Ahhgggg....technology!!!

OMG!! At first glance one believes computers to be one of the single greatest inventions ever. I mean, you can surf the web, write blogs and articles, store and enhance photos and yes even watch or record movies...seriously awesome! Until the unmentionable happens...for one reason or another this wonderful creation decides it's not going to take your excessive clicking and tapping anymore and refuses to start up! At this point, illusions of grandeur are gone and rather nasty words begin spewing from your mouth profusely! This is the OMG moment...when you realize...all your pictures, your writings, your virtual world has just crumbled and vanished into the black hole of technology...and you are left there wondering helplessly...why me?!?! Ahhh, yes technology...the blessing and the curse! So this horrific event happen not just once to Tony and I...but twice! First it was our desktop, followed right behind by our laptop. So, there I was crying and mourning the loss of all my precious photos and writings, whilst Tony scrambled to recover what he could. Regretfully, we weren't able to save our scorned laptop; however, we retrieved most of the desktop. For most people this would be a victory...not to me. I have just come to grasp that we will just have to inform Kailyn she has no photo documentation of her beloved doggy pool party or any events happening for a brief six month period in her life...but hey they're just pictures and words...right?!?! OMG!

Letting things go

Most people who know me would say that I am slightly obsessive about keeping my house clean. Cleaning our modest little home is something I have started to truly enjoy, and despite what people think can be rather therapeutic at times. I have to admit that my one pet peeve with cleaning is the mass amounts of dog hair that continually are shed throughout our home by our lab. Since I couldn't handle tumble weeds of hair rolling though our house, I adopted the habit of vacuuming and sweeping every night (thank God we have a small house). You honestly wouldn't believe how much one medium sized dog can shed...I truly would have thought he would be bald by now!
Now, since I have started working, I find it much harder to carry out my usual evening routine. There is no longer time to just fool around, every minute has to be carefully and thoughtfully used. With this new routine, I have had to let a few things go here and there. One such thing is that I started vacuuming every other night, or in last weeks case I actually waited three days...shocker! So on day three, Kailyn calls me into the bathroom and simply states, "Mom, you see that piece of dirt right there? You know, you should really vacuum our house. We don't want it to get dirty...yuck." As I sat there and looked at her staring up at me, her face showing the utmost concern I could do nothing better than agree with her. "I know I said, it's just been crazy lately." Her response was simple and sweet, "Yeah, I know...but I still love you." At least she loves me, our house may be drowning in pounds of dog hair, but she loves me...what more do I need!
So, amid all these wonderful changes, I am learning you have to just let some things go...and if they get really bad...at least I have a very honest, and loving five year old who will keep me on track!

running the good race

A 10k...6.2 miles. Does that distance seem long...or short to you? If you had asked me within the last 3 months I would probably have responded something like this, "oh, it's not that long...we run 10-12 miles on the weekends, 6 is nothing." Today I would definitely reply differently! My sister and I ran in the Broad Street Ramble today (awesome job Augusta Striders). It was a 10k on a relatively flat course. We started out very strong and finished in our best time yet. I have to insert here, that my sister has a separate blog and last week she wrote about training/running as sisters and how wonderful it is. She was and is so right! During the race today, she was my constant motivator. I know I wouldn't have finished in the time we did, if it wasn't for her...despite the fact that I wanted to punch her when she kept saying, "let's pick it up." Throughout the entire race, she motivated and truly pushed us on. So, thanks Sarah for being the voice that kept me going today...that and my wonderful family's cheering. It is amazing how much just seeing someone can be inspirational. Tony, Kailyn and Sarah's family were camped out on a curb to cheer us on and then again at the finish line. What a good group of cheerers we had! Not to leave the little kiddos out either, at the end of everything, they had a tot-trot...all the kids did great and despite having to wait a bit, had a good time, thanks to the cookies and gatorade:)
Regarding the question...today, 6.2 miles felt more like 12.2 miles...and despite the fact I felt like the race would never end, we did it...and we did it together! When I say together, I truly mean it...our times were exactly the same...down to the second! So, here's to third in our category...we so totally rock!

the joys of coming home

As previously stated, I started my new job this week and a whole new chapter of our life has just begun. Since this is my first week, and a training week, I was able to get off a little early. One particular day I got off and headed to pick up Kailyn. As I pulled in the driveway, i saw her running into the house. Excited to see her I honked and waved. Then as if I was the Ice Cream Truck or something more than wonderful, she looked up with extreme elation and smiled from ear to ear. She dropped her bag she was carrying and ran arms open to meet me in the driveway. I have to say, this may be one of the single most wonderful times in my life. I had never been greeted like this before! Immediately tears welled in my eyes and just as I thought, "man this is as good as it gets," she looked up with her arms around my neck and said, "I am so glad you are home. I really missed you today, mom." All I could manage to say was, "I missed you too baby."
When Tony got home shortly after, I told him about our joyful reunion and he simply said, "Now you know how good it feels to come home." He was all too right!

All about Keke...a little about us...a whole lot about our little family

So, I just thought I would let everyone know that I am mostly starting this blog for our sweet daughter Kailyn (a.k.a. Keke), however, you may randomly see postings about stuff Tony or I are doing. So if you see something about running half-marathons or building decks...don't worry we're not making Kailyn an extreme athlete or teaching her to be a master craftsman...just letting you know what we are up to!

bittersweet

As I sit here this evening, I feel as if I am perched atop a tall mountain...waiting to skydive into the depths below. As I previously stated...everything is changing right now, and despite all this goodness I find it a little saddening as well. Tomorrow I begin training for my new job and I am very anxious, to say the least. Having not worked for five years, leaves me feeling a bit worried about what lies in store...or maybe it's just the "not knowing." In addition to job anxiety, there is also the fact that I won't be there to pick Kailyn up from Kindergarten. I know she will be in the best hands...but they won't be my hands! Change is just a crazy thing and life is simply bittersweet. All these new endeavors do bring about a sense of sadness for what we might be losing, but on the other hand an excitement about what lies in store. I remember saying once before that I often wished things would just stay as they were and never change...but then I realized how very much I would miss. So here's to new beginnings and skydiving...geronimo!

The Beautiful Ballerinas

This was so sweet...and yes I totally cried!