Happy Father's Day, Drew!

Happy Father's Day, Drew! Some of my favorite moments since Father's Day last year. 

Early morning snuggles

Sharing some melon at Tanaka Farms

Smiling at daddy

Trick or Treat

Decorating for Christmas

Chick-fil-A for Lucy's 3rd birthday. He was "peaking" her safe
from the scary cow

Walking at CityCentre

Watching the US Open. Father's Day 2012

Frenemy

Nicole Richie has Paris Hilton
Lauren Conrad has Heidi Montag
The King has Ronald
Pepsi has Coke

I have the Nike GPS Watch

Drew gifted me with the glorious watch last Christmas. It was a total surprise. TOTAL. You see, we had decided to forgo presents for each other. Normally when we decide to do this I end up forgetting, panicking and over buying. It's not my fault, my love language is gift giving. What? It's true! Read the book!

So anyway we had decided not to buy for each other. With the move, the new house, and several fun trips planned this year it just seemed like the right thing for us. So color me surprised when at the bottom of my stocking (yes, we did stockings, IT WAS CHRISTMAS) was the watch. I cried. I actually cried.

So on December 26th my love/hate relationship with the Nike GPS Watch powered by TomTom officially began.

Let me explain.

The watch keeps track of your pace and mileage. It tells you real time how fast you are going. This is a blessing and a curse. The watch has helped me train more effectively, allowed me to do tempo runs outside instead of on my other frenemy the treadmill, take paths in the neighborhood, and it most definitely helped me reach my goal time at The Woodlands Half Marathon. Once of the best things is that at the end of good run it cheers you on.
Nice Job!
Record Pace!
Longest Run! (with Fireworks, I might add)

When my watch is happy like this, I call her Sally.

On the other hand...
It has made it impossible for me to run the scheduled easy runs. I can't help but try and beat my pace. It also taunts me when I slow down or am having a bad run. At the end of the not so great runs it offers these gems...
Good Effort
Way to Get Out There
Why were you so slow, sloth girl?  (okay, so I made that up)
NO FIREWORKS

When my watch acts like this I call her Helga.

Today Helga was in rare form. It was super hot. According to The Weather Channel that while it was only (ONLY) 89 degrees, it "feels" like 99 degrees. Super. Wish I hadn't checked that app before I set out with the windsail and 60 pounds of toddler.

"Stay home!" you say! I know, I know, but I am training for that Hottest Half Marathon and I have to practice in the heat. It's not all bad though I don't feel as guilty about the magical shorts. And they are magic. A gift from above for short girls with stocky muscular legs. Now don't tell you friends or anything. I want 2 more pairs and the purchases need to be spaced out. So there had better still be some at CityCentre come July or else....

Back to today.

After 4 miserable miles and lots of sweat Helga said Nice Try or something equally annoying. I decided that Nike should allow you to enter the temperature or the amount of weight in your stroller or if you are having a generally bad day.

Nike, you can have that advice free of charge. Take note. Pure gems. Pearls of wisdom from an average runner
pushing a windsail
wearing cute shorts
who names her watch...
Twice.

Mother's Day Weekend

Howdy do folks. Still getting caught up from my saaaad computer breakdown.

The day before Mother's Day my brother's family and my family met Fancy for MD breakfast. We went to Flora & Muse at CityCentre. Y'all, it's GOOD. Take thee to Flora & Muse as fast as your little legs will carry you. Or your car. You'll get there faster.

As soon as Lucy walked in she was desperate for Fancy to open her present. Fancy tried in vain to wait for the others to arrive. But then sweet darling Lucy blurted out, "OpenyourpresentIpickeditoutIgotyouaneckalce". SURPRISE!

After breakfast we let the kiddos run around the green space.

I also attempted to find a bathing suit at J Crew (lost). I eventually found one at Everything But Water (won) in Town & Country Village. I will never enjoy this process. NEVER. Why are the lights in these places so harsh? Why? You would think they would equip the dressing rooms with  skinny mirrors and flattering glowing light or candles...YES CANDLES! I definitely look better in candlelight. If there were candles up in those rooms, I would walk out with 100 suits. You couldn't stop me. There goes that lady buying 100 suits again.

But I digress.

Sometimes getting a picture with all the 3 looking happy at the camera can be a challenge. But we persevered at got these gems.

On Sunday Drew attempted to let me sleep in while he and the kids made breakfast. After hearing Lucy pummel Drew with questions ranging from "What did you do with my mommy" to "When can I stir the french toast" to "Can I have chocolate milk", I decided to get up. I was greeted by two happy children and a busy husband. We ate a delicious stuffed french toast breakfast, prepared by Chef Drew and the kids gave me cooking classes at Sur La Table. We had planned on church, but both kids woke up with runny noses. The gross yellowy-green kind that make the nursery workers look at you like you are crazy. So we stayed home and enjoyed the day as a family. I even got to go to the gym all by myself for an hour and a half!

Thanks Drew for a great Mother's Day!

hDt 15 months

Happy 15 months Hayes!

- You are a super walking guy. You waited until 14.5 months and then you just took off with practically no warm-up period.
- Favorite words are: mama, dada, bye bye, yeah, uuuuuuuup, and doggy
- Favorite yums are black beans, cheese, peas, tortillas, almond butter, and waffles
- You love it when daddy comes home at the end of the day
- You climb on EVERYTHING and you are very sneaky about it. We have seen you push your riding train up to the end table to use it as a step stool.
- You love to destroy my pantry.
- Favorite toys are the broom, a big bouncy ball, blocks and your cars. You roll your cars all over the house saying, "vroom, vroom".
- Daddy taught you "cheers" and you can't get enough of that game!

I love you Hayes-man. You make me laugh, especially when you laugh. You have a feisty spirit, but you love big hugs. I am so happy to be your, "ma-ma-ma-uuuuuuup".

Loves to take his sister's computer
into this cubby. 

At Mary Jo Peckham Park

After being told, yet again, to get out of the pantry.
Don't be confused by the Christmas Elmo pjs. This
pic was taken on Mother's Day.

Beachy Keen

Last week the kids and I met Fancy in Port Aransas. About 30 years ago Fancy's uncle bought a condo in Port A and I have lots of great memories of going there as a child. For a several reasons, the condo has been sold and last week was our last hurrah. It was so fun to take my children to the little island.

The kids had a great time! Lucy busied herself playing in the sand, hunting for shells with Fancy and even saw a live starfish. Hayes busied himself walking up and down the beach holding a bucket or sand rake, eating cookies and sitting on my lap.

Oh so many pictures.

She's a big fan of this pose. 

Serious sand time. 

Holding his best rake

On one of their many sea shell hunts. 

Walking man

Just a boy and his bucket. 

Have no fear, Jr. Lifeguard on duty. 

Her first shirley temple. 

Walking with his Fancy

Feeding the sea gulls. 

more gulls

On our way to the beach on
our last day

I like this one because you can see
Hayes toddling along in the background.

Me and my bugs

A girl, a Fairy, and a Dentist walk into a bar...

Last week Lucy had her first visit to the dentist.

A much begged for fairy was purchased as a motivational (read bribe) tool.

Lucy has been hankering for this fairy for quite some time. Whenever we go to Target, which is several times a week, (don't judge, I am a stay-at-home mom and sometimes wandering those aisles is the only thing keeping me sane) Lucy asks to go down the "girl path" so she can visit her fairy. I usually allow a trip down the girl path with this disclaimer that the "beautiful special fairy" won't be coming home with us. She usually replies, "I know Mommy, I just want to look on her".

Now for your viewing pleasure, the beautiful special fairy.

"Peaking" her safe on the way to the dentist.

Lucy girl before her big appointment.

Brushing and counting the snakes teeth. (Yes, she has already received the fairy. I know!)

Afterwards with all her spoils - A fairy, a balloon, a princess sticker, and a Doo-doo-da-Dora book. Seriously, I want to go to this dentist.

Walking (Hayes) Man

For weeks and weeks people have been asking me if Hayes is walking. My reply would always be some variation of, "He climbs the couch and and attempts to leap over it, but will not walk" or "He will bear crawl all over the great state of Texas (and isn't such a great state?), but will not walk".

Similar to how for many weeks he would feed himself but not drink out of a cup.

Same song, different verse.

This weekend, we had a breakthrough.

The walking has begun.

He is so cute as he toddles around, super proud of himself.

For your viewing pleasure.

A little bear crawl action.

The walking Hayes-man. (ignore my voice, yikes)