Just Us

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Brandt and I were planning a date night for Saturday so, Friday he suggested we take the kids to a park for some Ultimate Frisbee. We have this cool Frisbee, an Aerobee; that thing can go forever! It was fun to play outside with the kids for a little while and then after we had popsicles for dessert. I loved the balance of the weekend; a little time as a family and some alone time with my hubby.

Sammy preferred rolling down the hills to catching a frisbee.

Saddle Up Stables

Samantha had a field trip Friday. She was super excited because she was getting to go to some stables and ride a horse. She learned a lot about caring for horses. She even got to help.

Brushing the horse.

Next she got to ride the horse.

Because Sammy's friend was feeling a little nervous, Samantha got a second ride with her friend.

Sammy with Eliza.

Afterwards, all the kids got to visit the pig and chickens.

Then we left the stable to see the miniature horses, llamas, and donkeys.

The girls in her preschool; Eliza and Natalie.

Seriously, could she be any cuter?!

It was a fun day with my special girl.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Kentucky to Cincinnati

In Jonny's never ending quest to see all things sports related, he and Brandt went on a road trip today. First stop was Louisville, KY. There they visited the Louisville Slugger Museum.

Brandt was most excited to swing Derek Jeter's bat. They also got to see bats made especially for the Yankees.

Louisville, KY

Louisville Slugger Museum

Swinging Jeter's bat.

The happy Sports Fanatic.

Next stop was a Cincinnati Reds game and some sort of heart attack in a bun.

A meat lover's dog.

Can you tell it was cold?

Monday, May 7, 2012

2012 Indianapolis Half Marathon

Last year Brandt and I were supposed to run the half marathon together but when he had back problems, I ended up running it alone. Yesterday was much different from the previous year. This year Brandt, Hailey and I ran. Brandt is training for an Olympic Triathalon and has been training for a few months. His time showed it. He finished in an impressive 2 hours, eight minutes. And that time includes him stopping to kiss the bricks on the Indy 500 track. As well as a brief break to climb the fence and imitate race car driver Helio Castroneves.

Hailey is a talented runner, but she hates it. Hailey is bright and consequently a lot of things come easy to her. It's made her a bit lazy in that now, if something is challenging she'd rather not do it. As her parents, we feel it's important to encourage her to not shy away from a challenge. So, when we realized we would have to pay whatever she didn't fundraise for her trip to Europe we had a lightbulb moment. We offered her $1,000 if she would run the half marathon. She agreed and has been training for about 4-5 months. It wasn't easy but she did great. I think it helped that she was a celebrity on the course. Everyone was encouraging her and impressed that at her young age she was out there. Though she jinxed herself at mile 8 when she said "This isn't so bad." Her tennis shoes gave her blisters around the 10th mile. And by the 12th mile she couldn't handle it anymore. So, as we ran down New York street lined with checkered finish flags, Hailey ran in her socks and I carried her shoes. We were a sight! Still she completed the run in 2 hours, 31 minutes. Yesterday was so hot and incredibly humid. I couldn't have been more proud of Hailey for doing so well.

A friend kept Brianna, Brandon, and Samantha while we raced. I think Brianna was a bit jealous of Hailey. So now we're looking for a triathalon that all four of us can do together. I'm sure a post on that will come shortly.

Ready to race with my girl!


Before the race, with the Capitol in the background.

The start line.

We ran one lap around the Indy 500 track.

DONE!!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

My favorite quote of the week...

Courtney at Shapiro's...so happy!

When we were driving to and from Chicago we played a form of 20 Questions. One of the questions was "If you could have dinner with anyone in history who would it be and what would you eat?"

Courtney's answer was, "Jesus, and I would take him to Shapiros." (Shapiro's is a jewish deli that Courtney has recently fallen in love with.) Pure awesomeness!

Indians Stadium Field Trip

For Samantha's Preschool group, each of the moms are in charge of one field trip throughout the year. Last year I got us the Field Trip to the Fire Station. I wanted to do something different this year, so I wrote to the Colts and Indians Stadiums. The Indians Stadium was very accommodating and Thursday we got to go on our field trip to the #1 Minor League Ball Park in the country!

Sarah in the infield.

Brandon and Samantha's preschools.

In the dugout.

The outfield.

In the Press box.

Brandon was calling plays. It was hilarious and surprising how much Baseball lingo he knew.

Afterwards we had a picnic lunch at the ball park.

The Things Kids Say...

Sammy's favorite saying is "Cause I say so." It can be used to answer any question such as, Why aren't you eating? Why are you crying? and my personal favorite Why are you naked?! Oh, did I forget to mention she loves being naked?

Brianna was crying because Brandon pushed her. I asked why and he said "Cause she's fighting with me. She's trying to kill me!!!" Brianna only got out "nu-uh," before Brandon blurted out "Liar, Liar, fur on fire!"

Last night in family prayers, Brianna blessed Spirit Week at school.

We were outside when I saw a lizard, and pointed it out to Brandon. I asked what it was and he responded a lizard. I told him he was right and he promptly asked, "Can I kill it?"

Sam and Brianna were taking a bath when I heard Sam start to cry. I asked Brianna what happened and she said, "Sam was trying to get out of the bath and she hurt her VIRGINIA."

Brandon told me he loved me so, I told him I loved him too. "No, I love you more," he says. I laughed and said "Brandon, you're a good boy." "Yea," he says.

I told Brandon & Sammy that they were going to have friends over. When I told her it was Brandon's friend Sam and Sam's little brother Max. She complained that she didn't have a friend coming and I told her she was. I said, "What about Max? You are in the same preschool, he's your friend." To which she replied, "Nu-uh, I hate that guy."

Brandon is very eager to grow up. We've had some very odd conversations with him as a result. Most recently he's begun showing us his armpit and asking if he has any hair there yet. The other common occurrence is for him to ask his dad to spray him with "man spray" aka cologne. There was also one other strange conversation where he asked why his weiner wasn't growing. I told him to ask his Dad. He did.

At Brianna's birthday party this year I told her to be sure and introduce her school friends to her church friends. She went in, sat everyone down, and told them to go around the room and say their name and one thing they like about her. She's insane!

We always make our kids try a couple bites of something new before they say they don't like it. One night as I am insisting Sam try some new food and she is protesting adamantly, claiming it was disgusting. Eventually, she took a bite and then exclaimed, "Hey, mom! That disgusting stuff tastes good!"

We adopted a friend's birthday tradition this year. We each went around and said something we liked about the birthday person. Sammy liked everyone's eyes (It was kind of random). But my favorite was when Brandon told Brandt that he liked that his Dad farted a lot and picked his nose. We all died laughing!

At dinner we were discussing the origins of Halloween. Hailey said that it used to be a celebration of the dead and that we still do that. As I was thinking, trying to figure out what she meant when she said we still do that; Brianna scoffs, "Yeah, right. Like we would be like, It's Halloween, let's go to the Seminary." I nearly died laughing. I know she meant cemetery but I went to early morning Seminary and I know I have seen the walking dead there!

Okay, this isn't really something my kids said, but a kid did say it, so it qualifies...

There is a boy at Hailey's school that likes her and she likes him. They've been texting and talking a lot. One text he sent her said, "I have to tell God that he's missing an angel." SIXTH GRADE!!! And so it begins...

We were in the hardware store and got Brandon two of the 5 gallon paint stick stirrers. He loves using them as swords. He handed me one and says, "Here Mom, now we can have an epic battle!"

Hailey is lactose intolerant. She has become a bit dramatic over it. So, an ongoing joke in our family is quoting a movie line wherein the Dad calls for his kids to come and yells, "kids, come and get your flan!" When we yelled this the other night to call Hailey, Brianna quickly adds, "come and get your lactose free flan!" We died laughing!

Sammy and I were working on her reading and she read a hard sentence. I told her "that was perfect" to which she replied, "Holla! I'm awesome!"

Brandon wants to grow up so fast. It's led to many funny stories. Most recently he has realized that his dad always has cash in his pockets. So, he asked Brandt if he could have some "dollars" so he could be like him. Brandt said sure and gave him some coins for his pockets. Brandon is no fool he said no Dad, I want DOLLARS, like you. Brandt caved.

PART 2:

Today Brandon was fishing through Brandt's pockets and happily retrieved several bills. Brandt snatched them back as Brandon moaned. Brandt said, "Fine, you can have a bill if you can name it correctly." (You think he would learn by now) Brandon, again -- no fool, grabs the largest denomination and says this is $20 bucks." Incredulous Brandt says, "Why do you think that's a 20?" To which Brandon replied, "Because it has a 20 on it!"

Today at lunch Brandon said that T-Rex eats meat and that he also likes meat. So, he's a "carnibore." He asked Brandt do you know what that means? Before Brandt could answer Sammy interrupted, "That you're a dinosaur." Brandon went on to educate us all on what "carnibore" and "herbalbore" mean.

Sammy (age 4) asked to watch a DVD. Apparently it was her favorite movie when she was 5?!

Brandon was eating pizza at Sam's club and he was licking the grease off his fingers. Brianna told him that that was grease (with a disgusting look on her face). To which he replied, "mmmm, this is good grease."

We just got a new home line. Brianna gave the new number to all her friends. It turns out she also told them all it was her private number. Oh, that girl!

I was playing Trouble with Brandon. And he rolled a 6 I asked if he was going to get a new man out because he was moving another man along the board. He said "No, I'm living the dream." I don't even know what goes through his head.