In Honor of Kaelynn's 9th Birthday...

Yesterday was Kaelynn's 9th birthday and it also marked the 1/2 way point in my 18 weeks of training for the Columbus Marathon.  One of the many reasons I run is to set an example for my children.  I run to beam with pride when my daughter asks me to run a 5K with her.  I run to laugh when Kaelynn tells people it took me almost six hours to run the Cleveland Marathon and she had to wait in the cold at the finish line!  Rain or shine, slow or fast, she is my number one fan!

Kaelynn before her first 5K

Kaelynn finishing her first 5K

After Kaelynn's first 5K

Kaelynn's second 5K

Kaelynn after her second 5K

Kaelynn's third 5K

Kaelynn after her third 5K

So in honor of your birthday I ran all 12 of those miles for you yesterday!  I hope you enjoyed your day!  Happy birthday again sweet girl!  I love you to the moon and back!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and Kaelynn YOU inspire ME to run for FUN!!

5 Years Ago Today, I Became A Mother....

To this handsome young man!!

5 years ago today I also became the mother of two!!

These two keep me on my toes and challenge me daily but I wouldn't change it for the world. Sometimes they give me a break and get along really well and even happily pose for pictures!! I live for those days!!

Yesterday when I picked Grant up from pre-school his class was in the gym. I walked in and he ran up to me and said: "Mommy, watch how fast I can run!! He proceeded to run as fast as he possibly could around the gym and finished right next to me and said: "High five mom, high five!" Turns out Grant loves to run for fun as well! He even gave it his all last weekend on the track after my 5K!

Look at that form! He was so very proud of himself and smiled the entire time! When he got back to me he said: "Mom, that was so much fun especially because I won!" My friend Nikki took the picture of us below and I love it because it pretty much sums up how much the kids and I love to run for fun!! Seriously, look how happy we are!!

So in honor of Grant's birthday, head on out and "run for fun" today! My fun run will have to wait until tomorrow since today is a scheduled rest day and is filled with birthday celebrations!!

Happy birthday Grant! I love you to the moon and back!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and Grant YOU inspire ME to run for FUN!!

8 Years Ago Today, I Became A Mother...

To this beautiful young lady!!

We are in PA for our annual Family Reunion. Here is the conversation that took place between Kaelynn and I this morning.

Kaelynn: (tapping me on the shoulder over and over again) "Mom, wake up, I want to open my presents from Grammy and she said I had to wait for you to get up."

Me: "Give me five minutes Kaelynn."

Kaelynn: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5".

Me: "That was five seconds Kaelynn."

Kaelynn: "I know mom, please get up."

Me: "Okay, I'm up."

We went upstairs and she opened her gifts. She was very excited to get the next volume in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. She also got some money from Grandma Great and a few American Girl books from me (purchased while I was in Chicago for the 1/2 marathon).

Fast forward about three minutes, as she sits at the kitchen table eating breakfast, and she begins yet another conversation with me.

Kaelynn: "Mom, do you run to lose weight or because it is fun"

Me: (Choosing my words wisely) "I run because it is fun."

This picture of us before Kaelynn's first 5k is proof that running is fun!!

See, I have been sick this week and I haven't been able to get out there and run since Tuesday. I really miss it. I miss the FUN!! So, in honor of Kaelynn's birthday, get out there and "run for fun" today. I will be doing my "fun run" tomorrow since today is filled with family reunion fun. I will be running with my brother and I can't wait.

Happy Birthday Kaelynn!! I love you to the moon and back!!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and Kaelynn YOU inspire ME to run for FUN!!