Halling Go To Alaska

I failed this year at maintaining my weekly pictures.  But I'm going to recap my year with basically one picture a month that represents something significant that happened. January My last grandparent died on January 9th.   Granny was an amazing woman.   She is missed by many.  February I found this.  I haven't looked back. :) I spent many evenings right here.  Relaxing.   March Beautiful yet cold hike down to Emerald Bay.  April Oh look! Baby chicks!  May Ran the Rock N River half marathon.  Lynn and Beki joined me for races that day.  June I love this picture of the girls.  They were so happy this evening.   Running around, climbing, playing with chickens, eating.  You know, being kids.  I was happy this evening.   July Oh look! Kai joined the family! And we had a family reunion in Delaware.  Complete with bonfire on the beach.  August What a perfect picture for summer.  September All that ...

The level 5 team (plus the one level 6 girl) This one? Placed 5th overall.  She just turned 12 so she was in a "12+" age group for the first time.  All these girls around her were so old looking!  Very proud of her.  Oh the cute death.   Probably one of her best tuck jumps I've ever seen.  She kicked ass on vault.  Placed 1st.   Coaches explained that her form wasn't the best but the one thing she overpowered everyone on was the speed of her run.   Very proud of this one too.  

I promised out takes from the various photo shoots I did trying to get their annual pictures taken.  I love these girls.  They drive me crazy...beyond crazy some days, but I they are keepers.  This was the best one of the The Oldest Girl from the first shoot.  Yes...if you know gymnastics you see the bent knees and flexed toes.   (coach! turn your eye off!) This one was sweet, but I wanted a sister picture with all three.  They were so silly that afternoon.  Very giggly.  Have you seen Brave?  The part where the king is imitating his impression of his daughter?  The girls love this part.  Granted not all were smiling here, but it made me laugh.   And then we had sad faces.   Apathetic faces.  Confused faces.  These were amusing with Boo, the guinea pig. 

For the past 3 years I have taken the girls' annual pictures.  I started this when they were schooled at home and there were no school pictures to document.  And since I didn't plan well, all three have birthdays in the fall, so it sorta works out. Well, I've been slacking about getting them done.  Between joint custody, a busy schedule, random illnesses and poor weather, I was having trouble getting motivated to do it. I got the Oldest Girl's done shortly after her birthday in October, but then the other two?  Eh.  So today was a "professional development day" for the teachers and all the kids were off today.  So I told the girls, after letting them sleep in (and me), that I wanted them to dress nice but warm as The Middle Girl wanted to have her pictures taken on the steps of the capital building.  So they got dressed and brushed and cleaned.  I put no requirements on their clothing choices.  I gave them some pointers about what might look ...

Let me ask you a question.  Let's say that you are home making dinner and watching TV and waiting for company to arrive for dinner.  Your phone...which is *usually* attached to you...which most people know...is in the other room.  But you're cooking dinner and anticipating the company that will soon arrive and you miss a phone call or a text saying that someone completely different than your company is planning on stopping by...and then they just show up.  On your doorstep.  Or they *say* they tried to call you but your phone shows no record of a missed call.  Does it matter who that somebody is?  Would it bother you if it was your parents or other family?  Possibly.  If your parents/family are annoying and intrusive.  Would it bother you if it was your best friend from out of town?  Possibly.  If your best friend knew your expected company and they didn't get along.  Would it bother you if it was a local friend?  Pos...

It's been over two months since I last posted something that was not my weekly pictures.  I'm glad I've kept up on those otherwise this poor blog would be very lonely. A little update.  We have a final court date for the divorce set for June 19th.   The girls have adapted well to the week-to-week schedule change.  I don't think they've had any glitches to speak of in forgetting things at the wrong house, so that's good.  The girls are in weekly counseling, which I think has a lot to do with their adaptation to the new routine.  The 11yo is still in gymnastics.  The 9yo has decided swimming is not what's for her.  I'm waiting to hear back from a local dance studio because she wants to take tap lessons.  The 6yo has joined preteam for gymnastics and is thrilled beyond belief to be going to gym twice a week and working out with the team.  I can't believe how big my baby is getting. I ran my first race since Tough Mudder last Sunday with Bek...

Perspective.  I've acquired a lot of it over my life.  Wisdom comes with age, right? This last year has been full of perspective and enlightenment about myself.  Realizing things I didn't know.  Or more accurately didn't want to admit.  I hate being wrong.  I think most people do.  Having kids taught me that if I expected them to own up to their mistakes that I had to walk the walk.  When I mess up with them? I lose my temper, I forget to do something I said I would do, I do something that hurts their hearts?  I apologize.  Because they need to know that it's okay be human and make mistakes.  We all do.  And it's okay.  But be honest. What I also hope to teach them...and I think the only way to teach is through action...is that you have to trust but you must do so carefully and wisely.  And you can't have the wisdom to be cautious until you've been hurt.  And the ones you least expect to hurt you are probably the...

This is new year.  It will continue to be one of transition.  One of honing in on what I want for me...for my girls.  One of continuing to do my best for them and being true to myself.  This morning didn't start out as I had hoped.  My day wasn't bright and shiny.  Though I desperately wanted it to be. But I have plans for this year.  I have fun to be had with my girls.  Fun to be had with my family.  Fun to be had with friends.  Trips to take.  Races to run.  Races to train for.  Hookers to hang with.  Most likely moving to happen.  Ending of the old and having new beginnings.   Another year older.  Another year wiser. This was the first year that I've looked forward to the new year.  I'm not a huge holiday person.  New Year's Eve for me has always been a good excuse to get together with friends and family and party and laugh and be merry.  But this year?  There is a deeper figurati...