The Last Day. The First Day.

This morning was the last time S'ghetti Girl will get on the bus and head of to her elementary school.  It was made extra special because this year the last day fell on her birthday.

She had her best friend sleep over.  They were a little blurry eyed but excited to start the last day of elementary as I began my first day as a stay at home mom.

At times I think it is just too many changes so close together.  Then other times I think it is the most exciting time in my family's life!

After getting up early to bake cookies to take in for her class and then spending 3 1/2 hours at the garage getting the car worked on, I will pick her up at school with her two best friends to head off to yet another birthday celebration and sleep over. 

Her last day and my first day in what looks to be an exciting chapter in our adventure!

Five more sleeps until Laurel Highlands 70.

Three Things Thursday ~ Changes Edition

You remember when I changed out of my worn out kinda grey-ish no longer comfy ultra stinky Sauconys into my fabulous sea green bright white ultra light weight super comfy Sauconys, right?  I am convinced that retiring my worn out kinda grey-ish no longer comfy ultra stinky Sauconys was exactly what my form needed.  Since the switch my feet, ankles and thigh have been talking much much less.  And thanks (maybe) to some sweet Tommy Cooper gear review coming soon  I think my aches will soon be a thing of the past!


This is my last week of summer vacation.  S'ghetti girl goes back to school on Tuesday.  I know I complained about how I'd work out our routine when school ended in May but now I wonder how I managed with early morning buses and homework to fit in on top of everything else!  This week was to be a practice for the change in our routine.  Epic fail!  So far we have gone to bed late, eaten supper late, got up late, gotten home late...
I am hoping it's just nerves and we will pull it all together come that first 5th grade morning. 
It could get interesting.

Like many of you, I have a big girl job.  It is my place to be successful on my own outside of the roles I play in everyone else's lives.  But lately, I really don't want to be there.  I know it benefits my family to have my income but I keep thinking about all the things I am missing with the little kids and remembering having so much more time when my oldest was little.  I didn't really have more time.  In fact I worked much more back then.  Somehow I just squeezed more into those hours or so it seems. 
My husband would like nothing better than for us all to finally move and that would mean me quitting my job and being a SAHM.  So those of you who make it work with only one income, how do you do it?  How do you keep your own identity outside of your roles as mom and wife?  Do you feel you have given up anything with only one income?  I really would love your input because today, I really want to move! 
Today, I don't really like my Big Girl job very much.

The Offset Factor

My work life has been crazy stressful lately.

Wait. 

Who am I kidding?  Big girl work life is always stressful.

It just been super-size stressful. 

This has left me grouchy.

Yes.

I know it's a shocker for those who real-life know me.

But it's true.  I have been grouchy.

With no concrete racing plan at the current moment I am free to run basically whatever mileage and workout I feel inclined to run each day.

If you also follow me on Daily Mile you know that this week my mileage is uncharacteristically low.

and why wouldn't you?  click here

No wonder I am grouchy!
As of Thursday evening I have only run 34.5 miles.

For the stress I am producing that is way under the Stress Offset Factor for me.
But after my 6.5 mile run last evening, which was 20 seconds faster than the 6.5 mile tempo run I had done the night before, I was feeling too tired to finish out my planned 10 miles.
I was happy for the strong run but concerned that my lack of mileage would begin to mentally bring me down.
So when I walked into the house and saw this:

Today is Day # 376

My concerns were immediately gone and my heart was filled!

My two boys were sitting together on the couch both 'working on their computers.'

Stress off-set factor achieved!