Ralphie the Elf!

This whole "elf on the shelf" concept was something I threaded lightly. I didn't know if my kids would be into it. I didn't know if I would be able to handle the creativity behind him. But after some serious discussion, my husband and I felt the elf might be a good behavior modification tool. Plus, my inner child so wanted to have fun with this  

So enter our beloved Ralphie (he we are Clevelanders and we love our Christmas Story fame). He came Monday and has had quite a fun week! 

Goodbye Sweet Texas

Two years, two months and two days ago from this exact moment I was doing what I am now...sitting on a plane flying away from "home." I likened myself to Dorothy Gale, drowning my sorrows in the thought "there's no place like home."

When I was confronted with the news I had to leave Ohio, I was so resistant. I cried how could I leave my family and friends. How could I leave the only real home I ever knew and create a new one? 

It's amazing how resilient we are as humans. I thought I could never find a new home that would far exceed the only home I ever knew. But I sit here today exactly like I was back then - sobbing and broken up inside missing and aching my family and home I loved so well. 

My life has truly transformed. God blessed me so much by granting me a new family. In them, I found joys, comforts, support. Home isn't where you are...it's truly who you share it with. Though I did fall madly in love with The Woodlands and the lifestyle we lived, I found myself loving it more because of who I shared it with. 

I forced myself to go out and make a new life for my girls. I didn't want to be a mopey mom who cried inside all day. It wasn't easy at first...but I persevered. And I have to say in giving the situation to God, it all turned a corner pretty quick. On May 28 I left Ohio knowing not a soul. By the end of July, I had made friends. We weren't as close then as we now are, but it sparked that change in me. And by Thanksgiving some of us shared our first holiday alone together. And by April, we were surrounded my a wonderful group to celebrate the girls first and second birthdays respectively. If you really think about it...that's truly amazing. In less than a year we were solidly grounded with our new family. 

In my early days in Texas, I would sing myself the song Smile to lighten my spirits. 

 "Smile though your heart is aching. Smile even though its breaking. When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by.   If you smile through your fears and sorrows. Smile and maybe tomorrow you'll see the sun come shining through"

 

I need to repeat this today and most every day for a while until my heart no longer aches for my family afar. It was a special time in my life and I will never forget it. 

Run for Hope

With a couple races under my belt, I wanted to end "race season" with a fun run with my friends. Jamie and Jennifer had been training fearlessly with their 9 to 5 group in preparation for their first 5k. Tanna signed up because she was bit by the bug. Sarah signed up to run with her hubby, and Lisa decided it was time to lace up after having Ella. I don't know if it was peer pressure, my own running addiction or the sinking thought it may be my last race in Texas, but I joined in the fun. 

It was not only a great race but a personal best. I finished the 10k in 47 minutes (ummm 7:30mm what?!?) And finished 2nd in my age group. I never medaled before so this was the highlight of my running career. It was a perfect end to race season and an even better morning because I had a blast with my friends. I'd like to thing the Harlem shake warm up really added the pep to my step :) 

Birthday, sickness and races: Part 3 - the plague

It's been such a gap since this actually happened but we were hit hard on Norah's birthday. I heard screaming and coughing from the girls room. It was such a rough day because I had the race and Mike had his first 100 mile bike ride. Needless to say, we were both exhausted. 

Web I entered the room, I was hit with the smell...vomit. Oh my goodness I don't do well with puke. I swooped Claire up and rushed her to the tub. I woke Mike and had him tend to her whole I went to handle the mess. Norah was still fast asleep. I don't know how but she slept through it all. I stripped the bed, did loads of laundry and sprayed Lysol on everything!!!! I kept spraying hoping to kill every single airborne germ (imagine me like die die die to the germs...I was fanatical). The sickness continued through the night and carried into the days thereafter. It was Claire's first tummy bug and it was brutal. She was terribly ill and it worried me simply because she just was lifeless and pale. I know how brutal it is but to watch your child is very difficult. 

After a trip to the doctor on day 3 of still puking, we left with Zofran and a new outlook...things would soon make a turn for the better. 

Hot hot hot!

Spending some time with Uncle Tim. It's 104 (feels like 110) so we took to the pools! Let me tell you...it's truly unbearable hot. I know we don't have much more time here so I am making the most of it. However, a little cool front would be welcome. 

Birthday, sickness and races: PART 2 - Race in Huntsville

The day after Norah's birthday, I was competing in the Texas 10 Series race in Huntsville.  I signed up last minute with the urging of my running partner and dear friend Tanna.  It was a loop course...I don't like loops! Ever since my half last year that was the same loop 3x, I vowed never to do a loop again.  Ironic since my 2 recent races were both loops! I digress...not to go into too much detail, but the race was a success! I completed it in 1:27 (8:38mm). I placed 4th in my age group...missed a medal by under a minute. So close!!!! But this race was such a game changer for me because it was starting to show all of my work was paying off. I was actually getting faster. So big progress for me and lots of fun doing it. 

Birthday, sickness and races: PART 1 - Birthdays

I have taken a long blogging hiatus...like almost a month!

Since my last post, we have had a busy month.

Starting with the girls birthdays...
Claire' 3rd birthday was her day to have it her way.  Since she is all about pampering, she went to get her nails done.  I normally take her to the nail salons around the corner, but since it was her special day, we spent it at the little girls salon Sweet and Sassy.  Though her dad was a little concerned about the price (a mini mani was $35!), we caved for her special day.  My original plan was for she and I to have a mommy and me date, but she really wanted to share the experience with her best friend Olivia (it's starting already...being with mom is not cool).  I made two little appointments and those two had the best time.  It honestly was hysterical to see them together...they were like to old pros.  Claire chatted away about her man aka "my daddy."  The tech laughed because every sentence started with, "So my daddy..."  throughout her entire service.  They got blue sparkly toes and green and purple sparkly fingers (alternating fingers on both).  We followed their spa day with lunch (TKY at Potbelly for the b-day girl) and lastly a shopping trip at Carter's. I am so going to have to watch this girl because all the items she picked happened to be the only non-sale items.  Champagne taste!

Talking about the main man in her life, her daddy

"Wow!"

Best friends!!!

We ended the day with a taco dinner, again Claire's choosing, and birthday cake.  I don't know who was more excited for the cake, Claire or Norah!!!! I think all in all she had a great day. 

Officially 3 - blowing out the candle at 6:49 PM ... exact time of birth!

LOVING the cake!!!

On the heels of Claire's birthday came Norah's.  Just like Claire, we gave Norah the options to choose her day.  It's a litter trickier with her because she is still young.  Though she says a lot, she really is a go with the flow kind of girl.  She only demanded a few things - food, Sofia the first and cake.  Can't really argue with that, right? 

Mike and I really thought through and through about what to do with Norah.  How could we make her day special to her? We gave her a shopping trip at the Disney store.  See we can do this because she isn't like her sister in that she won't want everything in the store.  She initially grabs items, but will just as quickly put it back and say, "I no want this." Easy enough.  As predicted she went for her two favorite girls - Sofia and Minnie.  She got a plush Sofia doll and a pair of Minnie sandals.  Then she wanted "chicken nuggets" for lunch so we got the girls Chick-fil-A followed by a MUCH NEEDED bang trim (for both girls...Claire got lumped in that mix). We bought a cookie cake for Norah but since both girls were exhausted, we decided it was best to enjoy the cookie the following night. 

Feasting on lunch...notice the bangs...EEK!

Clutching her Sofia doll and sporting the new 'do...very chic birthday girl!

(As a total aside, please note the heinous bruise on Norah's cheek.  Immediately following her birthday party, she went down for a much needed nap.  Sometime between the moment I closed the door to put her down and the time I went back in to get her, she got that awful bruise.  Neither girl would fess up to the cause.  I asked and all I got was, "A lion got Norah" (umm no but A+ for imagination).  SO please also note that the bruise was nearly 4 weeks ago and is STILL on her face!!!! It will appear in the photo series in the future posts.  Only noting this because it looks like dirt on her face! Though that's not out of character for Norah, I say it so people know she does get cleaned and isn't a perpetually dirty kid.)