19 weeks

13.1 miles here I come. The Tobacco Road Marathon (and 1/2 marathon) will be held March 21,2010 (19 weeks from now) and, you guessed it, I'll be there with my running shoes laced up. I haven't been running as consistently as I would like to and felt like I needed something to step up my motivation. I think the challenge of running a 1/2 marathon will do just that.

I am so thankful that God has blessed me with good health and the ability to run. I can remember being in the hospital or recovering at home for many weeks after my ruptured appendix and feeling miserable. I knew from that point on that I would never, ever take my good health for granted again. I would enjoy every day that God blessed me with good health and do everything I could to remain healthy. And from that point on, well, I ran. I love the sound of my feet hitting the pavement; knowing that with each step I am becoming stronger. Running has taught me a lot about perseverance and endurance and has allowed me to see a part of myself I would not have seen without running.

So - if you want to be a little extra motivation for me ask me how my running is going next time you talk to me. Ask me the last time I ran and for how long. If I have slacked off, I'll tell you. And you can be sure, if you give me a hard enough time, I'll be out there later that day getting in a few miles.

Mickey Mouse!!!

Jackson reeeaaalllyyyy wanted to be Mickey Mouse this year - no matter how much Lee tried to talk him into being a Carolina football player. He also wanted Lee to be Goofy and Mommy to be Minnie. We didn't follow through on the costumes for us but were able to put together a Mickey costume for Jackson (thanks to help from Mimi!!!). I couldn't find a way to make good yellow shoes and it was too warm for the white gloves but he was the cutest Mickey ever!!!!

We went to a local trunk or treat to show off his costume and are getting together with some of our neighbors to hand out candy tonight and wear our costumes.

Knock! Knock! Duck! Duck!

Lee taught Jackson all about knock! knock! jokes - it is so cute to watch/listen to him do this. He laughs at completely the wrong time in the joke (at the very beginning) and always says "who boo?" instead of "boo who?". I recorded this while we were staying at my mom and dad's house this past weekend - just a little taste of Lee and Jack knock! knock! time.

Jackson also now loves to play duck, duck goose. He learned this at church - I looked in on him one day before getting him to see his class playing the game and we've been playing as a family ever since. I laugh so hard the whole time we play my stomach actually hurts. We played this at Mimi & Papa's also - this was hilarious!!! Mimi and Papa would struggle to get off the floor in order to chase Jackson around the circle - by the time they got up he would already be in their seat. I wish I had recorded that!!

Slight Detour

We took a slight detour on our way back to NC from Charleston. Right through Myrtle Beach. Now, MB is not usually my favorite destination - especially during the summer months. But, since moving from Charleston my beach time has dwindled dramatically. I take any opportunity I can to visit the beach. Even if it is for just 20 minutes.

That is exactly what we did - headed off the main road and right for the water. We stripped off our shoes and dipped our toes in the (COLD!!!) water. It was a very nice break from an otherwise very long drive.

Sometimes a slight detour can make memories that will last and last and last. Totally worth it. Dont you think??

Jack's weekend as a Ring Bear

We were so thrilled to be a part of Unlce PJ and Aunt Miranda's wedding. It was an absolutely gorgeous wedding - Miranda was a beautiful bride!! Jackson was asked to be a ring bearer - he didnt understand any part of what he was being asked to do - but was excited nonetheless. He knew he and Daddy were going to get to dress alike, he was going to see Grandpa, Mimi, Papa AND Aunt Miranda (whom he LOVES).

We are so blessed to be part of such a wonderful family. PJ and Lee's family came from all over the country to celebrate with the couple. Jackson got to meet his Great Grandpa Bob for the first time, Uncle Jimmy & Aunt Carol and Aunt Phyllis and cousins Mark and Michael. We also got to spend time with Uncle Tim, Aunt Ann and cousins Mali and Marissa.

Jackson and Aunt Miranda after the wedding. (Notice the jacket has already been stripped - it didnt take long for the jacket and vest to go. Lee never got him in the tie. But he was still the most handsome ring bearer ever). Jackson LOVES Aunt Miranda. Seriously. On our way back to N.C. Jackson said "I want Aunt Miranda to come to we house soon."

The guys (Lee, PJ and Jack) before the wedding all dressed up (or almost all dressed up). I honestly didnt have time to adjust my settings on my camera to get good shots. Hence, the dark pictures. Trust me, they look super handsome.

Grandpa, PJ and Lee headed out the door the the rehearsal dinner. It was truly amazing to watch PJ get married. Wasnt he just 12 yrs old fighting with Lee?? He found an amazing woman to marry. We are so proud of them!

We love you, PJ and Miranda!!!

Through Jack's eyes

We took Jackson to the fair Saturday - his first fair and our first NC State Fair. It was perfect weather for a fair - cool enough for jackets, which we forgot to bring. Jackson and Lee had a great time riding rides and playing games and I had a great time following them around with the camera, snapping pictures of every thing they did. Seriously, I took over 200 pictures and we were there for 2 hours. I was like a crazed woman with a camera.

I have never been a huge fan of fair rides, dont know why. Maybe it's the fact that you pass them on the interstate as they are coming into town, being towed by rickety, old RV's (I actually had the pleasure of getting stuck behind a caravan of fair vehicles on I-95 heading towards SC. 40 mph on I-95 for over 10 miles. Not fun). Somehow the fair lost it's magic for me. I can remember counting down the days until it came to town and wanting to go every single day. Now, we basically avoid it - too many people, too much traffic, too expensive.

Jack LOVED all the rides. He had a huge smile on his face the entire time. He was so thrilled to watch the fast rides, especially the ones that go upside down. (I can see Jackson and Lee heading out for many Daddy days in the near future to ride all those rides I cant stomach). He loved the games and wanted every stuffed animal on display. He played one game, where he was guaranteed to win. He was so excited to win this tiny Nemo fish and has not let it out of his sight since. Everything was fascinating to him. He didnt care about the crowd or the traffic or the price. Seeing the fair through your child's eyes is an experience I think every parent needs. It makes you young again and makes you realize how important the everyday things are but, also, allowing them to experience those special things that you enjoyed growing up and experiencing it with them is one of the best things about parenting!


See them on the ferris wheel??? Told you I was a crazed, camera woman. I followed their little car around and around and around - taking pictures the entire time.

This was the fishing game where Jackson won his "Memo" as he likes to call the fish.

The train - his only solo ride. When the ride started he kept one hand on the side and one hand on the wheel the entire time. He was serious about driving this train.

And the dump trucks - he could have ridden this one all day. Lee - not so much. I got some great pictures of Lee looking not so happy as the only adult on the ride. Next time Jack will do it alone.

You Just Bein' Silly!

This is Jackson's new favorite phrase "You just bein' silly!!!" He says it basically anytime he doesn't like what we are saying, or he doesn't understand what we are saying, or if we are doing something new or, well, silly. He gets this big smile on his face and says "You just bein' silly, Mommy!!!"

So, in honor of the phrase we hear hundreds of times a day around here, I thought I would include some moments where we caught Jack "just bein' silly".

Jackson in his car - I made this for him out of a moving box (we only had 300 of them between our 2 moves and, you know, since Lee says I am a recycling fanatic I thought it might also be a good idea to show some good uses for old cardboard boxes). Jackson just had to have wheels and a gas tank on his car. Do you know how hard it is to cut circles out of cardboard using a box knife???

Totally worth it, though, to see him enjoying it.


He did this all on his own - playdoh mustache. He is basically obsessed with men who have mustaches and beards. He (very loudly, I might add) points out people with mustaches (luckily it has only been men. So far. Pray for that one.) He was working really hard at mashing the playdoh to his face and trying to explain to me at the same time what he was doing. I didn't quite catch on until he pulled his hands away and grinned at me.



My nephew bought this bunny mask for Jackson while they were in town. Jackson LOVES this thing and insisted on wearing it EVERYWHERE we went the first few days he had it. He puts it on crooked sometimes (you know, with the eye holes on the side of his head) so he can't see out of the little eye holes but WILL NOT let you fix it for him (have I mentioned he's a tad strong-willed??) so he walks with his head crooked so that he can see out of the closest hole. This day he really wanted a bunny tail so I found an old, fuzzy sock to tuck in his pajamas. He loved it even more.

Lee wanted to get some good Mommy/Jackson pictures since we are lacking in those. We were making cookies (Jackson loves to help me bake) and Lee snapped several pictures. Jackson was in an incredibly silly mood so the majority of the pictures ended up looking like this one...

That's our silly boy - more laughs than we can handle and we are lovin' every minute of it.