Just Go With It

I was mowing the lawn tonight. To say it had been awhile would be an understatement. As I began to mow I realized it was so long, that I was cutting paths in the grass.  I get bored pretty easily so I just drive all over the place when cutting our 2.5 acre property. It drives my husband crazy, but it gets the lawn cut!!  My son started walking in the path, and it soon turned into a game.

I decided to keep the 'path' going for as long as I could so he could follow it 'think yellow brick road'.

After a while he ran and got Lara, who quickly started at the beginning, and ran to see if she could catch up to me while winding her way around the property. Erin joined in on the fun and before I knew it they were running and laughing and having a great time. (Audrey was busy on the swings with Grandma)

Even when I ran out of space and started cutting up their path, they continued having fun. I turned around at one point and there was my older two girls running around the property in all my running gear. Hat, water belt, and glasses.  It was really quite funny.

After I ran out of gas they asked me if they could go for a real run with me sometime. I decided to go with it, and said there was no better time then now. So off we headed down the road (yes them in my running gear), with Peyton biking along side us. 

As a fit mom and runner I have to admit that the times I run with my kids are the best runs I go on.  There is no greater joy then being able to pass on a love for something to your kids. 

Growing up one of my favorite memories was biking after supper with my parents. It was a simple family moment that I cherished because they took the time to just 'be' with us.  I loved it, and tonight I got to have a few moments like that and soak it in.

You see, being a 'fit' mom does not mean I have to schedule visits to the gym. It means I need to take advantage of moments with my kids and get my butt off the lawn tractor and go for a run.

That 20 minutes was one of the best 'workouts' I've had in a while.

Do as I do

How do we teach our children character? How do we teach them to be healthy and enjoy an active lifestyle?

The same way we taught them how to walk and talk....

We lead by example. 

It takes 20 minutes of your time. It takes staying in your pj's. It takes putting that coffee and book down you are enjoying in your sunporch. It takes buying used equipment. It takes doing it for yourself as well as for them.

Proud Moments

I'll do one more post for today...Only because I really am a Proud Mama and have a few extra minutes to share a piece of our life with you.

Last week I ran a 5km in 32 mins and is was the BEST run ever because I ran right beside my SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER who never ever ever EVER gave up. 21 minute 5k personal best has NOTHING on that.

In the same week my eldest daughter killed a few races coming in 2nd, 6th and 4th at her cross country meets WITH a severe head cold and ear infection ;) Great job girls!!!

O.K enough bragging...back to listening.

She Did It!!

We Did It!!!! Lara and I ran our first race together, and I don't mean that we started together. We actually ran the entire thing TOGETHER!

I am one happy mama right now. I am so proud of my little eight year old who finished FIRST in her age category. According to my watch her time was 26:40? for a 5km run. Wow!!

At first I was thinking that my competitive nature would kick in and that I would want to run as hard as I could so I could place in my own age category. Once we started running I realized that there would not be any medal won that could replace the joy of running along side her.

Little did I know just how fast she would go, and just how much SHE would keep ME going !!

Thank you Lara for being a part of something that is special to me and forcing me to get off the couch this morning and put on my running shoes.

I title the above picture ''what IS THAT??''

Look closely at my arms. Once again a reminder of why skinny chicks still need to do some push ups every once in a while. I would hate the see what ELSE would be flapping around if it wasn't for spandex...oh boy ;)

A Face for a Mommy to Love

How can ANYONE be in a BAD MOOD after looking at this face?? Actually I think I'm going to make it my screen saver. Then when he continues to draw on the t.v with those crayons in his hand I will just hum a merry tune and count my blessings for curious and creative little boys.

I wonder if the fourth child is going to be EVEN weirder than this one ????? ;)