These Shoes...

were made for runnin'!

I'm running my first half marathon this coming Saturday. I'm a little anxious and excited all at the same time. I keep asking myself questions like, "Could I have trained harder?" "Should I have tried harder to lose at least 10 more pounds before the race?" "Should I wear a long sleeve shirt to run in or will that chafe my arms?" "Should I wear a tank top and my jacket while I am running like I usually do?" "Will I be able to take my jacket off mid-race if I get hot or will I have a number on it which will be too difficult to move during the race?"

I just talked to my friend who is running with me and she has been having the same kinds of questions. She even told her husband she doesn't know why. It really doesn't matter. We are doing this for the fun of it. We just want to finish and are already talking about training for another half marathon in the Fall.

To answer those questions...Yes. I could have trained harder. But there is always room for improvement. I think I have trained well for a first time runner. Yes. I should have tried harder to lose 10, even 20, pounds before the race. But I have maintained my weight and lost inches. My body is toned and I am in better shape than I was when I got married. I'm in better shape than I was in in high school for that matter. No. I probably should not wear a long sleeve shirt. I will probably just wear my running tank top. Once I get through the first mile, I will be warm enough. We have worked hard and we will finish.

Back to the shoes. P.K. took me to an athletic store that specializes in running shoes. It was fun. They video taped me running on a treadmill to see which ways my legs turn when I run. Then I tried on a half a dozen pairs of shoes. I found out that my old running shoes were a size too small. That would be why I had blisters under two toenails. The new shoes and I have already been together for over 40 miles. I have run in them, laughed in them, cursed in them (yes, cursed in them...not really bad curses...you try training for a half marathon in a thunderstorm in shoes that you paid more for than any cute pair of shoes you have ever owned and see what you say)and cried in them. On Saturday I am going to be very proud in them.

Princessess Are Useless

A couple weeks ago we were playing a family game of Apples to Apples Junior. It is a word association game. The "judge" reads a green apple card that has a word on it. On one of Hannah's turns the word was "princess." The other players have red apple cards in their hands with words on them. Once the "judge" plays a green card the other players choose one of their words that the "judge" will most associate with the word on the green card. Once everyone plays a red card, the judge reads through them and chooses which word he or she most associates with the word on the green card. We cracked up when Aaron played the word "useless" for "princess." It was even funnier when Hannah chose that as the word association.

So...last Saturday P.K. was invited to speak at a Navy JROTC Ball. We hadn't been to a ball since we left California. It is always fun to get dressed up and the ceremony is packed with tradition. Hannah and I had a conversation the night before the ball.

Hannah: Is tomorrow the ball?

Me: Yes.

Hannah: Are you going to wear your new dress?

Me: Yes. Do you think I will look like a princess (thinking any 6 year old would appreciate that)?

Hannah: Princesses are useless (flips her hair and walks out of the room).

P.K. and I had a great time. The ball was more low key than the Navy or Marine Corps Balls we had attended in the past. The instructors for the JROTC program are all retired active duty. It was nice to hear their stories and learn about the program they now work with. There is an almost immediate bond between military spouses. I can tell you more about the two women I shared dinner with that night than I can about some people I have known almost two years. P.K. did a great job on his speech. Once the dancing began, we made our exit. That crowd was a bit too young for us.

Here we are all decked out. I had such a hard time finding a dress. P.K. went shopping with me and made it much easier. The next time, I think I will find cute COMFORTABLE shoes first and then find a dress to go with them.

How to Catch a Leprechaun...or Not

Aaron jumped out of the car the other day and just happened to spot a four leaf clover. He was so excited. It really has nothing to do with how to catch a leprechaun, but I thought it was appropriate to put in my St. Patrick's Day post.

Here's a close up of Aaron's clover.

Each year the kids make leprechaun traps hoping they might catch a leprechaun. If you catch a leprechaun, you get all of his gold. To make traps the kids start with a cardboard box and lots of green and gold craft supplies. Throw in a little creativity and this is what you get.

Aaron hard at work on his trap.

The girls.

Aaron and Rachel.

Once the traps are finished they have to be baited. For fish you might use worms, for mice you might use cheese, but for leprechauns you use Lucky Charms.

Rachel's trap.

Aaron's trap. He said he was going to make his a bit more simple this year.

Hannah's trap. Why wouldn't a leprechaun want to go in there? I think it looks kind of fun.

If you don't catch a leprechaun in your trap, he will leave you some leprechaun dust. You mix it with milk and have a yummy breakfast.

Rachel is enjoying her leprechaun dust. If you don't catch the leprechaun he may also leave a little gift in your trap like the earrings and matching necklace Rachel is wearing.

The leprechaun may also make your toilet water and milk green. He may also color on your mom's face while she is sleeping.

Hannah's Peeps

Hannah has been asking for a sleepover at our house for a long time. She is one of six girls in her class at school and wanted to invite them all over. We made her work for the privilege. She was throwing some huge fits and crying over almost everything that did not go her way, so we made a chart and told her if she would not do that for two weeks she could schedule the sleepover. We made a chart and each morning she added a sticker for the day before.

Three of the other five girls were able to come. They were dropped off around 5:00 and the girls got right to dressing up and having their nails done to put on a fashion show.

Kayla, Bess, Laila and Hannah showing their fashions

By the time they finished doing that it was already 7:00 and they hadn't had dinner. They made their own pizzas and then had ice cream sundaes for dessert. They played a bit longer then everyone put their sleeping bags down in the living room and we watched Lion King until they all fell asleep. It was probably about 10:30 before the last of them dropped. I slept downstairs on the couch in case anyone woke up scared during the night. Wouldn't you know it was the young hostess who fussed? She would wake up and fuss. When I asked her about it the next morning she said it was because she didn't want to be asleep. She wanted to stay up late and have fun.

The next morning Hannah and Bess were up before 6:00. They went and played in Hannah's room and were shortly joined by Laila. Kayla slept until around 8:00 and the other girls woke her up for a yummy breakfast of yogurt parfaits. Their parents came to pick them up around 10:00.

P.K. had to work Friday night and Saturday morning so I didn't have time to take many pictures. Rachel was a big help.

Hannah had a great time and has fun memories of her first sleepover at our home!

Another Terrific Kid

P.K. and I know our kids are terrific, but it is nice to have a certificate to prove it. Rachel was selected to be recognized at the Terrific Kid ceremony at her school this month. It is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.

Welcome Abigail Hannah...Fo-Shizzle

Allow me to introduce my dear friend Becizzle. I've probably mentioned her in blog posts before, but today she gets a special post just for her and her family.

Becky and I met when our husbands were stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes. I can remember the first morning we met at chapel. We bumped into each other again that afternoon at the movie theater and the rest is history.

Some time ago we did one of those silly "cut and paste and forward to all of your friends" emails. That particular email taught you how to come up with your name for different things such as soap operas and gangsta's. For some reason, Becky and I have clung to our gangsta' names. She is Becizzle and I am Jodizzle.

This past summer while the kids and I were traveling I received a phone call from Becizzle. I can still picture myself driving down the highway. You know how you have a memory as though you were seeing the whole thing from above or through a video camera. Becky said she was pregnant and I yelled so loudly that I almost scared Rachel to death. After all, "Mommy you always tell us it is dangerous to scream in the car." I was so happy to hear that my sweet friend was expecting.

This would be her second child. Allison is in first grade this year. Since Allison was in school, Becky had taken some online classes and was well on her way to becoming a pharmacy tech (I think that is the right term). She decided that if it were important enough to stay home with Allison during her preschool years, it was probably important enough to do for the new baby and career plans would be placed on hold. This eventually leads to Becky saying, "My baby is my whale." I am going to leave all of you blog readers hanging on this statement. It is part of Becky's testimony (her faith has grown during this pregnancy in many ways) and if she would like to guest post one day, I'll let her share it.

When Becky went for her ultrasound the baby was less than cooperative and Becky and Matt were left to guess if they would have a boy or a girl. Have you ever read those pregnancy books where the size of the baby is compared to something else? At one point, Becky's baby was the size of a bean so for a long time the baby was called, "The Bean." I thought the baby should be named Beanizzle, but thankfully Becky doesn't always take my advice. About two weeks ago sweet baby Abigail Hannah was born, Abby.

I asked Becky if it would be alright to post pictures of Abby on the blog so I could do a "welcome to the world" post for her. Becky said, "Sure" and even sent me a picture to post. I didn't ask permission to post pictures of her or Matt so don't tell them I put this next picture on here.

Becky, Matt and Baby Abby

Abby and her big sister Allison

This is a very sweet picture of Abby holding Allison's finger. It reminded me of a song called Hold On To Jesus by Erin O'Donnell.

You're a little piece o Heaven
You're a golden ray of light
And I wish I could protect you
From the worries of this life
But if there's one thing I could tell you
It's no matter what you do
Hold to Jesus
He's holding on to you.

The world will try to tell you
That might is more than right
And beauty's on the outside
And being good's a losing fight
But remember what I've told you
'Cause the world will make you choose
Hold to Jesus
He's holding onto you

Hold onto Jesus and cling to His love
Rest deep in His mercy whenever things get rough
Don't lose sight of His goodness
And don't ever doubt this truth
That when you hold onto Jesus
He's holding onto you

Hear me dear Jesus
Rock this little one to sleep
Keep her close whe she's scared
And give her grace when she is weak
I know she'll stumble
But I know she'll make it through
If you hold to her just like you said you'd do
Hold her Jesus
And she'll hold on tight to you

Becky and I have a Thursday morning phone date. We chat and work through Bible studies together. We often don't agree with the theology of whoever wrote the book we are studying at the time. As with this song, I don't agree with every word. Jesus is always holding onto us whether we let go or not. He is always there. My prayer for Abby is that she would never let go or lose sight of the one who knit her together in her mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) and has a plan for her (Jer 29:11).

Abizzle...you are loved by so many people who are anxiously waiting to travel with you on your journey of life. Hold on, baby girl! It is a crazy trip.

Valentine's Day

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

Valentine's Day is Here

XOXOXO to You!

My Valentine just left for work and the little Valentine's are still sleeping. I have a place set for each of them at the breakfast bar.

I found these giant bouncy balls and knew they would love them. I think the big Valentine was a bit disappointed that he didn't get one. P.K. made each of us a little folded heart and had them waiting for us this morning. We will eat on the heart plates all day. It is an easy tradition to follow.

I'm really surprised that the kids are sleeping at all because they have had a steady diet of sugar since Friday. Rachel's class exchanged Valentines and made their own boxes at home.

She made it all by herself and I thought it was really cute. I love the patchwork idea. Hannah made her own too, but I don't have any pictures.

I decided it would be fun for the kids to make their own Valentines this year. It took more time than I had anticipated, but they had fun. It was especially worth it since this was Rachel's last year to exchange Valentines with her class.

Rachel made an ipod and Aaron and Hannah made robots.

Both crafts started with box of sweethearts. The robots had candy bars or peppermint patties for feet and lifesavers for eyes. The earbuds for the ipod were miniature recess cups wrapped in aluminum foil.

Aaron's class did not have a party but they were allowed to have a special snack and exchange Valentines. I baked and decorated heart shaped cookies and sent those in for the snack.

Hannah's class had a party and for the snack station they were able to decorate their own cookies. They made two to take home and ate one at school.

I must have baked a gazillion cookies! We didn't take many pictures at the party, but these are the cookies Hannah brought home.

They made I spy bottles for the craft. They were empty water bottles filled with rice that I dyed red. Each bottle then had different colored heart beads and letter beads that spelled out the child's name. These get mixed in the rice. There is a tag on the bottle that lists what the kids have to spy. The bottles are turned slowly to hunt for the items. The game was BINGO. The cards were printed on hearts and they used sweethearts candies as the markers. P.K. had fun running the game!

I hear the pitter patter of little feet so my time is up.