I can do it. I really can.

I'm not fond of him traveling...I miss my partner. We make a pretty good team, Jason and I. Yes, I can handle parenting on my own. Fact is, I'm just not used to it. We are great at dividing and conquering all the demands of parenting three busy kids. What I really love is taking initiative to step back lately. Yes...parenting is our main priority in life, as it should be. We wouldn't have it any other way. However, we've finally hit that stage in life where we don't feel guilty stepping out and spending time away from the kids. Our vacation away was a bit of a stretch, I admit. It was hard on this mama to be away for that long...but getting out 2 or 3 times a month is very beneficial. :)

(Dinner last week in celebration of neighbor and running partner, Amy's birthday at Fogo De Chao's on the Plaze...YUM!)

Let's Dance

She did an AMAZING job for a little 3 year old, really. I confess, I didn't think she had it in her...terrible to admit, I know! HA! I was worried she would freeze up or just be WAY OFF her peers as she refused to practice with me...and Lord knows I'm of no help when it comes to rhythm & coordination.

I was quite impressed, however....a proud mom to see her little independent, happy dancer.

I think my smile was bigger than hers, though.

Always beaming with a pageant smile!
Oh my!

It was adorable to see her standing for the final bow...the music was pumping, the girls were dancing, jumping and screaming. I could tell Kate was having a blast...which is what it is all about, afterall.

She was even picked to draw the name for a special award. :)

Fencing

They love it! They whack each other with the foil, ignoring all rules.
Too much Jack Sparrow, I think. What a patient instructor.

Man, I love my boys!

While we were away....

...on vacation, the kids were having a blast with their grandparents. Even though I was far away in Mexico on my 35th birthday, they still baked a cake and sang Happy Birthday. Sweetest thing ever!



Thanks mom & dad...and Jerry and Gloria for helping with the kids.

These are my "birthday" flowers as they have bloomed in the same spot around my birthday for as long as I can remember. Pretty special picture!

Cancun

After 12 years of marriage, Jason and I finally got away for a week...thanks to our family for watching our little ones. Our stay was at Sun Palace (couples-only), HERE one of the many Palace Resorts in Cancun. We have determined that all-inclusive is the way to go as we were treated like royalty from the time we arrived to the time to departed. We were upgraded to the concierge level which afforded us free massages, dinner on the beach, a concierge to take care of all our plans as well as beach chairs reserved with our names. I admit I was skeptical about going to Mexico due to safety concerns, but quickly learned there is absolutely nothing to fear given the seclusion and security of the area. We look forward to going back SOON and bringing the kids with us...it was just that amazing.

Our room had a breathtaking view of the water....and the pool. If your a people watcher like I am...it was very entertaining at times!

Dinner on the beach was perfection...watching the sun set on a perfect summer evening.

We spent the only rainy day in Chichen-Itza...which also happened to be my birthday. The rain, we were told, was quite a respite from the 100 degree plus temperatures on a typical day in June at Chichen. I have to admit, it was astounding to be surrounded by that much history. Our tour guide, Simon, was phenomenal!

After we returned from Chichen-Itza and had hot showers, I was surprised to find a birthday cake and a bottle of champagne courtesy of the hotel. We ordered room service in and the hotel staff sang. :)

I was still on the clock part-time...so I found a nice comfy location to work.

This is where I met pure joy...the beach, a good book, my ipod and my honey.

I was treated with two massages, a facial and a pedicure. This mama was SPOILED!

We got tired of asking people to take our picture together...so we improvised. (not well)

We ended our getaway with a random first-class upgrade out of Cancun.

Perfection!

Ahhhhhhh!

Having a wonderful time...missing our kids, but enjoying some quality time together.
(And Jason is CRISPY!)

Sunburst Marathon

6 a.m. (5 a.m. to our CST bodies!)
The finish line never looked so good! (And hey, I'm still standing)

They didn't call it the Sunburst Marathon for nuthin'!

First off, shout out to my amazing husband for taking over this weekend so mama could have a girls weekend! Am I not married to the most supportive husband and amazing father ever? Love him!

This weekend started out with a 9 hour drive to South Bend, Indiana on Friday and ended with a 9 hour drive back to K.C. on Sunday. In between...a lot of laughs, 26.2 miles in 85+ degree heat, exhaustion, sore muscles, chaffing, blisters, a massage, pool/hottub time, a fabulous dinner and one hard night of sleep!

More about the race...it began at 6 a.m. at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown South Bend, Indiana and ended on the field of Notre Dame Stadium. Although it wasn't my fastest of the five marathon's I've run, I did place 10th and earned another Boston qualifying time. Can't be too upset with that considering it was ultimately a black flagged course due to the extreme heat. (which means it was eventually a closed course and remaining runners were picked up). Two of my other 3 friends also qualified again for Boston next April...so now I have company! YAY!

Slacker Recap!

Our summer is getting off to a great start...which is why I've neglected to post for a while. Such a blog binger!

Jonathan finished school a couple of weeks ago...and thought it was pretty cool to get on the bus a kindergartner the morning of his last day only to get off the bus as a first grader. :) He is now in Summer Adventure with all his neighborhood friends leaving Nick, Kate and I to frolic at home until his day ends.

The boys started fencing lessons this week at Heartland Fencing Academy...and cried when we left because they were having that much fun. It's a 30 min drive through downtown to Overland Park (during rush hour no less), but totally worth it.



Kate continues to practice for her first dance recital in a couple of weeks at the Kearney Performing Arts Center. I'm not sure dancing is her niche, but she absolutely loves it!

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