Plank Challenge...FAIL!

I was all gung ho for about 3 days... plank times... 1.06, 1.23, 1.44.  Then nothing... I just kept forgetting, no actually that's a lie.  I had a note on the counter to remind me and everyday I would look at the note and think "I'll do that this afternoon" and then by the time afternoon came... I just didn't do it.  Shame on me.   So, I'm going to rechallenge myself and to stick with it.  I mean it's only 2-3 minutes every other day.  What's so hard about that??

Laundry and 14, what do they have in common?

14 seems to be the age when my children become disdainful of my laundry services.  I don't mind doing laundry and all I ever ask of the kids is that they sort their laundry into the laundry baskets when it's laundry time and then to put away the clean folded clothes that I set on their beds.   When Brenna turned 14 I caught her putting the clean, folded clothes back into the laundry basket to be washed again, instead of putting them away.  Ding, Ding, Ding - time to learn to do you own laundry!  With Zack it's a little bit different,  he's just too darn lazy, or distracted or "busy" to get his clothes into the baskets... It's not like it's a surprise that he needs to sort his laundry.  I put the baskets out on Friday night and I do  laundry on Sat afternoon.  Doesn't seem like to hard a task to sort his clothes... but he didn't...so Ding, Ding, Ding... time to learn to do his laundry!  My little boy is growing up!

Happy Belated 3rd Aunt Clare's Day

I've discovered that ever since I rededicated Valentines Day to be Aunt Clare's Day, I really don't mind the holiday at all.  I actually look forward to finding silly, fun ways to celebrate it for other people.  This year it was pretty low key, if you don't count the emergency vet trip.  I sent Brenna 2 silly care packages  and gave the boys in my life food with goofy notes on them.  I still maintain that it's a ridiculous holiday, but as long was we don't do anything mushy I guess I'm okay with it.

Just say NO to chocolate

I came home yesterday to find this...

Which is the remains of 3 Valentines Day packages that were sealed and ready to be mailed to Mom, Louise and Brenna.  I couldn't believe that Cooper at 3 of these DELICIOUS 

Candy bars, but also the the bubble mailing packages, cardboard packaging and parts of the Valentines Day cards, but with a face like this it was hard to stay mad. 

Until he started throwing up and I realized that the amount of chocolate he consumed could actually be a real issue.  Did some googling, called the 24hour emergency vet and $500 later - Cooper was deemed fine.  He had to spend the night in the hospital, did the whole activated charcoal, IV fluids and heart medication routine and emptied my wallet but now he's home safe and sound and I hope he's learned his lesson.  Doubt it... most likely I've learned my lesson.  Nothing is safe from Cooper.

2 down 10 to go!

****UPDATED - Just got my official time from the 5K website....wait for it.... wait for it... 31.51!!! I am so freaking excited!!  Not only was it a PR, but it was a hilly course so I'm really happy with how I did!!****

         I just finished my 2nd 5K of the year!  Yeah for me.  I ran all by myself, no one wanted to run with me, but actually I didn't mind it at all.  It was up in Bethesda.  The course was really hilly, but I was actually really happy with my time.  The timer on the course said 32.12, which I thought was great, especially considering the hills.  But the time on my watch said 31.52!!! which is even better!  Not sure which is more accurate, but I tend to think my watch.  The last 5K I ran - time was 32.08.  My goal is just to try and keep doing better than the previous one.  Even though 32.12 is slower... with all the hills - I'm happy with it.  31.52... even better!!  Next one... March Shamrock run in DC.  Zack's going to do this one with me.

Golds Gym Erg Sprints

Another successful foray into the Erg Sprints world!  This time Zack only had to row in the freshman race.  It was 1500m so he was a little nervous, but once again he rowed his freaking guts out!!  I think he came out a little strong and then faded some at the end, but I've decided that this year is sort of like when the kids played T-ball or peewee Soccer - we're not keeping score...it's not about the time... it's about rowing as hard as you can.  And that's certainly what he's doing.  He wasn't last and that's always a good thing.  Not to mention, but I will, the 3 kids that won the race... I'm pretty sure weighed 3x what  Zack and the rest of the Woodbridge Freshman weighed! :o)  It was a great day, Woodbridge did awesome - medaled in every event and took 1st in quite a few.  There was great camaraderie, lots of cheering and I think it was a wonderful way to start off the season!  I can't wait for Spring to start!

Freshman Race

Game face

Getting ready to try his hand at coxing

Zack the coxswain - 3rd place finish!

Miracles DO Happen!

Hell hasn't frozen over...

But miracles DO happen... not very often, but they do!

Mid Atlantic Erg Sprints

The Spring Season is getting ready to kick off!  Zack had his first experience with with Mid Atlantic Erg Sprints.  It's a huge rowing competition and I'm very proud of Zack for participating.  He was the only freshman who participated!  We talked about how it would be a great experience for him, no pressure,  just rowing in his own event.  He could go and check it out, see what it was like and then he'd know for future years.   When we got there we discovered that one of the Varsity guys was sick and they needed Zack to row in the Quad slide with the rest of the varsity guys.  You should have seen his face.  It was outwardly blank, but I could tell he was a little freaked out, but he stepped up like a champ and filled in.  He rowed first in his individual 1000M race and did great.  He rowed his guts out!    4:09.8 - He was 36/38, but his place wasn't what we were concerned about, it was the experience.  It think it was harder than he expected, but he was so awesome.  Then just a couple hours later, he rowed in the Quad slide with the other guys.  I think it was a lot harder than he expected, but he dug down, gritted it out and totally hung with the big boys!  I was so proud of him!  It was so amazing to see him in the role of athlete.  Working so hard and doing so great.  I'm so use to seeing him as my baby, or as the goofy, computer kid.  To see him working so hard and accomplishing so much, it just makes me so proud!  I can't wait for the Regatta season to start!  The event in pictures...

Getting ready to row 1000M

 

Coach Lea coxing him to the end

Survived his first event

Rowing in the Quad

The Quad rowing hard!

Survived another event

Bonding?

The whole gang!