on your mark....get set.....go

As many of you know, I ran a 5k race on the beach this past Saturday. It was my first race and I think I did a marvelous job! My one goal that I set for myself was to run then entire race. Well, I did, even though I wanted to curl up into a little ball and not finish every time I had to manuver around the rock walls, but I actually accomplished my goal. I ran a 5k in 30.20!!!!! WOOHOO- go me!!!! It was hard......it was definitely hard. The last time I ran was a loooooong time ago and I was unsure of how I was going to do it (especially since I am not a runner......and I have never ran on the beach before).

I started out at a good pace and I just kept going.......my feet didn't even think about stopping. It was a natural high- hard to explain but- energy just seemed to pour out of me. The more I ran......the farther I pushed myself......the adrenaline lifted me above the clouds and I didn't care that I was thirsty........or sweaty......or tired because I was on 5 hours of sleep. I think I have found a new love......a love for pushing myself and accomplishing something that I never thought I could. I didn't win any prize or get first, second, or third place in any category but I finished- I accomplished my goal- that's all I care about!!!! (I gave myself a pat on the back)!

Before we know it..........we reevaluate our likes, dislikes, hobbies, interest. We let go of old habitats and take on new ones. Sometimes the newbies are not any better than the old but other times the newbies make us feel better. They give us a feeling of success, and accomplishment......we feel good about our self. This newbie of mine has definitely sparked a new interest that I am thinking about taking on. I am seriously thinking about running in another race on April 18- not a beach run, but all in all it is a race- I will keep you posted.......time will tell!

Wylie & Jean coming across the finish line!!!

TWO THUMBS UP LADIES

P.S. Wylie- I totally think we should take this on together.......just think how good you felt afterwards!!!! So glad we did this together! Thanks for inviting me- Love you lots!!!!!

Beautiful Suzanne

My dear friend, Suzanne.

who is beautiful.
even more so now since she is.......

expecting her first bundle of joy........

I have been asking her and asking her if she is going to get belly photos taken.......her reply- "I think I'm going to have Brad take some". So with that response, I pulled out my camera and we had a mini photo shoot yesterday!

Congratulations Suzanne & Brad!
Thank you so much for letting me photograph this very time in your life!
I can't wait to meet little Veda!

Love is a powerful emotion. It takes over your body........it consumes you........it fills up every empty nook. When you are in love great things happen. Love creates memories.......encourages you......helps you accomplish goals......and makes every second of your day brighter and clearer!

When you see Suzanne & Brad you can see the love they have for each other........Veda Fox is very lucky to have parents that are going to fill her whole bubble with love!

AAAAYYYY Batter Batter.....

Drew had a softball game Thursday night. I have been meaning to take my camera and "document" his amazing plays but I never remembered to do it. This time I did-
I was like the mom in the bleachers cheering on my pride and joy and trying to get every snapshot of him up at bat. Before the game they all warmed up by throwing the ball back and forth to each other, some took a quick jog around the field while the others drunk a beer.

This season Drew is on a new team and gets a lot of playing time. However this team is very new and they are trying to get into a groove. Although all of the guys are good players, they just haven't played in a while. So needless to say they are getting beat but at least he is having fun!
I love to see the look on his face when he is playing.....its this look of happiness, content, freedom. Its his time of the week to just be.......to let go.......no rules.........no worries.......just to play.......a time that he can have fun no matter what.
Before we know it..........we are taking on extracurricular activities that allow us to let go. These activities may be in a game that we used to do when we were younger, or a pickup game among friends. It may be a hobby that we want to become more experienced at or just simply something that we find interest in.

Green, Green, and more Green

Why do we wear green on St. Patrick's Day? What is the meaning behind it? For the most part I wear green so I don't get one of those people that still pinch you because you didn't wear green.

St. Patrick's Day was a lot of fun this year. I started the festivities a little early in my classroom. For the past week we have had a leprechaun visiting our classroom and messing it up........rather strange. Monday afternoon, my kids, set out leprechaun traps and tried to catch the pesky little guy but no such luck. We enjoyed the gifts that he left us and indulged in some green foods! We ate green shamrock cookies, green M&Ms, drank green sprite, and had a golden butterscotch to top it off. I love holidays......its even better when you are surrounded by children who still have the innocence and faith. The way their faces lit up when they came in the classroom Tuesday morning to see if they caught our mischievous little visitor.

To continue the celebration Drew and I ventured out to Miller's Ale House with some friends.....they drank green beer and I ate my favorite item on the menu.......BBQ ZINGERS! Those boneless chicken wings are simply delicious- just talking about them makes me want to jump in my car and head to Millers for an order of them (seriously my mouth is watering)!

Our "Annoyed" looks (these faces are for our waitress):

Me & Drew:

Brad & Kasey

Brad & Suzanne

Before we know it.........we are celebrating holidays a little differently than we did when we were younger. We have a different thought, view, outlook about the holiday. Our beliefs are different, but we follow tradition because that is what we are used to. This year we laughed, joked, ate, drank, and laughed some more. Even though our waitress was not so good (and I am trying to be nice) we had soooo much fun! Can't wait for next year!

Sundays are the best

Overall when you think about the weekend, its a time to relax and unwind from our busy work week. Saturdays tend to be the day where we run our errands, clean the house, grocery store, shop, clean the car- kind of days. Sundays on the other hand are left with no plans. Its the day where we can actually unwind. Sleep in with no alarm clock, actually eat a delicious breakfast, stay in our jammies as long as we want. Sundays are the days that bring the chaos to a hault until our alarm clock goes off Monday morning.

With Drew working Monday thru Friday now, we have the opportunity to go to church every Sunday. I have really been enjoying it.......it makes me reflect on my little world and gets me to think about the great gifts that I have been given. After church we headed to Ft. Myers beach with some friends! All in all it was a great idea to spend the day on Ft. Myers beach but I was not thinking the idea was so grand when I was driving on a two lane road going 20 miles per hour. But when we made it there it was relaxing.
The hot sun beaming down, the cool breeze steadily jumping off the waves as they broke on the shore line, the mass amounts of people that were making the memories that will last a life time, and great friends that sat with me and kept me company.
I love this time of year.....not too hot, not too breeze......just right- and even though it was a little crazy it was fabulous!
Before we know it.......we spend our weekends entirely different than we did 5 years ago. We can sit on the beach with friends and not need "action". Although "action" is amusing we find comfort in the conversations and knowing that we are surrounded by true friends that will be there when you need them!

I can't wait till summer..........can't wait for everyday to be my lazy Sunday!

SURPRISE!!!!!!!

There's something to be said about surprise parties. The wait......the mystery of what the person will say.......the secret......trying to make it to the party early so we don't ruin the surprise. I've always wanted a surprise party- just to say that I have experienced the feeling of my heart stopping out of pure astonishment.

Last night we had a surprise party for Lauren, John's girlfriend. She was completely surprised. Her best friend and John did a great job gathering all of her close friends and family at Pazzo's. We had a great time. When she walked around the corner she didn't even realize we were there until she heard us yell.......SURPRISE!!!!!! As you could imagine- she was surprised!

After dinner we went down to McCabes Irish Pub for some drinks, music, and people watching! It was rather interesting.......lots of tourists drunk from the St. Patty's Day Parade and Springbreakers burnt and just ready to party because it was they had a week to do anything they wanted. I'm not really sure why the college kids come to Naples, FL for Springbreak.......it is rather dull- but I do have to say we have some beautiful beaches!
I just could resist this picture.......look at the menu- I felt as if I was in a giant's restaurant. The menus were HUGE- and I'm not exaggerating!!!!!

Before we know it.......our birthday parties are a lot more than what they were when we were kids. They aren't just pool parties or pin the tale on the donkey. They are smaller and more intimate. They are more meaningful and it just gives us another reason to order a fabulous desert (with one candle on top) and shine for the night!

release of built up energy

With the chaos of finishing up my thesis and Drew working the Member/Guest Invitational at the golf course this week we have not really had time to take Gigi outside to get any exercise. Well we made it up to her by invited her two best friends and her boyfriend out to the golf course for some freedom. No leash....no rules.......simply freedom.
It was a perfect golf course evening- not too hot, too muggy, or too chilly. At times we would catch the slight breeze of the wind as it ran wildly through the wooded preserve. We would stop at each hole as Brad would set the tees for the the last day of the match and the dogs would take this precious opportunity to gulp down water and take a quick breather.
With all of the running you would expect the pups to be exhausted.....and they were. Gigi's boyfriend, Maverick, got hurt, he was running to fast- trying to get on the golf cart.

Before we know it.......we get caught up in the our daily routine. Not really taking time to enjoy the great outdoors. That night at the golf course the sun was trying to beam its self through the clouds......it was a beautiful sight.

Of course we couldn't leave the course without Drew playing a little bit........

Fridays.....

are normally the day that we wake up with this sense of relief- knowing that if we can just get through this day we have a couple days to relax. To enjoy the the next 48 hours as we would like. To have family dinner and no bedtime. No plans, no one to answer to. No alarm clock to snooze. But this past Friday wasn't just a normal Friday. This Friday embraced a long awaited phone call. A phone call that was going to change things for the better. This phone call held promise, anxiety, nervousness, opportunity, and change. This phone call wasn't just a job interview anymore but it was the job opportunity.......and I am excited to say that Drew was offered a job with Arthrex, a great company!!!

Before we know it......a day comes that changes everything we are use to. It may be for the better or for the worse but it comes and we take it. We embrace the moment and we work through it. Drew and I are very excited to embrace this one.....this new journey has a lot of promises in store. We can't wait to see what will unfold!