you know it's December

You know it's December when....

~My grandparent's antique Christmas decorations sit on my coffee table.~

~The Festival of Trees comes to town and ice sculptures line the walkways.~

~My boys spend hours playing games they haven't played all year.~

My puddle jumping boots sit forgotten on my deck, 

 filled with frozen puddle water and wondering why they weren't properly put away.

~Our Nativity Set sits on my window sill.~

Kids offer to bake and use  ingredients not normally used any other time of the year.

~Hot apple cider with special (spiced rum) ingredients.~

I walk around with tape in my hair from wrestling with the 

wrapping paper and tape dispenser.

Hearing the annoying squeak from this plastic santa - 

that I used to run around with and squeak when I was a kid.

Moments just sitting  enjoying the quiet and lights,

 being thankful that the busy-ness of fall/winter activities has come to an 

end for a few weeks.

Wishing you all a wonderful first "December Weekend"!

A week of Numbers

 Monday morning to this moment...has been an accumulative 109 hours and 18 minutes.


Training~wise... (as of this morning), I  have logged a total of 93km....on the bike, rowing machine, at the pool, and in my running shoes.


School with the kids....have covered 5 more lessons of math, 2 in spelling,  1 Science Unit, and a ton of writing in composition books.


Football practices....6 between the 2 boys, 3 games Saturday.


Bills paid....3. One more this afternoon.


Sleep....too little to mention.


Grocery trips...4.


A week full of numbers, hours, moments.


My favorite so far has been the number of these I made with 2 boys 4 days ago.
There are 0 left.


The number I consumed....will be the only number I don't share with you in this post;D

Have a Sweet Weekend....in all you have planned to do.

Or maybe....we should all just sit back and take a numberless weekend off!

I'm thinking of making another 18 of these anyway.

~~~

super six mile run

I woefully looked out my window, staring sadly at my vehicle.

Poor thing.

He hadn't been able to run yet again today.

Stuck in snow, 

a drive-way full of drifts, 

roads inaccessible.

No trips to town for morning swims.

No bank runs to cash cheques and pay bills.

Not even a venture out for milk.

Drifts are piled high, snow plows haven't come around to our neck of the woods for almost a day, and snow piles up even higher as the hours pass.

Then I realize....

I CAN RUN.

He may have to sit in the drive, but I have my shoes.

With running treads no less.

I hastily yank back the door,

knee my way through the drifts in the walkway, (boys better shovel later....),

and I decide a mile will be mine.....

.....a mile where No Vehicle Has gone before!

(or at least not in the last 36 hours....)

And I'm off!

Dodging snow piles at the speed of lightning. (snort)

Passing telephone poles like a rocket.

On fire.

(snort, snort)

The fence posts may be up to their ears...but me?

I'm running by it all.

Flying up hills~ I run, 

not a care in the world.

It's impossible for me to get stuck in a rut, or a bank of snow.

(as it looks as though some poor sucker...ummm...vehicle did.)

The road is mine.

Even the much needed signs ~ belong to me now.

(Hidden intersection?! No kidding!)

One giant leap took me over a drift..

Bounding over banks of snow~I was now onto my 6th mile...and I couldn't even remember how I got there.

I flew. I'm sure of it. (Ha!)

{Funny what you're capable of when you pretend to be a Super-Hero;)}

(oh brother....eye roll)

My feet knew no boundaries.

I was running. 

Where no other vehicle could.

But then, like all good things....an end has to come.

In this case....my kids were probably needing supper.

And dark was falling. 

Like the snow. 

As I passed my vehicle, still sitting sadly in its parking spot, I gave it a pat.

"Maybe tomorrow, little guy. You might get your turn tomorrow."

(Super six-mile smile.)

~~~~~~~~

(now where the heck IS that snow plow?!)

I DiD IT!!!!!

Remember this? From ....my bucket list?

Well guess what?! 
I DID it!!!!!!
I actually hit enter and am officially signed up for a real live Olympic Distance Triathlon.
It's not the one in the mountains....but it's close, and the same distance!






I can't really believe I did it....
but for some reason I felt fearless tonight:)

Let the training begin!

~~~~

Running Me

Remember this post?

{Dog Run}

~~~~

Well.....things have changed.

The leash is loved- for not all the right reasons.

~~~

We don't just walk and run anymore....

...it's a tug-of-war.

And guess who always seems to win?

Winter Play

These were from last year...

but the scene is exactly the same today.

When our winter brings the white stuff.....we play.

~~~~~~

And we play big....or go home:)

Have I ever mentioned 

I absolutely love winter's white stuff?

Favorite Things~

Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents to some extent a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece by thought, choice, courage, and determination.                                                                                                                             ~John Luther ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Sound of Music is song is playing through my head. You know the one... "These are a Few of My Favorite Things"? It's playing over and over (and driving me a tad mad), so I thought I would give it some photos as it played.  Except instead of "raindrops and roses" and "whiskers on kittens", it's December~~~ Colorful Candy Canes sitting on counters. ***** Snowflakes on my Tree ***** Lights Glowing magically as I sit at the end of a long day. **** The Treasures I find on a simple walk. **** Cinnamon Eggnog Lattes with whip cream~in a mug given by a dear friend. **** My Backyard Neighbors~ who seem to have closed up cottage for the season. ***** The Winter Sunrises from my bedroom window. **** The Reason for all of these favorite things. **** My Girl....who turns 14 tomorrow. (happy Birthday Molly!!) ***** The Magic you find sometimes when you come around a corner. **** Okay, Okay....I love Brown Paper Packages tied up with String! ***** These are a few of my favorite things! *****          Wishing you another Wonderful Weekend!!!

Beautiful in the Mundane

Driving to work I stopped to look at this.

Walking to get my mail I watched how shadows fell.

Washing the dishes I enjoyed this view.

Hiking a trail I left a smile for whoever came next.

It's finding beauty in every day mundane which sometimes keeps me going.

It can be 

quite a 

beautiful Life.

~~~

~my Arctic Desert~

~The Glacier~

~Windswept terrain~

~Ground Cover~

~Arctic Cactus~

~my Polar Bear~

~{defying} my Arctic Desert's Cold~

*****

(would i want to be anywhere else?)

{ok....i have to be honest. yes.

a sandy white beach would be nice.}