Can it have been 2 years?

We had a great trip this weekend to Sea World San Antonio but it reminded me of just 2 short years ago. Can it have been 2 years since my youngest was born?
Max made his entrance in June of 2007. We lived in San Antonio at the time and made the trip to Sea World at that time as well. Next weekend we will hold a sports themed birthday party for my little sports enthusiast. He has blossomed so much! You can see his personality shining every morning. It's great.
The challenge for me now is realizing we are leaving the stage of babies in our home. Max will move into his big boy bunk beds next weekend and the end of some very long eras is coming. I'm not sure I'm ready for that. Can't we keep the crib?

What is up with Gen Y?

I admit I've had a few bad days so this post is colored by that. Why is it that whenever anyone talks about Gen Y they are talking about their faults? I'm the past 6 months I've heard 4 presentations on the generation and they've all been about the bad attributes of our generation. Why? There are good things about us too you know. Now, I should also say that only half the time people say I belong to Gen Y. I was born in 1980 so I sit on the fence. Either way how about we stop picking on our generation and start looking for the good things?
Tawny


-- Post From My iPhone

Seriously?!?!

I can't believe its been so long since I've posted. Well, let's see. There was a half marathon in between now and then. I lost 13 pounds. My uncle died. I turned 29. I think that's about it in a nutshell.

Life has been busy these days. The stress level at work has increased significantly and I find it harder to get up in the morning. I need a little stress in my life. People who know me well, know that I like to be a little on edge. This stress though isn't on edge. It's over the top lately. It has caused me to really seek the purpose of what I'm doing and why I'm doing it whenever I do anything. I will survive this but it has been difficult.

Trace will start a new job in July. He's wrapping up his last class as a flight commander and I know he's looking forward to it. I am as well. The stress of being in charge is difficult for him when the days are over 12 hours long, consistently. I know he is excited for the next step. He'll be the executive officer for the group. Something I know he has aspired to. I can see him enjoying his job more and more each day and he has said lately he is looking forward to seeing where it takes us.

Maxwell is on the verge of being 2. He's not into his terrible 2's yet but he is blossoming! He's become quite the personality. He reads books at night before he goes to bed, he loves shooting the basketball outside, and is ready to rumble whenever his brother challenges him. It's amazing to see him come out of his shell.

Hayden is as crazy as ever. He just finished his first round of real preschool. He did fantastically. He writes his name with ease and recognizes the letters of the alphabet. We are well beyond colors and shapes. He's still outrageously smart and verbose. Most people are amazed to hear the intelligence in his conversations. Me included.

My mom has almost made it a full year living with us. I know a living situation like this is not for everyone but it has been perfect for us! She steps in only when needed and the kids love her. She does a great job keeping up with them and I feel comfortable going to work. I could not be happier to have her around, still.

This summer will hold a great deal of exciting things for us. I will make a trip to San Francisco. We will take a family vacation to South Dakota where we will visit Mt. Rushmore. Trace has a few trips planned as well for work. It should be fun...and hot.

Our family Christmas

Christmas is so much better when you have kids! Our boys were spoiled again this year and I'm happy to be able to say we could afford to do it. This has been a rough year on the economy and I am grateful we have made it through. The boys got so many presents it has taken us 2 days to unwrap them and most are still unplayed with. Eventually they will get to them.
We are spending this holiday season at home relaxing. While we miss our family and friends a great deal we needed a few weeks to relax, focus on each other, and recharge for another exciting year. Christmas was just us. We slept in (yes, the boys slept in to 7:30 am!) and stayed in our PJ's for most of the day. The weather was beautiful and we were able to head outside to play with Abby and Benjamin our neighbors for awhile. We even took an evening walk and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
New Years will be an exciting time at our house. The Pananon's are coming! Our great friends Troy and Melissa are making the 12 hour trip from Maxwell AFB up to Enid to visit us for New Years. We have always loved them and are looking forward to beating them this year in a few games! We will host a small party that night and are looking forward to a great time.
Well, I hope to load some photos on my FB and Picasa account soon so everyone can see the boys in action but for now Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and thank you for making our lives so wonderful!

Life

Well, life has a way of changing your focus and it has done so to me recently. I'm sorry I haven't updated in awhile but at the beginning of October I received a phone call telling me that my 38 year old cousin was murdered. We spent a few weeks in Oregon trying to pick up the pieces of this tragedy. He leaves behind a beautiful 13 year old daughter. It has been a rough time as my family has passed the stage of denial and moved into the anger stage. This will last longer than normal due to the circumstances. But, I am at peace with the experience - I think -
So, we are rapidly approaching the holidays and looking forward to time at home. No, not Oregon this year, or Washington. Just time at home in Oklahoma. We need to recharge for another year so we will do so with our friends here. We are planning a New Year's party as the Pananon's are planning to visit but everything else will be low key.
Work is outrageously busy for both Trace and I but our kids are well cared for thanks to my wonderful mom. The kids are doing fantastic with her and are busy with preschool and Kindermusik. Maxwell is walking and talking and...climbing. He leads with his head when falling so he spends a lot of time bruised but he's a curious little boy.
Hayden can write his name now although we are working on him doing it without prompt. He memorizes the letters and recognizes words but I wouldn't call it reading yet. He continues to be amazing in his verbal skills. Something I hope he maintains forever.
Trace and I enjoyed a great weekend. He took me taxiing in his T6! The spouse taxi event was Sunday and we went out for a spin. While it wasn't in the air, only on the ground, it was a nice opportunity to see what he does. I am in awe of his knowledge and don't appreciate it enough.
I am good. Work is busy which means I am still gainfully employed. I am just a few weeks away from finishing my master's classes and then all I need is that thesis with a signature on it!

My first bump in the road

I spent 2 full days in bed this past week. A major bump in the road for my training for the 15K...so do I postpone it? UGH! I just can't imagine how I can catch up. I missed 3 runs essentially. My Sunday run was supposed to be 6 miles and it was only 2. I wanted to take it easy so I didn't over do it.

Run Forrest Run!

So I have embarked on a journey to a 15K. Well, I'm mostly committed. There is a nagging fear that I don't have the time to train appropriately. I figure that I am committed to making the distance not a specific time. So heck, why not? Perseverance is a new found trait I possess. I have completed just over 4 miles at one time and a 3-mile run last night left me wanting more. So, I know the possibility is there. I just need to stay focused.
I'm training for the Tulsa Run (www.tulsarun.com). It's a little hilly but I will worry about that when I get there LOL!
Am I crazy? Possibly.