Just Keep Running......

I sort of feel like the saying, just keep swimming, just keep swimming only for me it is just keep running, just keep running. I don't know what my problem is right now, but I am sort of freaking out lately about a little thing called LIFE. School starts next week. NEXT WEEK!!! I know I have said for 5 years that I would be the mom jumping up and down screaming for joy when the bus pulled away with all 5 of my kids on it. I still believe that. I am not the crying super emotional b/c my kids are growing up type. Not that there is anything wrong with that...but that is not me! I am much more freaked out by just how busy I think life becomes once school starts. 5 teachers. 5 kids in sports. 2 fairly busy parents. I know things in my life just work themselves out. In the end.....things work out! I am just having a hard time seeing how I will keep up. It seems an impossible task looking ahead. Proof that things work out. I got an email tonight asking a few girls (Alexis included) if they could switch their next year gymnastics schedule to M, W, Th, Sat instead of M, W, F, Sat. Now that doesn't seem a lot different, but for me it is huge. Friday night is Bible study. God knows that if I am to maintain my sanity I need my small group. Now Friday nights are more open (who knows once hockey starts) and while it makes Thursday nights insane with both gymnastics and hockey, I would much rather it be that way. Proof..right...that it will all work out??!!

So those are my thoughts for the night. Total fear and anxiety about what the next academic year will bring for my family! Minor problems I do realize in the grand scheme of all that is going on in this world right now!

Hope everyone has a happy Monday night!

Not Soon Enough

I'm ready. I have had almost a week without boys and now I am thinking they can't get home soon enough.  I spoke with my mom yesterday just after they left the island. Things were a little delayed and so it is going to be later than expected. I guess Adam is very sick. He needs his mama. I guess he started with vomiting and diarrhea and my latest update from my sister (who is better talking to my mom on the phone so I prefer just to hear things from her), he has been vomiting every hour since. My mom did call me last night and asked if I wanted her to "dump Adam with Clark" when they drove by the town in Canada that he and Nick are doing their hockey camp. Ummmm... really??!! NO! I don't want you to "dump" my sick kid with my husband. I didn't even try and follow her logic there. She said it was b/c maybe he would want to take him to the hospital. Let's think about this.  Clark is at hockey camp.  A camp we paid A LOT of money for.  He has been wanting to do this camp with Nick like forever!! So again...NO!! As for the hospital thing.......my parents are ER doctors. While my mom and I don't agree with ANYthing in the medical field, I feel confident that they can handle a child who is vomiting. Doesn't sound like fun, and I feel horrible for all involved (mostly my child who must feel like absolute crap vomiting all over the place every hour while being stuck in a car for 15 hours). I am sorry this has made for a hellish drive. I am sorry he has gone through all his clothes and you had to stop and buy him more BUT, I need him to get home. I need to take care of my sick little man. I need to assess the situation myself. So for Adam's sake they can not get here soon enough.

Huge thanks in advance to my neighbor Julie who found out that I was going to have to wake Alexis up at 12:30am b/c I have to go meet my parents and get the boys.  She called and offered to keep Alexis for the night, so that I would not have to do that. I tried to say no at least 10 times but after living next to Julie for 5 years I have learned that I almost never win a battle like that with her. I love my friends and family. There really is no way I could raise these kids without them! Village right?? This weekend will be much of the same. Relying on Stephanie for help with Alexis Saturday while I work and my mom has to watch the boys. I am on call and Clark is in Canada. Gonna suck! Ugh......

Training update:
Things are still going well. Here is what I have been doing lately.
Last Wed: 7 miles on TM at gym
Last Thurs: 10 miles on Monon
Friday: cross with 1 hour on bike at gym
Saturday: 8 miles outside (switched the Sat/Sun runs)
Sunday: 4 miles on TM at home
Mon: 4 miles on TM at gym
Tues: REST (Tuesday is now my official rest day. Used to be Monday on old training plan but had to change it up)
Wed: 8 miles on TM at gym
Thurs: 16 miles on monon with Jaime. Love, love love my long run days!!
Friday: Should be going to gym for cross day.......sounds like that is NOT going to happen. Will figure something out here at home.

Here is what I look like with no make up and soaking wet after a 16 mile run. This is one of the running outfits I bought yesterday.

The mileage really starts to pick up now. This plan seems to be all about doing long runs on tired legs. I have at least three 20 mile runs and those weeks I have 10 mile runs the day before and 10 mile runs 3 days later. I am up for this challenge. Again going a lot slower which is fine with me right now! Even if my next marathon time is slower but I walk MUCH less of it, I will be happy (for that race....then I will work on time once I have conquered the distance).

I have also started logging all my calories again. I have used the myfitnesspal app religiously for over a week. It works. I have not gone over my calories yet. It is hard but makes me love my exercise days all the more b/c I can eat more. It was great getting 1600 extra calories today (not that I will eat them all).

Well that is all I have for today. Anxiously awaiting the return on my trio!!! Speaking of anxious.....have I mentioned yet that school starts in 2 weeks. I am already losing sleep due to my anxiety about how this next year is going to go.........

Coming To An End

Girl's week is coming to an end very soon as 3 of my 5 boys are expected to return home tomorrow. Alexis should be one very tired child at the end of this stretch since we have been very busy. I didn't blog yesterday b/c I forgot to take any pictures of her at my work. I wish I had taken a picture of her before many people had gotten there sitting on a chair wrapped in a red fuzzy blanket. I told her it was going to be cold. I always look stupid dressed for winter with a coat on seeing patients when it is over 100 degrees outside. I am sure the day was boring for her, but she would never say that. She said she had fun. Not sure how hanging out entertaining yourself for 10 hours could be considered fun. I had a busy schedule since I was gone on Monday. In fact, I think it was the most well visits I have had in a day. I can't complain though b/c there were a million babies to round on and since I had Alexis I could not help. Alexis was sort of all over the place. Sometimes she was sitting right next to me and then she would be gone for a couple hours hanging out in my office. She watched the movie Annie. She drew me a picture to hang on my door. At one point the girls up front put her to work stapling and putting stickers on charts. I think she really liked that part b/c she felt important. We went to Panara Bread for lunch. I didn't realize that Paradise Cafe was the exact same now b/c we had gone there the day before. Oh well....we got different things. Within one minute of our drive home, she was asleep. The day wore her out! Once we got home I started not to feel so great. I am allergic to work. I always start sneezing and get cold symptoms after a day at work. Then by next day it is gone. That evening, Alexis went to the neighbors to play for a little bit since I was not up for doing much.

Today (our last official girl day) started by going to the gym. I was pleasantly surprised that although army man was there, I never saw him!! I ran 8 miles on the treadmill. It went fine, and I never had to stop except when I needed to restart the treadmill b/c it will only allow you to do one hour. After that we came home, ate lunch quickly and headed to Stephanie's house for a swim date. Stephanie's daughter Maddie and Alexis are the same age so it was great that she had someone to play with and I could have some adult time talking with Steph. All 4 of us girls had a great time.

 I think it is so funny how much smaller Maddie is. They are the same age. Maddie only looks like she is 4 years old:)

 Here is a picture of Stephanie's very cute preggo belly (33 weeks and counting). She is so darn tiny even pregnant.....This is going to be her 4th child!  I have told her from the start that she was crazy:)

 Here we are just chillin'

After our swim date, Alexis and I went to Dick's to get her new tennis shoes for school. She got some hot pink ones.  I had to pick up some power bar gels and honey stingers b/c I was out of most of my long run fuel foods. Annoys me how expensive they are so since I have been back home I have ordered some off Amazon for cheaper (and now I will be stocked for at least a month or more). I also couldn't leave Dick's without new running clothes. No matter how hard I try to walk past that section, I just can't do it. I don't have a lot of shoes like some girls.....  After Dick's I had to take Alexis to her 4 hour practice. Tonight she is going home to spend the night with Jaime (and her daughter Kaitlyn) so that I can meet Jaime early in morning on the Monon for our long run. My legs are going to feel it after this. I just ran 8 miles at 9am and now less than 24 hours later I am making them go another 16. Much like our last long run of 14 miles (not counting our recovery week), Jaime is freaking out about the heat. She has already convinced herself she won't be able to do it.....so much so that I seriously doubt she will. What she wants to run out 4 and then back 4 and see how she feels. If okay.. continue. If dying from heat, she wants us to go to her gym ( I think I still have a free pass somewhere) and finish the run on the T-mill. Having just done 8 on a T-mill today, I am not at all excited about this option, but I will do whatever she wants to do. I just want to get the 16 in. I do not feel good about tomorrow's long run. Normally, I love the long run. Hope things go better than expected!!

Well since I need to catch up on things around the house, I will end this here. Happy running to all those training for something. Happy day to all those not!

Shopping Spree

It is probably a good thing I have only one daughter b/c the one I have LOVES to shop. Today was our day to go school clothes shopping.  I think calling it "school clothes shopping" is just an excuse to shop b/c she has a entire closet full of clothes that she can wear to school. It is not like she has to wear a uniform or anything. Normally my mom takes her shopping for clothes before school but since we had a girls week to plan, this is what she wanted to do with me.

I took today as a vacation day from work. We started our day by going to the gym. I just needed to get my quick work out in before we were gone the rest of the day. I was so hoping that since it was a Monday maybe army man would not be there. I didn't know b/c I never go on a Monday. Turns out Mondays are really crowded days and while army man was no where in sight when I got there, he was when I was leaving. He was standing right by where I had to get my stuff to leave so no avoiding him. I kept the conversation short. Basically he pointed out that my work out was rather short and asked if I was already leaving. I wanted to scream back that he doesn't know how long I have been there and maybe I had been there for hours and really it is none of his business... instead I just smiled and agreed that yep it was a short one. I seriously don't know why he annoys me so much. He really is harmless!

Alexis and I made a quick 10 minute stop at home to freshen up. Then we headed up to Clay Terrace Mall to shop. We first ate lunch at Paradise Cafe to get some energy to power shop. Then we hit a few stores. Alexis seemed to be loving this experience. She was having fun trying on things and liked everything she saw. I think she just liked the idea of buying things b/c never once did I point out something that she said she didn't like. She did get a little annoyed with me at the Crazy 8 when I was spending more time looking for boys things. Luckily for my bank account we were on a time limit b/c of gymnastics. We only  made it in 3 stores before we had to leave. I almost cried as I had to walk past WHBM without going in b/c today was not about me....just kidding!!!

Here we are eating lunch!

 Yep I buy cheap clothes!!

 Alexis never really gets to experience dressing rooms unless with my mom b/c I do almost all my shopping for kids clothes online. What I learned today at gymboree was that sometimes it is good to go in the store since often the price on the tag (even the discounted price) is not really the price and nearly everything I bought was cheaper. That made it cheaper than if I had bought it online.

 Finally we had time for Justice. Again. I walk in that store and I swear I am going to have a seizure it is so colorful and everything has shiny stuff/sparkles, etc. We got a couple more things and then I told her she could have grandma take her back::))

Before we had to leave for gymnastics, we made one last stop at Cold Stone. Alexis really wanted some. I am not much of an ice cream fan but Clark is, and so usually it is Clark taking them to ice cream shops. I was slightly disgusted when she got coffee ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. I guess this is her favorite at this place. She enjoyed it and I was happy that she picked something that I would not want to sneak bites of. Then it was time for gymnastics. Now I asked her no less than 2 times to make sure she had her leotard when we left the house.  Still when we were in the car and I asked one last time if she had it on the way, she did that famous look all around and swear it must be there somewhere act. Basically she forgot it at home. There was no way we were driving all the way home and back. We ended up having to buy a new one, and I am making her pay me half b/c those things are not cheap.

While she was at her 4 hour practice. I went to my mom's to hang out. Since she is in Canada with my trio I figured it would be nice and relaxing. When I got there, my sister and Kim were there so I ended up talking with them for a long time. Then I went to Subway. Then I decided that since it was girl's week Alexis would really like it if I went to gymnastics and just watched her. I made it back for the last hour. Jaime was there and so I am not sure how much I actually was paying attention. Instead Jaime and I spent the hour talking about running and working out, etc. She is already freaking herself out about our upcoming 16 mile run. She is kicking butt on all these speed work outs she is doing but has some mental block with the long run. It will be fine. Right now I think the only thought that will be going thru my mind will be....1600 extra calories...1600 extra calories!!

Now we are back home and it is time for us to go to bed. Tomorrow is bring your daughter to work day. Okay maybe not for everyone but for me it is bring my daughter to work day. There was just no way I was paying 200 dollars for our Tuesday sitters to watch one very easy child. She is excited to come to work. That excitement will last less than one hour I am sure b/c I am really busy tomorrow and she is going to be sitting in my office for hours and hours and hours. We will bring lots of things to entertain her.

I got a text from Clark earlier and sounds like he and Nick are having a great time at hockey camp. I also got a call from my mom who said that Adam, Landon and their cousin Caleb were doing GREAT. As for Ryan she wants to send him back in a UPS box. People just don't realize just how hard of a child he is to deal with until they spend time with him. His normal is just not the typical normal. He doesn't fit any particular category very well (like autism, etc but he's something). It is some sort of emotional/behavioral  problem that I struggle to understand. All I kept saying back to her as she was going on and on is that "I get it.....I live with him."  I am really starting to stress about how KG is going to go for him.  Ugh...okay now that I am all stressed thinking about that let me end this here. Hope everyone has a happy Tuesday!

Crafty Day

I am just going to start by saying that I am convinced having one child is just as hard as having five children. At least with more than one child they have built in buddies to play with. One child is exhausting. They want to have your attention and play every waking minute of the day. I did manage to sneak away to write this blog while she was eating dinner. This needs to be quick however b/c I have been informed that next up is game time.

So today was our designated crafty day. I got up early to get my 4 mile run in on the treadmill before Alexis was even awake. Then I got Alexis up and we went and picked up my grandma. Alexis had an American Girl craft that required sewing and since I don't sew (just like I don't cook), we needed reinforcements. My grandma is amazing at all things crafty. Clearly this talent was NOT passed on to me (or my mother). When I called my grandma, I was not sure she would even want to come considering our past drama at the start of the year. Actually I was not sure we would ever be talking again, but she came to the triplets 5 year B.D party in May and that broke the 5 months of no contact. Turns out that was enough time to put aside our differences and pick up as if nothing had ever happened. I had mentioned to Alexis several times in the planning of girl week that we should have a crafty day and invite my grandma but I wasn't sure....  It was Alexis who urged me just to make the call. My grandma said yes. So we drove 50 minutes to pick her up. Then we came home and craft time began. Alexis and my grandma worked on her American girl purse with sewn on flowers and I did some scrapbooking. We took a break at lunch time and ate at Applebee's. This is not my favorite place to eat but it does have under 550 calorie options which makes it easy to count calories and eat out. After lunch we spent another couple hours working on our crafts. Alexis was a little hard to focus near the end as she was bouncing all over the place. I think she was on some sort of sugar high b/c she was eating candy during crafty time (I was not... I had some raw carrots and just thought about how much I would rather be having candy).  Finally we were all a little tired of doing crafts and drove my grandma home. I think this was a great day. I enjoyed spending time with Alexis and my grandma. I think it was good for my grandma to get out of the house b/c she gets lonely. It was also good for my heart and soul to finally feel like we are at peace with one another again. It was weighing heavily on my heart that given how unpredictable life is, we could wait until too late to make amends. I am glad that did not happen.

I love that my 84 year old grandma is still willing to have crafty day with her 8 year old great-granddaughter!!! How cool is that! Since Alexis was making American Girl stuff, I did a few American Girl themed pages of Alexis' 8th birthday (which was American Girl themed).

 Here Alexis has more flowers done and I did a page of the boys at West Park one day while we were waiting for Alexis to finish with gymnastics practice.

 Here is her finished product. Don't ask me why she is posing like that.........

 She wanted me to show the inside.

Here are the other 2 American Girl pages I did. Alexis just took this picture which is why I look so tired with crazy hair. Long but fun day!

 These were the first 2 pages I did today. Yes I realize that this page is of the triplets 4th birthday and they are now 5 but I realized one day I never did a page when they turned 4....now I have!!

Once Alexis and I got back home we had a quick snack, but there was no time for dinner b/c Alexis wanted to go to the pool. Luckily the sky started to look dark and although I don't think it rained/stormed, I at least convinced her that we needed to go home b/c it might rain (and I was hungry....)

We both have now been fed and she is standing over my shoulder waiting for me to get done blogging for the day so that we can play games. I think she said we are playing Trouble. Did I mention I am tired. EXHAUSTED!!

NO BOYS ALLOWED

This is the week I think Alexis has been waiting for all summer. It is our girls only week. Technically our 'no boys allowed' started at noon today when Clark drove off to Canada with the triplets. Nick is already there spending yet another week on my parents island. He is about to start his hockey camp with Clark tomorrow. So my parents will drop off Nick with Clark and pick up triplets and cousin Caleb (who is also keeping Clark company on the drive). The triplets get to spend a couple days on the lake as well. They are only going to be gone until Wednesday and even before my mom has them she is already talking about bringing them home early. Shocker. She would keep Nick forever I think if I let her, but the triplets......different story. I guess it is going to rain and that will be her excuse this time! Moving on...

In Alexis' mind, our girl time actually started last Wednesday b/c the triplets go to camp during the day and it was well....just us girls. She has let me know in not so subtle ways that she wants to do A LOT this week. Basically she wants my undivided attention!! Wednesday, we kicked off girl's week by going to the gym so I could run. She doesn't mind and enjoys doing the crafts in child watch. She thoroughly enjoyed hearing all about army man who makes me uncomfortable at the gym. She now knows to be on the look out for his motorcycle. Wednesday I avoided him b/c as soon as I walked in and he was standing there, I realized I forgot my earphones and back the car I went. Then I never once got off the treadmill until I was done and leaving! Alexis thinks this is hilarious!! After the gym we went to the pool and hung out for a few hours. I didn't do a lot but must have watched her more than normal and shared my magazines, etc b/c when we got home she just kept saying, "That was fun." That evening I took her to gymnastics and she got to spend the night with her best friend Kaitlyn. She LOVES that!

Wednesday night sadly I was up all night feeling a bit like I got hit by a truck. Just a bad head cold that I thought was happening at the worst time. I rarely get sick and knew that no matter how bad I was feeling, girl week must go on (so as to not disappoint one little princess). Thursday, I met Jaime (Kaitlyn's mom)and we did our long run of 10 miles on the Monon. Then we headed back to Jaime's house to get ready to go to the Carmel water park. I then basically laid on a lounge chair thinking my head would explode for the next several hours while Alexis was having a ton of fun with Kaitlyn. She had a great time. The evening was all about trying to pack the boys and usual routine stuff.

Here are the girls sharing a drink!

Friday, we once again got up and dropped the boys off at camp and headed straight to the gym for my 1 hour stationary bike ride (every Friday is a cross day so it will always sound the same unless I ever feel small enough to put a swimsuit on and swim). I was still feeling fairly crappy and was in no mood for army man. However, 23 minutes into my ride there he was asking me when I got there b/c there was just "no way he didn't notice me coming in". I am sure he liked my smart ass response of looking down at my bike and saying well, it looks like I have been here for 23 minutes. I think he could tell I wasn't up for talking b/c I only took one earphone out and did not turn down my rather loud music. He kept it short and I now b/c of him bolt out of the gym as soon as my work out is complete. I really want to start lifting weights again so gonna have to move past this and just accept that some people use the gym to socialize. I use the gym so that I can eat more calories that day:) On our way out, I finally got to point him out to Alexis because of course he turned to wave at me as we were walking by. Alexis and I stopped by home only for 5 minutes to change and then we were off to get our nails done. She got a manicure and a pedicure, and I just opted for a pedicure. She felt very special and loves the nails. I on the other hand probably wasted 38 dollars for me b/c with all my running these toes will not last. I did get a kick out of the woman's reaction to my missing toenail (finally lost it that morning) and my gigantic blister on the side of my toe. I tried to explain that I am a runner, but I don't know if she understood a word I said. After nails we went to Walmart and ate lunch at the Subway and did some last minute shopping. I let her pick out some food she might want for the week. Then we came home and had less than 5 minutes to unpack groceries before leaving early for gymnastics b/c we needed to stop at Dick's to pick up something for Nick's hockey camp. Since Justice was right next door, we ran over there for a second. Now, I hate Justice clothes. I think they are the ugliest cheapest (but really expensive) clothes ever... but the kids love them. I let her pick out a couple of things and just bit my tongue when it came to my opinion. Then she was off to gymnastics. I had just enough time to go home get the triplets, feed them and then go back and pick her up (20 minutes early) and go to Bible study over an hour late. It was an exhausting day but again she loved it and felt special spending so much time with me.

Here we are to Saturday when the real girl time starts. The house is quiet. Ahhhhhhh!!!! I sent my friend Jenny a text earlier and said, "It is so quiet I think I have died and gone to Heaven." Don't take offense to that comment. I do love my boys and am sure I will miss them soon but for now...Heaven!! Alexis has already warned me that she was not up for riding along with me during an 8 mile run. Luckily both Clark and I got our work outs in before he left. He got up early and rode 30 miles and then when he walked in the door, I walked out to do my 8 mile run. Happy to have that checked off.  Once the boys left, Alexis went to shower and get ready for our movie. She was adorable when she came down. She picked an outfit (and was soooo excited) b/c it matched me. She wanted us to be twins.... Then we went and saw the Katy Perry movie. I gotta say... I liked this movie. Actually, I really liked this movie. It was interesting and anytime you see earphones in while I am riding a bike I am listening to Katy Perry radio on Pandora. Now I don't have to agree with all her personal beliefs to think she is a great entertainer and singer. I love that she writes her own songs and that they really are reflective of whatever is going on in her life. I like that she is comfortable just being her. While I am not at all the concert going type of person (too many people for me), her shows look like tons of fun!! I think Alexis enjoyed the movie. Very colorful. Lots of dancing and singing. What little girl doesn't love that. Tonight we are staying in. It is our only real downtime of the week. The new McKenna (an American girl doll who is a gymnast) movie is on TV tonight and that's our plan. We were going to eat out but decided that since we will be doing that so much of the rest of the time, we should stay home.

Here is Alexis' attempt to be my twin!

 Lucky for her this just so happens to match her nails.

 Just a picture of all the painted nails.

At the movies!!

I will continue our girl week blog posts as things come up. We have plans to be very busy! I am hoping that since I won't be sleeping with anyone snoring next to me, my nights are restful, and I am able to keep up with my princess!

Training update: Running is going well. Haven't missed a work out yet. Sometimes have to swap days to make it work but get it all in. Slow and steady it how I think about this training. Runs are slower but maybe that is why I am holding together better (except my stupid plantar fasciitis that makes me want to curse while taking my first few steps each day). Last week I did 34 miles. This week was a recovery week and I only will do 30 once done. Next week the mileage really starts to pick up and I will be in the 40's. It is a lot of running. More than I have ever done, but so far so good. I also started logging all my calories and exercise on MyFitnessPal. Basically when I see a certain number on the scale a siren goes off in my head and I realize things HAVE to change. I have been back at it for a few days and the weight does come off. It is a fairly simple concept folks....log calories and exercise and if you take in less than you burn off... you will lose weight. Crazy to be made aware of just how many calories are in things. I am not saying it is easy b/c I am hungry, but it works. I was proud of myself at the movies. I did not get popcorn and instead had 12 skittles during the movie (that is 52 calories, 4 calories per skittle in case you wondered). Okay this is long enough. We can talk food and diet another day. The most amazing little girl needs my attention............

Clark's Family Visit

Last week was an exciting week for my husband. He is from California and probably only still lives here in Indiana b/c he married me. We are surrounded by my family, but all of his family is in California. Sometimes I think that is hard on him b/c he doesn't get to see them very much. So last week his 3 sisters, Lisa, Julie and Laura and 1 brother, Norman came for a visit. It was just the siblings. No spouses or children on this trip. Clark had really only one goal for their trip. He wanted our children to get to know his side of the family as well. The timing of things did not work out very well b/c our big kids were leaving for Canada one day after his family arrived. I actually went to great lengths to change their Canada trip so they would be here the entire time his family was here but it just did not work out in the end. Still it is our triplets who really do not know his family. They have only been to California once and that was when they were 13 months old. The other poor timing issue was that I was on call 4 out of the 5 days his family was here. I am usually miserably unhappy when on call....

So last Friday, Clark's family arrived in the evening. They stopped by the house briefly to see the kids before the kids went to sleep and then Clark took them out to Rick's Boatyard for dinner. I was kind of bummed to miss this dinner b/c it is my favorite place to go around here. On Saturday we had a cookout/swim party at my parents house so that they could spend some time with Nick and Alexis before those too left with my parents for Canada. I worked during the day and was not aware this was the decided plan so I did not have appropriate swim attire but still went just to hang out. I think they had a good time. Norman played with the kids a lot in the pool. He and Clark had races with little ones on their back. We ate lots of good food (which was the common theme for the week...eating lots and lots of food). I left the swim party soon after Nick and Alexis left for Canada. I wanted to get my run in for the day so I could hang out with everyone that night. In the evening, Clark's sisters made a great dinner. Keep in mind this is an Italian family. They ALL know how to cook. You can imagine how I feel b/c I just sit on the couch watching sports with the kids and guys while they were busy in MY kitchen. I have no doubt they think it is rather sad I don't cook. I just don't. I clean... I am really good at doing dishes:) Once the kids were in bed they spent the remainder of that night playing a game called Farkle. I just watched b/c I was planning on going to bed early. It was fun just watching. There is no skill or brains really needed. It was all luck and a little of knowing when to risk it or stop. Everyone had a great time. Julie is very lucky and won all 3 games that night. I have been told she is great to go to Vegas with b/c she always wins. Clark on the other hand always was last. Not so lucky. We have never won anything in Vegas::))

Sunday I went to work and expected everyone to be gone when I got home but the boys were still waiting on the girls to get ready. Norman stayed at our house but the girls stayed at a nearby hotel and I guess b/c they were still on California time or b/c they are girls from Clark's family they were slow to get moving. I could tell my husband was getting ancy. The plan was to take the triplets to Turkey Run to go hiking for the day. I of course was staying behind b/c I was on call and nervous my phone would not work there. Good thing I did not go b/c Clark's phone did not work there. I hear they had a great time. They hiked a 2 mile trail and then went swimming. When they got back we let Norman babysit the boys and the rest of us went to Boulder Creek for dinner.  Norman did a great job with the boys. They were bathed and had story time before bed. After that they expected story night from Norman every night. The evening ended with more Farkle playing.

Monday I went to work all day and they all went to the museum and had a great time with the triplets.
The boys were just loving this week b/c they were getting all kinds of attention and doing lots of fun things. It made up for the fact that they felt cheated b/c they did not get to go to Canada with my parents. When I got home from work Clark was making a great steak and veggie dinner on the grill. The girls then made a great dessert. Our trash cans were overflowing at this point with wine bottles (this family goes thru a lot of wine:) and food (again we ate a ton all week). Maybe I have my Farkle playing nights wrong. Either they played 3 nights in a row (which seems like one night too many) or I have it wrong b/c I know they played this night. I was tired from work and had to go to bed but remember them playing until late.

Tuesday both Clark and I worked. We called off our sitters and let Clark's siblings watch the boys for the day. I think a great time was had by all. We had warned Norman that our kids don't sleep in so he was to expect being woken up early. He stayed down in the basement and I was a little worried the boys would not just come down once awake. For us they scream out their door, "Is it wakey time yet." I have no rules about getting up so I don't know why they always do this. Well, as it turns out they slept in and did not get up until around 8:30. Norman got lucky on that one. Once the girls arrived they had a busy day planned. They took the boys to the Blast Off park. Then they went to McDonald's and let them eat and play on the indoor play set there. Then they went to the store and bought Legos. Then they went swimming. They even had all the Lego's put together by time I got home from work. The boys loved their day with their aunts and uncle. By this day the boys finally knew everyone's names and were no longer saying things like, "the girl in the blue shirt." In fact everyone had nicknames at this point. I left work a little early so that I could come home and clean up b/c this was our last evening and my only evening not on call. We started at the Plum's Upper Room but it was really hot in there and so we ended up just drinking a bottle of wine, eating an appetizer and leaving. We ended up at Mitchell's Fish Market. It was fun. I got my favorite...King Crab legs. Yum!! We came home and Clark's sister made another dessert. At this point I was tired. I had just finished my long call stretch and then added alcohol on top of it. I fell asleep on the couch.

The following morning it was time for good-byes. It was great getting to visit with Clark's siblings. I think my husband just seemed very happy while they were here. The triplets had a ton of fun and were very sad when they left. We all look forward to their next visit.