f 1.8

My mail box was FULL the other day.  There was a little brown package with my name on it.  "Huh? What could this be?"  I carried my load of mail into the house to greet Carsen.  A few hours went by and I still had not opened that package.  Once I opened the box to see what was inside I gasped with joy!  With Matt away on a 8 day hunting trip,  working my three, 12 hour shifts while balancing a baby-sitter and training our new puppy to sit, I had totally forgotten what I had ordered.  I think you will understand the excitement in my next sentence...

MY NEW LENS ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It came and I had forgotten all about it!  My 50 mm f 1.8 Canon lens was brand new and so beautiful!  After taking an online photography class, I learned about this lens that was priced so perfectly! 

This morning I dressed Carsen for his first photoshoot with the f 1.8.  I could't wait to try it out.  The sun was bright, dew was all over the grass, and Carsen was not wanting to look at the camera.   I hope to improve with some more practice. 

My favorite...Those lashes kill me everytime!  Carsen loves to play in and eat dirt.

I get that look from Carsen a lot...I know I appear crazy to him but I can't stop taking pictures!  I love photography and all the crazy challenges that go a long with it! 

Sisters

My twin sister and I have always been a complete pair.

We are complete opposites yet compliment eachother very well.

I am type A.  It drives her nuts.  She is type, I have no clue.  Just when I think I have her figured out, she has a baby and becomes the most amazing person.  Not that she wasn't a full of energy, hilarious, and crazy for life sort of person before.  I guess I can say she has stepped it up a notch since becoming a mother.   I believe the best qualities of a mother shine through when they have only slept a few hours, have a million things to do, and have a new born baby to take care of.   My favorite thing about her is that she still makes time to pick up an Caramel, iced, Northern lite latte before just about any task in her day.  Passionate for life...best description for Katie.  She is full of so much love and kindness.  Kids complete her day and make her soul happy. 

My younger brother Mark has been with Alissa for just about forever.  She has always felt like a little sister and been included like any other sibling.  She is the type of sister in law that feels more like a sister, except a not a little sister anymore.  With a baby now crawling and a crazy, busy life, we have so much in common.   My favorite things to do with Alissa are relax at the lake with our kids, visit about anything and everything, and share lots of laughs.  She comes from a family that is super sarcastic and hilarious.  That is exactly what my family needs.  She is positive about life and is always able to see life in color.  She stands by in what she believes and lives life to fullest!!

To be surrounded by hilarious sisters.  Life can't get much better.



Enjoying the sand bar at Geneva lake.

A water dance off competition was a must this past weekend.  I haven't laughed this hard for a long time.  It was quite the entertainment!



Fun!

Alissa's gorgeous side dive! 



Not sure this is dancing...but this is Katie's version!

Katie's beautiful form.

And a belly flop!! Not bad for having a c-section 4 moths ago! 

Cohen is funny like his mommy!  Soakin up the sun!

Lifejackets are a must in our boat...the boys are getting used to them!

Cousins! Enjoying the floating dock!

Carsen's little lady bug!

The best thing about Katie and Alissa is that they love me for who I am.  My unchangeable traits and the ones I try to change.  They love my family for what we have become.  They are both so amazing with Carsen and show him so much love.  What would I do with out these two?  Life would be boring.

Love you girls!

Summer evening

We all sit on the sidewalk that leads to the new house on the block.  We reminise about raising kids, the old times, parenting, trucks, golfing, and a lot of other very random topics, while we pull rocks out of Carsen's mouth.  Ky says, "I want to visit with you guys."  He wants to be included in our fun girl talk.  The boys are playing in the gravel with the trucks.  We are having a blast outside.  The four of us ladies giggle until the sun sets. 

One of my favorite things to do in the Summer is visit with the girls and enjoy the beautiful weather.  Having fabulous neighbors makes a big difference in life.  I feel as if they are family.  They see me in just about every imaginable outfit.  Even the dreaded glasses.  EEK! 

Matt arrives home from golf league and mows the lawn.  We take deep breaths in and smell the freshly cut grass and enjoy the patterns he makes. 

My nightly routine is to check out the garden and take a million and a half pictures of our landscaping.  Most of them don't turn how how I would like.  I am in love with my shrimp plant I got from Lou's for $ 2.49.

 My garden looks nothing like the blonde and the brunette's.  I envy their garden's. 

They are voluptuous.  

They are just plain gorgeous.

(I am talking about their gardens...they are pretty girls but I usually don't use the term voluptuous with them.)  

Here is a shot that I totally overedited but love the look of.

My Garden is NOT perfect, however...

The weather is perfect. 

The temperature is perfect. 

The neighborhood is perfect.  I am in love with where we live and who is surrounded by us.

Our backyard view!  Love it!

I ran the 1/2 marathon in Fergus Falls 2 weekends ago.  I was prepared and tapered.  My long runs were completed faster than I had ever run.  My body was in such good shape.  My good running friend helped talk me through the best way to train in 3 weeks.  I was so pumped to break my record from 2 years ago.   I had a great race at Grandma's 10 years ago.  My sister and I ran a 1/2 in 1:39 mins.  We hauled it and kicked major you know what.   My goal for this race was to break 1:50.  Now that I am a mother of one,  I decided to push it hard core for 3 weeks and break my lousy time from Fargo, which was 1:54. 

I started the race feeling awesome. 

The first 7 hills in the first mile were conquered and my pace was right one track, 7:45.  I won't go through all the details, but lets say in the next 11 miles, I had to walk 4 times.  I expected hills.  So, I ran hill repeats until my heart rate was too high.  What I didn't expect, was that the course would be constant hill after hill making it impossible for me to get back to my pace.

Mile 11

You didn't think I would actually put a picture of me walking did you? :)

At mile 11, my mom was cheering me on while sitting on the curb.  This voice inside of me said, "just stop Kelly, just sit on the curb next to your mom, no one will ever know you quit!"  I was seriously so close to dropping out.  I lived in Fergus for 3 years and ran the hills for 3 years, but did those hills grow since I have been gone?  It was the most challenging course I have ever run.  Do you know what got me through the next mile?

That kid in the orange.  The cute little stinker that pushes through more than anything I have ever witnessed.  If he could do it, then I can and MUST do it.  It is only fair.

I am so thankful to have a husband that is so supportive.  He pushed me through the last 1/2 mile.  He talked me through every breath and every painful step.

I didn't make my goal.  I ran 4 minutes slower at 1:54.  I was still proud of myself though.  I completed it for no one other than myself.   Another race checked off the list.

My Dad is the reason I started to run.  I was so happy to have him there to support me.

Cooling off in the shade.  I love my boys.

Katie even came to cheer me on! 

Ethan decided to wake up for the finish!  I was so happy to have him there!

Are any of you running any race's this summer?  I challenge you to even complete a 5k walk!  Watch out though, it may become addicting!!

My Evening Run

As I head out of the door for my run tonight, I decide to leave the Ipod and Garmin at home.  To run by how I feel again, not by what the numbers tell me.  It feels so good to head out the door with a clean house and both the boys in bed.  My hubby is so exhausted from getting up every morning at 5:00 A.M. to workout, that he can hardly wait to cuddle up with Carsen in our bed.  He informed me this morning that he ran with the Morris running club.  I paused for a good 10 seconds before responding. 

"You're kidding right?" 

He says, "No, why would I be kidding.  You don't think I would run with Jen Lund, Mark VanOverbeke and bunch of other guys?"

I still don't believe him, even though he insists that he ran 4.1 miles at about 8:30 pace and 6:30 pace the last part of the run.  My husband, in a running club. What in the world happened to my husband?!!  I am amazed.  Since he is showing me up, I decide to push it a good 6 miles tonight.  I was more excited to actually go out and run in the rain.  I am wearing my favorite Nike jacket.  Listening to the drops hit the thin material is soothing.  The sky is dark and it is quiet outside.  I believe everyone in the neighborhood has settled down for the night.  Just a few lights are shining from inside.  Something about running on a calm Summer evening makes me feel so good.  I push it through the first 3 miles and start to notice the rain running down my biceps.  The song in my head is a really poor choice for a Summer evening.   A Christmas carol...I know it sounds pathetic.  I won't mention which one.  I would hate for anyone else to think about Christmas at this time.  Multiple things run through my mind.  I wonder when I will feel ready to have another baby, if I will ever be able to handle life with another child.  I wonder how this weekend will go when I get to hold another Nephew for the first time.  He got his braces in the mail today and I can hardly wait to show them to Carsen.  I wonder if I will be able to spend enough time with my 2 nephews and niece so that they know how much I love them, even though I live 9 hours away.  Will my hair turn out okay tomorrow even though my sister-in-law isn't doing it for the first time in many years?  Will Carsen be good while the brunette graciously takes care of him while she has a free day to herself?  Will the spinach tortellini salad be good on a rainy day tomorrow?  Does my mom know how much of an Angel she is to her family?  I could go on and on, but I would hate to drive you all insane!  I think a lot and that is why I run.  I have many worries over small things.  Running a long distance helps me clear my brain of little questions like these.  By the time I am home,  I feel so refreshed. 

What do you do to help yourself unwind with this crazy life?  Do you workout?  Do you complete a certain task?   I am curious, what helps you to breathe again?

Clickin Mom's

Have you ever stumbled upon a blog that you just couldn't quit reading or browing through some fabulous photos?  I do, ALL THE TIME.  Blogging has been such a great way for me to share my life and read about the life of others.  We read about the good and the bad.  We share our greatest moments and not so great moments.  I am addicted to blogging and reading blogs.  One blog in particular that keeps my mouth dropped wide open is my cousin's.  It is the very first blog I started to read.  It is one of those blogs that made me laugh out loud, re-read the post, and laugh out loud again.  I can't get enough of it.  Check it out because she has the BEST give away going on through Clickin Moms.  Jess has some of the best pictures I have ever laid my eyes on.  So, even if you arn't interested in blogging, at least check out her blog and the giveaway here

Happy

Do you ever have one of those days,you know, the kind of day where you just want to curl up in a ball and sleep.  Forget this crazy world...forget the stresses and just sleep away peacefully!  My day is a little like that.  I keep telling my hubby, I think I am sick.  I feel tired and nauseated!  No, I am not preggers, I promise you.  Fatigue is settling in.  After my three 12 hour days last weekend I just can't seem to kick it!  I am praying and trying to focus on the good things in life.  To be a strong mother is one of my biggest wants in life and a major need for Carsen.  Sometimes, I am okay with not being the strongest, ONLY if I can pick myself back up again and push through these aweful feelings.  Today, in between waves of nausea, I am enjoying my little boy.  He knows when I work long days.  He is starting to show me that he wants me and needs me.  It is a very nice feeling.  To be wanted.  After working a late night last night, getting little sleep, and getting up early for therapy at home, I complete my to do list by the time Carsen's special ed teacher rings the doorbell.  He loves, loves, loves Judy.  AND I love when he is happy.  Today is not a happy day for him which is fine.  She distracts him through a whole hour of fun games and bubble machines.  I have never witnessed a person work so hard at their job in my life.  I would think by the time one is in their 50's they would just settle for the "usual" ways to teach a child with special needs.  Not Judy.  She continues to find ways JUST FOR CARSEN.  Do you realize how good that makes me feel.  Somebody cares enough to put added stress in their one hour with Carsen.  To describe it all is difficult, as are most things in our life.  I am tellin ya, we are a blessed family to have Judy in our life.  My little boy shows me he wants up and wants to be held by me which is just fine by me.  He is needing me right now and I am needing his cuddles and hugs.  This makes me happy.

On Sunday he gave a kiss to a family friend that doesn't get the chance to see him very much.  Something about her beauty made him think at that split second..."she needs a kiss!"  I was so proud that he was giving kisses to other people and so proud that he can show love, even when we least expect it.  This makes me happy.

Today, we have cuddled our morning away.  We rocked in our chair with Carsen's fav blankie and sang every song I could come up with.  I am the world's BEST singer!  (To Carsen that is!)  He smiles and smiles at the silly words and high pitch notes I struggle reaching.  This makes me happy.

I was so happy to have 10 friends and their 6 kids over for supper on Sunday.  I truly believe that having close friends and the kids over is one of the most important things in life.  To celebrate life and our friendships.  Listening to the kids having dodgeball fights, playing with ALL the toys in the house, digging for worms, playing bocce ball, riding toys and watching them all enjoy eachother's company was more than a blast.  I feel so blessed to have such awesome friends in my life.  This makes my soul happy.

The sunshine, rain, a planted garden completed, a 7 mile tempo run, leftover calico beans, a husband that cleans the whole kitchen after our friends leave, a clean house, a house filled with fun, a clean house again, a red shiney gait trainer, a sister just a phone call away, buster bar dessert and windows open during the day are making me happy this week. 

What are the little things in your life that are making your week go better?

I think every mother has challenges in their life that seem too difficult to manage.  A mother with true strength is one that is able to accept the challenges, pick oneself up and focus on the good.  We all do it.  It takes more time to get back up sometimes.  But those positive, happy things in our life pull us forward and back on track.

There is nothing more beautiful than my bleeding hearts!

(My computer crashed and have finally been able to get my photos backed up...this post is a few weeks old but wanted to put some pics with it!)