Happy 2013!!

2013 seems....impossible!!


Ella looks so much older in this picture!


We've been very busy around the house the last few weeks...more cleaning and organizing. I am very excited about the progress that we've made decluttering. Feels good!!

I've picked up with my running again too. I took a couple months off because of hip and hamstring pain but I'm finding it actually feels better if I keep it moving. I've signed up for two 15k (9 mile) runs in March and April. I've got some training to do!
I love running in the winter!





We took Silas' birthday snack in after school started back up. That way it didn't get lost with all the class holiday celebrations. We made snowman cookies that I had seen on Pinterest. I love that site!


This coming weekend we will have the birthday party...better late than never, right?!?

Last weekend I ran and it was 64, in Ohio...in January!! By Monday it was back to 28 and by this weekend I think it's going down to the teens and single digits. Ouch.

Tonight we had a spectacular colored sky...I felt like I should be drinking a Mai tai with it.


I started 2013 of by sitting down and making a list of goals and things that I want to change and focus on. I had about 13 things. Some big, some small. I felt last year was too rushed and harried. This year I plan to slow it down and focus more. Concentrate on the things that mean the most in life.
#1 on my list was to have my parents over for dinner at least monthly. They live just a few miles away and yet I/we felt like we only saw them on holidays. Our first dinner was tacos. Nothing fancy but it was fun and we all enjoyed it!

There are many things on my list for this year that will take time and require that I actually focus a little bit...that might be tough. It's another YOSP for me/us!!
It's a big year in that Mason will graduate in May and start college somewhere (he's leaning towards staying close to home). We will have a big Younger family reunion here in July and then we will be looking at Fall and Christmas again!

We miss Zoe girl. All of us miss her. Silas told me it was too quiet without the nails clicking around on the wood floors. I agree, I notice that too. I also miss her when I come downstairs in the morning. I still look for her in her spot by the front window.

I feel like 2013 is going to be a great year. A couple friends have started the year with some very tough health news and I pray for them that this year turns out happy and healthy for them too.


- Posted using BlogPress (so hopefully all the pictures post okay...)

Beach Life Part 2 - Sunrise, Storms and Sunset

Our internet access wasn't so hot at the beach so I couldn't upload my pictures to the blog. Bummer for me because I really like to blog while on vacation!
We had some super hot, beautiful weather while we are here - which brought in some super, lightening packed thunder storms.

I only took the time one morning to go out on the beach and walk to get some sunrise pictures.  As I mentioned, the sun doesn't rise over the ocean (at least from our angle) where we were at - we were facing South. 

 

It was still pretty but didn't goad me out of bed every morning at 6am to rush out and take pictures. I was more interested in sleeping!

The weather was pretty steamy while we were there - high 80s, low 90s - feeling like 107 or something ridiculous.  But with the beach at the door...no worries. It made for some pretty cool late afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

The storm clouds were amazing to watch and the sitting out under the covered deck watching the lightening after it got dark was very cool. and kinda scary!

I didn't get time in the evenings to get to the Point to watch the sunset because either the weather was stormy, or we were busy with dinner, ice cream etc.  On the last night there, I ran (literally) out after dinner and family pictures and managed to catch about the last 10-15 minutes of sunset.  I was amazed when I walked out onto the Point (of Emerald Isle), having no idea what to expect.  I felt like I was walking on the moon.

Except that I could look up and see the moon....

There was so much sand/beach area, the water was everywhere and the view was amazing. I was kicking myself for not going every night that we had been there. I couldn't stop snapping pictures, all the way out - walking backwards because I didn't want to miss the view.

The last picture I snapped as I left the Point was of a bunch of dragon flies buzzing around the grasses. 

I'm so glad that I made it there before the sun set! It definitely made up for the lack of a "real" sunrise!

Spring Break part 2

The 2nd leg of our trip landed us in Nags Head, NC - definitely a favorite spot of ours. It was a great trip - relaxing, very nice weather (which was great because we really didn't know what to expect this time of year) and lots of great memories.  
One of my friends commented on a picture that I posted on Facebook:
"...you guys always look like you are having some kind of Hallmark-International Coffees vacation..." - notice that I don't post the video that catches all the kids screaming and fighting? :-)

Honestly, I consider this one of my parenting responsibilities. I don't expect to create a "perfect" environment but I do want to make sure the kids grow up with family traditions and a vision of family expectations for their lives later. We don't take a lot of family vacations but when we do I try hard to preserve the memories with lots of photos! This beach trip was fantastic in that regard - long walks on the beach, watching movies, lots of play time and even "fresh cookies" one night. I want them to catch these snippets of their childhood in their brains and when they smell the ocean air later in life, remember these days and family time!

We spent some time in the hot tub, found a playground in Manteo with a beautiful view, and Ella strutted around in her new sundress and purple fuzzy heels.

One evening Mason and I ran around like crazy trying to find a good spot to catch the sunset over the sound. I was tired of the same spot.  

And I did manage to get up one morning and catch the sunrise.

And of course, our trip to the beach would not be complete without  our visits to the ice cream shop, where we got flavors like grape, Kahlua and coffee, German chocolate cheesecake, mango, and even just plain chocolate...

It was sad to pack up and head home - we were having so much fun.  Maybe it really was perfect after all!

 

OBX '09 Day 6

It's been the same ol' (wonderful, relaxing) same ol' around here. The winds have been really gusting but the colors at dusk are just beautiful.


Silas and I went on a beach walk while the sun was shining. He loves running on the beach.

Ella and Si played hard on the beach, running in the waves and digging sand. I got a face full of sand when Silas was digging close by...was NOT happy...

By far, one of the most relaxing things to do here is just sit, look and listen. The waves, the skies, the clouds, the colors, the smell of the ocean air. I am wonderfully content to do much of nothing...play, read, walk, hang out...

OBX - a Day in Pictures

Wonderful day...here are the pictures to prove it!

I started the morning with a great walk alone on the beach. I didn't take a camera but had my phone camera.

My boys...

Miss Boo

We made a trip to Roanoke Island today to visit the Lost Colony site. It was interesting and in a beautiful area.

Anyone else see Broadway in Si's future?

Instead of tree-huggers, I've got grave huggers.

Some kind of tree - anyone know what it is?

Si trying to figure out the binoculars

We did a Dairy Queen run this evening - this is Si with his cone oozing all down his face and hands. He didn't get a nap today because of the running around so he threw quite a fit when it was time to leave the DQ - he cried all the way home saying he wanted to go home and see Zoe.

Justin, Ella and I went to the Roanoke Sound to watch the sunset - Ella took this picture of us!

The gazebo where we watched the sunset

Ella looking out
The sunset over the sound - no lighting doctoring to this picture!

I plan to listen to the iPod up top this evening for a bit and get to bed early...this vacationing stuff is tiring!!