10 on Tuesday

1. Wade spent this pass weekend in St. George with some buddies he trained for the Ironman with. Some of them are planning on doing the St. George Ironman this spring and they all went for a weekend "Training Camp and Course Reconnaissance". Tessie and I missed him, but I am glad he went. He deserved a weekend away and had a good time. They cycled, ran and spent a fair amount of time trash talking (I am guessing), discussing training and the love affair they have with the sport. I am glad he has these guys to share tips, info and obsession with. FYI he said the course is a doozy.

2. Tessa wakes up nearly every morning with what resembles a nest on the back of her head. I can't figure it out. We have to comb it out every morning with a wet comb and every morning she fake cries and says, "Ouch, ouch."

3. I signed up awhile back for the California Ragnar Relay. It's a 200 mile race than runs from Santa Barbara to Dana Point. I will do it with 11 other girls in about a month. It's been great to have a goal to work towards, as it always is. I really haven't had a fitness measure since climbing Mt. Moran last summer. I am looking forward to it.

4. I have been on a de-clutter, re-organizing streak. Channeling my inner Annika. I do love when these streaks appear. Few things are more liberating than filling up a few bags and getting them out of your house and to Goodwill. I read recently on someone's blog that they had a goal to get rid of 100 things in their house. My dad gets rid of like 100 things a week. Anywho, I don't know that I've reached 100, but probably close. Who doesn't want to get rid of 100 things so you can go buy 100 more!!

5. We got an offer on our house in St. Louis. An offer from a serious, financed buyer. Two years people. Two years we've been waiting for this offer. That home has undoubtedly been THE source of stress, financial woe, and angst the past few years. We are cautiously optimistic. I hope, hope, that this will work out for all parties.

6. Tessa was adamant that she feed herself oatmeal this morning. She's great with a fork, but the spoon and the oatmeal gave me anxiety. More than it might otherwise, because she was also adamant she sit "big girl" as in, at the table, not in her highchair. I told myself not to interfere. And then maybe after the third spoonful that put 75% of her oatmeal somewhere other than her mouth I said, "Tess, seriously?" And then she said, "Sisissly?" And then I decided I wouldn't talk either unless to say, great job, good bite. She did do great and as I sat there quietly and watched her semi-spoon oatmeal into her little mouth I thought. "Well, this is what we're supposed to do. We're supposed to teach them to be people. To feed themselves, clothe themselves, help themselves, gain independence." And all of the sudden that great weight of responsibility of all the things we're supposed to teach her successfully rested on my shoulders for a moment again. And then I laughed when she said, "Good gurl." Yep, good girl. Good bite.


7. What a total drag Easter and General Conference (a Sunday when LDS Church leaders broadcast messages from SLC and we don't go to church, instead, watch the broadcast from home) are on the same day. How can one possibly wear an Easter dress at home watching the lap top. I have these fantasies about being that annoying family (that you secretly want to be) that comes to church Easter Sunday. Kids in coordinating outfits, mom's dress coordinating with daughters and dad's tie in coordinating colors with mom and daughter. I was totally in that family growing up and I think it's brilliant. My mom somehow always found three coordinating dresses in three different sizes every year. I imagine all the more fun when a boy came along and she got to coordinate him into the mix too. My dad even had a boater hat. We should have been Baptists.

8. Wade bought me a bike seat for Tessa for my birthday. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! We have these awesome cruisers that we really haven't ridden since T was born as there was no way to take her with us. Well there is now! And Tess and I are loving it! She has a matching pink helmet to match my pink bike and she yells, "Bye, bye" as we ride past anyone, and "Go, go fast!" F-U-N!

9. I lost my running partner recently to Rheumatoid Arthritis. I miss her terribly. Granted I still see her all the time. Just not early in the morning, while escaping being moms and wives, women with responsibilities and instead for 30-60 minutes just being runners. Even though we mostly talked about being those very things...and even though we took to stepping and forgot about running altogether. See why I miss her? She'll be back. I'm sure of it. In the mean time I will patiently run alone. Kelly, are you feeling CA yet?? She's my other running partner that I lost to Boston.

10. I told my dad while in Jackson a few weeks ago that I would toss around the idea of the Grand Traverse. (Subsequently climbing all 6 Cathedral Summits in Grand Teton National Park) But that I was little worried about the whole bivi (sleeping in a bag while tied into the side of a mountain) thing. Next thing I knew he had committed me to it. My dad's always committing me to things I end up really enjoying. I need to start doing some pull ups.