Just Enjoying My Kids

I guess today I just wanted to share a couple of things.

It has been snowing here since Friday. This is by far the most snow that we've gotten all season. The kids have gotten out to enjoy it a few times. Too powdery to build anything out of it, but perfect fun none the less.

Tonight, Cameron requested Christmas music. First, I looked at him like he was crazy. But then I realized, to a child, it looks more like Christmas now then it did a month ago. So I turned on Christmas music and we sang along to all the Classics during dinner.

They were all so happy. That's the most precious thing about kids, the littlest things make their day. And I love when I can give them those little things.

Tonight I also cut Cameron's hair. Cameron is just at that perfect age when everything out of their mouths is worth listening to because if I really listen to it all, I realize how much his brain is working on overdrive.

I think I read somewhere that a 5 year old asks around 500 questions every day. Cameron does that and then some. He is constantly talking and commenting and questioning and debating . . . the kids can talk!

During his haircut, he requested that I cut a word into his hair. I asked him where he had seen that? He said, "All the cool dudes have it." I told him that I would think about it in the summer, but not while he was in school. Then I asked if he knew what word he would want? He said, "Cool Dude!" so all the other cool dudes know that I am a cool dude too."

Ha. Ha. Love, love, love him.

And one more thing. Audrey had a field trip today to a Chicago Wolves hockey game. She came home with a "signed" foam ball that was thrown out to the crowd. I was so excited for her and asked how she caught it? And she giggled and told me that it just fell into her lap.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened to her. Audrey is just lucky. This kid will have to play the lottery when she grows up. She's just lucky it wasn't a hockey puck!

Alone (Temporarily)

KC is ice fishing.

Boys were at home with my mom.

Girls were performing in their band concerts.

Zoe on flute.

Audrey on clarinet.

And I was sitting alone in the bleachers.

Not having to ..... tell anyone to sit still, please stop trying to sing along, having boys standing on my lap to get a visual of their sisters, apologizing to the parents around me trying to record their children, praying for this to be the last song before I lose it, digging in my purse for candy to persuade good behavior, apologizing to the people in front of us because they are getting kicked in the back, trying to explain that 'Bravo' doesn't need to be yelled after every song.

I just got to sit and enjoy.

That doesn't happen very often anymore :)

I enjoyed my two hours tonight. The girls sounded great. And I sat back and just watched.

Disappointed

My husband has worked in the bicycle industry since his very first job.

Just after we got married he started a job at Trek bicycles.

Our whole life and livelihood has evolved around bicycles.

We have watched years and years of the Tour de France, cheering on the Americans. And above all . . . Lance.

For years KC has defended Lance Armstrong by asking why there hadn't been any positive results to the countless drug tests. We figured that something would have been found if he was guilty.

We did not idolize him. He was the biggest name in cycing. And since KC's job was to sell bicycles, a win for Lance was more sales for him. I'm sure a couple of our bonus company vacations were made easier by those wins.

 Lance was an inspirational story. He fought through so much just to survive. He started an amazing organization helping countless people through some of the hardest moments of their lives.

And instead of staying inspirational . . . he became a cheater, a liar and a bully.

One of the last things KC asked me to do this morning was to take the life-size poster off Cameron's bedroom wall.

We thought Lance would be an inspiration. Someone that KC could tell him about. Tell Cameron all the amazing things he is capable of doing with his life if he is willing to work hard for it.

And we will still tell him all of those things, but Lance will be taken out of it completely. And he's been taken off his bedroom wall.

He is now an example of what not to do with your life. Cheaters never win in the end.

And this . . . is the end.

Shoot!!! And I have a few bins of worthless Lance stuff in my basement . . . wonder if I can still get anything for it on eBay?

It Always Feels Good To Get Started

Day 1 of my RunKeeper program. It's a free app if you are interested in checking it out.

I've started with preparing myself for a 5K. It's a 28 step program that started with an easy 1.5 mile run/walk workout. It tracks your distance, pace, calories burned, elevation and time. Probably not completely accurate, but good enough for someone who doesn't want to spend extra money on a fancy system.

Even though it's 20 degrees outside, I did it :) I suited up and walk/ran around our big block 4 times for a distance of 1.6 miles.

This program will take me to March 8th and then I'll step it up to prepare for the 5 mile Walleye Run.

I love making plans . . . but it always feels great to get something started!!!