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............