run, I was eager to accept. However, it only left me about 7 weeks to prepare and I was not in running shape, having only run a handful of times since my son’s birth last June. I found some training guides online (both of which suggested 12 weeks to prepare) and spent a good amount of time face booking and e-mailing with a friend about my strategy.

Some of you may remember my post last December (as in 2009) in which I shared one of Scott’s moments of sheer brilliance at the dinner table. Well, I feel the need to tell you that 13 months later and my kids are STILL eating their vegetables to spite their Daddy. I am sure this says something of their character… for which we must spend some time rectifying, but meanwhile my mean spirited little children are eagerly gobbling up their vegetables.

What day is it? We’ve been a bit out of sorts here at the circus… snow days and a power outage resulting in a fun sleepover at Nana and Pop’s… …now it is Friday, but sure feels like Monday…. we’re home and trying to play catch up on schoolwork, house work and laundry… good news is, when we are done… we’ll still have the weekend to enjoy! And next week is Super Bowl week… and in case you missed it… Pittsburgh’s Going to the Superbowl!

My lil guy isn’t a newborn anymore. I’ve known it for awhile.. he’s eating solids, vocalizing, and working on crawling. But, recently, I also realized his days of simply sleeping in my arms are fleeting. He’s working himself into a rhythm… sleeping through the night… taking 2 solid naps a day…The days of just holding my tiny, sleeping newborn in my arms are over. So on those random Sunday afternoons when he falls asleep in my arms, I am going to stay put and savor the moment.

Dishes piled in the sink, pjs on till 2:00 in the afternoon, laundry waiting to be folded, counter cluttered… But today, it doesn’t bother me. (ok, it doesn’t bother me too much anyway)… because… Today, I finally took the time to snuggle on the couch with my almost 5 year old and work with her on reading… and today that precious light bulb went off as she first went up and down the blend ladders and then graduated to three letter words.

Yesterday my girls had me in stitches with the things they were saying. I had to go write them down so I wouldn’t forget. Me:  After you eat we are going to go run some errands 3 year old:  Erin, whose Erin? Me:  no, we are going to go to some stores 3 year old:  Well, can Erin stay with us while you go to the store? My 3 yr old came running to me crying over a boo boo.

I’ve never known what it was like to be part of the home town team. Though I was born in Pa, I’ve lived in rival MD since the age of 5, not counting 3 of my 4 years of college. I got my love of football from my dad and my dad brought me up a Steelers girl. I now pass this legacy onto my four children. I just love this pic of our newest Steelers fan, I had to find a reason to sneak this in.

Those of you that follow me on facebook or twitter, or have spent any time round these circus parts, know that I whine quite a bit about laundry. Recently, however, I made a startling discovery. Rather than being the bane of my existence as I once thought, it is in fact, the key to my happiness? Say wha?? Last May, I set out with a quest to get entirely caught up on my laundry.

As I watch my kids play together, I can’t help but think how my son has no idea how good he has it. Growing up, it was just me and my little brother and we’d often play together. I vividly recall playing GI Joe with him. It pretty much went the same way every time. I had the Princess Lea action figure and she would be married to either Shipwreck or Sgt Slaughter.

Nothing like the holidays, to bring on some humor from the lil ones. Here’s a few I want to record for posterity. When Scott was talking to my 4 yr old about what she wanted to get me for Christmas, she told him she wanted to get Mommy flowers and she was going to be nice. To clarify Scott asked, “So your going to be nice as a Christmas gift for Mommy?