I don't run.

That's what I have always said, anyway. I remember dreading having to run a mile in P.E. in Middle School. I usually walked the second half of it. In my defense, I was in Texas and it was hot. Imagine my joy when I learned that marching band counted as P.E. credit when I was in High School! I did play JV soccer my junior year and although I loved my team mates, I did not love all that running. I retired from soccer after that.

In college, I'd run a mile or two at the track to keep in shape or get a little cardio. But, I wasn't a consistent runner. These were the days before MP3 players and I had a better time at the gym where I could watch TV or tune into the radio stations. AND enjoy the air conditioning. Again, I was in Texas.

Now, Rudy has always been a runner. He ran Cross Country in High School and after completing his first marathon last year, I officially "didn't get it". How can you run for four hours? I can't do anything for four hours! Except sleep. I all but declared that running is not for me.

But, last year I heard about a 5K on Thanksgiving Day that benefits a local charity. Hmmmm. I wasn't exactly sure how far a 5K was, but I figured it was for a good cause. It was cold that day, but I survived it, walking about a half mile in the middle of it. I kind of treated my 5K like I treated soccer back in H.S. One and done.

Then last month, I heard about another 5K benefiting another local charity. I was moved by their mission and decided I would support it. This time, I also decided I was going to really run it. I trained a little more this time and low and behold I ran the whole thing....and then some. Turns out this course was 3.6 miles long instead of 3.1.

I felt great afterward and loved running it with a friend. I have NO aspirations of doing a marathon. There is a big gap between 3.1 and 26.2. But, I am registered for another 5K at the end of this month. Yep, it's for a good cause, too.

I guess I run.

Memory Lane....

...some days, you just feel like taking a stroll. Looking back can be so much fun!

Today as I re-discovered some of these pictures, I just let the memories wash over me and was overcome with gratitude. The past few years have been so amazing, and as we approach Aron's 6th birthday in less than two months, I am so thankful for the blessing that he is.

Stopping the Clock

I'm not talking about aging. Well, at least not MY aging. I am referring to my sweet boy who has started Kindergarten and the aching feeling I have had the past few weeks while thinking, "Where did the time go?"

It seems so cliche and we all rolled our eyes as we heard parents and family remark about how tall we'd gotten and how they remembered when we were just "this tall". But there is truth in it. Time flies. And it accellerates as soon as they put that child in your arms, it seems.

Today, Aron did not have school. He starts tomorrow, so I decided to spend the majority of my day just soaking him up. He's five, so he really didn't notice me breathing in the scent of his hair as we snuggled on the couch this morning and watched his favorite cartoon.

When I suggested we have a pic-nic lunch at the park, his emphatic "YES!" made my heart overflow. I wanted to memorize every detail of this day and him wanting to be with me.

We spread out a blanket under a tree and shared lunch. He was too busy munching on his sandwich and shoving in apple slices between bites of it to care that I was watching him. I didn't remind him to chew with his mouth closed today. I just chuckled inside at the sound of him being a little boy.

After we ate, we read together. He decided the pattern of our reading: he sounded out the words one at a time and then when he pointed at me, I read it to confirm what he had done. It was a sweet little game and I loved the ease of it. No rules had to be set. No explanation necessary. It's the way he likes to do it and I know that about him. I know that a day will come when I don't know him best. I am so thankful that today, I am the one who does.

After some reading, he was ready to hit the playground. I followed him into his imaginary play and let him lead. We went from the castle to the ship after using our secret code to enter it, of course. After I struggled to balance across the obstacles, he would said, "Well, you could have just used those stairs over there." Thanks, bud.

I hoisted up the anchor and he steered the ship. We explored and found treasure. It was locked so we had to find the right key. (A piece of mulch from the playground- but not just any piece. The one with the secret code on it that only he could find.) We burried our treasure and then ran back to the ship, weighing anchor and taking off right before a bomb exploded.

When it was time to go, I was as sad to leave as he was. It meant the clock would start ticking again. He'll be at Kindergarten again tomorrow and he will have new, more agile friends to play his games with. And I'll be watching the clock for the hour when my little guy gets home.

Catching up!

I am hanging my head in shame that my last blog post was almost four months ago. I am a bad blogger. A very bad blogger....

BUT, if there is anyone left out there who checks my blog- well, even if there's not- I wanted to fill in the gaps and try my best to get back in the groove.

Hmmm....maybe I could blame the weather! We've had plenty of it here in TN this year. It started out with snow, snow, and more snow. I lost count of the number of snow-days that were called by the schools. But, it was fun for the kids. Especially when it iced on top of it and Aron and all of his neighborhood friends were able to sled down our driveway!

And, of course, there was the epic flooding just a few weeks ago. Actually THAT should have prompted me to blog, both because it was so dramatic and because we were trapped in our house for three days. Praise God, we had no water IN our home- just a little damage to our driveway and some of the landscaping.

But inbetween those two inclement events, we did travel home to Texas for Easter. It was a great time catching up with our families and having lots of fun. Like feeding big fish....

...and catching little ones!

Another highlight of our trip was getting all of the cousins together, which happens far to infrequently. We crammed a year's worth of memories into just a couple of days, dying Easter eggs, hunting eggs, decorating cupcakes, making crafts and lots of play.

I think the sweetest moments for me were seeing Aron with his little cousin June. Becoming and aunt has been such a joy for me and there is something about seeing my son with my sister's daughter. We took them down to a patch of bluebonnets and did the Texas thing. This was the best photo we got:

And that it is totally OK with me because the memories that go along with it are full of laughs. Like Aron trying to force June to look at the camera...

...or showing her how to smile

All in all, it was a pretty good spring. Now that summer is here, there will be a lot more to share on the blog. Aron's recent Pre-K graduation, our upcoming home remodel and a trip to the beach in June will be appearing here soon. Thanks for stopping by and for not giving up on me. I hope that everyone is enjoying these long, sunny days!

What did we do before the internet?

I just got my computer back last night. It had been out of commission with a virus for over a week and then we had complications with our wireless connection after that.

In a way, it was nice to not feel obligated to update a facebook status or answer an email right away.....for a day or two.

Then it just got annoying. If I wanted to contact someone I actually had to PICK UP THE PHONE! UGH! If I wanted to know what time the football game was on on Sunday I had to actually consult the TV menu and I had to check basketball scores on ESPN's bottom line instead of pulling them up on their website. OH, the horror!

It is hard to remember the details of life before the internet. What did we do before Google? I don't think I actually ran to the library to research random trivia. Maybe that's why I can't remember anything anymore! I have filled my head with usless information and now the stuff I need to remember won't fit.

Anyone else remember CALLING the movie theater to listen to the recording and scrambling to jot down all of the movie times? And I guess we were just left to wonder what ever happened to those long lost friends who moved away. There were no "social networking sites".

But, I am glad for technology. I am glad to share things with friends and family via my blog and facebook and to pass on information via email! Here are a few of the things we've been up to since my last post...

We cheered Rudy on as he completed his first full marathon!

I met Pioneer Woman and she signed my copy of her cookbook!

Aron played the part of a wiseman in his preschool Christmas program.

AND my sister brought her ridiculously cute daughter to my house for a visit!

Super-cute T's!

Check out these gals at Wild Olive! They did the shirts for Pioneer Woman's book tour. They are super cute and super soft.
Let's try to win one together!

Banter from the Backseat: I Spy

I love to listen in on what is being discussed in the back seat of my car. Now that Jackson and Aron are 4 and 5 years old, their conversations have become much more animated and lengthy. Sometimes they talk about nothing but pure silliness. Sometimes it is so sweet and profound it brings a tear to your eye. And sometimes......well, sometimes you choke and spit out your coffee and laugh until you cannot breath! Case in point:

(as overheard by me as we waited in line for pre-school drop-off this morning)

Aron: I spy something......blue!

Jackson: Is it that truck over there?

Aron: Nope.

Jackson: I know! That fence!

Aron: Nope.

Jackson: The sign.

Aron: No. (sigh) I'll just tell you what it is...

Jackson: What?

Aron: (exasperated that he has to explain himself) It is that blue square surroundung that man going to the bathroom.

My first thought was, "Did he just say surrounding?" Then, "Wait, WHAT? Who's going to the bathroom?!" Of course, I am immediately looking out the window trying to see just what it is my son is talking about. It took me a minute to figure it out and there's no way poor Jackson could have seen it from where he sits. I started to chuckle and maybe I should have explained to him what he was looking at, but by the time I was able to stop laughing, it was time to go inside.

Can you guess what it was?

"Go" years old

Yesterday was Aron's fifth birthday. I think I am still in shock that five years has gone by since I first held that sweet bundle that looked like a carbon copy of my husband.

But if I stop and think of all he has experienced in his little life, it makes sense. I don't see how anyone can have a child and not recognize God's hand in creating life. We literally experience a miracle through pregnancy and birth and then the miracle continues as they grow and develop right before our eyes.

My little miracle boy has moved from Las Vegas to Tennessee. He has traveled to CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS, AL, NC, KY, IN, FL and Mexico. He has learned to do so many big-boy things like dress himself and write his alphabet. He has played 2 seasons of T-ball and now goes to pre-school two days each week. I suppose if I stop and think about it, it seems like more than 5 years worth of adventures and learning.

Last night after his bath I was getting him ready for bed and if you have ever put lotion on a wiggly little boy, you know that you either come up with games and songs to keep him still and focused or you do a lot of yelling and threatening. I prefer the former method to the latter. So, I was teaching him to count to ten in Spanish and Japanese. Since five is the number of the year in his life he zeroed in on "go", which is Japanese for 5.

"Like 'Ready, set, go!'", he said. "Yep," I said.

It's exactly like that. Ready, set, go. Away from the toddler years. No more clothes with "T" after the number. We are reving our engines and peeling out- right into childhood. I am sad to say goodbye to the younger years, but excited to see who he will be come as he grows and becomes the boy God created him to be. Let's GO!

Before and After

I just love before-and-afters. The makeover shows on TV are some of my favorites. Whether it is people or homes or pets, I love a good transformation and happy ending. Here are a few before-and-afters that I have been a part of recently.

This is Aron's room before we painted:

This is his room now:

Another view: Here are some piles of leaves I raked BEFORE the kiddos went wild:And after:This one is my favorite! Here is my BFF, Casey last year right before we introduced her to a really nice guy we know: And here she is AFTER...368 days after, to be exact.

Aren't before-and-afters fun?

Run, Aron, Run!

On Labor Day, my little guy ran his first "event"! Since Daddy has really gotten into running the past couple of years, this is a big deal in our house.

Rudy ran the Franklin Classic 10K that morning and Aron and I cheered him on as he finished. Then it was time for fun and games while we waited for the "Kid's Kilometer" to start. Little did I know that the "fun" would include Aron having his ENTIRE face painted like Spiderman! It was a messy first run to say the least. When it was time for the "race", as Aron called it, to begin the boys headed for the start and I headed to find a good spot on Main St. for taking photos.

Rudy ran with Aron and said that he ran hard the whole time (just over half a mile). People were yelling, "Go Spiderman!" and Aron ate it up, waving to them. What a crowd-pleaser!

I can't say that I recommend face painting before a run, but I do recommend getting out with your kids for community events- especially healthy and active ones like this!

I think I am going to do a 5K on Thanksgiving Day, sans face paint. I'll let Rudy and Aron do the picture taking that day, but you won't see any of those here!

Gone Fishing

Rudy has been talking about wanting to take Aron fishing for the longest time. So, when my sister suggested fishing while we were visiting in Texas a few weeks ago the boys jumped at the chance. My sister has a sweet neighbor across the road (this is rural East Texas, folks- no streets, just dirt roads where they live) offered up her stocked tank. How neighborly!

It took a little practice, but Aron got the hang of the rod and reel. If only it had come with a box of patience....

Not to worry, though. If you get bored you can always play with the worms!

Here they are with their first catch- a bluegill! Aron was so excited, but didn't really want to touch it. Notice his other hand is firmly behind his back. HA!

Fishing seems to be one of those American rights of passage for little boys, like baseball or climbing trees or playing in the sprinkler. We were so pleased to see Aron enjoy this wonderful outdoor time and can't wait to take him out again!

Getting old...

Aren't these flowers pretty? Thought I'd put up a pretty picture while I discuss an ugly truth:

I am getting old.
Some of you are older than me, and I mean no insult. I am just making an observation about my own experience. Age is relative if your outlook is right. And don't misunderstand me. I am not complaining. I have just been noticing a few things: fine lines around my eyes, random gray hairs on my head, noises I have never heard before when I stand up from a kneeling position...

I'm taking it in stride, though. Trying to take good care of myself and I really do appreciate this phase of my life. I adore being a mother to my sweet son and having a lot of the drama of my younger years behind me. I love being able to say that I have been married for almost 11 years and looking back on all that Rudy and I have experienced together.

On a sillier note, I have composet a list of things that have clued me in to the fact that I am getting older:

1. Coverage and support are the first two things I look for in a bathing suit. Not color or cut.

2. I am trying to cover up age spots on my face instead of pimples...although I still get those, too, which is just some kind of cruel joke.

3. My knowledge of what's "in" and who's who. I picked up a People Magazine the other day while getting a pedicure and I didn't know who half of those people were. Not that I am bothered by this....

4. Fashion. Now, I try to stay current and have some sense of style. But, walking through the mall I find my self thinking, "I just don't get it" when the teens walk by.

5. My short term memory is like swiss cheese. A day does not go by that I don't lose my keys, misplace my phone or walk into a room and realize I have no idea why I went in there.

6. Being called "Maam". I know it is polite and respectful and all that, but I'd rather the kid at the grocery store just insult me by assuming I am his age, OK!

7. Things/ stuff/clothes?music that I remember/had/wore/listened to is all coming back into style and they are calling it "retro".

So, I hope I am not alone in this. Can anybody relate? And tell me what makes you feel old. The least we can do to ease our pain is share a laugh over it!

Big Boy Stuff

You know, everyone tells you how fast it goes. They say, "Just wait! You'll turn around one day and wonder what happened to the little bundle you brought home." I am actually polishing up my version of this cliche statement to deliver to my sweet sister at the end of the month. We'll be travelling home to Texas to visit her and meet her baby girl for the first time.

But, as many times as I heard it, I never imagined the harsh truth of those words. It seems I can barely recall the nights of little sleep, the nursing, the teething and the diapers. Now I watch this little person descend the stairs each morning in awe of who he is and prayerfully anticipating who he will become.

Childhood is so full of bittersweet moments. Like Sunday night when my son was reunited with a friend whom he has not seen for 4 months and pleaded, "Mommy, can I spend the night with Trinity?" My child has never spent a night away from either Rudy or I. It just really has never come up. I was shocked that he wanted to and fully anticipated that he would be crying about 30 minutes after I left. I was so wrong. He was as cool as a cucumber the entire time and really didn't even seem to have missed us when he returned the next day! Big boy.....

This past Friday he went to the dentist. He acted very dramatic when I told him he would be going a few days prior to his appointment. He put on his best worried face and said, "But, but, but..." I assured him it would be fine- that the dentist just wanted to look at his teeth and make sure they were growing in and healthy. "...but will there be prizes?", he finished. "Probably," I said. "OK, MOMMY! I WILL GO AND I WILL BE REALLY BRAVE!".

He did and he was. He chatted up the dentist and his assistant to everyone's amusement. Then I watched him write his name in chalk on the "No Cavity Club" wall.

He has really surprised me with this new confidence and assertiveness. This is the boy who clung to me from 5 months to 20 months of age- the child who sobbed and choked when we left him in childcare at church. Surely it has been a gradual process, but it seems to have happend so suddenly to my heart.

These "big boy" moments are pressing me to make a new resolution. I am really going to do my best to soak up as much of him as I can. To make note of the funny things he says and cherish every nanosecond he spends in my lap. This last year before school becomes his occupation and friends are cooler than Mom and Dad is going to be so bittersweet. I am going to have to be a big girl to cope with all of this big boy stuff.

10 Reasons Summer Is My Favorite Time of Year

1o. Freedom for my feet! I love sandals, flops...even going barefoot around the yard. Plus, it's an excuse to go get a pedi!
9. Gardening! I just love watching things grow right before my eyes- like this Cala lily I transplanted into my side bed (from a tiny $5 walmart pot that I bought in Vegas over 3 years ago!) Apparently it likes Tennessee, too!


8. BBQ's in the backyard..any backyard- yours, mine. Call me!
7. Suntans. I just feel better with a little sun on my skin.
6. Fresh fruits and veggies! Corn on the cob, tomatoes, watermelon, peaches, cherries! MMMMMM!

5. Call me crazy, but I like the heat. I'd rather fan myself in the shade than shiver anyday.
4. Swimming and splashing! Just look at these silly kids in the pool:
3. The longer days! The evenings just feel so free and lazy. Catching fireflies and sipping iced-tea on the front porch. The dishes will wait- mine usually manage until 9pm.
2. Happy Hour at Sonic Drive-In. Oh, yeah. This almost made it to number one!
1. Fun, Fun, Fun! Summer is the time to be outside. It's baseball, county fairs, BBQ's and beach trips.

I love this face

...it's just so silly...

...and sassy...

...and sweet, sweet, sweet!

Still alive...and loving life!

Aron and I doing a cheesy self-portrait shot at the Zoo last week

I have been meaning to blog for weeks, but have been putting it off and putting it off ... too many other things are stealing me away, pulling me outside or out and about.

Then my cousin emails me and says, "Hey, you OK?" She noticed I hadn't blogged in a while.
I partially blame facebook. I love how quick and easy it is to post pictures and share a quick thought. Blogging seems more involved to me. I don't know why. It's not like there's a 500 word minimum on a post. And, it probably has a little to do with the sunshine and blue skies we've had. I am in love with this weather. We've tried to make the most of it and are really putting our Zoo memebership to good use as well as taking advantage of the local parks. Aron and I even went strawberry picking the other day. YUM!

But I have SOOO much more to share! First of all, I became an aunt by blood- my first niece on my side of the family was born on the 14th to my only sister. I just couldn't be more excited! Or more annoyed that I live 702.7 miles (per mapquest) away! Little Carrie June "Junebug" Till was born 6 weeks early and weighed in at a whopping 5 lbs, 0 oz. We'll be heading out there in July to introduce ourselves.

My Mom, Sis, and the new baby

We also have a new family member in our household. We adopted Dash this past weekend from an animal rescue. He is a Jack Russel-Dachshund mix who is estimated to be about 6 years old. Aron just adores him and he seems to be fitting into the mix pretty well around here. He's the most calm and easy-going dog I have ever met. I think I have only heard him bark 3 times in as many days!

Dash

I have also been involved in a weekly discipleship with two of the women from my church. It has been a wonderful challenge as well as a very rewarding journey so far. Just what I needed to take things to the next level in my walk with God. I am so thankful that God placed this path before me. Cindy and Courtney- you are a blessing!

Aron is getting ready to start T-ball in a few weeks and Rudy will be coaching. Which means I get to be Administrative Assistant to the Coach, by default. It is setting up to be a really great Summer and I can only say, "Bring it on!"

Bluebonnets, Buffalo Burps and a Beaver Lodge

I can't make a post-title like that up. Even I am not that creative!

As you may have caught on by now, Aron and I are in Texas visiting my family and having lots of adventures while we are here! I am LOVING being here while the Bluebonnets are in bloom. It has been years since I have seen them in person and it just about brought tears to my eyes to take pictures of my son in them. See, thats what Texans do. We take Bluebonnet pictures. We pull over on the side of the road- any road- and place our children in the center of a patch of the wildflowers (which happen to be the state flower of Texas) and snap away. Having moved from my homestate almost 9 years ago, I have not been able to carry on this tradition with my son...until today! Feast your eyes on these beauties, taken just "down the road" from Mom's house:

Aron was over this whole Bluebonnet-flower-picture-takin'-business by the time my mom snapped this one for me, but I still adore it and will probalby frame it!

So, let me get to the Buffalo part!

My sister is a teacher out here in East Texas and last week took her class out to the Grapeland Safari. (Grapeland being the name of the Texas town the Safari is located in) She raved about the fun the kids in her class had so Mom and I decided to drive out there with Aron for some fun today. We had no idea what fun we were in for!

The "safari" is really just a huge pasture that you can drive through aimlessly while various tame, yet hungry, wildlife pursues your vehicle for snacks! We saw everything from Potbellied Pigs to Zebras, to Deer, Ducks and Donkeys. We purchased a 2.5 gallon bucket of "feed" on our way into the park and it was gone before we were a third of the way through. Aron dropped a cupfull of the stuff all over the back seat of Mom's car when the first large animal stuck it's head in the window. I haven't laughed so hard in years. It was great!

If you look closely in this picture, you can see Aron's reflection in the side mirror. These guys were a little aggressive in their pursuit for the feed.

This Camel had a thing for my mom. He followed us around the whole time.

I am pretty sure this next guy is a Moose calf. He was so sweet and soft!

And then this guy came marching up. My heart was racing! It was so cool, but so intimidating to be this close to a BUFFALO! And this guy was not shy. Can I just tell you how fast I started scraping up the feed that Aron had spilt from the back seat so that I would have something to offer this guy when he got to my window!

And he did get to my window...and then he came in through it!
I poured the 1/4 cup of feed I had scrounged together into his giant mouth and then he sniffed around- probably to be sure I wasn't holding out!- and then...

he burped.

Right. In. My. Face.

It was gross. It was rank. But it was so cool!

For the rest of the day, Aron kept saying, "My favorite part was when that big guy burped!"

The Burping Buffalo

This brings us to the Beaver Lodge. When we got on the highway and were headed home, my Mom says to me, "Lets drive slow when we get to the end of town. I want to show you the Beaver Dam." I was thinking, 'OK. Sure. It's probably an old tree that fell. Mom thinks it was Beavers, I will humor her.' Good thing I kept those words in my head, or I'd have been eating them. What I saw amazed me so much, I just had to pull over and take pictures!


The picture on the left is before I zoomed in. You can see the little canal they use. It looks like a sidwalk going right up to the lodge. (yes, I googled to find out what he correct term was, since they really hadn't dammed anything here-Hey, I run a quality blog here, people!)

I will admit it, I am an animal loving, nature appreciating, discovery HD-watching, tree-hugging-creation enthusiast. But even if you are not, I hope you enjoyed this post.

And I think I fell in love with Texas all over again today.