What the What??!!

May 2, 2011 - 2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, 2 days old :)




I don't know whose giggle I like more.

Just walking down the street, wearing her hat

Mary Lawton is mildly obsessed with bikes, most likely because Sweet LJ is mildly obsessed with bikes. She even likes her bike helmet, which she calls a "hat." This morning, ML and Sweet LJ were playing outside before we left for work and school. This is what I found when I went outside.

Sweet LJ is a machine.

Sweet LJ competed in his 2nd aquabike last Saturday, which consists of the swim (1500 meters) and bike (22 miles) portions of a triathlon. Mary Lawton and I did not attend this one, because it was nearly 2 hours away and started at 7:30 AM. We needed our beauty sleep (one of us in particular).

We're so proud of you!
My good-lookin' hubs.

Earth Day a little early

The church we've been attending encouraged everyone to bike or walk to church today in observance of Earth Day, so we did.
About 4 miles there, then we rode to lunch, and then home. We were hoping many people would bike to church, so that we wouldn't be the only ones underdressed. We saw one other family and another guy by himself. Oh well--we had lots of fun.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last Thanksgiving I ran a half marathon then cooked and hosted dinner for 8. This year I ran about 3 miles around the neighborhood, and then Sweet LJ and I went to Chateau Elan, where their chefs whipped up a lovely Thanksgiving feast for us.

We took our bikes and went on about a 1.5-hour bike ride when we got there. The hotel guy gave us a map and suggested a route that would take us around the grounds. The map was terrible and apparently the hotel guy never has ridden a bike around the Chateau Elan property. We went through several golf course neighborhoods, which were lovely, but filled with cul-de-sacs and locked gates. Eventually we made it back towards the inn and found this:

A four-story climbing wall. I wanted Sweet LJ to climb, but we noticed it was all locked up. I guessed it was a team-building ropes course, and I was right! Some kind of corporate team-building center. It wasn't just the climbing wall but a bunch of ropes courses in the trees and platforms, with signs along the way like this:

This one made me laugh. We needed this earlier when we had to turn around on yet another cul-de-sac.

Sweet LJ thought it was appropriate for me to pose with this one.

We made it back, tired and hungry, and checked in about an hour before our dinner reservation.

Before dinner, hungry and ready to eat. Thanks to my wonderful friend Kerri for sending me this dress!

After dinner looking tired from going through the buffet line too many times. Did I mention this was a huge buffet with everything you can imagine? Turkey, prime rib, dressing, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, butternut squash ravioli, caviar, crab legs, smoked salmon, and then the dessert table . . . Forget eating for 2. I ate for 4 or 5.

Friday morning we hiked on the nature trail around the property. It was cloudy and a little foggy, but beautiful.
The vineyards are right at the front of the property, which was very cool. After promising myself I wouldn't eat again for at least 4 days, we went to the breakfast buffet after the hike, and I ate. A lot. Again.

We stopped by the Mall of Georgia on the way back home so Sweet LJ could get a new Florida shirt to wear to the SEC championship game next Saturday. There were times I feared for my life--will I get trampled by the Abercrombie kids trying to make the last 15 minutes of the 25% off sale?--but we made it out safely. I even bought a few Christmas gifts.

We had such a wonderful trip. Thank you so much, my sweetest LJ! I'm so thankful to have you in my life and that soon we'll have a sweet little girl join our family.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday filled with peace, happiness, and thanksgiving.

Sunday bike ride

To Starbucks and a walk around Decatur's shops


I haven't ridden in weeks (maybe months?) and it was tough. Before we left, Sweet LJ let me know he was putting extra air in my tires to compensate, you know, for the extra weight. He's so funny!

Another festival

Even though it's not quite fall, it is fall festival season in ATL. Today Sweet LJ and I rode bikes to Stone Mountain to walk around the Yellow Daisy Festival. I'm not usually one for "arts" and/or "crafts" festivals, but this was a pretty good time. There was the usual really bad art, but there was also very cute baby clothing--mostly darling monogrammed and appliqued dresses. Sweet LJ said a couple of times, "too bad we don't know yet. Too bad." (Too bad we don't know the sex yet. He really wanted to buy a little knitted cap.)

We saw a woman with a tiny baby, and Sweet LJ asked the mom how old the baby was. One week old! And the mom was out, looking really good, with the baby very snug in her BabyBjorn. I was impressed and hope I'll feel that well and not-overwhelmed to get out a week later.

I'm really tired now. I hope Valdosta enjoys the exercise, because some days it really kicks me in the butt.

Val went to a book festival

We rode bikes to the Decatur Book Festival on Sunday, and it was bor.ing. Most of the tents weren't open yet (maybe there's a blue law about book festival opening hours), and those that were seemed to be selling one vanity press title each. [yawn] Now that I'm actually looking at the schedule, I see we got there too early.

We had a fun Labor Day weekend of football, eating, running, cycling, and yard work. Oh, and we went to see Tropic Thunder, which I didn't think was the funniest movie ever, like Andrew told me it was. But it was funny. Perhaps the most thrilling part of the weekend was Chick-fil-a's free chicken strips giveaway on Monday. I love you, Truett Cathy!

New baby Ian

Today we visited some friends to meet their new baby, Ian. Ian is now six weeks old and tiny--very, very tiny--but I never thought to ask how much he weighs, just marveled at how newborn he looked. Sweet LJ was scared to hold him, I think because he was so little. Ian is very cute and sweet, and he pooped while I held him. (This happens to me a lot. I must give off a bowel-relaxing vibe to babies.) We're very happy for Ian's family. What a wonderful new addition.

Sweet and LJ and I rode bikes to Ian's house, and then we rode to lunch. I kept reminding myself that I'd have to ride home and not to eat too much, but I still ate a little too much. I guess it was about 14 miles in all. These days Sweet LJ rides very slowly with me so I can breathe. My days of kicking his ass on all the hills are over (for now).