Sellabit Mum

Minnesota Mom Blog | Humor | Parenting | Writing | Lifestyle|Fitness| Tracy Morrison

November 29th

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The fingerprints on my laptop are disgusting. It has layers of dust from the unexpected kitchen construction this week. And when do I have time to open this laptop? Again, tonight at 11pm when all I really want to do is head to bed. Pretty sure I won’t have time this week to dust off my laptop…so the fingerprints will remain.

 

I woke early to run and head to Target before 8am to get there when they opened. We were out of toilet paper, paper towels, toilet cleaner, and cat food. All critical items. I got there and got in and got out and got back before anyone else was up. That was my plan. The rest of the morning was spent doing a homework project with Astrid, finding and constructing a costume for Esther’s play this week, putting together proper funeral outfits for all of us, and working with Eloise on some pretty tough sudukos. This was followed by piano and a few loads of laundry.

 

Then I took seven kids to see Mockingjay Part 2. Astrid came with us too as Jed was working. Never thought I’d take a six year old to see Mockingjay…but since she has seen the other movies already…well, why the hell not. Parent of the year. I watched my group of 11/12/13 year olds from across the theater. Of course they would rather not sit by me. I don’t blame them.

 

After we met Jed for dinner, we got home and finished some homework, and now here I am with nothing to write about. It’s going to be a busy week. I have my last Matilda Jane launch of the season. Eloise turns 13. My grandma’s funeral in Duluth. My brother is flying in. Esther’s play. A Haiti reunion party. The kitchen project continues. Decorating for Christmas. Good thing this writing every day thing is ending soon.

 

Things sound busy and crazy. But things are good. And happy. I’m happy.

 

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Writing This Month

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Only three more posts to go before November is over and I can stop this crazy blogging every day thing.

 

I’m barely making it in under the wire again tonight. I’m not sure where my days go, but they are busy. Now I know why I don’t write much anymore.

 

Anyway, here’s what I’ve learned so far this month:

  1. I am no longer a very good nighttime writer. I used to stay up late writing and doing research and reading other blogs. Also, my kids used to go to bed earlier so I had more time at night. Now my kids barely go to bed before I do – or even after I do. Writing at night no longer works.
  2. I no longer have time to write in the morning. I still get up by 5am each day – but after running and working out, then it’s on to breakfast making and lunch making and kids waking and seriously, there’s just no time to write unless I want to wake at 3:30am.
  3. I need to find a time during the day that I can shut out the noise of life and just write. If I still want to write.
  4. Writing IS harder if you don’t do it regularly. My sentences are ugly and choppy. Yuck. I hate reading my stuff right now.
  5. I don’t enjoy writing about my kids anymore. I now have a teenager, a tween, and a six year old – they can write about themselves if they want to share a story. I don’t feel like it’s my place to share here like I used to.
  6. I’m not sure if writing about fitness, fashion, and travel is that interesting? That’s kind of what I have left after kids and cats…so yeah.
  7. I wish I could write about home decor, but I’m so bad at it. Also, it’s expensive.
  8. Should I only blog about cats?
  9. Instagram is more fun than blogging.
  10. But I have missed my blog. I doubt I’ll continue to write each day, but I will make a better effort to write more than I have this year.

I do appreciate those of you who continue to stop by and believe in me. Okay, hitting publish….two more days to go!!!

 

xo

 

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Five For Friday

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I’m just sharing five Instagrams for this Friday. I thought I would have more time to write today, but instead we were crazy busy and this is the first time I’ve even opened my laptop.

 

I hope you all enjoyed time with family and friends yesterday and today.

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  1. We celebrated the last day of school before break with a big coffee! She likes coffee. I like that she likes coffee. Maybe she will never grow because of the coffee. Maybe she’ll be my baby forever.
  2. A little yoga after my run on Wednesday morning. Seriously perfect sunrise. I was nice to run when it wasn’t pitch black.
  3. Thanksgiving family selfie. Beautiful snowy day!
  4. My first run this year with icy roads. I love and hate the snow and ice. It’s beautiful but makes for a difficult run.
  5. We went to the MOA for Black Friday. Eloise turns 13 in 5 days so she got to pick out a few things for her birthday. We had such a blast. I am NEVER a Black Friday shopper – but this was worth it. Just me and Eloise and her friend. We laughed for hours.

Happy Friday Friends. xoxoxo

 

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Happy Thanksgiving

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What Astrid is thankful for today and always…..

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I’m thankful for family and friends and health, and for the belief that there is more good in the world than bad. Always.

 

“I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” – Anne Frank

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, and sending much love to my friends abroad. xoxoxo

 

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Lazy Day

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I spent most the day cooking. We are heading to a friend’s house tomorrow as we are still without water in our kitchen. So I cooked and hauled dishes back and forth to the bathroom most of the day.

 

We had other plans today, but the girls asked if we could just stay home and have a lazy day. It’s such a treat to do almost nothing all day and not leave the house. I did finally make them get dressed by 1pm. I’m not sure why I made them get dressed, but their jammie bodies and messed up hair started driving me insane by then.

 

So they dressed but we still didn’t leave the house. We cooked and cleaned a bit and watched Lean On Me OnDemand, but most of the day they spent in their rooms playing. Eloise and Astrid made a movie that they won’t let me see yet. I hope to share it with you all soon.

 

Astrid also drew several pictures for me. She drew a koala for me(named Astrid), and this koala has a bicycle for transportation. Miss Astrid Koala gets on her bicycle and travels to her cabin in the woods, and then to the White House, and then she rides her bicycle onto a boat to go to Paris and the Eiffel Tower. These are the places that Miss Astrid Koala wants to see this year. I think it’s a good plan. Also, Miss Astrid Koala has some pretty amazing handwriting.

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I don’t save much from the kids…but these I will stash away carefully in her memory box. I wonder if she’ll remember these drawings when she opens the box someday. I wonder if she’ll remember the story that goes along with the drawings. I wonder if she’ll remember the first time she sees the Eiffel Tower.

 

So now the kids are in bed and I’m eating almost all of the Party Mix that I made before I go to bed too.

 

I hope all of your Thanksgiving preparations went well today.

 

I hope you got to be a bit lazy.

 

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It’s Late

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It’s 8:30pm which means it’s super late. Super late. Like I should’ve been in bed an hour ago late. I mean it’s dark by 4:30pm so bedtime can’t be much later than 7:30, right? Please tell me I’m right. So why are all of my kids still up?

 

I was talking to a friend last week. This friend is still deep in the trenches of littles. She has a two year old, four year old and six year old. Bedtimes are still a very big deal in her house. The whole snack time, bath time, book time, bed time thing. I loved that routine until I didn’t love that routine anymore. I told her that soon…so very very very soon…the kids will go to bed after you do. In fact they will bathe themselves, then get their own snacks, put their own clothes in the hamper(if you are lucky), read their own books(any books they want…in fact big books that you don’t even understand), and then they will just turn off the lights when they are ready to close their eyes. Sometimes you mumble to them before you head off to bed, “Turn off the lights before you fall asleep, okay?” That’s the new goodnight routine. Even our six year old now showers herself, gets her own snack, and reads her own stories. But she does get an extra snuggle, a proper tucking in, and has to go to bed before us. Mostly.

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And soon, I know, I’ll be in bed before the kids get home. They’ll be out and I’ll be worried and sleeping with one eye open, listening for the door to open and close.

 

Just like it might be hard for her to imagine a life without a bedtime routine, it’s hard for me to imagine a life without the kids at home most nights. But it doesn’t matter if I can imagine it or not, it will still happen and I am always amazed by the relative ease of parenting transitions as fighting them is futile. Just like I can’t believe my once small child is taller than me. Or better at math. Or borrows my shoes.

 

But I have to go because it’s late. It’s 8:30 and everyone is still up and I know I need to the get the youngest to bed so I can get to bed. Or maybe I’ll just have her sisters give her that extra snuggle so I can go shut my eyes to be ready for tomorrow and the new changes it could bring.

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Monday

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My dad and I spent the day in Duluth. My grandma is still kicking. Well, not really kicking…but still here with us. She’s been in hospice for two weeks and has surprised everyone. Well, she has surprised everyone that doesn’t know her well.

 

She’s too stubborn to die. The doctors had given her days just two weeks ago. Now they aren’t sure when she will slip away. But she’s failing. She hasn’t really eaten or drank in almost a month. Is DNR and doesn’t wake-up much.

 

But she smiled when I talked to her today. I spent the day beside her and watched The Price Is Right, The Young And The Restless, and Dr. Phil.

 

It was a good day. Even with bad TV.

 

Besides spending more time with my grandma, it was a bonus to spent five hours in the car with my dad. It’s not often that we get that kind of time to just chat. We talked about old times and good times and kid times, and we drank a lot of coffee. We always drink coffee together.

 

It was a good Monday.

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The AMAs

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I’m sitting here with my three kids(and my two cats) watching the American Music Awards. Jed is in the other room watching Fargo or something. He doesn’t love pop and current culture. But ask him about Dave Matthews – he is your man! Although he is learning to Whip and Nae Nae…okay, not really. Please don’t ask him to Whip and Nae Nae. Mom, I’ll wait while you Google Whip and Nae Nae.

 

My girls are spending their time either sitting and singing and talking about which artists they love, or  jumping up and lunging towards the TV as their favorite artists perform. Astrid’s now gone to bed. I’m debating on if it’s a good idea to let the other two stay up until 10pm until this is over. I think they should. They’ll remember this one time on a Sunday night.

 

I wonder if they will remember watching this with me 30 years from now. Will they be 40ish watching with their own kids talking about how One Direction played a new song or that Ariana Grande was amazing. What will their Nae Nae be? Will they tell their kids that the music was better back in the teens or that new artists totally ripped off Rhianna, just like I’m pretty sure 5 Seconds Of Summer just played a Duran Duran song.

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I made my parents watch the AMAs with me back in the mid-1980s. My parents were not exactly relevant nor pop culture educated at the time. They still loved the hits from the 50s and 60s and felt comfortable and happy in their old music bubble. They didn’t understand my love for Boy George and Culture Club, my 80s punk, Billy Idol, or my need to wear pink eye shadow striped across my temple or streaks in my hair. I still remember jumping up and down and lunging at the TV and dancing when my favorite bands came on. My parents sat back in their recliners – my step dad with a smoke and my mom with a cup of Constant Comment tea – and smiled while shaking their heads. They didn’t get my obsession with the popular music of the day, but they respected me enough as a teenager to give me the latitude to like what I liked. Just like I don’t judge a little One Direction love going on here these days.

 

For me music will always bridge the generations – I still appreciate the 40s Big Band music that my Grandparents’ played, the twist and shouts that my dad loved, the folk music from my mom(with some Beatles mixed in), my 80s punk and pop, and now I can Whip and Nae Nae like a boss.

 

I just hope my kids let me come to their house in the 2040s with their kids so we can watch the AMAs all together…and let me share some music to pass down to the next generation of music lovers while I sit back with a cup of tea and a smile.

 

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How To Get A New Kitchen Floor

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…have a pipe break under your kitchen floor. Your kitchen floor that doesn’t have a basement under it.

 

Good times.

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Silver lining – we never did like the tile on this floor. What a great opportunity to get a new one!

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Five For Friday

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I’m linking up with Angela again this Friday!

 

Five Instagrams For A Friday:

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  1. #prayforparis I took this shot of The Eiffel Tower on Valentine’s Day 1999
  2. We took a family hike on Sunday. It was 60 degrees in November in Minnesota – CRAZY!!
  3. Mad for Plaid! LOVING all of the Fall offerings from Aventura this season! Love being an ambassador for them. I have coupon codes too – so now is the time to shop!
  4. Physical Training is going well and I’m getting stronger and faster! LOVE my wrap from Momentum Jewelry – 26.2 #boston2016 here I come!
  5. The holiday line from Matilda Jane Clothing is just dreamy – and these girls aren’t too shabby either! And cooperating for Holiday pictures no less!

Follow me on Instagram!

Five Posts For A Friday:

A lot has changed and happened since I posted last Friday. The world weeps as extremists terrorize the innocent. We need to weep along with them, yet let them know that we are not afraid. And we must continue to help the innocent.

 

The world is suffering the worst refugee crises in decades. One mother writes here about why we must all help and why.

 

Angela wrote one of my favorite things this week – nighttime running safety. I’ve written how I am one of those who actually prefers not to be seen as I’m more afraid of being attacked than of being hit by a car – and run knowing that I yield and give vehicles the right of way. Now that we’ve moved out of the city though – it’s DARK out here and I’m running like a Glow-Worm to see and be seen. Love her tips.

 

My dear friend Jennie lives just outside of Paris. Her family is safe and I love what she wrote this week. We continue to send love to her, her family, and her friends.

 

My friend Arnebya is a true gem, a brilliant writer, and just all around kick-ass person. What she wrote here about searching for love as a young girl hit hard and close to home…and now as a parent..whew.

 

And the best news all week – drinking coffee makes you live longer! So I believe I will live to be 526.

 

Happy Friday!

 

 

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Physical Therapy For A Running Injury

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Not much is more humbling than physical therapy. I’ve been in PT for six weeks now. Injured for eight weeks – but it took me almost two weeks to even get to the doctor as I was in complete denial that something was wrong. Even though my ankle hurt like hell. And I couldn’t walk. Or run. Or really talk without extreme pain. But instead I used meditation and prayer and acupuncture and denial. None of those really worked, so eventually I succumbed to modern medicine as I really really wanted to run again.

 

Has it been mentioned that runners are incredibly stubborn?

 

I laughed the first few times I went to PT as the exercises seemed so small and silly. But I did them as instructed. And each time she added more strength exercises – and stretching exercises – and we’ve worked on my form and my cadence. And now I pretty much just want to go to PT every single day as she knows so much. And I’ve truly found out that I know so little.

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You see I’ve done this running thing on my own for 20+ years  – without ever having a coach, a running group, a running friend, or even an online running community. Through my injury I’m meeting more and more people who all work together to lift up and support this community – through cheering, education, fun, and fitness.

 

However – with the good comes the bad…before PT I was just obsessed with running. Now I’m obsessed with EVERYTHING that has to do with good running…so how am I suppose to do anything but work on running better, running stronger, running faster, running more social. ALLTHERUNNING!!!

 

Has it been mentioned before that runners are crazy?

 

I’m 5 weeks out from the official start of Boston 2016 Marathon training -and I feel like I’m on a good path to make this training cycle good and healthy and injury free. Just don’t expect me to do anything but eat sleep and breathe running. Also, don’t let my PT person break-up with me.

 

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Kid Update #3

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This will be short. She’s turning 13 in exactly two weeks and so I’ve written little about her over the past few years. She has her own Instagram to share her own thoughts and life.

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It’s been a rough year. She’s changed schools and houses and is dealing with all that comes with being 13. I’m just trying to be a soft landing for her and to keep the lines of communication open. Most of the time my questions are met with one word or no word answers. But there are times of light too. And some laughter mixed in. I cherish those times and feel the bad times deep within my heart.

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I understand when she retreats to her room and I give her space. But I savor the time she gives to us. And I watch from a comfortable yet nurturing distance as she morphs from a girl to not so much a girl anymore.

 

13 is hard.

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Kid Update #2

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Mommy blogging again here today. Let’s talk about sweet Esther.

 

Esther is still sweet. Crazy sweet. Typical middle child sweet. I told her she needs to be louder and squeakier so we hear her more. But she isn’t. She lets her sisters be demanding.

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Esther asks for nothing.

 

She didn’t even get a birthday party this year as her day was mixed into packing and moving and the busy. I still feel the guilt. But Esther doesn’t complain.

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Esther is a cat lady in training. She loves the cats. She would have 40 cats if Jed would let her. She also constantly searches websites for dogs. She wants a dog. Maybe five dogs. And hamsters. And a guinea pig or two. Fish. More cats. She wants to be a vet when she grows up. I think she will just start her own rescue agency and rehome pets. Or just keep all 200 pets for herself. She’ll need lots of Febreeze in her house.

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Esther is still dancing. She is always smiling – whether she’s on stage or not.

 

Esther moved schools this year. She’s struggling a bit. She’s making friends quickly, but the schoolwork a bit more demanding. Esther would rather spend her time looking at animals online than studying for a history test. But she’s adjusting.

 

She has become even more interested in cooking this year. Her favorite shows are Master Chef Jr and The Pioneer Woman. She also watches HGTV with me and has great decorating ideas.

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Esther will be 11 this winter, but she still wants to snuggle with me and hold my hand. I’m wishing she stays little just a bit longer. I don’t think she is ready to grow up either. Eloise has always been in a hurry to grow up while Esther has always wanted to stay little.

 

Esther will take care of us when we’re old and need our diapers changed. She’ll put us up in one of her rooms with her 300 cats.

 

 

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Kid Catch-Up

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Since I’ve rarely blogged in 2015, and now I have to blog for 30 days straight, I thought I would take this opportunity to catch you all up on what the kids are up to. And hey, it gives me three days of blog material. I need more kids.

 

Let’s start with Astrid, because she’s the easiest to still talk about. I mean she can read now, so maybe she reads my blog and I’ll hear about this in the morning…but I’m going to go ahead and talk about her.

 

She makes me laugh. Daily. And sometimes cry. She still loves me more than anything on this here Earth – which helps because we also have an almost 13 year old who doesn’t seem to like me very much.

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Astrid is tiny. So I still pick her up out of bed every morning and carry her downstairs and snuggle with her on my lap while sipping my coffee and watching the Today Show headlines. It’s our 7am routine. She has a thing for Matt Lauer too. You have no idea how super sad it’s going to be when she is too big to carry downstairs. The saddest day ever.

 

She’s growing out her hair. She wants it to go below her butt before she gets a haircut. It’s about an inch above her butt right now. I’ve started calling her Rapunzel.

 

She’s addicted to Calico Critters. She has 32 babies, 17 adults, and 7 kids. She plays with them constantly.

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She is good at math and piano. I guess they go hand in hand. Her piano teacher(who is also a doctor) has told me this.

 

She started dancing Hip-Hop this year. There’s nothing cuter than a bunch of six year olds dancing to rap music. Well maybe kittens are cuter. But it’s a close one.

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She likes to read about Geranimo Stilton.

 

She loves cats, chocolate, lemons, and sushi. But doesn’t eat cats.

 

She has the best smile.

 

She runs the household. We have no problem with this.

She wants to marry me and bring me to college. This could happen.

 

She continues to complete us. Unless she’s talking in this really annoying whiny voice. Then I want her to go to her room. This also happens.

 

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Sundays

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I had a hard time liking my family today. It can be hard to admit that sometimes. That no matter how much you love your family, sometimes…my god…

 

My husband frustrated me with his continued passive aggressive comments…and the dining room ceiling that is still not done.

 

My oldest for being OMG.SO.13. Seriously.

 

My middle for being lazy with her homework.

 

My youngest for whining more than she should.

 

One cat puked. Twice

 

The other cat bit my ankle. Four times.

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And yet – it was 60 degrees in a November, so we took a family hike to try to clear our minds and frustrations and attitudes.

 

And then I tried to take a 20 minute nap. But the cat wouldn’t get off me. He’s my least favorite today.

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I love my family. My family loves me. And I know there are days they don’t like me. Just like today they really got on my last nerve.

 

Tomorrow is thankfully another day.

 

It’s okay to be honest. Life isn’t Instagram-Perfect.

 

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Paris Is For Lovers

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Jed will tell you that I fell in love with him the day we met. My story is a bit different than his. I mean sure I felt something when we met, but I’m not sure if it was love. It was for sure a bit of curiosity mixed with a bit of “like” and maybe a touch of lust. But I was concerned about his Carthartts and his pocketknife. I wasn’t looking to date an outdoorsman at the time.

 

That was May.

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We didn’t see each other again until August.

 

By November I was pretty smitten.

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And by January I pretty much wanted to see him all the time.

 

But it was February when I fell in love.

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Valentine’s Day in Paris to be exact.

 

At a table at La Coupole. I ordered some stinky cheese dish with mushrooms. We had a few dogs under our feet as our table-mates on both sides brought their animals with them to dinner. I drank more than my fill of red wine to go with my stinky(and yummy) cheese, and we strolled Montparnasse and over to La tour Eiffel. And yep, it was more than like or lust by then.

 

It was my first time in Paris. And his first since his childhood. And it’s where we fell in love.

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16 years and three kids later…and….

 

“We’ll always have Paris.”

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I promised Eloise a trip to Paris for her 13th birthday. Her birthday is in two weeks – so yeah, that trip isn’t happening. Life, finances, priorities always getting in the way. But after the heartbreak last night, I’ve been searching for flights like a crazy lady – because more than ever I want to get back and take her there and show her the beauty and light and spirit of the people and city…and show her that we are not afraid. We can never be afraid.

 

We just need to love more.

 

We pray for peace.

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Five Good Things On A Friday

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I haven’t done a link-up in about three years – which is about three thousand years in blogging. But there is NO WAY I’m going to make it through November and 18 more days of blogging without a few link-ups, memes, and picture posts.

 

And this time I am actually thrilled to link-up for High Five Friday with Angela. She is an inspiration to me as a mom, athlete, and all around badass. I love following her on Instagram and on her blog. So go check her out. But come back here and say hi.

 

Five From Instagram. Here are five pictures from Instagram this week.

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  1. Family holiday picture outtake…I think Esther did a pretty dang good job behind the camera! Also…#manbun.
  2. My new Motivate Wrap from Momentum Jewelry. I LOVE it and haven’t taken it off in a week. I am thrilled to be a new ambassador for them!
  3. Ahem. Official confirmation of acceptance into the 2016 Boston Marathon!!!!!!!
  4. The view from my grandma’s hospice room in Duluth. She was moved to hospice on Monday. She is still holding strong, but prayers for peace would be loved right now.
  5. Typical morning in my family room – coffee, the morning news, and core work after my run. Trying to continue strengthening my core to be a stronger runner and avoid getting injured again.

You might want to follow me on Instagram as I do post more there than here or on Facebook.

 

Five Reads This Week. Okay – maybe some are from last week, but these are reads that I loved and you need to see.

  1. My dear friend Anna is HAVING A BABY! Do you know Anna? Everyone needs to know Anna. Her story. Her Family. Her book. I want Anna and her baby to be in my Five Awesome Things For a Friday every single Friday.
  2.  My friend Kerstin is 44 today! I love her list “What I know at 44.” It’s true that we never stop learning. I love that she never wants to work for someone else again. Amen, Sister! And Happy Happy Birthday!
  3. I adore Christine. Like I want to be college roommates with Christine. Do you think that is possible? I love everything that Christine writes, so I laughed a bit as I read her post about running with your significant other. Jed sometimes asks me if I want to run with him. Um, no…I don’t. I love you, but I don’t want to run with you. Ever. Is that weird? Read her post and you decide.
  4. I’ve become a bit obsessed with Fit Foodie Finds. Lee is a Minnesotan and is brilliant with her unique, healthy, and yummy recipes. I am totally making these Healthy Salted Caramel Cups this weekend.
  5. Get inspired by Kim Stemple who has a terminal illness and just ran the Marine Corp Marathon, yet gave her medal to her husband. Her organization We Finish Together has inspired thousands of runners to give their finishers medals to others.

Happy Friday – and leave a link to a favorite read this week!

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