I've obviously been having way too much FUN to blog for the past few days but not to worry, i am back with a boat load of happenings to share with all of you!
It all started on Sunday night when my wonderful running partner Wendy offered to take our three youngins' overnight. She didn't have to ask twice! :-) Sent them over for the time of their lives at 3 pm and didn't pick them up until about 10:45 the next morning!
Jeff and i were able to visit with each other uninterrupted, have a wonderful dinner at Shenanigan's and then also do a little bit of after Christmas shopping at the mall while Wendy and the girls went to visit Winston and Edward, Jodi's (Wendy's older daughter) dogs, make cupcakes, have pizza for dinner, go to Fantasy lights, end the night with ice cream and start the morning off with Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes by Mr. Jay. I don't think they had any fun at all. Wendy offered to have them stay again sometime and Bella said, "For two nights next time". Fine with me! :-) They love Miss Wendy and so do i!
Wendy and i have been running together at 5:30 am, three days a week for over a year now. She is the most faithful running partner and makes sure i am out there rain or shine and even in 19 degree temperatures. She is hardcore and exactly what i need to get my sleepy head out of bed.
I met Wendy through her daughter Jodi.
I first made acquaintance with Jodi through being a Bunco sub for her neighborhood. We sadly connected on a deeper level after she and her husband lost their precious baby boy Anderson. Jodi and i became friends on Facebook and i noticed a picture of her Mom Wendy on her profile. Her Mom looked very familiar and i asked Jodi if her Mom ran early in the morning by herself. I was in need of a new running partner as my sweet Marisa was losing her live in sitter and son Jonathan to college. So i pretty much stalked Wendy on Facebook and asked her if she'd like to start running with me. I had no idea what i was in for. She had been running for 30+ years and kicked my you know what the first time. I could hardly keep up with her but over time she trained me well. We started running at the end of September 2009 and i ran my first 1/2 marathon at the end of November 2009, my 2nd 1/2 in June 2010 and then my first full marathon this October. A lot of it was due to her faithfully keeping me out on the road.
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| Morning of my first 1/2 marathon in Seattle. |
We talk, we laugh, we whine, we grumble, we cry......
Well, it's probably me that is doing most of the above, especially the talking, but i have to tell you, running with Wendy has been some of the best therapy for me. Not only is she a great listener but she is a GREAT friend! Love you Wendy!
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| I surprised the girls with the sleepover. I told them we were just going for a visit to show off their new DS games and Wendy had this note waiting for them. |
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| Wendy with the girlies! |
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| Bella obviously didn't get the call to wear her brown Uggs (Cuggs). :-) |
I was introduced to a lot of firsts yesterday! I went to Glassy Baby. Have you even been? They have these beautiful yet unique simple votives that hold tea lights. Please read about the owner Lee here. Now that i know the journey that brought Glassy Baby to her, i assure you, this will not be my last purchase. All future purchases will be in honor of my Mom. Indulge with me in a few amazing photos the shop let me snap. Obviously i have a thing for green and cream. They have endless colors of the rainbow that would delight you!
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| This is called Shaman. This will go in our powder bath. I LOVE it! |
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| Look how the color changes with the tea light in it. |
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| One day i would love a window sill full of these. |
We finally made our way to Nordstrom where i did something wild and crazy! Had my eyebrows groomed out of the blue! Wendy's daughter Amy was having it done and i thought.....Why Not? Had the Anastasia
treatment...waxed, tweezed, trimmed and lightly stenciled. Felt like a celebrity!
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| Me and Victoria |
This is my LONGTIME friend of 24 years! We both met working at Safeway in Lakewood. Can you believe they hired children at the age of 5 back then? :-)
Vicky gave us THE most amazing wedding gift. We were on a tight budget and had nothing to spare. We were splurging on our wedding photos and thought a friend could just video tape our wedding for free and we would be happy with whatever the outcome might be because it was FREE. Words cannot express how amazing our little video is. Granted it was Corey Bogle's first, it is still marvelous and caught some very tender moments that we would've missed. Visit Corey's website and use him....he will not disappoint!
There are so many words that come to mind when i think of Vicky.
Kind, Thoughtful, Generous, Giving, and Beautiful!
This is someone who NEVER forgets my birthday either, after all these years.
She has a heart to serve and has done more volunteer work for others than i think even my husband has! Her biggest compassion is her heart for Juvenile Diabetes. I don't even know how many times she has successfully chaired their annual Galla but it has done well through her amazing efforts of connecting with just the right people for such a deserving cause.
I started running largely because i was motivated by her ambition for 1/2 marathons.
I ran my first half with her and the my first marathon with her as well and i can't wait to run many more races with my dear friend.
Love you V!
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| After completing the Seattle half marathon 2009. |
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| Getting ready to head out for the Portland FULL marathon 2010! |
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| Are these two of the prettiest ladies around? Wendy and her daughter Amy otherwise known as Me and Mini-Me! |
Amy is an avid runner as well and we decided we would run the Portland marathon together this year. Wendy trained with me during the week and Amy and I did our long runs on the weekends. And how can you not become great friends after you spend 2, 3 or 4 hours straight together? We had some bumps in the road, she had an injury that literally had her out of the game for three weeks and my sporadic trainings due to my Mom's health even had me wondering if we would be able to conquer the beast but we did, in the pouring rain and all! And luckily she is just as crazy as i am and we are searching, along with Victoria on when the next race will be penned in on our calendar.
Like her Mom she is a good listener and lets me do a lot of the gabbing while we run. Those who know me well are very surprised by this...NOT. :-) But i tell you, my running partners are very inexpensive therapy for me. Amy, not only are you a good listener but you are kind, fun and beautiful! Love you friend!
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| Really, i have some lovely friends...inside and out! |
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| And this is what makes us have to run in the mornings! |
I won't go all the way back to our high school days, as fun as those were, i think the present is much better!
This summer Wendy and her sweet little family joined Fircrest and we've been able to laze in the sun and visit with each other while our kids wear themselves out swimming like little fishes in the pool.
As you can see, father time has been good to Wendy. She has always been a looker and still is and are her kids cute or what?
Today we were at Odyssey from 11 to about 2:30. The kids ran wild, we chatted, ate their left overs from their lunches and chatted some more in between playing silly games for worthless little treasures that the kids adore.
Wendy i am so glad we've been able to reunite.
You know when a friendship is meant to be. You can be apart for 20+ years and pick up right where you left off with such ease!
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| Pretty Mommy with her Daisy and Mac. |
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| Grace and her special little buddy! |
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| Da whole cute gang! |
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| Love you Wendy! |
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