Worth The While

Halloween 2011

Like many Halloweens, the weather for this one was MUCH colder than the week before trick-or-treat night.  BUT-- at least it didn't rain on us this year. This picture is from when the girls first got their costumes in the mail.  They were SO excited.  And at that time they didn't have to layer other clothes underneath their costumes to tolerate the outdoors.  It's never fun to talk them into "ruining" their costume in the name of keeping warm.  So yes, there were a few tears from the big one about adding tights... but once she knew there was make-up coming to finish her look last night she was a-ok.

Another not-so-fun fact for Halloween '11 is Grandpa Worth (Larry Sr) is at Riverside Methodist Hospital.  As we prayed for his speedy recovery, Grandma Betty came over with Aunt Pam to pass out candy. 

 

Also new this year-- The Rodocks joined in the Trick-Or-Treak fun.  Izz (aka Dora 2.5y/o) caught on from Clawdeen Wolf and Wonder Woman QUICKLY on how the process works to get good grub.  Baby Mac--who's character goes quack-quack--didn't mind his Mommy wearing the crazy Dora wig while she toted him around our neighborhood.

 

Speaking of crazy... we're always wondering what crazy costume Grand will wear each year.  Here she is... "The Count" From Sesame Street.  As always she entertained the ENTIRE neighborhood.  Our girls didn't mind The Count coming along to each house, but didn't even realize it was one of our relatives until it was time to go in and count candy bars.  Dora, however, was not excited to have The Count anywhere near her candy--hopefully by next year she'll catch on to how the holiday works around here. 

Now it's November... YIKES!  And who's going to come over and help us eat all the loot?  At least we moved all the Almond Joys to someone else's house.  Ha!  More pics in album titled:  Halloween 2011.

"Work"... Yea Right!

Columbus, OH-- Not only did I get to dance around on Saturday and do some hip-hop fitness with Michael Nicholson and his fit-followers while being the "Stage Manager" for the 10tv Health and Fitness Expo.  I got to meet THIS guy:

Yep... That's BOSTON Flippin' ROB!!!!!!  From Survivor & Amazing Race fame.  I got to tell him how Lara & I TOTALLY rooted for him to win this time.  I have seen EVERY season of Survivor and he has always seemed to be the most geunine person even when he's being deceiving.  He was VERY friendly and patient with everyone in the crowd I put a mic in front to ask him a question. 

I asked him who he really hangs-out with now that taping is done.  His first answer:  My wife!  Good/OBVIOUS response... Amber is his wife he met on Survivor.  (SHE won the $1M prize 1st!)  Then they did Amazing Race together before having two beautiful girls.  He has a new show coming out on the History Channel I can't wait to watch!  He also said he does check in w/teenager Natalie who got 2nd to him on this latest season and he actually socializes w/crazy-Phillip.  Boy, I'd love to go out to a pub with those two.  OR... I'll schedule a play-date w/Amber.  Whatever... sign me up!
 

Finally... Family Fitness!

I've been waiting on this for a lonnnnng time!

Yep... that's my bike riding FAMILY!

Lara got her 2-wheeler from Grand for her birthday in January.  We were surprised how she toughed it out through MANY bumps & bruises to learn how to ride over the summer.  (Mommy eventually learned they DO sell knee-pads.)   Now-- even if we have a few minutes in the evening she LOVES to ride around the nearby cul-du-sac.

But what little kid doesn't want to go faster?  We knew we could no longer keep up with her on walks around the neighborhood.  Therefore, we HAD to go shopping. 

And then there was the question:  "What to do with the little one?"  We couldn't exactly leave her at home while the three of us went out for a ride.

She's in the comfort zone of her Princess Bike with training wheels.  OR... what I really see her doing the most is RUNNING after her big sister.

SO.. we got her THIS for her birthday in July!  Isn't it awesome?  Her feet barely touch the peddles but she is THRILLED to be riding along with the rest of us.  It's likely good we're starting her on this-- because now that Lara is a "master", it freaks her out to lose control and be on the back with Daddy.  

We've only taken spins around the neighborhood so far.  We're getting the girls and our bottoms accustomed to longer rides.  I can't wait for real bike trails... stops at ice cream shops etc.

**hApPy BiRtHdAy gIrLs!**

Back To School = Back To Blogging

After trying to upload pics from my camera to Facebook for a ridiculous amount of time with no success AND getting a call from my non-Facebooking Mom during it... I decided it's time to re-ignite the family blog.

Besides-- Lara started 1st grade today at a magnet school that specializes in the Arts.  She'll study things like angles in Math class using digital photography... so I figure in about a year SHE'll be updating you.

Yep, she's officially a 1st grader! 

 
 
Larry & I stalked both of her buses all the way to her new school this morning.  It's a weird feeling letting go-- but seeing our bill at the private pre-school drop because we only now have one child there will continue to comfort us.

Speaking of bills... we dropped MANY at the American Girl Store in Chicago and it was sooo WORTH IT! 

 
It was also a nice "End of Summer" road trip that capped off a much needed visit with our Rockford friends that are like family.  So Facebookers & Non-Social Media types-- there will be albums HERE titled "First Day of School 2011" and "Summer Vacation 2011".  I HOPE it'll be a much easier process once I re-learn how to do it.  Oh to be in 1st grade again...

She Melts My Heart!

Although Mommy gets up for work at 2:15am, there are occasional perks.  On Friday night I scored two media tickets for "CATS" at the Palace Theatre in Columbus.  (This is where Larry thanks his lucky stars we had at least one girl to get him off the hook.)  Lara was VERY excited to get dressed up and stay out late with me.  Remington however, was HIGHLY upset she did not get to go.  But a movie and microwave popcorn quickly took her mind off our absence.

 

If you've never seen the show, the actors/cats roam the audience from time to time.  Pictures are frowned upon during the production BUT... at intermission one feline wandered over to our aisle seat and Lara had the opportunity to give her a pet.  Mommy also managed to dig the camera out of the bottom of her purse JUST in time.

 

Once the Second Act began, Lara whispered in my ear "Mommy, I'm never washing this hand again!"  It was the most perrrrfect night for me.

 

 

Halloween 2010

Trick-or-Treat night this year was fah-reezing!  But once Lara got over the fact that warm clothes HAD to go under her Daphne (from Scooby Doo) costume, we had a great time.  She went from lots-of-tears to skipping in a matter a minutes.  Remington knew from the get-go she wanted to be Tinker Bell this year.  She absolutely loved tailing her big sister around the neighborhood.  She only wiped out twice.  After collecting all the loot, Aunt Pam taught both girls how to eat "Pixie Stix" and "Fun Dip".  Yum!

 
This year was the first year Larry and I have actually dressed up for a Halloween party.  The theme was a TV or movie character from any decade.  Once again shout out to Aunt Pam--she got us two great Roman costumes from her church.  We thought we'd be from one of our favorite HBO series:  "Rome".  But no one at the party had ever watched the show.  SO THEN... I was Russell Crowe with those killer abs in "Gladiator" and LW was a Roman guard. 

 
Grand usually comes over and trick-or-treats with us.  But she was in Boca Raton, FL on Beggar's Night this year.  So the following Sunday we went to her house after church and look who was there:

 

Check out the "Halloween 2010" album for more great pics!

Our Latest Family Photo

 
 

Pam had a BIG Birthday on 10/10/10.  This is from the party at our house the day before the BIG day.  Aren't we a fun bunch?  No doubt we're VERY lucky.

Our Nightly Prayer

Life IS A Beach!

We spent the 4th of July in St. Joseph, MI with my cousin Carrie's family.  Their kids (Lucas & Emerson) are the same ages as our girls.  Plus my Mom... aka Grand/the matriarch of the family came along too.  Not only did we enjoy catching up with family around all the holiday fun, but the Campbells live about 5 minutes from the shores of Lake Michigan.  We sunned ourselves and played in the sand... then rinsed off in a super-cool spray-ground.  They even have a carousel at Silver Beach!  There are more pics in the album section titled:  July 4th 2010.

Good Times With Great Friends!

It's not even officially summer, but we've already had ALL kinds of fun.  We've already been to the pool a couple of times... the movies... had an overnight visitor... went to the zoo to see the new polar bears... and Lara has started a 3 week "Hip Hop Dance Camp".

I've put together another fab Flip video from our trip to the zoo.  SO cool to fill the Flip w/an hour of raw video and chop it down to 5 minutes in NO time.  Although I will admit Amy (Donley) Rodock-- who you'll see in the zoo piece w/her adorable daughter Isabella-- has been QUITE the help.  She's my personal Flip/I.T. specialist... she's taken it upon herself to help whip me into shape (no easy task)... and she's helped me with a lot of dreaded yard work.  Hard to believe our yard is weeded AND mulched already-- SWEET!  But of course the lovely poison ivy that comes every year is back this AM.  YAY!  I seriously don't even care because I <3 Summertime Fun regardless of what the calendar says.