I have issues.

I'm starting to feel a bit sentimental and panicky about the kids getting older. It just goes so freaking fast, I can't believe it.

I guess it started yesterday, which was the first day of swim lessons. I always associate the start of summer with the kid's lessons, I sign them up for the first session offered. I like to get it in early, even thought the weather is usually on the cool and of course, rainy side. That way we have the rest of the summer to practice our skills, and Luke gets to go to summer rec.

But the lessons always prompt a series of "what we were doing last year at this time" in my head. Last year Eliza was still at an age that we count in months, and Luke was in Level One. The pool never really changes, when it does it's because of a new lifeguard, or you see how kids have grown over the winter. I can easily close my eyes and go back three short years, when Luke was in baby swim and I was wearing a maternity bathing suit (I still cringe to think of it).

It really kicked in today, when I was cleaning and organizing Eliza's closet. I have four bags of baby and toddler clothes, that I don't think I can ever part with. I've given my sister a ton of stuff, but hung on to all the boy clothes, since so far, Luke is the only one. I found a Ralph Lauren onezie that seriously made my chest ache, as I thought of how little Luke was, and how that newborn time was so exhausting, but so wonderful, and life changing. I'm better about the toddler clothes, but is it wrong to hang onto the others? I don't think so. I put all the bags back in their spots, where I think they will stay.

My Owl.

This is the owl that lives in our backyard, he's been around for a couple of years now. He usually appears at dusk, and we can hear him making various screetching noises after dark. This afternoon I got a surprise visit, so I crept up to the window to try and take his photo. I have other photos of him, but this is the closest I've ever gotten. He looked right into my eyes before turning away. Pretty cool, huh?

Gel, bar, ades and.....water?

So the Boilermaker 15k is coming up in two weeks, and I'm getting excited, it will be my third time running it. I did an 8 mile run on Monday, 7 on Wed and 3 yesterday. Have a 9 miler planned for tomorrow, so I think I'm in good shape. Still have my lingering fear of hills, I've got to get some more in but I'm really afraid of re-injuring my hamstring. I'm dreading the mile long hill at mile 6, but I think if I just take it slow I'll be okay.

After this 15K, I feel good about going for a half marathon, thinking of the Rochester Half this September. The only thing is, I'm not too sure how to go about training for it. I'll probably stick to three runs during the week, then a long one on the weekend. When I run in the afternoon, I have enough energy from lunch to power me through. If it's a morning run, I usually have coffee and something small to get me moving, including water and Powerade Zero. I think I need to dive into using Gu or Powerbars as I start pulling the longer training runs. Not sure how these affect your stomach, I hate getting side stitches, and usually do a good job of avoiding them. Plus do you suck them down in the middle of the workout, or before? A friend of mine has one of those belts that hold small bottles of water, so I think I'm going to invest in one of those as well. I'm really excited to have a new goal, and I think I can see a marathon somewhere in the hazy future. Baby steps.

My babes

HBO has a great animated series called Classical Baby, it's a half hour show of music, art and our favorite, poetry. Different poems are read beautifully by actors and children, it cracks me up when Luke speaks along with Andy Garcia during "Mariposa".

The very last poem is read by Gwyneth Paltow, after a baby bunny asks his mother how much she loves him. When she recites Sonnet 43
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, it brings me to
tears, thinking of how much I love my goofy kids.

How Do I Love Thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth, and height, my soul can reach,
when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need,by sun, and candle light.
I love three freely,
as men strive for right.
I love thee purely,
as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
in my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love three with a love I seemed to lose
with my lost saints.
I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears,
of all my life.
And, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.


These photos were taken by L&E when we were hanging out in the yard. I think they came out pretty well, especially since I was still dirty from my run.

Summer runs are the best, so why am I on the treadmill?

I have a seven mile run planned for today, and it's absolutely beautiful out. During the winter months, I get on the treadmill in the afternoons, while Eliza naps and Luke busies himself with whatever five year olds like to do. But as the weather gets warmer, I really long to be outside for my runs.

I've tried getting up early to fit the run in, but Mike and the kids are also early risers. There have been a few times where Mike is doing calls and Luke will get up, and I have to end my run. Running after dinner is hard too, Mike has a daily call at five, kids gotta eat, get baths, and into bed. These are the roles we have right now, I'm the "stay at home caretaker" Mike is the "bring home the bacon" role. It's much easier on the weekends, Mike is happy to do whatever he needs to so I can get my outside runs in.

The treadmill has been a bit boring lately, although having a televison to watch is a huge plus. This past Monday I did 8.3 miles, and threw a towel on the display panel so I wouldn't watch the numbers slowly tick by. There is a big sliding glass door in my line of vision, but that just lets me see outside, but not taste it.

Actually, I have nothing to complain about, when the weather is so sunny that we all need our shades.

Pizza (cue the Homer Simpson drool)

I have a thing for pizza. It's probably my favorite food, I could eat it every day, and sometimes do. It's affordable, has all the food groups (grain, dairy, vegetable) and is easy. I'll even eat frozen pizza on occasion, and Elios has a special place in my heart.

Being from Long Island, I can be a bit of a pizza snob. I've never been to Chicago, I've heard it's a wonderful city, but deep dish pizza is not a pizza. I can't even do Pizza Hut. I need a thin crust that you could fold, smooth flavorful sauce (not too much), and plenty of cheese. A bubble on top is a bonus prize.

Mike and I have two types of pizza that we make at home. The first is a caramelized onion, walnut, and goat cheese pizza on a beer crust. This is the only crust I will attempt, and it's great for dinner along with a salad, or cut up small as an appetizer. Caramelized onions are a big thing in our kitchen, Mike makes a huge pot of them and we used them in so many dishes. Our second pizza staple is a traditional pie. Wegman's has a whole wheat dough that we use. We top it first with the onions, then sauce, then cheese. On one half we sprinkle browned crumbled sausage, the other half gets sauteed portobello mushrooms. I usually have a stomach ache after because I can't stop eating it.

My whole point of this post is that I found our new favorite local pizza parlor. We tried OIP (Original Italian Pizza) at the Taste of Syracuse festival. I felt like I bought a slice at a place in NYC. The true test was when I pulled back the cheese and looked at the crust. When it looks mottled and moonlike, it's a go. So much so that we got two pies, one for the fridge, one for the freezer.

Adirondack Home

I feel a bit bad for Mike today. Somehow, Father's Day always ends up being about something other than him. The past two years my Mother has visited during Father's Day weekend. This weekend we planned on going up to the Adirondacks, to visit his parents and catch up with an old college friend. The weather was supposed to be lousy, and our friend ended up not being in town, so Mike really didn't want to go. But we went anyway, and as usual, it was great.

The first time Mike brought me to his camp, we were in college. It really is a special place. It holds so many memories, things obviously change there, but they also stay the same. Which I find so comforting when we have a zillion things going on in our lives. I lie in the same spot in the same bed at night, and feel like I did before we were married, or had kids. The nice thing is that I have grown in many ways, my life has gotten infinitely better, but I'm still me. I love bringing the kids there, I feel like I can't get enough of it. It's hard to describe. I love big cities, but I'm also a nature girl. Every season in the Adirondacks brings something out of me, and makes me appreciate how simple life can be. And it brings me joy. The kids are already finding their sense of joy there, as Luke demonstrates as he dances on the dock.