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!

9km long run & chilling at home with the fam

T2 woke up with an asthmatic cough at 5.44am - ouch, its Sunday for crying out loud!  So I gave him some ventolin and thought I'll just lie down for a little while and then get up and do my long run.  I opened my eyes and it was past 7.30am!  My punishment?  The sun belting down on my head during my 9km.  But I can't complain because other Aussies are frying in different parts of the country.  I felt slow and hot.  I'm starting to feel the need...the need for speed!  Therefore I'm going to start looking around at some other programs that incorporate at least one speed session a week as well as a long run.  Any suggestions?

My dear mother-in-law went to the bakery this morning, and bought...hot cross buns!  Oh the yummy deliciousness!  I just can't resist them.

Please don't tell me its too early!

I know - alot of butter!

The rest of the day was spent swimming with the family, cooking for this week's lunches and doing a little reading for my nursing course.  Later my sister-in-law popped over.  I totally love her and us 3 girls had a natter over a tea.  She's just returned from China and picked up some Tiger Balm from Singapore.  I'm going to give it a whirl after my next Parkrun.

mini-quiches

Choc chip Cookies

Recipe for the choc chip cookies is here.  I made them much smaller than the recipe said, but they're still pretty huge.

I'm feeling really tired this evening.  I wonder if the 9km (the longest run since I've started back running) has fatigued me?  My darling husband gave my legs a rub and just had a soak in the bath so feeling a little better now.

Back to school for the twinnies tomorrow.  I'm going to miss them, a little.  I really hope there's no nose bleeds this week.

Any suggestions for a 12 week half marathon program that has a little speedwork?

Week 5 of Lazyrunner 10k program; cricket and a visitor

Finished week 5 of the Lazyrunner 10k program today.  It was supposed to be 5kms but I think i ran a little longer.  No Parkrun for me because I was coaching Milo cricket :-(  The things we do for our kids!  There's 3 weeks left so then I'll be back to Parkrun every Saturday.

I have a mouth ulcer.  Its interfering with my enjoyment of food, which is serious.  Someone once told me that chocolate causes mouth ulcers.  I've chosen not to believe that.

T1 was amazing at cricket this morning.  No behaviour or attitude and his skills were incredible.  Another parent was asking what we do with him to get him good at cricket!  I actually enjoyed it, even though I whinge terribly about getting up early every Saturday morning to do it.  I've really got to stop whining about it.  The kids have really improved.

The twins were given a slipn slide T1 was into it

T2 preferred jumping in the puddles

Next up a wonderful therapist who used to work with T1 came to visit.  She is one of those people you can't imagine ever being angry or upset or saying a bad word about anyone.  Our whole family adores her.  She is such a great person and she bought the boys belated Christmas presents.  I love how all our long-term therapists come and visit.

They were also given these nut free (actually everything free!) cookies
They taste just like Tiny Teddies!

They were also given these bath toys and some pool toys

After that it was cooking for the lunch boxes.  Today was vegetable and ham fritters.  You can get the recipe here. We've decided not to let the boys sample them until they get them in their lunchbox.  I figure they'll be more hungry at school and hopefully will eat them.

Ham and vegetable fritters for lunch boxes - finger crossed!

7km & lunchbox success and failure

A humid 7km this morning as day 2 of Week 6 of the Lazyrunner 10km program.  I'm not supposed to do these runs consecutively, but I'm just so enthusiastic at the moment.  And importantly, I think my morning runs are really helping me emotionally and mentally get through the twins' first week of school.  So its my body and I'll run if I want to.....run if I want to...(for those too young to get it just move on).

I saw two pelicans on my run! 

This morning was a breeze compared to yesterday.  No nose bleeds, no hats down drains, everyone was happy.  I'm starting to get to know a few Mums from school.  One family lives just down the road.  They seem like really nice people.  I love the feel of this school.  It feels like a real community.   One mum told me this morning that running is her 'thing'.  Yippee!  She does look pretty fit and I suggested we go for a run together sometime.  I hope she's not too fast for me!

My husband wants me to double-check that T2 did this all himself!

T1's handiwork - I'm so proud of those guys!

Over the weekend I started work on my goal to participate in the kitchen more for the kids' school lunches.  My mother-in-law does the cooking (I know I'm completely spoiled).  I confess, she also helped with these..she's a champion!

these were given the thumbs up by all 3

Over the weekend I tried out mini quiches and banana weetbix chocolate muffins.  The mini-quiches were a success with all three and the muffins (which are healthier) were a fail with 2/3.  I tasted them and I reckon they're yummy.  I did use dark chocolate by accident, so I may give them another go in future.  Meanwhile, I'll eat them.  Oh well.

Me and 100+ reviews on the website liked them...oh well

The recipe for the mini-quiches is here.  A tip if you make them-buy short-cut bacon.  It took me too long too cut all the gross fat off the rashers.   I also used onion flakes because my little darlings don't 'like' onion.  The recipe for the muffins is here.  I hope you have more luck with them than I do.

Do you have a favourite lunch box recipe for me to try?  I need inspiration.

DAY ONE OF SCHOOL- SUCCESS!

Sorry, no run today!

The boys were so cute and so excited.  They got into their little uniforms and looked so proud.  Well actually T2's uniform isn't that little.... In the morning I paced around waiting for the minutes to tick by (we live minutes from school - a plus!).  When we got to school it was such a relief to see the familiar faces of their shadows.  It was so fantastic of the school to allow these shadows.  In Australia, there doesn't seem to be any specific laws or hard regulations regarding supporting kids with special needs.  The laws tend to be vague and generalised and much of the practical side is left up to the principal's discretion.

I love the way they hold hands

off they go !

Anyway, the classrooms are combined for the first two half-days.  After the parents were shooed out of the classrooms we went to the hall for tea and tissues.  I don't really know any of the parents well and my husband had to pop out to get my eldest to a swimming carnival.  Looking into a sea of unknown parents, hoping my kids were going to be ok, worrying more about how the other kids would treat them than how they will be at school...I promptly burst into tears...damn it!  In public, and I do believe I was the only one.  I went outside pulled myself together and tried again to go inside and be social.  I had a little chat with some of the parents and then headed off.   When we returned for pick up I was immediately greeted by a VERY excited special ed teacher (she is the main reason we chose this school) who told us they had been amazing.  The shadows also said they were great.  Hopefully this will last a little longer than the first day.

Does this pass the healthy test?  They ate ALL of it :-)

When they got home T2 immediately put on his pjs and lay on the floor!  T2, on the hand, was very excited and bouncing off the walls.

Just to add to the drama my eldest came home from cricket and told us that he'd been 'blanking out' ever since Wednesday when he came home from school very overheated.  His school had staffing issues and the kids had spent all afternoon in 30+degree heat (86F+).  At the time I thought oh my goodness, it might be his heart, or epilepsy or....There's a family history of serious cardiac issues.  So off my husband and son went to the Children's Hospital.  They had a long wait and didn't get home until 11.45pm.  Unfortunately he didn't receive a whole lot of tests.  I'm still abit worried about him, poor thing. We've been pumping in fluids and Powerade.  I hope he's ok today.

8km & Novotel Brighton-Le-Sands

Today I started week 5 of the Lazyrunners 10k plan.  Today was 8km.  It all went fine as I'd had 2 days off running.  Not sure about pace but this program is all about the distance not speed.  After I've finished this program I intend to incorporate one speed session a week into my training.

On Friday afternoon myself, my eldest and mother-in-law headed to Brighton-Le-Sands Novotel for an overnight stay.  My mother-in-law was sick last time we went so it was her first time there.  She really liked it.  It's my last voucher that I had stashed and I'm now on a voucher ban (self-imposed) until further notice :-(

the view from our room - a little windy!

Comfy beds and the pillows weren't too fat

Love 1990s Decor

We decided to skip the hotel restaurant because although its very good, its quite expensive unless you have one of the Accor club cards (which we don't).  We were surprised how many good casual eateries were located along Bay St.  For dinner we had fish, chips and calamari at Ocean Heart seafood.  It was all very fresh and delicious.  The calamari was particularly good (no sign of chewiness and so tasty!).

We'll be back.

If you want good fish n chips in Brighton-le Sands, look no further

Chunky chips - but there was no salt and they didn't ask!  I kept looking in the bag...but no :-(

One of the running bloggers I follow is always eating frozen yoghurt (she calls it Froyo) so when I discovered a frozen yoghurt shop I thought I'd indulge in my first one. I had no idea what flavour so had a little plain, a little mango and a little coconut.  I think I actually like the plain best.  Then, for the fun bit- the toppings.  Mini m&ms, crushed Oreos & Hershey bars, fruit and unidentifiable coloured round balls.  I liked it.  Not as much as HungryRunnerGirl does but I'll definitely have another soon.

Yoganic  - Bay St Brighton Le Sands

A froyo mishmash

For breakfast we went downstairs to Mezzes cafe.  We ordered bacon, eggs and toast.  It was all delicious and I'm not sure what bread they used but it was beautiful.  It cost under $10 each for the meals!  We followed that up by hot chocolates.  The service was great and the food came out promptly.

SO yummy..under 10 bucks!

Delicious hot chocolate

We picked up some lunch boxes and drink bottles for the twins (4 sleeps til big school!).  What on Earth is going on?  There was literally a wall of different boxes - long ones, short ones, ones with mini containers and separate containers and freezer coverings........What happened to the gigantic Decor boxes and a popper (if you wanted a drink you went to the bubbler).  Why is parenting so confusing these days???

A night in watching Fedex and Nadal...poor Federer.

I love this derelict terrace right across from the beach. 

A short walk takes you to what used to be my Nana's place.  Many happy memories of a wonderful person.

I also discovered something frightening about my mother-in-law and eldest.  I bought some gummy bears for them, but I didn't realise the effect they had on them.  They practically inhaled the packet.  When they offered me some I backed away in fear of immediate addiction.  We bought 2 more packets when we went down to Coles.  I'm not sure if those bears are still with us-its truly scary watching them in action.  A word of warning. DO NOT buy the sugar free ones - have you seen the reviews? Don't click on this link if you are eating.

These are NOT sugar free...but if you don't like your in-laws....:-)

T2 has a loose tooth and is demanding all food be cut into bite sizes.  Hurry up and fall out tooth!

What is your favourite Froyo flavour and toppings?  I need guidance.

Do you have any lunch box recommendations?  I really need help with this.

5km & the countdown to big school begins! (1 week today)

Today I finished Week 4 of the 10km Lazyrunner program.  It was a breakthrough for me to run 5kms two days in a row without feeling stiff or having niggles.  I'm tempted to push my luck a little and run 8km tomorrow.  We'll see...

So, one week until big school.  My blood pressure and heart rate rise slightly when I think about it.  I'm trying to block it out while simultaneously getting organised.  Today was uniform day.  The list went like this....2 shirts x 2, 2 shorts x 2, 1 sport shirt...x2, 1 sport shorts...x2, 4 pairs of socks...x2, 2 school bags...x2, 1 jumpers.. x2, $149.. x 2 (are you seeing a pattern here?) for a grand total of $498!!!  Let's add black school shoes...x2 for $200 for a grand total of $698 (deep breaths!).  Still need to get stationary, new lunchboxes and bottles (their preschool ones will have to do for the first couple of weeks).  Man, that's some serious cash.  Today we went to the uniform store and I was a little anxious about T2.  He was perfect and wanted to keep his school shirt on (so cute).  But T1 decided it was a good time to fight with his older brother.  Unfortunately it was his worst moment of the day and the rest of the day he was really good.  Don't you hate it when bad behaviour is saved for public consumption?

I'm starting to think lunch boxes now.  Its much more enjoyable than buying uniforms and shoes.  I'm thinking of cooking batches and freezing.  I'm going to try really hard to be organised with the school lunches.  I'm pretty spoiled and don't do much cooking so I think I should take responsibility for the school lunches this year.  Hopefully I'll come through with the goods.

Any tips from fellow ASD parents about first day of school?

Favourite lunchbox recipe?