Cool New Stuff

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I just added a new feature to our sidebar - a cool slide show with family pics! Very fun. Enjoy!

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Overheard at Rubios...,

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"Mommy, there's a girl in here," Rachel says looking over at the register.

"Yes there is," I reply matter of factly.

Speaking pretty loudly she says, "She doesn't have a penis. Only boys have a penis. She doesn't have one."

"Nope, your right. She doesn't have a penis."

"PENIS!" Rachel exclaims.

"Penis?" Alex asks.

"PENIS!"

and the alternating chant begins,

"PENIS!"

"Penis."

"PENIS!"

"Penis."

"UH, Hey! Girls, where do you want to go after dinner?"

They stop the chant and look at me blankly as I hear all the tables around us snickering and giggling.

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Lesson of the Day...,

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No matter how tired you are, how sick you feel, don't - EVER - attempt to ingest nasal spray while lying down.

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26.2 in 4:13 - Daddy Rocks!

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*cough*cough*whimper*whimper*

Dave did GREAT! He finished all 26.2 miles in just 4 hours and 13 minutes! *G*R*E*A*T* and yes - I 'm VERY proud of him. With just six months of training, less 6 weeks due to injury, little sleep the previous week due to nerves and a virus that he caught from Rachel earlier in the week. He did it!

*cough*cough*whimper*whimper*

OK. Now what happened while Dave was running?

Well, before the running even began..., I broke my toe the day before the race (a bad break to the baby toe - OUCH!) and the little virus that Dave caught turned into a monster for me and I lost my voice somewhere during the day of hobbling around town:

First, at 4:30 am, I hobbled with two sleepy little girls to drop Dave off at the starting line. Next, home to shower & dress, eat breakfast with the girls, and then rush to Crown Point (mile 19) where - after a mad dash for parking and a run while pushing the stroller with a broken toe - we caught him with just 5 minutes to spare.

Lookin' strong at mile 19. Daddy ROCKS!!

Then a mad dash to the trolley in Fashion Valley to catch a ride to the finish line, which is where I'm pretty sure I lost my voice. And this is how:

I handed my bags to a nice woman who offered to help me, set the girls above the steps inside the trolley door and turned to grab the stroller - when I turned around again the TROLLEY DOOR HAD CLOSED!!

I began banging on the door, yelling only to hear a loud speaker telling everyone to clear the doors. "NO!" I screamed. "YOU'VE GOT MY KIDS!!!" and I ran down to the next door which was still open.

But there was no room for me w/ the stroller and there was no way I would have been able to get to my kids through the mass of people. I was SERIOUSLY PANICKED!! "STOP!! MY KIDS ARE DOWN THERE!!"

I looked back again to see the other door where the girls were had opened again and ran, hauling the folded stroller, faster than you can imagine and hurled it into the doorway just before it closed again. The WONDERFUL woman who had been helping me had pushed the emergency button - FINALLY.

I stepped over the stroller, hauling it up the steps behind me, shaking and teary eyed behind my sunglasses - but smiled at my girls and said, "Wow. Mommy was scared you were going to leave without her." I then turned to the people around me and said, breathlessly, "You read about parents like me in the paper." And that sparked a discussion about how quickly it all happened and how rude the security guard was when he finally came back to check on what the emergency was. They were all very kind and helpful. That's about the time I realized the additional damage I had done to the already broken and now THROBBING toe.

Next, we tried to grab a cab instead of getting on another trolley but the cabbies didn't want a fare that was headed anywhere near the marathon finish line traffic and all strongly suggested that I take the connecting trolley. Which we did.

Then we had to walk, me, with my broken toe, voiceless, pushing the girls about a mile through the crowds to the finish line. Where we searched, and searched, and searched trying to reach Dave through choppy analog cell service until finally the call went through and he said, "I'm two feet behind you. Turn around."

He was exhausted, his knee was hurting, his feet were throbbing, he was sweaty and wet, but he looked beautiful standing there with the Finisher medal hanging around his neck.


I am sooooooo proud him, the girls were excited to see him and it was all worth it. (except that part about almost losing my girls on the trolley)

*cough*cough*whimper*whimper*

OK - back to Dave. He said it was all going pretty well until just after we saw him at mile 19 and then he hit a serious wall. He said there were a couple times that he started to tear up, wondering where in the world he was going to get the strength to take another step. But he did - he kept on going and he did it. Can you believe it - (OK, of course you can, it's Dave we're talkin' about after all.)

His first marathon in 4:13. How great is that?!?!

*cough*cough*whimper*whimper*

The girls were golden most of the day. Staying close and listening - I couldn't have asked for more. They hit a wall in the last few hours of the day. It seems that getting up at 4:30 am to drive Daddy to the starting line was tough on the little ones near the end of the day.

*cough*cough*whimper*whimper*

As for me? I'm going to drink a little lemon tea for my throat and then go lay down and ice my toe. Dave's taking the girls out for pizza.

Gotta love that man!!

Oh wait - he's not done yet. He's off tonight on the red-eye to Wisconsin for a week's long business trip. He's leaving now - for a week. Wait! That means I'm home for a week, broken toe, no voice, two kids...,

hmmm. Notice the smile and relaxed look??

My own little marathon begins now.

*cough*cough*whimper*whimper*

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Rock n' Roll Marathon Update

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After 6-months of training, (including a 6-week injury related hiatus) Dave's 1st marathon is just days away. After running 21 miles 2 weeks ago without any lasting physical affect he's proven he can do this - but he is getting a bit nervous. The girls have a little virus and we're doing our best to keep them away from him - but you know how that goes!

Oh yes, and did I mention that after running the marathon Sunday morning he'll be taking the red-eye out that night for a week long biz trip to Wisconsin?? Did I also mention he is a little crazy?? Why did no one told him before now that 26 miles is an INSANE distance to run?

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The Dance Costumes Arrived Today

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Oh you should have seen them all in their tiny little costumes with hair curled in dozens of little ringlets, secured with hairspray and gel, and then topped with a fine little dusting of glittery powder - all made up for picture day.

And Alex and Amy and Kimberly were the shiniest of them all – naturally. No fussing with curling irons and hairspray, makeup or hair gel – just ribbons for the hair and bows for the shoes and the brightest most excited little faces in the room.

(OK - Seriously. Could they be ANY cuter??)

(Or any more excited?)

(or sweeter?)

(or beautiful?)

These are the days - filled with happy smiles and giggling girlfriends - that make the memories of a happy childhood. I wish many, many more days like today for my girls and their friends.

XOXXO

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Honesty

If I'm honest with myself ....,

I want more money.
I want more stuff.
I want more options.
I want more freedom.
I want more choices.

I'm feeling left behind and left out.

I'm going back to work and my kids are going to go to childcare. I'm going to find the best care possible and try to work in some flexibility to my work schedule.

But I need to learn to love life and be full. Treating myself well will teach the girls how to treat themselves.

Loving life - be full and live big.

I can no longer sacrifice my everything.

Have You Heard About Rachel?

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The little one with the BIG personality?

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Sitting on the "Royal Throne," Rachel grins up at me and says, "Mommy I'm peeing. I'm peeing and I'm the King of the World."

You know, I think she might really mean it.

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At just 18 months Rachel uttered her first curse word. Not once, not twice, but three times and in the correct context. (Do you think she might be too smart for her own good? or my own good?)

Aunt Julia and Gama Amy had been here the day before, talking quietly at the table. "Damn," I overheard someone say and cleared my throat to get their attention. "Opps."

"Don't worry," I said. "I don't think anyone but me heard you."

Well, little Rachel with her one good ear can apparently pick up the sound of water droplets in the next room because not only did she hear it, she remembered it and understood its usage.

The next day she didn't want to take her nap. As she protested I said, "Rachel, you have to take a nap now. Fussing won't change anything."

"Damn. Damn. Damn," she said as I lay her down in her crib.

I stifled a giggle until I got out of the room. (Luckily this hasn't been a recurring event.)

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One Sunday Daddy told the then 20-month old Rachel that our flatware is for eating not for playing.

The next day, as I was making lunch, Rachel reached in and grabbed a couple spoons. "Rachel, Daddy said you couldn't play with those. Spoons are for eating not for playing."

And with that oh so innocent little smile, she looked up at me and said, "Daddy's not here," and took the spoons out of the drawer.

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A few weeks later, while eating snacks I reminded both Rachel and Alex to get off the carpet while they were eating. "You can stand on the tile or sit at the table - but you can't eat that on the carpet. You'll make a mess."

Alex took her food and stood on the tile, happily eating her breakfast bar. Rachel stood with one foot on the carpet and one on the tile.

"Rachel, off the carpet."

She rotated her her heel and moved her foot onto the tile.

No sooner had I said "thank you" then she rotated her heel and put her foot back on the carpet.

WOW! Less than two and could she ever INTENTIONALLY test my patience!! I was amazed.

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Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Rachel. Rachel don't bang on my table."

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Rachel don't bang on Mommy's table. If you bang that on Mommy's table again you're going to go sit in your chair."

"It doesn't work that way," she said confidently as she looked up.

"Oh really?" I said as I stifled a laugh at hearing my own words tossed back at me.

On the plus side - she stopped the banging.

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She's also our resident nudist - stripping down to her birthday suit every chance she gets:

(Strippin' down at bedtime)

(In the backyard during play dates)

(And just running around the house.)
(Check out the stylish boots!)

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Yep - that's our little Rachel. The ever sweet, loving, independent thinker testing the limits of the world around her. I can only hope that we're up to the challenge.

Gotta love her!!

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Cancer Free

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"Opps," she said. "Did I forget to call you? Yes - the doctor says, 'No Cancer.' They'll do a few more tests but he said it wasn't cancer."

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Silence

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Silence

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Socialists
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Socialist.

Then the came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out -
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

-author unknown-

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I took this photograph almost three years ago while living near Washington D.C. and have always loved it. I found the accompanying poem while in my mid-twenties. The two seem to fit together like two matching pieces of different puzzles.

Both the photo and the poem remind me that if we don't take the time and make the effort to help and protect those among us who can not protect themselves - one day we may look around for helping hands ourselves and find none. Either because there is no one left (as in the poem) or because, through our tacit approval and participation, we will have created a society that doesn't look out for its fellow human beings.

Don't let this happen. Look around you today and reach out a helping hand to someone around you. Volunteer or make a donation - this world is counting on you.

And remember the words of Marian Wright; “We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”

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