Minecrafting

In case you aren't familiar with the game, this is a screen shot from Minecraft.  I just want you to see how blocky everything is.









Caiden is coming to visit for 2 weeks during his Spring Break.  I wanted to do something special for him.  He is really into the game Minecraft, so I began minecrafting a green storage ottoman of his into a creeper character. Minecraft is all about square, pixelated images, I thought scrapbooking paper would be perfect for some wall art.  I printed out a Steve and Diamond Steve on photo paper and mounted them onto scrapbook paper.  From the available colors I had, I also managed to make a cow and a pig.

Then I was stuck about how to hang my art.  I didn't want to put holes in them.  I used to use a glue gun at school, but I was afraid it would tear the sheet rock.  I thought about using the tacky gummy stuff, but I couldn't find any.  Square frames aren't exactly the standard.  This morning I found these:

$6 dollar store decorative frames

They were almost perfect!  The scrapbook pages are 12x12; the openings in the frames were about 11.5x11.5.  I had to cut my squares down.  I died a little inside as it threw off my proportions slightly :(
I kind of wanted to redo them, but it was time consuming to get it right the first time around.  I'm sure Caiden will not be bothered (though he's a lot like me and probably WILL notice).

No one makes Minecraft licensed bedding. To solve the bedding issue, I bought green sheets and a brown comforter.  I pained a creeper face on one corner of the pillow.

I so wish I could paint one wall green, but we are renting.  I am now on the hunt for some bright blue curtains.  I plan on painting blocky white clouds on them.  I can't wait for Bubba to see his Minecrafted room!!!

Summer Tease

It was about 92 degrees with a cool breeze, but the sun was hot.  It was much nicer in the shade.  I thought twice about going for a run because the sun was bright and beating down on me as I walked outside.  What was I thinking?  It was a gorgeous day out.  Summers here are easily in the triple digits, even without considering the heat index.

I ran a long run yesterday, so I only wanted to run an easy 3.  I should really have taken the day off, but tomorrow is my long day + client, and it's difficult to get a run in before I have to pick the boys up from daycare. I would prefer not to leave them there until it closes.

I ran contnuously:
1/2 mile warm up
1 mi @ 9:24
1 min jog
1 mi @ 9:17
1/2 mile cool down

I ended up pushing myself a little instead of an "easy" run, but it wasn't a hard workout either.  I guess yesterdays 6.6 mile run was just the break I needed to push through.  My legs were a little tired, but my abdominal area and lower back were not sore.  It was a pleasant surprise.  (Since I had my back surgery and c-section, I have had some constant aches and pains.)

 

The Impasse

This morning I went on a long run.  I ran about 6.6 miles.  I didn't have my watch, so I wasn't sure how far I ran at the time.  The first part of my route I've run several times before, so I knew where my first 3 miles were.  My goal was to run for an hour, but I ended up running a little more.  Lately I have been stuck in a run rut.  I have been running 2.5-3.5 miles for several weeks and just couldn't get passed that 3.5 mile mark.  I think last week I finally ran about 4, but I struggled through it and had to walk halfway through.
Today I struggled for the first two miles.  I really just wanted to turn around and go back home, but I purposely set out to run away from home for about a half hour so that I would be forced to run (or at the very least walk) back.  After two miles I stopped to catch my breath and figure out what I would do about this:

At the top right of the pic is a bridge.  I quickly decided I would not be running on the bridge.  It is a two lane bridge, but two cars barely fit and there is no shoulder, not to mention it is at least a quarter of a mile in length.  I decided I did not want to play chicken with oncoming traffic.  Then I thought about running through this, if you can tell there's a road/trail on the other side of the "ditch" (aka waterless canal).  I decided against this option as well.  The grass is high and we have cacti and rattlesnakes, among other dangerous critters around these parts.  I decided to turn around and run a different route.  

After stopping briefly to contemplate crossing this bridge, I began to run again and struggled to jog the third mile.  Then something awesome happened~I got a second wind!  I was able to run the second half+ smoothly and easily and without thoughts of wanting to just get home.  It was a great feeling. I really was able to just enjoy the beautiful morning, soak up the sun to try to get rid of this bad boy:

If you look closely you can see the remnants of the RAD tattoo I had
when I ran with the grad school girls in early February!

I actually wasn't ready to stop when I did, but I had to get back to the boys.  The sitter asked that they be picked up by 9:30 am so that she could have time to get ready for church.  It was 9:15 when I got home and I had time for a quick rinse before picking them up.  I'm really looking forward to this week and the following week and having a little extra time to run.  My Spring Break technically starts Thursday 12:15 pm.  I actually can't wait for my Spring Break to be over because Caiden comes that Friday for 16 days =)

Falling in place

Things are falling in place, finally.  I got my client a few weeks ago, the week several assignments were  due and even a test. It was a rough week, but things have started to get easier.  I've finally seen for myself, I am not going to ruin his life, lol.  It's not quite as bad as I'd worked it up to be.

Living here has made it easier to be a family.  HR has been home on several occasions when we might not have been able to see him had we been "home" in Weslaco.

Story time before bed.

Last week I didn't get to run much.  I came down with something...sinus infection maybe.  I had a difficult time breathing and had a terrible migraine for two days.  This week I got back on track.  Sunday I did insanity, and yesterday and today I was able to run for about a half hour each.  

Caiden called HR today, and we all got to talk to him.  We are trying to arrange for him to come during his Spring Break (which is 2 whole weeks and then some).  We are all excited!!!  Trey has a had a language explosion and Ryan is unstoppable.  I think he will be my little runner!

Be My Valentine Run

This past weekend I ran the Be My Valentine Run put on by one of my college cross country/track teammates, Ceci.  She has created several races in the past two years that are fun, lively and hard to get into if you wait too long.  She is making quite a name for herself in San Antonio.  I have signed up for a few of her races before, but I have been unable to make it~once I was busy have an emergency C-Section, another was about the time Trey had his seizure.  I almost missed out again due to....I will diagnose myself to spare you some details....a stomach bug.  I decided that although I was drained and didn't feel up to it, I would surely regret it.

Don't you just love Ceci's run logo?  This would totally be me and HR!

I ran into some old faces from college, and I had a blast running the course which was on the river.  It started and ended at the San Antonio Museum of Arts, which my husband and I took full advantage of after the run. The scenery was beautiful.  I ran nice and easy and chatted up some of the runners (Ceci, you and your runs are definitely well liked!!!)  I had goals for a run time, but I didn't end up trying to pursue them.  I just took it in.  It had been a rough weekend, full of disappointment, but I made the best of it all, including the run.  I ran close to a 9:00-9:15 pace, but finished in about 29 minutes, due to having to stop a couple of times to retrieve my sock which had bunched up at my arch and was causing a blister.

One of the race sponsors was Alamo Beer.  After the race I got a beer for HR.  While he was drinking it he noticed something floating around in it.  It was very likely some plastic from the cup itself. So, while he's looking down and swirling it, some guy walks over and asks if there's something wrong with the beer.  HR tells him there's something floating around.  The man says, "Well swirl it around a little more and maybe the Virgin Mary will appear and you could charge people to see it."  THEN, he proceeds to introduce himself as Mr. Alamo Beer himself.  The founder/owner in the flesh.  We had a drink with him.  I totally name-dropped and told him that Ceci was a good friend and got me hooked on it.  He was a pretty cool, down to earth guy.

One of the things my husband loved about the run is the intimacy.  I've been running since I was 9 years old, and I don't think I've ever participated in anything like it.  The bib numbers are personalized and as you come in every person is called by name and cheered in.  The owner of Alamo beer was walking around introducing himself and making sure everyone had a good time.  Ceci was taking single/taken photos.  It was well organized, well run and well worth the travel (it's a 2.5 hour drive for me) even if I didn't get to "race".  There was just a feeling of....well, like everyone is family or friends.  It was such a good time.  We didn't get to stay too long after because the boys weren't feeling well, but I can tell from the pictures that we missed out on even more.

Rad Run

Today was the Color.Me.Rad Run.  Many of the CSDO grads participated and it was a blast!

Brianna, Tori & Me

The three of us rode up together.  All of us grads had planned to make shirts and coordinate our outfits, but it's grad school and finding a time when everyone could meet was rough.  We decided to make our own fashion statement.  We also happen to be the only newbies that participated.  (We are first semester grads, the others are second).

We found some more of our group

 
So, we made our way to the start line.  The wave times that people registered for basically meant nothing.  To keep things moving they had several waves within each main wave.  We just happened to be cut off from the first 10:15 wave, so we were at the start second 10:15 wave.  We were so spunky and energetic that the MC called us out.  He wanted US to start the wave.  We had lost a few of our team members in the cattle herding process, so he was cool enough to make everyone make way for them to get through.  We were directed to trip anyone that tried to pass us in the first 100 meters or so, lol.  Have I mentioned our team name?  PURE AWESOMENESS counted down in the MC's megaphone to start the next wave.  So cool! I think we all ran those first 100 meters, some walked, some ran, some did both, but we all had an amazing time.

The MC is the dude in the middle, the one that looks like a smurf!!!

After with the original musketeers + Adina

After the run we went to eat on the bay.  It was a beautiful day and the live music was great.  I wish that part of the day didn't have to end.  Now, the dreaded H-word.  Homework all evening so that maybe I can enjoy the Superbowl tomorrow.

Tennis Balls + Moving Cars

According to our program director, throwing tennis balls at moving cars is very therapeutic.  Not exactly my idea of stress management.  Of course, I prefer to run.  This week, I was able to run with HR a few times.  I enjoy running with him and wish we had more time to do so.  Sometimes he starts out on the bike and I run and then we switch off periodically.  Today we actually ran together, no bike involved.  It was nice.  At times we were just quiet or weren't running exactly together, other times he slowed down to run with me and we talked or I sang loudly (and horribly) the song playing on my iPod at the time.

Trey is still in a period of adjustment at daycare, but he is fine once breakfast is served.  Ryan went from not even attempting to walk 1-2 weeks ago, to running this week.  He is so silly, always smiling.  I'm missing my Caiden, but he is really enjoying his new adventure.  I'm happy for him.

School is going.  I have a lot going on in the coming week.  I will finally get to meet my client next week.  I'm nervous, but excited.  He happens to be a nine-year-old boy, so I'm already a little sensitive about that...he's Caiden's age!  I know I will learn a lot from him.  I have several assignments and a test to do next week, eek!

My in-laws are watching the boys this weekend.  They offered and I didn't want to be disrespectful and argue, lol.  It comes at a perfect time, as there is a color run this weekend that most of the CSDO grads are going to be participating in.  I'm hoping to snap some pictures for a blog about it!  I will also be spending time working on a stuttering project and preparing for my client.  Busy weekend!!! I love my kids, but I'm happy to be able to have a little kidless fun with a great group of new friends. Updates to come....