A failed run and a busy weekend

As I told my husband this morning, it's Monday again.  How does that happen so quickly?  This weekend was a blur, I can barely fathom that it came and went already.  I started Saturday off with a walk around the lake.  We haven't done an early morning lake walk in a while, not since I started running.  I had missed them so it was fun to head out early and get a walk in.

Evan was excited to see all the trees.  The entire walk he pointed out every tree and airplane...take a look at that picture again.  There are a lot of trees.

Saturday afternoon we headed into Baltimore to see my brother's in-law football team play Baltimore City College.  Luckily it was a fairly mild day so we didn't freeze too much.  Just a little.  We won, which was exciting!  Then we go to the bathrooms before heading home and Ivan runs into someone he knows.  A guy from the golf course.  How funny is that?  We are in the middle of the city and Ivan finds someone he knows.  Crazy.

That evening we had my niece's birthday party and I also had a First Tee movie night event.  I could only stay at the party for a little while and then I headed to the golf course to watch Dispicable Me with a bunch of little golf girls.  It was cute watching them.  That night, after the movie, it was more of this:

Chemistry - what would I do without you?  I have a test on Tuesday.  Boo.

On Sunday we headed out to see some apartments.  What had been four was reduced to two.  Not much choice.  So we looked at them both and then had to make some decisions.  One was in good condition and we met the landlord and she seemed nice and easy to work with.  However, the condo was a little on the small side...875 sq ft for at two bedroom (our current place is 1100 sq ft).  The other was bigger...1200s sq ft...but wasn't in great condition.  The carpet had holes in it, the walls were in dire need of a painting and had millions of nails in them, the bathrooms were gross, some of the window sills had water damage, and the hallway smelled like cigarette smoke (it was a controlled access-type building).  So, obviously the guy doesn't really care about the place much.  We decided to put our application in with the smaller place with the nice landlord.  Hopefully we can find enough space for our stuff.  And that the owner is ok with our dog.  Still keeping our fingers crossed.

The rest of the afternoon was supposed to be filled with studying and cooking, but it didn't turn out that way.  Evan was tired but burst into tears every time I put him in the crib.  So he ended up napping in my arms and I watched the latest NCIS and Parenthood.  Then we went to the grocery store and spent all our money.  I didn't get to start cooking until 5pm, but I whipped out chili, cornbread, and pumpkin soup while doing three loads of laundry.  Not too shabby.

The only thing I didn't have time for was my run.  I headed out with Evan in the early morning and we got half a mile and he started crying.  I went a bit further and then realized that it wasn't worth it.  So I took him out of the stroller and we walked home.  I am hoping to maybe do a long run today instead.  We'll see.

Everyone is sick, apartment update, and apples

This must be the start of the winter sickness season because everyone I know is sick.  I was trying my best to hold out but now I have a bit of a sore throat.  I am hoping it's just from the dry air though, and not from an actual virus.

We finally got an appointment with a real estate agent about a new rental.  Geez, it was like we were asking for a million dollars or something, no one would contact us at all.  I had called two real estate places  and both had taken my name and said they would have a rental specialist call me back.  Nothing.  I had answered an ad on Craigslist and the guy said we could look at it last Monday but then he never got back to us with the time and we haven't heard from him since.  And I responded to a few different places on Zillow and no one has contacted me back.  We were getting a little desperate.  So finally we just decided to go to an agency and take our luck that someone was there to help us.  We made sure we looked as professional as possible and headed to Re/Max.  I chose them because I had already called Long and Foster and they hadn't returned my calls, but I hadn't called Re/Max yet.  It wasn't that easy because we got there and waited for a while and no one was around that could help us.  The receptionist took our name and tried to contact a few different agents but no one was in the office at that moment.  Finally,a nice guy came out and said he'd help is.  I have a feeling he wasn't planning on working that day because he was in jeans and kept apologizing about his attire, but we were thankful to have someone to help us.  He was super nice and didn't act like we were wasting his time because we were just renting.  So, we narrowed it down to four places that were in our price range and said case-by-case basis for dogs.  We are hopefully going on Sunday to look at a few of those locations and then maybe our options will look a little brighter.  That is if he calls us back with a definite time for Sunday....

Every night it's a toss up if Evan wants to eat or not.  Sometimes he gobbles food down like no tomorrow and other nights he eats two bites and then wants out of his chair.  I know that 15 minutes is about all a kid his age can sit still for, but sometimes it's like ten seconds.  However, he is really into apples these days so that keeps him occupied for a long time.  He loves to roll the apple around on his tray and get it into the hole where his cup goes (future golfer???).

Then he'll pick it up and take a few nibbles off of it.  But he doesn't like the skin so then he spits the skin out.

It's funny to watch.  Last nights menu was Israeli couscous with spinach - which is usually one of his favorite meals - but he just wasn't interested.  I had made him a banana and blueberry smoothie with almond butter for a snack so he had eaten a lot of that instead.  I guess he filled up on it.  Or he was bored being in his high chair.  I'm sure one day he'll be eating me out of house and home, but for now I am always excited when he eats a little something!

I skipped by run on Tuesday because I got stuck in a very long meeting.  I brought my stuff today but I have a meeting in the morning and another one in the afternoon so it makes it a bit hard to squeeze in a run.  We'll see what happens. 

Wow is it cold, mixed with a lot of stress

It sure is blustery outside this morning! It's getting a bit cold to have my hair wet while waiting for the bus, but until I get it cut it's pointless to blow dry it because it looks hideous.  My ears hurt from the wind, which is never fun.  And I'm exhausted because Evan's had a cough for the past few days and it makes for fitful nights of sleep...for both of us.

So this weekend had lots of good aspects.  Hubs joined Evan and me on two of our walks with the dog.  This is always a highlight because normally we split the dog walking duties-he goes in the morning and I go at night.  But the last two nights we went together and Evan got to go in the backpack one night (his favorite thing in the world) and in his truck the second night (his second favorite thing in the world).  

And both nights he got to go on the swings, which he's obsessed with.  We pass a playground with swings on our walk, and he points and exclaims in extreme excitement and then cries if we pass it without stopping.  Even if it's cold and so dark your can't even see the swings.  But he got to go these two times.  I even dressed him up in an old sweater jacket of mine that my parents bought when we lived in Greece and I wore when I was 2 or something.  He looked adorable.

Instagram: mapleandmud

I also did a ton of cooking, since it was a three day holiday.  I made minestrone soup, which is one of my favorite recipes.  It's filled with tons of veggies but somehow the flavors blend well and it's fantastic (I only say that because I am not a huge veggie fan - especially when it comes to two onions, two zucchinis, and a bunch of green beans - if you like veggies then you may not care that the flavors blend together, you would be happy if the soup tasted like veggies).  Great for these chilly days we are having.  I also made more spinach and quinoa patties for Evan.  These are tasty too but I try not to eat too many of them because I like to freeze them for Evan when I can't think of what to make him.  And for Ivan I made shrimp-stuffed shells.  He says he hates lasagna and this is similar to lasagna, but for some reason he loves it.   So it was definitely a weekend filled with cooking and washing dishes.

These are just a small sampling of the veggies that went into the minestrone soup - so much chopping!

The most exciting thing I did was go for a run on Saturday morning with a running friend from Team In Training.  I was going to bring Evan but then Ivan came home from work early so I got to go sans baby jogger.  It was the perfect running morning and we did six miles and I didn't even notice it.  It was great having company because I haven't been able to go with my sister for a while and usually I am paranoid about Evan pitching a fit three miles into a run that I don't enjoy it as much.  We also ran into my best running partner from TNT whom I did all my training runs with...which was random but fun.  This was a great week for running - I did ALL my training runs.

And now for the horrible news.  Remember all that misery we were dealing with at our condo?? Nothing getting fixed, $300 electricity bills, etc.?  Well, now we have to move out.  The owner is getting kicked out of his house so he will either move back in to the condo or he will try and sell the place, because he can't afford to fix it.  There is a small, small chance we could stay but I'm not taking the risk.  But this means we have to find a new place and specifically a new place we can afford and that takes large dogs. I am super stressed and annoyed that we have to use our savings to move rather than for Christmas.  Before I was trying to see if we could afford to buy a Christmas tree this year and now I am wondering if we can afford to buy anything.  And who wants to move in the middle of the winter?  We will either be moving Thanksgiving weekend or Christmas, just what we wanted.  We have to be out by 1 Jan., so not a ton of time.  Moving + winter + toddler + no money + dog + finals for chemistry + nursing school apps = boo x 10.

Tell me some good news in your life so I can stop focusing on the stresses in mine!!

Motivation to run when you don't want to and odd impressions

Sadly I think my body has adjusted to the new time.  It was a great few days where it felt like I was sleeping in.  Today I overslept and got up a half hour late...so no more feeling like I am catching up in my sleep.  Too bad.  It was nice while it lasted.

On Tuesday I went for a lunchtime run, which is nothing short of a miracle because I haven't gotten out for too many lunch runs so far.  I was extra proud of myself because I did not want to go at all.  I had been cold all day and the thought of putting shorts and a t-shirt on was not appealing, especially since it was cold outside and I had forgotten to change my clothes out for warmer attire.  However I texted my friend and she told me to go.  So I went and I ran as fast as I could.  I only did a three mile route, but I did it fast.  My legs were sore yesterday.  And like they say, I didn't regret it.  That's usually one of my motivating phrases is that you never regret going for a run when you are finished, but you often regret not going.  Very true.  I have another one today so I am hoping to be motivated to go again.  I also chatted with some running friends and am trying to plan a few fun runs together on Saturdays, since golf is over.  I miss running with people and I hope it works out.  They are much more serious runners and have been doing half marathons and marathons since we all had babies, but I can still keep up with them...I think.

On Tuesday I got back from class and Evan and Ivan were asleep on the couch.  I put Evan in his crib and didn't think anything out of the ordinary.  When I woke up, Ivan informed me that he had cut Evan's hair, himself.  WHAT!!!!

Check out those bangs! It's reminiscent of bad haircut photos from school pictures!  Ivan said his hair was in his eyes so he tried to shorten it and Evan kept moving so he kept having to correct it.  Nice.  Luckily after his bed head went away he looked a little better.

Except it looks like he has aged five years.  Where did my BABY go???

And a random piece of information.  I was chatting with a friend from high school who said that I come off as a complete bad a$$ and that when we were friends in high school she was intimidated and a little jealous of how independent I was and how I appeared to not need anyone or anything.  She said I still acted like a bad a$$.  I thought it was the funniest thing because I can tell you right here and now that I am the most un-bad a$$ around.  I cry at sad commercials.  And I never feel independent or like I don't need anyone.  She was one of my best friends in high school and I remember always worrying that she wasn't going to want to be friends with me anymore.  It was funny chatting about it because she had always intimidated me when we were young and I was intimidating her right back.  It makes me think how different appearances can be from the real you, even to people who are close to you and know you well.  I told my husband and he laughed for a good ten minutes about me being a bad a$$.  I guess you can't fool everyone! 

Alrighty...time for some shut eye on this bus of mine.  Hope you have a glorious Thursday!!

Strange pizza, hide and seek, and next semester

So of course I had two posts yesterday, which is nothing short of a miracle, and then today I've got nothing for you.  Such is life, right?  Jam-packed one day and then empty the next.  At work I am trying to create an online learning course...I am a bit under-qualified for this and it is taking up all my brain energy to try and do it.  I feel like this happens a lot.  Anyone out there a Lectora whiz?  Wanna take a stab at designing a course for me for free?  Haha.

Since starting Chemistry our family dinners have gone down the drain.  I just don't have the time nor energy to cook a lot of meals.  Plus, Ivan annoys me and eats a big plate of food right before I get home and then isn't hungry for dinner.  Yesterday I made Evan a can of soup and some rice and I ate a pizza.  I had gotten some stone-cooked pizza crusts from Costco and decided to pop one in the oven for me.  I didn't want the plain tomato sauce with cheese though.  I wanted something different.  Enter my new pizza creation.

It was butternut squash, deli ham, and cheese.  I was afraid it was going to be gross but it was actually really good.  Evan liked it too.  He wasn't into eating too much last night because he saw the dog playing with a toy and got jealous.  The toy was Dolce's but Evan thought it was his so he was a little perturbed that Dolce was playing with it while he was trapped in a high chair.  Yeah, so dinner was super short.  

Then we played hide and seek.  I hid and Evan looked for me.  It was really funny and Evan loved it.  I love playing all night with him and not having to go to class.   Ugg, not too many more classes and then I have to decide what to do about next semester.  Do I just relax with no classes or do I consider taking a Spanish class or something.  I don't know what I feel like doing.  Or what I want to pay for.  Decisions, decisions.

I brought my running stuff to work today, I am determined to get in a few miles during lunch.  We'll see if that happens or not.  I was up until 11:30pm completing an online Chemistry assignment, so I am a little drowsy today. I hate running when I'm tired - except I am tired a lot these days and I have to get these runs in sometime or I'll never be ready for the half marathon!

November Monthly Mailers

As you may know, I love blog exchanges, pen pals, etc.  I have been doing a few and I just found a new one I love called Monthly Mailers over at Creating a Great Today.  Pretty much you sign up and get a partner and then mail them a letter filled with inspiration for the month.  Simple but sweet.  I thought it sounded fun so I signed up for the first time last month.

For the month of November I received a lovely note filled with quotes from Jessie in Europe.  I know she's in Europe because her address said APO AE which is military for American in Europe or something.  When we lived overseas in Italy and England we had the same address.  She sent the cutest card and envelope filled with amazing quotes.  [UPDATE: Actually I was wrong - she's in Kuwait, so not Europe at all...I guess they don't have a different postal code for the Middle East]

I LOVE quotes so it was nice receiving such uplifting ones.  I wish she had mentioned something small about herself or her blog so I could learn a little more about her, but no worries - the card was amazing. 

There was actually a bit of a mix-up because I received a card about certified mail being delivered to my house and thought it was her.  It is super hard to get certified mail because someone has to be home to sign for it and no one ever is.  I emailed her to see if it was her letter but she didn't think it was.  A few days later her letter showed up, so it wasn't her.  And I still have no idea who sent me a certified letter and I think it's going to be returned because I haven't received it yet and they return it after 15 days.  Hope it wasn't too important....

Thanks for the beautiful letter Jessie and thanks for hosting the Monthly Mailers Sarah!  If you want to join Monthly Mailers - sign up here!

So many things to tell you and the worst run ever

This may be a long post because I have so many things to update you on.  A lot has happened since we last "chatted" and since we are practically best friends I feel like I need to give you the full update.  Hold on to your seats people, it's gonna be a long ride.  But don't get too excited because I haven nothing of real importance to tell you.

First, what is this update with out a mention of Halloween?  I know I am late on this and should have posted on Friday with the rest of the blogger world, but I was swamped at work and by the time I finished all I wanted was to rest my eyes from the computer screen.  However, Evan was the cutest monster ever.  Don't you agree?  My niece was an adorable Angelina Ballerina and I went as myself, so don't make any comments about what my costume might have been.

Instagram: mapleandmud

I bought Evan's costume second hand and mainly because it looked nice and warm.  Figures it was practically 60 degrees that night, but he didn't seem to be too hot.  And yes, we had to go trick-or-treating with his Easter basket because I dropped the ball on a Halloween basket.  I also didn't have a Halloween shirt for him to wear that day either.  I am trying to keep on top of things but I obviously wasn't on top of everything.  We only got candy from a few houses because I didn't want piles of it waiting to be eaten by me.  So,  I had pretty much eaten all the candy by Friday...maybe I should have let him go to a few more houses!

This weekend was a blur of many things.  Saturday started out nice and slow because it was the first weekend with no First Tee!  No getting up at 6am to get ready for golf!  I wish I could say I was productive and did a ton of other things but no, Evan and I slept in.  We walked the dog and had some breakfast and took the morning slow.  Then when Ivan came home I went to take a shower...and read my Runner's World magazine for the first hour (no worries, the water wasn't running).  Ivan caught me though and he came to see why my shower was taking two hours!  Evan and I decided to do a little shopping and banking so the two of us headed out (Evan refused to nap so I gave up after 30 mins).  After the bank we went to my favorite baby consignment store.  I bought Evan the cutest clothes ever.  Seriously, so adorable.  I also got him some puzzles and a new sippy cup.  I then went next door to the upscale dog store for some glucosamine pills for Dolce.  He has a limp that won't go away and I think it is a bit or arthritis.  I had really wanted to buy myself a new pair of pants, but after shopping for toddler and doggie I decided to call it quits.

On the way home Evan fell asleep and when we got home Ivan was sleeping.  I put Evan in his crib and thought I'd make my favorite cookies, great pumpkin cookies, since everyone else was napping.  I have wanted to make these for a while but never found the time.  I put the flour and oats in the bowl and then realized I needed a cup of brown sugar and I only had a few tablespoons. So off to the store I went...all by myself.  Yay - party at the Giant.  When I got home Evan was awake though...so no cookies were made...until that night when he went to bed.  I think I started around 10pm - but the time was changing that night so I figured I could stay up extra late.  And it was worth it.  I love these cookies!!

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Sunday was an even more productive and pumpkin day!!!

First, we came off daylight savings time, which is my favorite thing to do.  An extra hour in the day! My dream come true!  I thought I'd get an early run in since Evan would be up early, but I was mistaken.  Evan slept until 8:15am!  I got bored and actually folded and put away our large stack of clean clothes.  After Evan woke up, we headed out for a run.  The worst ever.  It was sunny and when I checked the weather I thought it said 55 degrees.  NO WAY!  I think that was the high, it was more like 46 degrees.  I bundled Evan up but I was wearing shorts and a short sleeved t-shirt.

I can tell you, it was too cold for this outfit.  The second bad thing about my run?  It was WINDY.  So windy!  So I was extra cold.  Plus, the route I went on was kinda hilly and pushing the BOB through the wind, up hills, was ridiculously unfun.  At one point the wind was blowing the stroller sideways and I was having to use all my arm muscle (which, honestly, isn't much)  to keep the stroller on the path.  Then Evan's blanket blew away and I had to run and get it.  On a few of the hills where the wind was blowing directly into my face I felt like I was running in place.  It was one tough run.  It was also the longest run I've done with BOB - 5.5 miles.  I finished the run without walking though and feeling returned to my legs and arms eventually.  And the biggest accomplishment?  Evan didn't cry at all!!!  Usually he starts crying at about the 4 mile mark and I can stretch out another half mile or so, but he was content pointing to every tree for the entire run (and eating a smoothie I made him for the road).  Let's hope this run wasn't a preview of what my winter training runs are going to be!

After I got home, I hopped in the shower and off to church we went.  I bought Evan the cutest church outfit at the consignment store the day before and I was so excited to put him in it.

Sorry for the crappy iPad photo, but he wouldn't stand long enough and at a good enough angle, so this was all I got.  I thought it he looked pretty dapper.  After church we headed to brunch with some friends and then finally headed home.  Evan went down for a nap and I started to do some major cooking.  I made pollo guisado (a Honduran dish) for Ivan and then was going to make pumpkin muffins and spinach and quinoa patties for Evan...however, when I looked in the fridge there was only one egg left and I needed five.  So, quick change of plans.  I ended up making pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin soup for Evan.  I had found some canned pumpkin with BPA-free liners and bought a bunch, so I just happened to have all the ingredients for those two dishes.  I guess I was on a pumpkin roll or something - cookies, soup, and pancakes!  I then decided I had enough energy to organize all of Evan's clothes and pull the clothes that don't fit him anymore and put the larger and more wintery clothes in his dresser.  And then I actually stuffed his diapers!

But with all that cooking and organizing - I didn't do my two Chemistry assignments and I didn't clean the bathrooms....some things never change.

And this morning I woke up refreshed from the extra hour of sleep (don't worry, my body will adjust in a day and it won't feel so exciting anymore)!

Happy Monday!!!!