Burger Queen, Etc.

Should she, or should she not, be in an ad for Burger King?

And, on that note, she should also be in ads for:

Cocoa Puffs (and/or squinty eyes)
Dora coloring books, and
Honda Odysseys,
respectively.

Not that I am biased.

The Fun Run (as if there is such a thing...)

 At the girls' school this year, they did something called a "Fun Run" for a fundraiser. (I know what you're thinking: fun run? Isn't that a little oxymoronic? The answer is, yes. Yes it is.) The girls were either supposed to get sponsored $1 or more for each 1/16 of a mile lap they could run, or get a flat donation. (We opted for the flat donation. After the girls each ran more than 30 laps, we were glad we did.)

It was so cute to see them both out there running their little hearts out. They both did an awesome job, too especially considering that it is still VERY HOT here in October. Savanna ran 37 laps and Julia ran 34. (Apparently the majority of kindergartners have slightly more energy than the majority of second graders. Either that or their earlier, much cooler running time made for some crazy-fast 5-year-olds.)

Because we are horrible parents, we forgot the camera during Savanna's running time. Thankfully, though, my phone takes decent pics. And thankfully, again, Craig is savvy enough to know how to get them from my phone to the computer.

all lined up and raring to go

Savanna and the lovely Ms. L who was a trouper 

and ran almost the whole time with the kids

(when did she get to be so dang grown, anyway?)

And because we are good parents, we braved the heat twice for each of their separate running times, and even remembered the actual camera for the second one. Poor Julia was about to barf when she finished running over two miles in sweltering conditions. (I had her go back to class but then went back to pick her up a few hours later from the nurse's office. After which we arrived home and she appeared perfectly fine. Of course.) (I couldn't blame her, though. I wanted to pass out just from standing out there.)

Savanna, on the other hand, had ice cream with her class right after the run and did just fine. Of course.

isn't she giant?

waving at Lex while passing through

this is what a 2-year-old does at a fun run.

 a good Mommy shows her support even 

when she opposes running on principle...

This Is When I Start Jonesing for Fall

Home again. After a lovely, fall-filling trip to Flagstaff. We wore pants. We explored the outdoors. We drank hot chocolate. We carved pumpkins. We smelled the smells of autumn. 

And we came back to a hot house and a 95 degree city.

Sigh.

Maybe by the time I finish unpacking, it will be fall here, too.

Thoughts for Today

Why is it so hard to be in bed by 10:00? Oh, that's right, because I do homework until 9:48 and then I start  a blog post to empty my mind of all the non-academic things that are swirling around in there. (Presumably, I have already successfully flushed all of the academic things out. I like to get those out of the way first. They take up way too much room.)

I have been thinking a little about all of the things I take for granted. Like my health, for instance. I grumble a lot to myself about how tiring the day-to-day grind can be, all the while forgetting how wonderful it is to be perfectly healthy and virtually pain-free every single day. Not everyone has that. It's something I need to work on remembering and appreciating. I met a lady at a school fundraiser today who, after months of excruciating abdominal pain, got diagnosed with a stomach bacteria and is finally getting treated for it. She said that she will never take her health for granted again. Hmm...I would sure love to gain that perspective...minus the months of undiagnosed, excruciating abdominal pain, of course.

Also, I take the girlies for granted. I tend to focus overly much on their constant, exhausting needs, and not enough on their funny, cute, quirky personalities. This one is a life-long lesson, I'm sure, but I like to think that somehow I can make some progress on it along the way. Spontaneous hugs and praise are sure helping me with it, but I have much more to learn and am determined to learn it before it doesn't matter anymore.

And guess who I else I under-appreciate? Craig! How is it possible to take such a wonderfully handsome and talented man for granted, you ask? Not sure. But somehow I do, and I need to focus lots more on loving the crud out of him and looking the other way when I see those notorious socks peeking out from under the bed. With such a stud for a husband, (who also happens to be the kick-trashingest Daddy I've ever come in contact with) it shouldn't be too hard to garner a lot more appreciation, each moment of the day. I mean, who else makes me laugh, think, and chocolate milk every day? No one, that's who.

Okay, brain drainage complete. With any luck I can be showered and in bed by 10:30. And with one less blog post to think about, maybe I can fall into a blissful sleep the second my head hits the pillow. (Not likely. But a girl can dream. You know, before she actually dreams.)

Loving the Lex

O, Lexa, how I love thee.

I am having so much fun spending time with this little friend. From her insistent, "Mommy, you're supposed to play with me!" to her talents at hiding phones and toys in various purses and backpacks, to her willingness to help with any task, to her consistently welcome snuggliness, I'd be hard-pressed to think of a better tiny person with whom to spend my days. In fact, I find myself laughing a little at my previous notion that I would be bored being home with just one girlie all day. (It's actually kind of the best thing ever.) (Not that I don't miss the others.) (But you know what I mean.)

(couldn't have done better if I had hand-picked her myself)

(doing her second favorite thing)

(exploring new ways to experience Diego)

Some of my favorite quotables of late:

Me: How come you're so smart?

A: Because. I'm so smart.

Me: When are you going to go pee-pee like a big girl?

A: Mmm...when I'm older like Vanna.

Me: You're so cute.

A: I know!

A: Hi, it's me, Lexa! 

(when she comes into a room or sits down at the table.)

P.S. Right now she is trying to put a size 4 diaper onto a mermaid Barbie doll. I'm curious to see how this one pans out...