The many faces of a pizza date.

Hi there. Look at that long hair. We've never taken Charleigh for a haircut, and if her love of Rapunzel continues, we may never. Ha! Last night was just a normal Tuesday until we decided to have a pizza date (one of her favorite things ever!) There is a local place around us that serves New York style pizza by the slice. It’s pretty awesome. They are very friendly and will cut up C’s slice in small bites for her.

 

As you can see above, she was a happy camper! Float on...

Happy Veteran's Day, Rudi and Ben

The best godparents in the world also happened to serve our country. Thank you to them. Thank you to all Veterans each and every day.

 

Float on...

Good morning. We are getting in to mid-November! Can you believe it? About a week and a half ago my car got hit. I was driving home from Charleigh's school and a woman just didn't see us. I was not at fault. She scrapped up my car pretty good so it has been in the shop the past week. Guess what I've been driving... a sweet gold, shiny mini van! HA! That has been...interesting.

The weekend was great. We visited the park both Saturday and Sunday. I played in my playoff football game and my team advanced! We play next weekend, and if we win that game, we immediately play in the championship game! Woo hoo!

Thanksgiving is in a few weeks. Christmas is less than a few months away. It's the season folks. The hustle. The bustle. It's all happening as we speak. Our sweet Charleigh is understanding holidays more and more. During our trick or treating adventure, after visting each house, she would say, "can we go to another house?!" That girl would have probably trick or treated all night if we had let her. These next few months are going to be so fun with her.

Float on...

The BIG realization of my 29th year.

I'm turning 30 in just over 3 months. I've always been one to love birthdays and not just my own. During my college years I would go out and get these mini birthday cakes that the local grocery store had and a balloon for whoever's birthday it was.

 

There's just something about a celebration!

 

I never thought turning 30 would phase me in the slightest as a birthday lover, but something clicked last year on my 29th birthday... I thought to myself, "Wow, I can't believe this is my last year in my 20's." It made me feel a bit sad.

At my work, near the end of December, my boss had us pick a word, a single word, that we wanted to represent us in the new year. While soul searching for a word, I decided that I wanted my word to be "adventure." I knew it would be the last year of my 20's and after having a baby in 2012 and devoting all I have to that baby, I wanted a little adventure for myself.

This is where, unexpectedly, I learned the most amazing lesson this year.

You see, I took my word "adventure" in the most literal sense. I traveled. I went to Cincinnati, Milwaukee, New York, and California. I experienced a hurricane in North Carolina. I cut 11 inches off my hair for Locks of Love. I fulfilled a lifelong dream of performing stand-up comedy in front of an audience filled with complete strangers. Then I did something I never even dreamed possible... I trained for 4 months straight and completed a half marathon. I tried new recipes (and failed miserably) I went to concerts and on dates with the love of my life. I saved time for myself and started reading again. I was VERY fortunate to raise more money than I ever have for Back Pack Buddies, but none of that is the point.

 The point is very simple.

 

I had lost sight of what the word "adventure" truly means. I don't need to go on an African safari or even in my dream hot air balloon.

I've learned that adventure is all around me, happening right in front of my face. I was too stubborn to see it before. I thought I needed adventure to be this grand gesture, but I learned I was wrong. Adventure is taking a toddler to her first NBA game and watching her face light up when the dancers perform. Adventure is setting an unthinkable goal and working to achieve it. Adventure is trying to bake brownies when you've run out of eggs. Adventure is practically every day of a marriage. Adventure is making ordinary days extraordinary.

Adventure is challenging yourself to be a bit better.

 

I'm still a little sad to turn 30. So much good happened in my 20's. It makes it hard to say goodbye.

However, I know big "adventures" await.

 

Float on...

Happy Fall 2014

Hi. Haven't visited this little space of mine in some time. Felt the need to write today.

Charleigh will be turning 3 in less than 3 months. This age is quite fun, but also challenging. People use the phrase "terrible twos," but I'd say it is more along the lines of testing twos. Charleigh is learning the boundaries. She knows right from wrong, but loves to walk that fine line. Meltdowns happen. They suck. We do time outs. We all get over it. It's a learning process. It would be a whole lot easier if toddlers came with an instruction manual : ) Charleigh did ballet for the first time this fall and adored it. We will do gymnastics over this winter most likely. It's good to have something physical like that when we are cooped up inside.  

Picture day at school with her buddies.

Halloween is this Friday. Our princess-loving, Cinderella-wanna-be, surprised us all with a Spiderman request. We were happy to oblige! We took her to a trunk-or-treat at our gym last Friday. It was the 1st year that the gym had done the event and it was cute. On Sunday we did Zoo Boo for the first time. The zoo goes all out and has a ton for the kids to see and do. Charleigh's best friend Nico met us there. Those two kids are fun to watch.

Pottery time! She painted a coffee mug for papa. 

School field trip to the pumpkin patch!

This guy and I are coming up on 5 years of marriage (November 14th)

 

 

 Been doing a lot of traveling this month - Cincinnati, Chicago, Milwaukee, and home. Our good friend Mark got married a few weeks ago.  

That's me ^

 

Back in February, I turned 29 and randomly decided that I needed a year of adventure before I turn 30! I wanted to cross somethings off the bucket list. One of those things happened to be stand up comedy. I love to tell jokes and normally laugh at my own jokes more than anyone else. Ha! I got selected to be a part of Magooby's New Talent night back in July and performed an 8 minute set. It was terrifying and thrilling all at the same time. I made people laugh. I didn't bomb and I crossed it off my list!

 

I did something that I never thought I could/would do on October 11th and ran a half marathon. Cincinnati is known for their Flying Pig Marathon each spring, but this year they announced they would be doing a Queen Bee Half Marathon for women in the fall. When I heard that, I knew it would be my race. I started training back in June and let me tell you, I hate running. I have no idea how running a half marathon even got on my bucket list. Ha! Greg's younger cousin Hannah ran with me. She is only 15 years old! Talk about inspirational! This girl is going places y'all. She's one of the sharpest kids I've met. Our race was incredibly hilly and challenging, but the adrenalin was flowing. We also had a great cheer section. I finished the half in about 2 hours and 50 minutes. My goal was 3 hours! Hannah knocked it out of the park and completed hers in around 2 hours and 15 minutes!   

I'm thankful for these people. They love me. I love them. It's a good situation. Without their support, I wouldn't have been able to complete that half.

Greg and I also acquired one new goddaughter on that trip! Our longtime college friends Kristy and Elliott asked Greg and I to be their daughter's godparents. We were honored and said yes. I've grown up with loving, caring godparents and know what to do thanks to them. Ben and Rudi have loved me since the day I was born, unconditionally. They are awesome people.

Here are a few more pictures from the trip to Cincinnati. Besides the race, we fit in a night with our Cincinnati pals and made a trip to visit my childhood best friend, Ali. Ali just had her second son Peyton! We got to meet Peyton and play with her 3-year-old Carson.

 

 

 Not traveling for Thanksgiving this year. What a breath of fresh air. We ALWAYS travel for the holidays and this year we just said no for Thanksgiving. We would love for people to come visit us for a change, but we understand that we are far away from everyone. It will be nice to have a quiet Thanksgiving at home. Greg will request a rib roast and I will attempt to make one. Oh boy! Next up is Milwaukee in early December for Greg's brother's wedding. Then we are heading back to Cincinnati for Christmas year. Can't wait to be reunited with those amazing folks again.

 

Float on...