very first ballgame

Take me out to the ballgame!

Take me out to the crowd!

Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks!

I don't care if I ever get back!

So lets ROOT ROOT ROOT for the home team!

If they don't win it's a shame!

Cause it's 1!

2!

3 strikes you're out!

at the ol' ball game!

a fit

These two are best buds.  Siblings of the heart, if you will.

We were at the zoo with them recently and Ellie threw an enormous fit.

A gigantic fit.

An embarrasing fit.

A "whose kid is that?" fit.

See?

She even had Enzo on the ground covering his ears.

And 2 year old Sascha going "Ellyee?  Calm down Ellyee!"

Then I tried to get the yearly turtle picture and Enzo was determined not to let that happen.  Crazy kid. 

He is so funny.

And smart.

And fun to be around.

And slightly nerdy.  In a good way.

He loves all things skeleton and star wars.

Knew what a didgeridoo was before he was 2.  And could pronounce it correctly. 

The kid brought a National Geographic to the zoo as his "toy." 

No joke.

Love these kids.

But as it always happens,

the fit disappeared just as quickly as it came.

And all was well again.

last pool day

This kid was a fish this summer.  Must teach her to swim over the winter.  She wanted to so bad and swallowed lots of pool water as a result of her own trying. 

Sadly, the pool is now closed.  So next year pool, watch out!

Ellie will be a swimmer!  For real!

weekend

We had a good one! We started it all off with Ellies first fall soccer game, where, I am proud to say, she has improved greatly over the summer.

Then we lunched at a little joint downtown that is like Chipolte, only fresher and better.

Then we listened to some music, got matching t-shirts and new earrings and people watched.

Then we picked out a cookie

at the west side market

and ate it on the street.

We happened across a turtle, so we gave him a pet,

did a little gardening

and hiked. Cause whats a weekend without a little hiking?

On our hike, we saw real live deer in the woods,

and hung from a branch.

We also played some video games,

jumped really, REALLY, high,

and had some popcorn.


We are exhausted!

We also had a family movie night and watched The Neverending Story. Ellie is just like her mama and loved it. Man. I still love that movie.

Also, I ran my first ever 10 miles. In a row. All at once. Yea me!

Maybe that is why I am exhausted...

august

I have never liked August. When I was young it meant going back to school, and routines, and busy nights. Maybe it was because both my parents were teachers and therefore, despised August and the end of their vacation. But August has always been a bane. A month to "get through."

Plus, the light is weird in August. It is all glassy and harsh. Especially in the afternoons. I don't like that. I am very particular about my light. Don't ever turn an overhead on in my presence. Blech.

Plus it is still really, really hot and usually by this time I am over hot.

Plus, about this time every year, I really start to look forward to fall.

To mums and hot cider, and pumpkin donuts, and ghosts. To sweaters and warm socks, and pretty leaves and smoke in the air. To picking out just the right costume and attending fall festivals. To school open houses and new school art for the fridge. There is so much to love.

Fall is the best season. Period.

Every year in February, after months of snow and cold and darkness, I curse myself for wishing away summer.

"Why was I so anxious for fall and cool weather?"

But I can't help it.

I don't like August.

sorry!

We had to make a slightly emergent trip home to Indiana. That is why there has been no blogging.

We are home now.

Posts to come soon! I promise!

these two

Oh these two.

They are like peas and carrots.

Peas in a pod.

They have secrets

and special cuddles.

Both adore ice cream

and chocolate milkshakes.

She has his skin tone

and tans instead of burns.

And both have birthmarks on their backs.

He plays with her.

Much better than I do.

He really plays.

Maybe its because he doesn't see her everysinglesecond of the day.

Or maybe he is just a fantastic daddy.

I see them holding hands

and my heart melts a little.

I see his smirk show up in her smile

and I just shake my head.

I see his solid body in her little girl frame,

those sturdy little legs, those strong arms,

and am thankful for her healthy body.



As she grows up I know he will protect her.

From storms,

and big dogs,

her angry mama,

and later, boys.



As she grows up I know he will teach her

to golf

and play basketball

how to drive

and read a map.

Cause mama is totally directionally challenged.

He will tackle the hard homework

like science and math.

I will help with the writing

and spelling.

Cause the guy can't spell. At all. God bless him.



One day he will help her pick colleges

and classes to take.

He will encourage her to go far away

because he knows it will be best for her.

And I will have to leave the room.

Cause while I know its best too,

I won't be brave enough to tell her to go.

One day he will give her away

and his heart will break.

Maybe more than mine.

But she will be prepared.

She will be ready.

Cause she will know what a man should be.

As a husband. And a father.

Cause she has him.

She always has him.



These two.

I adore them. I cherish them. I love them.

So so so much.

what i know for sure

summer is awesome

pandora radio is awesome

christina perri is awesome

this girl is awesome


kids leaving for college is sad

and exciting and awesome

good wine is awesome

new mattresses are awesome

i am in a way better mood

and that's awesome

fresh blueberries are awesome

the new jacket i am gonna wear tonight is awesome

lists are awesome

coffee is awesome

the blog world is awesome

missing a run is not awesome

and i feel guilty

nights out are awesome

the word awesome is awesome

blog posts about nothing are awesome

you are awesome

an oscar kind of day

Oscar.

As in Oscar the grouch.

I can already tell I am going to be grouchy today. It's not good when I know it at 7:26 in the morning.

It's really not good when I know it after a run, cause usually a run really starts the day right.

Oh goody.

Goody Goody Gum Drops.

Maybe it's the fact my house won't sell.

Or maybe it's the fact I am going to be a single parent this weekend. (Chris qualified for a big golf tournament so YEA HIM!! I am very proud of him, but still! Friday, Saturday AND Sunday? Why is it always worse on the weekend?)

Or maybe it's the fact my house won't sell.

Or maybe it's the fact that Ellie is exerting her independence tenfold lately and wants to wear only bathing suits and ballerina dresses.

Or maybe it's the fact my house won't sell and I found the cutest little cottage in the town I want and it's in our price range and I know it's going to dissappear before I get a chance to take a second look.

Or maybe it's the fact I want pancakes with lots of butter for breakfast but have made a "nutritional commitement."

Or maybe it's the fact my house won't sell.

Or maybe it's the fact that my enormous cat keeps pooping outside her box.

Or maybe it's the fact my house won't sell.

Or maybe it's the fact that my dishwasher needs unloaded and that is my absolute least favorite chore.

Or maybe it's the fact my house won't sell.

Woe is me.

Can you hear them?

Those tiny little violinists playing sad music following me around?

I can.

I think those little buttheads think I am feeling sorry for myself.

But I'm not. I'm just grouchy. Can't a girl be grouchy on occasion? Can't the glass be half empty for a change?

Whew! I feel better.

Cause while all of the above is true, I have all the important things. Health, wealth (ha!) and happiness. Mostly.

what ellie did while we were gone

I'd say she had fun.

As a matter of fact, I don't think she wanted to come home.

She is a fish, this one.

And she got to spend time with her idol, Izzy. And Izzy's friend, Carly.

2 big girls playing with her! Score!

One more huge thanks to the Palladinos for everything!