Monday, June 27, 2011
Popsicles!
Last night was gorgeous! We ate outside and the girls had popsicles for dessert. It was harper's first popsicle and she immediately knew what to do and loved it!
Strawberry Fest 5K
Mom did her first 5K since having Harper. It felt good. The run was quite hilly and my asthma acted up, but I finished in a pretty good time.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Why
When I registered for the tri I am participating in July 10th, they asked that participants send them an email answering a question. The question was, "why are you doing this?" Below is the answer that I gave them....
My name is Jill Schwenzen. I am 33 years old. I will participate on July 10, 2011 in my second triathlon.
You asked the question why I will do this. The following is my answer...
The first answer is for my daughters. Growing up, I always struggled with my weight. It was a constant source of upset for me. I never, in a million years thought that I would ever be able to participate in something like a triathlon. Having to run the mile in school growing up made me have panic attacks for months prior.
In August of 2009 I found a lump in my neck. The next month was filled with many doctor appointments, biopsy's, MRI's, all culminating with a surgery to remove lymph nodes. There was a strong possibility that what was going to be found was cancer. Although I tried to remain positive, I was scared to death. I had a baby and a husband and a lifetime of hopes ahead of me. I spent many nights crying myself to sleep and praying to God that he would make this okay.
I was lucky. It wasn't cancer.
That experience changed me. I promised myself in that month of wondering what if? that if it wasn't cancer and I was okay, that I would change some things. One thing I promised myself is that I would get healthier and more active. I wanted to do all I could to stick around as long as possible.
I have always wanted to do a triathlon. It was one of those things that I wanted to accomplish, but never thought I could. Once I found out I was okay, I decided that I was going to accomplish this goal. I made up my mind. No matter what I was going to do this.
Most of all, I wanted to show my girls that you can do absolutely anything that you set your mind to.
I finished my first triathlon in July of 2009. It was the most amazing feeling. I had done it. I completed a goal that I never thought I could achieve.
This is my second time. This time around it was a decision for a couple different reasons. One of which is sustaining healthy decisions. After my first tri I got pregnant with my second daughter. I gained a lot of weight and fell back into some old patterns. Once I recovered from having a baby I decided to start training again and participate in another tri.
Every time I achieve a milestone in my training I think of my girls. I think of how I am going to raise them as strong women that are worthy of respect and love. I am proud that they will look at me as a mom who is strong and believes in herself.
The other, completely unrelated, reason that I am participating in this triathlon is for my dad. I won't elaborate, but he knows why.
Thank you for this opportunity. You offered this woman the chance to feel success. You offered me the chance to feel like I could achieve something that I never thought that I could. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Jill Schwenzen
My name is Jill Schwenzen. I am 33 years old. I will participate on July 10, 2011 in my second triathlon.
You asked the question why I will do this. The following is my answer...
The first answer is for my daughters. Growing up, I always struggled with my weight. It was a constant source of upset for me. I never, in a million years thought that I would ever be able to participate in something like a triathlon. Having to run the mile in school growing up made me have panic attacks for months prior.
In August of 2009 I found a lump in my neck. The next month was filled with many doctor appointments, biopsy's, MRI's, all culminating with a surgery to remove lymph nodes. There was a strong possibility that what was going to be found was cancer. Although I tried to remain positive, I was scared to death. I had a baby and a husband and a lifetime of hopes ahead of me. I spent many nights crying myself to sleep and praying to God that he would make this okay.
I was lucky. It wasn't cancer.
That experience changed me. I promised myself in that month of wondering what if? that if it wasn't cancer and I was okay, that I would change some things. One thing I promised myself is that I would get healthier and more active. I wanted to do all I could to stick around as long as possible.
I have always wanted to do a triathlon. It was one of those things that I wanted to accomplish, but never thought I could. Once I found out I was okay, I decided that I was going to accomplish this goal. I made up my mind. No matter what I was going to do this.
Most of all, I wanted to show my girls that you can do absolutely anything that you set your mind to.
I finished my first triathlon in July of 2009. It was the most amazing feeling. I had done it. I completed a goal that I never thought I could achieve.
This is my second time. This time around it was a decision for a couple different reasons. One of which is sustaining healthy decisions. After my first tri I got pregnant with my second daughter. I gained a lot of weight and fell back into some old patterns. Once I recovered from having a baby I decided to start training again and participate in another tri.
Every time I achieve a milestone in my training I think of my girls. I think of how I am going to raise them as strong women that are worthy of respect and love. I am proud that they will look at me as a mom who is strong and believes in herself.
The other, completely unrelated, reason that I am participating in this triathlon is for my dad. I won't elaborate, but he knows why.
Thank you for this opportunity. You offered this woman the chance to feel success. You offered me the chance to feel like I could achieve something that I never thought that I could. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Jill Schwenzen
Saturday, June 04, 2011
I love this girl.
I adore this girl.
I love this picture, because it is such a raw view of who Hadley is.
Sometimes I get wrapped up in how hard it can be to parent this wonderful child. She is so smart. She is wise beyond her years. While that is wonderful and fantastic, it is challenging. She likes to push the limits. She likes to argue her point. She likes to cause her parents to think they are going to lose their minds.
At the end of the day though, she is amazing. She has the most caring soul. She adores her little sister. She loves to laugh, to sing and to dance. She loves to love.
She is amazing. She is ours and we are so very blessed.
I love this picture, because it is such a raw view of who Hadley is.
Sometimes I get wrapped up in how hard it can be to parent this wonderful child. She is so smart. She is wise beyond her years. While that is wonderful and fantastic, it is challenging. She likes to push the limits. She likes to argue her point. She likes to cause her parents to think they are going to lose their minds.
At the end of the day though, she is amazing. She has the most caring soul. She adores her little sister. She loves to laugh, to sing and to dance. She loves to love.
She is amazing. She is ours and we are so very blessed.
A hot day
The girls had a bunch of fun in the backyard today playing in the pool and with the sprinkler.
Dance Recital
Hadley has been taking dance class on and off at the Y for the past couple of years. She really enjoys it. This is the second time they have put on a little recital at the end of the class. Hadley was a jellyfish and was SO excited! She got to get her hair done and did a fantastic job! She was so cute.
Reading...
Harper loves to look at books. This is her favorite. She looks for it right away in the morning when she gets up!
Butterfly Garden
This has been something really fun for all of us! We sent in for caterpillars, who (as you can see in the picture) turned into Chrysalids. We transferred them to their garden home from the cup that they came in here. As you can see, Hadley was sporting her butterfly clip that she got at school. :)
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