A match made in heaven

Yes, she made them kiss.

"This is just a phase. This car does not define me."

You know those sticker families on the back? Two parents, 3.5 kids, 2 dogs and a cat? I will NEVER be THAT mom.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not ashamed to admit that I covet the big wide open space between my often three unruly passengers. The tanalizing remote doors *sigh* and the room to move around while on a road trip *pitter patter*, the dvd player *tear streaming down face*. Yes...minivans just scream "mom". However, as a now 2nd time minivan owner, I'm learning that I quite frankly don't care if someone thinks I'm a mom because, well...I am. Yes, I nearly cried when we bought our first one. Did I EVER think I'd buy another? No way, but...it's function before form for a few years, as lame & uncool as that may seem to some.

However, if I had to, I would divorce Mr. K and marry my sweet new ride.
Seriously.
I would be wearing my flip flops and sweat pants during our ceremony. Then we would ride off into the sunset...to a soccer game.

Wordless Wednesday

A whole lotta Easter

Eggs

Am I the only adult who still gets excited about coloring eggs? With three small children, we've traditionally just done the whole PAAS dye tablet thing. (Yes, I'm too chicken to attempt some of the ridiculously crafty projects with them.) I know the dye is messy and can stain both clothes and skin...but to see their creativity makes it totally worth it. We added a little glitter, stickers and other bling to trick out our eggs this year. No, they're not "boutique" eggs, but are they not the quirkiest little egg people ever?

Seattle

My job took me to Seattle for work this past weekend to take another exam granting me full teaching certification for the State of Washington.

In a way, this trip was a clouded and brisk walk down memory lane. The last time I was in the Seattle area I was just seven years old. I vaguly remember my parents ushering me onto an airplane all by myself and sending me to Seattle to spend a few weeks with my grandmother and grandfather over the summer. I was actually quite amazed by how much I remember from that visit, 28 years later. My grandmother's rose bushes, raspberry jam, my grandfather's cigars, the neighborhoods kids, my first Shirley Temple and Return of the Jedi.

The best part of this return trip was having the opportunity to spend a little time with my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Jimmy. Thank you SO MUCH for the tour of Seattle and for an amazing seafood dinner at Anthonly's, a place I was told was a favorite of my grandmother's. I had a quirky, but very entertaining & informative, tour of Seattle on "The Duck". I was able to visit what once was my grandparents home in Bellevue as well as my grandmother's grave. It meant so much to me to spend time with both of you. Thank you, again.

And this lucky wife and mother (who got incredibly misty coming home after being away from her babies for three days) came home to flowers, a cake, a million hugs and kisses and a clean house. I am one blessed woman! I say Mr. Mom did an incredible job flying solo...but he did conclude that I do far more than he ever realized. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Okay....not totally wordless. Jonathan and I took a spring tour of the yard after school and these are photos of all that is in bloom at the Kazmaier's.

(I spy a bumblebee...Jonathan ran for cover!)

Can you tell I'm smitten?

I had the chance to relieve my sister for a bit on Monday so I snapped a few pictures...I know it's a LOT of work, but I miss this stage...

(Aunt Sandy...LOVE this blanket!)

Do you see that?

The green return? Spring is definitely my favorite season of the year. I love summer but in the Midwest, it can get too hot and sticky. Winter is always beautiful, but LONG and I'm not a fan of being stuck inside all the time with the cold, dreary and grey weather it can bring. Fall is beautiful as well with bonfires, football and camping...but it starts getting chillier and you know winter is right around the corner. Spring is perfect though. Spring is hopeful. The sun finally arrives for good. The warmth makes you smile. With spring comes thunderstorms and the smell of a fresh rain, the scent and beauty of flowering spring trees, the daffodils and tulips coming out to play, the smell of the season's first cut grass and the sound of croaking frogs in the backyard creek. Grilling, running in a t-shirt and shorts, and wearing flip flops (which reminds me that I need a pedicure...BADLY). Spring this glorious April weekend brought many of these things...hours in the sandbox, on the swings, running through the sprinklers, riding bikes, playing near the creek, stubbed toes, ice cream, filthy bodies and late nights hanging in the driveway in lawn chairs with several neighbors while the kids had deserved reprieve from curfews and bedtime. Reminiscent of my own childhood...they ran around in the cul-de-sac illuminated by the street light wielding toy swords and chasing monsters (Oh, those were the boys. Kate and her little girlfriend took turns tossing their babies in the air and rolling around in the grass). That's what I call.....perfection.

KC Milan

Jonathan scored 6 goals this morning at his first soccer game of the season...sweaty and tired, he told me he can't wait for his next game.

Kate just snacked and chilled...and snacked some more.

Nick did quite the stellar victory dance when he scored his first two goals of the season........... for the wrong team.

He was none the wiser. :-)

Rock the Parkway-April 2nd, 2011

A perfect morning for a 1/2 marathon. Rock the Parkway is run along Ward Parkway and over to Loose Park...a relatively flat course. I ran this one last year in 40 degrees and rain...a much better experience than last year...and 6 minutes faster!

In fact, 3 out of the four ladies I train with every morning ran personal bests.

(Great job, Marie, Amy and Traci!)

I absolutely love running this time of year.

1:33 (7:08 pace)

14th place overall women

2011 Brew-to-Brew Relay

On Sunday, these ten amazing supermom's (and police officers, detectives, teachers and businesswomen) gathered in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to run the 44 mile relay from Boulevard Brewing Co. in Kansas City to Free State Brewery in Lawrence, KS (my old stompin' ground). What's also amazing is the fact that most of them competed in the Rock the Parkway 1/2 marathon the day before. Typically, Brew-to-Brew is known for snow, rain, sleet...this year, 90 degrees and 45 mph wind gusts.

My three favorite neighbors and running partners below...Marie, Amy and Traci.

(...and our Kryptonite baton)

...at the end with my Crossfit partner, Tamara