Couch To 5K

So, a few months ago, I joined Stroller Warriors.  This is a running club for military wives.  Most of us have children in strollers that we run with.   A lot of these women are active marathoners.  I was so intimidated to show up to any of their runs.  I couldn't even run a half mile! 

Then, they started a Couch to 5K program.  This was exactly what I needed!  I had done this program after I had Joey, but I didn't really follow the program, so I didn't really see great results.  

However, this time was going to be different.  I was going to follow the program to a T.  

 For 8 weeks, I followed every step and every second.  This was my life guide, even when it meant I had to run on the treadmill by myself!

This program really does work.  I seriously could not run at all when I started this program.  The first intervals were set at 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking.  I couldn't even run the full 60 seconds.   

By the end of the 8 weeks, I was running 3.1 miles!  What.  The.  Hell.    The program did work!

I don't think it was just the program.  I really think it was the group.   The fact that I had avid runners staying by my side, even though I was super slow and probably hurting them.  These ladies, especially two in particular (Jen and Paty!), stayed by my side and truly motivated me, even when I begged them to go on without me.  By the end, I realized I really did need them.  They helped me to push on.  Not to give up.  To put one foot in front on another. 

This was a hard battle.  It was so emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting!  I had so many hurdles to jump during this training, with most of them being mental!  I really absorbed all of the running quotes fellow runners chanted and posted on FB to get me through the hard times.  

By the end of it, I RAN 3.1 miles twice!  (Two 5K's in one week).  I am so freaking proud of myself and the group I trained with.  We are all truly awesome and BAMR's! (Bad Ass Mother Runners)!   :)

End of February/Beginning of March

We joined our friends, Melanie, Bryan, Peyton, and Avery, for some bouncy house fun and then some wings!  Bristol had such a great time that she passed out at the table! 

Who says you have to have a healthy breakfast every day?!?!  Doughnuts every once in a while are perfectly acceptable! 

Future's so bright, gotta wear shades! 

I bought this little tent from a friend in Alaska over a year ago.  This is the first time we've been able to use it and it was awesome!

Even though the tent kept her contained for a little while, she managed to break out and get into the sun and sand!   

We were able to check out the San Diego Wild Safari Park one Saturday.  It turned out to be one of our 80 degree days and it was the first of March!

Of course, the boys had to stop and check out the ducks.  

And then become worms.   

Bristol went on her first ride!  She loved the carousel!   

J and B loved this gorilla statue.  I feel like this gorilla a lot of days.   

My smiley girl with her two bottom teeth!   

Here's a sneak peek to B's Easter outfit!  ;) 

Bristol got to meet our good friend, Amy, from Alaska.  Her and her fiance, Bryan, were down this way visiting lots and lots of family!  We were able to meet up with them in Hermosa Beach.  It was so good to see them and we miss them so very much.  

 Joey got to try his luck at his first pinata!  He loved it and wanted to keep knocking the crap out of it.  However, he is a gentleman and let the other kids get a whack in too.  

Best Week Ever

We were soooooo busy in February!  It was non-stop activities for us and the kids.  Joey may have had the best week a kid could ever have.  Ever. 

First things first, though.  We had to start our spring cleaning!  Joey's future wife, you're welcome!

Speaking of future wife, this is one of Joey's little lady friends.  She is so cute and Joey really likes her.  As some of my friends pointed out, Joey already has that "Hey Girl" look going on!  Haha!

Our BC (big cousin) Becky, BC Bo, and LC (little cousin) Avery came down our way for some fun family time!  We were going to to go to Disneyland for two days in a row, but that didn't work out.  Then, we were going to go to Knott's Berry Farm, but that didn't work out.  Finally, we ended up going to an indoor kids playground with the cousins!  The kids LOVED it!  

We did get to go to Disneyland with Bo and Becky the next day!   

 Joey was so excited to meet Jessie!  We didn't even know that he was so fascinated with her. 

I love the faces he makes on rides for the first time! 

Joey even took a nap in the stroller during the middle of the day at Disney and he ate three chicken legs when he woke up (he really hasn't been eating much)!  Disney really is the happiest place on Earth!

 It was so much fun going with our cousins to Disney!  I'm glad we were all able to make it happen!

 Later in the week, we went to Sea World as the February field trip for Mommy and Me.  Joey absolutely loves this place.  

Especially when the dolphins played ball with Joey and got him all wet!

One of Joey's little friend's Grammy was in town and went with us.  She spoiled the kids so much!  She bought them fish to feed the seal lions and bought them Orca Whale straws!  Joey loved Grammy very much.   

The next day, we celebrated Valentine's Day in Mommy and Me.  This was a class that was completely dedicated to sugar!  Needless to say, my child did not nap.

   

                           

The following day, we celebrated a little friend's birthday at an indoor playground.  Bounce houses, ball shooters, tunnels, cake, pizza, and friends!?!!?  Joey was in heaven!

 And, finally, to end our awesome week of fun, we drove to Buckeye, Arizona to see our good friends, Cari, Shawn, and Ella.  (We are taking a nursing break in the above picture.  We are not driving.  We are parked in a parking lot.  I don't want anyone to think that we don't have B in a car seat while the car is moving!)

While we were in AZ, we checked out a farm outside of Phoenix.   

 We took a hay ride and train ride.

Ate some good food! 

Fed some pigs and goats!  Side note, do not put your face close to the pigs.  They may bite!  Poor little Ella got nipped in the face by one of the pigs.  

The best part of the day was getting to pick our own veggies!  Joey actually ate the broccoli that he thought we had picked on this trip! (We actually left the broccoli at our friend's house, but we didn't tell Joey that). 

 On our last day with our friends, we went on a little 3-mile hike in the desert.  

 It was a nice hike, but I really don't care for the desert at all.  Everything looks the same. 

However, since you can see everything, you can take a shortcut without getting lost since you can pretty much see for miles!  

It was a really great trip and a good way to end the most fun-filled week ever!!

January

Since I am so behind in posting, I'm going to just do a few monthly summaries of our adventures to catch up on this blog!  I promise I will try to get better about posting!  

Joey has become such a little man here lately!  We used to have to sit in the barber chair with him when he got his hair cut...now, he sits there all by himself!  

Joey received a few belated Christmas presents that he loves and Mommy and Daddy dislike.  Aunt Leanne better hold on...payback sucks.  :)

Joey likes to Skype with the grandparents.  However, he doesn't fully understand where the camera is.  He was trying to show MeeMee and Papa his castle.   

We took a little 2-hour road trip to Big Bear Lake, a local ski town.  We really liked this town.  It still had the 1950's ski town feel.  

Joey now gets to push his own little grocery cart at the store.  He LOVES this!  If it keeps him occupied, than I'm happy too! 

We had a visit from Aunt Julia!  We hung out at the beach and checked out the a local favorite pizza place and got to Skype with April!   

 We got to hang out lots with Daddy!

 Bristol sat in a high chair for the first time!

We decided to start hiking at least once a weekend.  It may not be the kind of hiking we like, since we are completely surrounded by infrastructure, roads, and people, but it's better than being stuck inside! 

A really cool tree we saw on our hike in Big Bear.   

Bristol and Mommy bonding! 

Joey may be a little man, but he still wants his cuddle time! 

Joey misses skiing!  He only went once we went to Sequoia last year, but he obviously loved it!  Ha! 

I started a Couch to 5K program with a local military running club, Stroller Warriors.  I really hate running, but this is a great program to get my booty off of the couch! 

The kids and I enjoying our daily morning cuddle session before we start the day!

Joey got to try bowling for the first time!  He was hooked!  However, he had a hard time waiting his turn.  Hard life lessons, bud.  

Bristol got to really experience the beach for the first time.  Don't let this picture of her sitting in the middle of the blanket not touching any sand fool you.  Little miss wiggled her way right to that sand!