The Crafts

They may be sweet but I'm basking in the glow of nap time today! Photo courtesy of Kate. She found my camera and went to town.  Now back to my book...

When I was living at home I had a favorite pin tucked into a desk drawer. It read, "Chlorine: Breakfast of Champions." And although I was never a 'champion' I consumed my fair share of chlorine morning and night and I enjoyed it like a fine dessert. Water, swimsuits, caps and goggles, sunshine, starting blocks...these things were home to me. While lounging poolside one day this summer I watched CJ run towards water too deep while Kate begged to throw herself off the diving board. I was annoyed. I just wanted to sit poolside, darn it. And that is when the invisible, cartoon inspired light bulb turned on above my head. When did I become so boring?? When did I decide fun is described by sitting motionless on the side of the pool? So I too threw myself into the deep end. I cannonballed off the diving board, raced down the water slide and I blew bubbles underwater with CJ. And that was the moment my inner child stomped on my outer adult and redefined fun. The last ...

We had loads of fun this weekend...everything from date night to long runs to high dives and water slides. I wish Matt were home every day. The house is so fun with him here. I didn't take a single picture this weekend. Not one stinkin' picture. I'm a little disappointed in myself. I think it has something to do with being so absorbed in all we did. And now we are in full force vacation planning mode. We're not sure where we are going yet but it may look something like this... With a lot of golf, tiki huts, private pool lounging, parasailing, street performer watching, alligator wrestling, fishing and water skiing mixed in. Day one I'm planning to put on a swimsuit and not take it off until the plane departs. Well, I guess I might have to take it off to go golfing...but that's it. My suitcase will be very light.

Over the past several weeks I have been drafting a letter to the zoo. I intend to send this letter to each and every zoo in the Midwest. I am certain some zoo around here has lost an animal and I believe I found it; disguised in human form with wispy blond hair and stormy blue eyes. Yes, she is wearing her swimsuit over her clothes and yes, I unsuccessfully convinced her to take it off before going in public today. We've had a trying day today. Every parent has them. Those days seem to come when you least expect it. This morning the air smelled ripe with fun. But the scent of fun must be a perfume and that perfume was masking the real odor; the stench of out-of-control.  I really want to be the perfect parent. I don't truly believe that person exists but I want to embody her, if that is at all possible. I certainly didn't appear to be the perfect parent today. After an hour and a half of chasing CJ from her death at the pool, I ended our time there with the bag on one ...

Coffee and I were in a torrid love affair for a good long while. But I decided it was time to pull back a little. To see how addicted I was to the stuff. So we broke up. But after a few nights of little sleep (thanks Miss Claudia) and a more hectic running calendar (thank Bix), coffee and I got back together. I think we are in love again. ************************** While I was away for a meeting Matt treated the girls to ice cream sandwiches. When I returned from my meeting Matt showed me pictures. And I laughed and laughed and laughed...until I noticed both girls were eating their ice cream sandwiches in the living room.  If CJ's face looked this messy I can only imagine what the couch and carpet looked like. But I'm not that kind of wife and mother so I let it slide. :) ************************************ This morning CJ found my baseball cap. It wasn't hard to find. I think it was lying on the living room floor. Actually it probably was hard to find when it'...

This weekend we visited lions and tigers and bears...oh my! (Sorry...had to say it.) We also made friends with pythons, chimpanzees, the world's largest rodent, silkie chickens (that is their real name) and so many more. Can you guess where we were? Not St. Louis, not Omaha...not anywhere close actually. We were in little old Manchester, IA. Living up to his good guy image, Matt planned yet another surprise getaway for the family. He wanted me to guess our final destination and with only one clue available to me I felt pretty confident. I told him I would write down my guess on a piece of paper and reveal it to him when we were close. Matt said he too would write an answer on a piece of paper. My only clue was our destination was just shy of a one hour drive. So I guessed... I know Cedar Falls is much less than an hour away but I felt confident anyway. Shortly before our arrival Matt opened my guess then handed me his paper. It said... He was right; I was clearly wrong. Anywa...

Not unlike Kate I typically have a lot of words in my mouth. I talk too much, which is why it's good I have a blog. So I don't subject my husband to too much of my ramblings. Instead he can choose to read the blog and 'hear' my thoughts or not. But today... I just don't have anything to say. I will instead share some pictures of last weekend...and probably a comment or two. Besides celebrating Father's Day, the family and I drank in all things Festival of Trails. It is our town's celebration. I ran in the 5k, like always. I believe this was my 10th Festival of Trails 5k. I did alright. The older gentleman in this picture was right  in front of me the whole race. I really, really, really wanted to pass him but he beat me out. Matt typically runs the 5k but after the  great running debacle of 2010  he has not run a day since. He instead planned to walk with Kate while she rode her bike. Kate rode much, much faster than Matt thought and well, he ended up ...