It's beginning...

These 5 days off have been so relaxing and fun. Last weekend I scheduled an exclusive mommy-daughter day and we had such a great time that we decided to do more of the same this weekend. Last weekend I took Aurora to an Intro to Aerials class at Sky Candy and lunch at the Blue Cat Cafe. Aurora asked to learn silks after seeing Charlotte's Web in the theatre.

This weekend we went to the theatre again and saw Annie the Musical! It was great. I'd say it was better on stage than the movie or even the books.

We went to Painting with a Twist and worked together to paint the Zilker Tree, which actually lights up! Next weekend we'll be posting pictures of the real Zilker Tree...

After easing our way into the holiday spirit, we all spent this morning putting up the tree, then the kids wrote their Christmas lists and we headed to the Hill Country Galleria to see SANTA!

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us it's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas around here. Just three more weeks until we have another nice block of time off (and a REAL VACATION) together. We are so excited!!!

Thankful

I realize I missed posting last weekend but these past few weeks have been blending together. I've had work, school, training runs, memorial services to attend, and a LOT to be thankful for. Last week we had our Thanksgiving potluck at work and a friendship feast at Clark's school.

I wasn't sure I'd be able to go to Clark's lunch and when I told him I may not make it, he started crying! So I rearranged my schedule and sat next to him as he barely ate, but smiled like it was the best day of his life. Today we feasted again, but not before burning some calories at the Turkey Trot! This was my third Turkey Trot and Aurora's second time doing the kid's k fun run.

It was our fifth year going to a family friend's house for food, fun, and SWIMMING! Yes, it was warm enough for swimming in Texas. This year, Clark decided to join in and somehow he got it into his head that he wanted to go down the water slide. He put on a life jacket and did it, though I'm pretty sure he regretted it immediately! Everybody had a fun and active day, and once again I'm thankful for my sweet kids and family, all the opportunities we've been given here in Austin, my job and the great people I get to work with every day. I'm also thankful for this 5-day weekend to relax and enjoy some time off with my kiddos, who I don't get to see enough during a typical week.

Headshots

We have a photographer come in at least once a year to take photos of our staff to ensure that we all have a current, professional headshot and update our employee wall. Some people treat it like a school photo and get one every year. I got mine taken the first time they were offered and never signed up again. I figured back in 2009 I was as youthful as I would ever be.

This year, for the first time in 7 years, I decided to update my own photo. It was SO MUCH MORE FUN than I expected it to be! If anything, I feel more confident now than I did back then.

Running has played a huge part in keeping me fit at 40. I just got this cool finish line photo from last weekend's Run for the Water. For those of you who don't follow me on facebook, the latest installment of my blog series for the Austin Runners Club was just posted! You can read it here.

If I Were President

I remember back in 1988 when half of my family voted for Bush and the other half voted Dukakis. I was 12 years old and I thought it was silly that their votes cancelled each other out. Back then, elections were run without 24 hour news channels and social media. We all watched the same news, and families could have opposing viewpoints without arguing or un-friending each other. I remember being a teenager the 90's when the Clinton's were in the White House. Chelsea isn't much younger than me, and Monica Lewinsky isn't much older. George W. Bush was president when Chuck was honorably discharged from the military due to his cancer diagnosis, right before America went to war in 2002. That was a scary time for so many reasons. At the end of the Bush era, in 2008, I was very pregnant with Aurora when we attended an Obama rally right here in Austin, TX. It's interesting how we remember and measure our lives by who was president. Now, we live in a blue city within a very red state, and both of our kids have only known an intelligent, kind, and hopeful president in their lifetimes. When Aurora thinks about the job of president, she associates it with helping and compassion.

I hadn't gotten Aurora too wrapped up in the election. It was an ugly campaign and while I was hoping she could stay up Tuesday night to witness our first female president give her acceptance speech, she wasn't all that interested in watching the numbers come in. Chuck knew right away that things weren't going the way we'd expected, but I watched into the night in awe and disbelief. Aurora asked about the outcome the next morning and got very upset when I told her the result. I assured her that everything would be okay, and I sincerely hope that it will be. I hope that our kids don't grow up with indelible memories of a Trump presidency. It's nearly impossible to explain issues like racism and sexism to an 8-year old, so instead I try to lead by example, treating others with kindness and talking through ideas of right and wrong. I told Aurora that you don't need to hold a position of power to make a difference in your community. I see young people making a positive impact each and every day, and when I listen to today's youth I know that our best days are still ahead of us.

ONE BAD MOTHER RUNNER

Finally, a weekend with nearly nothing on the calendar. No kid's parties, no play dates, no pressing errands or road trips. It was actually a little rainy so the kids got to enjoy some downtime just playing (and bickering) at home. I did have one important event on the calendar: the second race in the Austin Distance Challenge Series, the Run for the Water! Yup, I ran 10-miles this morning. Thanks to the extra hour and early start time, the family hardly noticed I was gone.

Packets for Run for the Water included a pair of running socks, which is such a great idea. I wish more running events did that. I was super excited about them - but not as excited as I was to get these other awesome socks from a friend at work last week!!! I showed them to Aurora and she said "but you're not a bad mother."

I wanted to get some pre-race activity in yesterday and I figured a nice yoga class would be just the thing. I ended up at a hot yoga studio and it was one of the most challenging classes I've ever taken. Honestly, I've never sweated so much at any exercise class ever. It was amazing, but my whole body is tired and sore now. My shoulders, pecs and back are tender from yoga and my legs and hips are feeling that 10-mile run. So, I'm just going to lounge on the couch for the rest of the afternoon, feeling good about being so bad.