Friday, December 27, 2013
Finally Some Family "Fotos"
I've been hearing great things about FotoFly. Many friends have had darling photos taken there. I scheduled an appointment in the beginning of November, but apparently word was out and they were booked until after Christmas. I knew we wouldn't get pictures in time for holiday cards, but I booked it anyway. The last organized family picture we had taken was in 2008... so it has been a while. Today was our appointment and I'm so pleased with the results. Here are a few of my favorites:
And of course a little Harry Potter...
Monday, October 14, 2013
Babi
Recently, my grandmother's health has declined. Last spring she had a couple stokes. Not huge, but enough of a hurdle to slow her down and prevent her from visiting in the summer. Just over a week ago she had a big one. She is currently struggling to re-learn how to walk, talk, feed herself, etc. She is struggling with her memory... especially short term memory. She is struggling.
I have been trying for a week to put into words some sort of tribute to this amazing lady, but each time I sit down to type, I am overwhelmed with emotion and find myself at a loss for words. So... I will just say this:
This is my Babi (or Ludmila for those of you that aren't lucky enough to be related):
I love her. She is an inspiring woman. She is my mother's mom. My mother's name-sake. My grandmother. The only great-grandmother that my children ever got to know. I am so SO insanely grateful that they know her.
I have been trying for a week to put into words some sort of tribute to this amazing lady, but each time I sit down to type, I am overwhelmed with emotion and find myself at a loss for words. So... I will just say this:
This is my Babi (or Ludmila for those of you that aren't lucky enough to be related):
I love her. She is an inspiring woman. She is my mother's mom. My mother's name-sake. My grandmother. The only great-grandmother that my children ever got to know. I am so SO insanely grateful that they know her.
Monday, September 16, 2013
A Marathon of a Post
The weeks and days leading up to my scheduled marathon were disheartening, to say the least. My peroneal tendon (that runs behind your ankle and up your calf) had been giving me trouble. At times it hurt too bad to walk without a limp. It kept me up many nights with stabbing pains each time I shifted positions. I was starting to feel like my dream of running another marathon (my last one was in 2002) were a bust. The last couple of weeks before the marathon, I did not run at all. Not one step. I swam as often as I could get to the pool. I wore KTtape every day just to walk with minimal pain. I did not want to see a doctor because I knew that going into a physician and saying "It hurts to walk or to even sleep. Please fix is so I can run a marathon in a couple weeks." probably was not going to get a sympathetic response.
So, I Google-doctored myself. Rest. Ibuprofen. Cold. Elevation. 3 nights before the marathon was the first night in weeks that I had not woken up with pain. I did not wear tape the next day. 2 nights before the marathon I did not have pain at night. I did not wear tape the next day. I got a call from the friend who was going to pace me to keep my spirits up for the last 7 or 8 miles. She couldn't make it. Another blow. I stayed up till 10 preparing everything before the marathon. Clothes and gear for me. Eva's clothes and gear for soccer. Naiya's clothes for the next day. Schedules typed. Alarms set. Lists with instructions for Jared, Naiya and Eva. Picture packet prepared (Of course Saturday was also picture day for Eva's team).
I went to bed the night before the marathon and woke up a couple hours later with pain. I told my legs to shut up and did my best to go back to sleep. I woke up the morning of the Marathon at 3am. Got dressed. Went through the checklist. Made pancakes for the girls (Eva needed to wake up to her "power pancakes" for the game.) I taped my left ankle, shin and knee (just in case). I ate my own "power breakfast" and popped 800 mgs of ibuprofen. My mom (who was running the 1/2 marathon) picked me up and we drove to the buses that would be taking us up the canyon to the start. I had the normal nervous jitters that I get pre-race, but I was also stressed. I had not been able to train as I'd wanted. I was going in with an injury. I did not have a pacer to push me through the last bit.
The bus ride up made me feel better. The conversations with other runner are always motivational... and sometimes terrifying. About 3 1/2 miles from the starting line, the bus stopped. There was a whole line of buses stopped. One bus had attempted to make a hairpin turn up to Gardsman's Pass and had become high-centered. We all sat for a while and waited. Then word came. They wanted us to try to walk to the start because it would be a while to get a tow-truck up to get the bus unstuck. So we did. We got out and started walking up toward the top of the pass. We made it about a mile and a half when a bus started coming toward us. It seems some magical hero had appeared and helped clear the path. (Thank goodness cause the 1.5 miles was enough of a warm-up!)
After about 30 minutes everything was set for the start. The murmur of excitement became almost complete silence when the one minute warning was announce.... and we were off.
At mile 3 I looked at my watch. 24 minutes. Not bad.
At mile 6 I saw George (helping at an aid station). I told him that he should come run the finish with me if he could get away. He didn't look hopeful but said he would if he could.
At the half way mark 13.1 I looked at my watch and was surprised to see that I was at 1 hour and 47 minutes. That was my fastest half marathon time yet... but I still had another half to go.
There were a few minor ups and downs along the way down the canyon, but in general I felt good. I could feel my ankle, but was able to block it out (mostly).
About 17.5 miles into the race, we had exited the canyon, and the grade of the race dropped from an average 5% to an average of 1%. After going down hill for over 17 miles any flat parts felt like up-hills.... and up-hills felt like torture.
I felt okay until mile 22. That is when the bargaining started. "When the aid station is in sight, I will walk until I pass the last garbage can." Soon became: "If I pass 4 people who are walking then I can walk." or "If I run for 3 minutes then I can walk for 30 seconds." I turned on my music. I tried to stay motivated. I was slowing down. Waaay down. But I kept moving. I was looking at my watch. I knew I would have to push to make it in under 4 hours. I knew I would be mad if I came in just over 4. I had a cushion of time, but it was quickly narrowing. At this point I was tired. I was having a hard time calculating what pace I needed to be at to reach my goal.
With 3.5 miles to go, I sent a text to my mom (waiting at the finish line). "3.5 to go. Dying." She sent a text back. "George is trying to make it to run the end with you." HALLELUJAH!
That kept me going a little bit longer. But the 1.5 miles until I saw George were long, slow and painful. Finally just after passing the 2 miles to go mark, I saw George running toward me. At this point I knew I would have to keep moving to meet my goal.
We ran slowly together. I tried to bargain with George to let me walk. He tried to keep me going. I walked anyway. 15 seconds. Then I ran. George said I could make it under 4 if I kept that pace. Just 1 mile... I was fighting. I wanted to walk. George offered to sing. I wanted to walk. He tried to keep me going. I started walking... just 15 seconds. Please?! He gently urged me on. Then he pointed ahead. The 26 mile mark. Just .2 miles beyond that was the finish. I knew I could not stop. I knew I was cutting it close. I saw Naiya and my mom. I tried to smile. I saw Jared. I wanted to cry. I closed my eyes and pushed one foot in front of the other. Then I turned the corner and saw it. The finish. 100 yards ahead. I put every ounce of effort that I had left in my body into "sprinting" across the finish. (I realize that the image in my head of me sprinting is far different from the sad shuffle that was reality.) I looked up at the clock as I neared the line 3:57:52. I closed my eyes and ran. I felt the finish mat. I felt a hand on my shoulder as a volunteer handed me a finishing medal and said "congratulations." I stopped my watch and looked down. 3:58:05. I finished in just over 9 minute miles. A personal record!
I stood for a minute and breathed it all in. Then I tears (of joy and pain) streamed down my face as I shuffled quickly over to the port-a-potties.
It is hard to explain the feeling of crossing that finish line. I felt so lucky. Lucky to be there. Lucky to have that medal around my neck. Lucky to have the timer on my watch stopped at 3:58:05. Lucky to have had George push me through the last 2 miles. I kept thinking about how I had almost backed out. I thought about how hard I had worked to come that far. I thought about why I started running again a year and a half ago. I started running because I was going through some hard things. Running was one hard thing that I had some control of. Running does not come easily to me. I am not fast. I am not lean. I am not graceful. I have to work for every mile I run.
Sometimes you don't realize how far you can go until you push yourself to those limits. Most things that are rewarding are difficult. Running is hard. Teaching is hard. Marriage is hard. Parenting is hard. Life is hard.... but, I can do hard things.
So, I Google-doctored myself. Rest. Ibuprofen. Cold. Elevation. 3 nights before the marathon was the first night in weeks that I had not woken up with pain. I did not wear tape the next day. 2 nights before the marathon I did not have pain at night. I did not wear tape the next day. I got a call from the friend who was going to pace me to keep my spirits up for the last 7 or 8 miles. She couldn't make it. Another blow. I stayed up till 10 preparing everything before the marathon. Clothes and gear for me. Eva's clothes and gear for soccer. Naiya's clothes for the next day. Schedules typed. Alarms set. Lists with instructions for Jared, Naiya and Eva. Picture packet prepared (Of course Saturday was also picture day for Eva's team).
I went to bed the night before the marathon and woke up a couple hours later with pain. I told my legs to shut up and did my best to go back to sleep. I woke up the morning of the Marathon at 3am. Got dressed. Went through the checklist. Made pancakes for the girls (Eva needed to wake up to her "power pancakes" for the game.) I taped my left ankle, shin and knee (just in case). I ate my own "power breakfast" and popped 800 mgs of ibuprofen. My mom (who was running the 1/2 marathon) picked me up and we drove to the buses that would be taking us up the canyon to the start. I had the normal nervous jitters that I get pre-race, but I was also stressed. I had not been able to train as I'd wanted. I was going in with an injury. I did not have a pacer to push me through the last bit.
The bus ride up made me feel better. The conversations with other runner are always motivational... and sometimes terrifying. About 3 1/2 miles from the starting line, the bus stopped. There was a whole line of buses stopped. One bus had attempted to make a hairpin turn up to Gardsman's Pass and had become high-centered. We all sat for a while and waited. Then word came. They wanted us to try to walk to the start because it would be a while to get a tow-truck up to get the bus unstuck. So we did. We got out and started walking up toward the top of the pass. We made it about a mile and a half when a bus started coming toward us. It seems some magical hero had appeared and helped clear the path. (Thank goodness cause the 1.5 miles was enough of a warm-up!)
After about 30 minutes everything was set for the start. The murmur of excitement became almost complete silence when the one minute warning was announce.... and we were off.
At mile 3 I looked at my watch. 24 minutes. Not bad.
At mile 6 I saw George (helping at an aid station). I told him that he should come run the finish with me if he could get away. He didn't look hopeful but said he would if he could.
At the half way mark 13.1 I looked at my watch and was surprised to see that I was at 1 hour and 47 minutes. That was my fastest half marathon time yet... but I still had another half to go.
There were a few minor ups and downs along the way down the canyon, but in general I felt good. I could feel my ankle, but was able to block it out (mostly).
About 17.5 miles into the race, we had exited the canyon, and the grade of the race dropped from an average 5% to an average of 1%. After going down hill for over 17 miles any flat parts felt like up-hills.... and up-hills felt like torture.
I felt okay until mile 22. That is when the bargaining started. "When the aid station is in sight, I will walk until I pass the last garbage can." Soon became: "If I pass 4 people who are walking then I can walk." or "If I run for 3 minutes then I can walk for 30 seconds." I turned on my music. I tried to stay motivated. I was slowing down. Waaay down. But I kept moving. I was looking at my watch. I knew I would have to push to make it in under 4 hours. I knew I would be mad if I came in just over 4. I had a cushion of time, but it was quickly narrowing. At this point I was tired. I was having a hard time calculating what pace I needed to be at to reach my goal.
With 3.5 miles to go, I sent a text to my mom (waiting at the finish line). "3.5 to go. Dying." She sent a text back. "George is trying to make it to run the end with you." HALLELUJAH!
That kept me going a little bit longer. But the 1.5 miles until I saw George were long, slow and painful. Finally just after passing the 2 miles to go mark, I saw George running toward me. At this point I knew I would have to keep moving to meet my goal.
We ran slowly together. I tried to bargain with George to let me walk. He tried to keep me going. I walked anyway. 15 seconds. Then I ran. George said I could make it under 4 if I kept that pace. Just 1 mile... I was fighting. I wanted to walk. George offered to sing. I wanted to walk. He tried to keep me going. I started walking... just 15 seconds. Please?! He gently urged me on. Then he pointed ahead. The 26 mile mark. Just .2 miles beyond that was the finish. I knew I could not stop. I knew I was cutting it close. I saw Naiya and my mom. I tried to smile. I saw Jared. I wanted to cry. I closed my eyes and pushed one foot in front of the other. Then I turned the corner and saw it. The finish. 100 yards ahead. I put every ounce of effort that I had left in my body into "sprinting" across the finish. (I realize that the image in my head of me sprinting is far different from the sad shuffle that was reality.) I looked up at the clock as I neared the line 3:57:52. I closed my eyes and ran. I felt the finish mat. I felt a hand on my shoulder as a volunteer handed me a finishing medal and said "congratulations." I stopped my watch and looked down. 3:58:05. I finished in just over 9 minute miles. A personal record!
I stood for a minute and breathed it all in. Then I tears (of joy and pain) streamed down my face as I shuffled quickly over to the port-a-potties.
It is hard to explain the feeling of crossing that finish line. I felt so lucky. Lucky to be there. Lucky to have that medal around my neck. Lucky to have the timer on my watch stopped at 3:58:05. Lucky to have had George push me through the last 2 miles. I kept thinking about how I had almost backed out. I thought about how hard I had worked to come that far. I thought about why I started running again a year and a half ago. I started running because I was going through some hard things. Running was one hard thing that I had some control of. Running does not come easily to me. I am not fast. I am not lean. I am not graceful. I have to work for every mile I run.
Sometimes you don't realize how far you can go until you push yourself to those limits. Most things that are rewarding are difficult. Running is hard. Teaching is hard. Marriage is hard. Parenting is hard. Life is hard.... but, I can do hard things.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Chamberlain Family Update (A Novel)
Jared's side of the family has been good about doing monthly e-mail updates. I, on the other hand, have not. I finally sat down and typed up what we are currently up to and decided to take the lazy time-saving route of copy-and-pasting it here. :) (Please note: It's a looong one and I don't blame you if you only read the first sentence of each paragraph.)
School has started. Naiya turned 8 in August and is in the 3rd grade this year. Eva will be turning 7 at the end of September and has started 2nd grade. This year Eva decided to try something new and is taking classical guitar as an elective. Naiya chose to take Spanish as her elective for a second year in a row. I don't think the teacher was that great last year, but she already seems to be picking up more from the new Spanish teacher. I, however, am still limited to counting to 10 and saying "the black cat."
On top of a rigorous school schedule the girls are doing a lot of "extras." They have joined the running club which is working toward a goal of running two 5k races this fall (October and November). They both love to go to the running club meetings, but Naiya is not looking forward to the races. I'll leave it up to her if she wants to register and run or just come as a spectator. Both girls are also playing soccer again this year and have been enjoying it. Naiya is playing goalie and forward. She loves it and says she pretends to be a giant cat that wants the ball in order to prevent it from getting in the goal (an interesting strategy that seems to be working, for now). Eva is primarily forward, but rotates all over the field as needed. The running and the soccer have been good compliments to one another. The girls have just started taking piano lessons after school and (in October) will start chess club two mornings a week before school. Clearly I feel like I don't have enough places to be.
Outside of school both girls constantly have a play date or birthday party to attend. They get along well with other kids and are eager to be out and about. Eva loves to read and is almost finished reading the 5th book in the Harry Potter series. Naiya likes to spend her free time creating puzzles and games for other family members to solve. She loves to make surprises of others, and is very into developing secret languages.
I am continuing to teach at the Reid School at a decreased schedule. My set hours are 7:45 to 12:30, and I pick up substituting in the afternoons as needed. This has been helpful because I am able to drive on field trips and help in the girls classrooms as well maintain my position at the school. I am also tutoring in the afternoons for a high school student in language arts and algebra 2-3 times per week while the girls are in school and for 3 elementary aged students in reading and math after school.
I have been asked to speak at a festival honoring the principal of my school because of my unique perspective as both a teacher and parent that is influenced by her. I have to admit this will be a challenge. I am not a fan of public speaking. I just got asked today, and the festival is Monday night, so I will need to prepare something quickly... not really looking forward to that. There will be a couple other speakers sharing their experiences, so hopefully I can get away with something short and sweet. If anyone knows a good (short) poem about inspirational women in education, let me know!
I have been training for a marathon on September 14th. I am nursing an injury to the tendon that runs behind my ankle.This last week, it has been painful to walk,( unless it is taped, and then it is bearable). I have backed off of running and instead focused on swimming (and dancing to Macklemore whilst doing dishes/laundry after the children are sleeping) to keep my level of fit but allow my tendon to heal. We will see how it goes, but for now the plan is swim like crazy then tape it up and run. I am also scheduled to pace a friend of mine who is running the Bear 100 at the end of this month. I would run the night-time leg with her for 25 miles. I know she is hoping I heal as well, so cross your fingers.
Jared has stayed busy through the landscaping season. He is also continuing to work at E-Bay. His schedule now is Wednesday through Saturday nights from 6 to 11. I know it is difficult for him to go after landscaping during the day, and I am proud of him for continuing to do it so that he can better help to provide for our family. He is looking forward to when the landscaping season will begin to wind down. Then he will have a couple months to recover before jumping back in. He is hoping to get an option to work a 30 hour schedule at E-Bay as it is more consistent work than landscaping and it would also qualify him as a full time employee with slightly better benefits. He notified them of his interest but has not heard anything back as of yet.
Jared and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary on September 26th. 10! It is hard to believe it has been 10 years in many ways, but in others it seems like it has been much longer than 10. We are hoping to do a mini-getaway at the anniversary in up in Logan or something similar. It is difficult to coordinate time off, babysitting and everything else involved, but it would be a nice way to celebrate. We may have to wait until fall break in mid-October to get squeeze it in.
Other than that, the house is a mess, laundry is starting to pile up again, the car needs a wash and I need to spend a weekend cooking freezer meals before the reality of nightly homework assignments for 2 kids really kicks in. Really though, they will only be this age once, and the chores can wait ('til winter break probably). I'm happy that the girls are enjoying staying busy and have many interests. I am grateful that at this time we are able to balance out trying these things. I know this won't be the case forever, so I will try to sit back and soak in the amazingness that they both are. I am watching that they don't burn out and carefully gauging the fine line between busy fun and overwhelmed. Luckily a lot of these activities will taper off before the ski season starts. :) I'm also working to make sure I get sleep (which has been the biggest challenge). Life is good.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
A Change is Gonna Come...
I have never been one who seeks change. Sable. Steady course. Predictable. This is my comfort zone. Lately I've been craving change. Something new. Something bigger. A "take life by the horns" kinda thing. I've been feeling it for a while now. There are changes coming our way. I can't quite put my finger on it. I am not sure what exactly the changes will entail. I'm thinking a job change... maybe a move. There may be a goat and some bees or chickens involved. Maybe. I do believe that one year from now, things will look very different (in a good way). I'm excited. Time to start brain storming & planning... cause in reality I still like my changes to be planned out and predictable. :)
Thursday, June 20, 2013
I Fought the Lau(ndry), and I WON!
Have you gotten over my clever (cheesy) post title yet? Good. Because I have big news...
For the first time since moving into this house (1 1/2 years ago), I have caught up on laundry. 100% caught up. As in EVERY single piece of clothing/linen/towel/etc. that is not being worn/on a bed/on a towel rack/etc. is washed AND PUT AWAY. I know those of you who are more organized/motivated than I am think this is no big deal, but let me tell you... this. is. H.U.G.E! (You have no idea... and I'm not going to elaborate so as not to further tarnish the perfect image you undoubtedly hold of me in your mind.) ;)
So huge, in fact, that I think I will spend 36 hours in a van with 6 other people whilst running 21 (or so) miles sporadically in celebration. It will be amazing. Wish me luck!
For the first time since moving into this house (1 1/2 years ago), I have caught up on laundry. 100% caught up. As in EVERY single piece of clothing/linen/towel/etc. that is not being worn/on a bed/on a towel rack/etc. is washed AND PUT AWAY. I know those of you who are more organized/motivated than I am think this is no big deal, but let me tell you... this. is. H.U.G.E! (You have no idea... and I'm not going to elaborate so as not to further tarnish the perfect image you undoubtedly hold of me in your mind.) ;)
So huge, in fact, that I think I will spend 36 hours in a van with 6 other people whilst running 21 (or so) miles sporadically in celebration. It will be amazing. Wish me luck!
Friday, April 12, 2013
Some things I learned today...
#1- I should not be allowed in Barnes and Noble.
#2- I will keep going there anyway.
#3- I can try to do science projects early, but they will backfire.
#4- We'll end up doing them last minute.
#5- It would be much more time efficient just to do them last minute in the first place.
#6- It is much more fun to play the guitar than to do dishes.
#7- That is what paper plates are for.
#8- I should run.
#9- Every day.
#10- There is hope.
I love THIS, but not as much as I love THIS.
Happy Weekend! We will be working on science projects, cheering at soccer games, visiting the Winter Farmer's Market, doggy-sitting, and (of course) running. Should be a good one.
#2- I will keep going there anyway.
#3- I can try to do science projects early, but they will backfire.
#4- We'll end up doing them last minute.
#5- It would be much more time efficient just to do them last minute in the first place.
#6- It is much more fun to play the guitar than to do dishes.
#7- That is what paper plates are for.
#8- I should run.
#9- Every day.
#10- There is hope.
I love THIS, but not as much as I love THIS.
Happy Weekend! We will be working on science projects, cheering at soccer games, visiting the Winter Farmer's Market, doggy-sitting, and (of course) running. Should be a good one.
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