Whew! It has been awhile since I updated the blog, and to be honest, I have been dreading it since I have let it go for so long! Put on your reading glasses, grab a snack, and settle in, because this is a long one. But, there is a surprise at the end...I figured out how to load a video!At our last post, Matt and I were preparing to leave for the lake, which was wonderful. I got home Friday after dropping off Alden and Lily with my mom and the house was so quiet...in a good way. Matt and I got to run together, sans baby jogger, and headed up to Lake James. My friend Laura's parents were so gracious to host us all at their new home, and we all had a blast. I had never heard of Lake James, but it was so beautiful! I am not a lake person, but this one felt like a swimming pool; none of that lake-y funk when you get out, and no suspicious feeling of fish and Nessie swimming around beneath you. We totally felt like we were on vacation. We all cooked out, caught up, and played a lot of Catch Phrase. Matt and I took the jet-skis out, bummed around in the boat, Matt slalom-skiied, and I eventually got up on water-skis, after Laura's fiance, Matt, patiently turned around for me about 20 times, and Whitney's boyfriend Chad, gave me some advice. The result was about 10 glorious seconds of skiing, and 2 weeks of recovering from a serious fresh-water enema. 'Nuff said.
I went to pick Alden up Monday morning stayed with my parents until Wednesday. She had a blast with my mom and Amber over the weekend. Can I say again how good it is to have family close?? It was good for me to ease back into life with Alden again, after our weekend of freedom. We both missed her, but hadn't really thought much about her during the weekend. I think that is ok. One of the highlights of my time at home, was getting to have lunch with my mom's friend Elaine, after whom I was named (no grammatical critiques on that...I know it sounds awkward...). We had a great lunch at CPK, before Alden and I had to head back to Charlotte. It was good to all be back together as a family again!One of the results of my staying in Raleigh, was discovering a Nurse Aid class I can take. The last couple days of our week were spent gathering paperwork, going to the doctor for a TB test (negative, luckily) and taking it up to the Nurse Aid Institute of Excellence for registration. I had wanted to work part-time while Matt was in flight school, and having this certification will at least allow me to log hours towards applying to PA school eventually, plus, it will be a lot more interesting than working at Old Navy. I start Oct. 15th, and for 5 weeks, will be going 6-10:30 at night M-Th, and 8-4:30 on Sat. These are going to be a hairy few weeks, but the alternatives were at least 3 times as long, and with our house for sale, getting something done quickly is key.
One of Alden's new things that week was yelling really loud and putting her finger over her mouth and saying "SHHHH". The yelling sound is pretty annoying, but it really makes me laugh. I have to turn my head so she doesn't see me cracking up. She got a tricycle a Grammy's that she is really into, and drives it around saying "Vroom, vroom". She is also very into wearing people's shoes.
Friday night we had dinner at Nana's with Kitty Scott, Dickie, Elizabeth, and Scottie. Kitty Scott had passed on some of Scottie's things to Alden, and there was a pair of white sandals with kittens on them that Alden HAD to wear. Never mind that they are 3 sizes to big. She had them on the whole night, and wanted to have them back on in the morning. Now they are in the closet, waiting for next summer.
Matt's parents stopped by on their way back from a week in Aiken on Saturday. Although it was a quick visit, it was great to see them, and a treat as always, to go out to dinner at Harper's, which we love. They left as we headed off to church on Sunday, and we will look forward to seeing them again in December when they are in Aiken for a few months.
Well, in the midst of all the travels and visitors, I completely spaced the sign-ups for the library. I figured I could just show up this past Monday and sign up on the wait list, and still get in. Very naive. I came at the end of class for "hang out" time, and the lady asked me what me name was, noticed I had come in late, etc. Apparently, showing up like that is "not a good idea" and basically, I am not welcome for class, and only "maybe" for the non-structured time afterwards, which is the best part because all the moms just get to talk while the kids play. We all had a good laugh about the Nazi library lady, and are very said that Yanna left because she was AWESOME and NEVER checked role. So, Alden and I will remain shunned from Jumping Beans until sign-ups for November, and you can guarantee I will be first in line!
Well, in the midst of all the travels and visitors, I completely spaced the sign-ups for the library. I figured I could just show up this past Monday and sign up on the wait list, and still get in. Very naive. I came at the end of class for "hang out" time, and the lady asked me what me name was, noticed I had come in late, etc. Apparently, showing up like that is "not a good idea" and basically, I am not welcome for class, and only "maybe" for the non-structured time afterwards, which is the best part because all the moms just get to talk while the kids play. We all had a good laugh about the Nazi library lady, and are very said that Yanna left because she was AWESOME and NEVER checked role. So, Alden and I will remain shunned from Jumping Beans until sign-ups for November, and you can guarantee I will be first in line!
That week was the beginning of our life with "no." It started at the park..."Alden, would you like to get out of the swing?" Serious look, shakes head, "no". "Alden, would you like to do something other than sit in the swing, maybe go on the slide?" Again, a look that could kill, and "no". It continues..."Alden, would you like some green beans?" "Are you ready for bath-time?" "Do you think Hillary will win in 2008?" "No", "No", and "No."
This past week, Matt and I also started gearing up for the Charlotte Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. We ran it last year, and realized that we probably need to get started training if we are going to do it again. Matt has been much better about running than me, because it is always more fun for me to go to the barn instead. I got out a couple of times last week, and Misty is doing better and better. We are working a lot on consistent rhythm, and trying to ignore all the scary horse-eating monsters that disguise themselves as birds, chairs, weed eaters, trash bags, etc. I am going to try to take a couple lessons a month with the eventing trainer at the barn, hoping to polish up my year and a half of riding without feedback! For instance, I know that I am not weighting my left side equal to my right. Why is that so hard? Apparently, this is a common problem, because one of the girls at the barn suggested to think about looking back at Misty's tail, while tracking right, and it helps weight that side. No big deal, huh? As far as looking where I am going, that is a technicality that we will have to work on.
This past weekend, we thought our friends Andrew and Lori were going to come down, and unfortunately Lori's grandpa had a stroke and passed away on Saturday. We send our prayers out to her family and know that they were all very close to her grandpa. Instead, we ended up keeping it low key here, and invited Nana over for dinner on Friday. Saturday, we went to The Fork, a big privately owned nature area/horse trials venue for the NCDCTA Horse Trials. It was an amazing facility, something like 1700 acres, and a barn nicer than most houses. www.forkstables.com They host a World Cup qualifier there in the spring, but this one just went up to Prelim. We got there in time to watch the last couple Prelim horses go, and all of the Training horses over cross-country, plus got to see some of the people from Hidden Spring do dressage. Alden and Lily were great horse-show goers, and Alden enjoyed running around, neighing at the horses, and Lily especially like eating grass and playing in the water jump. A good time was had by all, and it was a great excuse to be outside. The highlight for Matt was stopping at Wendy's in Midland for a Cheerwine and Vanilla Frosty Float. I think it is still on his mind...The picture below is of us by/on a huge Prelim corner jump. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to jump one!
This past week, Matt and I also started gearing up for the Charlotte Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. We ran it last year, and realized that we probably need to get started training if we are going to do it again. Matt has been much better about running than me, because it is always more fun for me to go to the barn instead. I got out a couple of times last week, and Misty is doing better and better. We are working a lot on consistent rhythm, and trying to ignore all the scary horse-eating monsters that disguise themselves as birds, chairs, weed eaters, trash bags, etc. I am going to try to take a couple lessons a month with the eventing trainer at the barn, hoping to polish up my year and a half of riding without feedback! For instance, I know that I am not weighting my left side equal to my right. Why is that so hard? Apparently, this is a common problem, because one of the girls at the barn suggested to think about looking back at Misty's tail, while tracking right, and it helps weight that side. No big deal, huh? As far as looking where I am going, that is a technicality that we will have to work on.
This past weekend, we thought our friends Andrew and Lori were going to come down, and unfortunately Lori's grandpa had a stroke and passed away on Saturday. We send our prayers out to her family and know that they were all very close to her grandpa. Instead, we ended up keeping it low key here, and invited Nana over for dinner on Friday. Saturday, we went to The Fork, a big privately owned nature area/horse trials venue for the NCDCTA Horse Trials. It was an amazing facility, something like 1700 acres, and a barn nicer than most houses. www.forkstables.com They host a World Cup qualifier there in the spring, but this one just went up to Prelim. We got there in time to watch the last couple Prelim horses go, and all of the Training horses over cross-country, plus got to see some of the people from Hidden Spring do dressage. Alden and Lily were great horse-show goers, and Alden enjoyed running around, neighing at the horses, and Lily especially like eating grass and playing in the water jump. A good time was had by all, and it was a great excuse to be outside. The highlight for Matt was stopping at Wendy's in Midland for a Cheerwine and Vanilla Frosty Float. I think it is still on his mind...The picture below is of us by/on a huge Prelim corner jump. Maybe one day I will be brave enough to jump one!
Sunday, Matt finally got out and went mountain biking at one of the local parks, and had a blast. We had dinner with some church friends, and Alden enjoyed playing with their kids, and especially their toys. She really liked pushing the baby in the little stroller, which she loved at Scottie's house, too. Maybe that is a signal that Mom and Dad should get her one...Maybe it would also be a distraction from motorcycles and trucks.
One of the highlights of the weekend was having two showings of our house on Saturday! Neither of them resulted in an offer, but we got great feedback and really high scores on the surveys. That is really encouraging, and we are just trusting for God's timing in the sell-the-house-get-Matt-in-school situation.
And, now it is Wednesday, and I have to say that I have really enjoyed my time with Alden lately. I think having a break from her to ride a couple times a week, plus our separation during Bible Study on Tuesday mornings makes a huge difference in my mental health. Plus, she is getting more and more fun. Of course, she always likes to read, but she has been enjoying her puzzles lately, and insists that I wear the Minnie Mouse ears headband that my dad brought back from Eurodisney all the time. It kinds of hurts my head, but she seems to get a kick out of it. She still loves putting things around her neck, and I leave you with another little gem of her sporting my bathing suit bottoms.
And, now it is Wednesday, and I have to say that I have really enjoyed my time with Alden lately. I think having a break from her to ride a couple times a week, plus our separation during Bible Study on Tuesday mornings makes a huge difference in my mental health. Plus, she is getting more and more fun. Of course, she always likes to read, but she has been enjoying her puzzles lately, and insists that I wear the Minnie Mouse ears headband that my dad brought back from Eurodisney all the time. It kinds of hurts my head, but she seems to get a kick out of it. She still loves putting things around her neck, and I leave you with another little gem of her sporting my bathing suit bottoms.
I wasn't really sure where to put this one, but it is so funny, I had to include it. Matt took it and it reminds me of a National Geographic picture. Except that Alden is not a lion, and this was in Norwood, NC, not Kenya..
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