I'm actually glad we only bought one:

We have two boys, which means when we get toys, we have to buy two!

Two windmills, two hot wheels, two everything!

For some reason, if we only have one of something, even if it is the lamest toy I've ever seen, both boys will want THAT one. 

We try to avoid this as much as possible...

A couple of weeks ago, however, we somehow lost all our parenting know-how and only bought ONE!

Meet Mimi. This little girl was the result of a $5 donation to our local zoo. Little Man has a whole pack of stuffed dogs like this so we thought we would just add to the collection! Totally spacing the scenario that was about to unfold. We handed the puppy to Will and sure enough, Caden began to cry...

Parental FACE PALM!

We tried to solve it by taking the toy from Will until we got home and Caden wouldn't notice, but then he started crying. I thought the contention would only last during our trip but I was wrong.

That first night started off awful. Both boys wanted to sleep with it. We had obviously bought it to go into Will's pack but we never thought Caden would care so much!

So I decided to let Caden sleep with it first, I thought Will needed a lesson in sharing. Will went into  hysterics. The kind you know just won't end until he gets what he wants. But I knew I couldn't reward the behavior. So I try to tell him that we are going to have joint custody and that he gets her tomorrow. But he couldn't hear me. He wanted Mimi NOW!

Then the most beautiful thing happened. Caden climbed up and handed his distraught brother the toy. Not expecting anything back he climbed down and into bed. I was SHOCKED!

Caden is in nursery and at the age where mentally it is almost impossible for them to understand the concept of sharing let alone with no egging on from a parent! The nursery manual even says that the leaders aren't supposed to make children share. TRUE STORY!

I praised Caden to Heaven and back to make sure I solidified that he did a GREAT thing. William thanked him and Caden responded with "Ah welcome!"

Now this wasn't the end of the fights. Heck they are fighting over her right now. But they have also been sharing a lot more too! A LOT MORE!! Not just with each other but with other kids also! 

For once I am glad we only bought one!

Summer Fitness Challenge Update: Week 3

With last weekend being Father's Day I missed some time to really keep up with my mileage and was worried I wouldn't hit my goal by today. I knew from the minute I signed on to do this I would need to stay ahead to not let this stress me out (as if trying to get back into running wasn't stressful enough!). Thankfully because a friend invited me to go running I actually had my best week yet! 10.68 miles! I know all of my awesome running friends are probably scoffing at those numbers but cut me some slack. I'm not built for running. My legs are short! Anyhoo, I ran the farthest today than I have in a LONG time. I will admit that I did have to stop to walk a couple of times though but still this is progress right? 

Currently I am at 29.23 miles! I'm just a little ahead of where I need to be to be tracking, which is good! It's tough when you want to be ahead by one unit when that unit is A MILE!

Summer Fitness Challenge: Second Week + a mini rant

It's week two! This has been such a great adventure so far and we are still at the beginning!

I was hoping to get in two more miles today but it's raining. Hopefully I will be able too but we will see.

I am currently at 18.2 miles! That's right on track with what I need to be but I want to try and keep ahead. Trying to make up miles would be stressful!

My weight is down two pounds and I've lost half an inch on my waist! The best part is I'm not sore which makes it a lot easier to get out there and get my miles in!

..................................................................RANT...............................................................

So I know that individually these people don't realize they are adding to a very annoying problem, but they are and it's frustrating.

Every time I go out for a run, complete strangers seem to think it's ok to provide a commentary on how they think I'm doing:

"You need to go faster to make their windmills move!"

"Not too fast now!"

"It's easier to run on the road!"

And a note to drivers turning left: If you have a "Left turn yields..." sign and I have the light up walking man telling me its ok to cross: YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY! I do, so don't give me the finger when you almost hit me, because you were completely at fault.

Rant over :)

Summer Fitness Challenge Update: Week two!

So the first week of the challenge is down! I have 11 miles under my belt! So far I am tracking for my goal of 120 miles. The diet plan I was going to stick too last week didn't stick. I've been dealing with some stuff and part of it is headaches almost everyday and some of those days, the headache wouldn't go away and some bubbly caffeinated beverages were called for. It still didn't make it go away completely but I am doing better.  This week I am going to add to my goal list as I recommit to sticking too it!

1. Count my calories (Using myfitness pal)

2. Drink 64+ ounces of water daily

3. Eat six small meals a day consisting of less sugar and more protien

4. Wear a heart monitor during cardio to keep me in my fat burning zone

5. Lift weights on the days in between cardio

6. Get 8 hours of sleep a night (If my children love me!)

7. Limit dairy to one serving a day!

Yikes this is going to be HARD for me but I am hoping it will help! 

Also I asked Cat (The founder of this challenge) what  tips she had for keeping my little guys happy while they sit in the stroller for 45 minutes at a time. (Yes I am a slow poke but the whole way home from my two mile run is up hill!) She responded with a blog post that I thought was great!

Summer Fitness Challenge Kick-Off: Day one

So if you read my post yesterday, you learned I was crazy enough to sign up for this challenge. I'm excited, don't get me wrong but it's pretty daunting! 120 miles in three months?? 13 full weeks and some odd days to do be almost exact! Roughly speaking I need to do a little more than 9 miles a week. AGAIN...daunting! But doable. We have a park that is almost exactly two miles from my house. I figure if I do that twice a week and then throw in a walk to a park that is a mile away then I will be set! I am doing this to be healthy and I will be measuring and weighing in each week. I want to lose 10 pounds. I know that doesn't seem like much but these last ten pounds just won't let go! Here is how I plan to reach my goal:

1. Count my calories (Using myfitness pal)
2. Drink 64+ ounces of water daily
3. Eat six small meals a day consisting of less sugar and more protien
4. Wear a heart monitor during cardio to keep me in my fat burning zone
5. Lift weights on the days in between cardio
6. Get 8 hours of sleep a night (If my children love me!)

(Day one!)


One of the things I am afraid of is all the stroller time these boys will be getting. They get bored on the long jog/walk to the park. But these pinwheels helped a BUNCH today!