The Fishy Train Museum

It's Saturday, around 4:30. My family was supposed to come visit today to celebrate my son's birthday, but it looks like they won't be here until after he goes to bed now.

Toby's actual birthday was last Friday, but they didn't want to come that weekend because it was Mothers' Day weekend and Laurie, my sister-in-law, and my brother, James, planned on spending the weekend with Laurie's mom in Ventura.

The original plan, involved my mom coming up yesterday, on Friday, and my brother, his wife and baby, coming up today; but then they decided to all come up together - and leave early, "around 6 in the morning" my mom said, which ended up being noon.

I had a bunch of stuff planned for this weekend, and it doesn't look like any of it's going to work out now... but we had fun today anyway - and hopefully they'll get here before they have to turn around and go back!

We went to the library, and then visited the Capitol Aquarium that one of my new friends from the mom's club told me about. Toby called it the "Fishy Train Museum." After that, we took Toby out for frozen yogurt at this place by our house called, "Dude, Where's my Yogurt?" No really Dude, that's what it's called.

Our Friday

Inspired in part by Laurie's suggestion, and the fact that I had a lot of strawberries and got even more strawberries in our fruit and veggie box this week, I made strawberry jam / a mess of the kitchen this morning.

It really was a lot easier than I imagined, although, so was screwing it up. I let it boil over at one point which meant I had to take the stove apart to clean it afterwards - but now it's super clean - way cleaner than it was before. This made me think of college. We used to say that parties were good for our house because the biggest, messiest, parties inspired some serious deep cleaning, before, and afterwards. Making jam was like a big messy party for my stove - and now it's sparkling.

Then we went to the Friday play group at the park and that was fun. It was hotter today, 83 degrees, and starting to feel like Summer. Is it Halloween yet? It can't be as hot as it was last Summer in Fresno, though, so take that Sacramento Summer. ;o)

One of the mom's in our play group bought a new stroller. It's the same exact one that we have. Same (original) color and everything - they look like radically different colors now, side by side. I had to take a picture of it because it really shows how well loved, and sun bleached, ours has been. Bob strollers rock. We love ours, although it needs to be hosed down in the worst way, especially after I took Toby for frozen yogurt this week.

Our Thursday

We went to a park in Elk Grove and watched a baseball diamond being built.

In Training

My friend Sarah called yesterday and said she's been reading the blog (Hi Sarah!) and wants to train for a marathon, or half-marathon with me.

I'm really excited about this idea.

I think, this year, I should pick something close to home to keep costs and time away from Toby to a minimum. But there are still so many to choose from! It's going to be fun.

Our day

We walked all over our neighborhood today; almost 7 miles, per "map my run." We visited 2 parks, watched the ducks swim around in the canal for awhile, picked up a flat of strawberries from someone selling them on the side of the road, and stopped to get some frozen yogurt/body paint for Toby, before going home.

We have a lot of strawberries now. A lot of strawberries - and they are HUGE strawberries too. I have a serious weak spot for fresh fruit. I washed and froze most of the strawberries to use later in smoothies. They are taking over half of our freezer right now - but they are super sweet, and all around awesome, so I'm glad that I got them; but man, do we have a lot of strawberries now!

Mama, can you stop taking pictures and play with me now?!

Toby likes to dive right into the dirt and sand, especially after I spray sunscreen on him because it makes the dirt and sand stick to him, which means we can bring more of it home with us.

Mama, you're taking pictures again!

Giggles x 2

Toby, watching a video of his baby cousin giggling

And even more giggling ensues

They are coming to visit us in Sacramento next weekend and we CAN NOT WAIT to see them! Love you guys!!!

This week's fitness notes

Monday – 5 mile stroller walk/jog along the river

Tuesday – 7 miles. Stroller walk with Matina along the river 3 miles + 4 miles on the treadmill = 7 miles total

Wednesday – 9 mules - oops, I meant to type : "miles". 5 mile stroller walk along the river & 4 miles on the treadmill = 9 miles

Thursday – 5 miles on the treadmill

Friday - 9.5 miles. 4.5 mile stroller walk – my iPod’s not working consistently and I’m not happy about it. L 5 miles on the treadmill – I wanted to do 5.5 to make it an even 10 miles for the day, but I was just too tired. I think if you counted all the other walking about I did during the day, grocery shopping, walking around at the park, walking to and from the fitness center, etc. it would add up to that extra .5 miles, though, but anyway…

Saturday – 1.88 mile walk (per “mapmyrun.com”) to the park and back – Day off – Mother-in-law in town and Oliver’s D&D night out.

Sunday - 5 miles on the treadmill – I had to pee after the first mile, which hurts when I run - so I got off the treadmill to use the public restroom @ the apartment complex’s fitness center. The electricity went off while I was in there and I found myself peeing in the dark - pitch black, darkness. It came on again 10 seconds later. Good times. Good times.

Total = 42.38 miles

38 pounds lost