Have a Holly Jolly Christmas...

Tim started it. “Since Thanksgiving is so late this year, do you want to put up the decorations early?” Um, yes.

I heart Christmas. I still remember Christmas Eve, coming home from church and Santa had been at our house already!! [Because of course, Batty was at the beginning of the alphabet] While the memories of Barbie Dream houses, Get-Along-Gang dolls and Legos will always stay with me, I truly just enjoy the spirit of the season and enjoying time with our families. Nora is understanding what “family” is and called us “family” as we watched a Christmas show tonight. Crushingly adorable. 

As I love the season, I could care less about the gifts… Tim and I only exchanged gifts our first year of dating. Since then, if I need something, I just buy it. I would much rather spend the $$$ on food and drinks with friends and family. I wasn’t trying to be Scroogey, but Tim convinced me to get Nora A gift this year. I complied with something somewhat useful - a tricycle. 

With my own daughter, I’m excited to instill my own traditions on her and start our own. We started watching Emett Otter’s Jug Band Christmas [thanks to Nana] and I want to finish it - it was made in 1977 and it’s Jim Henson amaze-balls. 

While Nora slept a thankful 2 1/2 hour nap, Tim and I transformed the house to “Christmas,” which Nora is already loving. The lights, the woodland animals - specifically mice. 

With a traditional mantel, I’m rocking the decorations even harder now. And strangely enough, both our tree lights and start were burnt out this year. Darn, a Target run! I added a silver wreath among other paraphernalia… I mean, Ailo needs a stocking too! 

Takin’ care of business

The final product!

Cold Saturday

23 Months, Week 3

We had nothing on the books today and it was very cold so there was a lot of fun playing indoors - let the imagination run [and boy did it]!

Ailo loves the sleeping bag. Cushion and warmth I suppose. Nora had fun covering Ailo to sleep and putting a race medal around his neck, “Happy Birthday Ailo!” she told him. 

Exercise!

Castle fort!

Night, night Ailo

Happy Birthday Ailo

Let’s Potty!

23 Months, Week 3

Tim and I decided it’s time to get serious about potty training. Nora dapples with the potty, but feel it’s time to try harder. Nearly everyone says “use M&Ms as treats.” First, I’m not feeding Nora M&Ms because of the artificial food coloring [re: behavior problems]. Second, I’m not comfortable with a food reward… yet. I’m starting with stickers and when Nora reaches a certain amount of stickers, then she can get a little gift. Not sure what that will be yet. 

I designed the potty sheets and had to laugh that my design skills are being applied to a poo-poo paper. Great use of a degree!

Naturally Nora

I’m making cupcakes again this year for Nora’s birthday and was glad to find Naturally Nora again - not only is it named after our kiddo, but it’s the next best thing to homemade. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of the ingredient list next to a box of Betty Crocker. See the difference in length? Yeah - one of my food rules is, “The less ingredients, the better it is for you.” Additionally, what ARE those ingredients in Betty Crocker? Lots of things I can’t pronounce. 

Big ups, Naturally Nora!

More Goofball

23 Months, Week 3

Just wearing her lunch bag. you know.

Cancer Sucks.

After 11 months fighting valiantly against neuroendochrine cancer, my work friend, Lesley lost her husband at the age of 33. Too. Young. He found out December of 2012 - Stage 4 - and Lesley was 9 months pregnant. It’s heartbreaking and not fair and unbelievable to think about.

They fought hard and strong; did so much research and open to medical trials, chemo, radiation and blood transfusions... they even went to a nutritionist who said eating zero animal products is the best way to fend off the cancer [something everyone can benefit from].

Mike was an inspiration in the creative community and I only hope that when I pass, I have as much people who come to celebrate my life.

Tacos forever, Mike!

DAV 5K

23 Months, Week 1

Our friend Jen, who works for Baird (a sponsor,) invited us to join them for the inaugural DAV 5K to honor veterans. I was the only one on deck to run, which I was looking forward to - I’ve never done a 5K downtown and was looking forward to flat & fast. 

Saturday morning was above freezing and thankfully crept out of the 30s once the sun came out. The race kicked off with probably 100 motorcyclists rolling down Pete Rose Way. The race was really nice for the most part - they just need to make sure they communicate that walkers should stay in the back, runners up front. Lots of bobbing and weaving for the first 1/2 mile. 

At mile 2, all those bearded and leathered cyclists were standing on the boulevard of Merhring Way, hooting and hollering for all the runners - it was fun. I finished in about 28 minutes so waited for my walkers and watched the finishers - it was impressive and moving to see many men in full uniform with their backpacks and their brigade flags. 

Perhaps a new annual fall 5K!

Motorcycles!

Another race Mom?

Jen & I

Daylight Savings CRAP

22 Months, Week 4

We had zero going on this weekend and we were so happy! Tim had a last-minute invitation for some testosterone time and I told him to go - he’s been working hard [and not always happily], so he deserved a night with the guys. This was also “fall back” daylight savings time. 

Up until this weekend, I’d been ahead of the game and adjusted Nora’s bedtimes accordingly so the night of the spring ahead/fall back wouldn’t be too jarring. Not this fall. 

Nora stayed up until about 8pm which is very late for her. We watched our nightly TV before bedtime and I knew she was hanging on by a thread. A small nagging voice in my head said “Christine, you fool - you know keeping her up late doesn’t mean she’s going to sleep in.” And boy, was that voice right. 

4:45am [which to Nora’s body meant 5:45am] - Nora was UP. There was no chance of getting her to lay back down. Holy. Crap. Tim was spending the night at his friend’s house so I was flying solo. Thankfully Nora was in a good mood. 

Nora and I were up for FOUR hours before Tim got home before 9am. I baked cookies, you guys. Thankfully we didn’t have anything going on today, so I attempted a “nap” on the couch while she slept. I don’t do naps well and I was in that “middle ground,” but even just closing my eyes for 1hr was helpful to get through the rest of the day!

Nora gives Chica a bath!

Barely there... with Mommy’s new running beanie on.

Halloween 2013

22 Months, Week 4

Man, the weather sucked this Halloween. Many towns postponed trick-or-treating due to the rain and high winds on deck. Milford said “Whatever! We’re tough - get out there kids!”

All was fine until about 7pm when the winds and rain kicked in. Nora was in her elephant costume, I threw on some dark eye makeup and a hoodie to get in the mood. We all hovered at the front door for about 1hr. Nora enjoyed placing the candy in and out of the bowl. 

We had TWO trick-or-treaters. The second kid came at 7:30 in the midst of the squall, so I heaved two handfuls of candy in his bag for braving the weather. He was pretty pleased. 

Ooo scary!

Born to Run

*Warning: Running post

I’m in a book club that’s been great - have really enjoyed every book so far - whew! The book for our next get together was Born to Run - a mini-saga about a group of ultrarunners [50+ miles at a time] that round up in Mexico for a once-in-a-lifetime trail race with some native Mexicans of the Tarahumara tribe. The book is probably one of my favorites I’ve read... ever? Of course, I’m a runner, so maybe I’m biased. 

The story itself has interludes throughout with interesting scientific studies, spiritual thoughts and anthropological evidence that we are built for long distance running - it really is amazing. One of the more interesting bits was a theory that Homosapians beat out Neanderthals because we could run for long distances; actually outrun their prey with endurance and not speed. Amazing! 

Another bit had some pretty convincing evidence that running with LESS cushioning is better for your body - I’ve asked around the running community and have heard some anecdotes that will drive me to purchase a pair of Vibram Five Fingers this spring - you know, those ugly toe-shoes? Yeah, I’m all over it. 

I went out for a 7-mile run this Saturday and ended up going 8 because I felt good. However, my hip was not happy. Honestly, I haven’t been very strict about my exercises, but I’m also willing to try another route and going to give this “barefoot”/minimal idea a shot this spring. 

The book was crazy inspirational and just makes me wanna go out and run - now.