5k

Yesterday I ran a 5k and actually got the third best time in my age group! This makes me suspect that it was a slow race, but considering that I am really not a runner AT ALL, I am very pleased with myself. My goals were not to walk at all and finish in less than 30 minutes. My time was 29:28, so I did it! I used this training plan, which I really liked. Thomas and I had tried a different one in the fall, but we didn't really like it and didn't keep up with it in the winter. The best part was having Thomas and Jamie cheering me on at the finish line.

a week without Daddy

Thomas just returned from Bulgaria after being gone 9 days, by far the longest time Jamie and I have been alone together. I was nervous about it, but it actually went pretty well! Unfortunately, Jamie came down with a cold halfway through, but other than that we had a lot of fun. We tried to stay busy to make it a more special and fun time. Here are some of the things we did . . .

(some of these pictures were taken on my phone, so they aren't the best quality! Apparently I have a hard time remembering the camera.)
We played at the mall and got a treat at a new frozen yogurt place. They had all kinds of toppings, but Jamie's favorite was the rainbow sprinkles.

Jamie got to play at Gym Bugs, a little gym for kiddos. They have classes and things, but in the mornings they have "open gym," so Jamie got to play on trampolines, gymnastics mats, slides, a little ball pit, etc. So fun! He has really been into jumping lately, so it was perfect.

Story time at the main library branch downtown (he is going after bubbles here).

And after story time, we went over to the farmer's market and got a tasty snack.

There's a fun little splash fountain on Market Square. Jamie had never played it in before, but when he saw some other kids doing it, he wanted to also. I hadn't brought him a swimsuit or anything so he just went in his clothes. He LOVED it. He was absolutely shrieking with glee. It was amazing...pure joy! He is such a water baby.

We went to the zoo. Jamie sat on a turtle statue.

Saturday was Knoxville's annual Biscuit Festival, so we went to that and sampled some biscuits! My favorite was the smoked chocolate and sorghum biscuit. Here Jamie is trying the cinnamon toast crunch biscuit. Afterwards we got a snack at the farmer's market, and then headed over to World's Fair Park, where the Children's Literature Festival was going on. Jamie was a little young for a lot of the things there, but they had a fun play area and we ran into some of his friends.

A balloon and a dum-dum...This is a happy boy!

The next day we had a picnic, though all he wanted to do was take things in and out of the basket. Not much food was consumed.

Jamie spent a lot of time playing at the sink while I made dinner. He loves to help me "measure water" and "wash potatoes."

And on our last day before Daddy came home, we made oatmeal cookies together!

The week was so much more fun than I anticipated, even after he got sick. There were a few hard times because the congestion messed up his sleep, but it was still okay. I won't be so nervous next time Thomas has to go out of town.

how to miss a childhood

Several friends on facebook posted a link to an article called "How to Miss a Childhood." I loved this. It describes my BIGGEST pet peeve when I am out and about with Jamie. And frankly I think it is a message everyone could use these days, not just moms!

no mommy!

A neighbor of ours watched Jamie this morning for a little while so I could go jogging. When I got back, I came in his bedroom where they were playing, and he immediately said, "No Mommy in Jamie's room!" and tried to push me out the door.

This is a completely typical response whenever he has a babysitter. I suppose it should make me sad, but I actually love it. It's nice because I never have to worry about whether he'll be sad while we're gone. I love how much he loves people!

like father, like son

 

 

Easter

Sorry we've been AWOL for a while. Our desktop died sometime in March so we only had Thomas's netbook. Made it hard to do much blogging, seeing how he takes it with him to school every day, but we have a new desktop now and lots to catch up on, so we're good to go!

Easter was particularly fun this year since Thomas's parents came for the long weekend. Plus Jamie was able to get into the activities more now that he's a little older!

Jamie with his Easter basket. He got stickers, sidewalk chalk,
bubbles, and fruit leather.

 

Easter eggs. Jamie didn't help with the actual dying but he got to put stickers on them.
And eat them. That was his favorite part.

Jamie covered Grammy and Papy in stickers!

Easter egg hunt

The eggs were empty :) But he didn't care. He just had fun finding them.

    

We all went to the zoo the next day, Grammy and Papy's first time there. Lots of fun!

 

 

 

We all felt very spoiled by the end of the visit. Jamie is lucky to have such generous grandparents. He has been talking about them a lot ever since!