Our good friends introduced my kiddos to a "gerbil" ball

Each individual cell is filled with air

the kiddo climbs into the middle and

can somersault or be rolled around the yard

Each one loved, especially little J

NY Moments

The girls and I returned from our annual NY trip
It's always an exhausting, fun, busy week
We went to the usual spots
Ate at a few new places
and were able to get tickets to view this
So worth it
What a feeling
This was my eighth trip to NY
Trip one provided a view of the WTC from the Statue of Liberty
Trip two was a year after the 9/11 attack, a visit to the church next door left tears in my eyes
Trip five, Rob's hotel was two blocks from WTC. Every morning we walked to the metro and peeked through the construction fence. It was a giant hole
Trip seven, movement was happening...things were being built
This trip, there is an eighty foot building next to the footprints of the WTC. There is a giant American flag draped over the building. There is purpose and energy
The memorials are beautiful, the flags and pebbles again bring tears to my eyes
Next trip the building will be even taller

Camping Fun

Took a weekend away a little bit ago
enjoyed being away, sleeping in a tent, cooking over a fire
the kids loved playing in the dirt
hiking a few trails
and chasing trains

106 miles

I should have posted this three weeks ago...
Rob and I rode the CWC (Civil War Century)
I completed a century, 106 miles to be exact
on a bicycle
It was hard!
It was challenging!
It was rewarding!
It was HARD!
I had been training all summer for this day
This is a before picture, I wasn't so smily after the race

Parenthood

Being Mom is hard

I always thought I would do things differently when I grew up

I think we all did, right?

You never appreciate your parents until you are in the midst of parenthood yourself

I was walking into Costco this past week w/ Jo-Jo

A man collecting carts said, "you have a big helper w/ you"

I, with a little sarcasm said, "yes, a great help!"

He then said something to which I had no reply.

"The best help we've ever had is our children."

Hmmm, thanks for the humbling Costco man

I'll try to take a two year old's help with a little more gratitude, knowing she won't be two for long