Saturday, December 31, 2011

A year in review

How has a year already gone by? It seems it just flew by.

This year had it's many ups and downs, as most years do. You have to take the good with the bad. January started off with Brandon being promoted back to GM!!
I also turned 26
We also made it to KC's for Bradon's grandma's 80th birthday bash

February Miles celebrated his 1st birthday and Lacey officially became a "Kidwell"

March we celebrated my Grandpa's last birthday and my Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary.

April Brandon celebrated his 34th birthday (This year his birthday is on Easter!!)

May was spent enjoying the outdoors

June was spent by the pool!!

July I ran my 1st 5k
Lacey turned 4
We took a vacation to St. Louis that was so much fun!!
And my nephew was born

August Lacey started preschool

September was a blur but we managed and even made it to Maryland!!

October Brandon's sister got married in Maryland
While in Maryland we made it a family vacation

November I ran my 1st Half marathon
My grandpa passed away
We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family

December was spent getting ready for Christmas
I ran my 2nd 5k and now here we are at the very last day....Good-bye 2011 you were truly an amazing year full of many blessings!!

Hello 2012 may you be just as good to us as 2011 was. May all of my friends have a safe and happy 2012!!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

New Years Resolution and 5k

I'll first start with the Holiday Hustle 5k. The Holiday Hustle is here in town and is a race to support a local track club that is being set up. It was the perfect weather for a race. No wind, no snow, no rain...PERFECT!! It was a bit chilly however when you are wearing leggings, gloves, a long sleeve shirt, a hoody, a hat and running you actually get pretty toasty. My hat came off at mile 1. I had 2 goals coming into this race 1) To beat my time from my 1st 5k. My first 5k time was 30:11. 2) To place. During the race I knew I was at PR pace. At mile 2 mapmyrun lady said 16 minutes some odd seconds. 2.0 miles. Ummm did she just say 2 miles in 16 minutes? I couldn't believe it. I had already ran the hardest part of the race, the rest was all one way straight no hills!! I got this!! I kicked it in. Flying down Eisenhower in front of the high school, I see my dad my biggest supporter, my biggest cheerleader. He has the biggest smile on his face, and he screams "HOLY COW! Look at your stride!!" I cross the finish line and the Race coordinator yells "25:02!" I jump and say "No way!" I am over joyed!! I not only beat my time from my 1st 5k I crushed it by 5 minutes and 9 seconds! Then we wait for the results. I knew my time was fast, but was it fast enough to place. Finally results....3rd in my age group!! I placed!! I placed!! Technically I placed 4th in my age group, however the girl that placed 1st was 1st female overall I placed 3rd!! My age bracket isn't the easiest...20 to 29 you still have the girls in college that are running. But I made the most of it. (I forgot to post this)
A picture of me and my daddy after our race.
Now for my New Years Resolution. I've made resolutions in the past, last year I made one to run a 5k and to start training for a Half. And to keep my weight at a healthy weight. I did all 3. I ran a 5k, trained and ran a half, and kept my weight down. Now that we are getting closer to the end of the year I started thinking about what my resolution would be. Would it be to keep my weight where it is? To run at least 2 half marathons, to compete in a Triathlon, to run a marathon? What would it be? Yesterday morning I was sitting at the table looking at races to run when it hit me, run a race at least once a month. Run at least 12 races in 2012. So I started looking and I found 12 races in Ks that I could run!! Most of them are 5k's, maybe a couple 10k's, definitely 2 half marathons, and at least 1 full. I am super excited about running a couple races with my good friend Julie!! She has been training, and is my inspiration to keep going. Some days when I don't feel like running I always say WWJD? What would Julie do? LOL It always works because after I ask myself I put my running gear on and go. So thank you Julie for always motivating me!!
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!! This week will be insanely busy but I'm looking forward to it!!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

No new news

I don't have any new news. Life is busy. We play hard, sleep hard, and work hard.

A little look into the day of a Kidwell
7:00a.m. Wake up time
7:05 breakfast for Miles and Lacey
7:20 2 kids I watch in the morning show up
7:45 my grandma shows up
MWF 7:45 Lacey and Brandon leave for school and work
8:00 Kids leave for school
8:05 I start my workout
9:05 workout over shower time
9:30 getting dressed and ready for the day
10:00 straighten up the house
10:20 leave to get Lacey(MWF)
11 Lunch and any errands
12 Miles down for a nap Mom and Lacey's quiet time
2:00 craft time and or movie time
3:30 Little girl I watch after school walks over
3:30- 5:00 play time
5:00 start dinner
6:00 eat dinner
7:00 clean and start of wind down time
8:00 bath time for Lacey bedtime for Miles
9:00 bedtime for Lacey
10:00 bedtime for mommy

On Tuesday's and Thursday's this schedule is a bit different since Brandon is off work but I try to stick to the same routine. Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday are my run days. Tuesday's Lacey has dance at 6 so dinner is always a little bit later. I swear that by the time I sit down I'm so tired I just want to go to bed.

I have a 5k on Saturday that I'm super stoked about. My time isn't the greatest however it is faster than my 1st 5k. That's all that matters.

Christmas is fast approaching. Everyone is done, still waiting on some gifts to arrive that I ordered. I did the majority of my Christmas shopping online this year. I've taken advantage of huge sales, and free shipping!! Plus Ebates which pays me 4 times a year to start with them whenever I shop online!! If you haven't checked out Ebates you should!

Brandon, my mom and I are all going to Mexico in less than a month!! An all inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta!! I am super super super excited!! My mother-in-law is going to come and stay with the kids so we won't have to worry about them. A week away from my kids, away from the cold (which I haven't even pulled out my winter coat yet....ummm what?!?!) , away from all responsibility. I'm a little worried about being away from my babies, but I know that they are in good hands!!

Well that's all I really have for now....BTW Pinterest is also sucking all my time away from this Blog.