Today was a lazy day of doing nothing, followed by the Run Santa Run 5k. The girls did the one-mile run (which we walked) and then I did the 5k. I beat my Thanksgiving time by almost five minutes. It was a chilly night (under 50 degrees!). My Santa jacket wouldn’t stay on and my pants kept falling down and I couldn’t fix either because I had my phone and car key in my hand. I ran with Monica, who goes much faster than I do. We hung in together for two miles, but I finally had to set her (and me) free. I think she’s a big part of the reason I finished with such an improved time. We did 60/30 splits, but her running pace during the 60s was over a minute per mile faster than my usual pace. I am so glad I did it, I’m so happy the girls did it, even though Christina was mad at me for not letting her bring her iPad and Robin was too cold to enjoy anything. I feel so good right now, like I can accomplish anything. I kind of already have.
Tag: christina
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November 26
Lazy day today. Highlights include: Running the wrong training program on the treadmill, knitting for hours, everyone but me playing Portal Knights, booking hotels for dance and a campsite for spring break, and writing one paragraph in the sermon I may never deliver but feel compelled to write anyway. It hasn’t been the most exciting week off, but I’ve gotten things done. I dedicate the rest of the week to… me.
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November 25
About five minutes after I took this photo, everything went to shit. Robin got sick, we ended up missing cheer practice, and everyone got upset. I think things are on the mend, but ugh.
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November 10
All four of us got haircuts today, and they all look great! For some reason, Christina decided to brush all those beautiful curls out of her hair. She said she wanted to see if they’d stay. Turns out they did not. It was nice while it lasted!
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October 31
Robin kept removing pieces of her attire that got uncomfortable until we were almost home and then she got a briar stuck in her toe and I thought we might have to call an EMT to hold her down while I tried to remove it. Just a few tears shed. Christina punched out early when she had to pee and then she never came back. I think despite it all, everyone had fun. These were some of the most fun costumes we’ve ever done. And even I dressed up! I cannot even remember the last time I wore a costume for Halloween. High school, maybe? It was fun and we got a lot of compliments. And I am so relieved I don’t ever have to wear contacts ever again.
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October 18
It was another stressful day at work, but the good news is I have a week off coming up. Started it off with dinner out as a family for the first time in what feels like forever. Life keeps lifing and getting in the way of living. Hoping we can strike a better balance this week.
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October 3
I wish I could find the dial that controls emotions because mine are always turned up way too high. A walk around the block with the girls and the dogs helped, but I think what I really need is an overnight trek in the mountains. Too bad that is just not in the cards right now.
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September 8
I finally got to use the gift certificate Rosina gave me for my birthday. We did some paint pouring! Robin and Christina were less than thrilled about going, but there’s something about splashing paint around that lifts one’s spirits. They’ll never admit it, but they had fun.
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August 24
I slept past 10am for the first time in what feels like at least ten years. I was having dreams that Robin was being lured into making bad choices before a tribunal that was obliterating people for making said bad choices. I tried to step in on her behalf, saying she’s only a child, she doesn’t know better, but they didn’t care. She’d made the choice, she had to deal with the consequences, even if it meant obliteration. My dreams can be very literal sometimes. So I took Christina to the pool. I’m glad we spent some time together. I had a lot of fun with her. We went to the library afterwards and she got some books, one of which she has already finished. Then home, where I made another ornament for the advent calendar that may never be finished. And then Billy got the new fire pit working and we all sat around it roasting s’mores. Even Pinot got a little bite of graham cracker. We had to force him outside because we caught him jumping on all the tables in the living room, eating all our crumbs and napkins. Overall, not a bad day. I have to make the most of these free days because there just aren’t enough of them.
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August 17
Days at the pool are running out. I was sad that Robin wouldn’t come with us. Someday maybe we’ll have our own pool.
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August 16
We finally managed to get out to get Robin the ice cream she earned from that epic practice over a week ago. Between our trip to New York and Robin’s strep throat, we just couldn’t make it happen. But it was worth the wait. She even recovered when I told her she has a practice on Sunday.
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August 12
Back to school today. Christina came home as bubbly as ever. Robin came home with a 103-degree fever. And so we begin.
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August 3
We took a family pasta making class at the Y and made about 10 pounds of pasta. Not that any of it went to waste. The dogs enjoyed eating the small amount of dough that was too sticky to use. I also made two more ornaments for the advent calendar, which looks like it might not be finished in time for this Christmas either. But it is getting closer.
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July 26
I didn’t get to the pool yesterday, thanks to the weather, so I took the day off from work and went this morning. I did not regret it. I always forget how refreshing the water is when it’s 102 degrees outside. Then we watched the Olympics opening ceremony, which was FOUR HOURS LONG OMG, but still pretty cool. Good day.
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July 22
Christina astounds me with her creative, adventurous spirit. Robin amazes me with her talent and accomplishments. She got her back handspring again today after months of injury, lackluster coaching, and holidays. She overcame her fear and did it. I love both of them with all my heart for all the reasons and more. I crawl out of the abyss for them every day and almost never regret it, which I could not say so many years ago. Grateful for all of it, all of them, all of us.
Year in Photos 