Mr. Toad

We take Isaiah once a week to "school". The daycare here is The Children's Center. I love this place. They allow drop-ins and they love the kids like their own. Last week I went to drop Isaiah off and saw a toad by the door. He was a pretty big toad and looked as if he was trying to get inside.

I went to pick up Isaiah and the toad was still in the same place. Anna, the owner, asked jokingly, if I wanted to take him home. My response was, "do you have a jar?" I think I surprised her with my answer but she found a jar and some plastic wrap. I went outside and the toad jumped into the jar. After a few minutes of walking around showing it to everyone, in an attempt to scare the ladies, I put him in the car with the kids and took him home.

On the way home I asked Isaiah what we should name him. Isaiah responded "Mr. Toad". So, Mr. Toad came home with us. While driving home I had a few moments of panic when I would hear him jump and hit the plastic wrap. So the rest of the way home I had to come up with plans of how to react if Mr. Toad managed to jump out of the jar and into my car. Fortunately, we made it home without incident.

We released Mr. Toad into our backyard and I was even able to catch him in action...

Isaiah spent the rest of the time checking on Mr. Toad...every time I asked him to come inside he said, "see Mr. Toad more"...

After a few minutes, he managed to basically just disappear. He was back there maybe ten minutes and when we went to check on him later in the evening, we could not find Mr. Toad. But he was entertaining while he lasted in our yard. Maybe he'll return, maybe not. Farwell Mr. Toad, hope you find a good home.

Employment

Some of you may not know that in my previous life (pre-Travis) I was a Probation Officer. Before I met Travis I was working in Albuquerque at the Bernalillo County Metropolitian Courthouse. I really enjoyed my job and the fabulous people I got to work with. Many were my friends and we had worked our way to the courthouse from State Probation-Parole.

So, prior to the courthouse I was a Probation-Parole Officer in the Intensive Supervision unit for the State of NM. There too, I really enjoyed my job but the pay wasn't what it should have been for the work that was required. So I moved to the courthouse, the pay was awesome, and no field work...meaning I did not have to get in a car and drive around town checking up on people. Which, was fun at times...one time we had a fire extinguisher go off in the truck of the car and well, after we figured out that it wasn't a bomb and we weren't going to die, we couldn't stop laughing, especially when we opened the trunk to find the white powder ALL over the place. Good times!!

A position opened up in Clovis, at the courthouse. So, me being the previous PO that I am, I said, hmm...it's a sign. I must go back to Probation. So I applied. Today I had my interview. And while I think I did quite well something just doesn't seem right. When describing the criteria, it would be case work and field work. Okay, yea, no problem. Until they mentioned the field work is at night from 7pm-midnight. And I can completely understand the nature of the job, people on probation do have curfews. I was spoiled by intensive supervision because my guys had ankle bracelets, thats right, the kind Martha Stewart had to wear when she was let out of the big house. Well, in Clovis, they go check on them EVERY night. Again in intensive, it was once a week, we'd go check things out.

Now to my current life, two kids, a husband who works FULL time (and thats all i can say about that) hmmm...working shift work I don't really think is going to work for us. There are times that my husband gets to take "vacations", as I like to call them, granted not too many but I have another feeling that times they are a changin'.

So needless to say, today, IF and big IF, I am offered the job I will more than likely have to decline. And while I am a bit sad because I thought a job I once had, that I knew I was truly good at is not available to me, it in a way gives me peace with my decision to stay at home with my adorable, and at times, exhausting kiddos. These moments are precious and should not be missed if at all avoidable. Some day I can go back to work...but now, I'll enjoy moments like these.

the unexplained and totally random...

I almost forgot...uh...can anyone explain why this was there at the Bataan Memorial Death March? Was somone planning on doing some reps before and after running/walking 26.2 miles. Now I did see a few bodybuilder types but uh...I don't understand and it was totally random. Every time I passed by, no one was around it, it was just sitting there. I had to take a picture.

By far...the TOUGHEST marathon ever...no joke

The day began with the sound of the alarm at 2:50AM. Travis and I got up, got ourselves ready, bags packed, and the woke up the kids to get them changed and dressed. We headed to White Sands Missle Range and we entered the gate at 4:30AM, temperature was about 30'. We headed to the staging area where we found the rest of the team. This marathon is unlike any other. This one was a team of 5, in full military uniform, carrying a 35lb pack.

Here we go again...

It's always interesting when Travis calls me from work and says..."Hey"...hmmm...that usually means something interesting is about to happen...So this time it was, "hey, some people are getting a team together to do the Bataan Death March in March, what do you think?" What do I think? uh, are you asking me to participate because I can tell you right now anything with the word death in the title, hmmm...no so much. He wasn't asking me to participate but more what I do best, being a sherpa. What is a sherpa? By defination it is ...A member of a traditionally Buddhist people of Tibetan descent living on the southern side of the Himalaya Mountains in Nepal and Sikkim. In modern times Sherpas have achieved world renown as expert guides on Himalayan mountaineering expeditions. Basically, they carry all the crap that one would need to climb up Mount Everest. Well, in triathlons or marathons, everyone needs a sherpa and for Travis, it is I. I actually do not mind being a sherpa because it usually means, I'm not participating and sometimes, thats okay. But it does give me the bug to actually participate but thats a whole other story. We are headed to White Sands Missle Range so Travis can be one of the 5 on his team to carry a 35lb pack, 26.2 miles. This isn't your ordinary marathon, this is the replicate the Bataan Death March.

The Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging march through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range, N.M., conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their very lives.

Better get to it...I've now got to pack for myself, Isaiah and Iris. And yea, they are kids they don't need too much but again, they are kids...and well, I'll stop short of taking the kitchen sink but uh, I'll be taking a lot with us...Here we go again...

Makin' it look good...

Once again, I've taken forever to blog. I won't catch up, I'll just start with today. So in my circle of friends and family we have babies due almost every month this year. WHOA!! I'm so excited. For most, it's their first and we all know how exciting that can be and also extremely terrifying. No words can really describe what's in store but maybe that life truly is changed,
F O R E V E R.

I vaguely remember what life was like without children. Maybe, partly, because I drank a lot, hahaha, just kidding. Seriously, though, what did I do with my time then vs. what do I do with my time now? Completely different. Everything is centered around whether or not I can get myself and the two kids ready in time for what the day holds. I'm getting a little better but I still feel like a fish out of water. And just when I think I have it down, something is thrown in the mix to keep me on my toes. I still wonder how my mother had 7 children.

That thought is also a motivator for me...I can do this, my mom had 7 kids and we all turned out okay...YOU CAN DO THIS!! I'm not going to lie, some days, I want to have my own pity party and just do nothing. But most days, I try to put on my big girl panties and get to it. But I can still admire the moms that make it look good...I strive to be that mom some day...but I want people to know that well, at least for me, it's a struggle and challenge every day but the reward is to watch the kiddos do something new every day and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

What's in store for 2010

WOW, it's 2010! I can hardly believe it. I remember when I was little, thinking, 2010 was FOREVER away and now here it is. So what does 2010 have in store for The Hinkle Family. Well, to begin, I will start training for a marathon and a few triathlons. If it weren't for the encouragement from Travis, I do no know if I would be doing any of it. I love to swim, I like to bike but as for the run, well, it's okay. Combine all of those together and viola, I'm doing tri's...really? me? I'm impressed, hahaha. By no means am I fast, or will ever win a race, it's more important for me that i'm doing it and having fun.

For Christmas I received a fabulous gift, an indoor bike trainer. While the kids nap, I jump on my bike and ride. I'm up to 1/2 an hour. My friend Matt was right, I do have to admit, running sucks, especially when you have an indoor bike trainer! But I will still have to run. The indoor bike trainer is like having my very own spin class in our sun room. It's awesome!

I'm also looking forward to watching Iris and Isaiah grow and meet their milestones. It's been fun to watch and listen to Isaiah, I still cannot believe that in a year Iris will be doing the same things. She is just so small right now and I remember thinking the same thing about Isaiah and then poof, it happened.

I'm also hoping to blog a bit more only to keep myself on track with my goals. If I put it out there that I am training for stuff then I will feel that everyone is keeping me accountable and I won't be a slacker. I need to stay motivated!

Whatever goals you have and you need me to help you meet them, I would be happy to but not annoyingly so, does that make sense? I won't constantly ask, but I will ask. I also know that things don't happen overnight, unless it's your child, and one day an outfit fits, and overnight, it does not. I am very excited about this year, I hope you are too!