3.26.2012

Shamrock Shuffle {2012}

Yesterday's Shamrock Shuffle 8K was AWESOME! The weather couldn't have been more perfect for a 5-mile run. The best part was not only that I got to do it with a great group, but also that John got to cheer me on out on the course! (Thanks Mom for coming over SO early to babysit :) Seeing all the city's familiar sights and landmarks from this perspective was really great.

I shocked myself by running the 5 miles almost straight, with no major walk breaks to speak of. Pretty shocking considering the last time I ran 3 straight miles was the Princess Royal Family 5K last February. But I guess when you Run-Walk-Run train long enough and complete a Half Marathon the month before, 5 miles is a breeze mentally and physically. I only wish there were more 8k's offered--it's a great distance!

About half-way through this race, I decided that I am going to "hit for the cycle" this year, running style. I've got a Half and 8k in the bag already, so all that's left is a 5k, 10k and 15k. (Remember, I have no plans to do a Full!) The plan is for a fun 5k somewhere along the way and the Chicago 10K in August and Hot Chocolate 15K in November. This running is fun :)
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We parked up at the Stine's and took the Brown line down, got off at the library and headed over to Grant Park. John & Tracy, all smiles :)
Our Nike Dri-fit Tees given in our packets were perfect for the race, complete with Gaelic design and font.
My awesome husband, who has been so supportive of my little hobby.
Lana & Chris--and Flat Stanley!
"John, can you take our picture?"
Hugging it out.
Ready to go!
I love being out on the course and seeing runners of all shapes, sizes--and ABILITIES! This woman is far from disabled.
Hey!

Crossing the river.

Sea of Gatorade. The volunteers that hand this out rock in my world!
How cute is she and how sweet is that sign?!
Mile marker. Take away the 47:23 and that's how long it took us to cross the Finish line!
SEARS tower.
So proud of Lana. She fought through some major blisters during the race. You wouldn't know it by the awesome smile on her face! She carried along her cousin Joseph's "Flat Stanley" with her, representing the great state of Texas!
Headed up the hill on Roosevelt, about to take the final turn. All the while I'm scouting out photo session spots, ha!

Baby Stine #3 is already a road warrior--not expected to make his (yep, I'm calling BOY, as my official guess!) arrival until mid-June, but already he's got a 5k, 8k and 15k under his belt. That's mama's boy!
Thirsty baby.
FINISHERS! Chris, Robyn, Lana, Me, Tracy/Baby Stine & Chris
And for a laugh, without knowing, John was rolling as we approached his and Chris' cheer spot on the corner of State & Jackson. You can catch Tracy rubbing her belly in the beginning, Lana just behind her and me, a tad excited :)

3.21.2012

Baby's Bottle

Lola was done with her bottle by 11 months, and while Johnny takes a sippy no problem, we have yet to cut him off from the good stuff. I think it's really just a matter of me packing them up and saying "done". He turns 16 months in a few days (!!!), perhaps we'll do it then. Or not. We're still kicking ourselves for taking away Lola's binky at two. Had we let her keep it, chances are we'd have a 3.5 year old who slept in her own bed. Alas, that's another lesson to address in French Parenting 101 (Checking out "Brining up Bebe"--we're enjoying it!)

I can't tell you how much we love our chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff. LOOK AT HIM! He's the best.




3.20.2012

More randoms!

Our astronaut-in-training...Sneaking Jelly Beans...her favorite!

A "just because" picture...

I'm sitting here, clearing out all my memory cards--the Spring photo season officially begins for me tomorrow! I ran across this random one of Lola I never posted. Her normal cute self, just dancing around to the closing song of "Tangled" :)

3.16.2012

Sight Words

Lola is in the first stage of learning how to read...and it is SO exciting. We have been working on sight words, on and off, since just before Johnny was born. She loves to "play" school, so Mommy pretends to be the teacher and Lola, the student, while we practice reading. We are continuously amazed at just how quickly she seems to pick things up--there have honestly been many moments when I question whether she may have some type of photographic memory!

Enjoy the playlist of videos featuring our little reader...

3.15.2012

Pickwick Society Tea Room

We are 2-for-2 with our tea experiences! We had afternoon tea with Kyra & Miss Anna and Claire & Miss Katie after school on Wednesday at the Pickwick Society Tea Room in Downtown Frankfort. It was lovely! The food was delicious, the tea divine, the company grand and the girls, wonderfully behaved! We mommies were thrilled that we walked out of there having only had to pay for our food and not a $40 antique tea cup. The girls were eyeing some goodies in the "do-not-touch" section but listened well and just looked with their eyes. It was a stunning afternoon and we were so excited to all be in pretty Spring attire!

Mom came over to watch Johnny while we went for tea, and when she walked in, she insisted on taking a picture of me. I rarely look like this, so I obliged her. I guess seeing your little girl all dressed up never gets old and calls for a picture to be snapped--whether that little girl is 3...or 30!
Claire & her Mommy Katie (a fellow SMC Chick :)
Kyra being shy with her Mommy. Had to include it because I love Anna's smile in it :) Lola wouldn't even turn her head around to take a picture with me. Ha!
I love capturing her sweet & silly personality. Her ensemble from Tugboat & the Bird making an appearance here. Obsessed with that headband. Big, beautiful bow!
Tea lunch for the girls...
And tea lunch for the Ladies...the food was excellent!!!
LOVE Kyra's expressions in these! The girls are behaving so well in the "Do not touch." section :)

A quick stop at the General Store across the street before it was time to head home.

3.13.2012

Disney on Ice

Last month, Lola and Mommy had a fun Girls Day Out with our buddies Kyra and Anna. Anna had the awesome idea to take the girls--we had been wanting to get to a Disney on Ice show but had yet to do it. It was at the United Center and our seats were great, very close to the ice. Lola went as Snow White, which surprised me. The show was "Princess & the Frog", "Cinderella" and "Tangled"--I think she just felt like her Snow White costume deserved a turn on the town, haha!

We got Rapunzel "spinnies" and beautiful purple flags with the Golden Flower on them. I might never take her to another Disney on Ice show for the sole reason of the absolute extortion that takes place at the souvenir stand. Wow! But how do you say no when their face lights up?!

The production was really something. Disney-esque, all the way. Lola loved seeing all her favorite characters, like Jaq & Gus from "Cinderella". They saved the best for last. The "Tangled" portion of the show was like something out of Cirque de Soleil. And the lanterns--oh, the lanterns!

Enjoy the pics, we sure did enjoy our day!

3.11.2012

Tinley Irish Parade {2012}

Pretty sure the weather for today's Tinley Irish Parade was sent from St. Patrick himself. Wow. We had the BEST afternoon in the sun and perfect temperatures. We were very bummed Daddy couldn't join us, as planned. Anytime these F'ing kidney stones would like to leave my husband alone would be fine with us!

We met up with Team Wallock before we headed over to catch the parade on Oak Park Ave. We had a great spot. The girls loved gathering all the candy that was tossed their way! Lola and Sidney were pretending to be Irish dancers when the jumping girls in the elobrate costumes and bouncy wigs passed our spot. And Johnny. Oh Johnny. Clapping, waving, jumping and dancing around. He thoroughly enjoyed himself, that's for sure.

It was so great to be out in natural light, capturing my favorite little subjects. This has been a long winter of colds, etc. and being outside with them for a few hours was the best medicine I could imagine. We are all looking forward to much more fresh air in the coming months. The forecast for the week in Chicago is looking grand. Yea!

I look at this pictures, and I am so very thankful to have such an awesome camera/lens combo to shoot with. Our camera upgrade last year was for my little business venture, but it's awesome to have for personal use, too. Thanks honey ;)