2008: A look back

2008 has been quite a year. I still can't believe it is over. Here are some of my memories (good and bad) in no particular order.

1. Our three awesome vacations....two to Florida and one to the Outer Banks! These three trips created some very wonderful and lasting memories for '08. I can't wait for more adventures!
2. Moving the girls to a new daycare
3. The demise of my show and starting a new schedule
4. My 10 year high school reunion
5. Getting to know some friends at work more closely
6. Improving my marriage after a really rough 12 months or so
7. Getting a tattoo!!!!
8. Running two half marathons, training for a second marathon, and setting a new PR for the 5K
9. Losing some good friends at work due to layoffs
10. Emily Barger's death. This event really defined the year for me and brought me closer to many of my co-workers.
11. Fun outings the with girls to the zoo, playgrounds, the Smokies, etc.
12. Anastasia's first go at soccer
13. Seeing Barack Obama elected as our new president (Yes we can!)
14. Joining the Facebook revolution and getting sucked in!!
15. Covering some unbelievable stories at work: the church shooting, the school shooting, the ash slide
16. Seeing "Wicked" in Atlanta
17. An AWESOME Christmas season filled with family, friends, and many wonderful blessings

I'm not making resolutions for 2009. That seems so 2008. I have some things on my to-do list though. Some I will talk about and some I'll keep to myself. I want to read more books. I want to keep running and finish that marathon on the 11th. I want to de-clutter the garage and paint our bedroom. Anastasia will start school in just 8 months. She can't wait. She asks to drive by the school all the time. I can't believe words like "room mother" and "permission slips" are going to enter the Lamar family dictionary next year. It boggles the mind!

As we turn the page on 2008 I look to 2009 full of hope and promise. The promise of change is in the air and I cannot wait for the next 365 days. And to quote the title of one of mine and Anna's favorite movies. Bring It On.

Lost in translation

Our girls have their own unique phrases that sometimes don't mean anything to anyone outside our family. Today at lunch I learned a new one and it got me to thinking of all the funny things they say.

"Sill-a-renda"...Also known as Cinderella (this one was coined by Anastasia)
"Paper Toilet"...Also known as toilet paper
"Sips"...This is what Ainsley calls a water fountain
"Hopster"...Ainsley's term for a lobster
"Markbook"..This is what Anastasia calls a bookmark
"More-ging"..This is how they both say morning
"A-Sha"..Ainsley's nickname for her older sister
"Kinney-Pooh"...This is how Ainsley pronounces Winnie the Pooh
"Denny World"...Most of us know this as Disney World

I am sure there are more, but this is all I can come up with for now. Ainsley is talking so well. It's fun to hear some of her baby phrases fall to the wayside as she tries to keep up with her sister.

Playroom perfection

I feel like I am on the carousel at Disney World.  It's going round and round and round. I'm having a good time, but I sure could use a break from all this twirling and whirling. 

We left Knoxville on Christmas eve around noon and drove to Gran and Pop's. We drove through some of the worst rain we'd ever seen and arrived just in time to unload the car and head for church. The service was nice. The kids weren't as behaved as I would've liked, but it was Christmas eve after all. Our dinner was wonderful and then we helped the kids into their pjs before opening a few gifts. They stayed up far too late, meanwhile I was upstairs getting all the Santa gifts ready. We were able to squeeze in "It's a Wonderful Life" and that made my night. We slept terribly, but were up with the chickens so we could open all our gifts. We all got such wonderful things. The girls were SO excited. After the perfect breakfast of country ham and biscuits we were off to Chattanooga. 

This year's festivities were at Kathy and Greg's house. There was more food than we could have ever possibly consumed and boy was it good. Granny even made my very favorite spice cake!! Lunch went smoothly (for those of us who actually ate...the kiddos were too excited) and then it was on to presents. It started out orderly enough, but then all heck broke lose and it was Christmas chaos. 

We made Ainsley, Jamie, and Granddad take a nap. Some needed it more than others. We made a quick trip over to Johnny and Rhea's to meet with the Maynard clan for a while. More delectable treats were served and I vowed never to eat again. We headed back to Kathy and Greg's for..you guessed it...MORE food and games. We hit the road and made it home by 10:30. The girls were awake the entire time.  

Since then we have been digging out from the holiday debris. Today we went to church and a movie downtown. The girls loved it and were VERY good. Tonight we spent two hours cleaning the playroom. It looks awesome. Too bad it won't stay that way, but a mom can dream. We got rid of a lot and trashed even more. Just junky things that they never played with anymore. Monday is coming all too soon and it's back into the routine. Good thing we leave for Disney in less than two weeks!

Merry Christmas!

It's late, I'm tired, and yet here I sit on my laptop. In just 36 hours we managed to pack in about as much Christmas excitement as you can possibly imagine. The girls just now fell asleep. Jamie and I are close behind them. There's plenty of time tomorrow to debrief on all our happenings and adventures. It was a great Christmas. The kids were well-behaved. Everyone made it to and from their destinations safely. We ate like kings. We celebrated the birth of our king. We were together. In the words of that over-quoted Mastercard commercial....PRICELESS.

Christmas Eve Pt. 2

It's been a whirlwind day! The bell ringing went very well, although the Salvation Army was late with our kettle and bells so we weren't able to pull in as much money as last year. People took one look at my gals and were stuffing in money hand over fist. Ainsley eventually tired of it all and started saying (louder than our bells) "I wanna GO!!!!" At the end of our shift we grabbed our reindeer food ingredients and ran home.

It was an unusually warm day for December. The kids played outside sans jackets while I loaded the car, careful to hide the special "Santa" wrapping paper and their gifts. Jamie got off work earlier than we had planned so we were on the road by 1. The rain held off until about Carthage and then it let loose. The wind only complicated matters and it felt like we were going to be blown off the road. We went straight to Gran and Pop's and unloaded while dodging rain drops. We fed the girls an early dinner at McDonald's so they wouldn't be hungry during church.

It was such a wonderful service. The girls were antsy, but managed to make it through the hour without offending too many of our fellow congregants. During one of the prayers Anastasia looked up at me and said "Hey mom, I'm gonna open my eyes now because this is taking a long time." She also approved of the communion bread. She exclaimed loudly enough for a three pew radius to hear, "YUMMY!!" We sang hymns and listened to the Christmas story. It was exactly what I needed tonight.

Beth had an awesome dinner prepared when we got back...complete with asparagus casserole!!! No one but Beth and I ate it, but I was tickled to find one of my favorite veggies on the table. They let the girls open gifts after we ate and then we made our reindeer food. Speaking of...I need to go get rid of some of it!!! The milk and cookies were properly arranged and then we sent them to bed. The last time I was down there they were still talking.

I wrapped all their gifts...too many, really. I had a friend at work write the Santa letter so it's ready as well. I just finished my workout and now it's off to shower and finish watching "It's a Wonderful Life." Hopefully the kids won't be up too early. It's going to be a loooooong day!

Merry Christmas! May all your wishes come true!!!

My ding-a-lings

It's finally Christmas eve. Hard to believe we've already arrived here since I swear we just celebrate Christmas 2007. It's another whirlwind few days for us as we try to pack it all in and see everyone. (It's easier this way...less guilt for the next 12 months)

In a few minutes the girls and I are heading out for our second annual bell ringing. Last year we rang bells for the Salvation Army on Christmas eve and decided to do it again this year. They are down for donations so hopefully the girls can convince the shoppers to dig a little deeper into their pockets. 

After lunch we're hitting the road. Off on another Lamar Family adventure that will bring who knows what. We'll be attending Christmas eve services, making reindeer food, and wrapping those last few gifts. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Counting my blessings

My bunny slippers and I just made a frigid walk to the mailbox to put out a card. It marks the third time in six months I've had to mail a sympathy card for the loss of a child. The third time another family I know is trying to figure out life with this new reality. Emily Barger, Anna Herzog, and Tate Hodges. Their names have been on my mind a lot these last few weeks. Tate and Anna were just babies. Emily was seven years old. Whether you have seven years or seven minutes with your child, they are your everything. In the moment you hold them life changes forever. There is no going back to what it was before. Everything from that point on is seen through different eyes. I can't imagine losing my daughters, let alone struggling through that grief during a time when you are supposed to be happy. It must be terribly overwhelming. 

I also have a former co-worker who is getting ready to lose his wife to cancer. He has said they are trying to make her as comfortable as possible and treating each hour as if it were their very last. Actions we could all learn something from. 

Two of my wonderful blessing are currently arguing. They spit at each other earlier. They spill milk, they make mounds of laundry, they exasperate and exhaust me. But I thank God each and every day for them. I thank God for their health and their vibrance. I thank God for blessing Jamie and I with these girls. This year has taught me much and I like to think that knowledge has helped me see more of the blessings around me and to live like each hour is my last. 

Second Christmas

The calendar may not indicate that today is Christmas, but for our family it is. Eggo waffles were consumed, presents were opened, and the floor is covered in wrapping paper. It is definitely Christmas. 

We got to Mom and Dad's last night and post-dinner we hit the road for Bristol. After a bathroom stop for our potty training gal at a gas station (it had a beer cave and colored condoms...what fun!) we arrived at Bristol Motor Speedway. Every year they do a HUGE light display that you get to drive through. I was skeptical at first, but it was pretty unbelievable. The girls loved it, and the best part was...we actually got to drink ON the track for a lap. I think my speedometer said 6mph, but still...it was fun!

This morning we got up and did Christmas. We opened a few and then took a break for breakfast before returning to finish the fun. We got some great gifts! The girls cleaned up and I have no clue how we will fit it in our van, let alone the house. Right now they are trying to learn how to play "Twinkle, Twinkle" on their new xylophones.  

Against the wind

I think it's funny that my longest marathon training run was scheduled for one of the shortest days of the year. I took today off since we are going to mom and dad's in a little while. Jamie is working a 1/2 day and the girls are living it up at Pajama Day at school. 

I set out to run 20 miles this morning. I only made it to 16 and I struggled for each and every mile. It's very warm and humid out there. 62* which is most unusual for December. It was nice to wear short sleeves and shorts for my run, but the humid air really zaps me. I ran a 10:04 for the first mile. I thought maybe my watch was broken when I saw it, but then I realized I was just running slowly today. 

The wind was brutal and seemed to be blowing at me no matter which way I was running. How is it possible to ONLY have a headwind? How 'bout a little tailwind to help a girl out? The run went by fast enough despite sucking wind and too frequent walk breaks. It was a nice day to be outside and I was grateful that my knee didn't bother me at all. 

I got back to the house and collapsed onto the floor in front of the Christmas tree. I used "The Stick" to get stretched out which will hopefully help my knee later today and tomorrow.  I better get moving...we've got to hit the road for Second Christmas soon!

Make a joyful noise

So today on our way in to work and school…we were listening to Christmas music and here is how it all played out…

“O Holy night…..the stars are brightly shining…”
Ainsley: I don’t wike dis one.
“This is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.”
Anastasia: Mom….Ainsley is talking, I can’t hear the music.
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining….”
Ainsley: (louder) I DON’T WIKE DIS ONE!!!!!
“Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth”
Anastasia: MOM! Ainsley is spitting on me!

Finally I just started singing so loud I couldn't hear them arguing. Strangely enough, that did the trick.

A long winter's nap

This week has been exhausting on all fronts. To say that work has been a zoo would be mildly understating what the last three days have thrown my way. Last night there was an earthquake in our viewing area and the newsroom was flooded with calls for over an hour. INSANITY!!!!

Plus I have been trying to keep two small children calm as Christmas edges closer. On Monday we took dozens of cookies to their old daycare so they could visit with their friends and teachers. Tuesday we did stuff around the house and I actually made it to work on time. Yesterday we ventured out into the monsoon to meet mom for lunch and a trip to the hair shop. I hadn't been in years. Other than a coat of purple paint, the shop looked exactly like it did when I was a kid. Even the smells were exactly the same. It was sort of comforting to be there listening to the chatter and getting high on perm fumes. I even had my eyebrows waxed! 

Today the girls got to open a present from Aunt Ry and Uncle Scott. They each got a princess sleeping bag. Since we are traveling a lot before Christmas we decided it would be fun to take the bags with us so that's why they got to open them so soon. I let them sleep in them for nap, which is supposed to be happening now. I don't hear anything, but that's not always a good sign. 

I wish I could settle in for a long winter's nap. I can't seem to get enough sleep lately. I'm off to finish some laundry and then pack for our trip. Tomorrow I am going to run 20 miles and then we're going to mom and dad's for the weekend. Christmas celebration #2 here we come!!

Memories of the Sunshine State

Anastasia got a scrapbook kit for her birthday.  It features Marie from the Aristocats, which is currently one of her favorite movies.  We've been working on it for the last few days. It's been fun to go through all the pictures and remember our trip in September.  They're getting excited about heading back there in a few weeks. Christmas has kept their excitement engines going, but it's good to know they won't fall prey to the post-holiday blues. We head out right after the new year so soon we'll have a whole new set of memories to crop, cut, and arrange.

I was just getting Ainsley dressed and I noticed she had her slipper socks on. I told her to change into regular socks and she started crying. "But my friends will be so sad if I don't wear these." Seriously? Your friends will be sad if you don't show up in slipper socks? How do they learn these manipulation techniques so early? Mom prevailed however and she is wearing regular socks. 

Okay...off to work and school. 

Another busy weekend

It's been another weekend of packing as much in as we can. Gran and Pop arrived Friday night. That meant the girls started Saturday morning about as hyper as we've seen them. Ainsley was running up and down the hall and Anastasia wouldn't stop gabbing.  It was quite comical. 

Yesterday afternoon I went out for my run. I was cautiously optimistic and decided not to take my fuel belt. I honestly thought I would run 3 miles or so and then head back in. I figured the pain would be too much. Mile after mile I remained pain-free. After 10 I called it an afternoon and went back home. I stretched properly and have felt great ever since. I did four miles today. Yeah!!

Last night Jamie and I went to his work Christmas party. It was a huge shindig, just like last year. They gave away about 100,000 dollars in cash and prizes. Sadly we didn't win any of it, but we did find out Jamie is getting a bonus. Thank goodness for small favors. We suffered through some of the worst holiday entertainment I've ever seen, so I figure the very least they owe us is a bonus. 

Today's church service was wonderful. The symphony joined our choir for a service of carols. Very spectacular! Afterwards we took the kids to Moe's for lunch. Kids eat free on Sundays and anywhere where they yell "WELCOME TO MOES!!!!" as soon as you walk is a great place for two rambunctious kids. Ainsley downed her taco and Ansastasia picked at a quesadilla. Jamie devoured something called a "Bag of Donuts" which was neither a bag nor contained donuts. 

When we finished lunch we went back to church for "Walk through Bethlehem." They turn the basement into a busy marketplace complete with Roman soldiers and and woodchips on the floor. The girls made bracelets and stars out of clay. We also got to see camels, sheep, donkeys, and goats!! It was a fun new tradition for us to start. 

Tonight we made tons of cookies. Tomorrow we'll deliver them to the girls' old daycare. They're excited about seeing their old teachers and friends. Here are some pictures of them today.....

Speak softly and carry a big stick

The costs of this marathon are really adding up. Entrance fee to run, hotel the night before the race, new socks, countless packets of Gu, and now The Stick. Mick (my PT) and I have been e-mailing all week. Money and time constraints aren't allowing me to actually see him at his office, so I threw myself at his mercy and begged for advice. He suggested "The Stick." I've seen them in use at every 5k I've been a part of. They were always used by the elite runners, the ones who leave me in a cloud of dust like the Roadrunner. Beep, Beep!

Today after lunch the girls and I headed to Runner's Market (gift certificates available!!) and bought a stick. Rather, THE Stick. It's a weird contraption that was probably conceieved for torture in a prison somewhere. You roll it over your muscles and it loosens them and encourages blood flow. "A toothbrush for your muscles!" The girl on the insert looks so damn happy with her stick. She's grinning as she rolls it down her leg. The actual experience is somewhat less smile-envoking. It's borderline painful, which is how I know it is working.

I attempted my first exercise since Sunday tonight. 25 minutes on the bike and 25 minutes on the elliptical. No pain whatsoever. I used The Stick before and after I worked out. Tomorrow I am going to go for a run. I'm not sure how far I will go, but we'll take it one mile at a time.

Sometimes I like to spit on the carpet

I didn't sleep well last night. My knee woes, stuff at work, holiday errands, and more. I finally drifted off sometime around 1:30am. As a result I had trouble finding a gear this morning. When I finally did stumble bleary-eyed into the kitchen Anastasia announced that she had already fed her sister breakfast. I know I looked confused and she patiently explained how she got a bowl, poured Ainsley her cereal and her milk. I was half-horrified that I slept through all of this, and half really proud of her for helping out so much.

They were wired all morning. We ran out in the monsoon for a while and then came home, soaked to the skin. I don't think the girls are ever going to come down off their holiday high. They seem to be in a perpetual state of excitement and have given up naps. After trying (unsucessfully I might add) for over an hour to get them to sleep I finally gave up. I decided we would use the time to clean their room. Gran and Pop arrive tomorrow and you can't see the floor in their bedroom. As we were cleaning....well, I was cleaning, they were goofing off, Ainsley suddenly plopped a huge blob of spit onto the carpet.

She was immediately sent to time out where she sobbed "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," over and over again. We made it through lunch without incident. Thank goodness for small favors.

As we were riding in the car to school, Ainsley said (almost to herself) "Sometimes I just like to spit on the carpet."

4715

4715 sounds like a great number. The perfect number in fact. That's my number for the Disney Marathon, which starts exactly one month from tomorrow. 4715 really is the ideal number. Not too close to the front, and certainly not too far back in the pack. The numbers go well into the 20,000s so mine seems downright low when you look at it that way.

I haven't run since Sunday's training debaucle. Today is only my third full day of rest, but I feel like I haven't been running for weeks. Everything I've read says at least three days rest, so I don't think I'll be lacing up my shoes until Saturday. In the meantime I've just been doing my weird peeing on a fire hydrant exercises and rubbing on the IcyHot. That stuff does not wear off easily. I'm tired of smelling like a mint.

My knee doesn't hurt when I walk. It doesn't hurt when I go up or down the stairs. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I would think there was nothing wrong. Fortunately I do know better and I am erring on the side of caution. When I run on Saturday I will stop at the first sign of pain. Even if that twinge comes a few miles in. I have to rest it in order to heal it. I have to rest in order to be ready. It scares me that I've screwed up so close to the end. I should've done more stretching, worn long pants in the cold temps, started training earlier. My list goes on and on and on.

I try not to think about those three letters that started haunting me on Sunday afternoon. DNF The worst three letter of the alphabet for a runner. Did. Not. Finish. I'm trying to take it one day at a time, stay busy with the holiday stuff, and trying desperately not to think about a possible DNF.

Up on the roof

We're supposed to get more than an inch of rain in the next 24 hours. So this morning I grabbed our ladder and went around the edge of the house, cleaning all the sludge out of the gutters. It was pretty easy and it's a beautiful day outside. I finished up, put the ladder back in the garage, and took a shower to wash off all the gutter funk.

As I was putting on my makeup Anastasia comes running downstairs. They've been playing on the deck, soaking up the sunshine from a day that doesn't even require a jacket. "Can you get the ladder mom?" Um...why I asked. "Well......we sorta threw Minnie Mouse up on the roof." I got a chair instead of the ladder and this is what I found.

Hopefully this "Minnie Mishap" will be the worst life throws at us today. What will those two think of next?

Where's the panic button?

I will not panic. I've repeated those words to myself about 500 times since my run yesterday afternoon. I will not panic. I have 31 days. That is a lifetime away. I will not panic. 

To squash that panic that has been rising inside me I have taken action. I went to Target and bought IcyHot. I now smell "like a peppermint!" as Anastasia told me, but it's helping the pain. I'm taking Aleve, but more importantly I have e-mailed my physical therapist. He's the genius who helped me back in the spring when this IT band issue first reared its ugly head. Mick trains Olympians, surely he can help me get back on track. I don't want an Olympic Medal, just one with Mickey on it.  Earlier this year Mick (wait a minute..it just dawned on me...my PT is named Mick...kinda close to Mickey don't you think??) gave me three exercises to do in order to strengthen my hip and butt muscles. When those muscles are weak it causes stress on the IT band. I remember ONE of the exercises. I've been doing it like crazy. 

Hopefully he will e-mail soon. I feel like a stalker, checking my e-mail every ten minutes to see if he has responded. I'll give him a few days and then I'll call. In the mean time I will just continue popping pills and smelling like a mint. I will not panic. I will not panic. I will not panic. 

Run for your life

Today was supposed to be my 18 mile training run. I say supposed to because I didn't quite make it. My IT band (the injury that prevented me from running the Knoxville Marathon back in March) flared up suddenly around the 2:15 mark and I did the wise thing and stopped shortly thereafter. I do not surrender easily so it was hard for me to quit. I tried to console myself with the fact that I ran for over two hours on a day when the temperature was in the low 30's with wind chills in the 20's. 

Up until the IT band flare-up I was having a great run. I did trip over a piece of sidewalk that jumped up off the ground around mile 3, but recovered before I hit the pavement. Whew. I ran a few laps around Springbrook Park and then headed down the greenway. I was surprised at how many people were out on a day as cold as this. They were bundled to the eyeballs and there I was in my shorts.  

I ran all the way to the library and then went on to explore a new part of the greenway I had not yet traveled. It was beautiful and I really enjoyed seeing something new. As as I came back around the water at the library I really had to watch my step. There are abut 400 Canadian Geese there and with that many birds comes a lot of green poop. The kind of nuclear poop that wouldn't come off my running shoes with a fire hose. 




When I finally stumbled back to the parking lot I did all the IT band stretches I knew and hopped in the car. It seems my marathon path has become quite rocky. After months and months of smooth sailing I will be tested to see what I am made of. Work needs me to fill in on the overnight shift the week before my race. I was livid when I read the e-mail. There are some perks in it for me, like starting my vacation a good 24 hours earlier, but I am worried about losing so much sleep the week before my race. Now my old injury has flared up. I'm trying to work on a plan to solve the issue at the station and now I will be on three days rest for the injury. I will be doing all the exercises my physical therapist taught me last March. Hopefully I will be ready for the race. It's just 31 days away.  31 days to finish my training. 31 days to recover and gather my strength. Although as my book "Marathoning for Mortals" says "It takes more courage to get to the starting line than to find your way to the finish." I couldn't agree more. 

A very Maynard Chrismtas

Our first December Saturday was filled to the brim with Christmas cheer. We started early this morning at the Regal Christmas Party for Kids. We met Santa and Mrs. Claus and had a yummy breakfast. The girls also cleaned up with a really awesome goody bag!

We left West Knoxville and drove to Grams and Granddad's only to arrive just in time to decorate the tree. The girls were happy to help out and enjoyed the onslaught of family. We opened presents before lunch which made my girls deliriously happy. We opened slowly...that's what happens where there are almost 30 of you, but the girls were patient. Ainsley got some books and a Littlest Pet Shop set. Anastasia got paper dolls, a Barbie, and a Barbie car. My grandfather made them a beautiful wooden ark and Grams had tons of little wooden animals to go inside. SO cool. Lunch was kinda like the whole loaves and fishes thing. We swooped in and there was nothing but a turkey carcass and a few pecan pie crumbs left when we were done. 

I was pleased to see we would be making our annual trek to Signal Point. We drove the girls by my grandparents' old house on the way back. I tried to share happy childhood memories, but they were more interested in getting back to their toys. 

All in all it was a wonderful day! It was nice to be with everyone, even if it was in the same room.  (28 people+98.6*=muy caliente!!) It was the first of four "Christmases" we will celebrate this season. The girls were amazing today. No fighting, no meltdowns. We started out day at 7am and neither of them got a nap. Ainsley fell asleep about 4 miles from home, but Anastasia was still talking to her new Barbie the last time I checked. As for me, I am heading off to bed.

Another crazy day

Why is that "vacation days" are more work than actually being at work? Is that even possible? I suppose it's because you try to pack all the things in that are normally impossible. 

Today the girls and I set out just after 8. We stopped for gas (only to have it come down 6 cents two hours after that gas was pumped) and then we set out on our errands. Since errands and Erin sound very familiar I had to explain to the girls that we weren't getting to see Erin. Much disappointment ensued. Our first stop went more quickly than I had planned, but then on the way out Ainsley darted out into the parking lot. She is in that "You can't make me do anything" phase which is unbelievably frustrating. She looks at you with this little devilish grin and the next thing you know, she's halfway through the parking lot. 

We then went to Kohl's and to the mall. We bought our last Christmas present of the season and then went to Target. I followed through on my McDonald's promise and we collapsed in a heap for nap just after one. Nap seemed altogether too short and they were rarin' to go as soon as they got up. We made our way to the library where I was hoping to get to tackle a few more pages of Twilight. I found out that not as much reading goes on at a library as one might think. 

After the library it was off to a SECOND Target and then finally back home. I tried to put up our outdoor lights, only to discover half of them were burnt out. I tossed them back into the garage in a heap and a huff. Laundry came next followed by dinner, which thankfully I had planned as a frozen pizza. As soon as I inhaled my food I was off again. 

I had an errand (no...not ERIN) to run for Santa. The store still had what I was after, but I had to resist the urge to purchase the Mary Poppins Barbie they had. Dang it was cute!!!!

I am now recharging my batteries. I'm sitting here at Starbucks sipping on a piping hot caramel apple spice that I ordered like a pro. The world is rushing by outside the window in a blur of taillights and holiday bustle. I feel civilized. I feel warm. I feel content. I feel blissful. I feel calm. I am loathe to leave, but now I can go home, put on my PJs and really enjoy the Christmas flick for family movie night. 

Like an elf with my head cut off

December is only five days old and I am already lost in the hustle and the bustle. Work has presented a few challenging days and I am just now coming up for air. Fortunately I am off today, but that actually means more work than if I was at work. 

The girls and I have several errands to run this morning. Plus I've promised a trip to McDonald's (how cool am I??) and the library.  There already arguing and it's only 8am. Fortunately the aforementioned trip to McDonald's is a great bribery point so hopefully I can escape the errands unscathed.

Tonight is family movie night and then tomorrow we are traveling for the first of our Christmas celebrations. The first of many, many celebrations.  Bring it on!

Welcome December!!

We woke up this morning to beautiful snow showers. It was the perfect way to start the month of December. It didn't stick to the ground, but when we went out to run errands it was everywhere-on the grass, rooftops, cars, etc. So exciting! The girls are pumped, although sad it wasn't enough to make a snowman. 

Maybe this will be our winter!!!

Let the Christmas season officially begin!

Today after church we went next door to Fantasy of Trees. It was PACKED, which is great for the hospital, but very hard to navigate with two kids, a husband, and an umbrella. We made a bee line straight for Santa. The line was awful and parents (including us) were doing their usual "You better stop that or we'll leave without seeing Santa." None of us had the intention of getting out of the line we had already invested so much time in, but the empty threats were made nonetheless. 

The girls enjoyed seeing Santa although wouldn't really tell him what they wanted. Ainsley mumbled something about Ariel and Anastasia was too concerned about whether Santa would bring a gift for Helen. He assured her that he had some catnip toys (mental note: purchase catnip toys) that he would bring the cat. Anastasia finally said she wanted Littlest Pet Shop and we were on our way. They decorated cookies, made treasure boxes, and thumbprinted little ornaments for our tree. We also got their faces painted. We managed to escape without riding the carousel. The line was worse than the line for Santa and since Jamie and I hadn't had a nap, we figured it was a meltdown waiting to happen. 

The house is completely decorated, the stockings hung by the chimney with care. All the ornaments are on the tree and the majority are on the bottom half. Anastasia hung most of hers in a two branch radius.  We're about as ready for December as we can be. 

Okay...well, burst my little Christmas bubble. They are both screaming at the top of their lungs and are currently in time out. Bedtime here we come!!!

Have a Holly, Dolly Christmas

So we set out this afternoon for Dollywood. We, of course, know all the super-secret back roads so it didn't take that long to get up there. Mom, Dad, Chris, Anna, and Blair joined us on our post-Thanksgiving theme park adventure. 

The park was pretty crowded, but it wasn't overwhelming. For some reason I let them talk me into the Ferris Wheel. I spent the entire time muttering "I'd rather be in labor than on this rickety metal death trap." My daughters however.....LOVED every minute of their ride. 

Chris and Anastasia rode a roller coaster while Anna and Ainsley opted for the tea cups. We rode the carousel and then took a ride on the train. I hadn't done that in years and we had such a great trip! Although Anastasia was mad because, "If we hadn't ridden the train mom, we'd have time for more rides." We ate dinner and then rode even more rides. Granddad and Ainsley froze their trunks off on the flying elephants while Jamie and Anastasia went on this crazy hang glider ride. I gave them the choice of seeing Santa or riding more rides and they dropped the old guy faster than a lump of coal. Before we left we let them ride the cars in the 50's area. They really enjoyed that. After a hellish trip through the gift shop we were on our way....to stand in line with a billion other folks to get to the trams. Dad, Anna, and Chris walked all the way to parking lot D/E (Dolly's earrings everyone...that's how you can remember!!) and then picked us up at the entrance. 

The girls are already asleep. Whew! Tomorrow we have an exciting day of decorating on the agenda!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This isn't my ideal Thanksgiving. My perfect turkey day would involve more family, less work, and homemade yeast rolls, preferably my Great-Grandmother's recipe. This year I have to work and our yeast rolls came out of a bag, but we're making the most of it.

I went for a nice run this morning while the girls watched the parade with Jamie. Hello Kitty, Abby Cadabby, and of course the Jolly 'Ol Elf himself were the highlights. Ainsley kept waving at the screen and saying "Hi Santa!" "Hi Santa!" Lunch, as always, was a wonderful adventure. We ate in the dining room off the good china. We all said what we were thankful for. Our list included all the things you would expect; family, friends, health, living in America, having a job, etc. But then our list took a turn off the beaten path and brought in things like Littlest Pet Shop and The Little Mermaid.

Ainsley ate like a child possessed. I swear we gave her breakfast and a snack, but she was shoveling in peas like nobody's business. It's kinda like eating with the crew form Animal House. She ate all her cranberry sauce (cut into the shape of stars!!), her peas, ham, two servings of sweet potatoes, and two rolls. Anastasia on the other hand had to be held down and force fed. "Two more bites mom, really?" She did thank us for making the feast though, which I thought was pretty nice since she didn't really eat any of it.

Now the girls are napping and Jamie and I are watching football. I have to head into work in about an hour. I'm bummed about having to work on Thanksgiving, but I am very grateful to have a job in the first place. Just one more thing to add to my list...

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

The girls and I spent some time at the park this afternoon. It was a beautiful day even if it was a bit chilly. Anastasia was pleasantly surprised we had the park all to ourselves. They romped all over the playground and were able to scream and yell to their hearts' content. Truth be told, I didn't want to leave. It was sunny and one of those days where the sky is just about as blue as it gets. Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer and I've promised bike rides at some point during the day; after we stuff ourselves full of sweet potatoes and ham of course!!

Brave new world

So this morning I did something that was either really brave or really stupid. It turned out to be the former rather than the latter, but I didn't know that at the time. I let Ainsley wear panties. She chose little yellow ones that have Dora and Boots frolicking across them. I put her in them around 8am. I upped the panty ante as it were and let her wear them when we ran to Wal-Mart. I went into the errand fully prepared to mop up a puddle on aisle 6, but she did great. I had planned to switch her to a diaper for nap time but my big girl had other ideas. She insisted that she had done SO well all morning that she should be allowed to wear the panties during nap. I relented.

She slept for over two hours and I just knew I was going to have to wash her sheets before we left. She woke up completely dry! Anastasia and I danced around like a bunch of loons and made a fuss over her. She went to the potty before we left for school and was still dry when I dropped her off just after 2 this afternoon. I don't know if she will stay dry at school, but staying dry from 8am-2pm is a definite improvement!! And as for the rest of the day...well, it's not really my problem!

I can see clearly now

I'm having a case of the Mondays. It's raining, I had to drive the "difficult" car this morning, and the kids misbehaved all morning. I had an eye doctor appointment this morning, but we ran a few errands first. At the bank...the window of the car wouldn't roll down. So I had to put the car in park and open the door. When I dropped off the recycling it was raining buckets. At Target the girls both wanted to use their umbrellas. It was the eye doctor that almost did me in. They were wild. I hadn't given them sugar or anything, but they were bouncing off the walls. 

Ainsley was trying to spin herself around in the chair while Anastasia was rolling her eyes at me because I wouldn't let her try on the Hannah Montana glasses. (You don't NEED glasses!!! But I don't have any!!!!!) I brought them straight home and put them to bed despite the fact it was almost noon.  

Amidst all the hoopla I was able to get my eye exam and pick out new glasses. I could've gone with the Sarah Palin frames, but I graciously declined. My glasses should be ready next Monday. I think I'll leave the kids in the car when I pick them up. 

Is it Monday yet?

Seriously, why is it that my weekends are more tiring than my weeks?  Oh wait...I remember now...

Wake up, breakfast, shower, clothe children, fix hair, church, lunch, laundry, 16 mile run, make dinner, more laundry, clean up 3 piles of cat vomit, wash dishes, clean up two puddles of toddler pee, pjs on, brush teeth, read books, fold even more laundry, collapse in heap on the couch. 

And it's only 8pm!! Whew! Work is challenging and I do have to put up with plenty of children, but at least I don't have to wipe anyone's butt! (By the way...amend the above list to include...return upstairs and tuck children in AGAIN.)

My run this afternoon was fantastic. I parked at Springbrook and started with a few laps there.  The temperature was as close to perfect as I could ever expect. There was a light breeze which was nice for keeping me from overheating. I really enjoy running on the Greenway. It seems to go by so quickly when there are so many new things to look at.  I only have two runs longer than the one I did today before my race so that's something to be proud of. I am so much better prepared for that race than I was for my first. It will be interesting to see how it goes. 

M-I-C....see ya real soon..

Just 45 days to go or so my official marathon countdown clock tells me. I was scheduled to do 16 miles today, but it was too damn cold for that. It never got out of the 30's and the sun hid behind clouds all day. I am hedging my bets and hoping tomorrow brings better weather. My 15 miler last week went well. It was almost too easy. I ran all the way to our library on the greenway and then back. It took about two and a half hours. I only took one pouch of Gu and honestly felt great. It was a bit on the chilly/windy side, but I would categorize it as one of my better runs.  

I found out tonight they have pushed the start time for the marathon up to 5:50am. That makes me a little crazy, but I'm trying not to think about it. I know it's just ten minutes, but at 5am...ten minutes makes all the difference in the world.

Now if we can just keep our cars from sucking all the money out of our bank account so we can still afford to get down there....a lot can happen in 45 days.  I'm just gonna cross my fingers and hope for the best.

Now showing

We took the kids to see "Bolt" today. It was bitter cold here so we decided spending the day at the movies was a good idea. The show was supposed to start at noon, but when the lights went out...the movie didn't start. Someone finally came in and said they were having problems and asked for our patience. Eventually they moved us from our nice, spacious theater to a rather small, cramped one where our movie finally began 30 minutes late! The girls seemed to enjoy the flick, although Ainsley was a bit antsy by the time the credits rolled. When we got home they were splitting up the move roles. Of course they both wanted to be Bolt...so now we have two of them.

I'm going to be an aunt!!

I recently found out I am going to be an aunt. I am thrilled! I've done the mom thing for a little over five years now, but being an aunt is something I have yet to experience. My sister claims it is the very best job in the world. I can see that it will definitely have its perks. I've started thinking of all the things I'm going to do with my little niece or nephew. I have a pretty stellar crop of aunts and uncles who've done their best to raise me right. I'll try to make them proud. I want to be the cool aunt with the tattoo who makes yummy cookies and listens to her music a little too loud. Here's my list so far of all the things I'm planning.....

1. Give them dessert even when they don't eat their veggies.
2. Let them listen to Jimmy Buffet, even if it's the same song over and over again.
3. Let them sleep over at my house while their parents explore some corner of the globe.
4. Buy them presents for no reason at all.
5. Ride a roller coaster (I'm not really up to this one yet, but hopefully by the time the kid can ride roller coasters I'll be ready)
6. Let them stay up way past their bedtime to watch a movie.
7. Read them "just one more book."
8. Let them have a sip of my Coke when their parents aren't looking.
9. Buy them a really obnoxious Christmas present that makes lots of noise!!!
10. Remind them that I'll always be there for them, even when their parents are mad at them.

Now I just need to work on my aunt "name." I personally like "Aunt C-C" but certain sources close to me have vetoed that idea. I am open to suggestions! Good think I have about 6 months to work on it.

Just another tree-hugging hippie

In high school I had a teacher that didn't have a tv at home. In my MTV-centric world a home without a tv was like a day without sunshine. My friends and I talked about my teacher like she was an alien from Mars. "Her kids must be so weird," we would say. It was all a little too granola for my taste. Of course now here I am 10 years later, a self-proclaimed alien in my own right.

The girls and I ran to Target this morning to pick up Anastasia's five year old pictures (SO cute by the way!) and get a few things. As I got to the checkout I realized just how much of a tree-hugger I have become. I plopped my "natural deodorant" up on the conveyor belt and handed over my cloth shopping bag to the cashier. Anastasia kept wanting to smell my deodorant for some reason. I started wearing natural stuff back in the spring and I've really liked it. I use Tom's of Maine, the lavender kind. http://www.tomsofmaine.com/toms/product.asp?dept_id=500&pf_id=BW-ND I like that I have an aluminum-free deodorant and I like that the company doesn't test on animals and puts their eco-friendly money where their mouth is.

The cashier greeted my cloth bag with a mild level of disgust. I know that it throws off their entire "groove," but I don't think it warrants an eye roll or a sigh. It's just a cloth bag folks, it's not like I want to pay in pennies or something.

I really am enjoying my tree-hugger status. Natural deodorant, a resuable water bottle to replace all those plastic ones, cloth grocery bags....maybe next week I'll opt for tofurkey on Thanksgiving!! Then again, maybe not.

Ready for Santa!

Mom just sent me this photo from Saturday. We had a photo shoot before Anastasia's party so we'd have a Christmas card picture.  I love this one!!! We aren't using it for the card though...we've got some that are even better. The girls are excited about putting up our tree, especially since Gran and Pop already sent their gifts so we can already put them under the tree as soon as it goes up next weekend!

One of those days

This is exactly how I feel today. Like someone threw me into a pool and I didn't even want to go for a swim. Ainsley was up quite a bit last night crying. I was afraid she was getting sick too, but she explained it by saying 'The bad guys are in my bed." I rubbed her back and laid next to her until she finally drifted back to sleep around 2:45am. As a result of her restless night she just had the biggest tantrum I've ever seen her throw. It was like a really bad scene from SuperNanny.  When do I get to throw *my* tantrum? When do I get to scream and throw my body on the ground because I am not getting my way? She's napping now so hopefully things will be better after she gets some shut-eye. 

Meanwhile I need an attitude adjustment before I go into work. I'm opting for the Ellen show and folding laundry to help calm me down. Not exactly an hour-long massage, but it's all I can get my hands on here in my sphere of domesticity. 

It's a secret

So I hear a commotion in the playroom this afternoon. I don't make any sudden moves and Anastasia slowly appeared at my side. She was wringing her hands like she does when she knows she's in trouble. I said "So what's going on in there?" She was clearly stalling and finally she managed to squeak out "I don't think you're going to like it." Her sister is calling from the playroom "Don't tell her Asha, don't tell her!" 

Turns out they were jumping from the train table to the comfy chairs and then back. I gave them the lame parental stand-by of "You better stop or you're gonna get hurt," complete with hand on my hip and finger point.  Truth be told, that jumping around kept them busy and NOT arguing for over 30 minutes. Sweet! Plus as we found out at bedtime, it wore them out. Yeah for an easy bedtime!

Party on....

Here are some pictures from Saturday. It was much more chaotic than I would have liked, but Anastasia said it was a great party so I suppose it was okay. She's been playing with all her new toys and watching her new DVDs.  We already need to build a new addition to house all this birthday stuff. I can hardly wait until Christmas...which Anastasia tells me is just 38 days away. And the countdown rolls on....

All's well that ends well

Well, I survived. The party to which 9 people RSVP'd to...turned into a 20 person celebration. I was thrilled for Anastasia, but bummed I cancelled the big cake. I suppose the Funfetti cake I made from a mix this morning was okay. It was like the loaves and fishes and somehow managed to feed all 20 people. Although I guess it was just 19 since baby Dakota didn't really eat any. 

I have tons of pictures, but to be honest, I'm exhausted. I'll upload them tomorrow. I can hear the girls upstairs on the monitor. Anastasia is gabbing away and Ainsley keeps saying "I'm real tired Asha." I'm not sure they will ever come down from today's sugar high. I, on the other hand , am ready for bed...NOW!

Happy Birthday Anastasia!

Hard to believe our little girl is FIVE today. On that Friday night five years ago we were watching the sun set outside our hospital window, knowing she would arrive before the night was out. It was such an exciting moment! Little did we know that was only the beginning.

Anastasia is such a cool kid. She keeps me in line and keeps me guessing. I can't wait for our next five years! Her party is tomorrow so I'll have more pictures to share then. Here are two of my favorites from '03.

I'm too old for this

So I am getting a slow start on this Friday morning. My children are bouncing off the walls and Ainsley has already gotten stuck in the bars of Anastasia's bed. Speaking of beds...I didn't see mine until about 2:45 this morning because I went to the midnight show of the new Bond. I went with a few friends from work. I'm a very popular date, you know. My magic corporate card gets me and three others into flicks for free.

The movie was a 12:01 showing and was packed to the gills. All of them were UT students so we raised the median age in the theatre by a good 15 to 20 years. We had to sit closer than I would've liked, but it turned out to be okay in the end. I loved the movie. As someone who has seen most of the Bond flicks and has a Bond ringtone the new films have a lot to live up to in my eyes. I think Daniel Craig makes a great Bond and the action scenes were spot-on. I loved the villain as well as all the locales.

More later from birthday central....once I find a gear and get moving. I am thinking a nap is in my future.

Turkeys and tunes

Today I was getting Ainsley's shoes and socks on before we left and she looked at me with a puzzled expression and said "Why did you move the chicken?" I was even more puzzled! What chicken? She pointed to the mantle. There was our paper Thanksgiving turkey thing. It had been sitting on the dining room table but I moved it to make room for Anastasia's gifts.

Speaking of the holidays I think I set a new record this year. It wasn't until last night that I broke out the Christmas music. I don't think I've ever waited until the second week of November before! I've been so occupied with the "Wicked" soundtrack that Bing and Perry hadn't surfaced yet. Of course now that they are out....there's no going back!

Two days and counting!

So that's what I looked like 5 years ago this week. Ha! This picture makes me laugh everytime I flip open Anastasia's baby book and see it. By that point in my pregnancy I only had a few shirts and pants that fit me. I wore that top at least twice a week.

Anastasia is very excited about her birthday. She wakes up each day and reminds me how many more days we have until the big day. It's fun because her anticipation is only matched by the excitement we had in waiting for her birth. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that it's been five years.

A spoon full of sugar....

Ainsley and Anastasia are playing with their dolls this morning. Ainsley is singing in this sweet little voice "Stay awake...don't close your eyes." from Mary Poppins. I am surpriesd at how many of the words she knows. It is so cute!! I love it when she does this. She's rubbing the doll's back to help it go to sleep.

They had a fun morning of glitter and paint time. The kitchen is a mess, but we had fun. Now it's off to nap.....

Strike a pose!

We took Anastasia for her five year pictures today. We just got her hair cut yesterday and it looked SO cute!! We went casual for her pictures. Jeans and a purple (what other color would she wear??) shirt. She's a pretty casual kid so I felt like her clothes really captured her at this age. The pictures turned out SO well. I had to be cheap, so I only got to pick one pose which killed me. She had her genuine smile on today and the photographer was able to capture that for us.

Ainsley was a holy terror while Anastasia was having her pictures taken. She played games on my iPod for a while, but then after she almost deleted some of my applications I had to take it away. How is it that it takes me forever to figure that thing out and she can delete applications in 2.4 seconds?

We wandered through the toy department and on the Littlest Pet Shop aisle Anastasia noticed the toy she wanted for her birthday was no longer in stock. She put her hands on her hips and said "See mom, I told you that you should've bought it last time." Ha! Little does she know it is already wrapped and sitting on our dining room table.

Third time's a charm

It's been a long day. My alarm went off at 5:40am and I did my best to get ready without disturbing anyone. I got dressed quickly but panicked when I realized I didn't have any Vaseline. (Chafing=BAD, Vaseline=GOOD) By the light of my cell phone I rummaged under my cousin's bathroom sink and thank goodness I found some! Thanks Lucy!! I made my pre-race meal of oatmeal and peanut butter and walked out the door right at 6 when dad got there.

With the addition of the 1/2 marathon I knew this year's crowd would be much bigger than last years. Registration wasn't too bad though and I quickly had my number and my chip. The bathroom line was INSANE. But it was only 5 till 7 so I waited. It was indoors and thus heated, so I went toe to toe with about a zillion other women for four stalls. It was worth it. The bathroom lines and the registration lines led the race to start 15 minutes late which really sucked. It was pretty chilly at the start since the sun hadn't really popped over the trees yet. After a boring politician and a very beautiful rendition of the national anthem we were off. The crowd wasn't too bad as we began. I didn't feel like I was right on top of anyone and we were able to spread out quickly. We made one loop around the 6th Cavalry field and then headed into the park. About a mile of the course once we got into the park was on this sketchy access road. It was part gravel, part paved, and part mudhole thanks to yesterday's rain. We runners stick together so everyone did a good job of calling out the rough spots. I saw a deer almost right away. He was moving through the woods, trying to get out of the way of a man who already had to pee.

I shed my gloves around mile 3.5. I had to wait another 1/2 mile for a water stop so I could toss them. I took Powerade (blue! my favorite!) at the second and third stops. Once we got into the park the course became familiar to me so I felt more at home. I was surprised at how much I remembered from last year. I think that knowledge came in handy. The fog was still hanging in the low places and as we crossed one of the fields it lingered near the canons giving them the appearance that they had just been fired.

The weather was spectacular. It was a *little* colder than I would have liked, but overall you couldn't have asked for more. The leaves were at their peak and each mile brought more autumn splendor. The race went by fairly quickly. I was at mile seven before I knew it. I was bummed to see that we didn't run over the same bridge we did last year. It was such a pretty spot so I was sorry to see we wouldn't get to experience it this time around. I suppose I romanticized my race last year a little too much so this year couldn't live up to those expectations. I didn't like the bigger crowd. I think we lost something by having all those extra runners.

My legs felt great the entire race and my knees never bothered me. I powered up some hills at mile 8 and had plenty of energy left afterwards. One of my favorite spots to pass is Wilder Monument. I used to go there as a kid so it's neat to see it again even if only as a large white blur on my right. Right after I passed the monument I heard a herd of runner approaching and realized it was a pace group. I was so upset because I thought it was the 4:00 pace group for the marathon which means I was running too slow. As they passed me like a bunch of elephants I saw the pace leaders back and it read 3:40 pace group. I laughed and finally let myself admit I was having a great race. I hit mile 10 at 1:30:30 and I knew a new PR was in reach. That realization gave me a little burst and I reminded myself all I had left was a 5k. Piece of cake!

We got back to the access road and I had to once again really watch my footing. There weren't very many other runners around me at that point so I kept my eyes focused on the trail. We came out of the park and I could hear the band at the finish but I was so disoriented. I had no clue where we were or how much further we had to go. I wanted to be able to kick it and go all out the last little bit, but since I didn't know the course that was hard. We finally came within sight of the finish line and I was able to push it. I saw my dad and the girls and called out to them. We made our final left turn and I sprinted to the line. I could see the clock and knew I was close to breaking my PR. The one advantage of a bigger race is a bigger finish. The streets were lined with American flags, the band was playing, and people were cheering. That part I liked! The clock said 1:58:58 as I crossed. My chip time later revealed my official time 1:58:29. Hot damn! I did it!! I finished 11th out of 51 women in my age division and 196th overall in the 1/2 marathon.

Once again having my family at the finish was a powerful motivator. Knowing they were there waiting on me and cheering me on gave me the stuff I needed to get to the finish line. And while this year's race wasn't the same as last year it was special in its own way. As I stood there listening to the National Anthem I thought about the battle that was fought there. I thought about the reasons that battle and so many others were fought. I reflected on that and then thought about the man we just elected president. It is nothing short of amazing.

I'm just sitting here watching football and re-hydrating. I have a blister on the fourth toe of my right foot for some reason. I didn't notice it until late this afternoon when it started to bother me. I lanced it with a safety pin and it seems to be better. I was thrilled to break my record today, but today's race gave me something even more valuable. It made me realize my goal for Disney is way too ambitious and I need to refine that now. Hard to believe that race is just two months away!!!!

I think it must be a mirage....

This is the sign that greeted us on our way home from Chattanooga today. This is even lower than what we were paying in 2006 when Ainsley was born. Here's to hoping the prices stay low....or that they go even lower. It's a good thing it only cost us $1.98 a gallon because we just dropped 800 bucks on van repair. As a result...no one is getting Christmas gifts. If you'd still like one...we'll take you for a ride in the van.

Countdown to cannons

Race day is less than 48 hours away now. I suppose the carb-ingestion should begin in earnest. I wonder if the pounds of Halloween candy will count in that department. I found out today the race is sold out. This is the first time they've done a 1/2 at Chickamauaga so I think a lot of folks wanted to get in on the action.

I'm looking forward to racing there again this year. Last year's race was so memorable and I hope to have a similar experience this year. I'd really, REALLY like to set a personal record, but we'll see. This isn't my final goal. That comes on January 11th, so I have to be careful not to do anything that would put that race in jeopardy.

The weather should be nice; cool and dry for the start. Thankfully the rain is supposed to move through tomorrow. Whew! I've checked my suitcase about 300 times. I'm so anal about making sure I have everything for a race...the right socks, shorts, shoes, Ironman watch, gloves, hat, race shirt from last year's race at Chickamauga. I think I've got it all.

Now all that is left is convincing myself it's just another run. I'm never good with that though. I'm too competitive, but not against my other runners. Just against myself. My two previous 1/2 times are:

4/1/07-Knoxville 1/2 1:59:36
3/30/08-Knoxville 1/2 2:02:01

Crossing the finish line is a success, but anything less than that 1:59 time and I'll be thrilled. I'm off to bed soon. I'm working dayside tomorrow so we can leave for Chattanooga tomorrow evening. Wait...I forgot to pack my oatmeal....see, I knew I'd forget something!!!

Yes we can!

So for the first time in my voting career the candidate I cast my ballot for will actually be going to the White House in January. I had to work election night and there is no where I would have rather been. It was chaotic, exciting, and thrilling. It was nice to be in the very thick of last night's events as they unfolded before us.

I didn't make it home in time for the start of Obama's speech, but I was able to watch most of it. Dad, Jamie, and I stayed up until almost 2am because we couldn't tear ourselves away. We felt the weight of what happened last night and wanted to be a part of it. I've never been more proud of my country or my neighbors. "We" didn't win last night. America won and it won big.

Looking back on the campaign I see that Obama was able to inspire in me what no other candidate for office ever has. I put up a yard sign, I displayed buttons and bumper stickers, I visited a campaign headquarters for the first time. These are things I have never felt passionate about until this election. I a thrilled that when my daughter enters her kindergarten classroom next August, President Obama's picture will be right there with the other 43 men who have served our country in that office.

Now if I can just convince her his name is not "Oklahoma" we'll be in good shape.

This place is a zoo

Yesterday the girls and I took advantage of the spectacular weather and went to the zoo. There were about 8 million school kids there on a field trip so we didn't have the place to ourselves like last time, but it was still fun. To hear the girls talk about it afterwards you wouldn't think we had visited a zoo. "We saw skunks, bats, and raccoons!" Yup, definitely a TN zoo. They really enjoyed it and area ready to go back. Their favorite part is the Kids Cove area where you can play on a playground. We also rode the carousel!






Today I am battling a fierce migraine. I just took my heavy duty meds so hopefully I can get rid of it. Right now the pain is so bad I won't be able to drive let alone go to work. I'm trying not to stress about missing my run. I'm telling myself that missing four or five miles this week won't hurt my overall training or my race this weekend. Okay...off to nap.

Tidings of comfort and joy

So the girls and I went to Wal-Mart for groceries this morning. Despite all the buggies of 1/2 price Halloween candy....it was Christmas-a-palooza. There was Christmas music blaring over the speakers, wreaths hanging from the rafters, and snowmen everywhere.

I guess I better post Halloween pictures quickly before Christmas encroaches on the holiday all together!!

Halloween Pt. 2

We had a great time trick-or-treating tonight. The girls practically filled their bags here at the station. Everyone gushed over their costumes. One of my anchors called Ainsley "Cinderella" but Anastasia quickly corrected him!

We dropped Jamie at one of his co-worker's house and she helped me take the girls from house to house. (What a lifesaver!!!!) There was one house that was having a tree removed....complete with two chainsaws....VERY scary thing to hear on Halloween, I assure you!

After a few house they both wanted to be carried. Let's just say the grownups earned their candy tonight!! The girls were so well behaved and got the hang of the "Trick or treat!" thing pretty quickly. The neighborhood didn't have too many kids so most people were VERY genreous with their treats. By the end Ainsley couldn't even lift her bucket.

All in all Halloween was a huge success. I'm at work and can't get my pictures uploaded from here. I promise to post some in the morning. Or perhaps when I get home. I've had so much sugar I can't see straight!

Until I can get pics of the girls up, here is a picture of me in my costume. I was Usain Bolt...the crazy fast Jamaican sprinter who won gold at the Olympics in Beijing. (Oh...and that's Michael Phelps and the Tooth Fairy with me)

Spookin' and a shakin'

Yeah, Halloween is here! The girls are coming to the station in a little while after Jamie picks them up from school. They are super excited. Ainsley popped into my bed this morning and said "Is today Halloween?"

We had a little of excitement during lunchtime. It was around 12:30 and the girls were just finishing up. There was a loud BOOM! and all the windows shook. It was so loud and so shaky that I actually was going through a "let's get the heck outta here" plan. Turns out....we had an earthquake. The USGS says it was a 2.9 in magnitude and was centered 2 miles from Maryville. (No wonder it was so loud!!!)




I'll be back later with the scoop on trick-or-treating.

A hitch in my giddyup

So Jamie had his surgery this morning. The day's events have reminded me I was wise to avoid the nursing field. Let's just say it's not my thing. He's doing well and is relaxing on some serious meds, which is good because then he doesn't notice what a crappy nurse I am.

We got to the surgery center nice and early this morning. I love how his surgery was scheduled for 7:30...and the doctor didn't even arrive at the center until 8. Nice, real nice. The doctor's name is Hitch. Dr. Hitch to be exact. I don't know why I think that's funny, but I do. Jamie did well and the surgery went off without a "Hitch." I mean while was attempting to survive the insane Chatty Cathys in the waiting room. There wasn't a level of volume on my iPod high enough to block them out. Add in Mr. Gassy ("Nurse...I seem to be passing a lot of gas.") and a ridiculous discussion of politics and you have the recovery area. Jamie said all kinds of funny things while he was under the influence. My favorite was "You're a pirate!" Um, okay sweetheart, whatever you say.

We all slept like the dead at nap time and are feeling a little more like ourselves tonight. Hopefully he can stay on top of the pain with his bottle of magic happy pills and he will rest well.

All I Gotta Do is Act Naturally

One of the reporters from the station called me on my way in this afternoon and asked if we could swing by and pick her up. She needed to shoot some video of a mom and kids in the car for her sweeps piece.

Upon telling Anastasia what was going on she shouted "I'm gonna be on the news!" She then started rattling off all the people she needed to tell about her debut.

They were pretty good while we were shooting. We had to feed them a snack, so they were thrilled about getting extra goodies. When we got to school we had to get out of the car and then immediately get back in because she needed video of me putting them into their carseats. The girls giggled and laughed about having to get back in their seats.

Here's to hoping they won't be disappointed when their big debut amounts to about 15 seconds of video on the news.