Do you remember...

ever wanting to win one of those over sized, stuffed with toys stockings that stores and organizations would give away....I do! Well--Clare put her name in to win such a stocking and went as far as telling us that we had to go back to Pizza Ranch (where said stocking giveaway was being held) the day before Christmas Eve...because "mom that is when they draw the name for the stocking". I tried to explain to Clare that--number one--even IF you do win they will call you and number two--that stocking will probably go to some girl or boy that really needs some toys at Christmas. Well so much for my speech about not getting everything you want,etc....because on Christmas Eve....she got the call--Clare you have WON the Pizza Ranch Stocking! I was at work when Clare called with the news....she was so excited--I dare say even more excited about this stocking than Santa? She did decide that she would gift some of the toys to her cousins (I know Meg is thanking me for the Shrek punching gloves :-) and then give some of the toys to kids that might not be having as great of a Christmas as she had. What can I say...the kid is lucky...next time any of you go to Vegas....you might want to take her with :-)

Clare and her new Pizza Ranch friend and a gigantic stocking!

Loading up the stocking--totally ridiculous I know!

Friends and Family

 While reading The Shack I came across this quote from Frederick Buechner from Telling the Truth:  The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale--

You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.

As I continue to reconnect with so many people from the past on Facebook (don't get me started on this occupier of my time),Christmas cards continue to fill the mailbox, family get togethers and holiday parties are attended, I am reminded of how many people have come in to my life at one point or another--all playing different roles--some short stays some long--different personalities-- all important in one way or another-- shaping who I am and how I relate to things in this crazy world.  

Best Snow Day Movie...ever

The movie Beautiful Girls ranks right up there with the best movie to watch on a snow day or a snowy night (not for the kiddos of course!) I don't know why exactly I like it so much--it got average reviews back in 1996!!... Maybe it is because I am from a small town and can totally remember folks pulling into the Whiffle Tree with their snowmobiles and trucks with the snow plows attached...Maybe it is because there is a Neil Diamond Songfest at one point.... Maybe it is because I am reminded every time I see someone plow a driveway or lot how crazy with power they think they are..."watch out snow...I've got a plow and money to be made!)--whatever the case I rank this movie number one to watch on a snow filled day. What movies are your snow day/night movies?????

Crap...I have been tagged!!!

Not that I am not totally honored that Meg "tagged" me....it is that now I actually have to think of 6 interesting things about me...hmmm...

• In kindergarten I won a trophy in an all school art contest...I must say the picture was pretty darn good...it has gone down hill since then...I can barely draw a smiley face now!

• I once took a train from Gheorgheni,Romania to Budapest, Hungry all by myself....I was armed with 2 or 3 Hungarian phrases(what stop is this?,thank you? please?)... once I arrived in Budapest I snuck on a bus and by the grace of God made it to the airport.

• In college my nicknames were Rose (think Golden Girls and St. Olaf stories) and Coxie (get your minds out of the gutter...my maiden name was Wilcox.)

• I have a weird fear of falling downstairs and chipping a tooth...with the addition of children I now have a fear of one of them falling and doing the same thing.

• In grade school the neighborhood kids (all 4 of us) started a newspaper called the Burr Oak Beacon--we interviewed neighbors, sold advertising and wrote articles--a big thank you to all those neighbors who bought full year subscriptions as we only published 2 issues!

• In 2004--Chris and I sat on a grassy area of Alpe d'huez in France to watch the Tour de France time trial for 8+ hours with a 17 mos. old Clare--the night before we slept on the side of the road in a tent in order to get to Alpe d'huez to watch Lance and the other riders....whenever I feel like I might not be adventurous I pull from this story and my Romanian adventure....I have at least a little adventure in my blood!

Okay--so which one of you lucky readers gets to be tagged next!!! Meg has already tagged a few of my options so I will do my best--remember if I tag you...you must think of 6 things about you and then tag 6 more people!

The Gardners--you guys can make it a group project....only 3 per person!

Brenda--although you can't really post your tag on your blog you can think of them and share--maybe over coffee sometime at Bushel and Pecks.

Jennifer--I know you love a good list...and you have some great stories!

Jill and Kim--I know you are reading this....maybe someday you will have a blog--perhaps a Donahue Dental Blog or a Citzen's for Modern Transit Blog?!?!

**Only 5....well the Gardners count as 2!

Maybe we really did see Santa????

Have you ever wondered how Santa gets all his shopping done without being detected by the masses? Well...he shows up at the mall with his straw hat and jeans and goes to town---as Addie puts it...he looks like a cowboy! The girls really believe that they saw the "real" Santa last Saturday in St. Louis b/c he was in disguise as opposed to the "mall" Santa who was just "standing in" for Santa (while he shopped). Merry Christmas!

How we celebrated St. Nick's Day...

This year we happened to be in St. Louis on December 6th (St. Nick's Day)...all my college girlfriends celebrate St. Nick's Day--so the girls got their first experience of leaving their shoes out to see what St. Nick might bring. Here's a little history on St. Nick followed by a recap in pictures!

Like many ancient traditions, the history of St. Nick's is debated. Some say St. Nick's Day is a decidedly German observance. Others say it is Spanish or Dutch. What is known is that St. Nicholas lived in the fourth century. He was a Christian prelate and the patron saint of Russia. Nicholas was a native of Patara, in the ancient district of Lycia in Asia Minor (now Turkey). He became archbishop of the metropolitan church in Myra, Lycia.How he came to be so famous is a little bit of a saucy tale, not suitable for tender ears. Legend has it that he took pity on a poor man who was about to abandon his daughters to prostitution. The story goes that he left trinkets for the man in his chimney. From this came the custom of secret gifts on the eve of the feast day celebrating St. Nicholas. Because of the close proximity of dates, Christmas and St. Nicholas Day are now celebrated simultaneously in many countries.

Filled shoes on December 6th!!!

The girls getting ready for their special trip to Libby Lu!


All dolled up in Rocker and Sassy Princess looks!

Flip that house...Gingerbread style!

Last Saturday my mom and the girls started out on a little project--they were going to build a Gingerbread house. All was going well--the girls decorated the walls and were entertained for a bit of time--always a good thing...but as they started piecing the house together things began to go south. The final straw for the house was the roof....it collapsed. The girls were sad but also thought it was kind of funny that their Gingerbread house looked like it had gone through an earthquake.

But then we got the pictures via cell phone from my sister of JB's Gingerbread house extraordinaire from the Gingerbread House Event he went to at the Milwaukee Athletic Club....it made our house look even more pitiful. Well...Grandpa Jock would have none of the Gingerbread house failure...he went into full on Gingerbread house flip mode--googling the best frosting to keep a house together,etc.,etc. Then he made a stop at Farm and Fleet for some "more" decorations for the house....oh and also fashioned a chimney out of a piece of wood-which involved the use of a saw (you know he was serious)...the girls decorated the outside and voila they had successfully flipped our Gingerbread house.

You're doing it wrong...

Mr. Mom is a favorite movie of mine from way back...Do you remember the scene where Michael Keaton's character Jack has to drop off for school for the first time and can't quite figure out the "drop off" system?

"Why are they all honking?",

"Because you're doing it wrong"

"Don't tell me I'm doing it wrong...I know what I'm doing!"

"Hi Jack, I'm Annette...You're doing it wrong"

Before I had children I thought that was just a comical part of the movie and that the characters were completely made up and that no "drop off" system could be that hard. Well my friends...apparently it is....

According to the Drop Off Manifesto...Drop Off should consist of 1. pulling into the school, 2. pulling up next to the sidewalk 3. Child opening door 4. Parent saying goodbye-have a great day,etc 5. Said parent driving away. Lately parents have been...well...they have been doing it wrong....they get out of their cars, they redress their children, they wash their car--okay maybe not...but close. I don't know why I let it bug me so much...maybe because I like to be efficient, maybe because it is a rule and I need to follow rules--I don't know but I find myself with this weird since of glee if we can pull up, drop off and be on our way in a fluid motion--I know can you say control freak. I realize their is nothing I can do about the mom/dad/grandma/grandpa/caregiver that can't/won't figure out the system, so I guess I will just pretend I'm staring in Mr. Mom and we are rehearsing the "You're doing it wrong" scene over and over and over and over and over :-)

Facts of life...by Clare

Tonight as Clare was going to sleep she said, " you know what is crazy?", well I was thinking a lot of things are crazy....like how I paid 5+ dollars for pancake syrup at a "quik mart" (yes quick is spelled correctly) just because we were having a syrup emergency, but I said "nope".  "Well it is crazy that I never want to go to bed, but then in the morning when I am supposed to get out of bed, I don't want to do that either".  To that I said, "guess what Clare?  It is going to be like that for the rest of your life!" and she simply said, "I know mama, I know".

A little note...

Dear guy who was lifting weights next to me this a.m.--

Hi...Just wanted to let you know that moaning and when I say moaning I mean MOANING when you lift weights is not cool. I dunno...maybe lift lighter weights...or maybe just stop moaning!
That's it--just thought you would like to know!

Ann

It happened...

and it wasn't as creepy as I had imagined....Clare lost her first tooth on Saturday night. Of course the reason that I wasn't completely grossed out was that I made it upstairs only after 1.) the tooth was removed by Chris 2.) the bleeding had stopped 3.) Clare was sooo excited that I couldn't help but be excited for her. She put the tooth in her "tooth box" and was very excited about what the tooth fairy was going to bring her. In trying to find a decent "tooth fairy" picture (btw...no I don't consider the above a decent picture...but it was better than a freaky lady dressed up like the T.F.)...I ran across this little bit of Tooth Fairy trivia....

Many folk cultures marked the loss of a child's baby or milk teeth. Some cultures placed the tooth in a tree or threw it to the sun. Other rituals involved having an adult swallow the tooth or burn it. Even the Vikings had their own ritual called "tooth fee" whereby a small gift was given to a child when its first tooth appeared.

I think the throwing the tooth to the sun...or throwing it on the roof as I have also seen done is a great idea...but thank the good Lord that we don't live in a place where the adult swallowing the tooth is the practice. As someone told Clare today at the Y...now you are a big kid!

Veggies anyone?

So...I have been contemplating for some time about buying a "share" in a farm near by--they have many pick up points in the suburbs...but we would be lucky enough to drive roughly 10 minutes and pick up our vegetables at the farm. There are many positives about getting our vegetables this way...local buying, quality organic food and encouraging us to become more creative in how we prepare vegetables to eat (nice way of saying...forcing us to eat more vegetables!)

My friend Brenda currently participates and has suggested the 10 week program-as opposed to the whole summer program (due to an insane amount of leafy veggies in the early part of summer) and also finding another family to split our share with (2 young, picky children...might not do a whole share justice)---My biggest fear is the investment...if we would put all veggies to good use...it would be totally worth it...guess it is the commitment to eating...hmmm let me make that clear...I am very committed to eating-lol--but eating vegetables with everything or as a main meal...not so much.

It is funny because I have always said that people on the West Coast would have an easier time eating locally, etc. However--with the addition of a new store in Beloit it is becoming clear to me how great we have it in the Midwest in terms of local produce--veggies, meat and cheese for sure.

As with many of my posts...not sure where I am going with this one...but let's leave it with...I am thinking about some different options for food...would love any thoughts or life experience with Community Supported Agricultural Programs (CSA's) or great recipes with vegetables!

Vote...

That's it...Vote!

Loose lips sink ships....and

loose teeth completely give me the creeps, willies, etc.,etc. My prayers include...Clare not wiggling and/or losing her tooth while she is on my watch. I will be all about preparing the tooth for the Tooth Fairy to whisk it away but until then may it stay firmly in her mouth until Chris gets home. On a side note...did you know that the Tooth Fairy has her own (bizarre) website...it creeps me out just about as much as the actual wiggling of a tooth!

Stop, drop and roll...

Addie and J.B.--future firefighters...ummm probably not...read on...

Most of you probably know that October is fire prevention month and just a couple of weeks ago it was Fire Prevention Week. Our local fire department hosted an open house...which for the most part was awesome...all until the "sprinkler" demonstration...sounds harmless enough right? The kids had completed the obstacle course--complete with getting to use the fire hose and slide down a pole, they had won a toy in the duck pond game, they had had a frosting sugar attack cupcake....so the last thing on our list was....the sprinkler demonstration....Sara, Greta, JB, my cousin Becky, Clare, Addie and I positioned ourselves on the bleachers to watch two small makeshift building start on fire--sounds like a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon--right?

One building had a sprinkler system, one did not....well---Addie didn't even make it to the fire department display of how they put out the fire....the minute it started on fire she started to whimper and by the time the flash fire had started and the whole building was in flames she was screaming hysterically----of course the firefighters who were not saving the building were trying to help me calm her down and I was simply trying to make my way through the crowd to get the hell of of there. Clare of course stayed through the whole thing and reported that the sprinkler house hardly started on fire....the magazine and the teddy bear didn't even burn! So...I'm guessing that Addie may never aspire to be a firefighter and may look back and lament how her well meaning, trying to educate the kids through experiental learning mom dragged her to "sprinkler show" and she was traumatized for life. At least she has fond memories of the cupcakes right?

What if....

every place you went during your day had music attached to it....as I was watching Grey's Anatomy last night it dawned on me how some situations on t.v. or a movie seem so much more romantic, intense, scary, you fill in the blank because of soundtrack music. Grey's is famous for this...the Snow Patrol music kicks in and the emotion is ramped up a notch. It is kind of funny to think about what music might be playing for the "soundtrack to my life"....If I was in a hurry perhaps a really fast Irish jig would begin playing...if I was trying to get everyone out the door in the a.m. the Rocky Song would start, when I stepped on the scale..."Whoomp there it is", etc., etc. What songs would be on your list for your own personal soundtrack? Happy Weekend!

Would you ever guess...

That these children were at a funeral...it looks as if they are posing for the next Disney sitcom!

or....that Sara and I were gritting our teeth and whispering under our breath telling our children to stop making silly faces while we took the only family picture we have taken in years...I know...we are truly effective parents!

Whine...no Wine...yes!

Plouf in San Francisco

It was 6 days of no whining and lots of wine! I absolutely love Napa and Sonoma....I don't know if it is a mix of the beautiful scenery and total escape from the day to day....or b/c I am consuming a great amount of terrific wine. Chris has blogged and provided a few pics of the trip--so I will give a quick recap and a few more pics. For those of you that don't know...Chris did find out where we were going the night before we left while looking over his mom's shoulder at the lists I had provided for them--including info about where we would be staying. In the long run that was good b/c he could pack a few more things,etc.,etc. I also still thought I had the surprise about Sara and Braxton in my back pocket....until that is at 5:00a.m.--I posted the entry regarding where we would be going and the surprise at the airport....while unknown to me...Chris was sending final e-mails,etc., etc., checking my blog,etc., etc., on his laptop in the dining room.....surprise #2 not so much a surprise by 5:15 a.m. Oh well--we (meaning myself, family, friends) managed to keep it a secret for 365+ days...so I would say we all did pretty well. We had a tremendous time--it was indeed a Happy 10th Anniversary!

A quick lists of my favorites!

Far Niente--Walt our tour guide was great--stunning property and tremendous wine (and cheese).

Rutherford Hill--w(private tasting in the cave...huge meat, olive and cheese tray...need I say more?)

Frog's Leap--Upbeat tour guide, organic winery and beautiful vegetable gardens--and we lucked into a barrel tasting...getting to taste wine that won't be released until 2010!

Barnett--On Spring Mountain--gorgeous views...excellent wines...private tasting

Dutcher Crossing--In Dry Creek Valley--beautiful setting for a picnic...yummy wine!

Nickel and Nickel--Single Vineyard wines---so so good!

Peju--An unexpected stop...great host...did a little Rap o'Napa for us

We also had some great meals at Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg, Bouchon and Hurley's in Yountville and Taylor's Refresher in St. Helena.

A time for...

fun, laughter, friendship, quiet, reconnecting, relaxing and dying.  This past week has been a whirl wind.  Our trip to California was absolutely fantastic everything from the company to the weather was perfect.  More for sure to come on California.  When we were at the airport on Wednesday we got word that my grandma was not doing well. She has been slipping away little by little for really the last 6 months.

Thursday morning I went to visit and instantly knew that she did not have a lot of time left here....after sitting with her for a while and watching different people come in to say their goodbyes including her sister who lives down the hall....it was time for me to say goodbye.  I really believed that she might hang on for just enough time for my mom to come back later that evening from Texas...but as I said goodbye I told her that she was free to go if she wanted to...she could let go and let God...and just a few hours later that is exactly what she did. She was 93 years old...I was lucky enough to have her at my college graduation, wedding and meet my children--who took an active role in her life and enjoyed going to Pioneer Court to visit Grandma Dorothy and attend all her fun "parties"....so much that Clare remarked..."Well--Aunt June still lives there...so we can still go to the parties"  Just a few things I will remember about her:

• Her fabulous baking skills...some favorites...Red Cake and Scotcharoos
• The way she packed anything--including her creations in the kitchen to her tablecloths...they were perfectly wrapped, folded,etc....even on my best folding days I still cannot achieve this.
• Telling Sara and I that we were "full of prunes" if were trying to sneak something past her.
• Providing a place to go in-between the end of school and a sports game as they were just a few blocks away from the high-school...these stop overs always provided some yummy treats.
• The correct pronunciation of Ho-No-Ne-Gah---heavy on the Ho part....to which we would always say Ha-no-ne-gah--which always got her riled up....to those of you who have no idea what a Hononegah is....it is the name of the high school that we attended and that she was a secretary at.
• Making me drink the milk out of my cereal bowl.
• Her perfect cursive writing skills.
• Her lists and calendar
• Their annual trip to Texas and the prep and organization that went in to the trip.
• Telling Sara and I that a bar stool was no place for a proper lady...oops sorry grandma!
• The way little children responded to her and how she loved them.

So--this week has been a time for this and a time for that....So often I come back to the following and this week of course it is so true...

For everything there is a season,

And a time for every matter under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to seek, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to tear, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate,

A time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Destination revealed...

I know that some of you have been waiting all week for this...lol. Drum roll please... This morning we are headed to San Francisco...after lunching somewhere in San Francisco near the financial district(see next paragraph for why I have no idea where we are going to lunch).... we will drive north for some wine-tasting in the Napa Valley area for a few days and then on to Healdsburg for some more wine tasting. We will be staying here and here. We have some yummy dinners planned and some great places mapped out for wine picnic lunches.

The other part of the surprise is that my sister and her husband will be meeting us at the airport. Braxton is in charge of planning our lunch in S.F.....he has some favorites--so we are handing the reigns over to him in S.F. We have not traveled with Sara and Braxton just as a couple since before children....so this is an extra special treat....Chris' parents are in Roscoe and my parents are in Wichita Falls (Chris thinks they are in Canada visiting friends!).

This is a vacation geared toward indulgence....good wine, good food, relaxation and celebrating 10 years of marriage (S & B will celebrate 10 years in May of '09). We have a night planned for each couple to enjoy dinner just as a couple....we are headed here--interesting choice you might say...but Chris loves beer and we have spent the last 10 years going on brewery tours in the states and abroad...thus making going to a brewery in wine country the perfect choice for us.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise....

said in my very best Gomer Pyle impersonation....this Friday we set out for the big surprise 10th anniversary vacation. It is not a surprise for me...I have been planning for the last year....for Chris on the other hand he only knows what to bring and what the temps are forecasted to be...some of you know where we are going, some of you have been guessing and of course there probably are a few of you that really could careless ;-)...I will post early Friday a.m. the surprise destination. Chris' parents are coming in Thursday night for the 6 day Roscoe kid fest....for this we appreciate beyond words--say a little pray that our children are the well behaved little girls we know and have witnessed they can be...when of course they aren't fighting over a random princess or like in this a.m's case a pink pen, with pink spiky things coming out of the top that lights up. Stay tuned...

10 years ago today...

Chris and I got married...10 years...wow! In some ways 10 years has gone by at light speed as we have made the journey that is living, growing and learning about another person--in other ways though when looking back we have packed a lot of things in to 10 years. Ten years ago I said "I do" to Chris because he made me laugh and made me feel safe, was easy going to my anal self, he shared the same family values, he liked and wanted children some day down the road and shared in and supported what I wanted to do in life. Skip ahead 10 years and I still love him for all those same reasons and in reality I love him more because I have seen him follow through with the above time and time again...of course in any marriage we have learned not to sweat the small stuff...like me constantly nagging about his driving in Chicago (solution...I drive through the city), his "pokey puppy" mode as we get ready to go somewhere, how he never, NEVER shares desserts and how I don't rinse out my diet coke cans before recycling :-). I think that is what years give you...time to focus on the good stuff in marriage and to realize that some of the little things that can get to you are simply that...little. So Happy Anniversary Chris--I love you!

In 10 years we have:

• had 2 beautiful little girls




• Bought 2 houses and sold one




• Became Aunt Ann and Uncle Chris to 3 nephews and 1 niece




• We have lost 5 grandparents




• I have worked for 2 YMCA's




• Chris has gone from staff photographer to the Photo Editor for the Fox Valley




• Attended U2 concerts, James Taylor, Shawn Colvin, Indigo Girls, DMB, The Wiggles and Laurie Berkner!




• Chris has covered...1 Democratic Convention (L.A. 2000), Michael Jordan and the NBA playoffs, 1 World Series '06, 1 Super Bowl '07 and traveled to Mexico and AZ for 3 weeks to photograph immigrants and their families.




• We have attended the Tour de France (with a 17 month old) to see Lance win #6




• We have attended the Indy 500




• We have made trips together to Ireland, France, Mexico, Colorado, Canada, Florida, Boston, Seattle, New Orleans and Texas.




• Completed Triathlons, 5k's and adventure races.




• Shared many, many good times with family and friends at home and away--thank you all for being a part of our life!

Fall is upon us...

While I love most everything about fall...there is one thing that takes a little getting used to....it was dark when I went to workout today....and one hour later....it was still dark....okay...maybe not totally dark....but dark enough.  Thankfully everything else that is "fall"...cider donuts, leaves changing color, pretty much pumpkin anything (this includes decorating and treats) will help me get over the dark issue.  Plus...if I want to enjoy said treats...then I must drag myself out of bed to get it done despite many voices in my head to "skip it".  Have a great day! 

All you have to do is ask...

Clare has never been shy...today she told us that the principal was in the library the same time they were today--I asked her if she talked to him....to which she replied..."yep"..."I asked him if he would read a story to me"....thinking that his answer was probably no....I asked "did he?"  "Yep." So whenever you think someone might be too busy to listen or sit down with you, I guess we all need to remember that all you need to do is ask and you might just be surprised!

Picture day-

Yesterday was picture day at Clare's school.  If you remember picture day like I do, you remember wanting to wear a cute outfit, trying to make your hair look good and being given a short black plastic comb and then using it on your hair and consequently messing it up. 

Well--for those of you with school age children already this is not news to you....but for all you parents out there still waiting for the first day of kindergarten just wait.  The age of digital pictures now allows for children to choose their "own" background.  I think Clare had at least 12 she could choose from.  Out of the 12 mostly ridiculous backgrounds you could choose from, Clare chose...drum roll please--the cactus background....because you know....we live so close to the desert.  Chris and I (trying to hide our giggles) were like...ummm no!  So she then decided that if she couldn't do the cactus background that the "fall scene" would be the one that we would remember her kindergarten year by....ummmm sorry Clare we are the meanest parents on earth....but no.  

 I finally had her convinced that the grey background would work perfect because it would make her new hot pink shirt look great... she gets to school and the background the kids see is green (so they can alter in the computer later).  So the first words out of her mouth Wednesday afternoon---mom you TOLD me that I was going to have the grey background and they gave me green.  So after a brief lesson in Photoshop I think she has it figured out....now we just have to get through Spring pictures where I'm sure we will get to choose from a big Easter Egg and some pastoral green field background....wish us luck.

For all you reality junkies out there...

As if I needed another reality show to watch/Tivo...I try to limit myself to only a few, but once I watch I am usually hooked--The Amazing Race, Survivor, The Real Housewives of both L.A. and New York,etc., etc.,  but I have to admit that I had never really watched America's Next Top Model (ANTM)...until this season...the girl below Analeigh Tipton is my cousin.   Her grandmother and my grandmother were first cousins--Analeigh lives in California--I have not met her but I have spent the day with her mother in Napa sipping wine and going to dinner and her Aunt and now late grandmother live(d) in Rockford, so distant but not so distant.  So far she has done well and it has been fun to have a link to someone on the show.  If you are at all interested tune in at 7:00p.m. central on the CW network on Wednesday evenings.  Obviously I was not blessed with the long lengthy leg genes :-)

I tri'd it this a.m.!

Will post more later about the whole event but wanted to blog for those checking in on results....you can check it out here or if you want a quick recap...here it goes...

• 989 People finished
• I was 560 out of 989
• Out of 323 women I came in 120th
• Out of 63 women in my age I was 24th
• Chris beat me by LESS than a minute--to his credit...his bike was much quicker...but his swim, transitions and run were just a little slower.
• Looking forward to a night out in Grand Rapids--the babysitter comes soon---here's to a great glass of wine and not falling asleep during dinner!

Thanks summer...you were good to us!

It is hard to believe that this summer has come and gone...of course the real end of summer has yet to come and today it was 93 degrees (uggh)...but Labor Day always is the signal that things are changing and that I have to put my cute white purse from NYC on the shelf and haul out the black one. I love fall and I'm looking forward to crisp, cool fall mornings, the leaves changing and apple donuts....but the summer of 2008 was a great summer...so I just wanted to capture a few things that were either accomplished or just simply occurred during the summer of 2008 to make it great...

• Addie learned (i.e. got brave enough) to go down the slide and jump off the diving board.
• Clare started mastering the art of rotary breathing while swimming.
• New York City with my best girlfriends.
• Clare went ice skating for the first time.
• Vacation Bible School.
• A relaxing 4th of July and Labor Day weekend in Door County--with beautiful sunsets and lots of wine...see above picture.
• An extended weekend in Grand Rapids.
• DMB concert.
• Clare learned to ride a bike with no training wheels!!!
• Play time at the pool--nothing better than tired kiddos and the smell of chlorine.
• Visits from the Richards, Chiers and Donahues.
• I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of other wonderful memories--here's to a stupendous fall--we have the East Grand Rapids Triathlon coming up this weekend....and then Chris and I leave for our surprise trip at the end of September....I know where we are going...he does not...Nana and Papa are lined up for 6 days of fun in Roscoe...I will keep you posted!
  

Pretending...

Playing restaurant....
Clare: "What would you like for dessert m'am?"
Me: "I don't know, just bring me the Chef's surprise"
Clare: "Uh...Well...We don't have surprises here...you get Bologna...it's Bologna!"

Addie playing with her play cell-phone...
Me: "Addie what are you doing?"
Addie: "Texting my mother-in-law"
Me: Ok?????

Back in race mode...

This a.m. I went up to Beloit to do the Hailey Rath 5k--Number one it was for an excellent cause (organ donor awareness) and number two it got me back in the groove of being in a race.  It was a small race--but even small races give me pre-race jitters--so it was good to get a little race practice in before the big Triathlon on Sept. 6th!  I place 2nd in my age group and finished in 25.15....not a personal 5k best but much better than the 5k I did when I was 6weeks pregnant with Addie (guess I had a pretty good excuse for going slow for that one!).  Jennifer Bishop came out to run (placing 2nd in her age group!)  and her mom Amy came to cheer us on!  Thanks Ladies!  

A peak inside the first day of school....

Check out Chris' slide show of Clare's first day as a kindergartner!!

Part II...the bus

The bus dropped off Clare right on cue at the Roscoe Y--she came off all smiles--"how did the bus ride go Clare?", "Good...his name is Ron!", "How did school go?", "Good--we got a train cookie", "What else did you do?," thinking, thinking, thinking...."I don't know." Clearly too much too process as daycare at the Roscoe Y is also a new thing. When she got there they were eating lunch, which in Illinois has to be catered in...they were noshing on Salisbury steak(which looked like a hamburger patty), rice, applesauce and carrots with ranch...one of the other kids looked at her and said, "if you dip it in ketchup, it tastes like Beef a Roo"---So there you have it--lessons learned in kindergarten....when all else fails dip it in ketchup and all will be right with the world.

So far, so good...Part I...

Clare started kindergarten at 8:10a.m.---She got right down to business--putting stuff in her cute little locker (yes--Clare was right--she does get a locker...not a cubbie!) and playing legos with the other kids--I reintroduced myself to her teacher....who was my 1st grade teacher....and she remembered me...for real b/c she asked questions about my sister and parents and other people we are related to....I was in her class during her first year of teaching...so I'm guessing you tend to remember those kids.

When I told Clare that we were going to get going...she was like "Okay mom..see ya"...which is exactly what I wanted her to say....it would have been so much harder had she been clingy, crying,etc.....her confidence made me more confident...no tears (for me)...until we saw our neighbor and she asked how it went...and when I called my mom.....so no p.d.t's (public displays of tears)! Emotions are a funny thing....I think I cried because not only were we reaching a milestone with our first born but because I was super proud to be the mom of this smart, confident little girl! Will check back in with Part II--the bus ride to the Roscoe Y--I am going down today to make sure the trip goes well! Stay tuned!

The Fair...

It doesn't get more American than a county fair...mega corn dogs, elephant ears, cotton candy, rides run by interesting characters, demolition derbies--excess and craziness to the max. We attended the Boone County Fair this past Sunday and a good time was had by all--I personally like the side where the animals and local booths are located---it is far less populated and it is fun to see the kids working hard to take care of their animals. The other side of the fair is the ride side (cue the scary music)....I find it funny that I freak out before going on an airplane that has been checked numerous times by trained mechanics and smile gleefully as I watch my children, my pride and joy, ride on a rickety rides operated by Joe Dirt. Now I am sure that many of the carnies are really nice people....but there are a few (and you know who I'm talking about) that are the ones who posed for the picture in the dictionary next to the word "Carnie" or if we are being politically correct "Carnival Ride Operator".

The other thing I noticed was really interesting t-shirts worn by fair going parents....I was not gutsy enough to take a picture....but here are two that I spotted in the crowd:

1. If you think I'm a b**tch, you should see my mom!

2. All Knocked Up and No Place to Go! (except apparently the fair)

I love saying t-shirts as much as the next person...but there is a line I draw(see above)--Some of my favorites--mind you...not seen at the fair...just my faves:

1. Whine...no Wine...yes (I do own this one)

2. I Can Tell Your Bag is Fake!

Sorry I digress....back to the fair....Every year we go...every year the kids have a great time...every year we enjoy leaving--so here's to the 2009 Boone Co. Fair...where the kids have decided that they are done with the pony rides and are movin up to Camel Rides...Awesome!

She is famous...sort of?

So thanks to Jen's google searching skilz...Sarah Richardson does exist--she is a designer and has her own T.V. show--she also played a clown in Stuck on You...but we won't dwell on that apparent lack of judgement on her part. Oh--she is also 36 :-)

Celebrate we will...

Scenes from a successful tailgate!

Nothing like Cool Ranch Doritos and Bud Light in the back of a mini-van!

Nothing like tailgating with a 21 year old to make you feel old and young all at the same time!

I hope Sarah Richardson is cute and not 40!

We made our journey to Alpine Valley on Saturday for the Dave Matthews Band concert--DMB for all of you up on the lingo. We arrived around 3ish and the tailgating began. We had a great spot right by the entrance...note: this is a great place to pre-concert in...but the leaving at the end...let's just say at least an hour before we even put the key in the ignition to make the trek out of the Valley!

I guess I expected to see more people "our age"....by people "our age" I give a pretty wide range but let's just say 30--45. Not so much. There were only a few times when I felt "my age"--one being when my friend Karen and I caught ourselves talking about school uniforms in the port-o-potty line and the other being when I was dumb enough to ask some random, barely 21 year old-how old he thought I was...40? was his answer. 40?! ...C'mom dude...now I know that I am 4 years and a few days from actually being 40...but 40? I use my Arbonne eye cream and enzyme peel religiously....so I guess I was hoping for at least 30? At any rate...we tailgated with the best of them....from 3 until 8:30p.m.---which means we missed the first act and walked in right when the show started. They played my favorite song "Two Step" as one of the encores and it was fabulous. During the evening some random girl walked by, bent down and was like "Are you Sarah Richardson?"..."uh nope"..."Because you look just like her" and walked away. So if any of you know Sarah Richardson or perhaps even if you don't....please tell me that she is cute and 30!

I've got...

nothin folks....the more I try to think of things to blog about the more I draw a blank...I thought maybe I should blog about the guy who came out of the bathroom at Walmart last night and went ahhhhh upon exiting....but c'mom do you guys really want to hear about some white trash guy who apparently had a rockin time in the W-mart bathroom....didn't think so.

This weekend should prove more fruitful for blog material...we have the DMB concert on Saturday night and while we enjoy that activity, the kids are going to see Water Horse on a big screen in the park with my parents and then on Sunday we are headed to the Boone Co. Fair---if that doesn't provide some good blogging material in and by itself I will be shocked...shocked!

So....stay tuned faithful readers (all 5 or so of you)...stay tuned! Do you like how I'm repeating things to make this post more interesting than it really is....do you? :-)

thoughts from the road...

• Grand Marquis cars should be outlawed for anybody but police...seriously I must have slowed down a million times only to find a 75+ age driver or as one slow down provided--a glimpse at a Taco Bell Bobble Head dog in the back window...figured I could pick up the pace as it was probably a good guess that a trooper wasn't advertising for T-Bell!
• I thought I saw Brett Favre at the Sheboygan Starbucks...but then I realized that Mr. Favre had more things to do/worry about than be at the Sheboygan Starbucks at 7:15a.m.--and I am pretty sure his wife has dark hair...this chick had blond....but for the record...if it was Brett...he held the door for me!
• Counting Crows, Coldplay, Dixie Chicks and John Denver are all good to get your song on while driving solo!
• My official favorite exit to stop while driving is the Hwy. 23 exit in Sheboygan....going up...Starbucks for an a.m. jolt of caffeine...on the way home...a slim ham and cheese from Jimmy Johns...perfect!

Like family...

For as long as I can remember Joe and Doris Kniffin have been family friends...as a little kid I remember them on Door County camping trips at Peninsula State Park , my dad and Joe leaving for Canada fishing trips--where they would come back with fishing tales and unshaven faces, sharing what seemed to be a gigantic, yellow boat with the name Strike 3, seeing them at church and family picnics. In later years--Doris and Joe would move to Door County to retire and lived about a mile from my parents--Farm Breakfasts were shared and beautiful sunset dinners on my parent's deck during our annual 4th of July vacation--even after we had kids and the dinners weren't so relaxed they would come to join our family or we would take our circus to their house.

Joe was a big guy but was as nice and down to earth as they get...he always had a funny story, a pipe and was one of the few people that while growing up I actually let call me Annie. There are some people that are such staples in your life...you may not see them for months/years at a time but time seems to stand still and you pick up right where you left off... you imagine that they will always be around--perhaps that is why I was taken by surprise when we got the news that Joe had passed this past Friday evening. Generally a trip to Door County would be anticipated with great excitement...tomorrow is the exception. Saying good bye is neither fun nor easy...Godspeed Joe.

Scenes from a Roscoe Weekend...

We had a great weekend with the Chiers and Donahue's--they made the long, boring trek from St. Louis to Illinois! We enjoyed some Stateline Area hot spots--for those of you in the know for the Roscoe area we hit the Ledges Pool, The Gun Club, The Firehouse, The Whiffle Tree and some very cute stores in Roscoe (I know...cute stores in Roscoe who knew?)--we enjoyed the rest of the time relaxing on the deck, having a bon-fire and catching up. It is so good to reconnect with good friends who remember your past (this can be good and bad ;-) and now although our lives are different--locations, jobs, kids we still enjoy spending time with each other and are always planning what our next reconnect is going to be! Thanks for making the effort--it means a lot!

What happens after your wives get a "deal" in New York after a few glasses of wine...note the excitement in Kyle's face!
Swim time at the pool!
Whiffle Tree Fun!

Maybe someday...

these girls will take a girl's trip to NYC????  More pics to come from the Chier/Donahue/Hankins weekend in Roscoe...stay tuned!

Meant for someone else...

Thanks for the beautiful bookmark and the great letter.  I am so glad things went well.  I was praying for you.  What a wonderful opportunity for you to go with Ted.  Or did Ted go with you?;-)  I am so anxious to hear all about it.  It is a wonderful area to visit, but very sad since they do not know the  Lord.  Have a great time at the lake.  Love, Elaine.

• Obviously this e-mail was meant for someone else--guessing Anne with an e Wilcox (yes I still use my maiden name in my e-mail)....but I'm curiously intrigued what kind of life the other Ann(e) Wilcox leads...who is Ted? A guy? A dog? both?  Where did they visit...obviously wonderful...but the whole area doesn't know the Lord?  Or the people they were visiting don't know the Lord?  What Lake will they be having a great time at???  And what kind of beautiful bookmark was given--one with beads, a leather homemade one---ahhh the questions :-)

I just had to post something...

So I could move Green Well Guy's Head further on down the blog...the spray on gray was getting on my nerves...spray on tan pushing the limit (and yes I have pushed that limit once!) but spray on gray???  Really?? I mean really????

I have no idea...

who this guy is...he took his own picture on my camera--I vowed to Meg that he would get his own post...so here you go anonymous Green Well Guy...now you are famous!

Grand ol' Grand Rapids time!

Sorry for the most ridiculous title to date...but we did have a most wonderful time. We spent time at the pool, Meijer Children's Gardens, the park, Jersey Junction and the adults found time to get away as well....the girls to Smooch for a little foot care and then Ann and Meg took a little diversion to hit the Green Well for a glass (um...well two glasses) of wine, the guys golfing and then an all adult outing to Graydon's Crossing for yummy food and drink and then of course...it wouldn't be a Hankins' night out without karaoke--I have no idea of how to correctly spell or describe getting up in front of complete strangers and singing (trying to sing) songs off a monitor all while trying to look completely comfortable (i.e. shooting Meg looks like c'mom back up girl...help me out). I am only referring to my rendition of Liz Phair's Polyester Bride--everyone else in our group has a decent voice and I was signed up against my will...but of course still went up when my name was called and proceeded to sway my way into karaoke history. It was a great time and Margi, Tad, Meg and Brian were all great hosts and it was fun to see Jon who was in from Seattle and to hear of his upcoming trip to Africa! Chris and I also managed to get in two runs around Reed's Lake--"getting to know" the triathlon course for September. Here is a little glimpse of our time...

Lounging by the pool

Meijer Gardens

Reading with Nana

Meg and Ann...doing two of their favorite things...getting their picture taken and drinking wine

Adult Hankins' Evening

Times I plan to cry as a parent...

I have gone through a list of scenarios in my head of times that I will more than likely cry when my child goes through a milestone(the first day of kindergarten, high school graduation, dropping off at college, college graduation, wedding,etc)....of course,I realize there are about a million more things that I have never thought of that might bring a tear to my eye or maybe even uncontrollable sobbing...and yesterday was such a day!

Anyone driving down Santa Cruz in East Grand Rapids, MI must have thought they happened upon a child being taken away against her will.....hmmm let me back up....Clare was invited to come and spend a fun time with Nana and Papa--so the plan (which we went over and over...very excitedly) was that she would stay a few days extra after our visit. Well--that was all good...until we said it was time for us to leave and her to go with Nana and Papa....she started crying and begging for Chris....more crying, screaming, begging....picture the most pitiful, sad child and you have Clare...who normally is our brave-not afraid of things child.

I knew that she would have a great time, I knew that she would stop crying and be laughing within 20 minutes of leaving, I knew that she had to take this next little step into growing up....but it didn't make it any easier....So as they pulled away...Clare still crying....I started to sob....like awful movie sobbing. I regained my composure...but not after making a total scene in Meg and Brian's front yard....thank you Brian for entertaining Addie....who let it be said was not at all sad her sister was leaving....she was riding around on the trike happy as a lark with the prospect of getting to spend some alone time with mommy and daddy!

We stayed in town for an extra 1/2 hour to make sure all was well with operation stay with Nana and Papa...and of course...within 20minutes I had a text that she was skipping down the aisles of toys r us holding papa's hand (yes folks...there is a time for bribery...and this was it!).

So...I guess Clare's wings got a little longer and stronger yesterday....and mine did too! Now only 37 days until kindergarten starts....uggh!

Happy Times on the 4th of July

We had great weather and great times in Door County over the 4th of July weekend! We had fun times playing with cousins--throwing rocks into the water, riding ponies (that weren't attached to a ring!), parade watching, all-terrain bike riding (see pic below!), rock painting, playing at Plum Loco Farm, pancake eating, canoe riding and some beautiful sunsets! I also managed to get my longest run (5 miles) and ride (22 miles) in to date--which helped make up for the wonderful food and beverages I consumed! We are refueling, detoxing and doing laundry before we hit the road for another fun time with the Hankins/Richards in Michigan....from one side of the lake to the other....here we come!

Jesse James, Spice and Junie

Always prepared with her ear protectors!

Look out Danica!
hours of fun with old boards and rocks!
This would have never happened a year ago...she also fed the goats and horses...btw...the pig's name was Roger...seriously Roger???They look so serious...they are actually trying to recall how to "play" checkers!
Tending to her Flowers!