Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Meet Me in St. Louis

Maggie: "Happy Birthday, Fancy"
P.A.T.: "Thanks"
Maggie: "I have a crazy idea. Want to go to St. Louis for a few days"?
P.A.T.: "Right now"?
Maggie: "Uh ,yeah"
P.A.T.: "Should we take the kids"?
Maggie: "Why not? They're cute and we get to board the plane a few minutes early".
P.A.T.: "Sounds great. See you in a few minutes."
Maggie: "I am on my way"!

See the rest of you crazy cats after the weekend. Peace out.




Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Happy Anniversary, Drew!

Happy 5th Anniversary, Drew!

The past 15 months have been a doozy.

After 10 weeks of bed rest and 2 hospital stays we welcomed Hayes into our family.

As soon as we got used to having a newborn we found out we would be moving.

Shortly after putting our house on the market you started work in Houston.

I stayed in Long Beach while you commuted back and forth every other weekend.

All the while, we were building a house in Katy and desperately trying to sell our California home.

We said goodbye to dear friends and moved in early November.

We rolled right into the holidays.

You started traveling more and more with work.

My dad became increasingly sicker.

We closed on our Long Beach house.

We celebrated Lucy's 3rd birthday.

My dad went to Heaven.

We celebrated Hayes' 1st birthday.

We remembered my dad on his birthday.

Which brings us to now.

Even reading back over that makes tired. There is no denying that it was a stressful and exhausting period in our life together. Of course, it was punctuated with great joys and reasons to celebrate. One of the biggest reasons is that we made it and we are closer than we have ever been.

God is good.

I love you, Da-roo. Happy 5th Anniversary.

Crockett 2005. Babies

Crockett 2006. Engaged.


Wedding. 2007.
Disneyland 2008. Pregnant with Lucy.  
Greece 2009. 


















Family Portraits 2010.
Caro and Marc's wedding 2010. Pregnant with Hayes. 
Family portraits 2011. 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Flashback Friday, 2 Days Early: Our Wedding

Our 5th Anniversary is Saturday. We will be enjoying a "staycation", so I will be very busy and important on Friday. Hence, Flashback Wednesday.

Thanks Gramma, Granddad and Fancy for helping us enjoy the weekend!

Flashback Friday Wednesday: Our Wedding, March 17, 2007


The details, yo.
Bridal Luncheon: The Junior League of Houston
Groomal Luncheon: Barnaby's (Get the turkey burger, you won't regret it)
Rehearsal Dinner: Julia's Bistro (We will be returning to the scene of the crime on Friday night)
Wedding: First Presbyterian Church of Houston
Reception: Crystal Ballroom at The Rice

People often ask me what it was like to have a wedding on St. Patrick's Day. I usually reply with something sarcastic (shocker) like, "besides the leprechaun ring bearer and assigning someone to pinch everyone walking in sans green attire" it was totally normal.

It really was a fantastic weekend. Our parents outdid themselves making it a perfect. Thanks to everyone who stood by us as we took our vows and has supported us the past five years.

I probably do a anniversary (read sappy) post in a few days. So for now, here are some pictures.

Sibling picture


Watching the Aggies WIN. March Madness knows no bounds
The Codster and me
Ready to go!
All done
My dad getting reprimanded by the church wedding coordinator.
I love the look on his face. 

St. Patty's cake
Upon receiving the "8 Dogs Passdown". I am smiling because
Drew and Taylor were getting married a couple months later and
I got to pass it on quickly. 
Love this picture of Pam and Drew during their dance. 
One of my very favorite pictures from our wedding.
See ya!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Woodlands Half Marathon

A little over a week ago, Anna and I ran in The Woodlands Half Marathon. Going into the race I was a nervous because my training had been spotty, at best. As we all know, I missed my goal of breaking the 2 hour mark in St. Louis in October by 6 seconds.

SIX SECONDS. 

S-I-X seconds. 

Infuriating. 

Needless to say, that goal was weighing heavily on my mind, but I still wanted to try and enjoy myself. 
The race was on the small side, which was really nice. It's awesome to be able to drive up and park an hour before race time and not have to fight crowds. 

From the start of the race I could tell that it was going to be a good day. We fought through the initial runner mob and settled into a really nice pace. For eight miles we chatted effortlessly and it zoomed by. Around mile 8, Anna suggested we put in our headphones. 

What? Tired of my gabbing?! 

How is that possible? I am really funny. 

Fine. Anna, if that is the way you want it. 

(Turns out she felt like she was slowing a bit and didn't want me to miss my goal. How selfless is that? She can't help, she is awesome.)

So in the headphones went. I totally zoned out and just ran. When I checked my watch at mile 10 I saw that I was definitely going to be break 2 hours. 

The last three miles flew by. As I approached the finish line, I looked at my watch and if we are being honest, I cried a little bit. 

Official race time - 1:54:18. 

I can hardly believe it myself and I am not sure I can do it again. 

Which is good to realize because our next race is The Hottest Half in Dallas in August. Average temperature is around 96 degrees. Probably time to breakdown and start running with a fuel and water belt. 

Feeling crazy? Come and join us. 

The sweat is good for your pores. Just think of it as a 13.1 mile sauna experience. Just like one of your fancy spas. 

Also, it should be noted that Anna broke 2 hours. 1:59 and some business. Darn skippy! 

How do you them apples?
We did it! That man can't help but stare
at our awesomeness. 
This is how we did it. (We get it dude, we are awesome.)


Why my back is always sore. 
The best we could do. 


Thursday, March 8, 2012

Decoded: Right Behind Myself

Self high-five, fools!

I am the champion...of the world.

AHHHHH AHHHHH AHHHH (The crowd is going wild, clearly)

Or more simply put in the words of the famous poet, Dora the Explorer,
"I did it, I did it, 
  I knew that I could do it"!

What did I do, you ask? What makes me, Maggie Dean, the Captain of Awesome?

Wait for it...

I decoded one Lucy's mystery phrases "right behind myself". (See also "right behind she's self" and "right behind he's self". 

That's right! I now what in the world she is talking about. For Pete's sake. 

Pete - capitalized? I know it is a proper noun, but I don't actually know Pete and it is a common phrase. Sooooooo, hmmmm. I am sure the grammar police aka my mom, will call me .7 seconds after she reads this to let me know. Don't be too hard on her, it is sickness of sorts. I am sure this blog gives her and my brother grammar-fit-itis. 

Grammar-fit-itis - A series of fits and/or spasms brought on by a friend or relative who writes a blog in the manner in which she speaks, rather than being concerned with grammar. 

Wow, how did I get there? 

Are you ready to know what "right behind myself" means? After all this build up it is not going to be that exciting. 

Here we go.

It means, "all by myself". 

As in, "Mommy I went to the bathroom in the potty right behind myself". 

or

"Hayes, is eating his lunch right behind he's self". 

Thank you context clues! 

I know you will all sleep better tonight. 

Gratuitous picture of Lucy during the Super Bowl. 
Party hat, check
No pants, check
Paper towel pom poms, check

Monday, March 5, 2012

Doughnuts with Granddad

Last Thursday was Doughnuts with Dad at Lucy's preschool. Drew had meetings he couldn't get out of, so Granddad filled in. Lucy was so excited to have Granddad at her school. She talked about it for days leading up to the event.

First things first, a picture.
Lucy in Granddad in space. Okay, the are at preschool. Geez, kill joy.












The kids made ties for their guests to wear. So after donning the tie, it was time for more pictures.












Off to the doughnut line. Lucy picked out a basketball plate for Granddad and a soccer plate for herself. And then there were doughnuts!











Lucy + Chocolate =
Pure bliss