Monday, March 31, 2014

Next up....



Well, it happened.  We have a picture of both of us in Hawaii.  It was a great trip.  I'm so thankful we were able to go and  if I'm ever offered another trip I'll go back in a heartbeat.  

I can't believe tomorrow is April! All year I've been clicking weeks off my calendar in anticipation of this week and now that it's here I'll be honest I'm just a little bit anxious.  I've been thinking positive thoughts and saying prayers and reminding myself that I am prepared for this race.  If you think if it, will you pray for me this week?  Just pray that I'll stay calm and peaceful.  That's what I'm focused on, that and eating a few extra carbs and resting my legs!  And I'm trying not to become even more of weather nut than I already am.  That one is sort of a losing battle though.  Here's the latest and I'll take it!
Sunday
chancerainPartly cloudy early followed by increasing clouds with showers developing later in the day. High 58F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Perspective



One thing is for sure when you are on a DOT trip, you'll hear a lot of talk about food.  You'll hear enthusiastic conversations about 90 million pounds of frozen veggies, truckloads of juice and special seasonings.  It's interesting enough to me but since I'm not too tied up in talking about purchase orders and outdated codes I have a nice amount of time to internally reflect on the part of life I'm most enthusiastic about.....being a mom.  Being away in paradise for a few days helps to reset perspective and remember what I care about most.  I've thought about this a lot the last few days and here's what I've come up with. 

1.) Kevin and I have amazing kids.  Smart, loving, strong kids.  

2.) I want them to maintain their loving, honest personalities, even in our world which is so judgemental and harsh.  I want them to continue to believe that they are capable, unique, and enough. I want them to always value people over things. 

3.) The older they get the harder those ideals become.  If I'm honest with myself I know that we need to ease up on them a bit.  Let them be a little messier, crabbier and not worry so much about their manners.  We need them to know we are on their side.  

4.) We need to simplify a few areas of life and continue getting rid of unnecessary things.  People first.

 
Without the kids around doing cute and silly poses Kevin and I stink at taking photos.  To prove this point I'm posting this terrible photo of myself.  Just about the only one that exists thus far.  
To my defense I had just left the spa and sheesh was that Mai Tai strong!  My goal before we leave on Thursday is to get a photo of the two of us.  You know together in the same frame. 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Getting our Vitamin D


I had this for my second breakfast today.  It was amazing.  Those bananas!  Kevin and I rode bikes about 4 miles down the road from our hotel to go to Kihei Cafe.  The bellman told us about it and he really looked like he knew what he was talking about.  The bike ride was after a 5 am, in the dark, along the ocean, six mile run.  Which was followed by my first breakfast.  We then went on an ocean kayak tour.  I wish I had pictures but our phones would've been ruined in the water.  The water was so many shades of blue!  Kevin snorkeld and chased sea turtles while I laid on the kayak and thought about how amazing nature is.  

It was 30 degrees in St. Louis this morning and I wondered how the kids felt going back to school in such unspringlike weather.  I wished I could send them some sunshine and a bunch of those yummy bananas.  I'm definitely putting a ton of this sunshine in my bag for the girls and I think I'll make some of this Hawaiin French Toast for them when we get home.  

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Spring Break Wrap Up

Spring Break 2014 was a success!  Nothing too amazing just some really nice time together at home.  The kids got along well, we ate out a lot and I had a fantastic birthday!  The kids go back to school tomorrow and soon the countdown to summer will begin! I can't wait!

I'm writing this post from here



Kevin and I are in Hawaii and are sitting on our hotel balcony enjoying an amazing morning.  It's not quite 9am and we've been up for hours enjoying a walk on the beach and breakfast.  We got in at midnight last night (5am at home)!  Our luggage stayed back in LA and we're hoping it will show up today.  Still, who can complain?!  They sell bathing suits and flip flops, sunscreen and hats here in Hawaii so no matter what we're in good shape.  My grandpa's " pack half as much stuff and twice as much money as you think you'll need" is once again paying off!  I miss the kids so much and leaving was very hard for me but the time to relax and recharge is such a blessing!  


Sunday, March 16, 2014

Spring Break so far


We relied on the Peeps to convey our excitement.
Thursday afternoon had Lucy and me pretty worn out but when we picked the girls up from school we pretended to be full of energy and pumped for Spring Break. 

After a good night's sleep we really started break and headed to Columbia.  When we arrived the weather was great.   Though we'd planned to stay for the weekend the weather threatened to not be so great on Sunday so we cut our trip short.  That didn't stop us from packing as much fun as possible into our 32 hour trip.

We played basketball 
went to the park
fell in the creek
went to Lucky's 
ate at Main Squeeze
jumped on the trampolean
saw a Mizzou gymnastics meet
ran on the trail
got frozen yogurt
practiced lots of acrobatics
used the microscope
went to Starbucks
met my cousin's adorable newborn, Henry
hiked
and managed a night of sleep too.

Though we'd have loved to have been in Columbia today we had great day at home.  Lots of relaxation and time together.  A terrific start to our stay cation.



Thursday, March 13, 2014

The big 2-0

I had the best run of my life this morning.   Everything just clicked.  The weather was amazing, sunny and between 35-45 the whole time.  I felt strong and healthy.  I wore the right clothes, not too hot, not too cold.  I drank enough and my goos and jelly beans did the trick.  My mom and Lucy came to cheer me on at mile 11 and my playlist was just right.  Truthfully after the run  I felt a little stunned, I'd just run 20 miles and it felt great!

Later I read this Facebook post from my aunt....

We can't change the past- but we can gather up
its lessons and move on, stronger and wiser.
We can't control the future-but we can send our dreams 
ahead of us, to help prepare the way.
We can live each moment, heart and soul, and cherish this days'
greatist gift---the gift of now.

This poem was written by my cousin Antoinette, who would have been 44 today.  She passed away last year.  I'm certain (and you'd be too if you knew her, she really knew the meaning of giving to others) that she orchestrated every part of that run.  Training for a marathon has been a dream of mine that I kept pushing off, thinking someday in the future would be a better time.  I thought it'd be selfish to spend so much time running, that I'd never be able to do it, that making time for it would be impossible.  And then late last fall I realized I didn't want to be that person who always puts things off, thinking another time will be a better time.  The person who uses other people or commitments as an excuse not to pursue their own desires.  I can't say it better than Antoinette already has, I had to accept the gift of now and do it.   
Happy Birthday Antoinette!  And thank you...I imagine knowing you, you gathered up everybody and sent your love through those gorgeous rays of sun.  I'm gonna need you guys again on April 6th.  xoxo

The girls clean up after dinner most nights.  It's a real work in progress....I keep telling myself that even though it takes at least twice as long as when I do it and the results are less than perfect, this is important stuff I'm teaching them.  Or is me that this is helping, you know that  whole prayer for patience thing?  Anyway,  last night Eleanor said she had a gift for me.  The girls packaged up some leftover spaghetti for me to have for lunch " so all you have to do is put it in the microwave!".  Love!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Our own little missing link


  
This morning Lucy asked Eleanor if they could pretend to be twins because they both have curly hair.  Emma looked hurt when she heard this and said "guys when you say that I really feel left out".  Before I could even praise Emma for sharing her feelings, Lucy said "Oh Emma!  We are twins too!  We have red hair."  Emma beamed and wondered aloud what we would we do without Lucy to make us smile all the time?   She asked me, do you ever think that, how dull our lives would be?
 It really is a blessing to have Lucy in our lives.  Just the same as it is to have her curly haired twin, Eleanor, and her red headed twin Emma.  My heart is full with these girls each one with her special ways and gifts. 

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

About now

Today, both Teddy and Lucy excitedly telling me about all of the birds outside our window!



For the past couple of years Lucy and I have had a lovely rhythm and routine to our days.  So in January when Lucy's naps ceased, unfortunately before she was really ready for them to, we hit a bit of a bumpy patch.  No naps meant a tired girl.  Since the end of naps we've been fine tuning our days and wondering about....  an earlier lunch, maybe a later one?   Books after lunch?  Maybe music?  Errands in the afternoon?  Move up bedtime, move it back?  We've been experimenting and recently we've seemed to have hit our stride.  Nothing too new, pretty much our same as always routine, activities in the morning, low key in the afternoon.  Lunch when we get hungry, which is somewhere between 11:30-12:30. A show.  Books and music....well just about all the time.  And in the late afternoon, when a quiet moment strikes and just a little rest is calling, I'll find Teddy and Lucy relaxing.   Not napping.  Lucy doesn't nap, and she'll tell you that quite sternly if you assume otherwise.  No, they're just relaxing.



Their favorite afternoon spot.





Monday, March 3, 2014

Snow Day

"It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will."
L.M. Montgomery

Since the beginning of 2014 Emma and Eleanor are averaging less than a 4 day school week. 

snow days-4
sick days-2
vacation days-2
teacher work days-2
holidays-2

Which means when the phone rang last night, letting me know that the doors to their school would be locked up tight today, I panicked a little.  I couldn't help but feel a little jump in my heart because I do love snow days but then I flashed back to earlier in the day when people were arguing and tired of being inside and in a generally bad mood.

The call came after the girls were already in bed.  I immediately grabbed my laptop and got to work.    I thought through the day and came up with some work that needed doing, some fun that we could have and a positive spin on the whole thing.  Nothing from Pinterest or even all that exciting.  Just a simple plan and a way to think through the day.