Some days

I'd like to think that my sweet girl is perfectly charming all the time. But then I know it's a lie. Some days she is just off. Today we spent the morning babysitting Jett at his house and all was going along great, both babies slept the first hour and a half. Then they woke up within 15 minutes of each other. These two are just 5 months apart in age, but miles apart in personalities. Jetter is on the go go, walking everywhere, while Charley is content to crawl. Charley was a wimp today. She cried when she didn't get the toy she wanted, she cried when I left the room and she cried when she just wasn't happy. It was one of those mornings. It made me think that I could be in BIG TROUBLE, Girl Trouble that is. She is 100% girl. Yikes. This could be just the beginning.

Letting the darkness in

Today I relinquished my blond highlights for my more natural brown roots. (At least I think it is my natural color, I've been highlighting since my junior year of high school). Funny thing, my eyebrows now match my hair color. Over the last couple of weeks I've watch the roots stretch out across my part and I even saw a few grays peeking out. Argh, does this mean that the thirty something in me has found her voice, er color? The cut is a little too short, but it will grow and with time I might get use to it. For now, it's the new me... what do you think? Be nice, I'm still a little unsure myself.

Kids in costume what's not to love

Halloween has come and gone, the pumpkins are starting to droop.
We had our sugar, Carmel apples, chocolate bars and gum.
But now it's time to clean up the gloop.
We're glad the Best family join us for another year of fun.
Jake is the scary skeleton.
Jett's the cute skeleton.
Caelin is the sassy Pirate Chic.
Brodie's the scary Vampire.
Jace is Darth Vadar.
Charley is our pixie fairy.
And Casey is 8 months pregnant and still cute as ever.
Thanks to all my ghouls and boys for the night of treating and a few tricks.

The 1st Ever Sycamore Spooky Run

I wanted the 5K Spooky Run to be about making memories. And today, Saturday, October 31st 2009 memories were made. I loved watching moms and daughters running and walking around Corona de Tucson together step by step. I loved watching friends that had trained together cross the finish line together. I loved hearing the small crowd cheer each runner to the end.I loved see my boys riding in the back of Jeff's Rhino with HUGE grins on their faces and crazy clown hair. Even on the cold and WINDY day people were smiling and having fun supporting each other. I am so grateful to have good friends like Elizabeth and Kristi that did more than just showed up. They planned with me, made arrangements for race numbers and made amazing flyers, made up games and supported me through the process of having a great idea to pulling off a road race for 100 people. In the end it was so much fun people were already asking if we'll do it again next year. I guess we should consider that a success if people are already planning on signing up again. The only down side of the day was my Lifetime table and chairs were just too good to pass up and someone picked them up and drove away before the race had even started. There's always a down side to the many ups I suppose. Happy Halloween Everyone!

Red Ribbon Week

Lily, the dog.

Our black lab mix Lily has gone to a new home. After spending the summer in foster care with Grandma B, my brother found a good home for our dog. We decided that with baby and a small home/yard it just wasn't fair for Lily to be here in the desert. She was so happy with grass and space to run when we were in Utah this summer. This morning I was thinking about her with her new owner. I'm hoping that she behaves. I'm hoping that she gets to go on walks. I'm hoping that she is loved.

Lily is our first family pet. Her brown eyes animated with excitement when the kids chased her and played with her. Those eyes also looked up with sadness when the heat was too oppressive to go outside. I think about that cold morning in January when I let her off the lease while I was running, and she was hit by a car just 200 yards from our driveway. I ran several miles trying to find her after she was hit, she had ran down highway 89 in shock from the impact. As I walked home that morning sobbing with the thoughts of having to tell Jake what had happened I realized how important she was to our family. To my relief she had circled back and gone home that morning. Chad found her scratching at the door with just a small amount of blood on her nose and skid marks on her back. She was my walking partner and silent listening friend.

She was loved, but it better that she can be outside and run, feel the first snowflakes fall and watch the spring tulips bloom. I hope the boys don't read this for a couple of months. They still think she is having a sleep over at Grandma's house.

Through their eyes

What does the world look like through their eyes? As I look around my house I am happy with the environment we are creating within our family. We are striving to be kind. loving. thoughtful. patience. understanding. honest. fun. Not to say we don't have our disagreements. tantrums. wrestling matches. melt downs. tears. But all and all we are happy. I look into these eyes everyday and I am so grateful for my blessings and opportunities to be a mom. wife. sister. daughter. friend.