Variety

I was catching up on my blog reading this morning and I was struck by something. I am surrounded by variety and I want to experience that variety. Not in the actual writing of the blogs, (but even there I read some really well written ones that I'd love to be like, someday,) but I was thinking more along the lines of the subject matter. I was scrolling through a blog on sewing (I don't actually follow this blog but found it through one I do follow, you know those impulsive link clicks) and I was admiring this beautiful dress the woman had made for her daughter and I said, "I wish I knew how to sew."

And then I started this running tally in my mind of all the things I wish I knew how to do that other people can be really talented at....

Like, sewing. I can patch a hole and I have even made pillows, but the patience and attention to details it takes to make cute little girls' dresses, that is something I just don't have. Well, and I also don't have a sewing machine.

Or photography. I can take family pictures with my point and shoot up the wazoo, and sometimes I end up with a good picture, but I wish I knew how to take really good pictures more of the time. I've often thought about taking an adult ed class or getting some sort of Photography for dummies book, but then I think that I'd probably need a fancy camera, too.

Scrapbooking. Oh I know how to scrapbook and I do it quite a bit, but I'm not very talented--my aim is usually to get the pictures in the book and to do so quickly and effeciently. Sometimes I think it would be cool to be better at layouts and color schemes and all that, or even digital scrapbooking, which is something I don't really have a clue about.

Musical instruments, more specifically playing piano. I have always wanted to learn how to play the piano, I just think its a really pretty sound, but we've never owned a piano, so it was kind of out of the question.

Gardening. I love a good, fresh out of the garden veggie as much as the next gal, but I don't really enjoy getting dirty or weeding or watering....nor do I know much about it. I don't even water our house plants, thats my green-thumbed husband's job.


So, as I was thinking about these talents and how people usually tend to blog about one or another, focusing on what they are really good at (i.e. the food blog, the portrait a day blog, the reader's blog, etc), I realized I don't do that. For one, I don't think I'm really very good at any one thing, I'm kind of more a "jill of all trades" and so I tend to blog about everything and anything, sharing little pieces of my "crafts" here and there. For me, I think its all about variety. I would get bored if all I ever blogged about was food or scrapbooking or running, because honestly I think that is why I have so many hobbies, for the variety. I'm not super talented at all of them but I sure enjoy each one. I guess that is all that matters, isn't it?

Now, if I could only figure out how to add a couple more in there...

Snow. Snow? Snow!

It's finally a winter wonderland here. I think we got somewhere between 6 and 8 inches of fluffy white snow over the weekend. It's beautiful. And as we waited at the bus stop this morning I noticed that the snow also makes it really quiet, too. Its almost eerie. The kids really wanted to play outside in it yesterday, but unfortunately we had a pretty busy day and so it didn't happen. I felt bad because Kera has been waiting and waiting to be able to make snow angels. I'm hoping it can happen for them after school today.
Having snow makes it feel more like the Christmas season, which is nice, but every winter I'm reminded of one thing when the white stuff finally decides to fall from the sky: I absolutely hate driving in it. I've had to, such is life in Montana, but each winter I can't help but think how nice it would be to live somewhere where you wouldn't have to drive in snow, ever. If someone could come up with an invention that allowed the snow to fall everywhere but the sidewalks and roads, they'd be a millionaire and a hero in my mind. And thats another grief that I have: the sidewalks, even if they get shoveled they are still snowy and sometimes icey, which makes running outside kind of treachorous. I've seen the little traction things you can put on your shoes, but I'm not sure I could actually run with them on my shoes or if they'd help and I don't want to spend the money to find out. Now there are some fun winter activities that I enjoy, snow-shoeing and sledding, but running is my favorite and now that I'm limited to only the treadmill I'm not as excited about doing it. I guess its time to pull out the various workout videos for a couple months!

So part of what we had going on yesterday was a birthday party for my little sister. I'd invited her over for lunch and she didn't know the I'd also invited the rest of our family and a couple of her friends, so she was pleasantly surprised to find that all out. It was cool, I love surprising people.  She's a great sister (my favorite even if she's the only one, hee hee) and it was a pleasure to treat her to lunch and all the fixin's of a birthday. She's not always lived in the same city as me and so its really nice to be able to have her as a part of my life, and vice versa I think. My girls love her youngest son and her oldest son puts up with my girls. It's kind of entertaining. It was a good time, here are a few snapshots...

My sister and her cute boys

My sister and her youngest and my cute girls. Notice Lindsays shorter hair? I love her haircut!

Remember Pop Rocks, the candy? You know the kind you use to love eating as a kid--little rocks that popped and crackled once they got in your mouth. Well, the girls' Grandma and Papa bought Lindsay some on Saturday at the mall while Erik and I were on a date and Lindsay was eating them yesterday during the birthday party, sharing with her cousins of course. But it was funny watching them get all excited about the popping, just like we did as kids!

My youngest nephew and my sister's youngest boy, is forced to play with the various girl toys in our house when he comes over, yesterday I walked back to find him reading books while sitting in the girls' toy baby crib. It was adorable.

And finally, me (in my sweats, hair not done and no makeup) and Kera clowning around with the camera. Geez, I look old when I am not all done up!

Teeth and Programs

Lindsay finally lost one of her front teeth last week. I forget if I've already mentioned it, but here is a hammin' it up picture of her and a rather large hole in her smile. Did I mention that the Tooth Fairy forgot to visit the first night after she lost this tooth? And that she is convinced that I am not only the Tooth Fairy but also Santa? Yeah, let's hope she doesn't spoil it for everyone.

Today was Kera's kindergarten Holiday Program. Those lil' kiddos are so cute with their songs.

Um, yeah.

Today is one of those days where I think its too cold to go for a run. Yesterday and tomorrow are included in that category as well. I think the high forecasted for today is 7 with a low at -5, not including windchill. So, yeah. I ran 4 miles on the treadmill yesterday, which normally would be like torture. I hate doing my long runs on the treadmill--it is extremely boring to me when I compare it to the normal company of my 2 or 3 running buddies. Sometimes I can endure if I have something entertaining to watch, and yesterday it was figure skating. It was kind of cool to listen to my own music but watch the skaters and all the sport related commercials in-between. Seeing those athletes that have put so much work into their sport, it gave me the motivation to finish my sorry excuse for a long run. Four miles, really? Hang in there Kendra, it'll be a whole five miles next week, hopefully. I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I miss my ten milers of the summer. Not the actual running for a whole hour and a half, but being in good enough running shape to be able to complete ten miles, I think that is what I miss.

On a sidenote, I was tickled pink to see the Missoula Marathon listed in the January edition of "Runner's World" magazine in an article about the best marathons around the US, it seems to have gotten enough votes to be considered "Best Overall". Pretty darn cool, I think. :-)

I've decided that December is officially one of the busiest months of the year, and I don't think thats exactly a good thing. I've got a to-do list a mile long and an list of social engagements for me and/or my family just as long. So, there may not be as much writing as I had hoped....we'll see. Off to be productive.

When would it be too cold for a run?

I went for a run this morning, did about 3.5 miles in my hilly neighborhood in air that I think wasn't quite 20 degrees F. It was cold, but not too cold. In fact, I think I prefer running in the cold to running in the heat. Just think, its easier to keep adding layers than to take them off. I almost didn't go at first, thinking it would be too cold or that it was beginning to snow. I'm glad I sucked it up and went anyways.

Thoughts on today's run....

Saw four white-tail deer watching me anxiously from a hill. Their ears and tails stood straight up as they watched me, waiting, ready to run at the first sign of danger. After a moment they went back to eating as I'm pretty harmless.

Snowflakes floated tentatively from the partly cloudy sky. At times they seemed to almost be dancing with me as they made their not-quite direct trip downward. They clung to my eyelashes and landed, cold, on my cheeks.

My lungs burned only on the last hill home, the cold air makes me feel alive and I push it more than normal.

I was the only one on the road but for a few cars. It was quiet, peaceful.

I've decided Micheal Jackson's "Thriller" is a great running song.

My shoes have a little over 500 miles on them, which means its time for new shoes. They may have to wait til Christmas is over.