RUNNING......

As some of you may already know, I am now a Runner.  It may come as a surprise to some, but a few months ago I started to realize that there is a big difference between the perception of who I am and the reality of who I am.  I think everyone does this to some extent in their lives, so I'm sure you can understand my point.  You see, I perceive of myself as athletic, sporty(spice), average-size, Meg Ryan-ish.  In a way, it's good because I don't have many fears about things I can and cannot do.  However, the reality of who I am started to become undeniable.  As I near the age that shall not be mentioned, my body jiggles and sloshes and aches more like a fat old lady and less like the person in my mind.  Therefore, I decided that I needed to close the gap between reality and perception.   

How do I do that, you ask?  That is an excellent question - I asked myself the same.  Luckily, I have some good friends who are runners themselves and knew that finishing a marathon is on my life to-do list (my 'bucket' list).  They convinced me that I can run a marathon in a year with training.  These girls aren't generally liars, so I decided to trust them.  I bought a good pair of shoes and started training for my first 5K run: Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning!  

I also wanted to say how much I love and am grateful for the friends I have in Indiana - the deKock family.  I love, love, love visiting them because Jessica and Daniel make me laugh so hard, because Jaden crawls in bed with me in the morning for at least 1/2 hour (and makes me laugh I almost pee), because Carly is so fun and interesting to hang with (and a great singer), because Carson and Soren are so sweet and funny and amazing.  I also love the look and smell of Autumn, which I don't get in Indio anymore.  Mostly I love being part of their lives - the ups and the downs, the craziness and the quiet moments, and the friends.  I adore all my new Indiana friends and am grateful they treat me like their own now.  Here are my two favorite pictures from my trip.  Love to all in Valpo.  Miss you! 

Oak Glen

It is fall!  Yeah!  When you live in the desert, that means it is finally time to drive over an hour to pick apples, pumpkins, and berries at Riley's Farm in Oak Glen.  People greet you in authentic revolutionary war outfits and point you to the privies when you need to go pee.  The fresh apple pie and dumplings are delicious, but they sell out quickly and you do not want to get the day old stuff.  So disappointing.  You can press your own cider if the cider press isn't broken.  Mostly, it's a place for great fall looking pictures in a non-fall looking part of California.  So we bundled everyone up and drove to Oak Glen last Saturday.  It was raining.  Bummer.  But that didn't stop J from getting apples, a pumpkin, and plenty of pictures.  Here are a few of my favorites.  Despite the cold, it was a fun trip.  Made me miss Connecticut a little.  Makes me a little envious of you lucky few who are seeing the fall leaves turn and picking your own apples and pumpkins.  

(post) Bridal Shower

Last weekend, a few friends and I hosted a bridal shower for our dear friend, Jennifer. This was an unusual shower because it is almost 2 months after she got married.  But our philosophy is that every bride deserves a party in her honor regardless of how early or late that may be.  So this shower was a travel theme because Jennifer - along with the rest of us - loves to travel.  In fact, Melissa and I knew of the legendary Jennifer long before we ever met her because when we first moved to the PB Ward, we heard about a gazillion times, "Jennifer's in Paris", "Jennifer's back from Paris", "Have you seen Jennifer since she went to Paris"..... Paris, Paris, Paris.  

Anyway, that was 9 years ago and we have all been many places since.  So the theme was travel and each guest was asked to select a country that would be represented in their gift.  I selected Egypt and gave her Egyptian Cotton 400 thread count sheet set.  Nice, I know.  (HINT: when I get married, I really like new sheets!)  It was great fun and I think all the girls were amazingly creative with their countries/gifts.  So here are a few pictures of our shower.  But first I want to say congratulations to the new couple.  I really am happy for them and wish them all the best in this world.  I look back on that time in my life with tremendous joy.  It was a very special time with a very special group of friends.  I am so glad they allowed us new girls to be part of them.

LAGOON!!!

Last weekend I flew to UT for a trip to Lagoon with my sisters and their families. Actually, they were extremely generous in paying for this trip so I didn't miss out on the fun. I am very grateful because it sure was fun! It was a quick trip, so for all of you in UT that I did not contact... I am sorry. In on Sat night and out on Mon didn't leave much time for visiting.

Lagoon was a blast. I have found my new favorite water ride. Don't know the name of it, but it was fast, dark, and wicked fun. Which reminds me, Wicked the ride was also wicked fun. It was just great to be with my sisters and the kids (and Ri, of course). I love the picture above because it is the reason for the whole trip... so these cousins can have moments like this.
Here are a few more of my favorite pics from the trip.

The best picture I have of Ni. He was loving his Aunt J and the train ride that took us around Lake Lagoon and past some interesting (sickly?) animals. Yes, he is only 5 months old. Yes, he is rather big. But we like big babies. No, we looooove big babies. You should see the size of his head.
Na was old enough to ride several kiddie rides by himself and he seemed to really love them. Bumper cars, airplanes, race cars, and boats. What more could a boy dream of? He even found time to hit on the ladies with his sweet green ride here...... :-)
I actually really love the picture below even though it is a bit blurry. I just happened to get Ma perfectly with his "yeah dude" sign as he went wizzing by me. I love the bright colors.
After many hours of fun, the heavens opened and the rain poured. A "close-the-hatch-on-the-ark-Noah" kind of rain. Wow. We were trapped in Lagoon for quite some time. But then the rain slowed and I was talked into riding a couple roller coasters in the cold wind & rain. Half way around the second coaster with raindrops pelting my face like small, sharp daggers cutting my flesh I realized that, perhaps, I have outgrown the excitement of roller coasters in the rain. I think I may leave that to the teenagers from now on. But I couldn't resist taking a picture of Da to show just how wet we were. A memorable day.


I just had to include two of my favorite pictures from July. Clearly Ni loves snuggling with his Uncle D. He doesn't realize, yet, that when he turns 2 years old, Uncle D will torment him with a ponytail like he gave his older brother, Na.

Texas (Yee Haw!)

I am finally home from a week-long trip to Texas with Melissa, Verlyn, and little Ms. LaRee.  They have officially moved to TX now and I helped them make the drive from San Diego last week.  We left Monday night and drove to Yuma.  Tuesday we drove all the way past El Paso to a VERY small town in west Texas (with very scary motel rooms).  We made good time on Wednesday getting to Euless in time for dinner (or supper if you are from Wisconsin).  Here are a few of my favorite pics from the road:

 

This is my diet coke "beer" (looks like the silver bullet can).  I had never seen the tall can before and I got waaaaaay too excited about it.  So I enjoyed my snacks.  Melissa, on the other hand, was disappointed in her blizzard.  Chocolate ice cream with snickers when she thought it would be vanilla.  Oh well... I guess she'll just have to go back to DQ for another one!

LaRee was mostly great on the trip.  Although she was cutting a couple fangs, so there were miserable moments for her.  We found that it's always easier to calm a troubled child with food!  Donuts and cheetos did the trick! I love that little girl. ;-)

It was a bittersweet trip for me because I am so happy for them and, yet, I will miss them more than they know.  Melissa and I have known each other for almost 15 years and I have grown very attached to all of them (you, too, Junior).  They are family to me and it is always difficult to say goodbye to family, yet I want all the goodness and happiness and love the universe can give them.  I know this is a good move for them and they will settle in to a wonderful life for LaRee and future Latus.  But I left with a very heavy heart not knowing when I will see them again.  I couldn't even bring myself to see the little one in her crib that morning.  

The good news is that I like to travel, Junior works for an airline and Texas ain't that far away.  So I send big hugs and kisses to Euless until I see you again!!  I love you!

Nephews

Today is the end of 2 full weeks with Julie and the boys.  I am exhausted.  But I have enjoyed the boys more this trip than any other.  I think because it was pure summer fun with no stress of holidays or parties or anything.  Yesterday I literally spent 1/2 hour spraying water on Nathaniel from the backyard hose.  I will admit, however, that my enjoyment didn't always transfer over to the adult members of my family. ;-)  I wanted to post a few of my favorite pics of the boys.  Hope everyone is having a great summer!

I am home from Indiana and I already miss it.  It is way too hot here and brown... sandy brown.  No rolling hills, no fields of corn or wheat, no fireflies, no red barns.  But most of all, no deKock's and that is the saddest part.  I had a great time with the family and can't wait to go back for another visit!  Maybe Jaden will stop punching my breasts by then.  Maybe not.  Maybe in a few months I will actually miss the breast-punching.  Maybe by my next visit I will be in better shape to do karate kicks on the trampoline without injuring my knee.  Maybe I will FINALLY get to go to Navy Pier (just kidding, Jess).  Or maybe I will just hang out at my favorite vacation home and watch Camp Rock again.  And this time, maybe I will know all the words. ;-)  

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the trip.