My Little Valentine's

Valentine's Day...I'm so grateful for my three little Valentine's.

I'm so blessed to wake up each day to look into thier beautiful eyes, to watch them grow, to have their love in every moment of my life, and to give them love in every moment of theirs.

I woke early to sneak a balloon and a heart shaped box of Hershy Kisses into their rooms...I wanted them to open their sleepy little eyes and to immediately know it was a special day.

Kate received her first pink rose...her first flower exclusively and lovingly given to her by her daddy...in keeping with the tradition my father started for me(he stepped up his game this year by not only sending these beautiful tulips, but GODIVA...love him!).

She was so surprised and thankful.

We ended "love day" with our traditional Valentine's dinner as a family.

A perfect SNOW DAY!

Kate came tearing into my bathroom at 6am exaulting, "Mommy, there's a lotta snow outside...come (placing her little hand in mine and guiding me out into the hallway)...let me show you!"

The boys woke as giddy as she and ran down stairs to sit on the sofa and watch the swirling, glorious snow fall. We had a warm breakfast and snuggled a bit...and began the countdown to the magic hour of 9am when I promised we would search out the snowboots, snowsuits, gloves, hats and make our way outside.

It’s was a Snow Day.

I'm all to aware...these days of their childhood will pass by too quickly. I hope to make snow days magical and special and exciting for our kids. I hope to remember to keep things in perspective and not allow the worry of work and life to interfere with the Magic of a Snow Day. I hope that someday, maybe on their child’s first Snow Day, they can look back and say, “Remember when Mom and did that one thing on that one Snow Day? I want to do that with the kids today.”

So after literally 4 hours stright of climbing the backyard hill with the neighbors for that short thrill of sledding down at break neck speed, making snowmen, throwing snowballs, and chasing the dog...I finally forced them inside, at 2pm. They cried. I don't blame them...despite soaked gloves, wet socks, and red cheeks, they didn't want their magical day to end.

Sled riding. Snowman making. Hot chocolate.

Magic, indeed.

Groundhog 10K

Only 10 weeks remain until the Boston Marathon...we are thick in training and grateful for the mild winter we've been experiencing. It's made winter training much, much easier...so far. We broke out the tank tops and shorts for the 30th Annual TLC Groundhog Run last Sunday, the countries only sanctioned 5K/10K run completed entirely indoors in the Hunt Midwest Subtropolis. This is the 4th time I have competed in this race and it's always great to see so many friends compete in this sold out event as well. :)
2nd place female. 41:25 chip time (6:39 pace)