a big ol' update

School started today here in Lancaster. Brenden is in 5th grade now and Spencer is in 1st grade. Brenden is part of the safety patrol in the morning and afternoon and he's very excited about that. The boys' school only goes up to 5th grade so Brenden is happy to be one of the top dogs, so to speak, this year. Spencer's best friend is in his class so as long as he's got Zach in class with him, that's all he cares about. Spencer doesn't like to have a bazillion friends like Brenden does. He's a lot more reserved than his big brother. If a kid is bossy or mean to others, Spencer wants nothing to do with them...ever. I'm thinking of letting Cassidy go to a pre-school class held on only Tuesday's for her age at Josh and Jenny's church. I think she might like to do it and this morning told me she'd love to so I may just have to try. I'ts only an hour and a half long and Hope is there which is good for Cassidy. (Hope is Cassidy's cousin) But I don't know how she'll be with me leaving which is why I wanted her to go where Hope and Jenny will be so maybe I can leave and she'll be ok with it.

On to other family news. My grandpa (Mom's dad) was moved into a nursing home over the weekend. He'll be 87 in November and has been living in his home with a live-in aide for the last 2 years but the time has come that he needs a different type of care. Earlier this year my dad and his siblings sold the farm that my grandparents (Dad's parents) had lived on for also over 50 years. Kinda sucky to see both of those homes now gone from my family. I loved the farm and sitting in that swing in the tree in the front yard, yep, you would always find me there. And my grandpa's house, where the hill is absolutely off limits, but that didn't stop us from rolling down it anyway. Their homes may be gone, but the memories will be with me forever.

I can't wait til the new season of DWTS!

Wow! The cast of the new season of "Dancing with the Stars" was announced this morning and I am very excited to see this season. My before the show starts favorite contestant is Melissa Joan Hart who I've watched in sitcoms since her days as Clarissa in "Clarissa Explains It All". Others I very much look forward to seeing will be Chuck Lidell (UFC Champion), Debi Mazar (she has the most beautiful cat like eyes), Kelly Osbourne (Yep, Ozzy's daughter!), and Kathy Ireland. Of course we knew eventually Donnie Osmond would be on it and lo and behold this will be his season. They recruited former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin as their former football player this year; Aaron Carter, Mya and Macy Gray as the formerly popular pop artists; and a few other people I've never heard of. I think this will be a great season and can't wait til it begins.

Spencer's new haircut

Before
After

School starts on August 24th and Spencer wanted to get his hair cut off. He looks so cute! Not much else going on besides surviving the heat of this past week. Running is still going well. I got up and ran 2.5 miles this morning because evenings have been so hot and I don't like to run so soon after dinner. Morning runs are peaceful and nice and cool outside still but it is hard to get up early to run. I just have to train myself and I'll be fine. That's it for now.

I knew running wouldn't be easy....

"Running is real and relatively simple - but it ain't easy." - Mark Will-Weber


I enjoy running. I'm getting better with each run. I'm walking less of it and can't wait until I can run the entire 3 miles. I knew it wouldn't be easy though. Sometimes I'm having the internal struggle with myself to turn around and go back because I'm too tired but I don't and never have, for which I'm very proud of myself. I read other blogs by runners and I'm inspired by them and feel good in knowing that they all started out the same as me; can't breathe, can't run for too long, injuries, etc. I've learned over the last few months how to properly breathe, which I've begun doing, and to stretch properly and that ice and Advil will no doubt be my best friends some days. And even through all of this which would deter a lot of people from even beginning, I'm pushing through. I feel so good about myself after getting back from a run and one of these days when 'Army man" runs past me, I'll be able to keep up. (Army man is an older guy who lives in our neighborhood who runs daily and always wears his green Army shirt.)