my life

Let’s Get Dirty.

May 14, 2012 By kborchert 7 Comments

Last week Lisa asked if I wanted to do the Muddy Buddy race with her…on Saturday. Absolutely no training and four miles of running and obstacles followed by a mud pit. Are you kidding? I was in before she could even get the question out. I mentioned that I wished my kids could do it too and she told me they had a Mini Muddy Buddy race for the littles. I immediately registered my kids and we were ready to go.

Once again my children were there for the start of my race. They cheered me on as Lisa and I took off running to the first obstacle.

They started us off easy with a short cargo rope climb, then a balance beam, water crossing, “spider webs” and a river walk. We couldn’t run as much as either of us would have liked because this really was more trail running than anything else. I can run on trails from my experience living in Utah and doing so much hiking. However, this was totally new terrain for Lisa, so I let her set the pace. It was such a beautiful trail, so it was great just to take our time, have fun, and enjoy the scenery.

After we’d been out for a while, and done quite a few obstacles, I knew it was getting late and was afraid we were going to miss seeing the kids do their race. I suggested we pick up our step a bit. We started to run and then came upon the last 3 obstacles. First up was the cargo climb/giant slide. You know those big bounce house slides? Yeah, that, twice in a row. I was SO tired after that. Then came the rope climb (I kind of did that) followed by a climb up a wet and soapy wall. I was determined to get over that wall. Twice I tried, and twice I made it to the top and found myself just short of the ability to get my body up and over. Both times just as I was at the top and ready to go over, I lost my grip and fell to the ground. I have some awesome bruises and scrapes from that one. After falling two times, Lisa and I looked at each other and said, “screw this” and walked around it.

This is the first time we caught a glimpse of our families we were tired, sweaty, sore and ready to climb into the mud pit. I was ready to get dirty and to be done. We slid down a small slope and landed in the muddy water. I tried to figure out what would be a better strategy, army crawl or baby crawl. Either way it hurt since the mud pit was filled with small pebbles and gravel.

We climbed out of the pit and gingerly made our way through the sticky mud to the finish line. As we approached I first saw a darling girl with golden locks – I realized she was mine. My sweet Libby came to cross the finish line with me. She wouldn’t hold my muddy hand but she was running with me. Shortly after she joined me, I spotted Seth, he was also coming to finish with me.

I loved crossing the finish line with two of my children.

I got my medal, then took my kids to the starting line for their race. I was nervous for Seth. I knew that Amelia would stay with me, but he is older and more independent and wanted to just do it. We lined up with the 6 year olds (she’s 5, he’s 7, so we split the difference) and when the airhorn blew, we took off. They took the kids on a little quarter mile run, over a wall, through some tires and into the mud pit. Amelia was pretty cautious through the pit and at one point lost a shoe. We couldn’t find it so I told her not to worry about it. As we went to run the final part, her feet were hurting from the rocks, so I put her on my back. She and I crossed the line together.

Seth went back to look for us, but couldn’t find us and while he waited, his shoes got stuck in the sticky mud. He was finally able to extract them and found us. It was so great to be back with my babies and for all 3 of us to be covered head to toe in mud.

It was so much fun to share this experience with my kids. To watch them run and have fun. To see the pride on their faces as they wear their medals.

Lisa and I agreed that this is a race that will become a tradition for our two families. What a great way to spend a Saturday.

Filed Under: exercise, my life, the kidlets Tagged With: exercise, exercise with kids, muddy buddy race series

Rain

May 10, 2012 By kborchert 3 Comments

Dark clouds rolling in
faster and faster now

The thunder claps
and the parched earth drinks in
the sweet relief from above.

My soul has felt those clouds
for too long now.

But when I heard the thunder
I knew relief was coming.

It is always darkest before dawn
I let it come, I felt the sweet cool drops
on my soul.

I let it wash down on me
filling my cup.

When mine is full I let it overflow
and fill theirs.

The beauty of the rain is not lost
on me.

Filed Under: depression, my life Tagged With: depression, relief

Four on the Fourth: May 4

May 4, 2012 By kborchert Leave a Comment

Trying to get all 4 of them to sit still for a picture is often very comical.

Eh, I give up. There they are. All together. And not fighting. I’ll take it

Filed Under: 4 on the 4th, my life, the baby boy, the baby girl, the boy, the girl, the kidlets

humble

May 2, 2012 By kborchert 5 Comments

To say parenthood is humbling is a huge understatement.

When I was young, I thought parenthood would be easy. Not walk in the park easy, but not hanging on by your fingernails hard.

Lately, it has been hard. Oh so hard.

Jeremy and I have very different personalities. He is quiet, reserved and quite non-emotional. I am the complete opposite. I feel everything at I 110%. I have a quick temper, something Jeremy never had until living with me for 10 years.

Our children are more like me in personality. They are dramatic. They are LOUD. They either LOVE something or HATE it. There is no middle ground.

I can handle the girls when they are in their dramatic moods. It is not as hard as Seth’s moods. Maybe it is because he is most like me. Maybe it is because I see traits in him that I have always disliked about myself and I want him to change them. I don’t want him to have a friend tell him he is obnoxious. I don’t want him to never fit in, to always feel on the outskirts. I don’t want him to have the struggles I have had.

My frustration builds, his builds and we explode.

The other night what started out as a “go to bed” turned into him screaming and crying and eventually losing every single toy he owns. His room now has only books, art supplies and his bed. I took everything away.

I felt so very defeated after. I felt as if I had lost so much. Why can’t I be the calm, happy, Mary Poppins kind of Mom? Why can’t I laugh more and yell less?

Parenthood is not for the faint of heart. It is hard. It is frustrating. It is humbling.

As I sat in my room rocking Elliott to sleep, I pleaded with the Lord to help me know what to do with Seth. To lead my path and help me to know how best to help him. As I prayed, I realized I have been trying to do this all alone. I haven’t included the Lord in this struggle. I thought I could handle it. But, obviously I can’t.

I am tired. I am oh so tired and I can’t do this alone anymore.

I have been humbled.

-just write

Filed Under: Just Write, my life, the boy

My baby is almost One.

April 26, 2012 By kborchert 8 Comments

One year ago today I looked like this

No wonder people asked if I was having twins. That is one big belly

Two days later, I looked like this

My sweet baby boy is going to be 1 in two days. ONE people. My baby. My last baby.

This is hard for this Mama. I love when my babies gain independence and we can play together, but I also love being pregnant, giving birth and having new babies. *sigh* I love it all.

I am going to celebrate this boy on Saturday. Birthdays are a huge deal to me. I love birthdays. I love having a day set to celebrate one person. To make it their special day from the moment they wake until they moment they fall into bed exhausted from the fun. We let the kids choose where they want to go to breakfast with Dad, and let them choose every other meal of the day. For my kiddos with summer birthdays, we go swimming or to the splash pad if they want. It truly is their day and they know it

First birthdays are a REALLY big deal to me. I am sure it has to do with Emma – not being able to ever do her birthday except at the cemetery. I love to celebrate my babies and this huge milestone they have reached.

This little guy is no different.

Photo Credit: Leilani Rogers

I am so excited for Saturday, my Elliott’s first birthday. The celebration started a month ago when I designed his birthday invitations and started sending them out to his friends (and my friends, and aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents).

It looks so much better in person. This is the result of my crappy scanner!

Oh yes, my baby is one. Look at how much he has grown and changed in the last year. I always know it goes by fast and I try so hard to slow it down. But I can’t. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Him growing up is bittersweet. I want him to grow and experience and gain independence. But I also want him to always be my baby. I want him to always love me and always find comfort with me.

While I know that it won’t last forever, I will take it while I can. On Saturday we will have friends over, eat good food, watch Elliott demolish a cupcake, laugh, smile and celebrate this sweet boy who makes our family complete.

Photo Credit: Leilani Rogers

What do you do for birthdays in your house?

This is a sponsored post from Hallmark as part of the Life is a Special Occasion campaign. I am so thrilled to be working with this fabulous company this year and to have the opportunity to share ways to make everyday occasions special.
For the latest on Hallmark deals and ideas, be sure to sign up for their newsletter, you just might see me there from time to time. Hallmark provided me with birthday invitations and adorable plates with Elliott’s picture! You can get great items for your children’s birthdays, holidays or other special occasions on their website.