Atlanta Marathon

Me, Alicia, Nikki, Jenny and Shawn

Scarlett and I

Scarlett with Sandra

For Thanksgiving I drove down to Atlanta with my running friends to run the marathon there. It was a really hard race- very hilly. I had to walk 4 or 5 miles but was just glad to finish! I feel really good and my recovery seems to be getting easier and easier after these long races. Scarlett really enjoyed the trip. She was perfect- didn't complain and even seemed to enjoy the long car ride. Everyone was surprised with how good she was. No more marathons until spring 2010.

Sing Along With Santa Video

Sing Along With Santa

Today I took Scarlett to Steel Beam Theatre in St Charles (around 40 min away) to a show called Sing Along With Santa. It started off with a play and then all the children were invited onstage to sing together. It was a great experience because the theatre was very small (only around 30 in the audience) and Scarlett was NOT shy, she went right up and joined in. She did not sit on Santa's lap afterwards but she did give him a big hug. When he first came on stage she had very wide eyes and it was like seeing a favorite celebrity for the first time. I told her that Santa would return for Christmas with toys if she was a good girl and helped Mama clean up. In the future we will need to go to more children's productions.

All ready for the Olympics

I've been working on Scarlett having more confidence in the water. She has swim lessons with her preschool on Fridays but doesn't like to put her head underwater. Today I discovered she doesn't mind wearing the googles if she wears a bathing cap to insure it doesn't get caught in her hair, which makes her look very professional. She uses the kickboard really well.

Dance Show

Scarlett really knows some good dance moves.

Cascades Park

First photo is Scarlett and I at the playground in Cascades Park. I used to play on this same elephant when I was her age. Second photo was last night, Grandma was reading her a book.

Yesicka & Girls Visit

Yesterday Yesicka and her two daughters came and visited. We went to the Shedd Aquarium, then today to the Lincoln Park Zoo. The girls were really well behaved and Ann Marie takes good care of Scarlett... she would hold her hand and they would walk together wherever they went. Scarlett and I had a great time, she was very sad when they left so we will have to get together soon.

At the end of our outings the girls were always fast asleep in the backseat. It was strange to have them all talking and excited and then look back to see their mouths hanging open as they slept.

More pictures here

Trail Run

This is me with my friends Diane and Nikki this morning. We did a trail run with people from our group around Veteran's Park for 6 miles, starting at around 6:30 am. We saw the sun come up and it was a beautiful morning. I don't remember the last time I got up this early on a Sunday and had that much fun.

The place where we are standing is a huge cliff. The view changes each time we go, and in the winter when the snow is falling looks simply amazing.

Cowden

Scarlett loves Sandra's cat. His name is Calvin but she pronounces this "Cowden." Today she had to paint his picture.

Disco

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Monster Mash

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Blueberry Juice Mustache

The blue mustache is a result of drinking blue Gatorade. In other news, she made this pumpkin in preschool using a roll of toilet paper. This will be our emergency roll for when I forget to buy it.

The adorable banana

Today we went to Sandra's house and did trick or treating. Nikki kindly pushed the baby stroller so she could get a break now and then, as we went around her neighborhood. After we helped pass out candy to other children. My tummy hurts a little because I think I had too much of her candy.

Happy Halloween!