Short of Goal but not on accomplishments

Running goal for 2011 was 1111 miles.

Completed 828.4 miles which included two full marathons!

The start of baby #6 stopped my mileage for almost two months.

Overall, I'm proud of how I maintained my fitness this year even though a few injuries.  My running goal for 2012 will be to just run when I'm able and after baby recovery work towards a half marathon for the fall.  I, also, would like to work on my upper body strength ... and I finally found our P90X dvds from the move!  I need to develop a plan and way to measure my progress in regards to the upper body strength.

Yarn Along

Ravelry

With each baby, I've crocheted a baptismal gown.  Since learning how to knit, I decided to go outside my comfort zone and knit a baptismal gown for our newest little one.  To me, each stitch is a little prayer for this little soul.  It comforts me in my anxiety during pregnancy.

This is the beginning of the gown starting from the waist going toward the feet.  The pattern is "Ribbons and Lace Christening Gown".  The author has been so helpful in answering my beginner questions.
 
The picket edging is almost complete.  I'm so excited.  With the weather turning colder, my running hat is beckoning to be finished and a new sweater for me is waiting to be cast on.

At our local yarn shop, they offer different classes.  My husband is urging me to sign up since I will be in 'baby' mode starting in June.  Now is the time to get some Mommy alone time in.

The kids and I have been reading "Angel in the Waters" by Regina Doman.


For more Yarn Along's, check out Ginny's Blog.

Yarn Along

Ravelry

With each baby, I've crocheted a baptismal gown.  Since learning how to knit, I decided to go outside my comfort zone and knit a baptismal gown for our newest little one.  To me, each stitch is a little prayer for this little soul.  It comforts me in my anxiety during pregnancy.

This is the beginning of the gown starting from the waist going toward the feet.  The pattern is "Ribbons and Lace Christening Gown".  The author has been so helpful in answering my beginner questions.
 
I've just started working the picket edging.  Learned a few new stitches thanks to my Knitting Help app on my IPod.  On Saturday, I made a trip to the local yarn shop to pick up a few more skeins.  I didn't create a gauge swatch for the baptismal gown and I'm pretty sure I'm off.  Dear husband chuckled and commented that the gown will fit perfectly then.  We tend to have larger babies and the previous baptismal gowns barely fit them when the kids were baptized at just two weeks of age!

While at the yarn shop, I picked up some yarn to knit myself a sweater.  I've given myself permission to detour from the baptismal gown once the picket edging is finished.  My next goal will be to finish my running hat that I started knitting last year and then to make the sweater for myself and my growing belly.

Each Advent, I work through "Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Padre Pio".  It gives me little things to think about each day.

Today's is so fitting for me:

Prayer:

It seems that the moment I began to focus on the spiritual experience of Advent, Bethlehem became like a mirage shimmering across the desert, beckoning elusively, tantalizingly, then vanishing completely.  O God of Soaring Eagles, raise me above this obscurity, that I might once again glimpse my destination, and discern the path that will lead me to you.  Amen.

Advent Action:

I will spend thirty minutes today to "recharge my batteries" through simple prayer, quiet meditation, or a long-awaited nap.

Blessing:

May Jesus continue to totally possess your heart and treat you as a chose one. -Letters

For more Yarn Along's, check out Ginny's Blog.

Gaudete Sunday

Our family tradition is to decorate for Christmas on Gaudete Sunday.

Here are some moments from our day:

Lil' Chef and Bumbershoot

Mr. T

Squeaker

Dear Husband helping pass out ornaments

A Family Tradition:  Taking turns placing the angel on the tree.  This year was Squeaker's.

The Christmas village that was given/inherited from my husband's Grandmother.

Little People Nativity set keeps the girls busy.

Lots of Hair likes to grab all the Mickey Mouse characters and give them kisses.

Waiting for Baby Jesus.  Are you preparing?

The Three Kings making their way across the mantle.

An empty manger on the prayer table.

the finished tree

Yarn Along

My progress so far on the baptismal gown is going well for this beginner; the gown is measuring 8 inches of the 13.5 inches before working the edging.  I've had to take out two of the pattern rows so far to correct a mistake.

Any suggestions on how to fix mistakes?  Basically, I just worked in reverse, undoing my stitches.  Not sure if that's the best way or not.

I'm reading through "A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms", a Christmas present to myself.   Been feeling that I need some extra encouragement in my vocation of motherhood.

Side note:  the mug pictured was given to me on Mother's Day by my oldest.  They go to Goodwill and each pick out a mug for me.  I enjoy different coffee mugs and I love how the ones they pick out reflect their personality.

Check out Ginny's blog for more Yarn Alongs.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!!

The children were delighted to find that St. Nicholas left them a personalized pig bank, legos, candy, snow fort makers, and a family movie.  Have a blessed St. Nicholas Day!

Christmas Novena

Happy Feast of St. Andrew

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born
of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. 

In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, 

through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day
from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

Imprimatur
+MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York
New York, February 6, 1897

 

Today starts the Christmas Novena.  I recently learned of this novena so this afternoon I had some time to put together the chaplet.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a St. Andrew medal on hand, but I did have a Sacred Heart of Jesus that was inherited.  Not sure if Father will be blessing chaplets at Mass this evening, but I'll bring mine and pray the novena after Mass.

 

 

A beautiful printed novena card is available to download at JOYfilled Family.

Yarn Along

With each baby, I've crocheted a baptismal gown.  Since learning how to knit, I decided to go outside my comfort zone and knit a baptismal gown for our newest little one.  To me, each stitch is a little prayer for this little soul.  It comforts me in my anxiety during pregnancy.

This is the beginning of the gown starting from the waist going toward the feet.  The pattern is "Ribbons and Lace Christening Gown".  The author has been so helpful in answering my beginner questions.

Each Advent, I work through "Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Padre Pio".  It gives me little things to think about each day.

A side note, the mug in the picture was inherited from my husband's grandmother.  Each visit at her home, I would drink coffee with her and I would use the same mug.  She made the strongest coffee ever.  I miss her dearly.

For more Yarn Along's, check out Ginny's Blog.

Another Blessing

A beautiful view of the newest blessing growing in my womb

Today

Outside my window::
sunny and 33 degrees, but no snow  :(

I am thankful for::
my health.  The family experienced a nasty stomach bug which cut our Thanksgiving vacation short.

I am wearing::
jean maternity skirt and Packers sweatshirt

I am reading::
Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Padre Pio

I am hoping and praying::
for the protection of this new little soul in my womb


To live the Liturgy::
thinking of less school next year during the Advent season
enjoy learning the new translation of the Mass


I am creating::
a knitted baptismal gown

On my iPod::
an awesome knitting app

I am running::
no miles.  

Around the house::
still a few unpacked boxes from the move

On the sewing front::
jumpers for Lil' Chef.

One of my favorite things::
children laughing

A few plans for the rest of the week::
appointment with the midwife today

A picture to share::

Monkey decorating cookies while wearing my favorite pj's!

Wordless Wednesday

2011 Marquette Marathon

Training has been difficult this time around.  Hubby accepted a new job and was gone before us for a few months and then the move itself.  Overall, my pace had slowed down compared to the previous marathon training partly due to the effort I made in hitting more on my forefoot rather than my heel.

Iowa has spoiled me on the amount of miles of bike paths that they have.  So nice to not have to worry about traffic on long runs ... that and the lack of elevation.  Though, I do have to say that I miss the hills.  Crazy, I know.

I had signed up for this marathon back in January when I still lived an hour and a half away.  A very good friend and homeschooling momma and I agreed to run it together.  On Friday, the whole family drove eight hours from Iowa to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  My friend and I camped out in our own hotel room leaving our husbands to tend to the children in a different room.  We talked past our bed times but who sleeps well the night before, right?

God blessed us with a fellow runner who offered to drive us to the start.  I'd rather not have to wake my husband and five kids that early in the morning.  Thanks be to God for prayers answered.  I had asked my husband if he was nervous of a stranger driving us.  His answer, "Marathoners are a breed all their own. 

The sunrise was breathtaking.

The marathon course is two laps.  Here's the description from the marathon website:

What’s the course like?

In a word, AWESOME! The course starts out at Presque Isle Park on the shores of Lake Superior. The majority of the course is on a bike path winding through woods, skirting the downtown, and passing by the Saturday morning farmers market. Best of all, ½ the race is along miles and miles of flat, fast, and gorgeous Lake Superior shoreline. There is one uphill at mile 12 and 25. It is an 1800 foot stretch that climbs 80 feet in the shade of an old growth stand of hemlocks. After “topping out”, you are rewarded with a fairly gradual downhill followed by a flat fast quarter mile stretch to the finish.

The first nine miles we were doing very well.  We talked and talked and averaged a 11:37 pace.  As the next miles progressed, my friends feet were not doing well.  I had taken out my earbud because I noticed that the sound of her footsteps were different.  It was painful listening to them.  We started walking a bit more and our mile 12 split was 13:44 making the overall pace 11:56.  She knew in her heart that she should stop but felt that she was bailing out on me.  I told her that I was perfectly fine with continuing solo and that if she didn't stop, I would and then we would both not finish.

Mile 13.1 we were back at the starting line ready for the second lap.  My friend was smart and stopped.

Half marathon time - 2:37:10 (12:00 pace)  only 1 minute slower than my first marathon split in Green Bay!

I wasn't solo for long.  By mile 14, hubby and the kids found me.

Bumbershoot ran out to give me a hug.

This course is very family friendly.  There are so many parks for the kids to play at.  Basically, we played leap frog for the rest of the marathon.  Hubby would drive by with the windows down on the van.  The kids would yell, "Go Mom Go".  They would get out at a park and play.  When I ran by, they would run along side and cheer.  Hubby would pile them into the van and drive by with the windows down.  The kids would cheer, etc.  I had the best support crew at the marathon!

Mile 15

Mile 21

Lil' Chef and Squeaker running with me at mile 22

At Picnic Rocks, Mr. T joins in

Mile 24

Working ore dock in the background

Lil' Chef and Squeaker following me into the isle.

Lil' Chef, Squeaker, and Bumbershoot ontop the world's largest glacial copper.

Into the finish chute

Still smiling!

Second full marathon finish!

Husband looks proud, eh?

Waiting for a massage

Marathon time - 5:26:51 (12:29 pace)  PR over the Green Bay marathon

Overall, I felt pretty good.  My left knee was slightly tender but nothing like the first marathon.  Fueling went well and I was glad that I brought the extra Roctane.  I needed the extra sodium on the second lap.  Thankful for no stomach issues!

I am sad that I didn't get any pictures with my good friend.

Thank you to my hubby, Lil' Chef, and Mr. T for taking pictures.

Bike Paths Galore!

The bike paths around this area go on for miles and miles.  Saturday's long run, 12 miles, was run on bike paths all but 2.5 miles (my house to the bike path) .. and that was just one of the many routes.

Saturday morning, I saw more than a dozen bicyclists.  Three of them were in 'professional' gear.  I also saw a husky dog :)

The route I took ran along the river on the south side.  The north side route goes on for many more miles ... planning to do that route for my 20 miler.

Some pictures from the run:

Cellcom Marathon - May 15th

I am a marathoner!!!  Finishing my first marathon through Lambeau Field was incredible!


On Friday, I drove from Iowa to Green Bay.  We had been house hunting all week.  Saturday, my mom, my sister, a good friend, and I visited the expo and picked up our packets.

We also stopped at a local sporting goods store.

Me, Mom, and Sister with Cheese on our heads.

A free pasta dinner came with our race fee ... inside Lambeau!

The temperature was around 45 deg on the morning of the marathon.  For me, it was nice ... for my mom and sister, it was freezing.  You can tell by how much warmer they are dressed.

We had matching shirts made for our first marathon.

I had name bibs and grace bands made from Races to Remember

The name bibs were sweet.  Spectators were yelling our names and cheering us on.

We also wore a grace band.

Every mile, we prayed for a different intention




I decided to wear my Camelbak Octane XCT with Nuun in the bladder.  I had used it on all my long training runs and didn't want to chance an upset stomach with the Gatorade.

The first half of the marathon went well except for the five minute bathroom break at mile 5.  Our half marathon split was 2:36:48 (11:58)

The second half was very windy ... 30 mph with 40-50 mph gusts and it was coming straight at ya.  Mom started to have a lot of problems with her knees so we walked more.

Running through Lambeau was the best last mile of the race that I have ever experienced.

Running around Lambeau field

Finish time:  5:38:06 - 12:53 pace

Thank you Mom and Little Sister for the memories of a lifetime!