Upper Body Quickie, 11 Miles, and Adventures with My Silly Boys

Yesterday, I may have cheated just a little on my rest day and done a quick upper body workout.  Don't worry, my legs were still fresh for today's long run.  Here's a look at the workout...

Lately I've really been loving quick, intense weightlifting workouts, especially since running has been occupying most of my fitness time.  It's a great way to maintain muscle.

After that quickie routine, and a couple of chores and lots of cuddles around the house, we headed off the the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary with some friends.  What a cool place!

That animal in the top right corner is an albino raccoon.  Underneath that is a panther and the bottom two photos are of Mason petting the snake.  His friend Danny helped him out the first time around.  After that he was ready to try on his own...sort of.  Colton wasn't too sure about touching the snake but he sure liked looking at it.  I'm hoping to take them back when it's cooler and we're able to enjoy it a bit more.  You can actually see the sweat on my shirt in that photo.  I thought it was supposed to be fall?!?!

We spent the rest of the afternoon around the house and since I messed up the boys' nap with our little field trip, we were planning to call it a very early night. I did manage to scarf down some delicious black bean and sweet potato enchiladas before calling it a night.  I will definitely be making that recipe again.  DELISH!  In my efforts to cut back on dairy, I topped it off with this very interesting "cheese."

I have mixed feelings on it but will definitely give it another try.

After some play time...

...and some bath time...

...I was happy to curl up in bed with a book at 7:30 knowing I had an 11 mile running waiting for me in the morning.

This morning came bright and early and after a quick cup of coffee and a banana, the boys and I hit the road for our 11 mile trek.

It was a great morning for a run!

This view never gets old!  I love watching the sun come up on the water.  We live in paradise.

We spent the rest of the morning lounging and playing by the pool.  I did finally convince them to come inside for lunch and found them waiting patiently at the wrong table.  Look how good they're sitting though.  I decided to let them eat there after all.  Too cute to resist.

The pleasantness didn't last for long though.  They got ahold of the broom and couldn't find a way to share.  I hope when they get older they want to help me clean as much as they did today.   

Too FUNNY!

They're finally napping and I'm regaining my sanity after a crazy trip to Target.  Note to self--shopping for wine with cranky boys is kind of like shopping for groceries when you're hungry.  You end up buying more than you "need."  Oh well!  I'm happy to report this household has a brand new wine cube for me to enjoy.  

Happy Weekend!

  

Saturday Randomness

Today has not gone how I planned AT ALL but that has not stopped it from being a fantastic day and it's only halfway over.  I'm getting better at this bump and roll stuff!  My original plan was to take the boys in their stroller for the first long run of my training plan but the torrential downpours encouraged me to take my run to the treadmill at the gym.  It was a little more boring that way but I still got in my 7 mile run and was pleased with my ability to maintain an 8 minute mile pace and even threw some "hills" in there by playing with the incline to keep things interesting.  Week one of half-marathon training is in the books.  Bring on week 2!

Gonna try to beat my time of 56:36 next time I do a 7 miler.

After a quick stop at the bagel shop, I came home to whip up some egg sandwiches for us.  Gotta love a jalepeno cheddar bagel, scooped, with a laughing cow light cheese wedge, canadian bacon and a fried egg with an extra egg white thrown in.  It hit the spot.

After breakfast it had cleared up and we were able to take a quick family walk downtown and only got drizzled on a little bit on the way home.  I love getting outside for bike rides and walks with my family.

Instead of our orignal plan to take the boys to the fountains, we opted to hit up Brooks Day at Fleet Fee.  I scored 10% off my running shoes which they have to order since I have the biggest, flattest feet you've ever seen and I also scored a free pair of awesome running socks which I can't wait to try 

out...they look fast! 

I do have one question for Brooks though...Why do shoes for flat-footed people have to look like shoes my Grandma would pick out?  Just cause I have flat feet doesn't mean I wanna look like I'm wearing orthopedic shoes.   I mean look at these things...

I'm a decent runner and would love to look as stylish as all the other non-flat-footed runners out there. I want a pair of these...

Come on Brooks.  I know you've got the materials.  Now, lets make it happen! I can even be your spokesrunner   PLEEEEEEEASE!  I know being injury-free is better than looking "cool" but I'm tired of having the dorky shoes.  Help a girl out!

While I was waiting in the long line to score free socks and a discout on the best running shoes ever, Mickey took the boys to Michaels and found them these dinosaur puppets for $1.  He's my kind of shopper!  Look at Mason, he LOVES to wear that hat!  And Colton is such a lover.  LOVE them!

Target is practically next door to Fleet Feet so we couldn't skip stopping in there for some "necessities" like this wine cube.  Have you tried these things?  OMG!  It's the size of 4 bottles of wine for $15.99 and it is seriously delcious stuff.  If you haven't already, I suggest you check it out.  It keeps for over a month--I tested it and was genuinely impressed.   (I know it's hard to believe it lasted that long here...I did go out of town for part of the month, but I digress... )

Photo credit

We also picked up a goat cheese

and spinach pizza which might have been the best frozen pizza I've ever had in my life.  I love the grocery section of target...I love everything about Target.  We did really have some necessities to get as well other things to get as well but these were the real winners in my opinion.  Oh, and we scored some clearance organic mac n cheese.  Don't waste your time going to stock up yourselves, I took ever box that was left.  My boys are mac n cheese LOVERS!

While the pizza baked, I whipped up a recipe I found on Stuft Mama's blog for doughtzels.  Her recipe calls for powdered sugar, which I left out, and I also subbed oats for the almond flour.  They turned out deliciously!  Good thing we pay our wonderful babysitters with cookies so I can get most of these out of the house tonight before I eat them all.  They are basically peanut butter cookies with pretzels and chocolate chips.  YUM YUM YUM! 

I'm off to read my book and relax a bit before date night with my favorite man in the world.  Thanks to our awesome friends for babysitting so we can go out.  What would we do without them??  

Have a happy, dry weekend.  Don't forget to MOVE!