A long run & a cook-a-thon

This morning I had to run for 70 minutes as part of my half-marathon training.  I started off so slow.  I felt sore and stiff.  But then I noticed that every km I was loosening up and running a little bit faster.  One of my running goals for this year is to run 10km non-stop and I'm just happy to tick that one off the list.

I googled my Garmin problem.  Apparently because my Garmin is new and far away from where it was born it takes longer for the satellite's to pick up its location.  Then it remembers the approximate location through its satellite cache.  Also, I read that it picks up the signal better if the watch is still.  So this morning I lay my watch down face-up while I put on my shoes on...and presto!...in about 20 seconds my Garmin was ready to rock n roll!

This morning the twins' year group had to sing at a church service.   I had attempted to take them to church once before (about 9 months ago).  Then, it was a disaster. T2 started making loud noises and they squirmed and fussed and I was so mortified.  Thankfully today they were fantastic.  The church was packed and it was quite noisy and T2 coped really well.  The difference in nine months is huge.  After church was a BBQ so that was very reinforcing for them!

This afternoon was a lunch box and treat cook-a-thon.  First up was choc-chip cookies, then peanut-free rocky road, followed by mini-quiches and cheese, bacon and vegie scrolls.  Then I tackled the mammoth school note and mail pile that I'd been neglecting.

cheese, bacon and vegie scrolls

my own not-so-secret recipe

I'm exhausted, but in a good way.  Maybe Downton Abbey and some choccies are in order.  After all, my Garmin told me I burnt 799 calories this morning!

6km run Lazyrunner 10k plan Day 2, New Year's Eve in Sydney, Rest day today

Yesterday I ran 6kms as part of Week 1 of the Lazyrunner 10k plan.  I felt slow..and stiff.. and hot.  After I got home my lovely husband offered to massage my legs and feet - yes please.  Today I'm having a day off running and tomorrow plan on doing a short 3km run as I've been feeling fatigued on my runs lately.  I've really tried to pick up the pace in the last couple of weeks.

Last night we went to a close friend's conveniently located apartment in Pyrmont.  You can see Centrepoint Tower from her top floor but we decided to walk down to Pirrama Park for the 9 o'clock fireworks.  Who in their right minds takes twins with autism to see fireworks in chaotic Sydney?  That would be me!  After spending the early years of the twins life trapped at home I've now veered the other way.  Thankfully the twins now cope really well with it.  Our friend (kind of like a sister-in-law) had invited a few friends over and refuses to tell her friends about their diagnosis because she says no-one will notice.  Umm..ok.  I love her to death but T2 is a little...different.  T1 can get by without being noticed.  Anyway all 3 boys were really great overall.  We took them to the park for a while as T2 found rocks on the balcony and wanted to throw them off.  Luckily we stopped him before he had a chance to do that (and kill anyone) :-).  My eldest and T1 were fine.  Nothing was spilt or broken and the kids ate really well and I actually got to eat my dinner and talk to some of the guests.  My husband did have to keep T2 pretty close.  So the kids stayed awake and loved the fireworks and we had a great night.  Surely there is no better place to see New Years Eve Fireworks than Sydney Harbour.

Eldest and T1 at the park

I wish I had a DLSR and knew how to use one!

9 o'clock fireworks

An apartment's cool Christmas window

Then we went home, put the twins to bed and my eldest and us adults watched one of my favourite movies from 2013 - SilverLiningPlaybook.  At midnight, we watched the midnight fireworks and went to bed straight after.  You would think the twins would sleep in since they didn't get to sleep until 10pm, but they were up at 6.30am!  Thankfully my mother-in-law looked after them while we had a sleep in (bless her!).


This morning I did an ABA therapy session with T2 this morning.  He did really well - so compliant and focussed.  He's still a little confused about some wh questions though.


Tonight my eldest and my husband are going to the Big Bash (cricket).  My mother-in-law and I have our own plans.  They involve putting the twins to sleep, watching Atonement (I've been keeping this DVD for a special girls' night viewing) and eating and drinking all the nibblies that we were too full to eat last night - Jatz and crab dip, strawberries dipped in chocolate and drinking Chandon.  Bring it on!


Happy New Year everyone!  I hope its your best year ever.

Running Goals for 2014
1)  Run 5km in under 30 minutes
2)  Run 10 kms
3)  Run 10 kms under 60 minutes
4)  Run a half marathon
5)  Run a marathon?