Mommy Musings

Skip was off on Saturday and we were determined to make the most of it.  That combined with some amazing 80* weather made it the perfect day for some outside activities. Skip and Emmy have hone fishing together a few times, and Charlie wanted to get in on the fun.  So all four of us packed up and headed to a small pond to try and catch some fish. Both girls did really well and despite the fact that we only caught one fish, everyone had a great time! We went home for lunch and naps and then headed back out to a little pumpkin patch I had seen earlier.  There was a petting zoo, giant blow up slide, and plenty of fall fun. It was a great day with our little family, We topped off the weekend with some church and out to lunch before Skip had to go to work.  The girls sat together on one side of the booth for the first time, so Skip and I actually got to sit next to each other!  It was so nice. The girls and I then spent the afternoon watching football and painting the pumpkins we'd gott

The past few weeks have been a little tough around here.  We're all adjusting to Emmy being back at school.  She is struggling with the fact that kindergarten is harder and different than preschool.  She is also seeing Skip a lot less than in the summer.  Charlie is missing her big sister during the day.  Skip has been working a lot, and strange hours, and missing his girls.  I have been alone with them a lot, struggling with the early wake-ups, making sure Emmy is doing homework and has everything she needs every day.  I've been working on a little homeschooling with Charlie, and trying to get things done around the house while carving out a little time for things I like to and want to get done.  It's been tough. So Friday when Skip was off, he wonderfully gave me a little break.  He let me sleep in until 7:15 and took Charlie with him to drop Emmy off at school so I could get ready in peace.  When they got home he took Charlie to run some errands and I headed out to a loc

Welcome to another week of workout Wednesdays!  I hope some of you are inspired to link up this week! Here is what I have been up to the past week: Wednesday September 17: 6.3 mile run Thursday: 5.1 mile run Friday: None Saturday: 3.5 mile run Sunday: 3.1 mile run Monday: Tabata workout / ab roller Tuesday: kickboxing / ab roller Weekly total miles: 18 Monthly total miles: 61.3 Weekly total workouts:6 I had been hoping to have another 100 mileage month, but it just isn't going to happen.  I am pleased I'm getting in workouts even when I can't run, or I can't run as far as I'd like.  I'm still going to try and see how many miles I can do though. How are you all doing this month? <div align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.mommymandymusings.com" title="Mommy Musings"><img src="http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag425/Amanda_Solimando/a0c0689d-7cfc-4367-ae68-d778a3aa0660_zps2cced123.jpg" alt="Momm

We are all still trying to get back into the routine of school this year, the early morning wake-up, homework, and making sure we have everything together.  We are also missing Emmy the hours she's at school, Charlie especially.  But it is nice to be able to enjoy some one on one time with my youngest in this last year before she starts school full time. The other morning was cool, but beautiful and Charlie and I spent a ton of time outside.  We played hide-and-seek, tag, racing, and rode bikes and scooters.  It was wonderful to get some fresh air and really just focus on my girl. I do cherish all this time with my littlest!

I have considered myself a runner for about a year and a half now, in that running is my main source of exercise.  I have done long runs and short runs....fast ones and slow...and pretty much everything in between.  But the one thing I had yet to try as a runner is racing.  Which seems strange, because it seems like that is one of the first things people start doing once they beginning running. I never got into racing for a few reasons: -Skip is hardly ever off on a weekend....without child care, I can't run the races. -When it comes to working out, I have always been very self-motivated, so I never needed a race on the calender to inspire me to work out...I was going to do it anyway. -Between the two girls and Skip's insane schedule, time to work out for me can often be limited and must be flexible.  I could either step out my door and run 3 miles in half an hour or less, or I could drive to a race..check in...stretch...wait for the start...run 3 miles...walk around for a bit.

There has been a lot of talk recently about child abuse and child discipline in light of a certain football player who beat his child.  And this is a topic I just couldn't stay quiet about.  First off, let me reiterate the facts first.  What Peterson did to not one, but two of his sons, was beat them.  That is not discipline.  That is not correcting their behavior.  When you break the skin on your child, that is abuse and should be treated as such. What happened to those two little boys is horrifying .  They had defensive wounds on their hands. And the absolute worst part of this whole thing is that Peterson hasn't denied it, He says that he didn't want to have to discipline his kids, but they brought it on themselves. They were four years old!!  Do four year olds need to be disciplined?  Absolutely.  Do they need to be beaten? hit? Nope, not at all. Now, while there are some people standing up for Peterson's actions, most people are just as disgusted as I am.  But sadl

Welcome to another week of workout Wednesdays!  Have you ever seen someone in the blog world in really great shape and wondered what they do to look that great?  Ever struggling for motivation or fresh new workout ideas?  That's what I want this space to be for.  So come link up your workouts with me! Here is what I have been up to the past week: Wednesday: None Thursday: None Friday: None Saturday: 5 mile run / ab roller Sunday: 6.5 mile run {1 mile PR 7:38 / 5K PR 26:08} Monday: Tabata workout / ab roller Tuesday: 4 mile run Weekly total miles: 15.5 Monthly total miles: 43.3 Weekly total workouts:4 I was feeling pretty under the weather in the beginning of the week, and also a little burnt out on running, so I took a few days off.  It's important to know when to push yourself, and also when to take a break.  One of the biggest things I've learned recently about fitness is if you really want to push yourself, one of the best ways to do that is to find someone to challenge

We were all under the weather this weekend, some more than others.  Skip and I headed to bed early on Friday because we both had bad colds.  Emmy woke up when we got upstairs rocking a fever of 103*.   Awesome .  Thankfully my illness has just stayed a cold, but Skip developed a fever and a sore throat and cough.  Emmy still had a fever yesterday, so she was out of school and will be as well tomorrow.  Charlie had actually been the best out of all of us, though she would sporadically get a fever of 99* or 100*.  But then when I went to check on her last night...her temp was at 102*.  Looks like we're not done with this illness just yet.  I was disappointed we had to cancel plans and just stay in all weekend, as it is like one of two weekends Skip is off until December.  But at least we were able to just relax and get better.  Hopefully everyone gets better soon!! We had to get Charlie's stitches removed yesterday and it was about as traumatic as getting them put in.  I was wron

So I mentioned something in passing about this earlier in the month and today I decided to just go for it and launch a Workout Wednesday link-up!!  Anyone with Nike+ or Run Keeper knows what a motivator it is to see what kind of workouts your friends are doing during the week.  If I see someone passing me on miles, or working out an extra day, it motivates me to push myself harder.  There also have been times that I've seen someone in really good shape and wondered what they do to look like that.  And that is what I'm hoping to do with this link up.  I want this place to be a weekly motivator and a place for all of us to share our favorite workouts! Monday September 1 - none Sept. 2 - 4.3 mile run Sept. 3 - 2.2 mile run Sept. 4 - 5.5 mile run Sept. 5 - none Sept. 6 - 1 week Shred {weights portion} Sept. 7 - 8 mile run / 1.5 mile walk Sept. 8 - 5.1 mile run Sept. 9 1.3 mile jog / 1 week Shred {weights portion} Weekly Mileage - 27.9 Number of Workouts -7 I have also been using th

If you know me at all, you know I am not  a morning person.  I thought that would change when I had kids.  Nope.  Still hate waking up early in the morning.  The weekends and summer aren't too bad, but the school year is rough.  I will say though as much as I struggle to get out of bed, it is nice that by 8:30 today we were all dressed, fed, Emmy was at school, and  Charlie and I had finished food shopping!  Not too shabby.  Let's see what else I can done today. I was very excited to watch the first Giants game of the season last night.  Always exciting to kick off Monday Night Football! I even let Emmy stay up a little past bedtime to watch some of the game.  Sadly we lost...and badly.  It's going to be a long season. Charlie's eye is continuing to improve!  All the swelling is gone, but it's still pretty purple.  We have to take her next Monday to have the stitches out....hopefully that goes well! Emmy is loving  kindergarten!  She does miss rest time {they only h

It's funny the stereotypes people still have about little boys and little girls.  I have heard people talk about how rough and tumble boys are, and how nicely little girls will sit and play.  I however, know different.  I know plenty of little boys who will sit and play quietly for hours.  I also know some girls like my Charlie bear who make even the most famous daredevil look like an amateur.  Girl is constantly trying to jump off things, run at top speeds, and climb up on everything.  I am already no stranger to the ER with this one. Well apparently Charlie wasn't too happy with all the attention Emmy got last week for starting school and she wanted to make sure we paid attention to her as well.  Friday had been a great day.  Emmy had a half day, so after naptime we spent the afternoon at a big play date with our friends.  The girls and I came home for dinner, baths, then off to bed.  Skip was working and I was excited for an evening of peace and quiet.   Ha . As I sat at the