Life on Lee Avenue

Tough Mudder: The Race

The last obstacle: ElectroShock Therapy

This past mother's day, I participated in Tough Mudder Toronto, a 16 km obstacle course designed by British Special Forces to test your strength, stamina and determination. In my lifetime, I've run 2 full marathons and 3 half marathons. I have camped in the Australian outback and climbed a glacier in Argentina. I'm in (relatively) good shape but nothing could have prepared me for this. Yes, instead of being pampered by Pickle on a day dedicated to me, I decided to endure a process almost as difficult as labour....thankfully there was no snow or mud in the delivery room but I digress... 

On May 12, I woke up at 5:30 am and drove with my teammates to Mount St. Louis Moonstone. Everyone, was feverishly checking our smart phones to see the temperature. After a week of warm 20 C degree weather in Toronto, we hit a cold spell....a really cold spell. It was 5 C degrees and snow was beginning to fall.

Three and a half hours and 20 obstacles later, I crossed the finish line all in one piece. Three things helped me get through the race: 1. Layers.I wore three layers on top as well as long running pants on my legs. I kept me hat dry through out the challenges. Whenever I was completing a water osbtacle, I had a team mate hold it. Although I was still frozen at the end of the day, I think it kept me from getting hypothermia. 2.  Igorance & Determination. Yes, ignorance is bliss! My motto was "Just keep moving" so that my muscles wouldn't seize up. Since I had no idea what to expect, I was able to push through the elements and pain. 3. Team mates. Serioulsy, I couldn't have hoisted my butt over large "Berlin Walls" if my life depended on it, especially 9 km into the race. It also helped that the other participants were friendly.  

My coworkers asked me if I would do it again. Last Monday, I was in such shock, I would have responded "Absolutely not". Now, after a week has past, I am not ruling it out. I would highly recommend Tough Mudder to anyone if you are someone who is up for a challenge, enjoys commaredire and doesn't mind getting muddy. Throwing yourself into an ice bath or climbing over large wooden structures is .  Mental grit also goes a long way.

Done and Done

Ireland

Ten years ago today, I hopped on a plane destined for Europe with a red haired boy that I had only been dating for 7months. I was just another bright eyed country girl looking for adventure with nothing to lose. Little did I know, what lie ahead. At the age of 22, there were so many questions of my life left unanswered. I don't know how my mother let me go.  

It was the summer of 2003 and all I had with me was a backpack filled to the brim and an overwhelming enthausiam. It was a simple and exciting time. After touring London and Paris, the red haired boy and I arrived in Ireland. We rented an apartment in Dublin; he worked doing a human rights internship while I worked at a camp for kids with cancer. It's hard to explain how much this experience meant to me...or how it continues to shape my life today. I've tried to describe the significance before. 

In the six months I lived and worked in Ireland, I learned that I wanted to be a social worker for children with chronic illnesses. I learned that I wanted to travel and see the world. I learned that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with the red haired boy. 

The beauty of time is that it gives you perspective. I knew that the summer of 2003 was going to be a memorable one, but I didn't realize how transformative it was. Thank you Ireland for teaching me, so much about myself. May 15th will always be an important day in my personal history. 

Right Now: May 2013

THE SET UP Wednesday, 7:11 AM downstairs. Aaron, dressed in a suit and tie, wishes everyone a good day and is off to work. Charlie, Rowan and I are watching Elmo Sings With the Stars before Rowan goes to daycare at 8 am. 

EATING yogurt with granola and blueberries, drinking coffee with milk and sugar. 

APPRECIATING the summer like weather we've had in Toronto. Loving that overnight that the trees and plants have come alive with colour. Planning to clean up the backyard over the next few weekends.

FEELING every bone in my body after playing my first beach volleyball game last night. Satisfied with my performance, especially my serves. 

WEARING my birkenstocks after a long winter. My feet are happy. Thinking I would wear them all time if I could.  

ANTICIPATING new albums from Neko Case and the Sadies this year. Hoping to see Neko Case at the Ottawa Bluesfest and the Sadies at Hillside.  

DREAMING of mulitiple layouts after reading Bruce Feiler's book, The Secrets of Happy Families. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who is interested in scrapbooking. 

PLANNING multiple trips to the playground. Thankful that we have some amazing spaces close to home and that Rowan loves climbing, going down the slide and swinging on the swings.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The second Wednesday of every month in 2013 I will be completing a "Right Now" journal entry. These posts are inspired by the awesome Ali Edwards and terrific Tina Aszmus. Please feel free to join in! Link your simple journal post in the comments below.

Project Life: Week 11

Week 11 and the wood veneer obsession continues!

This week was St. Patrick's Day. Although I didn't use the traditional green to mark the passage of the day; I did create my own personalized journaling card in PSE to highlight how lucky I was feeling. As usual, I turned the photos into black and white to create a cohesive look. I dusted off my "big camera" to capture most of these shots. I like to use my "big camera" because it helps me to slow down and focus on composition. I especially love the photo of Aaron and Rowan on the top row as it documents her genuine excitement of seeing a llama for the first time. 

Stories documented this week include: Rowan wearing her new rain boots and jacket; visiting College Royal and Old MacDonald's Farm at the University of Guelph and playing hidey peek during supper. I also included words related to this blog post. Looking back at this spread, I find that I included photos from the weekend vs photos through the week. Must make a mental note of this and be more intentional of snapping picture through out the week. 

How did you scrap St. Patrick's Day? Do you use traditional colours?

Thanks for looking!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Project Life is a fantastic and simple scrapbooking system created by Becky Higgins. I use it to document my everyday family life. To buy Project Life products in Canada, go here. To buy Project Life products in the US, go here.  Check out all my Project Life posts here.

Day In the Life: April 2013

 

THE SET UP

Just like the three previous days I have documented this year, I captured my everyday life with my iPhone and Instagram. Tuesday, was a typical day by all accounts. Aaron and I went to work, while Rowan attended daycare. We had fun. We were tired. We pushed through. Here is a glimpse what happened: 

THE PHOTOS

   

   

    

      

    

THE WORDS

6:43 AM Blergh. We wake up late and are moving slowly. Very slowly. I am tired after running 12 km and hearing Pickle cough all night long. Can't remember when we brought her in to our room, but she wakes up in our bed. Thankful that I was organized enough to have clothes and food ready to go. The morning routine goes by quickly and I feel like I am just trying to keep up. The thought: "Just keep swimming" repeats in my mind over and over again. My patience is low and I am not at my best. Hello Tuesday.

9:13 AM April 30th = Tax day. As a result, I get a few last minute phone calls at work to fill out DTC forms. Oh the glamourous life of a medical social worker! I finish up the forms and see a few clients in clinic. After clients have left, MK and I go back to our push up challenge. Our goal is 751 push ups over the course of 5 days. It these silly / fun competitions with my coworkers that make me love my job so much!

1:47 PM After doing 25 more push ups, I drink my 3rd cup of coffee and snack on some special K. I chart and read a few blogs. The sleepies are setting in. I switch to water and stick my head outside. It is a beautiful and sunny day. 

4:10 PM I "indulge" and go to the washroom one last time sans bebe before heading home. Sometimes it is small things that make me happy. Traffic is light and I am able to run a few errands before picking up Rowan. First stop: the bookstore. I pick up Bruce Feiler's new book, "The Secrets of Happy Families". I was intrigued after reading this article in the New York times magazine which seems to make a case for scrapbooking. Next stop: the grocery store to buy more berries. It's the typical mid week stop to pick up more produce.  I arrive home and have a few minutes to spare. I change out of my work clothes and into my lulu's. I feed Charlie dinner and prep ours. It's Tofu Tuesday and on tonight's menu is: Vegetable Stir fry with quiona. It's the calm before the evening routine rush!

5:14 PM  Arrive a daycare. Pickle smiles and screams a joyful scream. Seriously this moment is the best part of my day. I am delighted and surprised to hear Rowan say the word "shoes" when I direct her to put them on. Sarah, our caregiver, tells me that Rowan has said "Hi Sarah" after waking up from her nap. Although she looks tired, Pickle has had a good day. My.heart.melts. She is growing up so very fast. 

6:35 PM After eating dinner, Pickle and I watch Octonauts. Pickle dances during the "creature report" song and I try not to fall asleep on the couch. Daddy arrives home and Pup. E. Boy does his happy dance. I, too am happy/relieved, to have extra set of hands.  

7:13 PM Drinking Mint tea while Pickle has her bath. I pack her lunch and set out tomorrow morning's breakfast. Who knows what kind of a night it will be. I am exhausted and planning on going to bed early - like as soon as I am done this, I am going to bed kinda early. What can I say - just another while and crazy night on Lee Avenue! I lie in bed with the laptop trying to blog about the day that was. My eyes close in seconds flat. It looks like the post won't go up tomorrow as I am asleep. Can you tell I am a parent of a toddler?

OBSERVATIONS

I almost forgot to document the Day In The Life! The previous night was a sleepless one, thanks to a cold that Rowan has been fighting. Although I wasn't mentally prepared, I was able to snap lots of photos through out the day.  

MOVING FORWARD

As always need to capture more of Aaron. I must remind him (and myself) of this on the actual day. To ensure this happens I have marked my calendar for May 31st. In addition, I would like to include more shots of us together as a family, including Charlie E Boy. Downloading the Self timer app is a must, for this to happen.

DId you take part in Day In the Life? How did it go?

Thanks for reading!

________________________________________________________________________________________

The last day of every month in 2013, I am participating in Day In The Life as suggested by Ali Edwards. You can participate too. All you need is a camera, pen and paper to document your life right now.