Playgroups are No Place for Children

Through tears

Written on April 16, 2013 by Jennifer in Pictures, Quirky Me

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say,’Look for the helpers, you will always find people who are helping.’” — Fred Rogers

I know. There is good in this world. Yesterday’s horrific bombing in Boston is just another testament to the fact that humanity is in fact GOOD. The first responders, the runners, the innocent bystanders, that ran TOWARD the bombing area, who helped and comforted. They are GOOD. “The good outnumber you, and we always will.” –Patton Oswalt

I know.

I know this is what I should focus on, the way people show their goodness and bravery during horrible events, but right now, I’m just so angry. I may or may not have mentioned in the past few years that I’ve become a runner. And I may have also mentioned how becoming a part of the running community has changed my life, through camaraderie and support. This senseless act feels personal, maybe in the same way it feels personal to anyone who is a runner, or knows a runner, or lives in Boston, or is maybe just human.

Miles to go before I sleep. –Robert Frost

While running the Knoxville half a week ago, I was blown away by the support for those of us running shown by our community. The people cheering along the course and holding their signs is not only motivating, it’s humbling. To have someone yell, “You’re doing great! Keep going,” is just such an amazing feeling.

(Photo credit: katielann12 via Flickr)

And people who were cheering on runners yesterday in Boston, family members and strangers alike–and they were injured or killed by a bomb??? A child who was at the finish line cheering on runners and he…DIED??

Just yesterday morning while running with friends, we were talking about whether or not to run a marathon next year. We’re what you might call marathon-curious. We come from a place where we never thought we’d be able to run three miles, then never thought we’d run six miles, to running THREE half marathons in a year. A marathon? Yeah. Maybe. Maybe it is something we could do.

Our hesitation partly rests squarely on the shoulders of time and pain. Training for a marathon is no small thing, there are hours upon hours that would have to be devoted to logging miles. Time away from family, time away from other commitments in life, all to do something that hurts and is so, very hard. But it’s also so very rewarding.

Obviously the loss of life is by far the worst thing that happened as a result of this senseless tragedy. THE WORST, make no mistake. But what also makes me so angry, is that this marathon experience was totally ruined. They never got to cross the finish line. After all that work and time and pain.

None of this is fair. I’m angry. I feel helpless. I’m going to wear a race shirt today, as a show of support for the victims of the bombing and for the city of Boston, but let’s be honest–that’s not actually doing anything helpful.

I’m a runner, a human, a horrified observer. I want to do something meaningful, but I don’t even know what that is.

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Race Report: Knoxville Half Marathon

Written on April 10, 2013 by Jennifer in Pictures, Quirky Me

Before the big race:

Puff Mommy and Tate

(Please note that I am SO bloated in the picture. It happens about once a month, if you catch my drift. What? TMI?)

The Knoxville Marathon is known to be a tough race. There are very few areas in Knoxville that are flat, and the course is quite challenging with some really significant hills throughout the course. Before the race, I was really nervous. I knew what lay ahead and kept whining to Tate, “I know it’s going to hurt.”

This was Tate’s very first half-marathon. I had planned on us training together, but his work schedule didn’t really work in our favor and getting a babysitter every weekend just didn’t happen. His training consisted of running three miles as fast as he could once a week, one ten mile run (one, as in one during the entire training), and some pick up games of basketball during the week. My training, on the other hand, was like it’s been for the other two races I’d trained for, 3-4 times a week of 3-6 miles with one long run on the weekend.

The weather for the race was nearly perfect, sunny, cool to start, and not too humid. We got to the race start about 30 minutes before race time and basically stood around in wide-eyed nervousness waiting for the damn race to just start already.

Tate and I had planned to run together the whole time, along with my good friend, Sarah. We stayed together for almost the whole race, keeping each other motivated and challenging ourselves up the hills and to keep up our pace. Mile 7 was the infamous Knoxville hill called Noelton Hill. It was a BEAST, I knew it would be, I’d trained on it several times before. The hill I wasn’t really expecting was located at mile 11, but somehow I didn’t lose time, I actually sped up.

We had friends that we knew would be along the route to cheer us on and that was one of my favorite things about this race. One of my besties, Amanda, was there to cheer us on at mile 6. Sarah’s husband and her kids were at the top of Noelton hill and around mile 10. My Fleet Feet coaches were at mile 10, also. Having someone cheer for you is really awesome…and humbling.

Running in to hug my Amanda

I ended up falling behind a bit at mile 11, while Tate and Sarah seemed to get a second wind. I could see them ahead of me the rest of the race, which kept me motivated to keep my feet moving. At this point, my calves were starting to cramp and my hip was cramping, making my leg have a mind of it’s own. I knew that I only had like 12 or 13 minutes left and then I’d be DONE. I also kept thinking about a sign I saw during the Phoenix race that said, “Running is 90% mental and 10% mental.” I knew that it was really just mind over matter.

I hadn’t really been checking my pace much until this point. By mile 11.5, I started calculating my final time and I knew that if I kept going at the pace I was going, that I was going to PR–and I NEVER expected to be able to do that in such a tough race. I HAD to keep going.

I crossed the finish line at 2:13:48, just about 40 seconds behind Tate. I cut almost 3 minutes off my time from Phoenix and I have to say that I kind of feel like a bad ass. I just never imagined that I’d beat my personal best time in Knoxville! So thrilling!

We also finished right along with Carson’s first grade teacher, who’d also run the race. I am kicking myself for not getting a picture with her after the race!

Champions!

And even though the guy who didn’t really even train beat me, I’m still proud of my time. And OKAY, OKAY, I’m SO proud of him, too. I think he’s amazing.

We celebrated with moonshine Bloody Mary’s, meat pie, home fries, and a nap.

Up next: a break! Then maybe a half in the fall? A marathon? I DON’T KNOW IF I’M READY!!

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Since it’s my birthday, I’m allowed to do two memes in one post. That’s like a rule I read in the blogging handout.

Written on March 20, 2013 by Jennifer in meme

So, hi. It’s been far too long since I actually wrote here. I write A LOT of really funny posts in my head while I’m showering or running or driving around town, but by the time I get around to actually writing anything, the moment has passed.

Back in January, Emily at DesignHer Momma did a 48 questions meme. I emailed it to myself to remember to do it. Then in February, Marie from Life in a Tiny Town did a different meme, that I also emailed to myself. I admit, I do really love answering these things. In fact, I LOVE taking surveys, like those shoppers surveys that come in the mail yearly. Every year, I carefully fill out the survey and then I put it in the shredder. That’s sort of weird, I guess, huh?

Onto more ME!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
No. But interestingly, my middle name is Leah, but it’s actually pronounced “Lee.” I don’t know why either, MOM?

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Last night I cried watching Spirit of the Marathon. I LOVE that documentary, it’s so incredibly inspiring and relatable as a runner. It’s on Netflix or Amazon Prime, by the way, and I HIGHLY recommend it.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Not anymore. I used to have lovely handwriting, but since I rarely actually write anymore, my handwriting is terrible.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
I guess ham, but really it’s not my favorite thing to eat.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes and they are amazing sometimes.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I think so? I hope so. I want to be the type of person that people want to be friends with.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Uh? What do you think?

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes and they are fabulous.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER. So, that’s a no.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Bare Naked granola.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Yes. I don’t want to wear my shoes out too soon!

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Yes, particularly since becoming a runner.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
My favorite ice cream is vanilla when it’s served on top of warm pie or cobbler.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
How they relate to me and interact with me. Then I think about whether there’s a chance of friendship in there.

15. RED OR PINK?
Both.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I wish I was more outgoing and better at making conversation with strangers. I can be such a dud sometimes.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Family that lives far away.

18. WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?
Technique? Hmm. Well, I could use some help in the dog training area. My technique of hoping that Mae will one day wake up and be super obedient just isn’t working.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
I’m barefoot.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
I ate at Zoe’s Kitchen and had a chicken salad sandwich and roasted vegetables. Thanks Sarah for the lunch date!

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Fresh Air with Terri Gross.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Stoooopid question.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Clean laundry!!!!

24. HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU?
Meh. The thing is, they are important to me, but I don’t care to share them with you because I know I won’t change your mind. Also because politics are so polarizing and I wouldn’t want to lose a friendship over them.

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
Beach house! But we did go to the mountains to celebrate my birthday last weekend and stayed in a lovely cabin and it was terrific. Well, mostly terrific. I’ll have to tell you all sometime about the 1 a.m. trip to the ER with Ella that was a false alarm.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Baseball!

27. HAIR COLOR?
Very dark brown, especially since I just got my hairs did yesterday.

28. EYE COLOR?
Blue.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes. And thanks to Mae, my glasses have teeth marks on the lenses so I have to wear my contacts every day.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Steak. Chips and Salsa. Nachos.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings. I used to love scary movies, but now I hate being scared!

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Argo. Very impressive, Mr. Affleck.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Cream-colored. From the Lauren Conrad collection at Kohl’s.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer!!! WHERE IS YOUR SISTER, SPRING, DAMMIT??

35. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Meh. Can’t I just have extra dinner? Oooh! Does wine count? Then wine is my favorite dessert.

36. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
Cardio, running specifically.

37. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?
Both. I love TV in the evenings and the computer during the day.

38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and 7 by Jen Hatmaker. Both are excellent!

39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Seriously?

40. FAVORITE SOUND?
Silence.

41. FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC?
Looking at the music on my iPod makes me think I must like pop and Christian and hardcore rap.

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
The Bahamas.

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I can belch like a man.

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Wichita, KS

45. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
Near Knoxville

46. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?
Kind of a buttery cream inside and outside is gray.

47. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?
Silver

48. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 48 QUESTIONS?
YES I DO!

*******************

Meme #2!! I know that nobody is reading this far down! That’s okay. I understand!

Do you have any strange phobias? Not really. I mean, there’s a lot of things that I prefer to never have to do, but nothing that is debilitating. I hate ferris wheels. I worry about food safety and won’t eat something that’s been sitting out for even one second too long. I don’t like being lightly touched.

Do you sleep with or without clothes on? I hate sleeping naked. Haaaaate. It feels so weird to just let it all hang out.

If you are outside, what are you most likely doing? Running.

Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band? I’ve always liked Fleetwood Mac. And I really like Mumford and Sons. I don’t know, do I have to have a favorite?

Do you believe in karma? I want to believe in karma because some people really deserve to get what’s coming to them (good and bad), but I don’t know that karma is a real thing.

Who is your celebrity crush? Justin Timberlake for being hilarious. His music is alright, though that’s not my main reason for hearting him so much. Also I love Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), the character from Friday Night Lights. Jimmy Fallon.

What’s a sound you hate; sound you love? Sound I hate, I really don’t like anything high pitched or squeaky. (Probably why I don’t like hearing myself on a recording.) Love, silence. Or the sound of ocean waves at the beach.

Choose: East Coast or West Coast? MIDWEST, BAY-BY.

What was the last book you read? What I’m Talking About When I Talk About Running. It’s was pretty good, especially if you happen to be a writer and a runner.

Do you like the smell of gasoline? Is this, like, a thing? People like the smell?

Do you have any nicknames? Jenny. Jen. JD.

What was the last movie you saw? Argo (sorry, some of the questions are repeats.)

What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had? I don’t know that this is an injury, per se, but my kidney stone at 37 weeks pregnant was absolutely the worst thing EVER.

What’s the last thing you purchased? A bunch of crap at Target. Seriously, I shouldn’t even walk in that damn store.

Can you touch your nose with your tongue? No and I’m okay with that.

Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you? Mae’s leash and crayons and a pot holder.

What’s your favorite animal? Dogs for house pets. Elephants for zoo animals. Dolphins for ocean animals.

What were you doing last night at 12 AM? Sleeping! But I hadn’t been asleep long since I stayed up late watching Spirit of the Marathon and DVR’d episodes of Justin Timberlake on Jimmy Fallon from last week. History of Rap 4! FTW!!

What’s a song that always makes you happy when you hear it? I love songs that remind me of things or people. Of course, since I’m being put on the spot, I can’t think of a single example. Lame.

What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far? To marry Tate.

What’s the last song you listened to? Something Beautiful by NeedToBreathe

What is your current desktop picture? Carson and Ella. This one actually:

You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What is that power? Invisibility! Or the ability to time travel. Invisibility because there are so many times I wish I could just be a fly on the wall and eavesdropping. I’m nosey like that. And time travel because, duh. It would be awesome to just experience a tiny slice of life in 1953. Or 1841.

You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again? I’d re-experience that moment when you give birth and get to hold your brand new baby for the first time.

You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go? We’re going to Hawaii! I’ve always wanted to go there and hope that someday it will work out that I’ll actually get to go instead of winning fake trips on my blog.

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I need to tell you about the sandwich

Written on February 4, 2013 by Jennifer in Pictures, Quirky Me

Please don’t take my lack of posting about my recent half marathon as an indication that said half marathon was somehow not that great or not worth mentioning. It? Was AWESOME. EPIC. AMAZING.

But before I tell you about the race itself, in excruciating detail (just kidding, I’ll just mention a few highlights), I have to tell you the adventure in trying to get to Phoenix.

It all began the Thursday of my flight when lo and behold, it started snowing. In a place such a Minnesota or Canada, the snow that was falling was nothing to be concerned about, but in a place like Knoxville, it was nearly a State of Emergency. There is snow! And it is falling! So therefore we all must drive 2 miles per hour on the Interstate! We’re all going to perish!

Luckily I did finally reach the airport, where I met my friends at the bar (obviously). Thanks to “all the snow,” our flight was delayed, but supposedly (this is what we in the business call “foreshadowing”) we had pleeeeeeeeenty of time to make our connection in Houston. We chuckled about how when we originally booked the flight months and months ago, we had each paid a little more to fly through Houston instead of Chicago in order to avoid weather delays and here we were having weather delays in K-town.

After a mix up with a frightened pilot and a malfunctioning de-icer truck, we were off! Like a herd of turtles! When we finally landed in Houston, we had exactly 10 minutes to run approximately 47 miles to the next terminal to make our connection to Phoenix. Dripping with sweat, carrying my purse and carry-on luggage, we made it in 9 minutes where we were told that there were no seats left. Apparently, United Airlines wasn’t planning on us being runners, capable of actually making the flight, as they had given away our seats. It didn’t help that the lady working the desk at the gate was a big ol’ meany head.

Anyway, United Airlines gave us food vouchers and hotel rooms and booked us on a flight the following morning. I mean, it wasn’t ideal, but it did lead us to discovering the Most Delicious Sandwich Ever (TM). Spread with herb cream cheese, this toasted asiago bagel was topped with turkey, cucumbers, and sprouts. Our once sad panda faces were suddenly transformed into amazed faces, happy to be eating this most delightful sandwich–in an airport, no less.

You know, food really does make things better sometimes.

And now, the race recap.

I’ll skip over the horrors of the port-a-potties we encountered before the race. Let’s just say that I’m scarred for LIFE.

These smiling faces are not an indication of how we felt about the port-a-potties.

The thing about running is that some days are just great and some days just suck. You pray for the great days on race days, where you ate the exact right amount of food, not so much that you get stomach cramps, not too little that you have no energy. You pray that you are, um, well, able to take care of business before the race so that you don’t need to go along the way. You will your body to not break down anywhere along the route. You hope that the weather is right, not too cold, definitely not too hot. Everything needs to be just right.

That’s just exactly what happened, too. Everything was just right. Phoenix weather in January is gorgeous, the race started in the upper 40′s and ended in the upper 50′s to low 60′s. The race was well organized, with plenty of time between corrals so that there wasn’t a huge jumble of racers clogging up the pace. I felt great for most of the race, gradually getting faster with each mile.

Before the race we’d heard about this Killer Hill at mile 9. I was really worried about this thing. Mile 9 is a place where you’re feeling pretty pooped and the thought of a Killer Hill was more than a little daunting. It turned out to be nothing more than a teeny tiny little incline, causing me to feel a little smug. Hill? That wasn’t no stinking hill.

The non-hill.

At about mile 11, I began to feel a bit Horrible. My stomach was cramping and I had a terrible side stitch. I drank some Gatorade and walked a tiny bit, but by mile 12 I had mentally given up. My brain was saying, “You know? You did the best you could. Just walk the rest of the way.” My angel Amanda saw me struggling up ahead of her and she ran up to me and made me keep going. We moaned and grumbled the whole last 1/2 mile, but crossed the finish line holding hands. It was THE BEST feeling. The race couldn’t have ended in a better way, I’m so thankful that she wouldn’t let me give up.

My goal was to run the race in 2:15, and I got close:

Not too shabby. I’ll take it.

Afterwards we celebrated with malts, hamburgers, and mustaches.

My goodness, I love these girls.

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2012 and 2013

Written on January 10, 2013 by Jennifer in playing along, Quirky Me

Oh man, I’ve been SICK. Please forgive me for this mucho belated New Year’s post, those three of you still here reading this poor excuse for a blog.

Here’s last year’s list, and here the year before that.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

I RAN A HALF-MARATHON, you guys. YOU GUYS. I ran a freaking half marathon. I know, three readers, that I tend to talk about it a lot (A LOT), but DUDE, I ran 13.1 miles (MIIIIIIIIIILES). I just can’t shut up about it. Running has changed me. It’s changed my body, it’s made me proud of my body, saddlebags, cottage cheese thighs, and all. My self esteem is so much better, I have made such dear friends.

I have another race in a little over a week in Phoenix and I cannot wait.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Personal:

1. Calm, patient, less yelling. Yadda yadda yadda. Same ol’, same ol’. **OH THIS WILL BE ON MY LIST FOREVER. But! I do think I’ve improved quite a lot.

2. Drink more water! **I don’t understand why I have such a hard time with this.
3. Work with my kids to figure out how to serve others, maybe through donations, projects, volunteering, and/or random acts of kindness. **This is something I think about at least once every single day. I did get the kids to go through their old toys to donate, but I we need to do more to be kind to others.

4. Call family and friends. On the phone. Just to say hi. **Well, I texted more…does that count? Yes. Yes it does count.

5. Organize the basement and ~~attic~~. **The basement. I can’t even.

6. Be a better blog commenter. **I do an awesome job of clicking “like” on Facebook, but I still rarely comment. I read from my phone and it’s such a hassle, and that’s a lame excuse.

7. ~~Run a half-marathon.~~
8. ~~Run a 5K in under 30 minutes.~~
9. ~~Laugh more.~~
10. ~~Catch up on Harry Potter movies~~
11. ~~Read 40 books this year!~~ Let’s be friends on Goodreads!!!! Okay? Promise? It’s super fun! I think you can find me via my email address (playgroupie AT gmail DOT com.)

12. Find a TV show that Tate and I can watch together. **I GIVE UP. I’m just going to watch what I wanna watch. Watchers gonna watch.

Business: **I’m a MISERABLE business woman, though my business site is doing well–content wise. Just haven’t done any of the business-y things below….

1. Set up my business as an LLC.
2. ~~Grow my business, increase pageviews to the website and get more Facebook fans.~~
3. Sell advertising for my business and create campaigns with local companies that are mutually beneficial.

Spiritual: **God and I are having a very complicated relationship right now. I have a lot to say about it, maybe I will in a different post.

1. Figure out how God wants to use me and then do it.
2. Read books about other faiths
3. Read the Bible

This year’s goals:

Personal

1. Do a better job of keeping the house clean. (I’ve become verrrrrrrry lax in this area, and while I don’t care to have an immaculate, spotless home, it should be live-able.)

2. Plan a vacation to either Disney or Destin again for Fall Break. (Fingers crossed for Disney, we want to wait to go back until Ella is tall enough for the next set of ride.)

3. Organize closets and the basement. (That DAMN basement just won’t go away.)

4. Train Mae to heel, come, stay, to not jump, and stop being a thief.

5. Do yoga at least twice a week and get my poor excuse for a “core” back in shape.

6. Run two half marathons in the spring…and maybe one in the late fall. (Phoenix, January 20th; Knoxville, April 7th.)

Business

1. Make a decision by June whether or not it’s a worth continuing in terms of moola/benjamins/gettin’ paid.

Spiritual

1. Pray. Often. Without ceasing. With my listening ears on.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My brother and sister-in-law made me an Aunt! I’m Aunt Jennifer now to a beautiful niece.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank God.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. But Tate went to Slovakia and Austria and I’m jealous.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

Last year’s answer was a clean house….and that’s the same thing I want this year. I’d also like to have a church home again.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

October: Our trip to Destin. It was just so lovely, the whole thing.

And December 14th will forever be the day that 26 people lost their lives in Newtown, CT. This tragedy has absolutely shaken me and my faith in humanity, though I realize that there were so many GOOD people, heroes, that shined that horrible day. I just can’t help feeling that I’ve lost of a sense of safety and trust.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Well, DUH, my half marathon, silly.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Losing my blogging mojo. This blog used to be FUN.NY. I was reading some old posts and I thought, dang girl, you were so clever and witty. I wish I still had it. If you’ve seen my Clever and my Witty, could you please return them?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My magic pants for running, my foam roller, and every pair of comfortable pants I bought this year–including my jeggings. Yes, jeggings. Shut up. I look cute in them. (Those are affiliate links, by the way.)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband at Christmas. It seemed like my Tate was back. He was so relaxed and happy. It was good to see him again.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Bad people with access to guns that never should have had access to using them to kill innocent people.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Amazon.com, our mortgage, running gear (I’m seriously out of control), and our Destin trip. I said this last year and I’ll say it again, I have little to complain about in life. I’m quite blessed, really.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Running, my friends, the Destin trip, working for Hallmark this past year.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?

God’s Not Dead by the Newsboys. Ella LOVED that song and always wanted me to turn it up every time it came on the radio.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Happier, I guess. Thinner. Richer–but now that I have no freelance job, it’s soon to be poorer. And that’s okay. I needed to let some things go.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish I would have written here more.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Feeling jealous of others.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We spent Christmas day at home, opening presents, eating fattening food, and being lazy. It was AWESOME. The day after Christmas we drove to St. Louis and got to spend time with our entire family. It was also AWESOME. This was truly the best Christmas in years and years.

21. Did you fall in love with 2012?

Nope.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Hmm, maybe Breaking Bad? I’m really sad the show is ending, but truly–it NEEDS to end. I also adore CBS Sunday Morning, Ellen, and Parenthood–though I haven’t really watched beyond the first 4 or 5 episodes of this season because I just can’t commit to a weekly program! Yay for Amazon Prime Videos!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I really don’t like to use that word, hate. But no, there is not.

24. What was the best book you read?

I read SO MUCH this year. I can’t just choose one, but the BEST books I read this year were Those Who Save Us, The Fault in Our Stars, The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, and The Invisible Bridge . Each books was just so damn well written. These books just sucked me right in, authors who have the ability to craft a story and develop characters and write in such a way that is poetic and honest and smart just amaze me.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Nothing new really this year. I still really like Mumford & Sons.

26. What did you want and get?

A race medal and a sticker on my car that says 13.1. Yep. I’m one of those obnoxious people.

27. What did you want and not get?

I can’t think of anything, I’m a very lucky girl.

28. What was your favorite film of 2012?

I FINALLY saw Crash from years and years ago-WOW! What an amazing movie. I also finally saw The King’s Speech, which I loved especially since a long, long time ago, I used to be a speech therapist.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

While my husband was in freaking Europe enjoying sightseeing and weinerschnitzel, I had a lovely lunch date with my favorite daughter at our favorite sushi place. Then I had a babysitter come that evening while I went to my running class and afterwards I went out for Mexican and margaritas with my besties. Not a bad birthday for having been abandoned for three weeks, including my birthday. (HA! Tate, if you’re reading this, I’m just poking fun.)

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A clean house.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2012?

Running clothes, paired with a ponytail.

32. What kept you sane?

Running and my friends.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Ugh. I hate politics. What I hate worse than politics is discussing politics. NEXT QUESTION.

34. Who did you miss?

Family and friends who live far away, especially my niece. We couldn’t be there when she was born and haven’t had many opportunities to see her.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

All my running buddies. I can’t believe that I only met several of them last year.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

Don’t give up. Stick to your guns. Try something new.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“I’m not strong enough. Hands of mercy won’t you cover me. Lord right now I’m asking you to be strong enough for the both of us.” –Strong Enough by Matthew West

****

Did you write one of these? Tell me and I’ll come read it!

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The Good: A Year in Review

Written on December 21, 2012 by Jennifer in Hallmark, Little Monkeys, Pictures

I still feel raw and tender after last Friday’s horrific school shooting in Newtown, CT. It’s not okay. How will it ever be okay again? And the only thing I lost was a sense that my kids are safe at school.

Those kids. Those babies. Those teachers, heroes, police officers, parents.

It’s really too much to bear, isn’t it?

My children are 5 1/2 and 7 years old. I don’t want to let my mind go there, but away it goes. I can’t stop the thoughts and the terror. I can’t stop imagining.

This rock-you-to-the-core tragedy has made me hold my babies tighter. It shouldn’t take a tragedy to force me to realize that I should savor every moment of their precious lives.

Our family has had a great year, a really great year. Carson and Ella are kids suffering from the typical ups and downs of growing up, they have made me want to pull my hair out and scream and they have made me so proud. These moments with them are what life is supposed to be. Between Ella’s freak out sessions nearly every morning over what jacket and boots to wear, Carson’s sass that rivals any 14-year-old, ear infections, flu, lost Wii time, and dinnertime battles, there are big things and little things that I can look back on this past year and celebrate.

I love this age, this perfect early elementary school age where they have actual conversations about there life that is separate from our life at home. They are learning to read and they still believe in Santa, but they are also beginning to reason. I love their emerging independence, but I love that they still need me.

Carson has discovered geometry. Three-dimensional shapes have captured his imagination, as he could sit for hours drawing spheres, cones, and pyramids.

Ella started Kindergarten this year. To be honest, I was worried about how she would handle the rigors of Kindergarten, this girl who would still nap if there was enough time in the day, but she’s having a great year. Her teacher says she’s right where she needs to be, reading words, writing sentences, and studying geometry like Carson.

Getting Mae, our WILD puppy has shown me a whole new side to Carson and Ella. They have shown me a side of themselves that is so caring and responsible, helping to feed her and let her outside. We’ve all had to learn a lot (A LOT!!) of patience, but I think adding Mae to our family has added something only a new family member can add.

One of the highlights of this year was taking Carson and Ella to Destin last October. Everything about the trip was great, the weather, the food, the good company, the condo, the Gulf’s sun and surf….EVERYTHING. The best part was watching Carson and Ella play for hours together along the shore, building things out of sand, chasing each other, and laughing–there was so much laughing! If I could have bottled up the trip, I would have. The only thing missing from our trip was Tate, it was too bad he had to miss out on all the fun.

We spent our summer on the lake, swimming until we were ravenous for lake sandwiches. I lost count of the number of bottles of sunscreen we used, but it was somewhere in the range of five to A BUNCH. Noodles and life jackets were our must-have accessories for the summer.

It only took FOREVER, but Carson and Ella went to their first St. Louis Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. We bought overpriced souvenirs and ate hot dogs and Cracker Jacks. It was perfect, well, except for the fact that the Cardinals lost.

Carson and Ella have FINALLY begun to learn the art of sleeping in. We’ve had a year of Friday night movie nights and wrestling matches. Our backyard became a campground during the summer and fall, where we made s’mores and slept under the stars.

The thing from this year that I’ll most hold onto, though, is that Carson and Ella both reach out to hold my hand after school. As we walk back to our car after school, they don’t hesitate or worry what their friends will think if they’re caught holding my hand. Any day now they could decide that they’re too cool or grown up to hold my hand, so each day I get hold their hands is a gift.

Every day with them is a gift.

Every day with them is good.

Thanks so much to Hallmark for inviting me to be a part of their Life is a Special Occasion campaign this past year. I’m so honored that I was chosen to share my stories as a Hallmark ambassador in 2012. While I am compensated for my work, all stories are original and true.

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Probably Annoying

Written on November 30, 2012 by Jennifer in Pictures, Quirky Me

When my friends and I were in Nashville last April for our half-marathon, a girl stepped onto the elevator with us. She smelled amazing, so we told her so, asking what perfume she was wearing.

Laughing she said, “It’s Biofreeze.”

Just a little running humor for you to get this post started off on a probably annoying foot. Annoying because I realize that if you’re not a runner, you most likely don’t have the same affinity as I do for talking about all! things! running! Really, I could talk about running for days, the best running clothes, Garmin watches, stretching techniques, favorite routes, paces and splits, races, ointments….

(For you non-runner types who are still reading, Biofreeze is basically Ben-Gay, which is FUNNY right, that we thought it smelled like perfume?!)

So I know you’re probably very interested in hearing about how my half-marathon training is going! Well I’ll tell you! It’s going. I’m having some hip “issues” that I hope don’t turn into hip “problems,” but mostly I feel pretty good.

This round of training has been different than the last time. One of our good friends had a freak accident and hasn’t been able to train with us, but she’s ALIVE and getting better everyday, so that’s the most important thing. And another friend decided that she just really doesn’t like running (WHAT THE WHAT?!?!). It’s not the same without them. The rest of us are still having fun and talking smack about them while we run. (Just kidding Jen and Kate! Or am I…..)

I think about where I was with running just a little less than two years ago. I…hated it. I wanted to love running, but I couldn’t understand why people purposely ran, if not for the reason of being chased by a bad guy holding a gun or rabid animal. Never in a gabajillion years would I have ever imagined that running would be something that I truly love or that I’d develop such deep friendships with my running friends. Friends. They are the key to my love of running. Truly.

Apparently Christmas is right around the corner. My Scrooged-ness has begun to set in, worse than ever this year. Putting up the tree was a CHORE, but I faked merriment and joy for the kids. All of Christmas seems like a chore and I hate that.

Carson and Ella have been acting like jerks the past few weeks. I’ve basically taken away everything that gives their life joy, which means they get no chocolate in their milk, no special treats after school, no help folding their laundry, no Wii, no TV Christmas shows, no movie nights. Since none of this seemed to be make a bit of difference in their behavior, I decided to bring in the big guns.

We got an Elf on the Shelf.

Her name is Daisy and truthfully, I got her for myself as much as for the kids. I wanted something that would put the magic back into Christmas for me and after just two days of devising crazy schemes for the kids to find in the morning, I have to say that I’m having so much fun. It’s sort of like Christmas morning EVERY morning, watching the kids faces when they find her.

As an added bonus, their behavior has improved dramatically these past two days! Daisy, YOU are a miracle worker!

I plan to obnoxiously post all of Daisy’s adventures, so, uh, beware? Get ready to be wowed? I swore in years past that I’d never be one of those wackadoo people who got into the whole Elf on the Shelf phenomenon, but I’m allowed to change my mind! After the past several years of completely overthinking Christmas, I just needed to be reminded that we’re all allowed to have a little fun…even at, ESPECIALLY at, Christmastime.

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