Week in Review: Birthday Queen, Cardio Queen and Things Inbetween

Happy Friday!

Yesterday was my mom's 88th birthday and we went to get our nails did to celebrate the birthday girl:

Declan's card was so sweet: "Dear Gammy, Happy Birthday!  You have the best smile and laugh and you always bring me joy when I see you."

Declan and Brendan tried an introductory Jiu Jitsu class this week.  Before we left, Maggie called out encouragingly "Go jitsu some jiu's!" and we just shook our heads.  

Declan, who could benefit from the confidence-building, decided against it and Brendan, who is built like a brick, wants to take the lessons.  Methinks it's mostly because he's excited to get a mouthguard and an athletic cup, eww.

This week I took a Spin class on Tuesday, ran 16 miles over three lunch breaks and one long run on Saturday, ellipticalled 4.5 miles on another lunch break, took one Lift class on Sunday, and also walked a bunch of miles with the hubby and doggy.  

I really need to increase weights and decrease cardio as I get older, but the sweaty exhaustion of cardio is addicting.  It makes me happy in a way that weights never could.  I've been a Cardio Queen since age 12.

I ordered a Greek Tuna salad at work this week, which is a lovely perk of working for a school district:

This Chicken Corn Chowder made a yummy dinner (all the kids loved it!) and then leftovers for lunch.  I might try adding a couple potatoes next time:

No photo proof (because we ate them up so fast) but these Smash Chicken Caesar Tacos were soooo good for dinner!

We had a rainy Sunday afternoon, so in the morning, I sent the littles out for a practice run before their 5k race in April, with the promise that they could build a fort and watch a movie once the rain started.  It was a great incentive to get some miles in!  Of course, I brought them a movie snack - popcorn with Trader Joe's m&ms:

Maggie was very happy with the Beef and Broccoli Rice bowls that Phil made for dinne one evening:

And I was very happy that Phil agreed to paint our trim and baseboards after 20something years of kids terrorizing living in the house:

When we were at Mass on Saturday night, I noticed some white paint on my hand.  I showed it to Phil who said "It looks like you actually had something to do with painting."  To which I replied, "I did.  I told you to start painting."  

Ahhh, marriage is the best :)

Maggie volunteered at a benefit dinner for Missions for Humanity, which is a medical mission that serves in Tanzania and Honduras, and is run by a former science teacher at our high school.  Maggie desperately wants to serve on the Africa mission when she turns 21 and is old enough to go without a parent.

Andrew went to Topgolf and is going to a Jon Pardi concert tonight:

JP has been busy studying and doing research projects.  He also had an interview for a scholarship with Walk it Forward that would pay his way to go on a mission trip this fall in Guatemala.  If he gets it, he would be able to scrub in on orthopedic surgeries and train in anesthesia, which he is very interested in.  It's highly competitive and he thinks they are down to 20 applicants for 3 spots, so we are praying!

Eamon has started working as a referee at intramural games on campus, which is a great fit for him, and also golfs whenever possible with his friends.  He sent this picture of his rainy working conditions...all for $10 an hour.  They know how good they have it back in MA where minimum wage is $15/hour.

Have a great weekend everybody, I can't believe Holy Week is next week!!