Halloweenie Week 2009

I imagined this week would be exciting, but man, is Halloween AWESOME with a three and five year old! Tommy's Halloween "show" at preschool was a major hit. For some reason, it felt more precious and fleeting than these events have felt in the past. It was so fun and cute to see these little wads singing songs on stage. Tommy was brave, being the first 3 year old onto the stage and telling everyone how much he "loves their costume," any chance he could get. Yet another event where that place feels like a second family to me - those teachers seeing me through good times and bad and creating moments with my kids I will never forget.

Then onward and upward to the new big elementary school parade and party! This one consisted of watching the classes parade through the school with everyone cheering for them - so fun! I think Lucy's class felt like rock stars and for good reason! As always at that place, I hear about it all via Lucy so things remain sort of mysterious but always fun, according to her. Glad it was a success!

Next up? Halloween day! The kids woke up like it was Christmas morning (soooo excited!!!) so we kept them busy until Trick or Treating. They were great and cute and polite. Lucy eventually broke off with Matt and some Kindergarten friends to hit more houses. My mom and I took Tommy the rest of the one block he managed to go around. He was so happy and so grateful for everything. In true Tommy form, lots of spontaneous, "Happy Halloween!" to randoms walking by and those that gave him treats. What will I do with that kid? He is too much 75% of the time. :)

And so we put another Halloween to bed and head into November. I am exhausted but so happy it was all a huge and fun success!

Creative Explosions!

The girl is busy! There has been a virtual EXPLOSION of CREATIVTY for Lucy over the past few weeks. If she isn't drawing she is writing a song or a story. Is she's not doing that, she is playing the keyboard or singing. She is a busy body!

I especially love her pictures these days. Lately, people have been enhanced with earrings, bows, eyelashes and fingers (things that had not yet been recognized even a mere 2 months ago). I love that her pictures are always happy and cheerful, with smiling Lucy's and Tommy's throughout.

And STARS! She can now make stars and couldn't WAIT to tell "Lily and Olivia and Maddie and Alaia and all those girls" ALL about it. Ahhh the 5 year old girls....the love is LARGE and hugging and "BFF-ing" and the "See you tomorrow's" are almost too much for me to take. Makes me smile on a daily basis.

It is so fun watching her grow and grow and GROW! I wish I could keep all this art forever but her 25-year old self would think I was a nut bag for saving that much. Oh wait, this blog will make her want to hide in a hole as well.
Sorry, Luce! I love you, kid! :)

The Nicest Boy I Know...

Tomma: "I have something to tell you guys...we had music today and Miss Sherri's class came in our room too! Her class was really enjoying it...."

Tomma: "Mom? I want to give you my "being good" stickers at school because you are such a good mom" (while kissing me and putting them on my sweater).

Why is he so ridiculous all the time?

What I Will Remember...

Then where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within.- Eric Liddle


Numb toes and chattering lips in the 9 minute coral area with John. One hour of nervous laughs.

My confidence in the whole thing, as a first timer. I believe it was due simply to the hours I had put into training and trusting the process.

How the first mile was the fastest mile of my life.

How it didn't seem that crowded for some reason.

How much I loved running past Pasta Bowl, Lincoln Park Zoo, BoysTown, Wrigleyville, Miranda's old apartment, Harry Carey's, Armitage, and all the old places I had spent time in 1998.

That it was pretty quiet and smelled like Starbucks a lot of the time.

Singing Elvis, singing drag queens and dancing men with wooden guns and tight shorts.

Getting unusually sore legs at mile 12 and getting a little worried.

Getting really sore legs at mile 18 and trying to ignore it.

Seeing the Mile 20 sign and realizing, this is no joke. Here we go.

Separating from John at Mile 22 and feeling really alone but then realizing, this is how it should be. Perhaps all along, I was preparing to do this last stretch by myself.

Eminem, Coldplay and Black Eyed Peas, I could NOT have done it without you.

Seeing the Finish Line and feeling like I could barely move my body forward.

Feeling more stunned and shocked when it was over. The happy and accomplished feeling came the next day, for some reason.

Loving every painful minute of the whole thing...

Here I Go...

Well, in four days, I am off and running. It has been quite a year for me. I trained all winter/spring for the Fifth Third Riverbank Run. After bronchitis, mass flooding around the city the week of the race, and a new, uphill course, I survived. I remember thinking that day, as I ran for the finish line - "How in the HELL am I going to run 10.2 miles MORE than I have just run?"

Fast forward five months later and here we sit. In the back of my mind, since I ran my first 10K three summers ago, I thought I might have a marathon in me. It's been on my "Bucket List" since then and I am excited and pumped to make this happen.

I am well trained. I am a resourceful girl, so I recruited friends to join me for 5 miles here, 10 miles there. But for the most part, I have done this alone.

Dark, rainy parking lot meet-ups from friends were greeted with relief many a Saturday morning. A happy distraction and good conversation for the next 45 minutes.

Leaving at 6 a.m. to avoid the heat in August.

Wanting to eat eggs and bacon and sit with my family on the couch but getting out there, clipping on that ridiculous water belt and doing it one. more. time.

Passing on one more beer or glass of wine on a Friday night. Leaving early from places I was having fun.

Hailing that cab to Grant Park on Sunday morning, I know it will all be worth it. In my mind, the true marathon is really arriving at the starting line, with all your training behind you. Arriving with a healthy body is another goal attained. One that I should be ESPECIALLY grateful for, since many of my friends have struggled with injuries and the like.

My ipod is full of new songs, the weather looks cool, and I am writing my name with permanent marker on my long sleeve wicking shirt so random strangers will cheer my name.

I am ready to run 26.2 miles in Chicago on Sunday morning.

Holy crap. Wish me luck!

Friends, Love and a New Day...

Well, we are surely on a roll with Kindergarten. We are ending week three on a high note. This includes Lucy's first "new friend from Kindergarten" playdate. Chloe is her name and she lives one street over. They have the exact same hair color and hairdo and they like to call each other "twins." Funny to see them bomb out of the school (first in line) and run to me while hugging, holding hands and grinning from ear to ear. So excited!!

PB & J's have been eaten, showing off her fish, her room, her basement, her dress up clothes, etc. All is well and fun and very, very "5 year old girl-ish." Giggling and laughing and hugging. So dang cute! Happy she has made a new friend she is so excited about.

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There has been a lot of sibling love around here lately and for that, I am always grateful. It is seriously my most FAVORITE moment as a parent (and Matt too), when the kids are hugging, snuggling or just generally looking out for each other. Tommy runs to Lucy when he sees a commercial for a "SNOW WHITE DVD, SISSY!!" or Lucy runs over and kisses his large head when Tommy bonks into something (ha!). They have been snuggling in our bed together before bedtime and kissing each other goodbye when we separate for whatever reason (without my prompting to do so). Just a lot of cuteness that makes my heart beam.

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It's a lovely fall Friday - we've got a night out tonight and a fun weekend ahead. My marathon training is coming to an end and a huge, five month goal is wrapping up on October 11th. I feel so empowered!

Truth be told, I am feeling more enthusiastic and at peace than I've felt in about a month. My "old girl" seems to be coming back and I feel so relieved. I hadn't seen the "real her" in a while and it sure was a yucky, scary feeling. I could actually see it in her eyes that things were different...something was off. Thank god for girlfriends...old friends who I could call and vent to, and new friends who pulled through when I least expected it. Thank god for 6 a.m. runs in the dark because it was sometimes the only moment in the day when I had a clear mind and I could be alone. Thank god for old preschool teachers who gave me a hug because they knew I needed it, and parents who listened to me cry on the phone at 10 p.m. when nothing seemed to be working.

Challenges will remain, but it is nice to feel like sometimes things CAN all go right and good and fun. That all this hard work IS paying off and that phases will continue to come and go, but you are still a good parent, no matter what's going on. No matter what.

In the End, it's All Going to Be O.k....

...and if it's not o.k., it's not the end.

That's a goody quotie that my sister gave to me a long time ago.

Last week was challenging, to say the least. Most likely my most challenging week of parenting to date. And that's saying a lot...since in March 2006, I had a non-sleeping newborn, and a 21 month old girl who was screaming and jumping in her crib and wanting to potty train, all at the same time. Ahem.

I can't bear to go through all that went down last week, but we're gonna go ahead and say there were MANY moments where I was asking God for strength, crying to random people I barely knew, and calling my child psychologist father at least 3 times a day for pep talks and brainstorms. And breathe.

Yesterday was a new day. We have a plan, we are in sync and things are starting to work. Things are far from perfect. But today WAS kind of perfect. I will take today. All I needed was one really, really good day to know that things will get better. Everything WILL be o.k. And can I get a "Yeah!" for today.




Tommy started his Preschool 3's program this morning. It's a new long day for him (he eats lunch there, packed in his Spiderman lunch box! Exciting!). He was wonderful and cute and a little shy. I had to remind him to give me a kiss and with a quick "ten miles!" (our secret saying for I love you) - he was on his way. He fell asleep in the stroller this afternoon. Pool little guy was too tired from the big first day.

He is the greatest little boy I have ever known. And apparently, he is a fan of mine as he mentioned in the park this afternoon, "Mom? I love you more than any moms in the big blue sea." And perfect.