A New Year

Happy New Years!
Late and anti climatic but, here I am :) We didn't ring in the new year with anything special, outside of a HP and me dinner date. Jon had to work until 2 am but then had the 1st off. I have been on an extended vacation from work, almost 2 full work weeks off. It felt amazing. Last year I went in throughout the holidays and nearly fell apaet from lonely-holiday rage! So it was the right move to take a few days this time around :)

So whats happening in this new year?
-same jobs for both of us
-potentially putting HP into preschool this Fall
-a family trip to Portland for a week to see family and in my case work
-potentially going on a Europeon vacation with Jonathan in the Fall (cross your fingers and toes)
-doing some proper landscaping for the house (I did the demolition last year....just not the reconstruction so much)
-welcoming some baby additions to our circle of friends
-camping trip to Macinac Island
-oh yeah...turning 30
-talking to a realtor about the process of buying/selling a house (not likely to happen this year, but maybe next)
-finishing the basement
-joining Planet Fitness and saying farewell to the YMCA, even though we really did love HP's calsses it was just too expensive for our casual use
-maybe giving that 100 mile bike trip another go...and training for it this time

So there's the short list for now :)
Here's to a healthy and happy 2014.

Sum Sum Summertime

I would like to state that not seeing me writing and updating the blog shows I had a productive, busy Summer :) And now that I'm updating....well, that means that work is kicking into high gear again.

I know its only the early part of August but around here it definitely feels like we've turned that corner into Fall. I could have really used some more uncomfortably hot days. Come on, whats a Michigan summer without your legs sticking to every chair you sit down on?

Speaking of sitting down, I sat (or perched rather) on my bicycle for an entire (or at least the better part of) a day. Why? Because I finally accomplished a goal that has been on my list of things, I rode a century. 100 miles. In a day. ....without any real training....and without tuning my bike up.  I'm way less proud of those last two bits of information. But anyway. Check it off. Whew. Truly the only reason I did this massive ride was because I was shamed by my father :) More or less. Well, truly he is the only reason I actually finished that beast of a ride. And he drove us home while I was pretty much dead to the world. And he finished out the day running after my 3 year old while I lay like a slug on the couch. Yes, it broke me.

But I finished :) And that, in the end, is what counts!

My padre, cool as a cucumber

Quite possibly the Red Lantern of the Holland 100 :)

btw- celebrated 5 years married to this guy :)

 A few hot days at the beach 

family tattoos at the air show

Big fan :)

Cousins reunited! 

General silliness 

Plenty of snacking

And blueberry picking! 

That's my kind of summer :)

The Final 24

How I spent my last day of 2012:

Waking up at my parent's house next to a slightly damp 2.5year old
Grocery shopping with Jon and H- finally, we'd been living on take out and xmas cookies for too long
Cleaning the house like a mad woman- did you know in many cultures this is a customary New Year's practice? Rids your house of old-chi, ready for a clean slate
Eating tuna melts that Jon grilled up
Drinking an entire pot of coffee
Sledding on an infant-sized sled with HP on my lap- we were a sight! Although, I really should have gotten a picture of Jon as he balanced on that little blue sled while flying down the hill
Watching Jon and H snuggle while watching Toy Story 3
Wearing my new polka-dot sweater from Katie, comfy slippers from Mom and Dad, my Abuelita's plastic yellow necklace, and feeling extra-snug in my jeans (Xmas cookies....)
Watching season 2 of the Walking Dead, not really sure this is a great NYE movie choice, but I'm too far in to stop now
Drinking half a bottle of red wine
Watching the ball drop from my little t.v. screen in GR
Waiting for Jon to come home after his evening shift to wish him a Happy New Years
Bed time

Happy New Year! 

Fun Friday

Summer Series: Part 2 of 6

Welcome to Week 2 of Summer Vacation! It was a good start last week, but we need to do more of the following:

 Swing!

 As high as we can!

 Dye our tongues with numerous frozen treats

 Drink more coffee

Play at Meijer Gardens more!

Here's a glimpse into our upcoming week :) Join us!

Celebrate our 4 year anniversary (6/28)

Attend our 10 year reunion!

go to the zoo

trip to holland beach

bike ride to rockford(?)

continue reading Game of Thrones (book 3)

continue watching Mad Men (on 2nd season)

play tennis! 

Reflections on being 27

I certainly had a great time living my 27th year

The 27 highlights were these; 

1. moved into our very first house

2. celebrated H turning 1

3. saw my sister get married 

4. Ran my 2nd annual Halloween Run and Turkey Trot with the one and only Katie Matteson in record time I might add!

5. Enjoyed a crazy bachelorette weekend with Katie, Kellie and Kel's friends in LA, complete with seeing the bride-to-be destroy a very cute purse in the back of some unfortunate's taxi cab:)

6. Was the B Team soccer coach at my school, loved getting back on the field and seeing those boys learn the game and sometimes love it 

7. Enjoyed 6 weeks off in the summer to play with little boy H

8. Bought the burley! 

 

9. Had Katie be a great babysitter for H

10. Found Cindy and Eli which turned out to be the perfect place for H to spend his days while I worked 

11. Thanksgiving in Alma with my sweet familia 

12. Watched Jon become a greater and greater dad every day 

13. Met the sweet Bridget Thomas, the daughter of one of my BFFs

14. Art Prize Brunch with our friends! Although less spectacular than last year it was made fun by Fred's dynamic GR touring skills 

15. Reunited with some of my favorite and truest high school friends at the Annual Poker Party

16. Was able to congratulate (albeit not in person) one of my NY besties on her engagement 

17. Had Harrison help me be a more outgoing version of my self every day 

18. Witnessed Jon embrace cycling to work with enthusiasm 

19. Found enjoyable GR spots like Reeds Lake 

20. Bought not one but two new winter coats (both because sister Katie introduced me to Modcloth)

21. Learned to love Mulick Park for being super close to my house, and truly beautiful in all seasons

22. Successfully got H on a sleep routine and said goodbye to late night feedings

23. Speaking of which...said goodbye to breastfeeding as soon as he hit the 1 year mark, whew

24. Was able to walk, bus, bike, or drive to work-which I love!

25. Spent Christmas Eve as a little family unit and watched H tear up his Christmas presents gleefully 

26. Rang in the New Year, just Jon and I

27. Enjoyed a great birthday party complete with ice skating downtown, sangria, tapas and friends :)

Looking forward to making even greater highlights this year!

A Snapshot

It's raining and H is napping after a really long and eventful week. I'm sipping my 'Kellie's Bridal Shower Tea" tea and thinking of what I need to do. But instead of doing any of it I will write a short and sweet update.

What I am Doing:
I have less than a week til school starts again for me. Full-time ESL paraprofessional at a pretty cool school. One thing I'm not looking forward to is many of my little kiddos not having practiced English is 6 weeks. What I am jazzed about is that in addition to teaching I'll be coaching this year! Girls and boys soccer. I love love it.

What H is Doing:
He has (finally) begun to walk like a Frankenstein baby. Stiff knees and all. He loves the attention but still would rather speed crawl anywhere.
He also is going to be hanging out with a stay-at-home grandma close to Jon's work. She has a 19-mo old grandson and a funny little dog that H seemed to really like. We're going to do a dry run tomorrow morning. Sigh...

What I am Eating:
I've gotten into cooking oatmeal in the morning for us, topped with raisins or blueberries and milk. I pat myself on the back for being just so healthy :) Okay...and some brown sugar.
I haven't introduced strawberries to H yet, how does one do that? Neither of us have food allergies so why so nervy?

 Those chocolate-dipped strawberries are delicious and healthy...

What I'm Reading:
I almost finished The Lost City of Z. I consider it done because I spoiled the ending by watching the documentary on netflix. However it is an awesome read if you like the Amazon, pirahnas and beign grossed out by bugs that lay eggs in people's bodies.

What I'm Watching:
Jon and I have come late to the party and are now watching The Wire. I really like it, we're just starting the 3rd season and I'm ready for it to get crazy!

What I'm Doing to Exercise:
Cycling and burlying the baby a lot more. Have I told you I love my bike?

especially when it holds coffee from Bigbys

What I've Got Planned:

I'm heading to LA for my sister's bach. party! Leaving straight from work at 5pm Friday and coming back on the red-eye to arrive in GR for work at 8am. That is painful even to write!

What I'm Going to Do Now:

Nap and netflix.