Photo-A-Day Challenge! - Playing Catch Up

It's been a while since I've updated my February Photo-a-Day pictures.

A lot has happened in the past two weeks: a quick sad/happy family trip to Alberta, fun with nephews and cousins galore, a silly but major holiday, upstairs/downstairs games, sunshine, rain, beach and snow.

Here are my shots, some new a couple older but they fit.

(Go here to link up to the #febphotoaday party.)

Twins B & T

A few new photos of Bobby & Tommy.

They are growing up so fast!

Everytime I see them they are heavier, bigger, stronger and getting awesome little personalities all figured out. Bobby is crawling all over the place and Tommy has finally figured out he can fight back when Bobby takes a toy, in fact he's now the little instigator and they wrestle around a lot.

They both are little darlings and I miss them as soon as they are gone! It's so great that my sister can bring them over and stay a few days or a week sometimes. They already know me and crack their huge smiles when I come in.

They really like Willow, too.

Last week they laughed when she licked their ear and tried to reach out and pet/grab her fur.

I can't wait until I see them again! I love playing with them and cuddling and feeding them as much as I can when they are here.

Sitting on the backyard grass for the first time.

Update.....

A few months have gone by and not a lot has changed.

My hair has grown a bit longer. I may have a few more freckles on my nose from a bit of spring sunshine that April brought. Willow, my puppy, has grown taller and stronger. And May has been full of blossoms, flowers and more rain than usual.

We had a great visit with my brother, Mike, his fiancee Darcy and her two cute boys Caleb and Noah. They are planning their wedding for here in Victoria in the Fall and I was happy to help and play with the boys!

My mom, sister and I had a fabulous time on our annual spa trip up to the Kingfisher, although this year we only stayed one night while my dad, Poppa, looked after Angie's twin boys. What a great grandpa! The boys are growing like weeds and laughing and almost sitting up now. The twins were also dedicated at our church recently.

Last weekend I had an excellent camping trip with some friends up island. Yes, it rained a lot and the first night was wickedly cold but we just stoked the campfire, hung a few tarps and ate lots of hot dogs and beans! Have I mentioned it before that I love camping!? I miss the smokey campfire smell already.

 I've seen quite a few great movies, and a few so-so ones lately, too.


On the good/great list:
The Book of Eli, Alice in Wonderland, How to Train Your Dragon, Avatar, Green Zone, Ghost Writer, Imax: Hubble, Remember Me

So-so:
Shutter Island, The Losers, Clash of the Titans, Iron Man 2

Here's a few newer photos of my cute, fiesty little Willow.

Project Running

Over a month ago I had a wonderful friend come to town and she took me out for a lovely run....yeah...lovely. Needless to say, she kicked my butt and got me motivated to keep the running going.

So here we have "Project Running" in full swing with only a couple hiccups and misses along the way so far.

I have been trying to run three times a week; Monday on my day off, Wednesday after work and Saturday. I run from my house along the water front and stop at halfway to cool down a bit and do some exercises like push-ups and triceps dips along a low wall. On the way back the last bit is an uphill slope and we ran up it the first day so I have not stopped that routine and pushed to run up it every time since. I have also added another uphill spot when I first start on my way back and have continued that habit as well.

Since the beginning, I have been posting some brief notes about my experiences on my facebook status. This is not at all to brag, for I know there are other people doing much better workouts than myself, but it is to keep me motivated and not in hiding. So, for example, if I were to stop running, people might notice whereas if I hadn't told anyone I could stop and no one would be the wiser. This keeps me getting up and getting my butt out the door. I need motivation, I need those few encouraging words now and then to keep me in the right frame of mind to think I can do this.

I was totally shocked at what a mental struggle this project was for myself the very first time my friend took me out. I was exhausted, in pain and finding it hard to breath, wanting to give up, stop, or give in, but after my dear, dear friend cheered me on and kept me going, after that first time of actually conquering that simple, short run, I knew I actually could do it! What a war waged in my head to get there, though!! That same war is fought every single time my run day rolls around and I try to convince myself I can't do it, I won't go, I'm too tired, I don't need to....But, the better part of me keeps winning the war and I get changed, lace up new new running shoes and head out to another gorgeous day and a great time outdoors.

Another note of interest, I began running with my friend to talk to but since then on my own I have been using my iPod and listening to some audiobooks. They may not be great upbeat, fun pumping music to run to, but I find they keep me interested and distract my mind long enough to get through each run. I finished the New Moon audio book a few weeks ago and I am now on to Eclipse. I only listen to them while running so it gives me another weapon in my mental war to keep me going and looking forward to continuing the story.

For interest sake on how I have been doing in this monumental project, below are my updates from facebook so you and I can see how far I've come. Enjoy.

August 22, 2009
Project Running - after Day 1 - Kirsten Blackstock is a workout/ running/ walking machine!!!! ...okay, so it's a new machine with a lot of parts that are now aching, but this machine feels good!!! And who knew this machine could run UPhill?!?

Project Running - Day 2: Didn't push quite as hard since I am still in pain from Saturday, but I still did a good 50 min hard walk with 5 mins of running, one being UPhill again! This time my R shin and L calf feel slaughtered! But a little ice should calm them down.

Project Running: Day Three - not as bad as before, but still some pain and breathless moments. I took a stopwatch, timed my minutes and am mentally getting better each time! AND I still ran UP that hill on the last stretch!!

Project Running: Day 4 - Felt good before, recovered better from last day, hard work, L calf still going numb, need new shoes, pushed harder, did more arm/leg exercises halfway, enjoying Eclipse audiobook, and still ran UPhill at the end!! PS - running in noon-hour heat = bad idea!

Project Running: Week 2, Day 2 - really did not want to go today...but forced myself out. same routine, felt better half way, did more stretches and exercises, L calf still painful/numb but not as bad. still need new shoes! ran UPhill at end again! Phewph!

Project Running - End of Week 2, Day 3: again hard to get out there but I did, lovely evening, seeing a running club challeneged me to push harder, way more exercises halfway, saw a seal eating a huge fish, much better recovery half way & after..., again ran UPhill at the end (t'was torture!) but I feel good now!!

Project Running - Week 3 Day 1: easier to get going once I got outside, pretty morning with clouds rolling in and waves crashing, managed one more running set than usual, quicker stop halfway, last UPhill run was difficult but I feel good now! Off to buy some new shoes!! Yay!

Project Running...Week 3 Day 2 (missed a couple days): Tried out new shoes!! Asics, very comfy, great support, although different msucle groups really felt it today. Gorgeous outside, saw a cute little brown ermine along the shore, swimming and diving, too!

Project Running, Week 4: good run, better time, less of a cool down break in the middle, new shoes are great! Ran UPhill twice!!

Project Running, Week 4, Day 2: great run, faster time, less of a break in the middle, new shoes are great, I can really feel how they are keeping my feet cooler and more supported! Ran UPhill twice again!

Project Running, Week 4, Day 3: Pushed myself a little more today, 1 min run, 2 min fast walk - no exceptions! Gorgeous evening! I love living by the ocean!! Ran UPhill twice again!

Project Running: Week 5 Day 1 - Awesome beautiful day!! Good Run, pushed myself with less walking intervals in between runs and a bit longer run times, I still can't believe the mental struggle I have to actually get out there, but I did it again, ran uphill twice again, loooove my new shoes!!

So It's been brought to my attention....

that I have not posted in a while.....
While true, I will take this opportunity to say......neither have some of you! There. Now that we've established that I'm not the only blog-slacker...

I've slowly been getting my home sorted out, unpacked and tidied....slowly.
Last weekend my parents really helped me a bunch by helping me unpack some more boxes and taking away all my cardboard boxes and paper.
I've been settling in and enjoying my neighbourhood immensely!!!

The crocuses are all out, purple, yellow, white, the daffodils are bursting and even some tulips are showing some colour. The trees that line my street and all those surrounding are all light pink cherry trees that are just beginning to open their delicate little pink flowers!

This isn't really in focus but you get the idea. So dainty and pretty!

Sophie and I have discovered (after my dad's common sense suggestion) another beach to walk to that is even closer than the place we've been walking everyday. This new beach is sandy and even has a dog park above it.

The sunsets and morning sunrises are so beautiful here! And the other day it was so windy and cold, but so invigorating to walk in and to watch the waves crashing up on the rocks! Have I mentioned I love the ocean!?!

This doesn't really look too stormy, but I assure you the waves were a-crashing!

One more funny picture....a few houses away, we always pass these two houses with little faerie doors on trees in front of their houses. This is one....it's cute but kind of tacky and silly. The other one is more simple and sweet. I'll have to snap a pic of that one, too.

Well, I hope you all have a great week!
Keep updating your blogs, I check them all, really I do. I may not comment too often, but i love reading about your kids, your projects, your family and friends and your adventures!!

PS - Did I mention that all these photos were taken with my new phone?
Not too bad, eh?! I'm still working on getting the shots clear and not blurry, but it's hard with Sophie tugging on my wrist (via her leash) for us to keep walking.