Top 13 of 2013

1. We had lots of visits from the tooth fairy for both of the kids.

2. We joined the subdivision pool. (it cost a pretty penny to join but we are so glad we did).

3. Lucas learned to ride his bike without training wheels which then led to a lot of family bike rides.

4. Addison and I went to the Taylor Swift concert in Chicago with friends and had an amazing night.

5. Bob ran a personal best half marathon in 1:38!

6. We bought some new furniture for the house and made some much needed improvements to the exterior of our house. (can't wait to see what improvements we make to the house in 2014).

7. Lucas had his first season of baseball and loved it (as well as soccer) and Addison started soccer too.

8. A very wonderful friend became pregnant for the first time and is due in May. :)

9. Bob and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary and we had an amazing vacation in Colorado. We went whitewater rafting for the first time!

10. I ran the Chicago marathon (my 3rd marathon) and finished in 4:09.

11. Addison got her ears pierced.

12. Bob completed his first full year at Stinson which has been an amazing career move for him and it is a great and growing law firm.

13. We had a happy and healthy 2013...what more can you ask for!

Thanksgiving, Christmas and a few things inbetween.

I have become really lazy with the pictures that I use on the blog. I use the ones I already posted on facebook because I am too lazy to upload other pics from my phone. BUT, I am just glad I am still posting on the blog!!!

 

 

Thanksgiving family pic.

Not the best but I am just glad that I got a picture from the day. It was a normal Thanksgiving spent with family.

 

 

Right after Thanksgiving the kids and I went on a quick adventure to Springfield, IL. We met Marina, Hendrix and Maddox (they drove from Chicago). We went to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum which was really amazing. We spent the night in a great hotel and had a chance to check out a few other sites. It was fun but a really quick trip!

 

 

I love this pic of the kids outside of the library.

 

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas was consumed with shopping, list making, class parties, family parties. Lots and lots going on and very little pics taken.

 

 

Christmas Eve family pic.

The party was at my parents house with lots of family members and lots of fun!

Christmas morning.

 

Addison's favorite Santa gifts...monster high dolls (as if she didn't have enough), shirt/earrings from Justice, legos, soccer ball, jacket, AG doll clothes.

 

Lucas' favorite gifts....legos, legos, legos, magformers, baseball glove, batting glove, hexbugs, Blues hockey shirt, football

 



 

Nana and Papa topped Santa this year....they got each of the kids a kindle fire. It has been a huge hit! They love them!!!

 

Christmas day pic.

Dinner, cousin time and great family time at Bob's parents house.

 



 

The day after Christmas we met up with our friends Steve and Sarah (in from Florida) and went ice skating. It was so much fun. We haven't taken the kids skating in a few years. Lucas was so excited to skate as fast as he could and didn't care if he fell. Addison took it slow at first and was a little pro by the time we left. 

So Christmas is over and I am super sad about it. I am not ready to take the tree down and move on to boring January. We have some fun things coming up in February and the kids start soccer soon....so we will be plenty busy.

Some fall happenings.

We have done a lot over the past many weeks of fall.

 

 

 

We went to Fright Fest at Six Flags right before Halloween and had a great time. We aren't going to get season passes next year...we want to take a break and come back the following year even more excited to go...and hopefully the kids grow a few inches and can check out some new rides.

 

 

 

Just one pic from Halloween.

Addison was a Monster High Girl (who happened to be a werewolf) and Lucas was a Werewolf. 

 

Bob ran the St. Louis track club half marathon a few weeks ago. He was going for a PR (his best time was a 1:44) and he finished in 1:38!!!

 

 



 

Both Addison and Lucas had their last outdoor soccer game. They had a great time playing this season.

They are taking a break right now and will start indoor in January.

 

I love this pic of the kids...

 

Just recently we took a mini vacation to Kansas City. We got to spend some time with our friends Kurt, Jsun and their kids which was so nice. We stayed at Great Wolf Lodge while we were there. It was fun but not as much fun as we were expecting considering all that we have heard. We had about as much fun as we could have and of all things - the family hot tub was the kids favorite thing about the water park.

 

Before heading home we went to the T-Rex Cafe and that was really cool. 



 

And last weekend Bob and I went to a charity dinner (Angel Arms). Bob's firm had a table.

I love this pic that we stood in line for. :)

 



 

We are now anxious to put up our tree and start the holiday season....one of my favorite times of the year.

Chicago marathon....again.

Years ago running a marathon was not even on my radar. I remember about 4 years ago when I decided to run my first half marathon and it seemed like such a big challenge. It WAS a big challenge but running twice that distance then seemed impossible. Somehow I got up enough courage to train and run my first full marathon in Memphis almost 2 years ago and it was a major fail (I was so sick on race day) and finished in 5 hours. So, I ran the Chicago marathon last year and totally redeemed myself. I ran a 4:14 (my goal was 4:20) and it was one of the best days of my life. I knew before I even crossed the finish line that day that I had to do it again.

After having to go through a lottery, I was successfully signed up to run the Chicago marathon this year. I was so excited until about 8 weeks ago when I completely fell while on a 15 mile run. I was on a single track dirt trail (with plenty of rocks) and I fell so hard right on my knees onto some rocks. I was with my good friend Lara and she helped me with the 3.5 mile walk back to the car. 

I felt silly to even complain about a stupid injury but when running is just about my only hobby, I was devastated and in a lot of pain and very swollen.

It took a few weeks to feel back to normal and I had to change up my training a ton but it all worked out. 

As I was just starting to get back to training, I stumbled upon a major bonus when I reconnected with a friend. Our daughters took dance together when they were like 4 and we remained friends on facebook. It turned out that she was in the process of training for the New York marathon (which is just 2 weeks away) and we were both desperate to train with someone. I am pretty sure Michelle and I ran together every Thursday over the last many weeks (and hopefully we will continue to). We helped each other so much!!! I am so glad to have a new running buddy and great friend in Michelle. 

Ok, so back to the marathon. The weather on race day was amazing (low 50s at the start and a high of about 63). MY BFF Kris was running the marathon as well (she is way faster than me) but it was nice to be there before the race with a friend (btw - she finished in an amazing Boston qualifying time of 3:35)!!!!

I tried to tell myself that I didn't have a goal because my knees were still not at 100% and I didn't want to feel like I was letting myself down. I told myself I wanted under 4:20....but I really wanted to finish around the same time as last year or under (so 4:14 or under). 

The first few miles seemed hard. I think it just took my awhile to warm up. Bob was not running this year and he was so supportive and met up with me on the course to cheer me on at about 6 different spots along the way. That was a huge help. My BFF Marina and her boys came too and that was a great moment....

My friend Pam and her husband Ryan cheered me on as well and I got to see them twice which was really great. 

I took a pit stop around 13 miles. I walked for a moment through some water stations in order to get a good drink and took a few times to stretch out my legs. I pretty much felt good the whole way until about mile 20. 

It was crazy because I kept a VERY consistent pace throughout most of the 26 miles. I kept telling myself to just keep the pace and it actually worked. My knees were in a ton of pain though for the last 6 miles but I knew I could physically keep running and that slowing down was not going to help me at all. 

I saw Bob at mile 25 and he gave me the last bit of encouragement I needed to finish. My last mile was my fastest...8:45. I don't know where I got that energy from.

So, here is my time....4:09 (9:28 pace).

Running the Chicago marathon is hard to even describe. The crowd support and volunteers throughout all 26 miles is amazing. People hold inspiring signs and funny signs and it helps so much. There is so much to look at and see that I don't even need to run with music. I ran through our old neighborhoods, and even the street that we lived on where we started our family with Addison. It is emotional to run though such a great city.

I don't know if I will be back to run Chicago next year. Maybe I will take a year off, I really don't know. Finding the time and putting in all the training is what is hard....and race day is amazing and worth all the hard work. I am just so glad that I did not disappoint myself at all!!!

Loving fall!

We are so glad that fall is finally here and we are trying to take full advantage of the great weather and all things fall!

 

 

 

We had to hit up freight fest at Six Flags at least once. I don't know if we will get a chance to go back this season but we had a great time when we went a few weeks ago. Riding rides in the dark is so much fun and the kids have a love/hate relationship for all the scary people dressed up.

 

 

We went to our first high school football game with the kids a few weeks ago. It was a lot of fun too because Addison participated in a mini cheer camp and was able to cheer on the field for a quarter. She loved it.

 

The kids had a half day one day last week and it was the perfect opportunity to visit a pumpkin patch. We had so much fun going to one we have never been to before...Theis Pumpkin Farm. Here are just a few pictures from our fun day.

 

Today I took the kids to a pumpkin farm close by and they each got a little pumpkin and it gave me the perfect chance to snap a cute picture. I like this one because it shows off our newly painted door and new wreath that I made. :)

 

 

For me, the first few weeks of fall has been taken up with a lot of running. I just completed my third marathon this past weekend. Stay tuned for a full recap. :)

Addison turns 8!

(Warning....I love instagram and you will be able to tell from many of my pictures).

 

We are slowly getting in a routine now that the kids are back in school. It is a busy routine. Addison started her 5th year of dance, and her first season of soccer and Lucas is playing soccer as well. We are busy with practices and lots of games (3 games last weekend and 4 games next weekend). We are up at the soccer fields a lot but we love it. We only have 2 kids so I can't complain about keeping up with them and their activities. What makes it hard is training for a marathon, working part time (so thankful only part time), volunteering for stuff at the school and Bob works a ton. Fall is busy but I think things will slow down a bit in the winter...I think.

 

 

Shortly after school started it was time for labor day and labor day is special around here since Addison's birthday falls right around labor day. We spent a nice long weekend at the lake of the ozarks with Bob's parents.

 

 

Addison on the trampoline at a fun restaurant/bar/beach on the lake (Coconuts).

 

 

We took a break from the boat and the water and ventured off to the mall for something big....Addison got her ears pierced. She tried to be brave but she cried for just a few seconds. Lucas was so worried for her. She is so happy though and can't wait to start wearing some fun earrings.

 

We spent one day at Bob's aunt's lake house close by. They loved the slide and diving platform.

 

A family shot from the boat. :)

 

A picture of the birthday girl on the morning of her birthday. How can she be 8???

 

The next weekend was a big weekend...Addison had her first soccer game....

 

....and then her first big sleepover birthday party!!!! What was I thinking saying yes to this? Honestly, it was a lot of work on my part but worth every second. I am pretty certain all 11 girls (and Lucas) had so much fun and Addison had the night of her life!

 

 

The favors

A sign I spent too much time making.

 



 

The party started with pizza. 

 



 

After pizza we had a scavenger hunt (they went crazy for it with lots of running, screaming and so much fun), made a craft, obsessed over Addison's rainbow loom, made snack necklaces, and ate their snack necklaces during a movie (Teen Beach of course).

 

They were all fast asleep around 11:30 pm and then wide awake around 6:30 am. The girls were all so good and I couldn't have asked it to go much better.

 

Of course Addison has requested a sleepover party next year. We will see.

Back to school.

It seemed like it was just yesterday when summer started and now it is over and we are back in the grind of school and sports and all that goes along with it.

 

 

Addison is now a 2nd grader and about to turn 8 years old. She is off to a good start to the school year and seems to really like her teacher. She is without her best friends in her class but I know she will do just fine with making new friends. I hope Addison continues to improve with her reaching and enjoys it more and more. She doesn't love math but hopefully it won't be too much of a challenge. I know she is going to love all there is to learn about history and science...and of course art and gym!

 

*******

 

Now Lucas isn't so little anymore. This is his first year in school full time as he is now a big first grader and almost 6 1/2. He was so excited to have recess and eat lunch at school everyday. He is also without any of his good buddies in his class but he is so thankful to see them on the playground at recess. He has great things to say about his teacher and you should have seen the excitement in his eyes when he came home to talk about their first science lesson. Lucas loves to learn and I am hoping first grade will excite him in every way.

Summer break is over :(

All good things must come to an end. Our summer was mostly good....well except for the part of the kids spending way too much time together and fighting more than I could tolerate. We got through it and managed to have plenty of fun. School starts tomorrow so that means routines, schedules, homework, soccer, soccer, dance, pack lunches, earlier bed time, continued marathon training, etc....

 

Here is a look back to some fun we had in July and early August.

 

 

4th of July was fun.

We spent it with family at the Webster Groves parade and then with friends at fireworks.

 

 

A pic of Bob and I from my cousins wedding (at a winery).

 

The kids and I went up to Chicago for a quick visit to spend time with my friends and their families.

 

 

I am so lucky to have these ladies in my life and for so many years!

 

Marina, me, Pam, Becky, Venessa

 

And our kiddos are lucky to have each other too. :)

 

Bob and Lucas went to a Cardinals game a few weeks ago. Lucas only made it to the 5th inning that game but they went again last weekend and were spoiled in a suite and Lucas loved it and stuck around till the 8th. 

Addison started off her first season of soccer with her first practice last week. Seems like a great coach and great team. Total bonus...Addison is on a team with her BFF and some other friends from school.

 



 

Addison and I really ended the summer off right over this past weekend.

We went to Chicago to the Taylor Swift concert!

 

The night was even more special to share it with Becky and Venessa and their girls.

 

 

It was such a great show!!!!!!! I am certain it is a night we will never forget.

 

Today we checked off our last box from our summer fun checklist. 

 

 

It was a fun summer and it is very bittersweet that it is over. Here come 1st and 2nd grade. Can't wait to start thinking of what lies ahead for next summer's check list.