Sakura

We went to the UW a couple of days ago to see the blossoms. They were not quite at their height yet but still beautiful. It is always a great photo session, here are a few shots:



Look at these freckles:


DIMPLES!





We have done the blossom-on-the-forehead shot every year since they were born:

No more pictures, Mum!


Trying so hard to smile and co-operate!

No More Baby Steps

Today is a big day in my running program. From here on out, there is no walking involved, just straight running in each session. I think I am prepared but mentally I am a little nervous. The walking was always a safety net for me and now it is not an option. I have stuck with the program completely thous far and have not let anything make me stray from it by even a second.

The 5k is just over a month out. It's time to really buckle down and get prepared.

Granola Child

Today, Lucas handed me a bright yellow pipe cleaner and asked me to make him a pendant.

Lucas: Mummy can you make me a pendant?
Me: Ok, what kind?
Lucas: Well, use this thing and I want that circle with sticks, you know?
Me: Hmmmm. Circle with sticks?
Lucas: Yeah. Look on your computer and look at the Mystery Machine from Scooby Do.
Me: ::perplexed look::

So I Google Image "Mystery Machine Scooby" and up come some pictures of it. He checks them out. Points to the flower emblem on the MM.

Lucas: I guess I made a mistake. I don't want a flower, I want that circle with sticks.
Me: ::thinking deeply:: Aha!

Google Image "Peace Symbol"

Lucas: YES!!!!!!

I proceeded to bend a pipe cleaner into a perfect peace symbol and strung it onto some dental floss. It gave me the chance to talk about Peace, what it means to me and what it means to the world. He asked me to tell him over and over as he held his new pendant in his little hands.

He is definitely my child.

This touched me.

I watched this. It inspired me. I wanted to share it with you.

Life List Revisted

I am very glad I took the time to write up my life list. It honestly has motivated me to actually get started on some of things I have always wanted to do. So here is my life list revisted, with progress reports on things I have started or accomplished:

1) Get a Master's degree (probably in Social Work)
2) Own a dog
3) Learn to play the harmonica really well
4) Travel to Italy
5) Take a photography class: I am signed up for one in April
6) Set up a table at a craft fair
7) Have my own business: Check!
8) Create my own website on my own domain: Done!
9) Be a Big Sister
10) Get published in a scrapbooking magazine
11) Travel to China
12) Take a pottery class
13) Have a psychic reading done by John Edwards
14) Eat a piece of fruit every day for the rest of my life: I am doing a lot better on this
15) Build a composite backyard deck of my dreams (well, HAVE it built, not build it myself!)
16) Plant a vegetable garden
17) Learn operate a sewing machine and then to sew clothing
18) Run a marathon (did I really just type that??): I am on my way, I have a 5 k race in April
19) Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans
20) Go on a cruise
21) Volunteer at a soup kitchen
22) Go away with 4 best friends for an entire week
23) Recycle everything I possibly can
24) Re-finish an old chest of drawers
25) Keep my recipe book up to date so I can pass it on to Ellie one day
26) Take a hip hop dance class with Lucas
27) Be an advocate for people in need
28) Make sure my friends and family know how much I love and appreciate them: I am trying harder to do this and I believe I have been a lot more open about my feelings especially when it comes to my friends.
29) Take my Mum on a trip, just her and I, to the place of her choice
30) Drive across the USA
31) Have a consistent family game night every week
32) Take a yoga class
33) Take an anger management class
34) Go to Iceland
35) Sponsor a child in a foreign country: More news on this soon but it requires a whole new blog post :)
36) Do the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk
37) Have a flower garden that I can make beautiful bouquets from (dahlias, small sunflowers, daisies)
38) Learn how to use Photoshop
39) Make a quilt
40) Get a tattoo with a friend
41) Go to an event/evening where I have to wear a ball gown
42) Make sure I never tell people I love that I didn't call or keep in touch because "I have been Sooooooo busy": This one is easy
43) To get to know my brother better
44) Have a "summer home" or cabin
45) Go to the Oprah Show
46) Take graphic art/design classes

I urge you to make your life list. You will see a difference in how you approach life and it will motivate you to start accomplishing what you want out of life rather than just living day to day.

Cooper Escape #2

This time, he dashed out and climbed a tree in the neighbor's yard. I had to actually climb the tree to get him down. As a true scrapbooker/blogger, I had my camera on hand and had to take a picture.
He actually got a lot higher than this, this was just at the start of his ascent.

Only for him would I climb a tree.

Running Report

Today was a big step up in my running program. It was really the first time I was able to time my mile and assess how fast I am going.

Mile 1 was 9 mins 45 seconds and felt pretty good.

Mile 2 was 9 mins 16 seconds and I was pretty much suffering at the end.

I don't think I would have mentally been able to do another mile but physically I think I would if my mind was prepared for it.