And this time is just for pictures...

I am here for a sleepover...

So - the other night, I am getting ready for bed around 10. Tanner has been in bed since 8:15 sleeping... or so I thought. I hear this noise on the hardwood floor. It sounded like Carl was trying to walk quietly and was pulling something with wheels.

So, I call out his name..."Carl?" and no answer - so as I am sitting on bed waiting to see who it is, Little Tan Man comes strolling in with his blankies and his SUITCASE!! I asked him what he was doing - he said "I am here for a sleepover!!!" How funny! So, of course I had to let him crawl into our bed with me and I let him fall asleep before returning him to his room! What a hoot!!

I found a picture of a Tanner when he did his "modeling" for my friend Kris's store! He is just over a year in this picture!! Look at those cheeks!

Well training is going well, aside from a cold that has made running challenging! I am up to 17 miles and 4.5 hours of cross training! I'll admit, I did skip last night's group run... The temperature was about 10 and falling fast. Oh well - lots of training left to go!

Cheers!!!

Can't get him in the tub, can't get him out.

So, Another successful weekend has gone by. And by successful, I mean lazy, non-productive and relaxing! You gotta love those kind of weekends. We have been working very hard to leave Sunday evenings open for "family" night. This typically includes a picnic on a blanket while watching a movie as a family. There is usually a yummy surprise... Monster cookies, frozen yogurt smoothies... and tonight! Banana Bread!! I can't wait for it to be done.

I am patiently waiting for Tanner to decide he is ready to get his hair washed and get out of the tub. He has the promise of a movie and popcorn and still, he prefers sitting in the tub. Either that or his hatred of getting his hair washed has him sitting stubbornly in the bathroom. I wonder if it is common for children to fight getting in the bath as much as he does only to fight getting out equally as hard? Ah... children. The more I try to figure them out, the more confused I get.

Training is going well this week - I am up to 14 miles ran and 2.5 hours of cross training. Still have a long way to go, but our team motto is "One Day at a Time." I am meeting some really great, inspirational people that I hope to create long term friendships with. Some of their stories are truly inspiring.

So as I sign off to go fight the good fight (yep - that is convincing Tanner that getting his hair washed is not torture) I am going to challenge anyone reading this blog to do one thing this week that will inspire them... :)

Good Night and Love you!

I believe...

I Believe...

...that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

...that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

...that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

...that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

...that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and , you must forgive them for that.

...that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

-Author unknown

And she makes it to the finish line...

Well... I actually made it the whole 4 miles tonight. A very big accomplishment for me and I am super proud. I am training to run the Rock N Roll half marathon in San Diego in June. This race is SO important for on many levels. First - It's always been on my bucket list to do a marathon - and well a half is the first step... Second - Lately, I feel as though my purpose in life has become a bit muddled and this gives me a goal that will benefit many people. Lastly - who doesn't want to get in shape? Add a group of girls that have the same goal and the enthusiasm... It doesn't get any better than this!! Please check out my website for details as I start to update it...

So for whomever is counting - This week's total is 10 miles... That's a good start.

So, I realized I may have a problem when I was playing with the Thomas the Train set while Tanner was in the bath the other night. I should really rephrase the word playing - as I was really just trying to get the perfect track set up. I did get caught when Carl came home and asked me if I was really playing trains while the 3 (almost) took a bath. Yep - sure was.... ;)

I think it is becoming more of an obsession - I can't get enough of the buildings, bridges, etc... Our little man is becoming one lucky dude based on his mama's obsession. Oh well - I could be obsessed with worse things huh?

Wishing Dad a safe flight to AZ - kinda wishin we were coming with!!

Have a great night everyone!!!

I am Super Mom!

As Carl and I watch our (almost) 3 year old recklessly jump on the bed... wondering where the "no fear" gene came from.... Daddy asks Tanner to stop jumping on the bed. "Yes I can..." comes the reply. "Really.... says who?" asks Daddy. "Aunt Tracey said I could"......

We had a great night tonight, our dear friend Brent turned a very young 37 and we celebrated in style with Osaka! There were 5 children there... and I am pretty sure their total ages do not add up to Brent's dinosaur age.... but hey! Who's adding?? The kids had a great time and Brent and Carl sure enjoyed the Japanese Saki!!

Have you ever taken a trip to Target just to go? Not really any point to the trip? We do have a birthday party to attend on Saturday so I could pull the "Super Mom" card and say I am just that organized... but, that is not the truth! So Tanner and I aimlessly wandered the aisles of Target.

Ending up in the Thomas the Train aisle like we always do... Tanner found a toy he just couldn't live without. As we negotiated the purchase... (wait for your birthday, go potty on the big boy potty... etc...) he finally just said he's going to ask Santa for it! ALRIGHT! As I anxiously waited for the news to set in (that he wasn't getting the toy) and for the almost always present whine or temper tantrum to start, another mom spoke up " That is the cutest thing I have ever seen. I can't believe how good he is!!"

And he was! He didn't freak out or cry... or whine... merely went to the next aisle where the Cars toys are and started looking. I was so proud of him. I almost bought the Thomas toy... (but the other mom was still there and I didn't want her to see me cave...)

So there you have it, for one small moment in time tonight... This crazy, neurotic, unorganized person that I am... was Super Mom!!!!!!

If I close my eyes hard enough, will I be back in Mexico?

Well here we are, it is a storm outside. Snow has been falling for 24 hours straight and I am once again reminded how badly the Jetta needs new tires. As I swear my way home, Melissa has so graciously offered to drive Tanner home in their 4x4 vehicle. I start to think back to not so long ago when we were in Mexico. Was it really only 3 1/2 weeks ago? Why does it seem like the more it snows, the further back our vacation seems. If I close my eyes hard enough, can I feel the sand between my toes? Nope, that is just a reminder that the floor is not going to vacuum itself!

On the bright side, the medication they gave me for pain helps me remember Mexcio!! Ha... anyways, Tanner is feeling better, my mouth is slowing feeling better (as long as I don't talk...) and we are all snug in our home.

Well, the floors aren't going to get clean tonight, the groceries aren't going to get bought, and the baby probably won't get a bath! But, if I close my eyes hard enough, I think I can feel Mexico!!

Dad, you can sleep with us.

So, whenever Carl is out of town I let Tanner sleep with me in my bed. I know, I know it isn't great for him and his schedule. Tonight, Carl has asked Tanner to go and give me kisses and say good night... What does our little blue eyed boy of wonder do? Shuts the light off in our room (I was laying in bed recovering from my wisdom teeth removal) and starts to shut the door. "Good Night Dad" he calls out... Carl reminds Tanner that HE is the one going to be and he is supposed to be saying good night to me!

So as both of my boys are in the "Stubborn Stare Down" (this takes place whenever Tanner has a differing opinion that one of his parents and a stare down ensues until the winner (a.k.a. the parents) has been decided. Well tonight, Tanner has his daddy in the stare down about bed time and just as Carl is telling him it's time for bed... Tanner says "Don't worry Dad, you can sleep with us!" And climbs into bed with me and snuggles in... Ahhh! How cute!!

Needless to say, Tanner got to stay up a few extra minutes for cuteness tonight! Good night All!

Will the cookies be any good without the candy?

Tanner and I are on Day 2 of Carl being out of town, I am on day 9 of my new Weight Watchers diet and not looking forward to having my wisdom teeth pulled out tomorrow morning. In my pity party I have thrown for myself, Tanner and I have decided to make monster cookies. You know, the big ones with everything in them?

As we begin the process of making cookies, Tanner takes his position of "cookie smasher" and as always, he always seems to find the M & Ms that sneak out of the cookie. "Look Mom! Another one... Can I eat it?" As this continues, more and more cookies are missing their candy and Tanner's chocolate beard is growing... "Mom" he says when I ask him where the candy's are, "You just have to look for them." And with that being said, pops another candy out of a cookie and eats it... "See! you just have to find them."

I can't promise you that our cookies have any candy's in them tonight, but I can promise you that I learned a little lesson from my little man. Take a minute, find the candy and then EAT IT! Weight Watchers will be there tomorrow..... Good night!