Day Eight

Thankful for the ability to run four miles in the morning and wear high heeled boots to work.

Day 7

Today, I am thankful for ...

• windows that open when doors are closed.
• my new leopard three-quarter-length sleeve jacket
• figuring out new settings on my Garmin, Garmina.

Day 4, Day 5 and Day 6

Day 4 - Thankful for a fun trip to Savannah and a much needed, adult dinner out complete with good food, good wine, and good conversation!

Day 5 - Thankful for a new half marathon PR in Savannah ~ 2:11 and some change. I know I'm not winning any races, but to be able to hold some speedy for me times, and pass the 2:15 pace group, it felt pretty amazing.

Day 6 - Thankful to great friends ... those that will run with you and those that drive two hours to see you for about four.

Day 3

Thankful for Libby, when asked what she is thankful for replied, "Mama, Maddy, and Daddy."

30 days of thankfulness

I know I am late starting on the bandwagon, but I here goes nothing ...

Day One: I am thankful for my health and the health of my family.

Day Two: I am thankful for two beautiful daughters that while sometimes drive me to the point of frustration, make me so proud to be their Mom.

Princess shoes

Make everything better.

Fall

These past few days have been perfection in my opinion ... the crisp temperatures, the bright sun warm by afternoon, falling leaves, and Halloween decorations on nearly every house in our neighborhood.

I've also been fortunate to have my days filled with many of my favorites:

a great early morning 13-mile run with my favorite running girls, an early evening date with my Hubby that started with a great Cabernet, much needed adult conversation, and ended with a mushroom swiss burger, pumpkin patches, cow trains, and a huge jumping pillow with the fam, coffee breaks, skirts and boots, a quick afternoon run, Halloween candy, new running tights, a new book on my Nook, and two mornings where I slept in 'til 8.

Feeling blessed and loved.

Tired and Grumpy

Some days, I really don't know what I would do without my running buddies. When our night before a run emails are going around and I hear rain in the forecast, am getting home at 10 pm, and have no desire to hear my alarm go off at 5:05 AM, they remind me that I really do want to go.

Sure, I don't love getting up that early, but I love the accomplishment, the camradarie and how great I feel when it's through.

So, here's to a two-a-day on Thursday and another 12 miler on Saturday.

All the single ladies ...

Hubby took Maddy and Libby to their 2nd birthday party of the weekend today, his Dad's. So, after church, I have been on my own. Since part of my afternoon was already booked (the reason I didn't go to the party), I have enjoyed my favorite "single girl dinner" of crackers, sharp cheddar, honeycrisp apple slices, and Halloween candy. No wine unfortunately, or that would have made it perfect.

So now to do a little work while the house is quiet and possibly run the much-needed vacuum cleaner.

Dramatic reading of Brown Bear, Brown Bear

les fleurs

Funky, but pretty farmer's market flowers that were on the tables for our first Junior League meeting of the year.

Revenge

My husband posted a photo to Facebook of myself, Maddy, and Libby all asleep on the sofa today. He must have had a memory lapse that he falls asleep sitting up about 5/7 nights. Revenge will be mine.

Let's just say that the first night in big girl bed's was as tiring as any night with newborn twins. Here's to hoping that tonight is better.

Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't

Love this.

Saw this in Swoozie's yesterday and can't stop thinking about it. Where could it go? Bathroom? Kitchen? Small wall near the stairs. Hmmmm.

Preschool

This picture shows Libby's mad hopping skills, Maddy's cheesy grin, but what it doesn't show is a power struggle to wear shoes and not sandals, not wanting to walk in the "dirt", and an early morning dance routine to "I Love A Rainy Night."

baby steps

Instead of rambling about how I haven't blogged in two months, I thought I would just start back with baby steps. Literally. Pictures, think lots of pictures.

Training for another half marathon or two. I couldn't do it without my running girls, especially those that push me through eight hard miles on a Saturday morning, or get me out of bed for a 5:45 AM run to in the darkness.

Even though I don't have a coolio iPhone, I can use the coolio retro camera app on my Droid that I heart as much as an iPhone.

Summer Summary

Swimming lessons - check.

Using the pool more than 5 times like last year - check.

Jumping off the side into the "big" pool - check.

Blowing bubbles - check.

Eating, eating, and more eating - check.

Sleeping in til nearly 8am after a big day at the pool - check.

Oh, and potty training! Check! Not 100%, but doing great and two little girls will be wearing big girl panties to school tomorrow!

Will it ever click?

This afternoon, I was holding Libby on my lap when all of a sudden, I felt something warm.

Yuck.

Yes, and on dry clean only pants.

Yes, I had just asked her two minutes earlier if she needed to potty.

We are about a week away from their 3rd birthday. I know everyone says that they'll potty-train when they are ready, but I'm beginning to wonder when that is.

June 12

Today was our minister's last day at our church. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around how someone who you may only 'think' about once a week is so ingrained in our lives. I'm assuming because he serves as our portal to God, if that is a proper description for a minister.

As I listed to his sermon today, I cried. I thought about hearing him preach for the first time, meeting with him during our pre-marriage counseling sessions, the night of our rehearsal dinner, the beautiful sermon he gave on our wedding day, how we consoled us and prayed with us when Maddy and Libby were in the NICU, and provided us with uplifting messages when we needed them and when we thought we didn't.

Everyone around us was crying and it was almost surreal seeing grown men sob over what so many would see as a promotion and a time of congratulations.

He told us to always remember the mission of our church and that did ring true with me. You have to always go back to the basics and that is true for so many things. Relationships, parenting, houses, exercise, clothes, food, etc.

Yes, our church won't be the same without him, but his twelve years of service have made so many remarkable changes, but I will remember the basics.

Still here.

I've heard from a few friends wondering what happened to the blog. Well, it's still here, I'm still here, just haven't made the time to write in the last, oh, six weeks! How did that happen!?

Life in a nutshell ...

Busy time as President-Elect for the Junior League: writing a speech, giving a speech, preparing a board retreat, lots of meetings, burning up the phone, traveling to Philly, and trying to make time for some strategic/big picture thinking.

Working part-time ... from home, thank goodness.

The girls are amazing. Growing up. Almost 3. Independent, funny, sweet, communicating, lots of pretend-play, hugs and kisses, tantrums and foot stomping. Typical almost 3 year old behavior.

We had a busy weekend ... pool, yard work, church, coffee, run with friends, burgers on the grill, seasonal summer beers, popsicles in the freezer. Lots of fun and much needed.

Hopefully, I can get back in the swing of this soon. I miss writing, but often find myself with nothing to write about, so I just read more blogs.