Youhavegottobekiddingme Part III

My first Youhavegottobekiddingme post was on April 16th, 2011.  It was followed up four days later by Youhavegottobekiddingme part II. 

Now, almost exactly two years later, it is time for the third installment.  Well, really, it probably should be like the 5th installment, but I held off this month thinking it couldn't possibly last much longer.  I was wrong.

Callie has been sick so I stayed home with her today.  She got a new umbrella that, unfortunately, we had to try out today.  Here she is at about 12:30pm.

And then it was naptime and I was in the basement and oblivious to what was happening outside.

Here is what it looked like outside at 4:00pm today.

I'm pretty sure it is April 18th.  And I'm pretty sure that this weather is ridiculous.

Boston

I don't know the statistics on the percentage of people who actually train for and finish full marathons, but I imagine the percentage isn't very high.

I'm proud to say I'm one of those people who have done it.

I did it with a group of friends/co-workers who were my biggest motivators and supporters through the whole training process.

It was October 2008.  We had trained for 18 weeks (not counting the training for the half marathon we did in May 2008).  We had put in blood, sweat, and tears through countless hours of training runs to get our bodies ready for 26.2 miles.

The day came and we were incredibly nervous and extremely excited to see if our training would pay off.

Dozens of friends and family members came to cheer us on, finding us at many different points throughout the race and ending at the finish line.

We did it.

All I have been able to think about since this afternoon is what happened in Boston today.  I think of the 23,000 people who went through all the months of training just like we did in 2008.  I think of all of the family members and friends who were there to cheer them on.  And I think about the finish line, a place that is supposed to be the symbol of pride in an amazing goal achieved, now a place of horror, fear, and destruction. 

I just can't imagine.

So, I pray.  And give thanks for my blessings. And try and have a little perspective about the things going on in my life.

I saw this on Facebook today and it touched me.  If there is anything good that can come out of tragedies like this, it is the reminder that there are so many more good people in the world than bad.

Sending many thoughts, prayers and love to those in Boston today.

Weekend Wrap-Up: The What Month Is It Again? Edition

Remember last April?

Sunshine.  Dandelions. Short-sleeved shirts.

Yeah, that isn't what it looks like this April at all.  We have barely even SEEN the grass, let alone have the grass ready to grow dandelions yet. 

The mood around Minnesota is CRABBY, and our neighbor made this snowman yesterday in protest.

The fact that we got enough snow in the middle of April for a snowman this big is ridiculous.

 My birthday is in 10 days.  All I want for my birthday is spring. 

Anyway, on to the weekend...

Saturday
We took Kona for a walk (she's not happy about this white crap on the ground either).

At least someone can smile about this.

I spent the rest of Saturday afternoon at a workshop while Callie spend it at G-ma and G-pa's house.  Then Adrea came over for dinner and play time.  And we spent a good amount of time moaning about the weather.  And playing hide-and-seek.

Sunday
After Sunday school and lunch with Jenna and Charlie, Callie had nap time while I went on a Gosselin girls' outing to Como Conservatory.  We got to escape the miserable weather and enjoy lush plant life and beautiful flowers.

The vibrant colors were amazing!

Tonight we went over to the condo and hung out with Boom, Bops, Auntie Yoda and Auntie Mari.  When she's over there, she never slows down, obviously.

Running in circles with Auntie Mari

Stretching with Auntie Yoda

Galloping in a circle with Mari, Yoda and Bops

Hamsie Update: 26 weeks!  I had a doctor's appointment on Friday and everything is good.  I was measured with the tape measure for the first time and measured 28 cm.  I think that the number of centimeters is supposed to correspond with how many weeks along you are, so I'm measuring a little ahead.  No surprise there.  I go back this Friday for my one-hour glucose test.  According to my baby center app, she is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid which is essential for lung development.  She's about 1 2/3 pounds and 14 inches long. 

I'm enjoying using my stomach as a shelf to set things on.  It is very convenient.  I'm not as much enjoying the shortness of breath that seems to occur more often when I exert energy.  And it is getting harder for Callie to sit on my lap- she needs to sit to the side of me now.  Tonight I had both her and Kona up with me, and Hamsie was most definitely squished.

 
Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

Happy Friday!!

It is April 12th and it has been snowing off and on in MN the past couple of days. 

BLECH.

But it will just make spring that much sweeter, right?

Here are my pics for the week:

Favorite Thing #1: The park (pre-snow)

Favorite Thing #2: Not needing to feel like a helicopter parent at the park any more

Favorite Thing #3: Toddler concentration

Favorite Thing #4: Daddy's hair salon

Favorite Thing #5: Toddler play and imagination

Have a great weekend!

Are You Smarter Than a Toddler? QOTD

So this exchange happened during bath time tonight:

Me: (looking at the shark on the left) Oooh!  Look at that cool striped shark.  That looks like a tiger shark!
Callie: That's not a tiger shark!  A tiger shark has spots!


And then I googled it.

A Tiger Shark

Hi.  I'm Kati, and I am NOT smarter than a toddler.

Similes

My 5th graders were working on similes today, and their task was to write a simile about a teacher.

They (of course) picked me.  And then I got nervous.  This is what they came up with:

"Mrs. Gosselin is as slow as a turtle."

I'll take it.  It could have been much worse.

At the Park: Then and Now

We have a great park within walking distance to our house that you have probably seen many pictures of over the years.

We went to that park this afternoon for the first time since last fall.  Every year that we go there for the first time in months, I'm amazed at how much Callie has changed and can do since being there last.  Living in the day-to-day craziness of parenthood and toddlerhood, the changes don't seem to register as anything major.  But times like this remind me of what a difference a few months (and a few years!) makes on little people.

Here is Callie on her favorite park swing in back in 2010 and today in 2013.  Crazy.