Great girlfriends make life more fun

I had two fun nights out with some of my girlfriends in the past few days. Thursday night I had book club with Becky, Johanna and Sydney. Lisa, who just had a baby in August, wasn't able to make it this time and was missed. We've been doing book club for three years now. We meet once a month, have dinner, catch up with each other, and discuss a book we have all read. We take turns picking the location and the book. I don't read the books anymore since I'm in school, but they all do. This month was my turn and we went to The Vine on Main Street in Charles. The atmosphere, food and drink were all great, as was the conversation. Book club is something I truly look forward to every month. Love it.

Saturday was "Bunco" with another group of friends - Abby, Christina, Kathy, Nicole and Erin. We don't play bunco anymore, haven't in years, but this group (plus Tiffany, Shawna and Char) also gets together once a month to do something fun. Book club girls are friends from college, but bunco girls are girls that I've met since I moved back to St. Louis in 2002 (except for Abby - I met her in college) . All of the girls went to high school together except for Christina and I. This month, some other friends of Christina's joined us as well as Nicole's cousins and mom. We had dinner at The Winery of the Little Hills in St. Charles and then went to a couple bars on Main Street. It was fun, a lot of fun actually, but I was hurting all day today and as busy as I am, I can't afford to do nothing on a Sunday. It puts me behind on things. Going out is fun, but hangovers are brutal. Especially when I had to spend time in the hot sun at Abby's soccer game today. That was rough. Here are some pictures:

Me and Abby and some random chick. I think she just jumped in the picture because I seriously don't know her. This was toward the end of the night (in case that wasn't obvious).

Abby and Nicole

Kathy and Abby

Me and Abby

Abby, Kathy and me

Abby and Adam had fun with Daddy Saturday night while I was out. They got to watch movies and stay up late. They love each other so much. It is so cute to watch them play together. Unless Abby decides she wants to be left alone, they play really well together and look out for each other. I hope that lasts as they get older.

This week is going to be another rough one. I have a 10-page paper due next Wednesday and I haven't started yet. Ugh.

Born to be a goalie

I said I would post pictures from last weekend and I finally did. Here is Abby playing goalie. She loved it.

This week, Abby got to go to the principal's office to receive the Principal's Super Star award for being one of only a few kids in Kindergarten who can count to 100. Abby got to wear the button all day and was very proud of herself. It was very sweet.

Troop Leader? No thanks

Having a daughter in kindergarten makes me feel old. Having Abby do things that I remember doing when I was little really makes me feel old. Last night, Abby had Girl Scout sign-ups. I sat at a table with other moms filling out forms and it was kind of surreal. The woman in charge was very bubbly, saying she was going to start harrassing us if no one volunteered to be the troop leader. There is no way I can take on this role. A) I'm really busy, but B) I don't think I have it in to me to do this job. There's a fine line between giving your child the opportunity to try everything that is available for her to try, and completely giving up my identity to become a troop leader. I'm not sure why I had such a strong reaction to this, but I will not be a troop leader. Fortunately, a lovely woman named Marcia has signed up to do this and I am off the hook. I'm sure Abby will have a good time. Wait until I tell Seth that the first Girl Scouts event is a family barbecue on a Sunday afternoon (read: during football). That will go over well.

It's almost Monday already?

I can't believe it's time to go back to work already. I could seriously use two more days. This weekend was busy, but not as bad as some I guess. Friday night we hung out at home and caught up on tv. Abby did her homework and we read some books she had to read for school.

Saturday, I went to the gym. First time in two weeks that I ran, but it felt so good to go back. I ran 3.1 miles on the treadmill, which is pretty good considering I hadn't ran in while. Abby had a soccer game Saturday afternoon and she got to play goalie, which she loved. Then she and Adam had a birthday party at The Little Gym for my friend Tiffany's little girl, Macey. Abby and Adam had a good time. It was Adam's first birthday party where he actually participated in activities. It was cute. Saturday night we had Bread Co. for dinner and then Seth and I caught up on more tv. Big Brother was our reality show of the summer and it's been over for about two weeks and we were five episodes behind. I'm watching the season finale right now actually. :)

Sunday, I got up at 8 a.m. and ran two miles, the longest I've run outside without walking. I was quite pleased. Then Abby had Sunday School and I went to church for the first time in a while. Then she had a soccer game in the afternoon. Now the kids are in bed and I'm going to start doing homework. Whew!

I think this week will be a good week for running. I'm looking forward to making some good progress. How this week goes will determine whether I'm going to run the Oct. 4 5K. My cousin, Laura, asked me if I wanted to run a marathon in April. I think that is a little optimistic, but I am considering a half marathon. That might be a little crazy, but I think it would be a fun challenge.

This next week will be busy, but I am looking forward to book club on Thursday - it's my turn to pick the place. And Saturday, I am going out with some of my girlfriends on Main Street. Fun, fun, fun! I'll post some pictures of Abby playing goalie and from the birthday party later this week.

I love CNN

It's true. I could watch CNN 24 hours a day. I never get tired of it. When Katrina hit in 2005, I was having terrible headaches and was off work for a week. (Turned out to be a kidney infection that I ignored for too long. I didn't know I had one.) For a week, I watched nothing but Hurricane Katrina coverage. It was great. Sad, but interesting to watch. I love all the political coverage right now and the games played by each side and the role the media plays. It's just an interesting study to me. I don't get sick of it at all.

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This week is slightly less hectic than last week was. Abby's soccer practice was canceled on Wednesday and it was so nice not to have to rush around to take her somewhere. I was able to get my hair cut and colored and still make it home in time for dinner. I normally don't color my hair, but decided to do something fun for fall. I picked a dark brown with a red hue and I swear you can't even tell. I feel like it was a waste of money. I like the cut though. It's the same thing I always get.

I finished my homework for the week tonight. School is killing me this quarter. I have a paper due in three weeks and I really need to get going on it. My Fall 2 class - Business Statistics - starts at the end of October. I really don't know if I can keep up with school. I just hate to be a quitter. Everyone I talk to says they don't know how I do it and I'm finally getting to the point where I don't really know either.

This weekend is another busy one. Abby has soccer games on Saturday and Sunday and she has a birthday party on Saturday, which means I also have to find time to get a present. And I have to run. I'm behind in my running. I looking forward to getting two good runs in this weekend.

Seth gave my blog a shout out, so I will do the same. Read his blog. If it wasn't for all the sports nonsense it would be somewhat entertaining. :)

http://leftcalf.blogspot.com/

I love weddings!

My best friend Dawn got married this weekend and I was the matron of honor while Abby was the flower girl. It was a really fun time and Dawn and Nathan looked so happy. I thought I'd share some pictures.

Abby and ring bearer Clayton. Leading up to the wedding, Abby asked if she and Clayton could kiss. I said no. Apparently, Clayton is just as girl crazy as Abby is boy crazy so they made a good pair. On the way home from the wedding, Abby said she didn't know who she was going to marry: Mattia (of the infamous Kissing Game), Patrick (her favorite friend from pre-school), Aidan (the boy she rides the day care bus with) or Clayton. Such a dilemma for a 5-year-old.

Abby's hair took and an hour-and-a-half to curl. She was so patient to sit there that long. She had the best hair in the whole wedding party! Abby and Clayton were told to walk slow when they walked down the aisle and what did they do? They walked slower than is humanly possible. It was too cute! Dawn and her mom and dad walking her down the aisle. Doesn't she look pretty?

Me and Abby after the ceremony. This is kind of dark, but this is the wedding party. Me and Dawn on the bus. Me and Seth at the reception. Me and Jennifer.

Abby and Clayton dancing at the reception.

Abby and Seth dancing.

Abby and Clayton. Abby jamming out.

Dawn and Abby.

Nathan, Dawn and Graham.

We had a great time and I know Dawn and Nathan are going to have a fabulous life together!

7 Years and Counting

Today is my wedding anniversary. Married 7 years, together for 9. Seth had beautiful red roses delivered to the office today. Isn't that sweet? Instead of going out to dinner, we decided to get take out. We agreed on sushi and then I decided to surprise Seth and also pick up cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory for dessert. When I got home, I realized Seth had left work early to also get cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. Now, we have four pieces of cheesecake in our house that I definitely do not need. Funny that we know each other so well. :) I love Seth and my wonderful family and I'm very luck to have what I have.

We had a fun weekend this weekend. My company held a Blues Traveler concert for all associates and their guests. It was really fun. How cool is that that my company did that for us?

John Popper of Blues Traveler. We were standing right in the middle in front of the stage.

Seth and I had our picture taken with John Popper. He just didn't know it. It looks like we were Photoshopped in, but it's real.

This is the Blues Traveler guitarist. He was really good looking, but he had a fan blowing up at him so his hair was constantly blowing in the wind. I said I need a fan to follow me around everywhere I go.

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Abby's soccer started this weekend. I can tell she is getting better. The field is bigger than it was last year and there are goalies now. I think she likes it, but doesn't love it. She's also doing dance, which is offered through her day care, so we'll see if it's in the cards for her to be a dancer rather than an athlete.

The Life of a Busy Mom

I'm feeling stressed about what the next week of my life looks like. I have homework and a test in the online class I'm taking toward my MBA - both are due next Friday, the 12th, by 6 p.m.

Here is why that is concerning.

Tomorrow I have to leave the house at 11:30 to attend an all-day work event. In the meantime, Seth has to take Abby to get her soccer pictures taken at 12:45 and then she has a game at 1:30. My mom is watching the kids at our house Saturday night so Seth can join me at the evening portion of the work event. She'll be at our house at 5.

Sunday, my mom is going to take Abby to Sunday School and then I have to take her to her soccer game at 2. Monday is our wedding anniversary (7 years). Tuesday night is Kindergarten open house. Wednesday is soccer practice at 6 and Girl Scouts sign-up at 7. Thursday I'm going to the Cards game and Friday is the rehearsal dinner for Dawn's wedding. We have to be at the church off Mid Rivers Mall Drive at 5:45. I think I'm going to have to take a half-day from work on Friday so I have time to get my nails done. Saturday, Abby and I have to be at Dawn's at 7:45 a.m. to go get our hair done. The wedding is at noon and the reception is at 7 p.m. Then Sunday Abby has Sunday School again. I swear, this crazy schedule is never ending. I'm worn out just thinking about it.

Working Moms

I really sympathize with Gov. Palin. I'm not saying I agree with her politics, but man, she is getting hammered in the media. I hate that media are asking, "How can a mother of 5 be vice president?" Obviously, that's a ridiculous question that would never be asked (and hasn't been asked) of a man. But, honestly, I'm curious, how can a mother of 5 be vice president?

I ask that because I can relate. I am - like many of my friends - a working mom with two kids, not five, both of which are healthy, neither of which are pregnant, and I struggle on a day-to-day basis. I have two trips planned for October (Detroit and Dallas) that I'm already dreading, let alone going on a 65-day campaigning spree.

But one of the most disturbing things out of all of the criticism she has received is that a lot of it is coming from women. Women can be so mean. Those who breast feed often judge those who don't; those who stay home look down on those who work. Shame on us.

I don't begrudge Gov. Palin one bit. She could be the vice president of the United States for God's sake. What better example can she set for her children than pursuing this opportunity and this dream?

Granted, I hope she doesn't win, but I give her credit for trying.

The Kissing Game

I picked Abby up from school today and asked her who she played with today at school.

"I have a new friend. His name is Mattia."

"Oh, really? What did you and Mattia play?"

"We played The Kissing Game."

I'm sorry, what?

"What's the Kissing Game?"

"It's a game where we kiss."

"Did Mattia play this game with anyone else?"

"No, just me."

Sigh. Sadly, I am not entirely surprised. Mind you, this is the same child whose best friends in pre-school were boys and who, when I asked her if she wanted to be in a club for girls where you learn about nature and first aid (Girl Scouts), asked if there was a club for boys she could be in instead.

I hope this is not a sign of things to come.

I'm a runner now.

Can you just decide to be a runner? Well, I have. I have been working out five days a week pretty regularly since about May. I spend an hour at the gym in the morning before work three to four days during the week and then on Saturdays and/or Sundays depending on whether I need to get in my fifth day. My alarm is actually set for 4:50 a.m. every morning. Some days I get up. Some days I don't.

To immerse myself in this new athletic lifestyle, I started buying magazines like Shape and Women's Fitness. Then I bought Runner's World. I actually liked them. It felt like I was joining some cool, fit and healthy club. Never mind that I am the slowest member of that club and probably have a higher BMI than most of my fellow members.

My gym is actually closed this week for maintenance so I knew I was going to have to run outside this week. I also knew that 3.5 miles on the road is a whole lot different than 3.5 miles on a treadmill. Fortunately, my fit and healthy friend, Jennifer (who is running a half-marathon on 9/14), gave me some advice about running outside. So off I went to Fleet Feet, a whole store dedicated to running. Who knew?

So here's the part that gets a little weird. I bought a hydration belt, also known as a fuel belt. Seth calls it my dork belt. It's basically a belt to wear while you're running that has four 8 oz. water bottles attached to it. Sometimes, I get thirsty. :)

So Sunday, I put on my dork belt, er... hydration belt, and took off. I think I made it a little more than a mile, maybe a mile and a half. It's hot outside at 10 a.m. in August. But this morning, I got up earlier, my water bottles were colder, and I ran farther. About two miles. I think I'm going to take tomorrow off since I don't want to run four days in a row and try again Wednesday morning. I'll keep you posted. As you can see, I'm a runner now.

I just have to figure out how to balance this new lifestyle with the one where we get a babysitter so we can go out and drink a lot.