Good Fun, Good Family, Good Friends

Blogger's Block

I know. I know. I have been MIA for a couple of weeks. I'm sorry. I have a terrible case of Blogger's Block. I have been trying to blog about my NY trip, and I am having a terrible time deciding which of the hundreds of pictures to post and how to put into words the experiences I had. I haven't even read Caroline's account of the trip, as I am afraid to affect my post (sorry, Caroline... I promise I'll get to it!). I'm looking forward to showing off my pictures, I just can't get a handle on how yet!

My goal is to do it tonight, and then I can get back to blogging about those super-cute boys and what they are up to. So, check back soon, and hopefully I'll have lots to share.

Happy Birthday, Dorothy!!

To the one who always gives her personal best (hee hee!):

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOROTHY!!!

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 We hope you have had a great birthday... you deserve the best on your big day!

We love you! Jason, Amanda, Jackson & HarrisHappy Birthday, Gregg! We wish you the best today, too!

Conversation

This was the conversation between Harris and myself last night, as I took Jackson and him home from the Little School Spaghetti Supper. I shortened it considerably, as it continued the entire 1o minutes home.

Harris: Mama, where Daddy?
Me: He's in the truck right behind us.

H: Mama, where Daddy doe (go)?
M: He's right behind us.

H: Mama, where Daddy doe?
M: He's right behind us.

H: Where Daddy doe?
M: He's right behind us, Harris. I promise.

H: Mama, where Daddy doe?
M: Right behind us.

H: Where Daddy doe?
M: Behind us, Harris.

H: Mama, where Daddy doe?
M: HOME!!!

H: Mama, where Ja-Ja go?

Nana's Car

Nana came to visit this weekend and brought along her sporty little car. It is one of our favorite toys to play with. The boys look forward to pretending they are driving, pushing all of the buttons and climbing all over the car.... they think they are too cool.
Jason and I love the car, as well, and we used it every chance we could this weekend... to our fly fishing class, out for coffee, to a party...
Thanks, Nana, for letting us all play with your super-fun toy!!

Beach Pics

Jason and I took the boys to the beach a week ago or so for an evening swim and dinner at Taco Boy. We figured it might be one of our last chances to do it with the days getting shorter and the temperatures starting to drop. Our beach visit was short, though, as both boys decided to throw their own separate tantrums... Jackson lost his dancing chicken to the surf, and Harris was just being two. We did manage a few sweet pictures before the melt downs, though!

I'm going to miss our fun beach evenings... something to look forward to for next summer!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Amy!!

We hope you had a fabulous day and celebrated big... you deserve the best!!

We love and miss you,
Jason, Amanda, Jackson & Harris

Kiawah Triathalon

Tracey, Robyn, and I competed in the Kiawah Triathalon as a relay on Sunday... it was such a fun event! We were the Leading Ladies, and for our first Olympic distance triathalon, I think we did an amazing job.
The swim, which was my part of the relay, was first, and it was a 1.5K (or 1 mile) ocean swim. It started with a 1 mile walk down the beach to the starting line.... it was a beautiful morning, so the walk was a great way to start.
Each division of the triathalon had a different color swim cap... the men wore white, the women wore pink, and the teams wore this beautiful electric green. We each had a championchip strapped to our ankle to register our exact times. After our event, we had to hand off the chip to the next leg of the relay to comtinue to get our times.
Off we go into the ocean! They started us in two waves. The men started first, and the women and teams started three minutes later in an attempt to space everyone out. We had to swim out in the ocean about 50 yards to a huge orange buoy and make a sharp right, where we continued parallel to the beach for a mile. While we were somewhat spaced out, I still felt like I was swimming in a sea of people, sometimes struggling to get around slower swimmers or swimming into other swimmers.
I'm sure you can't see us, but we are all out there fighting the waves! It was a great swim... I felt strong and never really tired out there. I'm not usually a big kicker when I swim, but I was so eager to get out of the water and get that terrible ocean taste out of my mouth that I kicked my tail off, and I know that helped!! While the current was going with us, it was still tough when some of the waves would get to us. I started with the red and green caps, but the longer I swam, I noticed more and more white caps... I had caught up with the men!
After we passed the fifth and final buoy, we made a sharp turn to the right again and headed toward shore. Once we got to shore, we had to run up the beach, up a soft sand trail (which was the hardest part of the race for me!) and into the transition area where Tracey was waiting. I strapped the chip to her ankle, and she was off for a 45K (30 mile) bike ride!
It was a long and nervous wait for her to come back, especially for Robyn. Tracey did a great job, though, coming back in strong and with a smile... I'm not sure I'd be smiling after 30 miles on a bike!
Tracey and I got the chip switched to Robyn, who then took off down to the beach for her 10K (6 mile) run. The run was partially on the beach, but mainly on the road. Poor girl was so nervous, but she did a fantastic job!
She even sprinted into the finish with a huge smile on her face!
So, we weren't the first place team, but we all had a great time, each of us saying that we wanted to do the whole thing next year, and that we wanted to continue doing events like this together. Thanks, Tracey and Robyn, for such a great morning... I am so proud of how well we all did, and I am looking forward to doing more with you!

As a special treat, my mom was there to watch and support us, so we had our own cheering section. It was awesome to have her on the beach with me and to hear her calling out to me as I ran up the beach... it was like high school times! Thanks, Mom, for everything. It was so great to have you there cheering me on. I'm excited that you might have caught a bit of the 'bug'... I'll be there to support you every step of the way! Love you!!

Running Out of Steam

That's how I feel right now, in so many ways.

The obvious (from the title): running. I love running. I love the freedom and the time alone. I love how I feel after running. Lately, though, it has been a struggle, and that is discouraging. All summer I was kind of lazy, blaming it on the heat. I used to be able to stroll out the door and finish 6 miles with no problem... now even finishing 3 or 4 is torture. My legs get tired after 20 minutes, all of my muscles just feel fatigued. I am constantly blaming it on the heat, but I'm not so sure that's really the problem. I do know that I have a half-marathon coming up in November, and I'm nowhere close to where I need to be... that's a problem.

The not so obvious: mothering. I had an asolutely incredible summer with my boys. We went nonstop, played constantly, laughed tons, and did lots of new and fun things. I had very little free time, but that really didn't phase me. You'd think that when they went back to school, having more free time to myself would make me an even better mom, with even more energy to go, go, go. For some reason, that's not the case. I feel like I have less patience with them and am needing a break. I get frustrated easily and just feel worn out and tired. I hate not being 100% 'on' for Jackson and Harris.

Another: being a friend, daughter, wife. There is so much I want to do with and for my friends and family, but I just can't pull it together. I feel distracted and unorganized. I'd love to make more dinners for friends with new babies, or to have a friend's children come play so she can have some much-needed time away. I'd love to send a special treat to my mom or to my dad, I'd love to cook a special dinner for my husband. Some days I'm just thankful there is a box of cereal in the pantry for dinner!

I really don't mean to complain. I love the time I have with my family, and I really love what I do. I think I am just needing a bit of a break, and thank goodness, I have one coming up in a couple of weeks. We have a super-busy fall in front of us, and I hate not to be living every moment of it. I know things will get better and my outlook will turn around. For now, though, I just have to keep moving and reminding myself "I think I can! I think I can"...

Arts & Crafts

Ever since school started, Jackson has become quite an artist. He has been drawing great pictures of his family, butterflies, trains, cars, his name, letters, numbers, anacondas, toucans, bumblebees, and just about any other animal or insect we name. He even bypassed signing up for karate in exchange for signing up for "Arts & Crafts" (Wee Little Arts). We have loved seeing all of his pictures (epecially his family portraits!) and have been encouraging him as much as possible. We think he might be a great artist like Grandaddy!
Even Harris has enjoyed getting in on the fun and paint. On our anniversary, our babysitter took them both outside and had them paint us a "Happy Anniversary" sign... it was one of the best gifts I have ever received!
The boys both love their "paint coats"!

Dinnertime

We had dinner with the Bailey's and the Lancaster's at Bessinger's a week or so ago, and I just found these cute pictures that I wanted to share.

Jimmy is a really tall guy, so to see him running through the restaurant with Betsy and Anne was the sweetest sight!
The older ones were thrilled with the gumball machines!

A New Ayers

Meet the newest member of our family: Archie Asparagus Beta Ayers. Ganny and Grandaddy gave him to Jackson while we were at their house over the weekend, and he is thrilled. He introduced Archie to the babysitter last night, and today he told his class all about his new pet!

Thanks, Granny and Grandaddy... we will take great care of Archie!!

Happy Anniversary, Jason!

It is hard to believe we are celebrating number eight! So much has changed in the past eight years, but your love and support have been constant. Thank you for being such a wonderful husband and father, for all that you are and do. I can't wait to see what the next eight years have in store for us!

Love, AB

Happy Birthday, Fordham!!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Fordham!!

We hope you had a great day and a belly full of yummy cake!

Love you,
Amanda, Jason, Jackson & Harris