Grandparent's Day 2012

Grandparents Day was a couple of weeks ago and we were sure to call everyone and tell them we love them, but we actually celebrated it this past week!

It was Grandparent's Day at Luke's school on Tuesday.  All 4 grandparents of course made the trip (they wouldn't miss it!).  Luke has been waiting for this day!











Paige and I met everyone after school and we headed out for lunch. 

My kids are so very lucky to have such wonderful grandparents.  We might not be able to drop by to see them on a week night evening, but they are always just a phone call away and all have special relationships with both kids.  Each relationship is different, but they are all special!

We love you Papa & Grammy and Grandpa & Grandma!

Grandpa took some video inside the classroom of the kids singing, but I couldn't figure out how to save it and post it to the blog so Luke sang it for us at home!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
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Race Day

Last Sunday was the 5k Run at Brookfield Zoo.  It was actually a perfect morning for a run.  Sunny and cool - maybe 45-50 degrees.

Wally and I couldn't believe all the cars we were seeing as we got closer to the Zoo.  The line was backed up to get into the parking lot.  I guess I should have known there would be a ton of people, but it really took me by surprise.  I told Wally, "I guess I'm not going to win now".  A joke of course!

Here's the crew!  It grew from just my sister and me to cousins, friends, and co-workers.



Once the run finally started it was a little overwhelming for me.  There were so many people that I felt like I just was speed walking in the beginning.  I was just trying to find a place and get to the pace I was comfortable with.  Once I got going though, it was pretty good.  I even got to see these faces twice cheering me on :)  Luke was yelling "Go Mommy!".





And then at about the 2.5 mile mark, the outside of my right knee started to bother me.  It wasn't anything I couldn't run through, but it was definitely uncomfortable and I knew I was so close to the end.  So I finished and was so happy but once I stopped, my knee just tightened up and I literally could not bend it.  I mean, seriously.  I have been training for about 2 months and loving it and feeling great and then bam!  I was quite upset about it (still am)!



I found my little crew though and I limped along as we headed off to see some animals.









I am so happy that I finished my first 5k.  I set a goal and accomplished it!  It felt good!

I finished at 33 minutes even.  Deep down I was hoping for a faster time, but really, that is pretty good for my first race, the number of people and my bum knee at the end.

The outside of my knee is still bothering me.  It finally felt good on Wednesday and then Friday morning it started hurting again.  I haven't run since last Sunday and was hoping to get out there this weekend but this pain is still there.  I think it is my IT band but who knows.  I am going to work on strengthening my hips and see if that makes a difference.  Hopefully there will be another race in my near future!

Siblings

So Luke has of course always loved his sister and I think he has been waiting for the time when he can actually play with her.  Paige has always been infatuated with her brother and watches everything that he does.

Well...all of the sudden, these two have really started to play together and really act like siblings - the fighting and all!



We consider Paige our little comedian at home.  She is funny and knows it and loves to make Luke laugh.  Dinnertime is always the best.  They sit across from each other and literally just crack up.  I can't even tell you how happy I get when I hear these two laughing together.  Often times, I need to stop an inappropriate act from happening (purposely dropping food or burping), but they do it because they know it makes the other laugh.  And well, I am snickering along with them!



Unfortunately, this new found bonding has also led us to our first impromptu trip to the dentist.  Last Thursday night, Luke and Paige were chasing each other in the upstairs hallway as I was putting clothes away in everyone's rooms.  There was A LOT of giggling going on and it was all fun and games UNTIL there was crying...from both of them.  I walked into Paige's room to Luke holding his mouth and barely able to talk to tell me what happened and Paige just crying.  I was able to put Luke's words together that his mouth hit Paige's head.  I look at his mouth and he is bleeding.  I do a once over on Paige's head and don't see any blood and she has already stopped crying.  Luke and I head to the bathroom.  He has what we call a funky front tooth.  It is chipped and a little crooked (we think from his biting on his blankie) and of course that is the tooth that is bleeding and is now loose :(  I wasn't sure what, if anything, could be done, but I thought I would call the dentist just in case - luckily, she has late office hours on Thursdays.  She suggested we come in so I loaded the kids in the van (in their pajamas!) and off we went.  It seems that everything is intact (the root, etc) but there is no promising that it won't fall out or turn dark so basically we are just being really cautious with what Luke eats and sadly have not allowed him to sleep with his blankie at night :(  The tooth is still loose, but hopefully it will reset itself over time.

But with the craziness and of course fighting over toys there is a lot of love and fun.  They always kiss each other good night and I have noticed Paige wanting to sit by her brother more often and notice the hands in the picture below...she loves her brother!



Luke likes to have Paige be his "Mama".  I often answer to his "Mama" and am told he isn't talking to me, he is talking to Paige.  She pushes the stroller around and basically goes wherever he goes and he is in charge of walking the dog.  Heaven forbid if Paige wants to walk the dog!

This video is life with these two right now and I wouldn't change it for anything, even if it results in being toothless :)

Fall Faire Weekend

The oh-so-exciting Fall Faire was held in our town the weekend after Labor Day and every year we go hoping it will be better than the last and it always lets us down.  The main problem is the lack of food vendors to choose from - it is sad!  But...there is a carnival and a tiny petting zoo and a free face painter so basically we go for the kids.
























There is a fireworks show at dusk on Sunday night of the Faire that we can see from our bedroom window.  It is pretty neat to lay in bed and watch the fireworks.  Last year Luke fell asleep before they started and this year he made it halfway through before falling asleep.  Here we are being silly while waiting for them to start!

Wordless Wednesday {Baby Bottoms}

Dare I Say It...

I think I might love running!  Or at the very least, I am really enjoying it. 

Who knew? 

For the last 20 years of my life, I thought I hated running.  I was almost sure that I just wasn't good at it and never would be.  The Presidential Physical Fitness 8 minute mile in grade school always about killed me.  I could do everything else, but that was always hard for me.  I could run the bases in softball over and over and fast, but distance running?  Forget it!  I always had the endurance to dance on stage for long periods of time or to make it through a cheerleading competition set, but I could never muster up the mental strength needed to run - even just a mile!

Until now! 

At the beginning of this year, I of course knew I would be turning 30 and told myself that I would run a 5k in my 30th year.  I actually started the Couch to 5k program back in March and was doing great, but it lasted about 2 weeks until Wally started his baseball season and I used that as my excuse to not have the time to run and continue the program.  So in July I decided to try again.  I found a 5k to sign up for and asked my sisters if they were interested too!  And so it began....

I had a 2 week hiccup in there where I didn't run, but once I got back into it, I have found that running makes me happy.  I am a little over a week away from completing the program and really feel like I can do this 5k on the 23rd.  I am even beginning to wonder what to do next.  Another 5k, train for a 10k, or just keep running because I enjoy it?

Why do I enjoy it? 

1.  Well, it's free and easy.  Not easy in the physical/mental sense, but I can just step out the door and go.   I don't need to jump in the car.  I can just tie up my laces and head out!  I am actually proud of the fact that I have been able to do this program with Wally starting the new school year and golf season underway.  Often times I am running in the dark, which was always my excuse for not running before.  I am cautious and thankfully have a neighborhood full of garage people.  You would not believe how many people in our subdivision have tv's in their garages and are out there nightly just hanging out.  It makes me feel better knowing that if something, God forbid, were to happen there is always someone outside that would hear me scream or see me.

2.  I feel strong (both mentally & physically) and have a great sense of accomplishment when I am done.  Both of those things are great motivators to make me go out and do it again!  No wonder people say that running can be addicting.  I didn't start running to lose weight, but just to feel better about myself and achieve a goal I have been thinking about for a long time.  The physical changes are really a bonus to me.  What excites me is how strong my legs feel from one run to the next.  I also am no longer dreading the next run and doubting that I will be able to run for 15 minutes or whatever that day's run is.  My mindset has totally changed and I look forward to the next challenge.  I am so proud to say that I have done every day of this program completely.  I have not once had to stop to walk when I am supposed to be running.  Everyday is a challenge that I am actually excited to take on and I am confident that I can complete. 

3.  It has greatly affected my mood.  In a positive way!  There is no doubt that life can be stressful at times and I guess I have just dealt with it, but now, on those nights that I head out after the kids are asleep and just run, I feel so good!  My head is clear and I feel strong again.  I am so chatty and happy after I get done with a run that Wally probably thinks I am crazy!  My knees started bothering me about a week ago and I seriously feel like I went into a mini depression.  What if I couldn't run?  I was actually really upset about it.  Turns out, it was most likely my shoes.  Not knowing if I would really enjoy running and keep it up, I was just using my basic workout shoes from Kohl's that I bought like 3 years ago and never really used.  But now I have gone through a full foot analysis and am wearing the appropriate shoes for my feet and I am happy again!

4.  I love technology and numbers.  I am not sure I could have ever really been a runner before I had my iPhone.  That probably sounds pathetic, but I am obsessed (not in a bad way, in a good motivating way) with tracking my distance and pace and being able to just see a map of my run is exciting to me.  Geeky?  Yes, but whatever, it helps me!  I was a clock watcher at the beginning, but I have finally given that up and now just wait for the "ding" from the Couch to 5k program to know I can start walking or that I am finished.  And really, the music is huge for me!  I have certain songs that really make me feel strong and I focus on the song while I am running, but then at other times, I have no idea what song just played because I was just so completely out of my head and just running - not thinking about anything or focusing on anything - just running!  So awesome!

I have 5 more days of the training program to complete (I run every other day), which is perfect timing for the 5k on the 23rd.  And then after that?  Who knows?  I will have to set a new goal and figure out how to keep running through the winter months. 

So dare I say it???  I think I just might be a runner after all!

Frankfort Fall Fest 2012

We headed to the Frankfort Fall Fest over Labor Day weekend with Grammy & Papa, just as we did last year.  This year we were better prepared for the parade by bringing lawn chairs, but we still were missing a cooler.  In my defense, I thought for sure we were going to get rained on so I didn't really think we would last at the parade.  Well, it turned out to be sunny and HOT!  We definitely could have used a cooler!  Next year!





The theme of the parade this year was Carnivale!  There was definitely no shortage of beads to be found!








Even Santa stopped by the parade!



And the Sheriff from Radiator Springs!



I wasn't worried about Luke this year with the sirens and loud noises, but I wasn't sure how Paige would do.  It turns out that it didn't even phase her!




 

 

Oh how I love these 2 crazy kids!



 



There is Luke's preschool! (Maybe next year we can ride on it, although I like the idea of just watching the parade and think that is probably more fun for the kids!0
 

Love it!




Luke's turn!  He wears this around the house regularly now!


She just took it all in!

 



Papa decided to use the umbrellas we brought for the rain to shade us from the sun!


After the hour and half long parade and the TON of candy and flyers we received, it was time to check out some crafts and of course hit up the carnival!

Little Miss didn't it make it much longer after the parade!  Poor girl is such a sweaty mess!




Luke drove a boat...
 



flew an airplane...





rode a motorcycle...


went on his first roller coaster - the dragon...he climbed right into the front car!




 



And he did some fishing!
 

Look who woke up!
 

This festival and parade is always a must-do for the summer!   And next year, we WILL bring a cooler!