I love Mommy You and me we are vrey haqqy toger!

This is what I came home to last night:

The translation, "I <3 mommy  you and me are very happy together"  This is from my 6 year old daughter who has no idea how much this means to me or how much I love her.  It was all because she missed me while I was gone.

I had to run up to my dad's place late last night to take care of a few things, while I was gone the hubby was managing to get the kids fed, it was 8:30 PM thank you kids activities, bathed and just to keep them out of the street because they wanted to be outside.  I headed out and took care of what I needed to and arrived home about 45 minutes later exhausted, starving and a sweaty mess to find to this beautiful artwork.
Her gift to me changed everything!

It gave me the hug I needed after working at dad's and hating that he is gone and things could not be different, energy to get showered and eat even though I just wanted to crumble to the ground and go to sleep, and lastly reassurance that even though I am not a perfect mom and do not always get it right, in her eyes none of it matters other than being together.  I am trying hard to let go of things and my "to do" list.  I am trying hard to be in the moment for them and not distracted by work, phones, technology or unnecessary worry.  I am not always great at any of it, the "things we should be doing" list vs. the "things my kids want to do" list is hard to balance.  However, I can tell you that in the last 6 weeks as I have tried to let go and just enjoy my kids and I have seen more of them, laughed more and been more patient with them.  Heck yes my laundry is piled to the ceiling, shoes cannot be found, mail is piled up and dishes need to be done but I will get to that "junkie room" on a rainy day soon but right now my kids need me to be present in their lives and connected to them.  Do I still need a break and adult time - double heck yes - and why I am grateful for last Sunday evening when they stayed with grandparents but I can tell you that being focused on them at the right times is making a difference for us all.

I now know from talking with Maggie that she really doesn't want to leave kindergarten because she is loving it and will miss her fabulous teachers but that deep down she is really excited to see what first grade will hold.  I would not have had this adult conversation with my 6 year old which brought me into her fears and excitement had I not taken the time last night to thank her for my fabulous drawing and the love she brought me.  A simple thank you opened up her little world to me.

I love this little girl, my 4lb. baby is growing up and growing into an amazing little lady.  She is funny, smart, driven, loves to perform and loves to create art.  She has a BIG imagination and goes at her own pace and in her own direction but it sure is a fun ride.  I am grateful I am her momma and honored to have the title.

Maggie Lynne, I love you and will never be able to tell you enough how much you and your message means to me.  You are a blessing and while I may not always look forward to your teenage years because you are just like your momma in many ways, I will cherish the lessons you teach me and the love you give.  Plus you do a pretty great drawing of momma, I will cherish it forever.  Love you Doodle!

I DID IT!

Well I did it - I completed a goal I set back in February 2011 and I ran my first ever 1/2 marathon at Disney World!
February 23rd 2014 will be a day I will never forget and one that I am super proud that is a part of my story.  If you rewind to February 2011, I had four kids in 2.5 years, the littlest had just turned 9 months old and you can say I was tired of carrying the extra baby weight but yet had no energy or real motivation in me to take any of it off.  We were on our first family of 6 vacation in Disney and were a week later than we had gone before but I am sure glad that Daytona 500 moved it's date because I got the chance to see all of these runners at our resort.  I was amazed at their accomplishment and LOVED the fact that most of them ran this race in a tutu.  I was inspired to do more for myself.  I was looking for all of the runners who were wearing their medals through Disney that week and just continuously amazed at these ladies.
As we were leaving Orlando to start the 16 hour drive home I silently vowed that I would one day run that Princess Half Marathon and be a princess for a day!

My story started 2 years ago however, it truly began June 28th when my dear friend Carmen posted that she had signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon, I thought to myself, "this is my chance to do this with someone and not alone" so you know what why not sign up?  A call to the hubby to see if I was totally crazy (I was not is what he said as he was training for his own first 1/2 in November) and then to my mother in law to ensure that she would watch the kids if Matt went to the race while I ran this race.  That was it - there was  no looking back - well maybe a little, remember this post Holy Crap What Did I Just Do? My journey to become a runner began.

I did not do much running prior to this, okay I did no running.  I was the girl in high school who was always made to go first when we had to run the bases because I was slow and HATED running.  I had tried before to get into running because it was one way to get some quiet time for 30 minutes a couple of times a week but it never stuck.  Then I found the support circle, those who were runners and who were there for me along the way.  There are so many people to thank and I did not do this alone, that is for sure, but I did it!  My feet carried my tired body across that finish line and I cried!

My journey is here in the photos, yes I took pictures along the way it was fun and nothing like I had ever seen before (well when you had only run two other races which were truly timed and they are in Greendale and Lawrenceburg you do not have much to go on!)  It was truly amazing and a perfect accomplishment for me to help me through so much.

My name on the wall at the expo
along with all of the others who ran

My running partner Alex and I at 4:00 AM!

Patiently waiting in corral L

Entering the Magic Kingdom, yes blurry but VERY foggy

Random folks getting their photos taken

THE CASTLE!
So amazing coming down Main Street

The only character we stopped for
she was at about mile 12 and had NO LINE!

We DID it!

Best beers ever!

Our Cheering squad so kindly sent this to us at 4:30 AM!

So excited my girls came to see me finish

From the girls

1st 1/2 Marathon Complete!

My many thanks, I think I have everyone I want to thank:

My Hubby - thank you for putting up with the training schedule and the support along the way.  Thank you for getting up at 2:30 AM to go with me and being there for me when I crossed the finish line.  I guess I will forgive you and Whitney for missing us at the Magic Kingdom due to potty and beer breaks!  Thank you Matthew, I love you more than Burritos!

My Kiddos - thank you for supporting momma's runs.  I loved hearing, "how was your run mommy?" when I walked in the door.  This was quickly followed by, "can I have some .......?" but it is the thought that counts.  You cheered me on during those LONG treadmill runs, boy this winter made training interesting with record snows!  Thank you kids for loving Disney and giving us a reason to vacation there.  

My family - all of your support and words of encouragement got me through there.  Especially after losing Grandma on Saturday before the race.  I know she is proud.  She and dad loved taking us on vacation and were crazy enough to take us to Disney, it was a very fitting tribute to both of them.   Ricki and Mom, thank you for everything and all that you said along the way.  

Carmen - you will never know how much your friendship means to me.  By chance and the awesome John we became friends because we were having twins.  You got me to this race and I cannot thank you enough.  One day we will cross that finish line together and I know you were there with me every step of the way.

Liz - you created a Facebook group that got me motivated to get off the couch and get moving.  Granted I was walking but I was moving.  You answered my many running questions when you could not run yourself.  You gave me renewed hope and guidance more than once and I thank you.  You pick the race and I will get there!

Kelsey - you got me into a routine, granted I think our first motivation was because the husbands got to golf on vacation and we needed a kid break but whatever the reason you started my running on vacation!  I never imagined that would get me going.  I knew you had me when we got out there at 7AM after we drove 14 hours home!  You kept me on track and you were patient with my speed and lack of method.  You got me out of bed most Saturday mornings even if there were Friday night beers.  I cannot thank you enough and cannot wait for our Saturday mornings to come!

Alex (Phyllis to me) - my savior!  By a whim I asked you if you had any interest in going to Florida with me to run this thing since Carmen could not.  Less than 4 hours went by and you were in!  You were there by my side when I wanted to sit down on the side of the road at mile 9 and kept me going.  You were there when we crossed the finish line and there when we celebrated.  You put up with the crazy condo full of folks and made this journey not so lonely when race day came.  You calmed my nerves and stayed with me the whole way.  THANK YOU, I will never be able to tell you how much that meant to me.  

Whitney - well Whitney what can I say, you came along, got up super early, braved the birds and were there supporting us.  I am so excited that you made this trip with Alex and that the two of you let me come along on your first ever visit to Disney.  You made me laugh when the two of you sent us a photo at 4:30 with beers and made sure there was never a dull moment.  Thank you for being a good sport and for the chance to see Disney in another way.

Mary Jo - thank you for bringing the girls over to see us finish!  I was so excited that you all made it and were there to celebrate.  Thank you for getting them up and going and being there.  Thank you for finding an amazing place to stay years ago and sharing a love of Disney with the kids.  

Grandpa and Frank - Thank you for taking the boys to the Daytona 500 so that everyone else could come along with Alex and I.  That was a big task and is much appreciated!  

My team at work - for the support, massage and for listening to my stories on running.  You all are great and were patient with me.  I could not have a better team to work with!  

I am sure I am missing someone, if I am I apologize but want to thank you too.  All of those who sent me messages of congratulations, running songs and many other thoughts I thank you.  It all helped me along the way.   

My 1st half marathon may be behind me but it is something I will always carry with me.  I am now truly a runner, I know what the runner's high is and I am addicted!  I am already signed up for another half and cannot wait.  I just hope that I can hold onto the rest of my toenails!

To RunDisney thank you for making that possible, I will see you again before I turn 40!  

I DID IT!  I completed the 2014 Disney Princess Half Marathon!