Rainy day splashy fun

Eden and Asher's new 'rain suits' were tested out today. It was Eden's idea - I was much less enthusiastic about a trip to the park in the pouring rain, but even Grandma and Grandad came along! And we all had a fab time splashing in puddles. As it turned out, I'm so glad we went! 

Microwaved Salt Dough Stars

We had fun making some salt dough stars today. I had some leftover salt dough sitting in the fridge, so while the kiddies were finishing breakfast I quickly made some stars in the microwave - I love how speedy this method is! 

After breakfast we painted the stars, I loved that Asher joined in too, albeit only briefly before he wanted to get out of the high chair and run around! 

Eden decorated her painted salt dough stars with lots of PVA glue to make it shine, and extra sparkly stars. I left Asher's plain, just adding a layer of glue for a nice finish all over. 

Once dry, we hung them up in the bedrooms, I think they make a lovely addition to the rooms. 

Afternoon in the garden

We've spent a lovely afternoon altogether in the garden today. We started with a picnic lunch after church, which Eden was especially excited about. Then we had a play with the sand, dinosaurs and chalks on the decking, and slide and car on the grass. Asher is so strong he was pushing Eden around in the car from a standstill, as Eden giggled away inside. She also learnt today to pedal her bike properly, very proud of her. Asher had a little nosey in Luke's workshop, while he was building a gate to make the decking steps Asher-proof, they're a bit of a hazard for our inquisitive, fearless v nearly 14 month old.

This time next week it'll all be over.

One week until I run the London Marathon! I've been trying not to think/talk about it too much as I'm worried I'll panic myself. I did my last 'long' (70 mins) run today. It felt good, my last few runs have felt awful, ironically because of poor nutrition planning.

Struggling to run at race pace as its so hilly where I live - I'm either running too slow up a hill, or too fast down a hill. There really aren't many flat roads long enough to train along.

I know what my pace will be, but I need some way of tracking it. The last couple of days I've been trying to work out if my iPhone battery will last if I use GPS, or if I should use my iPod and/or a watch. I still don't have an answer. But I've bought a spibelt today, for stashing phone (if there's a downpour) and/or iPod, money etc.

This week I'm aiming to have a quiet week, and am avoiding toddler groups as I don't want to catch a snotty toddler's cold. Generally feeling good about the challenge ahead, and in wobbly moments I'm trying to remember that I've stuck to my training plan, which gives me some reassurance that all will be well...

My run today (88/365)

3 weeks to go. I'm so pleased with how my training's been going. I've stuck to my plan and its a great feeling ticking each run off. Today I ran beyond what the plan suggested, but I figured that's ok as I wanted to push myself one last time now that the taper period is starting and I start to wind down training before the big day!!

Run kit (87/365)

Tomorrow is my last long run before I start tapering. I have my run kit laid out next to my bed ready for the morning. Biggest struggle with long runs: boredom. Fortunately it's not stopped me so far. Just tomorrow to get through...

Full moon (86/365)

Driving back from Merry Hill this evening the moon was HUGE on the horizon. Typically as I pulled over and found my phone to take a photo it went behind a cloud, so here's my partially obscured picture, but I wanted to remember it never the less.

Busy playing (85/365)

In a world of his own, concentrating hard figuring out his shape sorter car toy

Easter salt dough shapes

I've been missing a trick all these years: I never knew that salt dough can be cooked in the microwave, done in just over 3 minutes! I've been baking it in the oven for 3 hours!! Doh!

I experimented with my microwave settings and found 3 minutes on low, turning it over and giving a 20 second blast on the other side then waiting for it to cool worked well. It continues to cook while cooling so was done by the time it had gone cold.

I'm loving the excitement leading up to Easter Sunday doing lots of crafts and activities with the kids. We made and painted these salt dough Easter shapes today, Eden really enjoyed it and Asher had a little go too, while sitting in his high chair, although as soon as he realised he wasn't getting any food he turned his attention to climbing out instead!

39 months and 12 months (84/365)

Love them :) it's not often they're both still at the same time long enough for me to take a photo of them together, I need to try more often though..

My snowy run (83/365)

I spent yesterday complaining and worrying about the snow ruining my training plans for the marathon. I arrived at the gym today, hoping to use the treadmill, to be told I'd need an induction first, 'council policy'. I'm so grateful that I was turned away! I had a choice between not running at all, thus missing a key weekend of training (taper begins soon so these are the final weeks of upping mileage) or giving the snow a go. I chose the latter, setting off with low expectations of how far I would actually manage. Strangely enough, I managed nearly 2 hours, I was surprised to find the country lanes had been completely cleared of snow, and the rest of the time the snow was still soft underfoot. I was happily distracted by the beauty of the snow around me, the time flew by and I barely noticed the hills I normally struggle up (I'm hoping this is adaptation to my training!) I would even go so far as to say today's run was one of my best, most enjoyable ever! Who'd have thought it!?!

Marathon training: this is not a good weekend for snow

We have a good few inches of snow at the moment, and it's so cold there's no chance of a thaw anytime soon. I'm extremely gutted as it's such a key weekend for marathon training, being the penultimate long run before the taper begins. I was all set for getting up early and heading straight out, being home by 10am. But I'm just not prepared physically, mentally and practically (my trainers wouldn't cope) to run in the snow, in sub-zero degree temps with the windchill; I'd lose my running form and risk injury, especially over a long run. Instead I'm planning a treadmill run tomorrow, but I just can't see myself running the full length of time I'm supposed to without packing it in out of utter boredom, I hate that the only think to watch is the little computer screen that tediously makes every minute pass at snail pace, so we will see how I get on... Come on snow... Be gone!