Wow! I cannot believe that it has been like five days since I have blogged! Oops! Sorry.

I have previously stated that this summer has been busy. I really feel like life is consuming me. The children are happy and growing, J & I are exploring our city and settling in, we are making friends and are totally content. I am not sure if I have ever felt this content in life. Hikes in the woods, days spent at a lake, library outings, life is bliss.

I have been training my butt off (literally I hope). I now swim three times a week and run three times a week, with one day of rest. I was not allowing enough time between runs and I was slowing down. So the swimming if upper body (mostly) giving my running muscles a chance to build. I had to get new shoes (again *sigh*). The first pair I bought ended up all wrong for me and my ankle is burning in displeasure. I went to a running store this time and was fitted with the right shoe. Oh My Goodness. It totally makes a huge difference.

Yesterday we cruised downtown and watched the Annual Gay Pride Parade. The children had a great  time watching the floats, listening to the music and being spoiled by the participants. We came home with flowers, badges, Frisbee’s, candy, water bottles and a ton of condoms (even though it was noted that it may be too late for us!) It was a fun celebration to be part of and very important to J & I, to teach our children acceptance of diversity.

Afterward, we headed to dinner with friends. We have FRIENDS! Love it. It was the first time pairing the men in our lives, and it was nice to see them get along as well. It was a great meal, with wonderful company. We are looking forward to having their family over dinner soon!

Today we are all vegging out (I went for my run early so I can bask in laziness), later we will bbq. I am in awe that I am now one of those annoying happy people. It is wonderful.

So for real, I am having trouble keeping up this summer. The kids and I have been so busy, enjoying our new hometown, exploring, making friends, and adventures.

If I do not get Ethan out of the house daily, he digs in my plants and tears my apartment to shreds. The kid has so much more energy than Becca did at that age. Yet Becca had a mini backyard in California to play in where Ethan is trapped in our apartment. It may just seem different.

We are in constant motion. This week we went to the Natural History Museum, the Library, an ocean beach and to various playground numerous times. We also visited our family doctor to discover the bumps on Ethan’s face, arms and back were NOT chicken pox, rather bug bites as we initially thought, then talked ourselves out of.

I miss quiet days of lounging about, however summer is so fleeting up north and really one must enjoy the weather while it lasts. Besides the children love the adventure and exploring. Winter will come and blanket our surroundings with snow, leaving us to be crafty, creative and bounce on our beds for hours and hours.

If I have not come by to your blog, returned your email/phone call, Facebook etc … please know that I want to and I will, just not yet. Let me check the forecast … a rainy day will work

All this time exercising is definitely cutting into the rest as well. I feel so good and it is starting to show (thanks for all the comments on our photo this week!) I run four nights a week and swim three. I have worked up to 50 laps in the pool in half an hour. My goal is 64 laps as that equals a mile (head games to keep it exciting). I had to switch it up, because my muscles did not like running every night. However for me, the every night thing matters. It cannot be random. I do take nights off but once a week max.

Sorry for the random, fly by post. I have like a dozen posts in my head, waiting for me to slow down and wirte them. I have pictures to share and ideas to express … just no time …

How is your summer going so far? Best yet? Need for improvement?

So I thought I was being all witty yesterday with my Lemon reference. Yeah turns out I am just a big MIMIC, because Damselfly already used that incredible wit earlier this week. When I finally caught up on blogs last night and read her fabulous bathroom renovation post I was mortified. So embarrassing.

I went swimming the other night. My endurance was freaking unreal. This running has really changed my body. Now if I could just stay away from the snack food just a little more, and keep at it, I may just start feeling better about my body.

Sadly, I chose shopping over running last night. I needed to find some supplies for Becca’s birthday, before our vacation. Why can there not be just a few more hours in each day? I will be running tonight, no matter what!

I am not getting enough sleep. I try to go to bed earlier, but with all that I am trying to do, I find myself talking to J late, then we do not get to bed early enough. Hopefully our vacation will provide enough time that we get sick of each other and no longer need to talk so much (joking!)

I am so exited. This is our first real vacation. We are not touring the region because we will be moving, we are not delivering anything or visiting the folks. I hope to do a whole lot of nothing, with a side of nothing and nothing. With a little hiking, swimming, touring … but mostly just kick back, enjoy our friends, the scenery and NOTHING.

I am still buried in my to do list. I have emails to respond to, cleaning of the house, washing, packing, organizing. Becca and i have appointments for haircuts this afternoon. She is all Cousin ITT with her hair dangling in her face all the time. It drives me bonkers. However last summer, the bangs drove me crazy. I am more bafffled by her hair than my own.

What are your plans for the weekend? Are you uber busy or kicking back?

Mom on the Run tagged me for a running meme. I am hosting my Dad and Grandma here in beautiful Nova Scotia, so without further ado, a little about me and running.

1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?

Non-existent. Up until six weeks ago, I felt that unless my life was in peril, running was a crazy notion. I never understood why people liked to run. I would ask runners and they would shrug and say it feels great. WHAT!?! I didn’t get it.

2. What is your best and worst run/race experience?

er well I am really just getting started. I did however sprint once. For a brief moment in time I was flying. It felt great. Sadly I have yet to be able to do it again. The stars were aligned perfectly in that moment.

3. Why do you run?

It started off, I was walking. I was determined to walk every night for an hour. I needed to get into shape. I was unhappy with my body and wanted to change it. I wanted to be in control, rather than feeling helpless. After a few weeks of walking, it just felt natural to start running. My husband is still in shock that I go for a run.

4. What is the best or worst piece of advice you’ve been given about running?

hmm I have yet to talk to a lot of runners, now that I am a runner. I am a little shy about it since I just started and feel like I am not quite a runner. I am trying to change that mentality and just believe it. I am a RUNNER. I am. Really. Almost. Kinda?

I changed my routine last night. It was raining. My company was waiting at home. It was shorter and less challenging, and I rocked! It was great! I think I will spice things up a little

5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.

geez I have been blogging for so long I think everyone knows me Instead enjoy some photos from yesterday

This weekend was crazy busy, fun, and tiring. On Saturday we went to what we thought was Becca’s last morning of soccer, only to discover we have one more week! w00t! She rocked the soccer world this week and her listening skills were awesome. Meanwhile, Ethan flaked out on us moaning, weak with pain from nasty molars that are ripping his gums apart to stake their spot in his mouth. Poor little guy wants to be his happy little self, but is really being tortured with pain.

After soccer we went to J’s office/lab to take some pictures then headed to the Waterfront for a picnic and walk. The weather was magnificent. Summer in Canada so totally rocks. I missed this country so much. We had a blast, walking talking and enjoying some great family time. Ethan crashed out and slept in the stroller for most of the afternoon. I think the sea air, the rush of people, and the freshness of the outdoors totally soothed him.

Once home J prepared an awesome meal with salmon, rice and veggies! mmmm…I bailed on my run for the first time since J got home, I felt totally off.

ugh.

For two years I was free. Two beautiful years.

Now.

The Witch is back. yuck. I knew it was coming. Ethan has progressively reduced his nursing and now he is sleeping through the night. It was only a matter of time before my menstrual cycle began again. ugh it is almost enough reason to get pregnant again.

Almost.

I did go for a run this morning. My bloated body wailed in disbelief that I would squeeze into my running gear and go. It rocked. The fog was providing this amazing misty ocean air, as I ran I could smell the lilacs blooming. I came across a few other runners on the trail. We nodded at one another. We did not miss this. I felt so much better. In fact I even sprinted a short distance, letting my legs lift off the ground like a gazelle, feeling free, powerful, beautiful … then desperate to catch my breath my body forced me back to the ground to finish off my run, cool down, stretch … feeling this vibrant I never expected.

How was your weekend?