All I want for Christmas

Being in the hospital is never easy, but it seems to be particularly hard for the families during the holidays.  I volunteered at the hospital today, and when I went into one of the rooms there was a team of doctors in there.  This is not new, as I work during morning rounds, so I checked back later.  I went in and they were talking with their nurse as their toddler daughter slept.  The nurses are in patient rooms all the time. and they tell us that we are welcome to come in unless they are doing a "procedure" with the patient.  So I went in, introduced myself and asked the parents if they needed anything.  The father replied that they needed a miracle.  Then he asked me if I had an extra healthy heart in my back pocket.  Apparently when that team of doctors was visiting moments ago, they learned that their sweet little girl was going to need a transplant.

It's Christmastime, and all of us are fretting over presents and decorations and parties and cards and travel.  But not these parents; all they want for Christmas is a healthy heart for their little girl.  It makes my heart ache.

Thankful - Day 30

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 30

Today I am thankful for my life.  I helped out with Alex's art class in the morning and then went for a long workout.  Then I picked Isabel up from school and we went to have lunch with Devin.  Then Izzy and I bought a couple Christmas presents and picked up the boys and their friends from school.  When we got to their friends house, the kids played outside and I got a chance to catch up with their mom (who is my good friend).  We left in time to run home, pick up Andy and go to a dinner at another friend's house.  There were about ten families there with kids of all ages.  The boys played football and basketball outside while the little girls colored pictures and watched movies inside.  The parents  talked and laughed and ate and drank.  We met new people, and we learned interesting things about people that we already knew.  Then we got the kids home and off to bed and Andy and I cuddled on the couch.  All in all it was a great day, and it reminded me that I have much to be thankful for.

Thankful - Day 29

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 29

Before my half ironman, I met with a nutritionist and coach to get some advice on how to train and fuel appropriately for a race of this duration.  She was great.  She created a training plan for me that accommodated my foot issues while building a sound fitness level for the race and created a nutrition plan that allowed me to drop a few pounds without dieting or feeling hungry. 
After the race, I assessed my weaknesses and decided to ask her to coach me in running and cycling.  Other than junior high track, I have never been coached in running.  Given that I was a swim coach, I know how important proper form and technique are for building strength and efficiency.  Yet, I never learned about proper running form or cycling strategies.  Until today.  We did a mile warm-up, and then moved on to a four mile tempo run (for the non-runners, a tempo run is faster than comfortable, but not race pace).  She coached me on my foot strike, body position and cadence.  She paced me well and pushed me when needed.  We ran four miles at an average pace of about 8:20.  I felt like a rockstar!!  Today, I am thankful for my awesome run.

Thankful - Day 28

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 28

Since the dog that I was ever so thankful for yesterday decided to poop on the carpet, today I am thankful for carpet cleaner and pet scent remover.

Thankful - Day 27

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 27

Today I am thankful for my dog.  I did not grow up with pets, and I'm not really a pet person.  While I like Buddy and I recognize that he's a good dog, I don't LOVE my dog. 
But my kids do.  I see their love in the way that they lay all over him and run around with him.  They fill his water dish, feed him each day, wipe his paws before letting him inside, and the boys even pick up poops.  They throw the ball for him and play chase with him every day.  I can tell that my kids are growing up to be animal lovers, and I know that having Buddy makes them happy. 

Thankful - Day 26

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 26

We had a really nice visit with Andy's family for Thanksgiving.  We had some great meals and fun trips and the kids truly enjoyed playing with them.  Today I am thankful for house guests, and for their safe return home.

Thankful - Day 25

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 25

We have had a fantastic time over Thanksgiving break.  I have truly enjoyed having the kids home from school and getting some extra time to do fun things with them.  We've gone to the movies, gone running, made animals at build-a-bear and I even managed a lunch date.  But as I sat the boys down at the table to finish up a few things for school, I was reminded of some people for whom I am very grateful.  I am thankful for my children's teachers.  Their dedication to, and nurturing of, my children is awe inspiring.  I truly feel that each of my kid's teachers values my child for the individual that they are and recognizes their gifts and talents (and challenges).  I have a good amount of patience when helping my children with school work.  I can only imagine the amount of patience required to help them and twenty five of their friends.  =)  Today I am grateful for my kid's teachers.

Thankful - Day 24

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 24

Today there was a buff, twenty-something, dread lock wearing man in my yoga class.  He was not your typical yogi, made evident by his lack of flexibility and the fact that he had to look around a lot to see what he was supposed to be doing (something I can empathize with completely).  I was impressed that he came, since it takes some courage to be that fish out of water.  Then he shed his shirt, and made the hot yoga class about ten degrees hotter.  Today I am grateful for unexpected eye-candy when working out.  =)

Thankful - Day 23

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 23

Today I went running with the kids.  I took each of them out individually for a short run.  It was a beautiful, sunny day and I loved getting a little exercise and a little one-on-one with each of them. I told them that I didn't care how fast we went or how much we walked, but we needed to keep moving.   First Devin and I went and he was dancing along to Gangnam Style as we made it through the neighborhood.  He was the least excited about our running date, but still made the best of it and of course sprinted his hardest to try to leave me at the end. 
Next I took Isabel, and she totally surprised me.  First, she ran over a mile (although there was some walking included) and second, she averaged a fourteen minute mile!  When we ran her race in September, she ran the mile in sixteen and some change.  It was awesome!  Isabel chose not to run with music, so we could talk.  She loved telling me where we should go and just chattered away throughout the run.  She even held my hard for part of it.  I loved it.
Finally I went with Alex, who is a natural runner.  He's long and lean, and he just naturally has better running form than I do.  Alex was enjoying his music and doing more running than walking.  He ran up the long hill out of our neighborhood at a 10:05 pace.  I was shocked.  We walked a bit after that, and then he took off again.  At one point he was running an 8:30 pace, which is about the pace that I ran my 8k on Thanksgiving Day.  Then he got a side stitch.  We walked and talked about all kinds of things; running strategy (I shared my approach of nice and easy until the end, then sprint), music, our plans for the day.  Alex finished strong and wound up running longer and faster than the other two. 
Today I am thankful that I can share running with my kids.  I am thankful for the one-on-one time with them and I am grateful that they are willing to get out and move with me.

Thankful - Day 22

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.


Day 22

Today I am thankful for my running posse, a body that doesn't fail me when I push it, bloody mary's with friends, Andy's family, hot showers, cuddles with my kiddos on the couch, Andy's wonderful cooking, wine, and movies by the fire.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thankful - Day 21

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 21

Today I am thankful for my parents.  My parents are generous and loving people who believe in me and expect the best from me.  As a child, I never questioned their love for me, even though I did not always agree with their rules and decisions.  They expected a lot from me, and taught me to hold myself to a high standard.  They taught me responsibility and independence by making me responsible for my actions and decisions.  They also taught me about what a marriage is supposed to be, and what truly loving someone means.  I never questioned their love for each other, even when they didn't agree. 
I remember my friends in high school talking about how "normal" my family was.  Later, Andy would tell friends that I grew up in the Brady Bunch (but I was always quick to point out that my parents only married each other... =).  I love my parents.  I am grateful for the relationship that I have with each of them, and I am soooo glad that they are mine.

Thankful - Day 20

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 20

Today I am thankful for yoga.  I have always loved yoga, but found it a challenge to fit it in while I was training for the half ironman.  Since that training is done, I have been going to yoga class a couple times each week.  I love the stretching and the strength and the quiet time to look inward.  I am thankful for yoga.

Thankful - Day 19

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 19

Today I am grateful for my faith.  I am a Christian and a Catholic.  While I may not be as devout as others, I feel that my faith has been getting stronger in recent years.  I'm not sure if that is because we are raising our children in Catholic schools or because we live in a strong religious part of the country, or if I'm just growing spiritually.  But I feel a change, and it's a good one.

This morning I heard the song, "Wonder" by Natalie Merchant on the radio.  This song was released a month after my niece Brianna was born, and it has always made me think of her. 

 

Doctors have come from distant cities
Just to see me
Stand over my bed
Disbelieving what they're seeing
They say I must be one of the wonders
God's own creation
And as far as they can see they can offer
No explanation

 

Ooh, I believe
Fate smiled and destiny
Laughed as she came to my cradle
Know this child will be able
Laughed as my body she lifted
Know this child will be gifted
With love, with patience and with faith
She'll make her way

 

 

I loved this song.  When it was popular, all those years ago, it reflected what I felt about Brianna; that she was special and that there was greatness ahead of her in life. All those years I thought that "She'll make her way" meant that she would make it; that she would live and thrive and grow up to be an amazing woman.

Today when I heard the song, I still loved it.  But for the first time, I thought of Brianna as a child who was indeed "gifted with love, patience and faith".  She was so very loved and she was an old soul who loved life and loved God.  I realized that now I do have enough faith to believe that she is in a better place.  I do believe that she "made her way" to being with our God.  I had never thought of that song in that way before, and losing Brianna certainly did not do much to strengthen my faith seven years ago.  But I guess I made my way too.  Today, I am thankful for my faith. 

Thankful - Day 18

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 18

Today I am thankful for peppermint tea, a warm fireplace on a cold night and early bedtimes (both mine and my children's).  Sweet dreams!

Thankful - Day 17

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 17

Today I am thankful for the love and support of my family and friends, especially when it comes to my athletic pursuits.  You have cheered me on, sent me messages, travelled far distances (or short distances) to watch me compete, watched my kids to I could train, adjusted your training schedules to accommodate mine and most of all, you believed in me.  For that I am so very grateful.



Before the B2B half Ironman. We got this!

 

So happy to have Annie with me for B2B half Ironman. 



Getting ready to race B2B with our cheering section.

 

After Thunder Road half marathon with my best cheerleaders!
 

 

Thankful - Day 16

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 16

My birthday was in September, and at the time my very wonderful and generous girlfriends gave me gift certificates to some really great stores (two of my favorites, actually).  I had been so busy with training and school activities with the kids, that I had no chance to use these gift certificates.  Until today, when I had one of the most uplifting and successful shopping trips.  That may sound strange, but when you are unhappy with or unaccepting of your body, shopping for clothes can be a bit demoralizing.  Today I am thankful for generous girlfriends and fun shopping days.  May they carry through to swim suit season!!

Thankful - Day 15

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 15

After the night we had last night, today I am thankful for coffee.  Dark, strong coffee.

4pm:  I feel that this post requires an addendum.  Today, I am also thankful for naps.  Cuddly naps with a sweet four-year-old girl are the best. 

Thankful - Day 14

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 14

Devin and I were talking about Alex the other day when he said to me, "I don't know why some of my friends fight with their brothers so much.  I mean, Alex is my best friend."  I am thrilled, and so very grateful for the relationship that my boys have with each other.  While they bicker and get frustrated with each other, they also have a lot of fun and laughs together.  I told Alex that Devin said this about him, and he just grinned and walked over to give Devin a hug (not a sweet hug, but more of a 'wrestle and tickle' hug).  Then he said, "Of course we're best friends, Mom.  He's my brother."  Imagine growing up with your best friend always with you.  Its pretty spectacular.  I hope they always feel this way about each other.

Thankful - Day 13

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 13

Today is the wedding anniversary of my brother, Bill and his wife, Belinda.  Bill and Belinda started dating early in college (I think he was nineteen and she was eighteen), and they always seem to truly enjoy each other's company.  They seem to be happy, and they have done a fantastic job of raising four great kids. Today, I am thankful that Bill brought Belinda into our lives.  She is thoughtful, and I mean that using both definitions; Belinda is thoughtful in the way she treats other people and she is reflective and contemplative when working through something.  Often I have come to Belinda with issues or concerns about whatever was "big" in my life at the time: boyfriend issues, wedding plans, baby questions, discipline, school issues, kids sports.  She always has such sage advice and perspective.  I have willingly shared "Belinda-isms" with friends, always to their benefit.  These days, I don't talk to Bill and Belinda as much as I should (after all, we are all busy with kids, school, work, kids sports, etc), but I recognize that my life is better with Belinda in it.  Today, I am thankful for Belinda.

Thankful - Day 12

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 12

Thank you to all who served.

Thankful - Day 11

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 11

Since the time change last week, Alex and Isabel have been sleeping poorly.  That means that I have been sleeping poorly as well.  However, last night everyone (namely Isabel) slept through the night without nightmares, potty breaks (that I knew of) and disturbances of any kind.  Alex woke up at 6:47 (the first time this week that he made it into the six o'clock hour) and Isabel woke at 7:03.  For that wonderful night's sleep and the hope that we are finally adjusted to the time change, I am very thankful. 

Thankful - Day 10

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.
Day 10

Today my boys went with a friend of mine to rake leaves for an elderly blind lady who is a member of my friend's church. She picked them up at 7:45am.  They had breakfast at the church and then went on to the house to get busy in the enormous yard.

 

These kids worked for about four hours.  While they definitely took time to jump in the leaf piles, they managed to fill seventy bags with leaves.  Tomorrow, Alex will join Andy and I, along with other neighbors, in making dinner at Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte.  We go to RMH monthly to make meals for the guests there, and Devin has gone almost as often as Andy and I.  Alex is excited for his turn.  I am thankful that my children have the opportunity to help people who need it.  I am grateful that they have the desire and the empathy that makes them want to help others.  Our family is very blessed; I am glad that my children are learning to share their good fortune.

Thankful - Day 9

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 9

After a few chilly days, the warm fall temperatures have returned to Charlotte.  It was sixty-five and sunny today, and we may reach seventy over the weekend.  How can I not be thankful for that??  I like winter, but I have become spoiled by the beautiful fall weather in the South.  We typically start the day in the thirties, and go up thirty degrees or more by the middle of the day.  It is bliss. 

Thankful - Day 8

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 8

Today I am thankful for my body.  I read an interview with an actress (whom I respect, and who is not pin thin), and she said that she makes it a point to frequently say positive things about her own body in front of her daughter, because she wants to counter some of the negative body image messages in the media.  Given that our kids really do listen to us more than we realize, I decided to start doing the same.  And to be honest, I am thankful for my body.  I am grateful that it continues to support all of my athletic pursuits and challenges.  Last month I competed in the greatest athletic feat that I have ever attempted, and I did it!  I raced hard and even though my body wanted to stop, I pushed on and finished strong.  I truly am grateful for my body.  To quote one of my favorite singers, "it may not be perfect, but it works for me."

Thankful - Day 7

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 7

Andy took the boys to the Bobcats game, so I had dinner and a movie with my little girl.  While we were eating "pinnochi" (or gnocchi to the rest of us - her choice, by the way), Izzy told me about all the good parts of her day.  There was school, dance class, playing with her friend, Presley... but she said the best part was having a girl night with me.  I couldn't agree more.  After dinner we both got into our Minnie Mouse jammies and curled up on the couch to watch Rapunzel.  Today I am thankful for the little girl who brings so much sunshine and happiness into my life.  I am thankful for Isabel.

Thankful - Day 6

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 6

Today I sat on the couch and read six books to Isabel.  Devin was late for carpool yesterday because he got a new book and sat down on the steps to read, losing track of time.  Alex is finally getting the reading bug (after some disinterest) and he is about thirty-five books into the goal of reading one hundred books by the end if the school year.  I am thankful for reading.  I love to read, and never go more than a couple days between books.  Sometimes I read sequentially and sometimes I have a couple books going at once.  I read historical fiction, chick-lit, Newbery winners, 'young adult' authors, traditional 'literature' and sometimes mysteries and non-fiction. 
My love of reading is a gift from my mother, who I can still picture curled up on the couch reading and either twirling her hair or tucking her cold nose into the top of her turtleneck.  I can only hope that my kids inherit this love, this gift of unlocking a new world, one page at a time. 

Thankful - Day 5

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 5
Tonight we had a very interesting conversation with the kids about the election.  Andy and I attempted to distinguish the differences between the Republican and the Democratic parties as we interpret them.  We posed different questions to the boys about the social and fiscal issues, using terms that we thought they would understand.  The result was that the boys, and Devin in particular, agreed that choosing who to vote for was a hard choice.  I could not agree more.  But tonight, on the eve of the presidential election, I am thankful that I live in a country where I have the freedom to express my choice.


Side note: During our conversation, we were talking about the Democratic and Republican parties, and each time we said "party", Isabel would give a little "whoop, whoop" and wave her arms in the air.  Priceless.

Thankful - Day 4

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead. 

Day 4

Today I am thankful for the health of my family.  Being healthy is something that we often times take for granted; it is something we don't worry about unless something catastrophic happens.  Those who know me, know that my family has experienced catastrophic.  My beautiful niece Brianna was born with a series of heart defects which required her to go through many surgeries in her nine years, three months and nineteen days on this planet.  Through her life, and through the experiences that my sister and brother-in-law had in parenting a sick child, I have learned all too well how important our health is.  I am so very grateful that my family, immediate and extended, is in good health.  I pray that this continues and that we all live happy, healthy and wonderfully fulfilling lives.

Thankful - Day 3

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead.

Day 3

I am thankful for running.  I know that this sounds strange, but when I was younger I was never a runner.  At my race two weeks ago, my mom told my friends that I wouldn't even run to catch the school bus.  She wasn't lying.  When I did start running in my twenties, it was okay but I didn't love it.  Now I love to run.  I love it when I run solo, with my music, I love to chase my boys down on the Greenway (when they ride bikes and I run), but most of all I love to run with my girlfriends.  We run, we chat, we just spend some good time together.  Without a run planned, we wouldn't set the alarm to get up early on a weekend morning and spend a couple hours together.  I love that I have become a runner and that I have great people to run with me.

Thankful - Day 2

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November. Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful. I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead. 

Day 2

I am thankful for my husband, Andy.  He is funny and smart and thoughtful and generous and he has so much integrity.  I am truly blessed to have joined my life with his, and I love the life that we are building together.

Thirty days of Thankful

My sister and some friends on Facebook are doing "Thirty Days of Thankful" for the month of November.  Each day they are posting something in their lives for which they are grateful.  I decided to do the same, but will write it here instead. 

Day 1
I am thankful for my life.  I know that this is a broad statement, and in the next thirty days I will get far more specific, but I recognize that I have a great life.  I have a great family, both here and far away.  I have a wonderful husband.  I have amazing kids. I have awesome friends.  I have a nice house.  I have enough food and money to feel secure.  I have time to do things that I want to do.  For all of these things, I am extremely grateful.

what's in a name?

The conversation went something like this:
Devin: "I'm going to give Alex the nickname 'hot head', because when the sun shines on his hair it looks like fire.  Like a hot head."
Mom: "The term 'hot head' usually means someone who has a bad temper; who gets mad fast."
Alex: "I'm not a hot head.  I'm a trouble maker."

Time for something new

September is a time of new beginnings.  New school year.  New teachers.  New friends.  This year, September is a time for new sports for the boys.  For the first time in four years, we do not have a soccer player in the house.  After last year's huge soccer commitment of two boys in three practices per week and two to five games per weekend, this is a major freedom for us (which comes at a great time, since Andy and I are both training for a half ironman in October and we need time to train!).
Devin chose to play flag football, and quickly took on the roll of quarterback.  He has quite an arm and he's working hard to learn all the plays.  This week, I think he went out to toss the football every day.  Plus, he's swimming twice a week in a league that works more on perfecting stroke technique than on racing. 

Alex chose Tae Kwon Do.  He has been asking to try it for ages, but was unwilling to give up soccer to try it (and given that TKD is two or three nights per week, we were unwilling to do both).  He is taking it at a place whose students are primarily kids, and they make it a lot of fun.  He will be testing for his first new belt soon, and he is so excited.

Izzy is doing dance again, and she tried out for a small, local production of the Little Mermaid.  We haven't heard back yet from auditions, where she jumped up on stage to shake her booty and belt out "California Girls".  I vacillated between wanting to take some video of the occasion and wanting to crawl under my seat. 

tribute to summer - part III

The boys had a great swim season this summer.  Alex was young in the age group, so he didn't win a lot of races (including some against his brother), but his times improved tremendously over last year.  Devin had a banner season (both winning races and beating his old times), and even won medals in the all star meet!

Climbing out after a great race!

Swim Buddies

Devin in his trademark orange cap

All star relay. "Swimmers, take your mark..."

tribute to summer - part II

The Blake's maintained their beach bum status this summer, and Izzy even learned to boogie board!!

 

three little fishes, swimming in the sea...

Can you believe what this salt air does to my hair?



Cuddles between best buds on the beach

 



Devin and I completed this 750 piece puzzle in two days. We were both obsessed!

tribute to summer - part I

I realize that I have been pretty quiet lately, so today I am making a new commitment to my blog.  First, I will catch everyone up on our lives by posting all the family pictures and fun stuff from this summer (a tribute to summer, if you will).  Next, I will try (very hard) to make weekly updates.  Now that the kids are back in school and going to bed at a decent hour, I am optimistic that I can carve out the time to write all the great posts that I create in my head during my long bike rides and other times that I cannot actually sit down at a computer and write.

So, here goes.  One of the first things that happened this summer was Isabel's first dance recital.  The video is clearly as amateur as the dancers, but she's as cute as ever (on the right).  Enjoy!

 

Happy 9th Birthday Devin!!

I know this is late, but Happy 9th Birthday Devin!!!

I love this picture of Devin.  I know he's not looking at the camera, and he has a swim cap covering his beautiful blond hair.  However, in this picture, I can almost see what my nine-year-old boy will look like as a man.  It's awesome and terrifying at the same time.  I love this kid, and I am so proud of the thoughtful, fun and kind person he is becoming.

Questions

Alex is fond of playing the "question" game.  This is one where he compares different people by answering questions like, "Who is stronger, Papa or Uncle Billy?" or, "Who is prettier, Isabel or Katie(Izzy's friend)?"  It's a useful way to get him talking to me about his friends and kids at school, but it's also funny to get some of the responses that I get.  For instance, I know that he used to like Laura, but now he likes Sierra too.  I know that Phillipe is one of his best friends, but he plays with Davis more at school.  I know that he loves Devin, but would protect Isabel over Devin, "because she's so little and Devin is strong."  And I know that he thinks Andy is the strongest man he knows.  Up until today, I thought he liked Mrs. Price (his teaching assistant) more than anyone in the world.  Maybe it's because of Mother's Day, but Mrs. Price has fallen in the ranking behind Mommy and Grandma.  More than anything, I know that this little boy loves his family, and behind is goofball demeanor is a sweet, caring little man.  I love you, Alex.

Happy Birthday Awesome Alex!!

Happy seventh Birthday Awesome Alex!  You bring so much laughter and joy to our lives!

Happy Birthday Isabel!!

Happy fourth birthday to my little beauty!!  I love you!!

problem solved

I was driving the boys to school today and Alex started asking me about our cars.  Which one cost more money?  (Andy's)  Why? (Because mine was used, Andy's is new and is a different kind of car).  This led to a discussion of the differences in the cars.  Which one had more seating, which one was noisier, which one had the adapter to play Alex's iPod, etc.  Alex finally concluded that he likes Andy's car more than mine.  His reasoning was that Andy's car is cleaner.  I asked him who he thought made the mess in my car, and he completely fessed up that it was him and his siblings. 

Problem solved.

Among the Chaos

It was a crazy day.  It started with a particularly loud carpool of five kids and lots of drama and attitude and requests for different music, turn it up, put on a show. "He won't give my book back.  It's mine!".  There were items forgotten at school.  There were tears.  We got home and there were kids who needed a snack, who couldn't find their soccer socks, who needed help with homework, who couldn't unzip their coats.  All of it, right now!! Right Now!! 
After a brief forty-five minutes at home, we had to leave.  "Let's move!  We are going to be late for Devin's last soccer game of the indoor season!"  Find the socks, fill the water bottles, zip the coat, bring the homework for the car trip...  Then the team lost, and Devin was done playing with the team that he played with since August.  He was a little sad. 
On the way home, I decided that we all needed to mellow out a bit, and switched the radio to the Grateful Dead station.  As we were pulling into the neighborhood, China - Rider came on (a two song combo that happens to be one of my favorites).  I pulled into the garage and just sat there for a minute to listen. 
Andy came out of the house and got the kids.  He brought them and the noise and chaos into the house with him and closed the door.  He started dinner and brought me a glass of wine, handing it to me through the open car window. 
I love this man.  He gets me.

Shades of Beauty

Isabel and I were at the mall yesterday and after she "helped" me shop (where "help" means that she selects a every article of pink clothing for me before trying to sit in the mannequins lap), we went to the makeup counter so she could look at lip gloss.  Yes, I did use the lip gloss as incentive for Isabel to behave.  This is not bribery, but merely insurance.  We went to the makeup counter where the nice lady lip gloss on Isabel while I checked out the free bonus gift with purchase.  Isabel's lips looked like this.

Fantastic, right?  I mean, not for a three year old, but the lip color is great.  Then I remembered that I am running low on mascara.  The mascara didn't cost enough to get the bonus, but with that gorgeous lip gloss, I can get the bonus.  This is what I call a win-win.  We made our purchase and headed to the car, where I tried out my new lip gloss.  It looked like this.

Yes, that is the same lip gloss in both pictures.  Clearly Isabel and I have different coloring.  I guess this just goes to show that the lip gloss is not what makes Isabel beautiful.  What a lucky little girl!

Things you shouldn't have to say...

As a parent, we all find ourselves saying things that we never really thought we would have to say.   Like when Alex was having "tummy time" as a baby and I had to tell Devin not to roll him around the room.  Or when Isabel got into my makeup bag, in the car, and decided to put the 'black lipstick' on her lips.  But the black lipstick was mascara and suddenly my goth daughter and my back seat were one huge slimy black mess.  I told her that little girls never wear black makeup and she shouldn't put anything black on her lips.
This morning Alex was packing up for school and I told him he probably needed a sweatshirt because it was cold.  He grabbed one and immediately used it to wipe his nose.  He was standing next to the desk where the tissue box sits.  I said, "Do you want to wear your boogers to school today?"  The answer was no.  So I suggested that he put that sweatshirt in the hamper and find a clean one. 

What to do...

We have been a little ill around here lately.  The boys have avoided the yucky cold, but the rest have fallen prey, and Isabel went down the hardest. 

So, what do you do when you are home with a little girl whose nose is a faucet?  One who wants to cuddle on the couch constantly, except when she is demanding more tissue, "and some lotion please for my red nose".  Well, you cuddle.  A lot.  And you read books and sing songs.  If she's really ambitious, you may make it to the table for some crafts (preferably painting or play doh - the messier the better).  Finally, when she is tired and just wants to zone out you put on a movie ("Annie" being the latest favorite) and hop on the bike trainer to sneak a little exercise in while she is occupied.  aaah - the life of a Mommy. 
The cuddles are great though.

Big day

I cleaned out my sock drawer today.  Whoop!  Do I know how to have fun or what?!

Just Label It

When is comes to food, I've been a label reader for the last fifteen years.  It started when I decided to make a change for my health and primarily focus on losing weight.  I had always been athletic and active, but was never thin and my weight crept up through high school and college.  So I was learning about eating better and watching fat and calorie intake and reading labels.  When I started buying food for my kids, I would look at ingredients to ensure that I wasn't buying things like bread and apple sauce with high fructose corn syrup.  My thought was that my kids didn't need the extra sugar in the things that they eat every day (the bread) and the things that they like without the extra sugar (since I never add sugar when I make applesauce from scratch). 
Some of my friends have made pretty extreme changes to the foods that their families eat.  One cut out gluten because potential links with their child's ADHD.  Another removed casein and gluten because of the impact on Aspergers.  One went vegan because of possible links between animal proteins and her autoimmune disease, and noticed a positive affect on her husband's Chrone's disease. 
While my family has been lucky enough not to have any health issues that are tied to foods, we are also concerned about all that we have been hearing about high fructose corn syrup and genetically modified foods.  We live in a rich country that has more food than ever, and yet there are more food issues and allergies than ever.  The more Andy and I learned about food processing (thanks to movies like Food Inc and countless websites) the more we are concerned about what we are feeding our families.  Food manufacturing and processing has changed exponentially over the last 20 years and I firmly believe that the methods used are a huge contributor to the rise in obesity and food allergies that we see today.  The food that we ate as kids may have the same name, but it is not made the same way as the food we used to eat. 

Andy and I are still label readers, but now our focus is more on buying food that is natural rather than low fat. If my kids can't pronounce the ingredients then we probably shouldn't be eating them. 

Just Label It

Devin's Eclipse

The kids were doing art projects today, and Devin came up with this:

Every now and then I have a moment when I realize that Devin is growing up, and this was one of them.  I love his creativity and ingenuity.  He is learning so many new and interesting things, and our conversations (and his questions) are getting more complex and challenging.  I love it.

Izzy's Jukebox

Isabel has been singing all day long.  Here is her play list:

Love You Like a Love Song - Selena Gomez
Someone Like You - Adele
Shake Those 'Simmons Down - Music Together
Tik Tok on the Clock - Ke$ha
Save Me San Francisco - Train
Everybody Dance Now - C+C Music Factory
Play the Drum - Music Together
Dynamite - Taio Cruz
Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band

I certainly appreciate her varied music taste, and take comfort in the fact that at least a couple of the songs are intended for little kids (the ones from her Music Together class).  I managed to catch one of her performances*.  Check it out:

* Please note: wearing pajamas at 2pm is perfectly acceptable in our world.  Enjoy the booty shake.

Doubt Me

Last night I dreamt that a poem I had recently written was getting published.  Clearly this was a dream, since it has been about fifteen years since my poetry writing days.  But in my dream I was a writer of poetry and a pretty good one at that.  The poem that was getting recognition was bitter and more than a little pissed off, kind of like an Ani DiFranco song I used to listen to in my "single in the city" days when dating was complicated and sometimes painful. 
But this poem wasn't about dating or even about writing.  It was my response to someone who thought I was incapable of doing something.  It was about someone doubting me and I was mad.  My dream never revealed who didn't believe in me or what they thought I could not do; the dream did made it clear that I not only proved myself, but went on to write about it.
I woke up feeling surprised.  First of all, I am surrounded by the most supportive and encouraging family and friends, and I cannot think of anyone who would tell me that I cannot achieve something that I want to do.  Second, I was surprised that doubt could be such a motivator for me.  Cognitively, I understand that "proving yourself" relies on some amount of doubt, but I rarely feel like I have anything to prove.  Mostly, I was surprised at the anger I felt toward whomever doubted me in my dream. 
I really wish I could remember that poem.