circus

For Christmas we got Jane a box of circus animal crackers and wrapped up some tickets to Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey Circus to go with them.

This was pretty amazing:

(video is also here if the above doesn't work)

Jane loved the "flying" girls. They were wearing glow-in-the-dark costumes and they were so high up that it was easier for her to see.

I think Jane had as much fun eating as she did watching the show. Check out her pretzel. It was bigger than her head!

Our Circus Selfie

Josh was the funniest with his intermission question.

I'm glad we got to go! It's so much fun being a parent and watching your kids be amazed. We are so fortunate!

what I'm loving Wednesday (a day late)

We'll be making these at my upcoming #DisneySide party but I'd like to share the link in case any of you wan to participate as well. The Winston-Salem Ronald McDonald House is asking for Valentine's Cards for the families that are staying there. Many of them are dealing with difficult circumstances and their family is split because of it. They might not be able to spend Valentine's Day with all of their loved ones and a card just might bring a smile to their faces. Please consider making a few extra Valentine's cards this week and sending them to the address below.

The Ronald McDonald House of Winston-Salem
419 S. Hawthorne Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

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Julianna showed this one to me. All I have to say is EXCELLENT! Well worth the three minutes to view.




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I love my church and if you're local I really don't have enough words to describe how much I think you should come. We're kicking off a new small group called Summit Runners and if you're a beginning or an advanced runner who has a passion for fellowship with other Christians then you really should come check it out. There's more info here and if you're totally not interested in Summit Runners then I encourage you to check out all of the other small groups that are starting up.

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Another running link: You still have time to join a winter training program with Fleet Feet. Here's a $20 off coupon that's about to expire next week. The programs that are about to start are great for beginners. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The accountability that you get from group fitness is incredible and the friendships you'll form by being a part of one of these programs are priceless.

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BONUS: I love how Jane says quadrilateral. Check it out.

deck the halls

We got a small Christmas tree this year and put it up last Sunday. Jonathan hates it. I'm actually very thankful. It's just as pretty and was a lot less work. We spent less money and at the last minute decided to put it up on a stand so it would look taller but this actually created more room to put the gifts underneath which I totally love. Some think redneck tackiness, I think simple, easy, beautiful.

I'd recommend it.

I just need to get some presents wrapped and under it.

This year Thanksgiving fell later than usual and that means there's less time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It made it seem like we were really late getting our tree up and decorated on December 8th.

Josh put out his favorite little Charlie Brown characters and danced along with them for hours.

We don't have anything decorated outside really besides a wreath on the front door and small porch trees on either side of the front door. Some of my favorite decorations include our stockings, my Fontanini nativity set that I've has as my own since I was a kid, of course lots of different ornaments, and I'm sure Jonathan would say his favorite was his crocheted stocking from childhood that our cat shredded years ago while we were at the beach.

Josh is begging for outdoor lights and Jonathan actually told him that was a possibility. I almost died.

I'd love to get one of these Christmas signs but they're pretty expensive.

I'd love to hear about how you're decorating for the holidays this year.

Have you done anything different? What's your favorite decoration?

things i love

I Like the Way You Work It T-shirt

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The Summit Church Lip Sync Battle
This is my pastor, y'all!



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My Ivory Kate Wire Wrap Headbands
I look like Rosie the Riveter when I wear them but I still adore them. Great way to jazz up an outfit.

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The little bow tie I got for Josh from Little Mr.
It buttons on his shirt and doesn't go around his neck and it's so stinkin' cute. He was excited about wearing it for school picture day and he just beams when you tell him he's handsome.

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My niece dancing
I don't know if the video is short enough to load but if it is then please ignore my horrible singing




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Salted Caramel Gu
I've finally gotten my stomach to adjust to taking gels and Gu on long runs and my favorite flavor by far has become the Salted Caramel Gu Energy Gel. I like it so much that I bought a case on Amazon. It's like dessert and running at the same time. My favorites! Yum!

What are you loving today? Let me know in the comments.

links I love

Pottermore: JK Rowling writes new Harry Potter story featuring 'greying' 33-year-old wizard

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Why So Many Kids Can't Sit Still in School Today

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Gone Girl Official Trailer

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Mipso performs "When I'm Gone"

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How cool is this? This is my church, y'all! Summit at the Ballpark.

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I know you're tired of hearing it, but I can't say enough good things about these training programs.

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Bonus Video:

(HINT: It's most definitely worth the click and the subsequent 8 seconds of your life.)

giftedness and pacing

Julianna got a pogo stick for her 8th birthday and it took her all of about 30 minutes to master it.  She quickly went from a record 3 jumps in a row, to 28 and then 42.

In our county, the schools test for academic giftedness in the second grade. They test all students unless the parents opt out. Then if the child meets the qualifications they are later tested again for the Highly Academically Gifted program. Neither option would necessarily change her school or class unless we wanted it to (we could put her in a highly gifted self-contained program) and we love her school so it's unlikely that much will change for next year despite her scores but of course we will carefully evaluate and prayerfully make that decision if we come to it.

Julianna has been reading since she was an older four year old. She has always made excellent marks at school. She loves math but reads so well and enjoys it enough that she reads an entire series of books quicker than we can get all of the copies in her hands.

In second grade her class has obviously started practicing composing paragraphs with multiple detailed sentences, main ideas, and supporting details. In the past few months in her writings at school she has mentioned she wanted to be a computer teacher like her mom and make water valves like her dad.  I know she's just trying to fill the requirement as directed by the teacher but the assignment results make us proud.

Not long ago I posted her definition of "pace" on Instagram and her mere mention of me as a runner was one of the best things I could have ever read.  My husband commented that he was surprised the word "pace" didn't make her think of me and my love of salsa (click the link to read his comment).

Then last week, this came home:

She started out as an itty bitty with a strong kick and now she's full of understanding, spunk, brains, and perception.

I adore my beautiful girl.

ice skating

We went ice skating on Sunday because Julianna got another perfect report card.

We took one of her friends along and it was a lot of fun.

We'd been a couple of times in the last two years, but Julianna's friend had never gone ice skating before. She did great for her first time... staying by the wall for the first ten laps or so and eventually venturing off the wall to hold my hand.

Julianna kept near the wall for a few laps and then just decided to do it on her own and she did very well.  I'm surprised how well she did for only having been twice more than a year ago.

It was quite crowded and several times there were falls just because of the other people. That hurt Julianna's pride and she told me about how frustrating it was several times in the car.

I'm glad I could spend a couple of hours with my girl, even if my knees were killing me after.

links i love

If you haven't joined Earndit yet, you totally should. You earn points for exercising and then redeem the points for cool prizes and products. Personally, I don't ever really redeem my points for products but I do enter the contests with my points. This month they're giving away a really amazing week-long trip to a resort in Utah plus $500 towards airfare.  My sister won a pretty nice coat from Marmot through Earndit and we didn't do anything besides the exercise that we would have already done anyway. So go sign up!

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Locals, this is what they're doing  near my house.



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I've been reading the YouVersion devotional about Elisha. It's teaching me a lot about having loads of FAITH and I'm finding it to be an encouraging study to do at the beginning of the year when many of us are starting new journeys and tackling new scary challenges (like marathon training). "Only God can send the water, but he wants you to dig the ditches." I highly recommend it!

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Our local library offers free music downloads through a site called Freegal.  They let you download three songs each week and they've got quite a selection.

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Another one for locals: The Big Eat is back again for 2014 and lots of restaurants are on board. Check it out and go get some good food!

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This one is not really a link but I have to include it anyway.  Dumb Ways to Die This app is free on Android (like most) and is entirely a time-waster, but alas [sigh] it is also addictive. If you're into mindless challenges for when you're sitting in a waiting room or a carpool line you should check it out.

two days

up to

missing - my friend Arika who I trained with for the last half marathon

counting - the days until school gets out... Thirteen, baby. Thirteen.

eating - blackened salmon, sauteed veggies, sweet potato fries during date night with Jonathan and chicken salad and fruit at the teacher appreciation lunch

praying - for the people of Moore, Oklahoma

singing - Show Me Your Glory by Third Day (see praying)

reading - Tigers in Red Weather, Run for God, and Runner's World magazine.  Apparently, I'm not the only one who hates hills.  Ahem, STACIE!

commiserating - with my daughter who lost television priveleges this week because she committed an unspeakable act

learning - about the tablets that Guilford County Middle Schools are being issued for next school year

laughing - at my kids when they eat Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans

 

 

I love the freeze-frame on that last one

If it were up to me this post would be about my impressive immune system and my body's awesome ability to not be affected in any way by Spring allergies.  Or at least that's what I was telling my co-workers yesterday outside at bus duty while they sniffed and wiped and complain about the dang pollen currently overtaking our state.  "I don't ever seem to be affected by pollen," I bragged.

Yeah, right.

After school we played a bit of tee ball/softball in the front yard and I mostly played photographer in the grass, but did take a couple of swings and ran after some stray balls.  By the time we got the kids ready for bed my throat felt like razor blades and I couldn't hear out of one ear.  Every time I swallowed it felt as if I were swallowing the Target brand of children's ibuprofen (you know, the one that is so thick it makes Julianna gag and throw up her dinner? yeah that one).

I laid down on the bed "just for a minute" at 8pm and I didn't get up until Jonathan got out of the shower this morning.  I vaguely remember looking at the clock around 10:50 or so but I couldn't make myself get up to even put on pajamas.

When I woke up this morning I felt a bit better (despite the headache) but the anger at myself trumped any remaining allergy symptoms.  I was mad at myself because I didn't run yesterday. 

I set a goal a while back to try to run every day in April and I made it every day until yesterday.  I'm still going to finish out the month strong, but it will suck to have done the whole month except for one day out of 30. 

Oh well, right?  You win some and lose some.

For evidence just take a look at the kids batting.

If you look closely you can see Josh grabbing his wedgie

things that make me happy today

• These songs make me smile and me dancing all goofy with my kids makes them smile too. Win, win!
• A suspect is about to be arrested in the marathon bombings.
• Also related to the Boston marathon tragedy from Monday: this one will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside
• And finally, this:

what's the bomp anyway?

Love this little guy!

20120819 193243 from c525600 on Vimeo.

In case you missed the last post, I'm giving away a cute kids craft kit.  Click here for details.

always behind

the sixth year video:




the fifth year video I never posted:

counting to six

Dear Julianna,
This letter is so very late.  I'm sorry.  Over the past year you've lost several more teeth, ridden your bike 5-8 miles at a time, and gotten brave enough to jump off the diving board... AGAIN.  Oh, and started kindergarten!

You've learned how to read proficiently and you've gotten your own public library card.  You rode the bus for the first time (both the school bus and the city bus with Nanna) and learned how to do a cart wheel.  You're taller than ever and your 6x pants look like high-waters.

You've created a dozen Pokemon databases, beaten PokePark Wii (moved on to the second one), and memorized countless facts about Pokemon.  You've ridden several more roller coasters (including the upside-down pirate ship at Carowinds) and caught several more fish.

You've mastered the eye roll and gotten a tweenager attitude, "Duh!"  You push your brother on the swing when I'm not looking and then when he becomes irritating you of course call him your little "bother."  You got a trophy at the Fun Run at school, had your artwork in an art show for the county, and won several Dixie Classic Fair ribbons.

Your appetite is almost too big for a kids meal these days and you have become quite the homebody begging to stay home whenever you're given a choice.  You like shirts with sparkles and just the other day you declared your six year old birthday party to be "the beat one ever because the other one's were just family."  I don't want to go into the details of this on the blog, but ask Aunt Whitney sometime about your last trip to Goodwill and she'll be sure to tell you the story.

You went ice skating for the first time this year and you've figured out how to climb to the third and fourth branch in Nanna's tree.  You've learned how to count money and love to shout the words to "Wholly Yours" by David Crowder Band.

Jules, you're a marvelous little girl whom I adore with my whole heart.  I want to pause life at six and yet I want to see what's next all at the same time.


ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

Six years ago I took on the most challenging yet most rewarding job ever. I almost went crazy due to the life change that it brought me but I wouldn't have it any other way.

 
I have wept tears of joy, frustration, apprehension and pride during the last six years. Happy Birthday, Julianna! You keep us on our toes but you wouldn't be you any other way!