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Brag Talking and Photo Bombing

I don’t really like it when people brag-talk about things they’ve done or things they are going to do, or at least I don’t like it some of the time. So, I am warning you there is a bit of brag-talking in this post. Stop reading if you don’t like partial brag-talking.

Lara and I did a 10K run this weekend and we may or may not have placed first in our age division!

We also may or may not have placed last in our age division.

The run/race wasn’t large by any means (like there was NO way to get lost in the crowd…) and minutes before we were to begin running we had a moment of freaking out because, as we looked around, we noticed that almost everybody (everybody = non professional looking runners) was doing the 5K. After having a shared mild panic attack, we just decided to stick to our guns and do the 10K. I’m glad we did. Our time was awful, the weather a bit foul, but we did it….we finished.

And we signed up for another one in a few weeks, hopefully our time will be better, the weather a bit more rosy and we’ll be able to get lost in the crowd. It felt good to have a friend to run with because running with Barry I tend to feel a bit out of my league. We’ve gone on a few “family” runs lately and I’m usually sucking in air and hoping he’ll stop talking to me and he usually looks like he’s walking and hardly breaking a sweat. So it goes, so it goes.

End of brag talking.

Onto photo bombing. Photo what?

Anyhow, I recently learned a new term: photo bombing. Basically when somebody photo bombs, it means that they are intentionally ruining somebody’s photo. I must say that I think that Sydney The Tubby Puggy might be the master at photo bombing. I don’t realize how close she sticks to us until I get a chance to look at my pictures waayyyyy after I’ve taken them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted, sometimes Syd’s face is hard to read, but I’m pretty sure that she plans it out to be in most of the pictures we take around here. For example, a few weeks ago when Thomas came to visit and him and Maggie were enjoying some time outside on the bench, guess who showed up? Oh, yeah! Miss Photo Bomb herself!!

 

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Wagon Rides and The Sandy Lagoon

According to my baby book, I frequently rode in the wagon with my older brother out to the mailbox to get the paper in the morning. I don’t have a memory of this but the proof lies in my mother’s documentation and perhaps a few photos.  Maggie  had her first wagon ride at Thomas’ house the other day, and while Thomas was cool as as the other side of a pillow, Maggie held on for dear life and was serious as a tornado.

In the end, a great time was had by all, but Thomas was the Master Wagon Rider by far.  Thankfully the wagon has little cup holders, so next time we’ll be able to fill up their cups with tasty beverages and they can enjoy a drink if they get parched. Phew!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline had a ride earlier in the day with Thomas, and opted just to watch from afar while the ‘big kids’ took their ride. I predict next time she’ll wedge her way in and wear her sunglasses the whole time.

Back home at HBHQ, we had the much awaited GRAND OPENING of the Sandy Lagoon!

The construction crew (me and my screw driver, Maggie and her water bottle, and Sydney with her beef neck) showed up and put the Sandy Lagoon together. Who knew it would require so many screws or that there were so many parts?

(Thanks Christina, Charlyn &  Trace for the gift! We love it, obviously!)

At this point the Sandy Lagoon is lacking sand, but Maggie added some huge boulders to make up for that. This morning Barry asked Mags if she has her season’s pass to the Lagoon ready, but if I understood her correctly, and I think I did, she is considering going to the Lagoon a few more times before becoming a full-on member. I think she wants to see what the fuss is all about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time the Sandy Lagoon closed for the day (or maybe the sun went away and somebody was ready for her nap) Maggie was wholly convinced that the Sandy Lagoon is a great way to spend some time outside. I have no doubt that we’ll be back at it again and again.

Based on their end-of-the-day conversation yesterday, I’m convinced that both Barry and Maggie will be Season Pass holders to the Sandy Lagoon at HBHQ. Maggie convinced Barry by telling him about the boulders that she moved there.   I, on the other hand, need to go tickle my toes for a few more minutes in the water just to make sure I’m convinced the lagoon is relaxing.

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Tirades and Bumps @ HBHQ

This is about what Maggie looked like yesterday afternoon after we returned from Thomas’ birthday party…a tired little ball. Sydney, on the other hand, could not be bothered with Maggie’s tirade. Interestingly enough, Maggie fully recovered after her bath and practically threw another party while wandering around the house in her cowboy jammies.

I know on Mondays I always tend to yammer on about how we’re recovering from the weekend and taking it a bit more easy, but it is so true. We met up with Cole and Caroline on Saturday to go to a shoe sale, but before we left Caroline came to HBHQ to test out Maggie’s bench. Worst idea ever. See the above photo? About ten seconds later Caroline took a nose dive off of the bench. Straight onto our hardwood floors. I screamed, Maggie screamed and Caroline screamed. I think she forgives me though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having scary moments, like kids falling off benches onto hardwood floors, is not one of my favorite parts of parenting. After years of teaching and nannying for various families, I finally understand how much trust parents put in me as an educator and care giver. Then, on Saturday, I am in charge of Caroline for all but two seconds and she does a face plant. I know a day will come when Maggie is in the care of somebody else and something scary will happen. It sickens me to think that, but it is somewhat inevitable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was in 6th grade I fell while playing Four Square at school and split my knee open. It looked disgusting and I ended up needing stitches at the hospital, it was scary and traumatic and, as my grandma reminds me, I now have a scar on my knee that prevents me from being Miss America. We’ve all got scars that remind of us scary, difficult times, but isn’t it those times that made us of who we are today and where we’ve been? They are our history. Apparently, Caroline’s history included, thankfully not a scar, but a bump on the noggin at HBHQ.

I’m not excited for Maggie’s bumps and bruises, no sir!  So I’ll take today, Monday, as a gentle reminder to be a bit  more vigilant in Maggie’s exploration of the stairs and encourage her to master getting off the Big People’s Bed. And in the event that she stumbles, hopefully there will be loving arms to catch her….