And this will forever be known as the day that the kite and I became friends

You know how sometimes things seem more fun in concept, rather than actually doing them?  Kind of like the idea or thought of any one particular activity is the only fun thing about it, because once you get out there and are actually involved in the event you've been talking about, you realize the only fun was in the 'talking about it' part?

Some of my personal favorites that fall into this category are:

* highschool prom - The getting ready part was fun.  The actual prom?  NOTsomuch.

* painting your bedroom - What do you mean I have to move the furniture?  Can't we just paint around it?  We have to tape off what?  Can't we just get away with putting on one coat?

* bathing suit shopping - Do I need to explain this one?

* deciding it's worth the money to go out to eat at that nice restaurant with the whole family - Do I need to explain THIS one??

* making that cake you signed up to bring entirely from scratch (when you know darn good and well that box cakes are just as good!) - Listen, I sweat more when I bake than when I go for a run or workout.  Got me?

* flying a kite - Yes, flying a kite...looks fun, sounds fun, but in reality is REALLY difficult!


Can you believe flying a kite made my list?


Well friends, that is no longer the case.


Yesterday was the day - the day that I was successful at, yes, you guessed it, flying a kite...for the first time in my life, might I add.


People fly kites in movies.  People fly kites in books.   But Hollie has never successfully flown a kite in a movie, or a book, or real life.  I remember trying it over and over many times as a kid, to no avail.  Kite day at school?  Yikes.  Suddenly not feeling well.  Or maybe that was the year that something was wrong with my kite?

Crazy to think that a childhood pastime could be so much fun as an adult, when you actually do it correctly. 

The highly sought after instructor?  Well, none other than M-to-the-Izz-A, of course!  Jake of all trades, no?


So we took to the church parking lot, kites in hand, and got nuts with it.

cousin Anna

cousin Noah

"Come on, baby.  We can do this!"

Having the time of my life with a Disney Princess kite.

best kite-flyin' partner ever

Wordless Wednesday: Town Clean-up Edition

Hamp's first year 'participating'

Kate was 10 months old and in a stroller her first year participating.  Now, look at her!

New Addition

This is backtracking a little, but after taking that little blogging break, I've got lots of catching up to do and there's no way I could skip over something as special as introducing the newest member of our family.  My younger sister, Ali, gave birth to baby Krew on March 31st.  She was scheduled for induction the next morning, but I guess Krew didn't want to be an April Fool's baby, so he decided to make his debut the day before his appointment!


Thought you'd like to know that Ali didn't make it to the hospital in time for an epidural.  By the time she arrived, she was ready to push and Krew was welcomed into the world, all nat-ur-al.  Better her than me!  She is woman, hear her roar.  I'm so proud of my little sister. 


So without further ado, please welcome Krew Braden!

I love how his hands show just how excited he is to hold his baby brother for the first time.

Brothers

proud aunts



That's JP in his official my-mom-went-into-labor-unexpectedly outfit, complete with plaid shorts, striped undershirt, and his big brother tee!

Kate and cousin Krew

Precious

Congratulations again, Ali, James, and JP!



The Motivational Ponytail

Last weekend I drove to Clearwater, FL to meet up with one of my best friends from college, Aly, and run in the Irongirl Half Marathon.

We hadn't seen each other in years.  And so what better way to meet up than running 13.1 miles together?  Okay, I can think of a hundred better ways, but this is what brought us back together this year. 


And since I've already proven in my last post that I'm tacky enough to take a pic of a pic, I'm doing it again.



Here's a picture of us taken when she came to spend New Year's Eve with me, when I lived in New York City our first year out of grad school. 



NYC 2004 - pre-marriage, pre-babies, pre-crows feet 




And here we are last weekend at our pre-race meal at Guppy's:

Clearly our priorities have shifted - drinking our hydrating water in our special glasses this go 'round. 


It was fun to get back together and pick right up, as if we never left Gainesville.  I was able to join up with her and a great group of girls that welcomed me right in.  Although, in this next picture, I look like that random stranger that hopped in the photo at the last minute.  Clearly I wasn't quite comfortable enough to do the whole throw-your-arm-around the group move...  So, I awkwardly placed it on my leg?

We tried to go to bed early, but you know how it is, we had tons of catching up to do.  And then there's the whole bit of pre-race jitters, and hoping that the hotel coffee the next morning will taste decent enough to get a cup down. 

(How many times can I use the prefix pre- in this post?!!)

Before the race

The race consisted of a beautiful course, alot of it right along the beach, and included 3 bridges.

I love running, but let's face it, around mile 11 or so you just start questioning yourself as to why the heck you sign up for such things.  When then, out of the darkness, comes the ponytail. 

The ponytail that will keep you focused and your mind off the pitter-patter of your own feet. 

The ponytail of the girl right in front of you that seems to be in perfect swinging sync with your pace.


So, thank you, girl in the army green shorts and gray tank, for whipping it, and whippin' it good.  Your ponytail that is. 

After the race

Hamp turns 10 months!

That picture isn't even very clear.  I took it with my phone, but for some reason it turned out to be my most favorite picture of him taken during the week he turned 10 months, so I went with it and made it his monthly pic.


And then a couple weeks ago I was visiting my younger sister, Ali (who by the way has given birth to her son, Krew, and I'll upload pics and details soon!), and took this picture-of-a-picture of Kate, from a photo Ali had framed on her mantle. 


The resemblance between Hamp and Kate blows my mind.



Kate - 7 months old

They look so much alike!



Hamp has started talking a lot more now and can say, "Thank you (which kinda sounds more like 'tattoo'), Da-da, Mama, Kate-Kate, and 'get it'.  Yes, get it.  He says that when he sees a toy and wants to play with it.  His favorite toy right now is a ball.  He and Kate can sit on the floor and roll it back and forth to each other.
Cutest. Thing. Ever.

Last week, the kids and I went to the zoo with my friend, Jade, and her daughter, Guilana. 


It was Hamp's first official zoo trip!



riding the train



waiting to feed the giraffes



Guilana and Hamp




Guiliana and Kate




Our tour guide





As we say around here, "plum tuckered out."

Other big news in Hamp-land is that he is finally wearing shoes!  Or at least he did today.  Tomorow may be a different story.  Just when I thought he was gonna forever be known as the 'barefoot baby', he goes and wears some Nike sneaks today.  Big boy.


I know what he was thinking:  I put on some shoes and Mama goes ahead and busts out a full photo session.  Dang.

But he was a good sport.

Oh my word - this next picture reminds me that I almost forgot to tell ya'll that he has 4 teeth!

Check out those long hairs around his ears that I refuse to cut!  Just can't do it yet.



Wordless Wednesday

Lots of catching up coming soon... 

I may need to get all scrapbooky on ya'll and just do a  post with lots of pictures and captions - that's how behind I am. 

Big things goin' on around here!