B Words

 

This past week has been full of the B word.  Yeah, thanks to all the worrying about LBM's school situation I did loads of B####ing.  But there were actually several other B words that seemed to be really prevalent in our week. 

 

 

 BUGS

LBM has been on a mission this week to discover all the bugs around the house.  Of course that is a fun science lesson but at this time of year those little critters have often grown!  We won't be catching this guy anymore.

 

 

BEGGING

With the approach of kindergarten LBM has started being responsible for certain chores around the house.  He earns a small allowance that he is practicing budgeting his money for his "wants".  But that hasn't stopped his previous behavior of using his puppy face to beg for things.  I didn't cave this time but darn he is so cute!

 

BLOOMS

My garden and flower beds have been a botanistic inspiration this week with beautiful blooms every morning.  If you follow me on FB or Instagram you are probably sick of the daily bloom bombs. 

 

But maybe you are also inspired for notice a few of the B words in your day too.

 

 



The Letter

Many moments in life are challenging.  I often hear myself complain about silly things like socks on the floor or toothpaste on the counter.  But I know my life is a blessing and I have only rarely lived a truly challenging day.  I know those days have helped to make me a better human being so I count even them as blessings. 

 

 

This past week has been a difficult one.  I gave little things the power to begin to overwhelm me.  The approach of the school year became no longer an annual event but a catalytic phenomenon heralding the end of life as I know it.  So as I was going to return a movie, which I had used as an escape from my seemingly overwhelming life, I stopped by the mailbox.  On my way I practiced what I would say to the super secret spy when he discovered I had not talked to the new superintendent about LBM's school reassignment.  I practiced telling him how I was certain that if she talked with me instead of him, I would somehow ruin LBM's chance to go to the school we had been planning and preparing to go to.  But when I opened the mailbox I saw it had arrived.

 

 

The letter.

It was the response to my written application for the reassignment.  As I read those words, "...has been approved..."  honestly tears filled my eyes and I felt 20 pounds lighter.  I couldn't believe how emotionally invested I had become worrying about what another change might do to LBM and all the great progress we have made.  I couldn't be happier that we can continue as planned and will be able to be active and involved with LBM's school.

 

With only a handful of days to go before school starts, there's lots to do to be ready to this milestone and then, well and then I guess I'll be left with nothing to stop me from remembering that there are days, those few days that are really challenging.  Some of those days life has just given me and some of those days I have chosen.  And one of those days is right around the corner.

 

THE RING

August 31st

71.1 Miles of mountains fun.

A Week In a Runner's Life...at the Beach

 

 

Every day started with an early morning beach run.

 

Beautiful flowers brightened the beach.

 

Dinner out was much needed after miles of beach running.

 

Every tidbit was a treasure.

 

Each morning our beach looked slightly different.

 

More evidence that there is something greater than ourselves.

 

Dinner out with the beach gang.

 

ARRRRGGGGGHHH!

 

Vibrant flowers.

 

 

 

Momarazzi did double duty all week attempting to get simultaneous smiles from less than cooperative kids.

 

Early morning runs provided glimpses of life from the sea.

 

Barefoot beach running is so glamorous when your blisters fill with sand.

Did I say, Glamorous?  I meant painful.

 

Finding mermaid purses was a great opportunity of a quick science lesson.

 

Momarazzi is not always welcome when the kids were playing.

 

Without even looking, we found love every day on the beach.

 

A dinner in after a day on the sand.

 

Cousin bonding time.

 

A hazy day collecting treasures.

 

A peaceful afternoon.

 

Movies on the beach.

 

A LBM classic smile with a wink.

 

 

Sibling love all week long.  It was amazing!

 

More life from the sea.

 

Having the beach alone to run was priceless.

 

Celebrated Independence Day.

 

Happy 4th of July!

 

Glow sticks make every night an adventure.

 

Posing in the surf with S'ghetti Girl.

 

This little guy loves the sand...all over his body.

 

In the bounce house a rare still moment.

 

Another day begun with a sandy run.

 

The sea was sharing lots of shells.

Another great OC trip.

 

S'ghetti girl growing up too fast.

 

A vacant beach makes running easy.

 

Watching for dolphins.

 

Waiting for everyone to wake.

 

A marooned skate that I put back in the ocean.

 

This crab was eager for a photo shoot.

 

Another day started in a positive way.

 

S'ghetti girl helping the littles build a sand castle.

 

 

LBM playing in the sand.

 

Even at the beach little critters find me.

 

A beach vacation fueled by chocolate milk.

 

Who eats when there are bounce houses?

 

Ready for the boardwalk.

 

Guess who got a new pet?!

 

Finally dolphins!

 

Wide awake early and ready to see what the sea would share.

 

Every run better than the last.

 

It was hard to leave the beach to do anything else.

 

But ice skating awaited.

 

 

The kids were pros!

 

I was better at lounge chairs.

 

A pirate ship was the prefect way to burn off some energy.

 

The beach waited for us to return.

 

No that is not Whole30 compliant.

 

A final morning's walk to the beach.

 

A horseshoe crab...

 

and this little aggressive guy greeted me on my last beach run.

It was a week of wonderful moments.

 



 

I may have brought home a few shells to remember this wonderful trip.

 

I'm still dreaming of having my feet in the sand.