My life: A Scene From Glee

This was a while ago now, as you can see from the size of Gavin, but I just had to post it.

Often times I feel my life is like a scene from Glee. J is a very very very (very very very) avid singer. It is not that he is active in the singing world or that he sings in some organized way.....no, he just sings his way through our life; each day and situation inspires a new song. Often, people will stay with us and comment on his singing. I don't usually hear it any more.

But, this is an awesome example.  You will notice that Gavin is intently listening. I was originally shooting this film to catch Gavin babbling (I did finally get it, but will post later), but when Daddy started to serenade us from the shower, Gavin quietly listened.




J's singing is who he is, and is always a testament to his mood. While I like to poke fun at him for it (what kind of wife would I be if I didn't), i find it quiet endearing.

July 4th, 2011

July 4th at the Soloways.

Ayden was a sliding fiend.



(This is not the best representation as he didn't make it all the way to the pool....but you can see the size of the slide and the smile on his face)

Besides Gavin, Ayden was the youngest at the party and there was no fear of the slide.  He even got caught up a few times and came down head first right into the pool....... where he calmly pushed himself up and out of the water like a seasoned pro (while mommy stood by holding her breath ready to fly into action).

That's my boy!

Desert museum

4th of July weekend, we went to the Dessert Museum with our dear friends Kevin and Candice and their adorable little girl, Taylor, whom Ayden just thinks the world of.

The park opened at 7. Our plan was to meet there at 7. We both showed up around 7:30....we called it a success!!

As you all know, it is the middle of summer here in Tucson and it can get to be 100 degrees or more during the day (hence the 7am start time). So, this visit was an experiment in just how doable this might be during the summer months.

3 hours and 3 happy kids later....we called it a success!!

Yahoo for doable outdoor activities in the Tucson summer months!

Below are the few pictures I took with my phone.  I am not sure why they are so small and grainy...but it is what it is.  [I think the cuteness shows through either way!!]








While the big kids dug for dinosaur bones, Gavin hung out with a proud daddy =)

The Ironman Experience

A few weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of going to Idaho to cheer on my great friend Karen in her THIRD (yes that is THREE) Ironman.

What. An. Experience.

To start off, it was the first time away from the family since Gavin was born. I have to tell you that was very very hard.  Far harder than I ever expected. But also...very very good. That topic however is better left for another post.

This post is all about the Ironman, my friends, and just plain "awesomeness" (yes, we watch Kung Fu Panda a bit in our household.  And for those of you still wondering what the heck I'm talking about, turn it on and watch the first 10 minutes).

Friends. Friends. Friends. Where can I even begin. You all have listened to me rave endlessly about my friends over the past year and half on this blog and while it may get tiring to hear, I never get tired of saying it....my friends are the best....the most amazing....the most inspiring.....the most courageous group of woman; each in their own special way.  This trip I got some girl time with Karen, Kim, Hillary, and Erin. [For the sake of full disclosure, Eric was also there, and boy did he do an awesome job putting up with the estrogen - and we love him too!] But, no offense to Eric, this post is about the women in my life.

The weekend was filled with cooking, eating, yoga, running, wine sipping by the lake, reading by the fire (yes,it was cold enough for a fire), and one 20 hour day of endless cheering, a lot of laughing, a little crying, and overwhelming pride and amazement.

This was the most inspiring thing I have witnessed. 2500 men and women from all over the world, having trained an average of 7mos, all for this day; all for the title Ironman. You may be picturing crowds of insanely fit looking people in their 20s and 30s with no family, but the truth was quite the opposite. The span of ages was incredible, high school to 70s; as was the span of body types. And let me tell you, the fan base was jaw dropping. You had kids, parents, grandparents, grand-kids, co-workers, friends, spouses, uncles, aunts, siblings....you name it...they were all there dedicated to rallying and cheering their participants to the completion of their goal.  Makes me tear up just thinking about it.

Now, our participant was the one and only Ms. Karen O'Hagan. And as it never fails to be true... she rocked it! Watching her throughout the day we could see when her mental toughness prevailed when her body needed it the most. The peaks and valleys of the race were evident in the smiles and grimaces on her face. But nothing beats her grin from cheek to cheek when she hit the shoot, skipping by, slapping hands, and the announcement was heard...."Karen O'Hagan....YOU. ARE. AN. IRONMAN."

Pure Awesomeness.

I won't bore you with my rendition of how I balled watching the last few swimmers make it to the shore only to be told their Ironman ended there; or how their families stood on the beach cheering them in; or how the crowd stayed and cheered every last one in, commending their training, their dedication, their will and their effort. Hormones aside, I was a little bit of a mess - I love this stuff.

And so, this experience lends itself to only one question........

Do I have what it takes to be an Ironman???

Stay tuned, only time will tell.

Ayden's first day

[I thought this posted yesterday...but apparently the 'posting failed'....darn technology]

Today Ayden started a week long bible school. He will have his first experience in a class full of kids, some directed play, learn songs to perform in a little show, and do it all without one of us around. I am excited for him and totally emotional at the same time.
After court today I snuck by just to get a peek of him. This was the best shot I could get without being caught myself.
So big. So big. So big.



That is is little head by the wall in the stripped shirt.

Daddy day

Father's Day.

Can you believe it was the third father's day we have celebrated in our house.  I just. simply. cannot.

This year, the boys a I carried on our tradition of making daddy a plate. I enjoy letting Ayden go to town with his own decorations and then putting both hand prints on to memorialize the age. I wish I had a picture.....but I don't. Just take my word for it...it's cute ;)

Our friends Candice and Stacy were kind and awesome enough to include J and I in their father's day planning. So, we all sent the men to the Ritz for a round of golf and lunch. Word is they had a great time. I know J for one was in need of some good boy time.

After that he joined us at home for a home cooked meal. Gavin was his usual chipper chill self, greeting daddy when he got home...


                        

Gavin's shirt says "my daddy rocks"!

Daddy is the backbone of our family. He is the yin to mommy's yang. And he has had a very tough and trying year. He has been working his butt off in school, forcing him to be away from the family every other weekend. He took on a very large competitive proposal at work and diligently brought it over the line for Raytheon, despite 15 tornadoes and no power in Alabama. And probably hardest of all and throughout all of this, he has seen me through the last trimester of pregnancy, birth of a new child, sleep deprivation, keeping up with a 2 year old, support for my training (which led to a PR!) and the emotional roller coaster in between.

I have also noticed since Gavin's birth how close J and Ayden have become. Ayden loves him some daddy time. It is adorable. This bond and attention J has with the kids is a top three reason why I married him. I knew when the time came for kids, he would be a true partner and that was a must for me.

Do we struggle for balance?    We do.
Do we disagree at times?       We do.
But...
Do we put family first?        Always.

J is my husband, my best friend, and the best parenting partner I could ask for. My kids are forever blessed to have Jeremy as their "daddy".

= = = =

This father's day also had a tinge of sadness. This was the first father's day without my Grandpere. With tears in my eyes I write this to say how much I miss him; how much I miss his presence; and how much I love him. He was a wise, gentle grandfather with whom I shared some of my happiest childhood memories.

I often think when I look at my Gavin that he has an old man's soul; a peacefulness and tranquility that surmounts any I have seen. And from there I wonder if there isn't a little piece of Grandpere in there.

= = = =

Alas it would not be a father's day without mention of my own father! A man who has taught me so much. A man who I continue to learn from and look to for guidance. A man whose breadth of experience and knowledge seems almost unreal.

My dad and I have always had a special bond. Through thick and thin he holds this very special place in my heart that I think only a father/daughter can understand.

It is tough to be so far from him while my kids grow up before my eyes. I yearn for them to know and experience the kind, gentle, fun dad I grew up with. The coach who, despite many many fights, always pushed me to be better and tougher on the field =)

Though per usual these days, I am a little late, I'd like to wish a  belated HAPPY FATHERS DAY to the special men in my life and to every father out there. Being a parent (whether father or mother) is a gift...cherish it, because your kids cherish you.

Big bed for a big boy

It's a big day in the Riley house. Ayden can now get in and out of his bed by himself. There is no containing him :)