Midtown Classic

Wynnton has been holding a 5k every year for the past several years. The proceeds of the race go to support the neighborhood surrounding the church. Every year the turn out is huge and draws racers from all over the Columbus/Phenix City area. It is a huge deal at the church.
In an attempt to grow closer with my new church family, I decided I would volunteer to help out, and Tucker jumped right on board with me.
Early this morning, Tucker and I got up and drove to the church to help with setting up and registration. My job was to be a "course marshall." I was to make sure our runners were running in the right direction and cheer them on as they passed. After a quick meeting at the church I headed down to Lakebottom Park where I was to be stationed. Of course, we did not not have the best of weather; thunder storms! But the race was still on- rain or shine!
I really had a good time standing there on my corner. (Never want to have to say THAT again!) I was amazed as the first runners made their way past me. They had such force and determination. It was breathtaking to see the capabilities of these people. Within a few minutes the bulk of the crowd came through. All different types of people were participating. It was really encouraging to see that it wasn't just for the "super fit." I was most impressed with the mommies who were running with their babies in strollers. They are the winners in my book!
When my duties at the park were over, I headed back to Wynnton. Pulling into the parking lot across the street, I could hear the fabulous people of my church cheering on the runners. What a great feeling it was to be part of that group! Even more gratifying, was seeing Tucker right there with them. It is so nice that he feels as at home there as I do.
Following the race, the sponsors had tables of food and our Praise Band was playing. It was just a great time all around; and to think- we were actually raising money at the same time!
My favorite part of the race was when I noticed the sign at the finish line. Although I can't remember the exact wording it said something to the affect of, "Wynnton UMC- Race with us today, pray with us tomorrow." How great is that?! I am sure that after the hospitality that was shown today, we will have more than a few visitors tomorrow! Praise God!

Talkin' Dirty

God sure got me good. He gave me two shiny, sweet smelling baby girls first. They wore beautiful dresses to school and ALWAYS had coordinating hair bows. I reveled in giving them teensie weensie manicures on their itty bitty hands. Life was peaches and cream.
I was excited about having Charlie; up for the challenge. I heard all of the cliches that compare boys to girls. I was not going to buy into those horrid stereotypes. I was, after all, Supermom.
At a really early age, (I'm talkin' fresh outta the hospital, people) I was amazed how sweaty Charlie's little feet were; sweaty AND stinky! My newborn son had smelly feet! Surely not, but oh, yes. Over, the next weeks I was amazed how much dirt would accumulate in his tiny fists and between his toes. I bathed this kid on a regular basis, and it wasn't like he was running any marathons. Dirty, dirty, dirty.
To really drive home the joke, God bestowed upon us a second little stinker. We hadn't seen anything yet! Patch, or Patchy-Poo, as he is commonly referred to, has been the end all be all of dirty, little boys. Picture this Rockwellesque painting: adoring family sitting, gazing at the newborn longingly when suddenly out of nowhere emanates a strong sulfuric odor slowly filling the room. One by one, family members tuck their noses in their shirts and exchange their loving glances to ones of horror. How could that smell come from such a tiny person!!!??? Patch's "teachers" at school quickly realized the ONLY way to feed him without ruining his clothes, was to strip him down to his diaper; even then, somehow he managed to soil clothes that were 10 feet away.
Boys are just like that, I am learning. They thrive in filth and stinkiness. I would love to say my husband is different, but the truth is that he is "just one of the boys." No matter how many toys, books or games they may have, at the end of the day nothing beats a puddle of water or a pile of leaves. The more "one with the filth" they can be the better. A truly successful day is one where they are able to turn their bath water several shades darker.
Despite the seemingly magnetic reaction boys(and men) have to all things gross, we members of grime-opposed gender still love them. Perhaps because of their "condition" we love them more because it gives us something to work on with them. There is a definite sense of accomplishment when you pluck one of these playful ogres out of the swamp and turn them into Prince Charming- even if only for a few hours!

Friends Forever

I'm super duper lucky. I actually can "grow" my own friends. What a cool trick, huh?
Today Emily came home from school feeling just horrible. After two solid weeks of sick kids, I knew I couldn't risk not having her looked at so we called to see if she could be seen. To my surprise, they told us to come in at 7pm. Our amazing pediatricians office was offering extended hours because there had been so many sick kids!
After a long day, she and I headed back out to see what was going on. On the way there we talked about how her heart has grown since going through the confirmation process at church and how cool it was that we could now share shoes. She told me how some of the kids at school are really starting to create serious trouble for themselves, and I shared how shocked I was when I was her age and saw the same thing happen with kids I had known from an early age. When we finally got to the office we sat and we talked, laughing the entire time about nothing and everything. And once in the examining room, we talked and we talked and we talked some more. Even though we were there because she was sick, it almost felt like a special one on one girls night out!
After her appointment we ate dinner in the car while we were waiting for her prescription to be filled. The entire night should have been a chore for both of us really, but it was such a blessing.
Emily is still a kid and I need to remember that sometimes, but every day she is becoming more and more grown. Not only do I love her as my baby, but I am beginning to really appreciate her as a friend. Although she is very much her own person, she also possesses qualities of both Tucker and I which of course I am very much compatible with. It is just really cool to think that out of the love Tucker and I have for each other came this sweet, special person who is fast becoming one of my most respected friends.
There is a well known cliche that says that we pick our friends not our family. How special is it when we choose to have our family BE our friends!

My Superman

Tucker really amazes me. He is just an incredible person. Back when we were mere little babes in college, he waited patiently by my side as I sowed my wild oats. I asked him once why he stuck around and he answered very simply, "I knew you would need me." On our wedding day as we were toasting I stood up and gave a teary, somewhat incoherent speech about the hell I put Tucker through in those early days. Everyone kinda laughed and smiled, but he knew what I was talking about. What is amazing to me, is that he always knew the day would come where I would just chill out and fall in love with him. He was there through it all.
In a few weeks we are going to celebrate 13 years married. That really seems like a lifetime to me. (more than a third of my life) He is still every bit the Superman to me now as he was back then.
He takes such good care of me. Today it was his turn to stay home with the sick kids. When I got home from work, the house was clean and the laundry done. He grabbed the baby from my arms and put him down for a rest. Then he walked me back to our room, turned down the bed and tucked ME in for a rest. He knew just what I needed, like he always has. No matter what is going on, he always is thinking about me.
I can go on and on and on about times when he has put me above himself. He's just that kind of a person. It amazes me, that somehow I, who had always had an uncanny ability to make horrible choices, at 20 years old, found Superman.

Top Ironies of the Week

1. We are actually way FURTHER behind on things that have to be done after being off work for a week.

2. I am looking forward to returning to work so that I can rest a little.

3. My dogs are currently the healthiest members of the household.

4. The two children I took to the doctor this morning, are now sicker than they were when they were seen.

5. Every year around tax refund time, something catastrophic falls into disrepair around the house. This year the air conditioner died before the ink dried on our balance statement. I'm wondering if this is what is referred to as a "Government Stimulus Package." I have been secretly looking out the window for little men in dark coats and black sunglasses trying to damage my property.

6. My husband, who rejected youth in favor of acting "wise beyond his years," has now decided to grow his curly hair out so he will more closely resemble his two year old son.

7. My daughter received some misguided information that Tina Fey was actually a political factor in the past Presidential election. As I explained to her Tina's real role, I felt an odd sense of pride that perhaps her spoofs did turn things in Obama's favor.

8. In a news story on the Today Show this morning, it was revealed that people who get enough rest are less likely to gain superfluous weight. Dude, I could be killing two birds with one stone. Sign me up.

9. The fact that all the kids have been sick is actually affording Tucker and I more face time with one another.- No Soccer!

10. Despite all the germs, fevers, lack of money, superfluous poundage and all of the political tensions existing in the world, (read:Don't defriend me and I won't defriend you) I am so very thankful for my life and am pretty happy with the way things are.

Joke's on Me!

I love to whine and complain. Well, not really, I just seem to do it a lot, so here I go.
I feel like I NEVER see my husband between our myriad of extra jobs and various extra curriculars for the kids. We are constantly busy and are often two ships who pass in the night only to make sure that we are indeed coming home at night. In moments of clarity I tell myself that this is the life we have chosen to provide the best we can for the family while not ultimately selling out ourselves and our dreams. There is something almost romantic about working your tail off to join forces and raise a family with the guy you met when you were 18 years old. That being said, the more realistic and bitter Caroline, the one who usually dominates, is just really irritated that we work twice as hard for half as much, but whatever....
Tuck and I have been so looking forward to this week off; talk about visions of grandeur. We were going to sleep in and work on the house and have awesome quality family time. We were determined to not feel as though our precious time off was squandered.
God has such a sense of humor!
Immediately after Spring Break began kids began getting sick everywhere. Every time I turned around a coughy, sneezy offspring turned up with a fever. Easter morning brunch consisted of everyone slouching in the booth at the restaurant and our entire meal being boxed in to go containers. Later that afternoon, Tuck took the "least ill" of the kids to his dad's house for the festivities. As I sat in my house that afternoon, I began to wonder if I too was getting sick. "Boy, I'm starting to feel really hot. I'm like Waaay hot! What is the deal?" Yes, friends, that's right the air conditioner decided to die at that very moment. Sigh.
Two days and two thousand dollars later we once again have cold air.

So, the best made plans are not written in stone. Sometimes good intentions remain intentions only. The reason we work twice as hard is so that when emergencies arrive, we will only be half as much behind.

I'm sure glad God has such a sense of humor, it makes me feel like maybe mine won't get me in as much trouble!

Happy Easter

When I was a kid, dyeing eggs was always such a big deal. We would all have our allotment of eggs to dye and we would try to make it last forever. For that half an hour or so my sister and brother and I would use perfect manners; "I need the yellow when you are done," and "ohhh, that is so pretty!" Every year my brother saved his last egg to be the "ugly egg." He would systematically dye it in each of the colors as many times as it took for it to turn brown. Usually, by the time he was done, not only was the color hideous, but the shell was smashed as well!
Preparing the egg dye for my kids always brings me back to those days. Last night the four of them sat at the kitchen table and colored their eggs. The techniques surely differed from child to child, but the results were all marvelous! Patch especially got into the action this year, dumping multiple eggs in the same cup at the same time. It seemed his goal was not a pretty egg, but rather a large, messy splash. (He succeeded in both fronts) Even Em, who is increasingly becoming way too cool to take part in such family togetherness, seemed to really enjoy herself.
So now we have just under 2 dozen beautiful eggs in the fridge. (a few didn't make it passed the dyeing process) I see a lot of egg salad in our future.