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A Long Winter's Break

December 27, 2009, 9:30 am

Noah and Lily have been very excited for winter break. School starts very early this year (they have to get up at 6:30 a.m.), so sleeping in and staying up later and playing with friends is a big treat.

I have enjoyed watching the kids play together a lot this break. Noah and Lily built a huge fort in the basement and spent hours playing together in their fort. Noah somehow convinces Lily to play spy a lot. They are an adorable duo.

Here are some pictures of winter break so far...and we still have another week!

Painting with Emilee:



Noah and Cade playing spy:



Lily, Mercedes, and Isabella singing some Taylor Swift:



Carter and Noah going out to sled:



Yes, they are in a closet. Lily and Emma like to play in the hall closet:



SNOW!:



Decorating Christmas cookies:



Head spies Lily and Noah:



I was asked to be on their team. Noah took this picture and then declared, "You look like Darth Vader with his suit off!" I will never forgive him for this comment.



Jack and Lola were also on our team. Jack bites all enemies and Lola licks them.

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A White Christmas Indeed

December 26, 2009, 6:27 pm

For the first time that I can remember, we had a rainy Christmas Eve and much of the snow melted away. But then a beautiful snow covered up the grass again (and the dog poop) and made for a lovely Christmas.

My highlights from Christmas include:

-Lola eating the cookie crumbs left by Santa and then lapping up the milk from a little cup. Milk was everywhere, and she looked around happy as if to say, "Hey, thanks for the milk!"

-Lily received a vanity from Santa just like she asked, but instead of the plastic one she saw on a commercial on TV she got a wooden vanity. Lily thought about it and finally said, "Ohhhh, the elves made this! They have to make things out of wood!"

-Nathan slow dancing with Lily's new Taylor Swift Barbie doll.

-Noah and Cade's excitement over turkey drumsticks for dinner.

Here are some pictures from our Christmas Day. We hope everyone had a great holiday!

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Christmas Eve Highlights

December 26, 2009, 11:53 am

A few of my favorite things about Christmas Eve this year...

Going to the movie The Chipmunks: A Squeakquel. Nathan was a little unsure of a Chipmunks movie, but we loved watching the kids laugh at this movie. Lily was in tears over the girl chipmunk in pink singing, "All the Single Ladies" and Noah really enjoyed the fart jokes.

Making our first gingerbread house. I had no idea these things were so easy or so fun for all:



Watching Lily put on tons of makeup she received from the Passmans. Here she is seriously checking out her work in the mirror (I love her enthusiasm):



Getting loving from my Christmas gift, Lola:



Performing Taylor Swift with Lily for Papa and Noah in our "Performance." Lily had me put a dress on, and she wore a beautiful dress herself. I thought my days of performing were over now that I no longer live with JJ. Little did I know...



Thank goodness Lola joined the show:



Watching Lily open her baby doll from Grandma and Grandpa Hottman. She named the doll Pinky:



Watching Papa open up his gift from Noah. I'm so impressed at the thought Noah put into this gift for his knot-tying Papa:



Lily's reaction to the Easy Bake Oven from Preston, Shiela, Lauren, and Evan. She got tears in her eyes and exclaimed, "How did they have enough money to buy this for me?!"



My tearful reaction to a Mr. Rogers t-shirt from JJ that says "You Are Special." She's one of the few people that really get his impact on my childhood.



Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a strangely-wrapped gift from Fishslayer to Hookset:



Noah's love for a Cubs blanket with sleeves from Lily. I love her thoughtful gift for her brother (he slept with it on Christmas Eve night):



Nathan's reaction to a shadow-box with his Ironman bib, medal, and picture:



And Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Noah asking for help with a big lego set. This year we didn't have Uncle Jason with us, so Nathan took over the job and they had a great time:



And of course a highlight every year is lying by the fire with Nathan and watching It's a Wonderful Life and thinking of all the Christmas Eves of the past.

Thank you for all of the phone calls and text messages. Although we live far from family we feel the love. And thanks for the gifts...although the kids were a tad spoiled.

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You're a Mean One, Lily Starr

December 20, 2009, 9:06 am

As you know, Lily loves dance class. At the end of each 6-week session, parents and grandparents are allowed into the room to watch a performance. Last week I went in and Lily had a very sour look on her face. Her arms were crossed in a way that indicates just one thing: she's mad! The teacher, Miss Jennifer, talked to the parents for a while about the Christmas performance at that mall that coming weekend. I shifted in my seat wondering why Lily looked so MEAN!

Then Miss Jennifer turned on the music which was The Grinch Song. All the other girls crossed their arms just like Lily and got a sour look on their faces and began their dance. Lily remained in character and has never enjoyed a dance more than being the mean one, Mr. Grinch.



I think she does give off some Grinch vibes:



Yesterday at Southpark Mall, Lily and her classmates performed their tap-dance to The Grinch Song and a ballet number to What Child is This.

Lily was so excited to have a real dance performance! She asked to borrow one of my necklaces and had me put her hair in a ponytail and curl it:



Of course she can also be really sweet (caught twirling before her performance):



Click to watch Lily's dance class perform:

What Child is This

The Grinch Song

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Santa Part 2

December 19, 2009, 7:13 am

Lily loves the parties at our local library. The Christmas party is her favorite, and this year she had her face painted, hair styled, and hand tattooed. She also decorated cookies and made about 100 ornaments for our Christmas tree. Nathan and I were unsure if we'd ever get her out of the library. Lily absolutely loves a good party.

Santa Claus made an appearance at the library along with his wife, Mrs. Claus. Lily sat on Santa's lap (remember this is the 2nd time this year that Lily encountered the jolly fellow) and when he asked, "What would YOU like for Christmas little girl?" She said simply, "I already told you!" And then Santa said, "Oh yes, that's right!" Santa...please...don't make her repeat herself. (She wants a vanity.)



Santa did give Lily this yummy candy cane, so I think his temporary memory lapse was forgiven. Let's just hope if she sees him again this year he remembers...

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Little Taylor Swift

December 13, 2009, 6:22 pm

Lily loves Taylor Swift. Her favorite song ever is You Belong to Me. She heard it first on the radio and then got the album and listens to the song over and over. Lily's favorite playtime activity is to dress up and sing along to Taylor Swift music. She uses a curling iron as her microphone. She really gets into the songs and is quite a serious singer/dancer. She informs me that I can be Taylor Swift too--only I'm the mean brown haired Taylor Swift from her video. Hey, at least I get to sing and dance along.

Lily often asks me to braid her hair before bed so that she will look like Taylor Swift with wavy hair in the morning. She even picks out clothes that she feels Taylor would wear.

I was so excited when I found out that Taylor Swift is coming to the Quad Cities on May 8th. Unfortunately the tickets sold out in 7 minutes. Luckily singing and dancing to her music is probably enough excitement for Lily...maybe some day she can see her live though.



JJ, here's the real Taylor Swift:



And here is one of Lily's performances:

Click to watch Lily as Taylor Swift

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It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!

December 9, 2009, 9:11 pm

The tree is up, the Christmas music is on nonstop (poor Nathan), and the kids had their first snow day today. Nathan worked from home and probably played a little in the snow too. We celebrated with cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and Lily had the biggest smile on her face when she helped Papa make them.

During the Lighting of the Commons in Moline, Lily talked to Santa and Mrs. Claus and asked for a vanity (you know, a place to put on her makeup and nail polish). When I asked Noah if he would like to speak to Santa, I got an eye roll...uh oh. But the kids have been extra good lately. Noah has washed the dinner dishes every night for a week, and he keeps asking if I need help folding laundry. I wonder what he's up to...

Having a big, goofy black dog again during the winter brings me such joy (nothing is more beautiful to me than a black dog covered in white snow). When the kids ask me what I want for Christmas I answer, "A big black dog who loves the snow!" And they yell, "Lola!" So I'm hoping Nathan will wrap Lola up in a big box on Christmas...she's all I really want.

Ho ho ho!



Lily, Noah, and Nathan going for a horse-drawn carriage ride:



All dresed up for the Trinity Christmas party. Yeah we went dancin':



Papa and Lily ready for Disney Princesses on Ice. They had a blast:




Mama's Christmas gift (well, I'll take some chilled rolos too):



Our snow angel:

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Favorite Kid Quotes

December 9, 2009, 9:05 pm



Noah: (who has developed a love of Michael Jackson music recently):

“I was at Cade’s house, and we watched a video of Michael Jackson after he died…dancing in a graveyard with ZOMBIES!!”



Lily:

“I am sooo good at putting on bandaids. When I grow up I will be a doctor or a nurse, and I will be a girl for sure. Cause I’m already a girl, right?”

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A Frigid First Field Trip

December 6, 2009, 7:54 pm

On Lily's first day back to school after her trip to Kansas, she had her Kindergarten field trip to the Christmas Tree Farm. I was so excited to be able to go with Lily on her field trip, but I didn't realize how very cold it would be. Perhaps I should have put boots on because Brrrrr. But Lily had a wonderful time and enjoyed drinking hot chocolate the most. She isvery excited that her classroom has a Christmas tree to decorate!

Just for added festivity, a few snowflakes fell during the trip:

Ali and Lily:



Snow!



Kylie and Lily:



Parade off the bus in the snow:



Mrs. Thomsen's class and tree:



Lily walking with Hannah and Kylie:



Lily having fun pushing the tree:



Mrs. Thomsen reading a Christmas story to the kids:



Lily and Max! (He is the sometimes ornery boy that Lily talks about daily)



Mrs. Thomsen's class:

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Paradise

December 4, 2009, 10:51 pm

So along with the Ironman competition, our trip to Cozumel was also in celebration of 15 years of marriage. We had no idea how much fun we would have. The trip was amazing! We stayed at an all-inclusive resort (which I highly recommend) and enjoyed wonderful food, drinks, entertainment, snorkeling, and swimming. We had a blast with the Passmans who are obnoxious morning people like we are. Our days started early with walks along the beach and breakfast at 7:00 a.m. We went shopping in downtown Cozumel, saw starfish, lobster, and rays while snorkeling, and spent lots of time at the swim-up bar enjoying a mojito or two. The trip was just what we all needed for true relaxation in the sun and some wonderful bonding with great friends.

I just want to know when we’re going back…

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Our Ironman

December 4, 2009, 10:50 pm

One fateful day a few years ago Nathan read an article about an 80-year-old nun who completed the Ironman competition and so began Nathan’s quest for the Ironman. He started with the Quad City triathlon and worked his way up to completing two half Ironman competitions. Last spring he signed up for the inaugural Ironman in Cozumel Mexico.

When I tell people that my husband is training for an Ironman they usually don’t understand the distance or level of commitment required. To anyone who swims or bikes or runs, the Ironman distance is an incredible feat. Nathan trained to swim 2.4 miles in the ocean, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles. He spent every lunch hour and many early mornings training. He had 6 hours bike rides on the weekends and 2-3 hour runs were the norm. Nathan learned how to do flip turns in the pool with the help of an old man named Ernie. He went for long bike rides with his buddy Chad. He spent hours on the bike trainer in front of the television playing Noah’s video games.

When we arrived at Cozumel there were over a hundred competing athletes at our resort. I saw one wife with a t-shirt on that said, “140.6 miles…until I get my husband back.” Although Nathan put a lot of effort into making his training sessions during times that didn’t affect the family, I could still relate. All of his free time was spent exercising, and I longed for a weekend when a long bike or run didn’t get in the way of our mornings.

I have to say I am a bit competitive myself, and I had no doubt that Nathan would finish. He was a Marine for goodness sakes, and I have never in my life witnessed my husband give up. He is truly the strongest person I’ve ever met…both physically and mentally. I can’t imagine my life without him. While at the resort I had a nightmare that he died during the Ironman, and I was a nervous wreck the entire day (just ask poor Jenn Passman).

So we woke up at 4:00 a.m. on 11/29/09 and set out for a very long day. Nathan got in the water at 7:00 a.m. and finished his swim faster than his goal: in one hour and 12 minutes. He really enjoyed the swim and saw some very cool sea life in the water.

Then he got on his bike and took less than 7 hours to bike 112 miles. The bike course was tough and included lots of wind on the windward side of the island (30 mph winds). He drank lots of water and Gatorade, but his legs started to cramp at the end of the bike so he took in extra salt. Then his stomach shut down on him and everything he took in (including water) just sat in his stomach. But of course he kept trekking along.

Nathan started the marathon feeling nauseated, but he managed to walk-run for a while. Jenn and I were very nervous waiting to see Nathan and Chad during the run, and they came around walking together at the end of the first lap.

When it was time for the final lap, Nathan looked dehydrated and exhausted. Spectators are not allowed to walk or run with participants, so I walked beside him on the sidewalk. I encouraged him to DRINK. I yelled, “DRINK! You’re dehydrated!” He looked at me but didn’t seem to comprehend what I was saying. He would often stop and look down at the ground and seemed confused. FINALLY he took a drink of water at an aid station. Then he drank a cup of Gatorade at the next aid station. About 5 minutes after his 2nd drink, my husband came back to life! He said, “I have my second wind!” From then on we walked very quickly (I was often running behind bushes and through debris from the race to keep up with him). We went together the last 8 miles, and it was clear he was going to make it.

Along the way we saw people who were in so much pain. Everyone out on the course was encouraging each other if they could talk. I saw a woman who looked awful, and then I saw her on the back of a motorcycle going to the medical tent. I saw a man completely disoriented and wandering around in a daze. I wanted to stop and help them, but I didn’t want to cause them to be disqualified and I was keeping an eye on Nathan the whole time.

The crowd at Ironman Cozumel was amazing. This was the inaugural Ironman, and the people of Mexico were so excited. Many of the spectators had no one that they knew in the race, yet they stayed the entire day cheering the crowd on with such enthusiasm and yelling, “BRAVOOOO!” and “Vamos!” and “Animo!” We passed multiple families sitting alongside the road smiling and cheering Nathan on. One woman ran right up to Nathan and pointed and screamed, “YOU ARE AMAZING!” I cried some of the way. I felt honored to be apart of 8 miles of an event I know I could never finish. I will never forget it.

As we neared the finish line, I took off in a sprint to see Nathan finish. He ran through a shoot with fans on bleachers and his image on a big screen TV. The woman yelled, “NATHAN TACKETT, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!”

Yes, he is.

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The Traveling Snow Globe

December 4, 2009, 10:49 pm

Lily was pretty sad that we were leaving her in Kansas during our trip to Mexico. While packing, she found a snow globe Christmas ornament with her name on it and asked me to take it to Mexico to help “remember her by.” So I packed the globe. Then Lily found a picture of my feet in the sand in Hawaii and packed that to help her “remember me by.” She’s so sentimental.

I put the globe in my purse during the trip and took it out many times and thought of Lily. To prove that I thought of her I took pictures of the snow globe by the ocean, in the sand, on a swing, on Papa’s bike. I knew Lily would love seeing her snow globe having so much fun.

I packed up to leave Mexico and put the globe in my purse so that I could take a few final pictures of it on the ferry. I didn’t even think about it when I went through security at the Dallas airport. My bag was picked to be searched and Lily’s snow globe was confiscated (due to the liquid inside). I stood there and sobbed. I couldn’t believe that lady took it from me!

When we reunited with the kids Lily wanted to see pictures from the trip. I showed her the pictures, and she was so excited to see the snow globe on the beach and in the sun. She asked me to give her the ornament, and I couldn’t lie… I told her a woman from the airport took it from me, and Lily sobbed. Who knew an ornament could have such value.

So Lily asked me to text the “mean lady from the airport” and have her send the globe to our house. I got online and found the exact ornament with Lily’s name on it. She checks the mail every day for her returning snow globe.

Mental note: don’t take snow globes on airplanes.

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