First Few Weeks Of December

It's been weeks since my last post. I am not sure where they went. This time of year I think they get sucked into the abyss of holiday madness. I personally love the chaos of the season. I operate better under pressure. I like staring at the calendar knowing the days are numbered and there are gifts to be bought, lights to stare at, and Santa to sit on. It makes me Merry.

I love the temperatures that make you want to curl up fireside with a blanket, hot chocolate in hand. Wrapping paper with mod designs that spice up even the blandest gift. Peppermint candles and hand soaps that make you want to lick your hands.

The aroma of our tree fills the house. Pine. Heavenly! Thomas, Brent and I picked out the most perfect Douglas Fur. We wondered the rows bundled from head to toe, looking for one that would start our first Christmas, as a family of three, off right. Brent sawed it down with Thomas crouched down beside him, hands resting on his knees.

Next year will be even better. This years activities repeated and ones that were put on hold restarted. I can hardly contain myself just thinking about it. Decorating a yet to be selected, new house. Creating memories that Thomas will look forward to.

In the meantime I am going to enjoy every moment of this season and try to make the chaos last.

Anything Is Possible

Today my girlfriend Carey did something amazing. She completed an Ironman. I tracked her distance and pace online, wishing I was there to see this feat in person, to cheer her on and be there at the finish line. Living in Maryland prevented me from being apart of the "on location cheering squad" but it didn't keep me from appreciating every one of her accomplishments. After each segment, a posted time and a cheer from me. I sat at my kitchen table all day whispering good girl Carey, keep going.

3,000 miles away I was proud . Proud because I know how hard she worked to get to this day. Proud because she was on pace to achieve her goal, proud because she is my friend and she inspires me and proud because I could see from so far away that she had faith in herself and her training.

At the eight hour mark she was just getting of the bike. She had finished the swim and six hours on a hard seat. I was in awe at that point, yet there was still five more hours of running to come. I'm sure any anxiety at this point was mine and she was confident, establishing her long stride to the finish line.

The amount of work that this race physically requires is incredible but more amazing is the mental toughness one must exhibit. I once read that if you know someone who desires to be a triathlete you are linked to someone extraordinary and you should be mindful of the privilege you have been afforded. I am aware everyday, she is an amazing friend and I am blessed to have her in my life.

Congratulations Carey, You are an IRONMAN.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Winter is officially creeping in. Almost all of the leaves have dropped, the rain has come periodically making it feel colder and the clocks have been turned back. Brent and I sat at the kitchen table this morning and he said he loved this weather, as a big gust of wind swept through the yard. I asked him if he thought he get sick of it. He said yes after a few months he may but that's whats great about being somewhere where there are seasons. Just when you think you can't take it anymore things change. We both are looking forward to fires on the weekends, bundling up in our winter coats and the first snow.

The weather has kept our little man in the house more so I am trying to come up with fun indoor activities that exhaust him just as much as running up and down the street. Friday we went to an Open Play through the county. It was in a gymnasium filled with mats, balls, hula hoops, bikes etc. The kids were all his age so he had a great time. Saturday was soccer practice :) There is an indoor facility that offers classes to children of all ages. They call his age group the Bunnies. So cute. A parent accompanies the child and they learn basic soccer skills while building balance and coordination by using all the fun stuff, parachutes, bubbles, noodles, cones, balls, etc. I loved seeing my two boys out there! T thought kicking the ball and running was so fun, in fact that was all he wanted to do. He wasn't really interested in listening, building towers, or holding the parachute. Brent and I could hardly blame him. Why do those things when you can play soccer? Swimming will start again in January so I think I have plenty to occupy him on a cold winter's day. Toys R Us is always a great place when all else fails.

I think we have a good contingency plan in place....bring on the cold!

November 3rd

Two years ago today I married my best friend. My life would not be the same without him and everyday I am so thankful that he is my partner. It's such a gift.

Happy Halloween

What a Halloween week! Tuesday we spent the afternoon at Brent's office. We had to attend the 3rd Annual Bill Me Later House of Screams. They have department decorating contest, each floor competes against one another and some even divided themselves into sub-sections to try and out do one another. Apparently, some floors spent days working on it and it showed. I mean who wouldn't spend 16 hours creating a haunted house or the set from the Wizard of Oz when the alternative is work? Oh and the other huge motivator.....the winner gets $3,000 to divide between them! Seems like a no brainer to me but apparently the IT floor wasn't so into it. Hum. Although, I love my husband dearly I have to say his floor was the worst. Brent says they don't have time to play....they have deadlines. I get that, but it was pretty pathetic. My poor geeks. The kids were able to obtain an obscene amount of candy. There were buckets everywhere! Everyone thought T was a pretty adorable lion, he didn't really grasp the concept (which was fine by me) but had a fantastic time exploring. It was nice to see where Brent goes everyday and finally put names to faces.

Afterward, we went to my girlfriend Kara's house, who lives close by. Kara and I grew up together, we were neighbors. Now we have our own children, who hopefully will be life long friends. Annie is just 24 hours older than T. She is just precious and carries both her mother and father in her face. We had such a great time. The kids played and we sat around such a cozy fireplace eating pizza and drinking wine. Kara is a fabulous decorator. She is just like her mother. Eclectic with amazing vision, she haunts antique stores coming home with fabulous finds. Her newly remodel kitchen is outstanding; worth the hard work, hours of planning and shopping! I can't wait to see it when every detail is in place. We can't wait to have our own house so we can reciprocate. It was a busy day but Thomas did great. He was cozy in his PJ's and bundled up in his car seat, asleep for the night before we even hit the highway!

Wednesday morning was spent Trick or Treating with our Playgroup friends. We meet at a local community center every week and let the kids run. This week everyone came in their costumes and we set up stations for them to stop at...a trial run if you will. T wasn't in the best mood, probably due to sleep deprivation but we made it through. Most of the Moms brought items other than candy which I loved. T can't have it and even if he could I'd rather he didn't so pretzels, play dough and stickers were excellent stand ins. It was fun to see all of the kids running around it their outfits.

Thursday was no less chaotic. It's important to me to create family traditions. I want Thomas to have a million fond memories of his childhood. Something different for each holiday but dinner will always be a staple. The dinning room table was covered by a large black web ensuring the appropriate Halloween setting. The cutest wire pumpkin sat at the center ready to set off an orange glow. Dinner would probably be a five course meal if Brent wasn't so particular. It's just as well, three is plenty and when you still have pumpkins to carve, cupcakes to ice and a little boy who needs a bath before bed, even it can feel like a course to many. Thomas enjoyed watching us carve the pumpkins and even helped scrape it out. Once the insides were in a bowl he thought they should go back in the pumpkin. He wasn't so fond of how it felt so that was sort lived. Dinner was nice and dessert was fun. Before I knew it, it was time for bed!

Finally it was Halloween Friday! It was time for one last go round of Trick or Treating. My girlfriends that I grew up with in this very neighborhood were all going to be here with their children. Brent was home early and after a good nap and dinner T was all set! It was a little cool here so we put clothes under his already warm costume (the weather was perfect) and met up with everyone. With our wagons stocked with beer and wine we carted the kids from house to house repeating what our parents had done 30 years ago. T was a trooper although, he didn't want to hold his pumpkin bucket. I think it was a little overwhelming! He visited all of the neighbors that take great joy in having him around. My little lion was just too precious.

Brent put Thomas to bed and we went next door to Heather's to celebrate her birthday! It's so nice to have Grandma and Grandpa here to babysit! We don't even have to plan ahead....it's a huge blessing! Pizza, more beer, cake and lots of laughs was the perfect way to spend our night. I just loved it. It's nice to be home.

Chapter One

Every three weeks T and I head to the library. It is often a two man operation. My Mom is frequently in tow to provide supervision as I search the stacks for books. It takes a little time as I try to find ones that T will like and aren't too wordy. I look until my bag is full and my shoulder can't take it anymore. It isn't abnormal for us to come home with thirty or forty books.

My mom and I read to him daily. Not only is someone snuggling him in the morning telling a fabulous story with pictures that jump off the page but I read to him before his nap and bedtime. Perhaps, it's my sound effects (which truly are far from good) or the fact that I point to the objects he knows but he loves it. One book is never enough.

Two or three times a day I am re-stacking the books that were once piled in a corner. I have them available should the mood strike and often it does. He slides all the books around, picks his favorite and turns the pages, sitting quietly looking at the pictures. It is such a sight.



I try to different books before he goes to sleep. Reading the same book is too redundant and I'd like to think I am exposing him to new things, words, and images. Although, he definitely has his favorites. When T was a baby I read that a night time routine is essential...bath, book, bed. Llama Llama Red Pajama was what we read every single night, a sign that sleep was soon to follow (it's all about repetition when they are itty bitty). It is an absolute must have for parents and has become one of his favorites. Are You My Mother is the other (it's a long one but he loves it) and I would say my Truck Is Stuck is a close third.

I only get about three pages into a new library book and he yelps for one of his favorites. Each night he seems to let me get in one more page. Eventually, I can get through a whole book and he will start to pick them. It's kinda nice to only have to read one "favorite" book a night instead of three.

I always wondered why Moms only let their child/ren take home one or two books from the library, three if they are lucky. I love that T has a choice and can have a different one three times a day if he wants. He can learn about trucks, dinosaurs, animals and school buses all in the same hour. I love watching him lay on the floor and look at the pictures...wondering if he hears my voice telling the story in his head. I love that it's free and we can go back everyday if we wanted. I hope his love continues for many many years.

Arizona People

I wish we were going to be in Arizona on the 25th of October. I know just how we would spend our evening. Grandma Donna would be available to babysit and Brent and I would head out on a much needed date! Our first stop would be an early dinner at Sushi Brokers. Eating early at this great restaurant not only allows to you to capitalize on Happy Hour pricing and get a table without waiting but it leaves you with plenty of time for a second activity later on! After we have been stuffed with fresh fish and spicy wasbi we would enjoy the night sitting under the stars, listening to this great artist and supporting a family in need. I am not sure you can get more romantic.

Although, I am sure this concert will be fantastic it will also be a bit sad. This amazing Mom and Dad are recovering from 3rd degree burns after surviving a plane crash in August. They have the most beautiful children (who are being taken care of by Nie's sisters in Utah) two of which will be there and perform. I wish I could be there to see it. I have come to admire them, especially Nie. Reading her blog inspires me to be a better Mom and a better person. I am anxiously awaiting her posts once she is able, in the meantime I re-read her blog taking something different with me each time.

Maybe some of our Arizona friends can make it and fill our shoes....I'm sure it will be a beautiful night!