The Train

The Dress and the Shoes

The Tractor

The Boy

The Girl

The Tree

I should have posted this a month ago. Better late than never.

Rock On, Tricky Bro!

That's Owen's current favorite expression. For Christmas he's asking for a train and a big box to play in. He's also just outgrown his snowpants and he's lost all his waterproof mittens. Santa is looking online at Lands End for help.

Audrey's belly is so big that all her shirts ride up and her pants pop open. I'm going to have to switch to dresses so she won't look like such a ragamuffin all the time.

Gratitudes

Since I made a list of things I want or want to do, I thought I should make a list of things I have or have done. So here are my early thoughts.

1. I have two healthy, happy children.
2. I have a helpful, loving, supportive husband.
3. I have a decent public education.
4. I have flexible work that I can do during naps, at night and on weekends (in addition to my part-time work-week schedule).
5. I have been to England, Scotland, Belgium, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Canada.
6. I have seen a shark (a very small one) while snorkeling.
7. I have hiked in a rain forest.
8. I have been to Alaska and Hawaii.
9. I have been to Miami, Key West, San Francisco, New Orleans, Denver, Austin, Baltimore, Atlanta, Portland, Houston, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Las Vegas and several other U.S. cities.
10. I have been to Disney World several times (and once I stayed at the Polynesian with my high-school friend Lauren).
11. I have been on a cruise to the Bahamas.
12. I have been to Puerto Rico.
13. I have run a marathon.
14. I have been to a rave (once is enough).
15. I have been to Bears, Cubs, White Sox, Mariners, Sonics and Brewers games.
16. I have met one celebrity--Kelly McGillis
17. I can knit simple things.
18. I have won an award for writing.
19. I can see the lake from my living room 8 months of the year (it's frozen for about 5 of them).
20. I have been to the San Juan islands twice, once just with Matt and once with my family for a magical Thanksgiving.
21. My family loves and tolerates me.
22. I don't have any fillings.
23. I've managed to stay in touch with some friends even after I've moved away or they've moved away.
24. I've never broken a bone, had major surgery or a need for long-term medication.
25. I have been in two weddings besides my own.
26. I am a Godmother to Sam.
27. I have a lovable if naughty dog.
28. I have lived in Washington, D.C. and Seattle, Washington.

I'll keep adding to the list. Feel free to make suggestions.

100 Things to Do

I don't like the term "Bucket List", but I wanted to keep track of the things I want to do at some point in my life.

1. Visit Rome with Matthew
2. Become fluent in a foreign language
3. Build my own house (must have wood floors and a double wall oven)
4. Write a novel
5. Replace my lost wedding ring
6. Run another marathon (and without an injury)
7. Have a flat stomach so I can wear a bikini
8. Cheer my kids' sports teams from the sidelines
9. Have a house that is good for entertaining (see #3)
10. Live near extended family
11. Have my teeth whitened
12. Learn to sew
13. Learn to ski
14. Visit Andrea, Steve, Sam and Matthew
15. Visit Kathy and H
16. Visit Beth, Jason, Sam and Claire
17. Visit Emily, Sean and Eva
18. Visit Andrea, Chris, Lucian and baby girl
19. Live in a big city again
20. Have a job that I love, that I can bike to, and that wouldn't dream of ever giving up
21. Take my kids to Disney World
22. Have nice skin
23. Send my kids to camp in the Great North Woods
24. Learn to sail
25. Learn to like camping
26. Go to the Toronto Film Festival
27. Go to the Oscars
28. Spend a summer in a cottage by the sea
29. Write a screenplay
30. Live in a foreign country
31. Get certified to teach something (writing perhaps?)
32. Be able to do a handstand
33. Eat chocolate and bread in Paris
34. Ride a gondola in Venice
35. Drink wine in Florence
36. Explore Prague, Krakow and St. Petersburg
37. Shop for cool modern fabric, notecards, toys and furniture in Copenhagen
38. Go to Rio
39. Live in Los Angeles
40. Drink a beer in Dublin
41. Buy jewelry in Sante Fe
42. Learn history in Boston
43. See a Broadway play in New York City
44. Wander the markets in Marrakech
45. Visit Istanbul
46. Get a latte in Portland (again)
47. Practice my rusty German and eat Laugen in Munich and Berlin
48. See Aimee Mann, Amy Winehouse, Brandi Carlile, Lucinda Williams, Emmy Lou Harris and John Mellencamp perform
49. See Shawn Colvin and the Ditty Bops again
50. Live abroad for a year
51. Go to a high school reunion
more to come....

Accident Prone

Audrey is many things--sweet, feisty, affectionate--but she is not graceful. In fact, the little darling seems to tumble more regularly than most 18-month-old-cutie pies. The scabs from her last fall just fell off when she did it again. She face-planted on the hard kitchen floor. She split her lip and knocked a tooth loose. The dentist said the muscles might tighten but they might not. If not, she'll have to have a root canal. Normally they don't save baby teeth, but Audrey is quite young to lose a tooth (most of her baby teeth haven't even come in yet) and the front teeth are integral to proper speech development. If the dentist does save it, it will still likely discolor.

My poor girlie.

Yes We Can

It should be no surprise that I am beyond pleased with the outcome of the election. I am an unabashed Democrat, true, and I would be celebrating if it were Hilary who had won. However, I think Obama is different. He is proof that hope is never futile and well-intentioned hard work is never wasted. He reminds me that by working together (call it community organizing) we can achieve sea change. Because, to me (and I expect to many others) that is what this is.

After eight years of suffering under the leadership of a man I neither respected nor trusted, I have an articulate, intelligent and captivating president. No, he is not perfect. No one is. But he has changed the language of politics, risen above muck-raking, refused to behave less than civilly and shown that anything is possible.

Do I think he will solve all of this country's problems? Of course not. Do I think he'll put us on the right track? Definitely.

Here's to hope.

Pity Party

I've realized that I can count the people who read my blog on one hand (and it doesn't take all five fingers). I could consider why, but that would further bruise my ego as a writer and a parent.

I could probably communicate as well or better by writing directly to my readers (e.g. Kathy). At least then I could be more personal and candid.

Why I Ran

So most people I've told about my marathon know that I was injured for the race. The rational part of me knew that I shouldn't run. The emotional part of me knew that I had to. I had done all the training. I was as ready as I would ever be. The day was perfect. Matt was by my side when the gun went off.

I have started too many great climbs and have retreated before the summit. Not because I couldn't get there, but because I was afraid I might not get there. Or, worse, afraid to get there. This time I wasn't going to stand in my own way. I wasn't going to let fear of failure or fear of success stop me. I wanted this.

So I chanted to myself (there is no pain, only love). I talked to my knee. I breathed into the pain and blew the pain out. In truth, it hurt every step. There were times when I thought my knee was going to give out and buckle beneath me. But I wasn't going to stop running unless I fell down. I never did.

I crossed the finish line with more relief than euphoria. I have my medal, and I love it. I am so glad I took this on. I can't wait to do it again.

Talk to Me

Okay, I've opened my blog to anyone...for a limited time. If you want to continue reading this blog, e-mail me and I'll invite you once I close it off to strangers again.

4:40:11

That's my official time for the Indianapolis Marathon. Here I am with my brother Bill, who also ran the marathon (and finished a little over an hour before I did).

I'm already eyeing my next race....

This Is Beginning to Sound Familiar

I hurt myself again. I strained my IT band and then hurt my hip, too, with over-stretching trying to ease my IT band. It's unlikely that I'll run next Saturday. I haven't exercised in a week and my clothes are already snug. *sigh* I guess I don't have a marathon in me after all.

26.2

I am as ready as I can be. I ran 22 miles on Friday. At mile 21 my knee went out briefly, so I walked about a quarter mile before running again for the rest. I finished in four hours. Now I taper off my long runs and then my short runs until October 18 when I run my first (perhaps only) marathon. I want to finish at a running pace, and I don't want to be so ravaged by the experience that my family will never let me attempt this again.

Can any of you believe it? I never in my life thought I had a marathon in me. I'm sure I do now. I just need to make sure I can find it in about three weeks.

Five and a half hours

That is the longest period of time I have spent child-free since Audrey was born. Before that it was 8.5 hours--my work day--since the Thanksgiving before Audrey was born. I was supposed to visit Denver and that fell through. I have talked to my friend Beth about visiting Portland, but Matt would have to take time off work. I just don't think it's going to happen. I love my kids, but I desperately need about 48 hours away. Not from them, but from the responsibility of them. I would like to just be me again for two days. To wake when I wanted. To sleep when I wanted. To get in the car with just my purse. To stop as many places as I liked. To be quiet. To go to yoga in the middle of the day. To try on clothes before I buy them.

So that is at the top of my Christmas wish list. 48 hours of just me.

Forgive Me

I'm sorry for the infrequency of my posts. We've been dealing with the tree-falling aftermath. Audrey got a penicillin-resistant staph infection on her hand. My computer died. I'm training for a marathon. It seems like I can't hold onto a thought long enough to act on it, and so much in my life is suffering. So I apologize for not being more consistent.

I will say that Owen is still loving school. We met a neighbor boy who also rides the red squirrel bus home. Audrey is healing, although I think there is still a sliver in her hand despite the doctor's protest otherwise. My running is okay, although the long runs are very difficult for me. I ran a 10K today and my time was a little off.

Matt hasn't been feeling well, but he goes to the doctor this week. I hope we can identify the source of his stomach pain. I'm worried about him.

The house gets painted on Tuesday (and probably Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, etc.). Then come the roof and gutters. The electrical work will happen soon. We were hoping to finish the attic as part of this, but I'm doubtful now.

That's about it. I need to spend some time this week drumming up some work. Anyone have any writing projects for me?

More vacation pictures

We spent a week in Door County and loved every minute of it. Here is more proof.

Kids on Vacation

Just a few highlights.

Tree vs. House

Who won? I'm not sure yet.

Farewell, my honey locust

The offending tree has been removed from our rooftop. Matt has crawled around the attic looking for signs of penetrating branches but it was too dark to see. There are some serious dents on the roof, but I think we're lucky it wasn't worse. In fact, we're lucky no one was hurt, that it didn't damage the neighbor's pool, and that the rest of the tree was taken down before it could fall, too.

Our neighbor who is uphill from us called us over for a beer and to watch the tree coming down today. I think he would have thrown a party if it were a Friday night.

If a tree falls in the woods

does it land on my house? No, that would be the honey locust in our back yard. We are currently waiting for the power company to repair the downed line. Then the electrician to repair the connection to the house. Then the tree trimmer to cut down what is left of the tree. Then the roofer to assess the damage to the roof and gutters. There is no hope for the grill.

I thought we were finished with acts of God (and acts of stupidity) that cost us thousands of dollars. Once again, I was wrong.

The plus side is that our tomatoes will get more full sunlight now and Matt will have to clean the gutters less often.

Through the Door

We just returned from the most heavenly vacation in Door County, Wisconsin. Beaches, biking, boating, barbecues, swimming pools, picnics, ferry rides, fishing, ice cream, lattes, shopping--all with absolutely perfect weather. Our good friends Amy, Andrew, Alex and Duncan joined us for the last two nights, which just capped off the most perfect week. It was just amazing and I didn't want to come home. I'll post photos soon!

Plastic Bee vs. Window; Bee Wins

July 24, 2008. First broken window. Culprit: Small boy wielding a McDonald's Happy Meal plastic toy. Damages uncertain.

More photos

Finally some photos

Apologies

I am not sure where my time has been going, but obviously not into my blog. I apologize. Here are the Cliff's Notes versions of our lives over the past month or so:

Audrey sprouted two new teeth (top, left and right of center). Current total: 4
Audrey has brand spankin' new white walking shoes.
Audrey refuses to walk.
Audrey loves lolling on the floor rolling from back to stomach, stomach to back, laughing.
Audrey had her first official haircut (Fantastic Sams) after her second unofficial haircut (me) looked like it was done in the dark with cuticle scissors. In all honestly, her hair still looks bad but evenly so.
Owen finished his first year of preschool.
Owen (along with parents and friend Logan) saw Kung Fu Panda.
Owen, after watching the Olympic gymnastic trials, performed naked gymnastics in the living room.
Owen began t-ball and a new soccer class.
I ran a 10K and finished 11th among women and 1st in my age group. I ran just under 8-minute miles.
I started taking hot yoga classes and LOVE every minute of it.
The kids and I took a road trip to Indiana and Ohio. We had a great time and are eager to go back. Mmmm smores.
I'm also pretty sure that I was passed by a high school boyfriend while running in South Bend. He was on a bike and I only heard his voice, but it had to be him. By the time it all came together, he was too far ahead for me to say hello. So hi, Curt, if you ever read this. I hope you are well.

Wildlife I have seen on my morning runs: snapping turtle crossing the road, blue heron fishing in the canal, family of raccoons foraging in a neighbor's garbage.

Current score in the Battle of the Birdfeeders: Squirrels 3, Matt & Jen 0.

Roadrunners

Matt and I both ran races today. He ran the half marathon and I ran the quarter. He finished in 2:12 (10-minute miles) and was happy enough with his time. He faded a little at the end, which disappointed him.

I ran the quarter in 55:51. I finished 9th out of 63 in my age group, 45th out of 492 women overall and 155/850+ runners total. I'm happy with my performance and time. I'm already on the lookout for a 10K to run. I'm still not ready for a half marathon, but I might get there.

In One Week

Audrey will celebrate her first birthday. I am awash in emotion.

And more pictures

I can't decide which are my favorites, so I'm posting a bunch.

More pictures

Pictures

Insult + Injury = Wisconsin

Winter isn't over. The old snow is melted, but a storm is headed this way on Saturday.

Mother Nature, I surrender. Will you stop now?

Diversity Festival

This afternoon we attended a diversity festival for Owen's school. He sang and signed "Get Together" and "Kukaburra". Then he danced the Macarena. It was a potluck and the food was fabulous. Audrey held up well despite missing her nap. I'll post photos later.

In other news, Audrey's ear infection is raging. She cried for two hours last night and her eye is all gummy, the telltale sign that she has an infection. She also has some digestive problems, and someone suggested that she might have food allergies (apparently chronic ear infections and digestive problems are often signs of food allergies in infants).

*sigh*

It's not a diagnosis, but it's something to think about. I just want my little Girlie to feel good and to sleep through the night again.

Baptism

It's Spring ... Somewhere

But not here. *sigh*

Here are some pictures of the kids from our weekend in the Dells (also Easter weekend), a trip to a farm for lambing, and some shots from around the house.