Johnny's 2nd Birthday

While we were in Flordia way back in November (!), the famly threw a wonderful birthday party for Johnny at Friendship Park in Oviedo. Tracy provided the festive decorations, Ren made delicious cupcakes and Mom &  Dad brought yummy Panera bagels for everyone. The weather was simply fantastic and everyone had a great time! It meant so much to have everyone come out to celebrate our sweet boy...

Check out the huge album of pics!

Johnny's 2nd Birthday

Holy Half 10k

I ran my first 10k ever this morning in ND's gorgeous campus. Since they are an hour ahead of us this time of year I had to rise at 5 am to make it for the 9 am start. When my alarm went off I almost snoozed it. Why is my alarm going off so early? It's Saturday! Oh yea. I almost forgot.

I am trying to find races on weekends that fall with my training plan for the Nashville half. This was perfect as I needed to get 6 miles in this weekend. I love this campus. It is and always will be home. HCC-SMC-ND. Nothing better.

My cousin Jessica is a freshman. This was her first race ever and I think she's caught the bug. So proud of her! We met up before the race then replaced our burned calories at North dining hall after the finish. Boy I miss those days.

My unofficial time is 1:18:00. Ill have to check the real time soon. I diverted to the Grotto for a few minutes. I couldn't not.

The nice tech shirt...

Just before the start. It was a bit chilly but once we got moving, it was perfect. The sun was shinning and it was an awesome early spring day.

Passing the Hesburgh library aka Touchdown Jesus. The front is a mosaic..."Word of Life".

The squirrels of Notre Dame are legendary. They are the size of small house cats (very fat) and are everywhere! The one was helping himself to a banana a student had tossed.

One of the mile makers. All had fun quotes. I particularly liked this one. Sums up running very much so...especially as I was being LAPPED by the guys leading the pack of the half-marathoners. Ha!

St. Pat's Party

We had a fun St. Pat's Party (kid-friendly) with our good buddies, the Noonan's, last night. Mike plated up a delicious presentation of Anna's corned beef. I didn't take a pic of my Guinness Shepard's Pie, but i loved the new recipe I tried. 

 A fun cake for dessert from our new favorite store, Mariano's.

 Our little Irish princesses.

 Fun with party props.

MJ builds some awesome Lego masterpieces. Johnny loves playing with them whenever we go over there!

Why bathrooms are made of tile.

Sunday Morning Art

It was a very early wake up call from our cuites this Sunday morning. By 7 am, Lola was already well on her way to creating the days Masterpieces :)

She thinks having a pallet like Rapunzel is very neat. 

She was singing the "Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and don't forget there's Purple too, Rainbow colors for me and you!" song Minnie sings and I looked over to find, yep, a Rainbow.

And finally, {the hernandez four} in Ireland. Daddy and her drew this together. I love it and will hang it in our cottage in Ireland one day. Can't wait to take them one day to experience the beauty we're always telling them about.

Build-A-Bear

After school on Friday, we hit the mall so Lola could use some of the gift cards she got from Auntie Mary + Uncle John for Christmas. Johnny didn't seem too interested, so we're going to save his until later. Daddy took him across the way to Disney to pick out a new Lightning McQueen car and some amazing Iron Man jammies while Lola built "Bow"...her new Hello Kitty which she LOVES!

{brother + sister}

Making a "canoe" out of the laundry basket. Love their imaginations. 

Johnny's First Day of School

Well, today, the day came. Johnny went off to "school"--and overall, he did great. Ever since I started back to work 2 months ago, he has become very, very attached to Mommy. He is very aware of the change in our family and let's just say he's let us know he's not trilled about it. Lola went from 3 1/2 to 3 full days of school per week. She was a little upset when I would go to work the first week or two, but now it doesn't even phase her, thank goodness.

Overall, Johnny's teachers said he had a great first day. He cried off and on from time to time, because he missed me, but when we picked him up he was so happy and I swear, he was beaming with pride as we walked out of the building. He had an "I did it!" look all over his face--he knew what an accomplishment today was. And it wasn't just the day--it was all we've worked for since we found out at 2 months old he'd have to work for things.

He is in the 15-24 month room, even though he's 2, because he misses the September 1st cutoff. I'm glad though, because at 2, they don't get their binkies! And he still needs it to sleep. His teachers were very impressed at all he already knew. He shocked them a little when he starting pointing to the alphabet and naming all the letters, haha. Show off.

Shockingly, no tears were shed by Mommy. Mostly, more than anything, I was excited for him. My heart didn't break when I dropped him off--but when he called out for Lola as we left this morning and she cried as she stayed behind with Grammy, realizing he was going to school but not hers, it was very hard. They have become SO close these last 6 months--fantastic playmates. I can't wait for next Fall when he can join her at the Academy.

There goes my hero, watch him as he goes.

 Big sis was so proud of her little brother and couldn't wait to pick him up.

 His first school paper.

3Floyds

Ronnie & John have been on quite the craft beer kick over the last few years. They talk about beers like guys used to talk about cars! One of their favorite spots to hit is 3Floyds in Munster, IN. It's about a half-hour from Tinley and one of the best microbrewery's in the world--people flock from all over the world just to attend their Dark Lord Day.

Attached to the brewery is their gastropub--an amazing restraint with a menu to die for. Tons of small plates are offered to make your taste buds dance. I had been wanting to go myself, so we chose this spot for our Valentine's Day dinner. John got home late Thursday night, so we waited until yesterday to celebrate. He picked me up after work and we went to dine. We then stayed over night at a hotel just down the street from the restaurant--a very nice 18 hour getaway. Huge thanks to Mom for holding down the fort so we could escape for an evening.

The best damn beef jerky I have ever had. And I'm a girl that knows my jerky.

 Another one of my all-time faves--smoked salmon. This was house-cured and it was out of this world.

 Fried rice with wood-grilled praws. Oh my.

 French fries that went perfectly with the malt vinegar on the table.

 Bye 3Floyds. See you again, very soon.

St. Valentine {2013}

Their Valentines...

 My morning text from my Valentine.

 Waiting for Daddy to get home from Detriot tonight! Head over heels...

 Chocolate from my Boss!