Thirty Something Mommy

Amelia

2010-05-10T12:48:00.004-04:00

I fell in love today. With a 6 year old girl named Amelia. The first moment our paths crossed she asked if I'd help her find the piece of the puzzle she was looking for - as if she already knew me quite well. I looked at the 1000 piece puzzle on the table that was 2/3 complete and managed to find her piece. "Thank you!" She said, then proceeded to engage me in conversation for the next hour. Behind her I could see someone I assumed was her Dad, working on another 1,000 piece puzzle. We were all in a waiting room at Moffitt Cancer Center. Before long she'd moved from puzzles to the the art table that was so thoughtfully stocked with supplies thanks to a local brownie troop. Amelia and Ryan sat at the art table and glued, cut, and drew to their hearts' content. She shared with me that she's in the first grade and not only is she an artist but she's also a cheerleader, dancer and golfer. " I can get it in the hole with one swing!" She also told me she has a sister, Morgan, who is 22 and just graduated from the University of Florida. But she didn't just spew information...she ASKED questions too. Do I have a daughter? Does she go to preschool? Where do I live? I was imagining that she and her Dad were there escorting a grandparent for cancer treatments as Ryan was there with his grandfather. Before long I discovered how wrong I was. Her mother appeared and informed Amelia that they'd be leaving soon. Amelia said her mother had her kidneys and appendix removed. When her mother returned I remarked on what a sweet and very smart daughter she had. She said that Amelia really enjoys the art centers at Moffitt as she spends a lot of time there since both of her parents are patients. I glanced from the mother to the father, both of them giving me the slight nod confirming that yes - this sucks. Amelia hugged me before she left and I just really did not want to let go. This little girl clearly could use a few extra hugs.

Goodbye for Now!

2010-03-26T13:28:00.004-04:00

I have decided to take a break from blogging...maybe a permanent break! I have really enjoyed documenting our kids milestones and sharing some of our adventures, but I think it's time to get up from the computer and do something new. Thanks for following along these past months (years!)....and I hope to see you all sometime soon. Email. Phone Conversation. Lunch date. Play date. The opportunities are endless...

The Latest

2010-03-23T03:51:00.010-04:00

I realize that my posts have been few and far between lately. Here's a few happenings around our house as of late...

Isabella started reading a few months ago. We are having so much fun with it. It's so cool to see your child learn the letter sounds and finally realize that - altogether now! - these sounds make real words! This has also sparked her desire to write. On Saturday, I was doing a little yard work and Isabella was spraying sunscreen like it was an air freshener. I had to tell her to stop spraying it for all the obvious reasons and she stomped off into the house only to return with a note she'd written that said: I AM VERY SAD. When I told her I wished she gave me a note about being happy, she disappeared once again into the house and returned with a note which she had transcribed but Daddy had written that said: I AM HAPPY YOU BOUGHT ME THE BARBIE AND THE MERMAID TALE MOVIE. LOL. Even when they're mad at us, our kids really do want to please us, don't they?

Dave and I have decided to do a sprint duathlon on May 15th. It is a one mile run, 13 mile bike, 5K run. Not all that difficult, but something to train for and keep me in semi-decent shape for marathon training which will start in June. The biking is supposed to develop some sort of leg muscles that aren't developed by running alone, thus helping me run faster. At least that's what the books say! I signed up for the Chicago marathon again this year. Hotel room is booked. Just have to work on the flight...Robin and I are *hoping* we can qualify for Boston this year but if not she says we're ditching the Boston idea and moving from marathons to ultra marathons. The thought of it is not even the least bit repulsive to me as it should be. We must be adrenaline junkies. I have no explanation. Who am I?*!

And finally, an update from the neighborhood. As Dave and I sat on the couch tonight we heard a few loud bangs, which I joked was the neighbor shooting his wife. Loud bangs were followed shortly thereafter with a burning smell that got worse by the second. Once again, I joked it was the neighbor burning the evidence!....but it turned out to be the neighbor's yard on fire! The bangs were apparently someone shooting off fireworks which landed in their yard. Dave ran next door to inform them and between their hose and ours the husbands got it out pretty quickly. Ryan was so excited that Daddy saved the day and was begging to see the fire. Uh-no! Isabella never left her bed and when the commotion was over and I walked by her room she gently asked was there a fire. This is incident #3 which I've seen her almost not react at all in situations that were somewhat to very scary. She didn't get that stay calm gene from me, for sure!

So Close Yet So Far Away

2010-03-15T19:44:00.007-04:00

After coming oh so close to the finish line, Ryan decided to call it quits. It's not on the video but Dave jumped in to save the day and helped him across.

My Little Runners

2010-03-15T19:39:00.008-04:00

This is the kids making the turn at the half mile mark. Ryan was clueless about which direction he should go but managed to figure it out. Is it just me or does Isabella have a stride just like her Mama?

Family Fun Run

2010-03-15T17:44:00.006-04:00

We had so much fun at the Brandon Shamrock family fun run last year, that we decided to do it again in 2010. On Sunday, Dave and the kids and I did the one mile race. It is all about shamrocks, running and fun. There was the very important pre-race shennanigans...

and warm-ups...

Waiting at the starting line...

They both ran a decent portion of the race. Ryan and Dave were ahead of us girls for quite a while but as we neared the finish line, Isabella kicked into high gear and passed her brother. Once she realized Ryan was crying, Isabella stopped to wait for him - but, what can I say - he holds a grudge and refused to finish the race under his own willpower. Dave ran back to put him on his shoulders to finish up with a smile and collect his ribbon.

Not easy running while holding a 37 pound weight!

Dave and Ryan nearing the half way point...

Dave carrying a sack of potatoes!

Another Year Older

2010-03-10T14:05:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was Dave's birthday! We had a great day. 38 is the new 25, right?

Dr. Shampoo

2010-03-05T14:10:00.004-05:00

It isn't exactly Dr. Shampoo. It's Dr. Champoux, but the pronunciation is the same! Our kids love their pediatrician, especially if they're not getting any shots. Isabella was Mommy's helper today, telling Ryan the appointment we were headed for was for her while simultaneously giving me a wink. ;-) Ryan is five weeks into a cough that antibiotic #1 did not cure so we returned to the doctor today and were given a stronger antibiotic. Isabella was very excited to show off her new earrings to Dr. Champoux. (She's up to three pair!) Ryan cooperated with the examination beautifully. As we headed to the check out desk, new prescription in hand, I told the kids to say bye to the doctor. Ryan said, "Bye Dr. Champoux! Love you too!" I just love it that he's so vocal but sometimes that gets us into trouble....like a few minutes later when we were standing in line at the check out counter. I was only half paying attention to something Ryan was saying and appeased him with an "uh huh." He knew I wasn't really listening so he said it louder and this time I heard him clearly, "MOMMY, IS THAT A WITCH?" as he pointed to a woman standing two feet from us. I wanted to crawl under a rock. But I have to say, she DID INDEED look like a witch.

Winner!

2010-03-02T09:52:00.003-05:00

This is Danielle and I with the 2010 Gasparilla Distance Classic Marathon Winner, Wilson Chepkwony.

What Made Gasparilla 2010 Special

2010-03-01T05:01:00.008-05:00

1) A view of a perfectly full moon as Danielle and I drove to the race location at 4:45 AM
2) Experiencing the day with a wonderful mix of family and friends
3) Watching the sun rise in the darkness while running through Davis Island - beautiful homes and sailboats galore
4) Being incredibly inspired by a physically challenged runner - a vivid reminder that I have no excuse. Ever. Period.
5) Getting to cheer Tammy and Danielle across the finish line! Run Girls Run!
6) Having my picture taken with the men's marathon winner, Wilson Chepkwony, after coming across him in the VIP tent. My equivalent of meeting a rock star! (His full marathon time: 2:24! He didn't even look winded, as if he'd been out for a light jog)
7) Getting to cheer my BFFs brother, Keith, across the finish line of his first marathon!
8) Improving my half marathon time by 24 minutes over last year breaking the 2 hour mark: 1:55:24.
9) Being greeted by my 4 year old after returning home from the race who, upon checking out the finisher's medal around my neck, asked, "Mommy did you win?"
10) And, last but not least, being asked to be Godmother to baby Tegan, the newest member of the family! The perfect end to a wonderful day.

I Almost Weeped

2010-02-26T22:09:00.010-05:00

Today I was lucky enough to drop the kids off with Nonno and Nonna and head to the Gasparilla marathon expo with Danielle! Woo hoo! It is rare that the two of us are together without our kids and let us loose in a convention center with running products and gear from wall to wall and we're in heaven. So fun. I did buy a few things while I was there. One was a rungirlrun shirt. I saw it, read it and had to buy it. You know how sometimes you read something that perfectly describes how you feel? This was it for me...

Whether you are 16 or 67,

the desire to hit the road

is not easily explained to those who

do not run~

We understand the pull of the road,

The joy of losing yourself in the solitude

of a good long distance run,

or the sisterhood you experience

when you find that great running partner~

Running is more than a feat of athleticism,

it is therapeutic. There is an unexpected

exhilaration that we experience

having challenged our personal limitations...

Finally proving to ourselves

that we can indeed make it to the finish line!

Whether you are here to win,

or here to experience a little more of who you are...

We salute you.

rungirlrun

This exactly describes all that running has done and continues to do for me. I also *loved* the Run Like a Mother shirts but decided to hold off and save that purchase for another day.

5 days to Gasparilla

2010-02-23T15:52:00.006-05:00

The countdown is on to the Gasparilla half marathon this Sunday. Let's hope the weather this year is better than last year. I'll be running with Tammy and maybe Danielle if we can find each other before the race. I had my last long training run this past Sunday. What was supposed to be a 12 mile run turned into a 10 mile run as I just really wasn't feeling it. The weather was beautiful - 70 degrees and sunny!! - and I guess I was more interested in taking in my surroundings than logging miles. There were LOTS of people out with their kids, dogs, bikes, etc! And the animals around the lake finally made an appearance after a cold Florida winter. Once I decided that I wasn't taking the run too seriously, I stopped by the house to grab my camera and periodically stopped to click a photo. Notice the gator in the 3rd photo below!

10 Reasons to Read to Your Child

2010-02-21T10:34:00.003-05:00

I have a number of cousins who are school teachers so I am often given great tools for interacting with and teaching my children. As I was organizing some things today I found this and thought it was post-worthy.

10 REASONS TO READ TO YOUR CHILD

1. Because when you hold children and give them this attention they know you love them.

2. Because reading to children will encourage them to become readers.

3. Because children's books today are so good that they are fun for even adults.

4. Because children's books' illustrations often rank with the best, giving children a life long feeling for good art.

5. Because books are one way of passing on your moral values to children. Readers know how to put themselves in other's shoes.

6. Because until children learn to read for themselves, they will think you are magic.

7. Because every teacher and librarian they encounter will thank you.

8. Because it is nostalgic.

9. Because for that short space of time, they will stay clean and quiet.

10. Because, if you do, they may then let you read in peace.

Water for Sale

2010-02-20T20:09:00.004-05:00

I spent part of the day yesterday afternoon de-funking the Yukon of crumbs, ice cream cone drips, garbage, ......the list goes on. Anyhow, while I was busy with this seemingly endless task, Isabella busied herself in the garage and front yard. After a few spins around the fountain on her bike and checking out the general happenings at the neighbors houses, she decided she would set up a water stand on the sidewalk. She made her own sign that said "water," taped it to a box, and gathered the necessary supplies. She put it all in a wagon, dragged it to the sidewalk in front of our house, plopped down in a beach chair and waited patiently for her customers. She lucked out early on with the unloading of the elementary school bus. She quickly earned two sales! Word traveled fast and several other neighbor friends stopped buy to purchase multiple bottles of water. Her sales manager father could not have been prouder, especially since she came up with the idea and tackled the logistics all on her own.

A Random Conversation...

2010-02-14T09:15:00.002-05:00

...with another Mom at a birthday party:

Her: How old did you say your son is?

Me: He'll be 3 in April.

Her: He's not even THREE yet?

Me: Not quite.

Her: What size SHOE does he wear?

Me: Ten and a half.

Her: My five year old daughter wears a ten and a half.

Me: My four year old daughter wears a twelve and a half.

I have this conversation with various strangers at least 3 times a week. To all the future Moms with whom I'll probably have this conversation sometime soon: My kids are big. Your kids are small. We all come in various shapes and sizes. It's what makes the world an interesting place.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T09:05:00.002-05:00

Florida Winter - Let's Keep It Real!

2010-02-11T22:04:00.004-05:00

We Floridians have been doing a lot of complaining about the temperatures this winter. We are certainly not used to these frigid 50 degree temperatures, which have forced us to wear our wimpy winter wardobes over and over and over again. We've completely abandoned our flip flops and sandals which have left my feet...softer than ever?

I took the kids to the park this morning. The thermostat in the car said 49 degrees. We were the ONLY people there. I'll admit that we didn't last long but I couldn't help but laugh to myself. I was imagining a 50 degree playground in Wisconsin and am absolutely positive that it would be packed this time of year....and half of the kids probably wouldn't even be wearing jackets.

It warmed up a little more this afternoon, the sun shined bright and the kids and I floated around the backyard chasing bubbles. I am ready for spring, but I'm done complaining.

A Cute One

2010-01-31T21:45:00.003-05:00

Mother / Daughter Day

2010-01-31T21:30:00.004-05:00

Isabella and I had a mother/daughter day today while Ryan and Dave did the father/son equivalent. I'm not even sure what those boys did but we ladies had fun! We drove to Tampa and had ourselves a tasty lunch at Maggiano's. Isabella had the spaghetti and meatballs and I had the chopped salad with chicken. When she didn't like the lemon cookies she selected for dessert the waitress gladly brought her a scoop of ice cream. After a quick trip to Old Navy and Claire's we went to Papa's house for a visit. I came across this quote recently about grandparents:

"Surely, two of the most satisfying experiences in life
must be those of being a grandchild or being a grandparent." ~Donald A. Norberg

Isabella and my Dad spent about an hour coloring, "chatting" and just plain goofing around. Grandparents are the best, aren't they? I wish I could go back in time and relive some of the moments I had with my grandparents.

Wishes

2010-01-28T21:08:00.006-05:00

Star light, star bright

The first star I see tonight

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have the wish I wish tonight

This nursery rhyme was in the bedtime book I read to the kids tonight. I asked them what they wish for and Ryan's sweet, heartfelt answer was: "to be Daddy." That pretty much brought a tear to my eye. Isabella, on the other hand, was less about sentiment and more about business. Her answer: "to be on TV." This is the most recent job that she wants when she grows up. Her dream job started at... to be a Mom, then moved on to... nail lady, and has most recently shifted to... TV personality/iCarly. As a matter of fact, as we drove to Publix today we had this conversation...

I: "Mom, do you know how to straight away be on TV?"

S: "How?" (BTW, where did she hear the term 'straight away?')

I: "To videotape yourself."

S: "Where did you hear that?"
I: "From Olivia."

Olivia, the TV show and the books, is really taking hold of our house lately. Isabella often calls Ryan her "little BOTHER" with a very exasperated voice and maybe even an eyeroll...all acting of course. Ryan obviously doesn't understand what "bother" means because he thinks it is a term of endearment and quite happily says, "I'm Ian!" Olivia and Ian would make the most perfect Halloween costumes for them this year...second only to Max and Ruby.

Little Pink Trains

2010-01-24T20:28:00.004-05:00

On Friday Isabella decided we should make cookies. And she NEVER wants to make the easy chocolate chip version, it's always sugar cookies because the icing is just so much fun. So we did it all....made the dough & icing, let it cool for a few hours, then rolled, cut, baked, iced & sprinkled. We used a set of choo choo train cookie cutters as well as an angel and a cross. This was the first time Ryan really wanted to get into the cookie making action.

Our taste tester...

Ta da!

Another Isabella-ism

2010-01-21T18:34:00.003-05:00

"Mom, who MADE these popcicles? Jesus or God?"

This question I could handle but lately she's getting very DEEP with the questions. It would be nice if God could deliver these babies with an owner's manual.

The Children's Place

2010-01-21T18:31:00.003-05:00

An additional 50% off clearance items. Great prices on winter pants, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, etc. I need to join shop-aholics anonymous.

The Nature of People

2010-01-15T15:56:00.005-05:00

Today I conducted my own little experiment. I wish I'd had a hidden camera. It was all very unplanned but the outcome surprised me!

Now that Ryan is skipping naps, we are often busy with outdoor activities in the afternoon. Today we decided to ride our bikes down to our neighborhood park which is less than half a mile away - a pretty ride along the lake. Isabella rode her bike and I rode Dave's bike, pulling Ryan in the bike trailer. She is new to bike riding and she is only four, so let's just say there were A LOT of stops along the way.....her hair was in her face, her helmet needed to be adjusted, she didn't want to ride over the ant mound, she needed to shake out her legs....the list goes on. So finally I asked if she was tired and she said yes. We left her bike right there on the sidewalk by the lake and I put her in the trailer with Ryan to go the rest of the distance to the park.

This photo is not from today, but it is the exact spot by the lake where we left the bike.

(Ryan and Emme are cute little dumplins, aren't they?)

I could see her bike from the park and would occasionally glance over to make sure it was still there. I did think it was a possibility someone would take it but doubted it since the bike was so in the open and near the entrance to our community where cars are always coming and going. At least 6 cars stopped in the 45 minutes we were at the park. They all did exactly what I would have done....passed the bike and walked down to the lake to see if a child had fallen in! Or worse yet, been attacked by a gator! A few people lingered near the bike as if discussing if they should take any further action. I finally realized that I was causing undue stress to these people and we needed to retrieve the bike. When we arrived at the bike, a man actually sort of reprimanded me saying, "you see a bike like that and you think the kid has fallen in the water." I apologized....just as a UPS driver pulled up to say he'd been concerned too. Lesson learned.

Just Dance

2010-01-15T15:44:00.002-05:00

Today I bought the Wii game JUST DANCE. It really is great exercise and entertainment for the entire family. I just can't stop laughing while I watch the kids dancing to Step by Step by NKOTB. Oh, the high school memories. Anyway, this is a short clip of them dancing to Cotton Eyed Joe.

Earrings!

2010-01-12T14:35:00.003-05:00

When I was pregnant with Isabella and we had the ultrasound and found out we were having a girl, the first words out of my mouth were, "Yay, I get to shop for prom dresses!" Today was another one of those moments I've been looking forward to and knew would come eventually. SHE decided that she was ready and sounded pretty sure about it so we went this morning. She changed her mind at the store after seeing the equipment. After we walked out she decided that she did indeed want to have her ears pierced today so we returned and voila...

To Be or Not to Be...

2010-01-11T20:31:00.006-05:00

...a Packers fan. I always assumed my offspring would be Buccaneers fans but every time I dress the kids in Bucs jerseys, I later find them mysteriously changed into Packers gear. Today Ryan said, "I'm a Packer man like Daddy is a Packer man." How can I argue with a son wanting to be like his Daddy? A special thank you to Uncle Mike and Aunt Chris for the cool helmet and uniform.

Blast to the Past

2010-01-05T23:01:00.005-05:00

Sometimes when I'm making dinner I set the laptop up to show a slideshow of old photos of the kids. Isabella and Ryan just LOVE seeing themselves as little babies. Gosh, seeing them so small and cute can almost make me envision a third baby Riva. Upon mentioning this very thing to Dave tonight he told me he has a secret video collection of all the sleepless nights and terrible two trantrums. He knows how to make me laugh.

Gasparilla '10

2010-01-05T13:16:00.003-05:00

I finally registered for the Gasparilla half-marathon which will be on Sunday, February 28. I decided not to run the full marathon so I wouldn't have to run crazy high miles during the holidays. Also because, quite frankly, since Chicago I haven't been all that motivated to run high mileage. I've really enjoyed some recreational runs of 3 or 4 miles. I ran 7 miles on Sunday and that was my longest run since the marathon. I am starting to slide back into training mode, looking forward to crossing the runs off my list. My pie-in-the-sky goal for this race is to finish in 1 hour 50 minutes (8:23 per mile) which would qualify me for a starting corral at this year's Chicago Marathon. A starting corral will make it easier for me to run a faster time as I would be closer to the front of the pack and running with others who are either faster than me (most likely) or running at my pace - preventing me from having to side-step other runners which not only slows you down but can also be dangerous. I don't know that I'll achieve the goal, but it will be fun trying.

"Mom, take my picture!"

2010-01-02T00:06:00.001-05:00

This morning Isabella asked me to take her picture and then Ryan jumped in the shot. They were so pleased with themselves when I showed it to them. For once it was their idea, not mine.

And so it goes...

2010-01-01T23:58:00.003-05:00

The ornaments are off the tree, the wreaths off the door and the boxes of decorations stacked in the garage to be stowed in the attic tomorrow. It's a little sad to say goodbye to the season but nice to remove the clutter. I'm sure you can relate. I have had a lot of fun this last week hitting the clearance racks for winter clothes for the kids next year. Today was the last of it. Keep me out of the stores! We didn't take a whole lot of photos while my Mom and nephew were in town, but here are a few with the kids as they were on their way out the door.

I Heart Our Babysitter

2009-12-28T21:10:00.002-05:00

Good babysitters are hard to come by. It was just dumb luck that we connected with our babysitter when we moved into our home over a year ago. We've used her exclusively ever since and when she graduates in 2010 and moves away to college I don't know what we'll do....probably stay home a lot more.

Tonight she stopped by unannounced with Christmas gifts for the kids. Of course she knew EXACTLY what to get them - a baby doll with all the accessories for Isabella and a safari puzzle for Ryan. She even gave Dave and I a card and in it thanked US for being so good to HER and wrote that our Christmas gift from her was that she would babysit for free the next time we use her. Was anyone aware there are still teenagers like this out there? We love her to pieces and no way would we let her babysit for free. In fact, that move will probably get her a raise. And for anyone who was about to ask, no, you may not have her phone number.

Isabella and the Tour de Valrico

2009-12-28T20:58:00.002-05:00

Not bad for only day two on the new bike! We don't have it on video but she's already riding while standing. Maybe the training wheels will even come off by next Christmas....maybe one day she'll ride competitively like her cousin Alexander.....maybe one day she'll be on the Tour...it's a world of possibilities...

Another photo I just love...

2009-12-26T23:07:00.002-05:00

Cookies for Santa

2009-12-25T04:29:00.001-05:00

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

2009-12-25T04:17:00.001-05:00

Nana is in the House!

2009-12-23T05:14:00.004-05:00

My Mom and nephew arrived at our house Monday night and boy were we all happy to see them. It was torture for the kids the entire day, anxiously awaiting their arrival. Yesterday Isabella asked Mom repeatedly how long they were staying and I kept hearing Ryan say, "Nana, watch me!" as he climbed the play structure. Grandparents rule!

Last night Mom and I took on the task of wrapping the kids' gifts while Dave and Leon assembled a few toys. Whew. Now we can focus on the Christmas Eve meal which we're hosting. If only I could get some sleep ...

Pre-School Christmas Concert

2009-12-17T19:59:00.005-05:00

This morning was Isabella's pre-school Christmas concert. It was very cute and there were lots of cookies to eat afterward which makes us all happy.

The cutie in the middle is Isabella's friend RJ. His Mom Danielle is a very good friend of mine.

And finally this is Isabella and her friend Lola. Isabella is sort of her protector at school since Lola is one of the youngest. Can you believe these two are only 16 months apart?

Santa Who?

2009-12-17T19:51:00.005-05:00

I got the kids all dolled up this week to visit Santa at the mall. Much like Ryan won't go near Shrek or Barney (see previous posts!) he wants nothing to do with Santa. I had anticipated as much and made an attempt to snap a few photos of the kids at the house before we left. This was the result!

The pictures never go as planned but I think that's the best part. As much as these two can whine and tell on each other, they spend much more time hugging each other good morning, good afternoon, sorry I hit you, and good night.

Christmas Dance Performance

2009-12-17T19:45:00.003-05:00

Isabella's dance studio does an informal dance performance for the parents at Christmas time. I didn't get many clear photos because I had the setting goofed up on my camera but here are a few. She enjoyed it and so did I.

Jingle Bell Run

2009-12-17T18:33:00.010-05:00

Last weekend was our first jingle bell run, which wouldn't be complete without our running-lovin' friends the Boley family. The hubbies ran the 5K while the Moms corraled the kiddos and then we all did the one mile fun run together. This was our first experience with a cross-country run, which means you're running on a trail, not a paved road. Unfortunately for Dave, he also experienced his first bee sting during the run. Here are a few photos:

Brooklyn gave Dave a high-five after his first mile...

Look who showed up during the race!

This is the one mile fun run, if you want to call it that. There was a little running ...

But overall it was much more of a fun walk or fun be-carried-by-parent kind of a day.

Universal Studios

2009-12-17T17:02:00.007-05:00

We took the kids to Universal Studios last week and had a great time! Almost no lines and not too hot. Isabella and Ryan rode every single ride for which they were tall enough including the roller coaster! Ryan took one look and said I have to ride that. Once Isabella saw her brother ride it a few times she decided it give it a go and laughed the entire time. That's my girl!

Here is Ryan's second time on the coaster. He learned quickly he needed to protect the back of his head as he still has the boo boo.

Proud of my brave girl...

We also got to meet a few characters, which Ryan wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.

Ryan enjoying the Barney and Friends show. I love that look on his cute little face.

Are you in the Christmas Spirit or feeling the Christmas Crunch?

2009-12-17T16:53:00.003-05:00

Or maybe both? I decided to simplify my life this holiday season by doing less and making sure what I did do had more meaning. A lot of the "doing less" has involved not overextending ourselves from a time perspective...and also I've pretty much let the housework go! Something had to give and why not the floors? :)

Dave was on vacation last week so we stayed busy just having fun with the kids. This is the reason for my lack of posting but I'm going to do some crazy fast picture posting today to update you on what's been happening! Hope everyone is having fun, wrapping gifts, and relaxing just a little bit.

Thrilling Thursday

2009-12-10T17:41:00.002-05:00

What makes this Thursday Thrilling?

- Lunch with a great friend.
- Leaving Gymboree with two pairs of pants and five shirts for less than $30
- A much needed hair appointment
- My husband who made all of the above possible by captaining the family ship in my absence

Two Girls on the Run!

2009-12-08T23:11:00.007-05:00

Here is a picture of me with my friend Arisel...
I was her Running Buddy this weekend at the Brandon 5K. Despite the very chilly temps, which had me decked out in a pair of compression pants as well as sweats, we had a lot of fun! Sadly, I was just notified that the Girls on the Run program will not have a race in the Spring as the funding has just dwindled too low to support it. However, they hope to be back next Fall and I'm planning to do an itsy bitsy bit to help make that happen by participating in their SoleMates program. If anyone is running a race in the Spring, think about fundraising for this worthy cause. You only have to raise a minimum of $262 and it will help get Girls on the Run up and running again.

A Little Curl

2009-12-07T20:55:00.006-05:00

Staring at that curl this evening, this nursery rhyme was zooming through my head on a never-ending loop. (Of course I'd never call her horrid! But that's the poem...) Had to post it!

There Was a Little Girl

BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

There was a little girl,

Who had a little curl,

Right in the middle of her forehead.

When she was good,

She was very good indeed,

But when she was bad she was horrid.

My Wounded War Veteran

2009-12-05T21:19:00.003-05:00

Doesn't Ryan look like he just returned home from a battle? Well, his head did go to battle with a chair and he ended up with 3 staples to the back of the head. Fortunately, there were lots of great people there (including a physician!) to take over because this Mama was hysterical at the sight of it all. But I pulled it together quickly and got my guy to answering questions about his favorite subject - trains - even if he was answering through tears. I *might* have promised him a green electric train for Christmas. This kid is tough as nails. I'm pretty sure Santa has that train on his list.

Donuts with Papa!

2009-12-02T06:22:00.005-05:00

Not the kind of donuts you eat....the kind you make in the water when Papa lets his only granddaughter drive the boat in circles!

Besides driving, she also helped Papa reel in a few fish...some were keepers and some were not.

And she even managed to take a nap for about an hour! There's nothing like open water and fresh air to make a girl want a little snooze! We had a great time and hope Papa will take us again soon.

1st Annual Boley/Riva Turkey Trot

2009-11-29T19:41:00.011-05:00

Michelle had a genius idea to stage our very own one mile Turkey Trot for the kiddos on Thanksgiving morning. Being the creative girl she is, she even made adorable bib numbers as well as finishers medals. The only thing cuter than the bib numbers and the medals were our little turkeys! The distance around our neighborhood lake is roughly a mile so that was the race course. It was a lot of fun and was a great way to kick off the long holiday weekend.

The starting line...

A little mid-race photo op with runners Emme and Isabella...

Ryan in action...

(Note: he wanted no part of the race number or medal or photos really - kinda like an undercover agent, there but he wanted no record of it!)

And finally, the finish line...

A glimpse of the finisher's "medal"...

Just Because I Love This Picture

2009-11-25T22:54:00.003-05:00

Pre Thanksgiving Activities!

2009-11-25T17:27:00.005-05:00

Wow, today has been a blast, not to mention exhausting! We started off the day by meeting Isabella's friend Lola and her parents at Pump It Up for an hour and a half of non-stop bouncing and obstacle courses. We hadn't been in 4 or 5 months and I was amazed to find that my kids can now do pretty much do everything by themselves. After we wore ourselves out, we headed to the mall and hit up Gymboree for a great sale (Danielle - get shopping), waved to Santa and Mrs. Claus, then got to paint Xmas ornaments and get our faces painted... She loved it that pretty much everyone she walked by in the mall commented on what a cute cat she was. I also scored at a sale at Loft before we headed home. I'm even contemplating hitting the stores at 4AM on Friday. I must be crazy to even consider that!

Last night I ordered our Xmas cards. I feel like I'm so far ahead of where I was last year at this time! But really, I shouldn't pat myself on the back too loudly because I'm sure to fall behind in the "things to do before christmas" category before I know it.

Fun with Papa

2009-11-24T12:21:00.005-05:00

The kids *loved* our trip to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Papa's birthday. It seemed much more like the kids' birthday but I think Papa had fun too. I snapped a few photos of the action.

There was air hockey...

pizza...

and some singing before we cut the cheesecake (Dad's fav).

Ryan kept saying, "No cheesecake! BIRTHDAY cake!"

Happy Birthday to You!

2009-11-17T22:02:00.003-05:00

This is a shout out to my Dad. Happy 66th Birthday! And is my Dad the coolest Papa ever? When we asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday he said he wanted us all to go to Chuck E Cheese. We're going on Thursday so pics will be posted soon!

Where Do I Go From Here?

2009-11-17T21:48:00.002-05:00

If you read this blog you pretty much know my running "story." I accomplished the goal which a little more than a year ago was beyond my wildest dream. Now that the marathon is behind me.....where do I go from here?

A few of you have asked me if I'm still running. The answer is - "sort of." I took a few weeks off. This break was followed by two weeks where I ran 2 or 3 times at 3 to 5 miles a pop. Honestly, my heart hasn't been in it. I've been considering running the Gasparilla marathon at the end of February but haven't registered yet. Yesterday I did a 6 mile run at the gym and cranked up the speed. It felt good. Today I did a 3 mile run and, again, it felt good. I spoke with my running partner Robin tonight and she said she's on the fence about Gasparilla too. We agreed that we'd spend another week trying to get our running legs back and then decide what we want to do (For the record Robin ran 16 miles to celebrate her birthday a few weeks ago - JUST FOR FUN! - so I think she has her legs back.)

My new wildest dream is to qualify for the Boston Marathon. To do that I'd have to run a marathon 23 minutes faster than I ran Chicago. Running is extremely healing for me. It helps my mind and certainly makes me feel good physically. I think I might need this type of crazy goal right now. If I am going to run Gasparilla, I'm only doing it if my plan is to qualify for Boston. Otherwise, I'd rather save my energy to train next summer for Chicago. Any thoughts?

Dave ran his first 5K a few weeks ago. Way to go Babe!. He's running another one Dec 12 and we've also signed the kids up for a jingle bell one mile fun run. I can't wait. Isabella already wants to start "training" which will mean we'll run around the yard a few times.

Mission Accomplished & Other Tidbits

2009-11-15T19:23:00.003-05:00

Ryan woke me up at 5:30 this morning to tell me he had to use the potty (not exactly what he said but that's what I'll say here). So I guess that's mission accomplished. I'm sure there will be the occasional accident but overall we seem to have cleared the major hurdle. I don't know what to do with myself since I'm done with diapers! Although I'm done changing diapers, I do spend a considerable amount of time trying to not get soaked every time I help Ryan go potty. TMI...I know....it's just so different potty training girls and boys! Anatomically at least!

On the what's new with us lately front.....our hot water heater blew this week while Dave was in NY so I had to deal with no hot water for 3 days. I felt like I was a reality show contestant, heating water on the stove to warm up the kids' bath. The next thing you know I'll have to cook our meals over an open pit after I've started a fire with flint and a rock.

And finally, I started my xmas shopping today! I got a lot of the kids' shopping done! Woo hoo! Whatever isn't done by Nov 21st is going to be done online this year. I am not going to go out into the post-thanksgiving madness!

My Girls on the Run Buddy!

2009-11-11T17:34:00.002-05:00

I am so excited! I just got the news that I'm once again being paired with the same elementary school girl - Arisel - when I volunteer as a running buddy for the Brandon 5K race on December 6th. Yay! I'm so excited. We had so much fun when we ran the Miles for Moffitt 5K earlier this year. I'm a HUGE fan of hers. This week has been a tough one for me in a lot of ways so this is a nice highlight that was very much needed.

Will Sing For Gummy Bears

2009-11-09T20:16:00.004-05:00

I am crazy, madly, hopelessly in love with my little man. I must have stolen 100 kisses from him today.

The Halloween Candy is in the Mail

2009-11-06T14:03:00.002-05:00

After trick-or-treating with our neighbors this year, they had us over to their place for burgers and dogs. I think all of the kids enjoyed giving candy out even more than receiving it! I didn't realize we wouldn't be home and had already bought 3 large bags of candy. Ugh. I ate pretty much an entire bag of fun size snickers by myself. Disgusting, I know. I had to act quickly to get the rest of the house candy free before I went into a sugar coma. Fortunately, a friend sent me some information about Operation Shoebox. Mail your leftover Halloween candy to this organization in a Priority Mail flate rate shipping box and they will send it to troops stationed outside of the U.S. Our kids have not even missed the candy and I saved myself from eating two more large bags.

The Princess & the Pirate

2009-11-01T09:58:00.003-05:00

Watch Out Johnny Depp

2009-10-31T22:24:00.004-04:00

This pirate may be small but he's mighty! Arrggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Chicken Noodle Soup

2009-10-29T08:38:00.003-04:00

Does anyone have a good chicken noodle soup recipe? Dave is sick and I thought I'd try to make something better for him than what comes out of the Campbell's soup can.

Back from Visiting the Queen!

2009-10-27T20:52:00.006-04:00

Okay, I lied. I didn't see the Queen but I did stroll by her front door.

We're back from London and it was all I hoped, expected and more. We saw and did way too much to cover in a blog post but I'm throwing a few photos in to hit some highlights.

A few general observations about London...

- There are a lot of big, beautiful parks and the leaves are changing now. Loved it!

- Great public transportation - easy for us tourists to get to and fro with little guidance

- The food left a lot to be desired. Fortunately I was expecting that so I was not disappointed.

- A lot of smokers there!

-In the very expensive part of Central London where we stayed - heart of fashion & business - the people are dressed to the nines! It was just great people watching with beautiful clothes and boots galore. It definitely made me wish we had seasons here in Florida so my wardrobe could be diversified.

This photo is of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. This is by the National Gallery and just a short distance from Big Ben.

One of our group activities was a sunset ride on the London Eye with a champagne toast. I was a little nervous about this because I am afraid of heights and have a very strong dislike for ferris wheels. I was pleasantly surprised by what a smooth ride this was and since it's all enclosed it doesn't even feel like you're going up. We saw a lot of London from 443 ft!

This is a photo of a park next to Buckingham Palace. We walked through many beautiful parks there. Wish I could post all of the photos.

One of my absolute favorite things we did there was go for a run through Hyde Park (below). This is the first time Dave and I have ever run together! Loved the park. Interesting fact about Hyde Park - every Sunday they have something called Speaker's Corner where anyone is free to get up on their "soapbox" and say anything they want as long as it isn't anything negative about the Queen. There was quite the crowd gathered!

I couldn't resist rolling around in those leaves...

A picture of Dave and I in Wembley Stadium at the Bucs vs. Patriots game. The game itself isn't much to write about but it was still cool being in the stadium. I'll refrain from commenting on the quality of NFL sponsored tailgate party and food in the stadium.

One of the best parts of the entire trip was that we didn't have to cook or clean or run errands. We did whatever our hearts desired and then slept. As great as it all was, we were practically in tears on our flight home - just dying to get our hands on Isabella and Ryan. They were snug in their beds when we arrived home but that didn't stop us from smothering them with hugs and kisses.

Top Shelf

2009-10-19T22:50:00.013-04:00

When you are a young girl and grow six inches in middle school alone before topping out at almost 5'11" in 10th grade, you're bound to have some issues. At least I did...until I got to college and realized I liked being tall. But those years between seventh grade and college were some rough years for me in a lot of ways. My 3 best buds in high school were all 5' even. The photos of the four of us together are hysterical. I look like the high rise surrounded by one story buildings. I remember shoving my feet into cheerleading shoes that were two sizes too small because I was embarrassed to say I wore a size 10. Yes, I realize I have boats for feet. As my mother used to say, if I wore a size 6 I'd topple over.

When a tall Irish lass like me and a relatively tall Italian guy (is there such a thing?) like my husband have babies they are, well, TALL. Off the charts TALL. Taller than kids two years older than them TALL. At least twice a week someone expresses shock and awe that Isabella is only 4 because she's so, you guessed it, TALL. I am trying to program her brain at a young age to see this as an advantage. As soon as it comes out of someone's mouth I say, "Yes, she's tall like her Mom. And why is that great Isabella? Because we can reach things off the counters and top shelf, right? And we can see over everyone else when we're in a crowd"...etc.

The other interesting challenge of having tall kids is their clothes. Isabella wears 5s and 6s and it seems those size 6 long-sleeved shirts are meant for an older child with skinnier arms who have lost their baby fat. I often like to buy clothes for her a size up at the end of the season for the following year. I found myself in a department store today staring at a rack of clothes in the girls 4 to 7 department , realizing that a size up has me on the verge of entering a whole new category. She doesn't even go to kindergarten for two more years. Have you seen the girls size 7 clothes they make these days?

And like her Mama, my girl has big feet - 12 1/2! Today we were checking out the clearance section at Peltz and found the cutest little pair of dressy black Kenneth Cole sandals that would be great for a hot Christmas in Florida. Isabella loved them because they were a little sparkly and had a small heel. She did a little stroll for me in them and didn't miss a step. Yep, you guessed it, my 4 year old is now the proud owner of her first pair of heels. There may be a day when she doesn't want to wear heels but today is not that day.

Mirabella Works Miracles

2009-10-18T10:27:00.004-04:00

As some of you know, Isabella has been petrified of dogs since the day she was born. We were stunned when she took a liking to Mirabella, the dog my brother-in-law and his wife rescued from greyhound racing. She just might be the sweetest dog on the planet. By the end of our trip Isabella was actually hugging her and feeding her by hand. If I had not been there I wouldn't have believed it!

26.2 in the Windy City

2009-10-12T03:58:00.006-04:00

As it turns out, 30 degrees isn't such a bad temperature for running a marathon if you are dressed properly. It was a great experience. I took every step of the way with my friend Robin...which helped tremendously. If we hadn't been together I'm sure I would have finished with a slower time as neither of us was willing to be the one to say "I need a break" or "you go ahead of me." We gutted it out to the end, finishing with the exact same time: 4:08:30. The first 13 miles ticked off before we'd even realized it and decided at that point we'd ease up just a tad on the pace so we could finish strong and we did. Because it was so cold we were able to skip about 4 water stations which helped on our time. Dave braved the cold to cheer me on - as did his brother Mike and my sister-in-law Chris. You guys are awesome!

I love this picture below. I ran the first few miles of the race with my running jacket and then had to tie it around my waist, waiting for the chance to toss it to Dave in the crowd. I didn't see him until Mile 12 and my BIL Mike was cool enough to run into the crowd to retrieve the jacket from me! He's the one holding the blue jacket who looks like he just robbed a liquor store! I'm in the background with the gray hat and pink tank.

Post-race with my handsome hubby.
My running partner Robin and I below. I don't know how we manage to get our champion chip timing device across the finish line at the exact same second but this is
the second time we've done that in a race.
We're both very competitive so we make good race buddies - pushing each other along.

As I type this it is 3:14 AM Central time. I should be sleeping but my aching knees just can't seem to get comfortable. Hopefully I can get some rest tomorrow before our trip back home on Tuesday!

Sunday Morning Forecast - Race Day

2009-10-09T23:41:00.003-04:00

Misery...

6 am - 36°F Feels Like 30°F

7 am - 35°F Feels Like 29°F

8 am - 36°F Feels Like 30°F

9 am - 38°F Feels Like 32°F

10 am - 41°F Feels Like 35°F

Isn't it enough that I'll be running farther than I've ever run before, undertrained, and recovering from an injury? I have to also do it in conditions that are so miserable I wouldn't want to spend 5 minutes outside in it, much less 4 to 5 hours? The weather Gods are laughing at me right now!

Four years ago today...

2009-10-08T22:20:00.016-04:00

...the Princess was born. I still tear up when I tell her the story of her birth - she asks for it repeatedly - but I can barely get to the "and then I held you for the very first time" part before she says, "and then Ryan was in your tummy." It did all happen fast but not THAT fast.

We have a lot of great photos from the party last weekend. These two are compliments of my dear friend Michelle. A more complete selection of photos will be making the rounds to family and friends!
And today we traveled to Wisconsin. The flight was great, the kids were fabulous, and all I could think of the entire time was, "Wow, this was so much easier than when we did it a year ago." Every year a little easier it seems. The kids are tucked away in their beds and it's lights out for me as soon as I finish typing this sentence. Good night!

Whirlwind Weekend

2009-10-04T22:10:00.002-04:00

This weekend was super busy and also super fun. On Friday night, Dave and I snuck away to Orlando and went to Halloween Horror Nights. The best part of the trip? Sleeping in until 9AM! Woo hoo! We really enjoyed it. On Saturday while Dave went to the Metallica concert, I worked on birthday party preparations and Sunday was the big event! Isabella said, "I can't believe I'm four. Now only one more day until I'm 5!" It was a great time, pics to be posted soon. And as far as my running....it's getting better every day. I'd say I'm at about 75-80% healed and I've regained some speed and stamina. And with another week to go maybe I'll be closer to 90% by race time.

Amazing Games

2009-10-01T22:19:00.006-04:00

In the past few days, the Florida weather has cooled just enough to make the outdoors not only tolerable but almost even enjoyable. Dave took the kids for a walk around our lake a few nights ago while I went to have some much needed work done to my hair at the salon. As they walked toward the gazebo on the lake, a couple passed the kids on the sidewalk and said to Ryan, "well aren't you cute!" Ryan agreed wholeheartedly as he barely gave them a glance and continued on his way while replying over his shoulder, "I'm AMAZING." I suppose two is a good age to begin building one's confidence.

And on the technology for kids front, ours are totally hooked on playing games on Dave's iPod Touch! He downloaded some great learning applications. Ryan's games help him with color, shape & number recognition. Isabella and Ryan both also love a matching game where you select two cards or tiles and try to match animals. The minute Dave walks in the door from work, Ryan runs to him, gives him a hug and says, "I play the animal phone." That's what he calls it. Who needs a DS or a Leapster when Apple is taking over the world?

I Have the Cutest Video Ever...

2009-09-25T23:50:00.004-04:00

of my husband playing the guitar and singing while Ryan plays along on the drums. Upon viewing it, Dave immediately forbid me from posting it on this blog. He knows me so well. I planned to anyway, but he caught me in the act and post was deleted. Perhaps he will cave if my loyal followers (all 3 of you) demand to see it. Anyone?

Running Update

2009-09-25T23:03:00.003-04:00

So this week I've been active every day. I completed 5 miles on M,W & F which was a combination of running and walking - 1/2 mile run followed by 1/4 mile walk. The other days I did an hour of cardio on elliptical /stationary bike / pool running, plus leg strengthening exercises. The injury doesn't feel worse....but it's still there. I'm waiting for instructions from my PT but I think this next week will take the running up a level with distance - maybe some 8 milers? The run/walk combo is not only good for my recovery, but it's also a running style that many people follow called the Galloway Method. For example, someone might run a mile then walk a minute, run a mile, etc over the course of an entire marathon. It might be what I have to do in Chicago, but we'll see. I still have two weeks and am feeling more hopeful about my chances of making it to the starting line.

The Guitarist and the Ham

2009-09-23T14:43:00.003-04:00

Some of us are serious about our music and some of us are serious about looking cute for the camera. You decide who fits into which category!

Nap Time? No, I said CRAFT TIME!

2009-09-23T14:25:00.006-04:00

I love the ages the kids are at right now. There is A LOT of imaginative play with the two of them. Yesterday I heard Isabella say: "Ryan, you be Bolt and I'll be Penny." Also, Isabella has entered a very creative stage where she wants to make things - color, cut, glue, glitter, all of it. I've instituted a bi-weekly trip to Michael's or JoAnn where I load up on various craft items. When Ryan naps, Isabella crafts! She loves it when I pull something out of the closet she didn't know we had. Today's project was making a princess castle. I bought this on clearance for $3 and it said ages 8+. With some minor assistance from me, she made the entire thing and loved it. We put it in her room up high where Ryan can't destroy it and she told me this is the room she always wanted - with a castle. Who doesn't want to sleep in or at least near a castle?

Adventures in Potty Training

2009-09-22T17:52:00.004-04:00

Wish us luck folks as we have entered potty training territory. So far, so good as far as Ryan's willingness to use his potty and his ability to go on command. A big key in getting him to cooperate was a book we checked out at the library called Potty Poo Poo Wee Wee. It's about a dinosaur named Littlesaurus and his journey to big boy pants. Ryan loves it and often says, "I used my potty like Littlesaurus!" Every kid connects with something different I guess. For Isabella it was the Elmo Potty Time video. While I'm pleased with the progress so far, he's yet to tell me he has to go....once we cross that hurdle I'll know we're close to the finish line.

I guess this is one of the posts that would totally mortify my child if he ever knew, huh? At least I didn't attach a photo.

A Quote from My Physical Therapist

2009-09-18T18:05:00.002-04:00

"I think I can get you in to a half marathon pretty easily in a 3-week time frame but a marathon? Questionable. If you do run the marathon I suggest you carry a backpack with rollerblades so if the injury starts hurting you can make it the rest of the way." He was only sort of kidding I think.

Today I did 12 minutes on the elliptical! Woo hoo. At least I worked up a sweat. For the next few days I'll do 20 minutes per day then see where I can take it from there. Fingers crossed.

London here we come!

2009-09-16T22:30:00.003-04:00

We just found out tonight that we get to go to London for 5 days in late October! It is a work trip for Dave, although I'm not sure it's fair to call it "work." We feel very lucky to be going! Plus it's free. I haven't seen the itinerary yet but I know there are some fun day trips involved, some meals at cool restaurants and also a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. Dave's parents are coming down to Florida to take care of the kids for us. I'm nervous about leaving them and being so far away but I know they'll be in good hands.

Just last week I mailed in my application to renew my passport. I was about 24 when I got that passport and the photo is terrible. Hopefully I'll get the new one in time!

The Reason I Don't Carry Designer Purses

2009-09-15T13:59:00.003-04:00

I just found two cheesesticks in the bottom of my purse. I honestly don't remember when I put them there. My curiousity is peaked - what else is lurking in the bottom of my purse? Let's see....a baggie of animal cracker crumbs, three smushed up cereal bars, a 3 pack of crayons, 5 tootsie roll pops + one stick, three army men, a Nemo fruit snack - as in one fish, not the whole pack, two plastic toy fish, a peaches fruit bowl, and other miscellaneous cosmetics, receipts, grocery lists, etc. Can anyone top that?

Sidelined?

2009-09-11T16:50:00.003-04:00

My running injury is not healing even though I rested for a full week, then ran fewer miles this week and at a slower pace. I finally went to the doc today and he believes it is adductor tendonitis which is basically a muscle strain. He told me to cut back or completely lay off the running, try some biking or elliptical for cardio work, go to the PT, warm & stretch the muscles.....with all that, he can't guarantee that I'll be able to run the marathon. He doesn't have a crystal ball and neither do I so I'm going to follow his advice and say a few prayers in the hopes that it can heal enough so I can run on October 11th. It won't be pretty, but it's better than being a spectator - which I would certainly do to cheer on Robin, Beril & Beth. Much worse things could happen in my life than missing one race. There are other marathons and believe me, if I can't run this one I will definitely run Gasparilla in February.

Funny quotes from our household...

2009-09-09T19:26:00.004-04:00

"This is the weirdest dinner I've ever had." Sushi, baked beans & pork. A combination of what I forgot we had in the fridge and a little something I picked up from Publix.

"Daddy, your breath smells like bugs." See above.

Great Looonnnnngg Holiday Weekend

2009-09-09T08:44:00.004-04:00

Our Labor Day weekend started Thursday and went all the way through Tuesday! Dave had time off and we packed as much as possible into the holiday weekend. We entertained some family and friends at our home on a few occasions and were also entertained at the homes of more family and friends. The weekend also included a birthday party, two baseball games, a Beach Boys concert with my Dad (Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I want to take ya...), and a trip to Sea World! We had a blast at Sea World - minimal crowds, no lines and just good old, plain fun with the kids.

I had no idea who this guy was but found out - "Arthur the Turtle". Who knew?

Ryan getting ready for the tea cups to start

Isabella ready to spin Daddy!

And on the running front...I have somehow managed to pull a muscle and had to take a week off from running. I did run yesterday but the muscle is still giving me problems. My fingers are crossed that I can resolve this before race day and not manage to lose the endurance/fitness I've built. I guess whatever happens, happens and I'll just do my best!

Attention Walmart Shoppers

2009-09-02T11:17:00.000-04:00

Another good reason to switch to Target.

I'm going to Miami, Welcome to Miami

2009-09-01T00:43:00.011-04:00

As most of you know, Dave and I did a two year prison sentence, I mean stint, down in Miami after we were first married. This was both a blessing and a curse. Let's cover the curse first...

Traffic - a nightmare. You put your life in your hands every time you roll out onto a Miami road or highway. Red means go faster there. Seriously. No one stops at red lights. If you did, you would be rear ended by the guy behind you who doesn't expect anyone to follow the law. And no matter how cute and cozy your neighborhood, you cannot go two blocks in any one direction without wishing you were packing heat, or at least mace.

For the most part, we stayed in our Miami Shores neighborhood. We bought a home there because it was close to Dave's work and was an historic area with tropical landscapes and lots of character. Translation: The homes were as old as dirt with hideous bathrooms and tiny kitchens that needed major renovation$. I could fill 100 blogs with the nightmare, comical & truly unbelievable stories of all we experienced there but I'll spare you! I'll just say that the first chance we had to get out of there and move back to family and friends was the best move we ever made.

Tonight I am a bit of an insomniac and as I was just browsing the net, clicked on our Miami realtor's web page and low and behold, he still has our house on his site as a sold property and all these memories came flooding back. Good memories...memories of renovating those '60s style bathrooms, hanging out in the hammock in the breezy backyard, and last but not least, bringing home our baby girl from the hospital. I sometimes forget that we had fun there too.

Had to include a few photos...

A front view of the house...

This little, old house probably cost us more than any other house we'll buy in our lifetime.

An "After" pic of one of the *tiny* bathrooms. I so wish I had a "Before" pic...navy blue toilet, sink and wall/floor tile - all matching perfectly. The worst bathroom ever - unless you count our other bathroom which was sea foam green from top to bottom.

Isabella's room. Imagine me 8 1/2 months pregnant sitting on the floor to paint those flowers.

And the great back yard. This pic totally doesn't do it justice.
In this back yard was a palm tree so tall that we couldn't find anyone willing to cut it down. All the neighbors were afraid it would fall on their house in a hurricane...and we got to test their fears with Katrina & Wilma....she swayed a lot but did not come down.

I believe I've covered the curse part of Miami sufficiently, now on to the blessing. Besides the fact that our daughter was born there, which was the greatest blessing of all, we are so grateful and fortunate to have moved there because Dave selected the job in Miami over a job offer in New Orleans. We almost went to New Orleans and if we had, would have been living there, 7 months pregnant, when Katrina hit. Can you imagine me going into pre-term labor with no electricity, maybe no doc and no epidural?!* Everything happens for a reason and even though we enjoy telling stories about our wacky Miami experience, we are happy to have lived there for a short time.

Siesta Key!

2009-08-27T15:41:00.006-04:00

Here are a few pics from our trip to Siesta Key a few weekends ago. We made it all of an hour and a half then had to leave as our little sunshine Ryan would not stay still. He'd wander off following a bird or a wave with no concern for safety or even where the rest of the family might be. We took turns wandering with him for the hour and a half then decided we'd all had enough excitement for the day.

I know my posts have been few and far between lately - just busy and tired! A few funny quotes from the kids yesterday...when asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Ryan responded, "fire engine man." Such a boy! And to the same question Isabella responded, "I don't want to grow up. Will you help me do that?"

The Friend-Padder

2009-08-20T13:46:00.003-04:00

Check out this CNN article on the 12 most annoying types of facebookers. My personal favorites are the The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore, The Friend-Padder, and The Bad Grammarian.

Surprise at Target!

2009-08-19T14:32:00.002-04:00

While Isabella was at pre-school this morning, Ryan and I hit up Party City and Target for some top secret birthday party planning for an unnamed, soon-to-be 4 year old girl. As we walked into Target, I stopped at the in-store Starbucks for a hot chocolate and an organic apple juice. Shortly thereafter, disaster struck and let's just say the entire hot chocolate ended up on the floor. I quickly alerted an employee that clean up was needed on aisle C7. They were very pleasant, despite the enormous mess we'd made, and also insisted that I get another hot chocolate for free. Not wanting to head back to the front of the store just yet, I thanked them and apologized for the mess then continued on with my shopping. They actually tracked me down in the toy department to deliver a newly made hot chocolate. Not at all the kind of retail service I'm used to getting these days! Thank you Target of Brandon.

The Fountains

2009-08-19T14:22:00.004-04:00

Dave recently took the kids to the Fishhawk Fountains, which Isabella pronounces as "Fish-chalk," for a little water play.

Ryan trying to "catch" the water

I think she looks about 7 years old here. Not even 4 yet!

The sight that made the day!

2009-08-17T15:35:00.007-04:00

Like I said in my last post, this view was the highlight of my run on Saturday! I know Robin will enjoy seeing these pics - the gators and I missed you! (BTW, I took these on my cell phone and have no clue how to get rid of the annoying frames.)

Reality Check

2009-08-16T21:49:00.002-04:00

My 17-mile run yesterday was just that - a HUGE reality check! Although I've only been running for a year, I realize I may have some *slight* god-given abilities when it comes to running, mostly based on the length of my legs and my body type. That said, I have just reached the point in my training program where I can no longer just read the cliff notes and still ace the final exam, if you know what I mean.

Here are 3 things NOT to do prior to a 17-mile run: eat pizza the night before, run 8 miles just 24 hours prior, and get way too few hours of sleep. Must do everything right from this point forward if I am to succeed. That run was miserable. The only good thing was the view of the sun coming up over the lake and I took pictures! I hope to post them soon.

I Run For Life

2009-08-12T22:31:00.002-04:00

Thank you Melissa Etheridge for providing inspiration for my last mile tonight which also turned out to be my fastest, ever. I was so caught up in listening to the words and thinking about so many brave women who have fought for life, that I forgot to focus on my sore right leg and heavy breathing for just a while.

Braggin' Rights

2009-08-10T19:58:00.002-04:00

I'm guilty, I know. I've bragged about Isabella's supergirl immune system one too many times and tempted fate. She has strep. I have spent the last 20 minutes trying to convince her that the bubble gum flavor antibiotic WILL taste good. So far she isn't buyin' it. Any suggestions?

One more step out of babyhood!

2009-08-10T12:14:00.002-04:00

I had fully planned to keep Ryan in his crib until he is 3. He's always been a great sleeper, has never tried to climb out of the crib and never cries at naptime or bedtime. Who would want to mess with that???? But last week when I tried to put him in his crib at naptime he started whining and said, "sleep in big bed." So, I tried it and wouldn't you know he slept in my bed like a champ without getting up even once. I relented and brought in the toddler bed from the garage. The first night he got up a few times but the last two nights he hasn't gotten up at all. Dave could see just a glimpse of sadness on my face the first morning he just kinda strolled out of his room all by himself and said, "we have to let him grow up." Sniff. Sniff. Okay. I suppose I can do this. At least it will make potty training a little easier when the time comes.

The question I didn't expect for AT LEAST 5 more years

2009-08-08T17:10:00.003-04:00

Isabella is overflowing with questions these days. A few she ran by me during our shopping trip today...

I: Mom, how are cars made?
S: Well, metal is bent into the shape of doors and the hood and the roof and put together with nails, then we add seats, the radio, the wheels and seat belts and a steering wheel.
I: How are seat belts made?
S: Cloth is cut into the shape of a seat belt.
I: How are shoes made? How are car seats made? (She just won't stop!)

You might be able to see where this line of questioning is headed...

I: How do we make people? (giggle, giggle, giggle)
S: They are made in their mommy's tummy.
I: Yea, but how do THE MOMMIES make them?
S: The angels come down from heaven and kiss the mommy's tummy to make the baby. And the Daddy might have helped too.

I don't know where that answer came from but I am SO FAR from being ready to tell her the truth.

Our Tree

2009-08-05T22:41:00.005-04:00

Our trip to visit my Mom and nephew in South Carolina has become an annual tradition. Last year was our first trip up there and on a day trip to check out the mountains, we passed a big beautiful tree in front of a church and decided to take a family picture. We visited our tree again this year and - wow! - have the kids grown in 14 months time!

Restored Faith in People!

2009-07-31T10:46:00.003-04:00

I made it to SC safely and am totally blown away by the kindness and generosity of my mother's neighbors, friends, church, etc! Since she can't get around too well she just left her door open so when people stopped by to (take your pick)...

Make her breakfast, lunch and dinner
Do her laundry
Pick blueberries for her!
Feed the dogs
Fill prescriptions
Wash the dishes
Bring her groceries

...they could just come on in. One neighbor stopped by just to make sure she had her cell phone at her side so she could call in an emergency. Note to self: Must find way to Pay it Forward.

Sorry I've Been MIA

2009-07-29T22:47:00.004-04:00

Mom fell off a ladder and broke her hip over the weekend. She had a hip replacement via emergency surgery. They initally told us she would not be home for about a week and a half so we scrambled to fly my nephew down to be with us while she was away and wouldn't you know it, the doctors decided she was doing so well they sent her home today. So, now my nephew and I will be scrambling our little booties up to South Carolina tomorrow to be with her. I am not bringing the kids.....just not the right time and place for them this trip. I'm gonna need a lot of strength to leave my babies (and my babe) for 5 days. I don't know how those military families do it. Fortunately, Dave just set up our computers with those camera gadgets so I'll be able to "call them" and see them while I'm gone!

It's Just Dawned On Me That...

2009-07-24T00:01:00.006-04:00

1) I signed up for a freaking MARATHON. My long run this Saturday is 14 miles. Total miles this week is 29. This is a beginner marathon training schedule....but it's still a lot to me! I know I can do it, just a little nervous about entering new territory. Plus I'm TIRED and my left quad is sore. I guess I'm not superwoman after all. Really thought I was.

2) My son can now put words together well enough to sing songs and tell on his sister. After a family bath time rendition of Row Row Row Your Boat, I caught Ryan hitting Isabella on the head. As I began my We Don't Do That Mom Speech, he said, "Bella hit." One look at Isabella and I knew he was telling the truth. It made me laugh. Now they'll be tattle tailing on each other for the next 15 years!

Rainy Days are Perfect For...

2009-07-20T09:34:00.004-04:00

making forts in the living room with dining room chairs covered with sheets.

It's Electric!

2009-07-19T11:12:00.002-04:00

Today's Adventure - Chimney Rock, NC

2009-07-17T00:48:00.004-04:00

Summer Sweetness

2009-07-15T18:43:00.005-04:00

Is there anything sweeter than picking blueberries at Nana's house?