Spring Running

Something about Spring always makes me want to get out and do something...

Saturday we bought a new bike for my daughter who is getting ready for a spring youth triathlon training class next month. While at the sport shop we noticed a table of clearance shoes...

Yes, running shoes.

I have started running programs more times than I can count. When I am running I love it...but I don't like getting ready to run. I dread waking up to an alarm and pulling myself out of bed to go running. My programs usually last about six weeks or so...I usually get to the point where I can run close to 5km. I always see a huge improvement. I just start feeling really good about it and then something really "important" usually comes up and I quit. (Yes, I do realize there is a deeper psychological issue here...I just haven't figured out what it is yet). Everytime I start, I start from the beginning...run, walk, run, walk...I haven't run since last summer. My fall excuse was my shoes are getting too old to run in; so instead of buying new shoes...I stopped running. Again. I get frustrated thinking about how good I could be if I had been running all along instead of stopping and starting. I need some perserverence.

The shoes were a really good deal...I had to get them. I was planning on starting a running program again in April anyway. I have the running plan written up ready to go. I have been waiting for the snow to melt and the roadsides to dry up...for the conditions to be perfect.

They have been in my possession for three days and are still looking brand new.

They are out of the box and staring at me...

I have been trying to live the life I want to live and quit spending so much time planning and more time just doing. In many areas of my life I have been doing this and I am loving the difference it is making to my life. But, it is a long and difficult process. Habits are hard to change. My running habit is one I definately want to change.

So I have decided that I am going to scrap my April running "program" and just log off and go for a run.

Happy Spring!

always look on the bright side of life...

Does anyone else out there cringe at the thought of filling out forms?

We are in our seventh year of post-secondary school and each year has been filled with forms...

school forms
government forms

and don't even get me started on filling out forms for moving between provinces...

I am signing up for another semester of school (one day I WILL finish this degree). I filled out all the forms for both the school and for the necessary evil of student loans...all done!

And then comes an email from my school with a minor glitch that of course requires me to fill out all of the forms AGAIN! WAH!!!

I am trying to maintain my new optimistic attitude. I am trying to not eat the entire batch of yummy gingersnaps sitting in my kitchen and I am trying not to throw anything as I run out of printer paper with two sheets left to print.

No, I am going to take the high road. I am looking on the bright side...

I am fortunate enough to have a supportive family which allows me to work on my degree...

Because we may be moving (again!) this summer I need to take classes without exams (to avoid any complications with ordering exams to be invigilated) and so I get to take two creative writing classes
(which I LOVE.) ...I can just picture myself sitting on the beach pen and notebook in hand...(I will not imagine all the distractions I will have with four children surrounding me kicking sand on said notebook).

This HAS to be the last time I need to fill out these forms so I can FINALLY get back to classes (did I mention this was the fourth time...and that I was supposed to start in October 2010 but it is now pushed back to June 2011!)...breathing...deeply...

I am really excited about getting back to classes and working on my degree. I am determined to finish it before I turn forty. I have 2 1/2 years...and five semesters to go...which still allows me time to do it.

I did not see this...

like I do on so many days when I tried to access the internet...the internet is working for me today...

And if all else fails to cheer me up....

I do have that yummy batch of warm gingersnaps cooling in the kitchen that I can nibble on while filling out the forms again. They should make the process a little less painful!

the joys of homeschool

I started homeschooling my kids this year (for many, many reasons) Technically, we are schooling at home. In BC they have a program called distributed learning which gives parents the option of having their kids do school at home. They still follow the curriculum (mostly - I can pick and choose how they follow it) and they have a teacher they see once a week. They will still graduate with a diploma but they get to learn at home and I oversee the majority of their education.

I am really, really enjoying it.

One of my favourite things about homeschooling is our mornings. I love that we don't have to rush...I love that I don't have to pack lunches...and I love that I am able to finally take some time for myself.

We still wake up early but every morning the kids have some play time and I take an extra hour in my room to write in my journal and read a chapter (or two) of a book.

(to see what I was reading in January click here).

EVERY day...I promise you it sure beats waking up at the crack of dawn, jumping out of bed and rushing.

Every moment of my life felt like I was rushing somewhere...and nagging the kids to hurry up; because we were almost always late for something.

Now...ah...it is relaxed.

The kids have time to relax and play in the morning; we eat breakfast together as a family (minus of course my amazing hubby...if we could only figure out some way for him to stay home...)

and then, when we are all relaxed and feeling good about our day we begin school.

SO much better than the daily rush.

I love spending time with each child individually and watching them learn.

I love that they can move quickly on subjects that are easy for them and that they can take more time on those that they need extra help with. I love that they can get one on one help when they need it.

and I really love that in the middle of the day we can take some time to make cookies, or muffins, or bread or whatever we feel like making and that whoever wants to help out can help.

I love that my kids can play board games in the middle of the day if they choose to and that those board games give my 11 year old daughter something she will happily do with her brothers.

I love watching my kids as they grasp concepts and learn new things.

I feel like I have found the best of both worlds. I have my kids at home with me, I avoid all the things I don't like about the public school system and I still get access to what I feel are the benefits.

I love that I can make choices and live my life the way I want to live it.

baking day

Yesterday was a busy school day, the kids were working hard and decided they wanted some cinnamon buns for a break and so I happily pulled out the ingredients and got to work.

I love baking. (I know I have said this before, but I really do).

 One of the many things I would like to be is a baker. (This is why I am still trying to figure out what I want to be...can I be 20 things at one time? I am trying to prioritize my wishes...)

I love the smell of yeast and watching the magic that occurs when bread rises.

I love that my kids always love helping me knead bread (see baking with kids post 30Mar2010 here).

But even more than making bread; I love making cinnamon buns.

I love the smells, the colours, rolling up the dough and watching them rise.

And when they finally come out of the oven...everyone gathers around waiting for the moment when they are just cool enough to touch...

And take that first perfect bite...they are definately one of my favourites.

What is so great about baking is that even if you are in a tiny cottage with a 5 x10 kitchen and an old stove...the cinnamon buns still taste just as good as if they had been made on a beautiful 9 foot marble island...

(did you see the island on the mimi Charmonte blog??? It's at kimberlytaylorimages.com go check it out...I love it!)

 Although I am sure they would be just a little more fun to make.

yes, I definately need a bigger kitchen...

failure and success

I have been thinking a lot this week about failure and my previous attitude towards it (see 25 Jan posting for some background).

This week I have finally realized that failure is necessary to experience success. I have intellectually known this for a long time but it is just sinking in.

Failure is the true path to success...without failing we can not succeed.

Simple.

Why it took so long for me to figure this out I will never know. So this year I am going to try and embrace failure because that is the only way I am going to improve and become better. And don't we all want to be better?

this is me enjoying one of my many failures...I am trying to conquer the bunnyhill!

I did make it down without falling and I did graduate from the kiddie run

to the bunny hill...so I am going to view this hill as part of my road to success instead of

evidence of my failure. Maybe next week I will learn how to turn...

small house experiment

I am still here!

we made it across the country safely and are settling into our new home...pictures soon!

Just a quick note as we are still internetless and I am just borrowing for a few minutes.

My family and I are embarking on a new adventure.

My husband is busy working on his portfolio to apply to architecture schools in hopes of fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming an architect. In the meantime in order to save a few dollars we have accepted an offer from my parents of their garden cottage for one year of free rent...of course this has its pros and cons as you can imagine!

Cute cottage, on my parents property (of 32 acres)....approximately 600 square feet...family of six!

So - are we crazy?

We have decided to make an experiment out of it! As previously stated my husband has always wanted to be an architect and we have both been very interested in sustainability. We decided this would be the perfect time to test: how much space does one family actually need??? Do we need mcmansions?

On our way through Canada I noticed a lot of older subdivisions, particularly in Winnipeg that had rows of tiny houses that I am sure housed large families post-war. I think we can do it. I found a christmas ornament two years ago (not long after moving into our 3000 sq. foot home in Nova Scotia) that said "Love grows in small houses"....we shall see...