A glimpse in my Saturday

I realized the other day I haven't been blogging as much as I wanted to, so I thought I'd just give a quick update and sample of a Saturday in the life of me.

Yesterday was a busy day.  Jake would tell you they are ALL busy.  But this time I managed to capture it in photos.

Our morning started with Jake planning to take our new puppy, Yawkey to the vet.  So that means he had to take my car and leave me with his mini coop (which is a stick).  I took the kids to Exploration Place where we met our friends the Pates.  Their daughter, Holly has type 1 diabetes.  We were a part of her team walking 2 miles to raise money for a cure.  The kids did a good job walking the 2 miles, except for the complaining the last half mile. :)

Our Holly's Hooligans

We finished the walk at 11:00 and drove through Wendy's to get a quick lunch and headed to the North YMCA.  Allison had a 12:00 soccer game and Owen had one at 1:00.  We made there with just enough time to eat our food, get geared up and get to the fields.  We look so ready for soccer!

My soccer studs.

Allison made her first soccer goal!

Going for my "mom of the year" award, I just remembered that Allison was having her team pictures after the game.  YEP!  That's my baby in her team pic with a giant green butterfly on her face!!!

The Baby Jays

Jake met us at the games, I went to volunteer at church at 3:00 then went home to get ready for my date night.  We went to dinner with the Carpenters and then to see the Zac Brown Band.  It was a long, but really FUN night.

Shawn, Jake, me and Erin waiting for the show to start.

San Diego

The view from our room. 

Last week, Jake and I had a get-away to San Diego.  He was there for a conference, but that didn't stop us from having some fun.  We met a few of our friends there (Georges, Smiths and Petrie).

The first night we decided to take in a Padre's game.  It was fun to catch up with our friends and watch a close game too.  We even ended up on the JUMBO TRON!!!!

Petrie, Smith and Jake

The next day we decided to hit Mission Beach and go for a bike ride.  Everyone had their own bike, except for Jake and I.  We decided it would be "fun" to ride a tandem bike.  I will say this, the back seat is NOT the place for a control freak.  Jake was in charge of steering, braking and changing the gears.  And he would do this without warnings!  We lovingly refer to this as "marriage counseling".

Jake and me

Highlights of Kauai

On our last day, we saw this.

I don't know where to START?

1. 8 days and 7 nights in Kauai, HI
2. Jake and I, plus 4 other couples
3. NO KIDS! (Thanks, Jen!)
4. 1 sunset cruise
5. 20 dolphins swimming less than 10 feet away
6. 7 waterfalls
7. "supple skin" :)
8. 2 bottles of sunblock
9. my 1st snorkeling (with the Williams)
10. shrimp tacos
11. 2 snowballs (1 was cherry, the other was cherry/watermelon)
12. 1 ukulele and a bamboo harmonica
13. a bracelet made from shells
14. hot tub
15. 2 flower leis
16. "painted abs" :)
17. drove a Jeep
18. a monk seal
19. beautiful rainbow
20. 5 gorgeous ladies in bikinis
21. the perfect hat
22. memories to last forever

We had SO MUCH fun! I'm so blessed. Friends, food and fun. When can we go back?

Harvard Graduation

Last night ALMOST DIDN'T HAPPEN! Allow me to explain.

We got this in the mail about 3 weeks ago.

Jake's graduation invitation.

I had already bought a dress and I even scheduled to have my makeup done at Sephora.

After my makeup session.

Allie went with me, so I bought her some makeup at Claire's for little girls. Which she applied HERSELF!

She's beautiful!

I had arranged for the Beans to watch the kids for the evening. They were expecting us at around 5:30. So I bathed the kids and dressed them in p.j.'s to make the night easier. However, I received a phone call during this time from Jake at the hospital. He was STUCK! (Not to mention a little mad.) They were having him start a case and finish it. It was 5:00! I wasn't going to let this ruin our evening. I took called the residency to inform them that we wouldn't be attending. Loaded the kids in the car and took them to the Beans. My thought was that regardless of WHERE, Jake and I were going to go out to celebrate after he got off work.

I am standing in the Beans living room when me phone rings. It's Jake! He is getting out. His plan is for me to go by the apartment and get his clothes then swing by the hospital to pick him up. GREAT! Did I mention I wasn't dressed? I kissed the kids, thanked the Beans (John loaned us a tie, Jake didn't have one here) and drove home as fast as I could. I ran into the apartment NASCAR style! I striped, threw on my dress, grabbed his stuff and my shoes/band aids. I was back in the car heading his way at 6:01!

Traffic was typical Boston for a Friday night. I picked him up at 6:20. He changed his clothes in the car while giving me driving directions to the Harvard Club. (Did I mention it was DOWNTOWN???) Over the past 10 months my driving skills have "improved". I will spare most of the crazy details, but highlight that I pulled a 3-point turn in the middle of a street in front of a bus because I missed our street (it had a different name than what iPhone map said) and we parked at 6:45!!! I was putting my shoes on in the elevator up to the club, but we made it!

We MADE IT!

The 3 fellows that have been together all year.

Jake, Tony and Kevin

Even my water glass is classy!

The view from the club on the 38th floor.

You can see out in all directions.

Boston is so beautiful.

The "good guy" who showed me the views.

The power point presentation.

Jake being congratulated.

He received an awesome writing pen from Tiffany's.

This guy was one of Jake's oral exam directors several years ago.

Notice the tie is gone, we are heading home. LATE NIGHT!

"Under the Radar" Marathon

NOT ME! My amazing husband, Jake, ran a marathon today. The Cox, Rhode Race Marathon to be exact. It was in Providence, RI, which lucky for us is less than 2 hours from where we live. He was looking for one to run to have something to work towards during the "crazy" winter months. I'm so proud of him. In the last year, he gave up drinking soft drinks (we used to buy cases of Diet Coke like it was going out of style), he started "heart-rate training" for some of his runs, cut WAY BACK on drinking coffee (which was starting to get a little crazy) and baking some "healthy" cookies as treats. I know he doesn't think he has been able to get quality training runs in, with us living in Cambridge. But all these life-style changes are starting to have some positive changes to the way he runs. In fact, he ran today's marathon at 3:49:14! Even his recovery time was impressive. He ate 4 salt packs and drank several bottles of water to help with muscle cramps. He looks great, minus the awesome farmer's burn! I guess we need to buy some sun block now. :) Unfortunately, I didn't get a "good" picture of him this weekend. But I did get some good ones of the kids.

Owen relaxing in the hotel lobby.

Allie post bath, trying on the robe.

Owen waiting for daddy at Providence Place.

Allie waiting for daddy at Providence Place.

The kids had fun (minus the fact that I got them all worked up for a swimming pool only to find out the hotel didn't have one!), the weather was PERFECT and we got to spend it together! This "under the radar" trip was a successful mission. I wonder where we will go next?

Boys Day in Boston 9/19/10

Today "The Boys" went for an adventure in Boston. Daddy had it all planned. The two of them left after breakfast and made a pit-stop at the Museum of Fine Art. Then lunch at Panera and on to Fenway for a Red Sox baseball game. Daddy even bought Owen a video game that he's been wanting. They got home at dinner time...happy and tired! I'm so glad they got to do it. Now Allie is eager for her next Daddy Date.

The Boys getting ready to leave.

Their tickets for the baseball game.

The boys RETURN!!!

That is one HAPPY boy!

Air-Born

Recently, Owen has been fascinated with toys that fly! He got a "rip-cord" helicopter that ran on boy power. Unfortunately, that one is not working at the moment. (We hope to be able to fix it soon.) The other day he picked out a balloon helicopter. It only runs on "hot air". So it should be able to fly for a while. However it does have an interesting sound!

Father's Day-2010, GWL

For Father's Day this year, we decided to take Daddy to his favorite place... Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City! It was so much fun. We got there early, so we played at the water park before checking in. Then we checked out the room and changed for dinner.

Allie tested out the hair dryer.

Owen rested and watched some T.V. from his top bunk.

We met our friends the Birdsells for dinner at our favorite place, Minsky's.

After dinner, Allie and I were really tired so we started getting ready for bed. The boys headed back to the water park. The next morning we went back to the water park after a quick breakfast. Then checked out and we to lunch at Panera.

My favorite picture!

We then headed home. It was a good trip and we had a lot of fun!

The backseat, on the way home.

Last Day!

Today was Jake's last day of work. He is night call tomorrow night and then off, until he starts his fellowship in Boston, MA on July 1st. The nurses from the hospital threw him a going away party. They bought him a street map of Boston, a Top 25 Best book of Boston (you all know I'm excited about that one!) and a box of "Red Sox" cookies. It makes me so glad to see how appreciated they are to have him and want him back in a year. The countdown is on... Jake flies to Boston in 12 days!!!!

Happy Anniversary, Honey

Ten years ago today, I made the best decision in my life. I knew then it was a good one, but I had no idea how happy and blessed my life would become.

In the past ten years we've been through a lot, both good and bad... but it's always been better with you... TOGETHER!

We may not look like the two young, starry-eyed kids in the picture above... but I still see that guy every time I look at you.

To the boy I married,

To the father of my children,

To the man that I love...

I love you!

End of another Soccer Era

Yesterday was our LAST soccer game. It was originally scheduled for the 15th, but was rained out. We were assigned to do snack, so we bought pizza for everyone. We held our little pizza party at the Bel Aire Park. I don't think we won a single game, maybe only scored 10 goals the whole season, but they had a TON OF FUN!!! The pictures I took at the party are awesome! It just shows that sometimes "winning" isn't everything.

Warrior Dash-2010

This is my new tee shirt.

Jake's pre-race dinner, BBQ ribs at a Tex-Mex restaurant.

Jake ready to do this.

Me right after the dash.

Future Warriors!

Yesterday Jake and I went to Dallas, Texas to run in the Warrior Dash. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! It was 3.51 miles containing 14 obstacles. We got muddy, wet and had grins on our faces the whole time. We saw people there in the most outrageous costumes. It was such a fun time, we are already hoping to do it again... maybe in 2012! Anyone want to join us?

OKC Marathon-2010

Ang and I at the Expo.

Jake and I at the Expo.

Dessert the night before!

Morning of the race. I just put sunblock on, hence the fog I'm in.

Approaching the start, notice how dark it is!

This was in someone's yard at the top of "Gorilla Hill".

"Hi, Ang! I found you in a race of over 8,000 runners!"

Is it just me, or does it look like he forgot something?

This is the marathon winner. He crossed the finish shortly after I did.

They have an AMAZING pizza!!!

This past weekend, Jake and I left the kids with my sister and headed to OKC. I've never really been there, driven through it "YES" but actually stopped and looked around..."NO". We got to town around 4:00, there was some CRAZY traffic!!! (Apparently the LA Lakers were playing in a game there.) We got to the expo and met my friend Angela there. Picked up our race packets, bought some cute shirts (we do need our picture taken soon, Ang!) and then we went to get changed into some dinner clothes at our hotel. We ate at Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse, not bad food but VERY EXPENSIVE! Then early to bed to rest for our big run the next morning.

Sunday, we got up at 4:00 and got dressed. We ate breakfast at the cafe in the lobby. We walked, in the cold windy darkness to the race area. They had a "Sunrise Service" at the survivor tree (the sun didn't rise!). Then we hit the port-a-potty and split up. Jake was running the whole marathon (26.2) and I ran the half (13.1). It was a fun run. I took my camera with me, just in case. I've decided I can make most things, even those that are not really fun... FUN! I ended up beating my last half marathon's time by 9 minutes! I ran into Angela on the route. I have a MONSTER BLISTER on my right foot. And a cool medal and tee shirt to remember this run by.

My wonderful husband scheduled a "couples massage" for us that afternoon. Little did he know he would really need it. His left hamstring cramped at mile 21!!! Then we walked to Bricktown and ate at a really good pizza place. Those of you who know us, know we LOVE pizza! After an amazing dinner, we walked to the movie theater and saw "Kick-Ass". We highly recommend it to everyone!!! It was GREAT!

A wonderful weekend with my husband! Next on our list... "Warrior Dash"!