Sunday, January 3, 2010

Are You Tired of the Snowman Post Yet?

Apparently I have abandoned my blog. I just don't have anything to say.

No wait -- that's never the case. I ALWAYS have something to say.

I have nothing to write?

That's more accurate, I suppose. I guess I can talk about everything everyone else has talked about already, but in a more boring way.

We spent Christmas sans extended family for the first time in our entire lives. I can't say it was all bad, because we had a lot of time together as a family and I feel like we really got to power down for a while, which rarely happens. Still, it's not the same without cousins crawling all over each other, and we're hopeful that next year we'll have some different circumstances.

***Side note: somehow we got through the entire holiday season without a single ounce of egg nog coming into our home/digestive tracks. We felt like Bizarro Boone and Nicole when we realized it. End side note. ***

(See how riveting this is?)

What else...

Happy 2010. If I don't end up spending my 31st birthday on crutches and catheterized (AWESOME combination, by the way) it'll be better than 2009. This year we leave the army, move to Denver (still no news on that front), and run our first marathons (knock on wood). Boone had the startling realization on his "Manventure" that his wonky foot didn't bother him once during his 28 mile day, and thought he might give his beloved running another shot after a 3 year forced break. Turns out the AT cured him. Or something. In any case, homeboy has been running 10 miles on Saturday mornings, plans to run the Snickers Half Marathon in March, and then shoot for a full sometime this year.

Of course -- OF COURSE -- after months of being careful and s-l-o-w-l-y building my running back up, I have somehow tweaked my leg again. I was doing great up until I hit the 20 mile/week mark, and then I started feeling achy after running again. Not muscle ache, but an all too familiar bone ache. I haven't run in a full week now and don't quite know what's up with my left tibia. I don't think it's broken, but I may be scaling back -- again -- for a few weeks. Heaven help my jeans (and my sanity).

On the other hand, I can do a full pull up now, which is pretty awesome. And yes, I said "a" pull up, as in one. But if I don't let myself all the way back down I can do 3 or 4. Which is more than "a". Boone says it's hot so I wait until he's coming around the corner and act all casual as I hoist myself up in our doorframe. Like, "Oh! I didn't see you there. Just doin' some pull ups..." I think he's onto me, but I don't care.

I suppose I could post some pictures for the grandparents/aunts who like that kind of thing.




No need for captions, really. Everything you see above can be blamed on grandparents in one way or another. Loving the one of Keaton two-fisting Sees suckers -- that's my boy! And huge thanks to my mom for the joke book she gave to Rylan. Seriously Mom, just remember that she has 7 whole weeks to stock up on jokes before you get here! Fun for you!

Santa finally brought a Wii to our house this year and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it's pretty much the only thing the kids want to do right now and I don't love the idea of video games for hours on end.

On the other hand, they are playing together really nicely and perhaps they also don't bother to wake Boone and I up anymore? Yeah, the part where they feed themselves breakfast (Nilla wafers and cinnamon bread, but still) and let us sleep in is sort of ruining my whole "video games are bad" attitude. What's a mom to do?


Also? Boone and I may be playing for hours when the kids go to bed. Our thumbs hurt just like the old days! Once school is back in, we'll have to set some more strict time limits, but so far it's been fun to have a sure-fire way to threaten the kids into obeying since the "Santa is watching you" trick expired. Branik is the best player of the three, and we find that endlessly amusing. Rylan and Keaton, however, do not.

That's about it. I'll try to think of something worth your time for the next post. Think happy tibia thoughts for me!

Peace out.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Snowmanatomy

So Keaton came home from school today and found Branik playing with a mountain of playdough. He promptly dropped his backpack onto the floor, swiped a big hunk, and got to work.

3 minutes later, we had this:



Meet Gus, the pinkest, crayon-iest snowman you ever did see. A few minutes after Gus was born, the following conversation took place -- verbatim:

Keaton: "Dad, what is Gus missing?"

Boone: "I don't know, Keaton. What IS Gus missing?"

Keaton: "Ummm...you know, those things in the middle -- wait, what are those belly button things on the side of your bottom?"

Boone: (WTH?)

Keaton (lifting his shirt up to give us a visual cue): "THESE Dad!"

Boone: "Nipples Keaton, those are called nipples."

Keaton: "NIPPLES! That's it! Gus is missing nipples..."

I can't believe I didn't get a picture of it, but Gus received VERY pink nipples shortly thereafter.



In other news, THIS is what love looks like:


5 pounds of cinnamon bears + 1 flat rate shipping box + 1 girl living in the south where nobody has ever HEARD of cinnamon bears = euphoria.

Sisters are the best. Well, sisters and pink nippled snowmen named Gus.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Buried on the Memory Card **UPDATED**

I remember exactly nothing about this episode. I think my brain has blocked it to protect me.

**UPDATE**

I would like to have a captioning contest for this photo. Whoever comes up with the best caption (judged totally by me) will win something fabulous -- maybe a pair of the shea butter infused slipper socks from Bath and Body Works, because I've been wearing mine all day and they are yummy treats for my tootsies.

Yeah, that's what you'll get. Caption away...

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Huh.

Apparently I cloned myself after all:





Take that, Boone:)

Monday, November 30, 2009

Denver, How We Love Thee

So. Denver. We went, and we loved it, and we want to live there.



The End.

























Hahahaha! Like I could ever be that brief! I can't believe you fell for that!

Okay, for real this time...

So Boone and I got to talking a few weeks ago and realized that we really, REALLY wanted to go to Denver to see if it was as wonderful as it sounds and somewhere we could live for 25-30 years. Since we are rolling in cold hard cash after dental school and 5 1/2 years of army pay, we booked flights, a car and a hotel, convinced Boone's sister Cilka to come out here and watch our munchkins along with her 18 month old, and ran out the front door before she could realize what she had agreed to.

We left Monday morning, flew all day, and had our first meeting with a selling dentist that evening. Because of confidentiality agreements I can't really say much about the particulars of the practices we looked at, but we are encouraged and think we will be able to find something that will suit us in the area.

Tuesday we met up with Tyler and Anne -- some of our awesome Ohio friends who are now in Denver. Handy for us to have local guides who brought us maps and water and boatloads of information while escorting us to good restaurants all day, huh? Yes, it was handy. Thank you for noticing!

This one time, when we weren't eating, we went to a running specialty store and had video gait analysis done (they film your feet from behind while you run on a treadmill so they can tell you what kind of shoes you need) and both of us left with new running shoes (remember the rolling in cold hard cash part? Yeah. Still that.) While we were there, my mega awesome super hero role model of athleticness, Sonja Wieck, stopped by to say hi! It was really cool to meet her in person and she is awfully chill for someone who does things like run from one side of the Grand Canyon to the other AND BACK in a day. I meant to take a picture of the two of us together, but I forgot about photos because she brought me PRESENTS!



Nuun and Trakkers are two of her sponsors. Yeah, she has sponsors, because she's that awesome. Isn't the visor screaming to be worn during a breast cancer 3-day event next fall? Maybe in Philly?


Here's how our meeting went in my head:

(Oh wait -- I forgot to say that she walked in while I was flapping around on the treadmill like a major dork. A major SLOW dork. Okay, back to my head...)


Out of shape girl from Georgia (me): "Holy crap! Ummm...hi Sonja...whoa, you are seriously a real person!" (I may have actually said that out loud.)

Tough as nails, nice as can be, not an ounce of body fat girl (Sonja): "Hi Nicole! Wow, you look amazing on that treadmill -- look at your perfect form -- you are so fast when you run!" (Possibly some creative license on that one.)

Me: "You think so? Well, I'd love to run with you someday and give you some pointers -- since I clearly know what I'm doing and all."

Sonja: "Really? That would be so awesome for me! I don't know if I can keep up with you though, since I run 6 minute miles and bike 220 miles in a day and stuff..."

Me: "Well, maybe if you give me presents and let me rub your head (that you just shaved in a show of solidarity with your friend who has cancer) I will think about slowing down to accommodate you."

Sonja: "Lucky for me! Here are your presents -- I hope one day to be as awesome as you. Maybe you could train me one day and I will hang on every word you say?"

Me: "Hahaha, maybe!"



Okay, so somewhere in there I may have mixed up the conversation a little, but you get the idea. Truly, she is amazing and just the nicest person to boot. Big thanks to Tyler for setting up that meet and greet.



That's Denver at night. Ain't it purdy?

Anyway, like you all want or need a whole recap, but we ate lots of good food, drove a bunch, marveled at the sidewalks, parks, and bike paths everywhere, and caught up with some more friends who dropped everything to hang with us. Becca and I have been gal pals since we were 15 and it was so fun to see her and her husband Jeb. Each time we meet up we pretty much fall all over ourselves trying to get words out so we can catch up as much as possible. Doesn't matter how long it's been since we talked, it just falls back into place. Isn't that the best? And I'm so thoughtful that I took exactly zero pictures of said friends or any of the radicalness (totally a word) that is Denver. We were back home by Thursday night, exhausted but excited.


So yeah. Still can't give professional details, which was the whole purpose of the trip, but we love the city. It feels like home and we are pretty stoked to get out there and increase our red blood cell counts so we can breathe.

My brain just shut off, so if anyone has any questions or if I omitted anything super obvious, just let me know and I'll get to it in 5 or 6 weeks.

OH! Like maybe the part where I thank Cilka for taking care of our kids while we were gone? THAT'S sort of obvious, eh? Spanks a million Smilka, we couldn't have gone (legally) without you! Just think of it as free birth control for the next year:)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Boo Thousand & Nine


We carved...



We recycled like the liberals we are (and were thrilled when we were permitted to omit the external fuel tanks after all)...



We made last minute adjustments...




We partied hard on Friday...and again on Saturday.



We posed for the cameras...




And SOME of us stayed in character frighteningly well (while others looked on)...




We headed out into the muggy night (STILL in character -- check out the vampire down there)...



We knocked, said the magic words, and exclaimed "Yummy yum yum! I got MORE candy!" at every stop (well, maybe that was just Branik)...



And SOME of us abandoned our fleece costumes after the first house and went door to door dressed as a sweaty 3 year old boy...



The same some of us were happy to run once we were freed from our costumes...



while others just gave up when their tiny legs gave out...



We sorted and counted...




And some of us made candy trains to celebrate...



Happy Halloween from our family (and the Galans, whose Blogger is stubborn and whose patriarch needs to see his munchkins:) to yours!