the Battery

Sunday morning we took the kids to the Battery, which is a beautiful historic waterfront park in Charleston. Seth had fun climbing cannons...

...and trees.

Amelia tried to climb with her brother...

...but decided it was much more fun to watch a princess with her daddy instead:

We had fun having some free time in the park, and then we went to Elise and Chad's house to have lunch on our way out of town.  I don't know what blooms in that park, but it kicks my allergies into gear every time we go!

Bridge Run 2010

We did it!  Saturday Nathan, Bryan, Sara, Chad, and I ran the Bridge Run 10k in Charleston.  We all headed to Mt Pleasant Friday afternoon.  Elise graciously picked up our packets for us on Thursday, so we didn't have to deal with the expo on Friday.  Here is the bridge in the distance on our way to Mt Pleasant:

It really is a cool bridge.  My parents walked it Friday while they waited for us to arrive.

The race started at 8am on Saturday.  After asking around, we determined it'd be easiest for us just to walk the 1.5 miles to the start.  It was cool on Saturday, but the walk was a good warm-up, and once we were in the corrals, it wasn't as chilly!

Our hotel was right along the race route.  My parents and the kids parked outside so they could watch the race. 

It was great to see our cheering section right before we headed up the bridge (although after running the hills around here, that bridge is NOTHING!).  Nathan and Sara started in a faster corral than the rest of us, but they didn't run together (Nathan in gray):

See me behind the person in red?  I swear Bryan and Chad were right beside me, I don't know how they didn't make it in the frame!

The mass of humanity behind us in the race (there are plenty of people who walk the whole way, too)...there were about 38,000 people registered for the race!

Bryan, Chad, and I ran together for most of the race.  Bryan sped up at mile 5, immediately after which, Chad and I witnessed CPR in progress (the man is okay).   We also saw Elise and Brian with about a mile to go...they were troopers (they had to drop Chad off with us before the bridge closed...it was a long morning for them!)  Chad decided to sprint the last quarter of a mile, but I kept him in my sights...good thing, because it took us forever to regroup with the others! 

We all had personal records on this race.  Chad finished 5 seconds ahead of me, and Bryan one second...funny this is, he and I didn't see each other, we were on opposite sides of the road! 

In our Team Fox gear:

We took a ferry back across the river, and Dad picked us up at Patriot's Point.  We were four cold kids by then.  It was by far my favorite race so far...we're already talking about doing it again next year!

Easter party

Bad timing, but I was in charge of Seth's class's Easter party on Friday.  While the kids were on the playground, I set up the craft in the classroom and hid a bunch of eggs with one of Seth's teachers.  Then we had an egg hunt:

After craft and snack, the kids showed us their calendar and how they say the Pledge of Allegiance.  They ended the day with a couple rounds of musical chairs.  It was so cute watching them cheer on their classmates!

I took Seth home a few minutes early...we had places to go and people to see!

last week's deals

On Monday, Amelia and I went to Kmart.  I bought Amelia a dress and a hoodie, each for $3.  They had all their clearance toys 50% off.  There was a Trio playset there for $75 with no clearance sticker.  I took it to the front to see if it was on clearance.  $15!  Sold! 

Tuesday Ben & Jerry's had a free cone day.  We went after nap with Austin and Sidney, and the kids really enjoyed their ice cream cones.

I have always used coupons, but over the last few months, I have started following a website that tracks deals for you...she even tells you what coupons to use based on the weekly grocery circular. Since the beginning of the year, every week I have saved a little bit more at the grocery store.  Last week Harris Teeter had triple coupons.  Wednesday I saved 71%, and only spent $26 on groceries for the week!

I had seen last week that ToysRUs had a deal on Toy Story and Toy Story 2.  On the same website,  I found $5 off coupons for both movies.  I got both movies for $26 (and they are BluRay/DVD combo packs), and each contains a free ticket to see Toy Story 3 this summer!

I get very excited when I get good deals...since I'm working less, I feel like it's part of my job to maximize our spending money. 

way to go, ladies!

These are some of my coworkers and friends, Angie, Sabrina, Lori, Lottie, and Lonnie.  About the same time I ran my first race last fall, Angie and Sabrina decided they wanted to train for a 5k.  They've picked up the others along the way.  All of them are in training right now.  Yesterday was St. Leo's 5k, and the girls could count the race as a practice.  Sabrina asked me to join them.  In was a very hilly course, but a beautiful morning for a run.  The girls are still doing run-walk intervals, but I am so proud of them...I know how hard it is to stand at that starting line the first time!  Afterwards, we went out to Cracker Barrel.  It was so nice to have a little girl time!

Team Fox!

A year ago today, Parkinson's became something we talked about more often than when we saw Michael J Fox on TV.  Usually in the spring, I ask you to consider sponsoring me for the March of Dimes.  That is still an organization that is near and dear to my heart.  This year, I'm asking you to consider making a donation to Team Fox instead.  Last summer, I set a goal for myself of running the Bridge Run 10K.  I am ready to meet that goal next week.  If you would like to help me celebrate accomplishing my goal, or just want to make a donation to an organization committed to finding a cure, please visit the Team Fox webpage, and type in my name to find my page.  Thanks!

Easter's on its way...

Thursday there was an Eggstravaganza at Reynolda Village.  The proceeds went to the local special needs school.  The kids had a BLAST.  We had a visit with the Easter Bunny...

There were plenty of fun things to do while we waited for the egg hunt.  There was an obstacle course, face painting, fishing for prizes, a magician making balloon animals, and a petting zoo.  A lady offered to take my picture with the kids:

The under-4 egg hunt was first.  Seth has always loved egg hunts.  It must be genetic.  Amelia knew exactly what to do and did not stop until her bucket was full!

We bumped into a couple of Seth's friends.  He was so excited to play with Ella Brooke and Megan!

Seth's bucket was a lot bigger than Amelia's, so he didn't fill his up, but he also had a very successful hunt when it was his turn.  We counted 52 eggs when we got home.  Not counting all the ones that are already up in the attic...

The Deac was very busy Thursday afternoon...after the egg hunt he must have hopped on the first flight to New Orleans (Wake played LATE that night and beat Texas in the first round of the tournament...go Deacs!)

they're barely Irish

Heck, they may not be Irish at all.  But they wore green today to keep the pinchers away! 

This is also the first time Amelia has worn a headband.  It has shamrocks all over it, and she thinks it's pretty cool.  Like last year, the leprechauns caused some trouble during the night.  This year, they lined up the kids' pj's across the hallway.  The kids loved it!

Kaitlyn is 5!

Last week, Kaitlyn turned five, and we celebrated her birthday Saturday at the YMCA (oh yeah, our kids play together at the Y, too).  Seth was a little overwhelmed by the number of kids at the party, but he didn't seem to mind the princess theme.  First there was some free play:

And then games in the gym:

Followed by an egg hunt and "pin the kiss on the frog", and finally cake!  The kids had a great time.  Here is a picture of the birthday girl (picture taken by Seth):

do Lutherans arrange marriages?

The other mommies at church have been teasing me and Nicole about when the weddings are going to be.  Seth and Kaitlyn were in the same preschool class last year, but aren't this year.  Every Sunday, they walk up to the children's sermon holding hands.  When the four kids see each other, hugs abound.  The kids came over Thursday afternoon so Kaitlyn's mom could work on birthday party stuff.  They had a blast, and I got a lot done because they were entertaining each other!

This picture is from Saturday.  Seth wouldn't hold Amelia's hand, but Ethan would!

bedhead

I think Amelia slept really well Wednesday night.

Spring, is that you?

There has been a slight change in the weather around here.  Spring is trying to make an appearance, and we are welcoming it with open arms!  Nathan and I were able to work out outdoors over the weekend.  In shorts!  Monday I met a coworker after school so our girls could play together.  Within five minutes, seven girls from Seth's school showed up, so he had fun playing with the ladies.  (This picture shows the remnant of the shiner he got on a playdate last week.)

The forecast for Tuesday was even better than Monday's, so we had a picnic with Seth's buddies.  These kids were swingin' machines!

Yes, the big boys were in the baby swings.  I don't know why.  Last year I couldn't have paid Seth to sit in one of those swings. 

Amelia got a birthday present from Krista, Nick, and Lily Lou...her very own soccer ball, shin guards, and knee socks with pink accents.  New afternoon pasttime:  kicking soccer balls around the yard!

playing tricks on the new doctor

Amelia had her 2-year-old check-up Wednesday.  Let me first say, I was not on my "A" game.  Somehow the cereal lid popped off in the pantry, and I started my day cleaning Multrigrain Cheerios off every shelf.  School was on a delay due to the snow we got the day before (Yes, snow in March!  Again!), so Amelia's appointment was moved back so I could get Seth to school.  I had to walk him in that day because I had made "upside down rainbow cupcakes" for U-week show and tell. 

(And boy, would I have been ticked if school had been cancelled...that was a lot of work!)  Walking Seth in ended as it usually does, with a hissyfit from Amelia because she didn't want to leave.  

Anyways, this was our first time at a pediatric practice much closer to home.  I really liked the kids' pediatrician, but the wait has always been ridiculously long, and the office staff leaves much to be desired.  We did have to wait a little bit, but since they accomodated us, I couldn't complain.  Plus, I didn't have any wipes with me, so we spent most of the time changing a stinky diaper in the bathroom anyways.  The doctor was very nice, and you could tell he's spent most of his career in teaching facilities, and that he's very good at it.  Amelia really liked him, and she wow'ed him with her vocabulary.  She didn't need any shots, and that made her like him even more!  I'm sure we made a good impression...when he was checking her ears, he found the left one colored in red and green marker.  I was mortified. 

The important stuff:  24.8 lbs, about 20th percentile in weight.  33 1/4 inches, about 35th percentile in height, and over an inch shorter than Seth at that age.  She doesn't look dainty, but I guess she kind of is!

We did have time to run by a new children's boutique on our way to pick up Seth.  It was, after all, U week, and Seth needed an umbrella for show-and-tell!

birthday portraits

Sunday afternoon, we took Amelia to get her 2-year-old portraits and got an updated picture of the kids together.  Amelia was all smiles; it was by far our best session yet.  I had shown her Seth's pictures, so of course she had to stand on the block, too:

The kids had a lot of fun posing together:

We even got several good ones of Seth by himself!  It appears his nice smile has returned again!

the day she turned two

Amelia woke up Sunday knowing she was two, wanting to be three (typical!).  She wore her "birthday girl" shirt and her tutu to Sunday school:

The kids LOVE Sprout, so Seth and I made sure that Chica wished Amelia a happy birthday.  This was the online version:

We also saw her name scroll across the bottom of the TV during their birthday program, but our recording didn't catch the whole thing, so we don't know if Kevin and Chica displayed the card we made on TV or not.  We made it during that "snow week", when we were itchin' to find things to do.  Want to see it?

Seth is the best big brother EVER.  The end.