Lady Birds Fly

This afternoon I am shoving off with my girlfriends for our annual weekend get-a-way up north.

Seriously, I can’t wait.

Nothing to do but do nothing.

Oh sweet lord, I’m giddy.

SUCK IT old man winter

I think I have done it.  I think I have done the dumbest thing to date since college.

Our sweet little state has not seen temperatures this cold in five years.  This morning at 5:00 am the temperature was -20 and the windchill was -40.

Some of our running group decided the night before to run, even though our normal cut off is -20 windchill.  I mean really, at what point does it even matter as long as you are dressed right?

So this morning we found out.  And we found out it was not too bad.  In fact, with the exception of the darkness, silence (except the wind) and overwhelming feeling of desolation (it would have been a great back drop for the movie The Road) it was great.

What do you wear in -40 windchill?

Here is what I decided on:

• winter hat
• 2 face masks
• Vaseline on my exposed eye skin
• tops: 1 thermal, 1 smart wool tank, 1 fleece jacket, 1 wind resistant jacket and Adam’s shell just in case
• bottoms:  wind shorts, tights and my sub zero pants
• 2 pairs of smart wool socks
• gloves: 1 pair thin wool and 1 pair heavy mittens
• running shoes

Take that winter.

Erika

I just realized today that Erika is the one person, next to my kids, who I photograph the most.

And since today is her birthday, I would like to show you a few of my favorites.  It was a hard decision, there are so many.

Happy 36th birthday beautiful girl!

To Levitate

Air Dog

to float, rise, rise into the air, hover, be suspended, glide, hang, fly, or soar up…even if just for a second, Big P caught some serious air.

This morning’s run

Megan’s virgin cold weather run

Big M (the woman in red) is the newest addition to our running group. She use to run on her treadmill during the winter months…until she met us.

Nice work everyone, -15 wind chill is not so bad after all.

The white haze in the photo is the heat from my hand, I could not get away from it.

Crazy Cold

So our little running group has a cold cut off…it is -20 wind chill.  And this morning, depending on what web site you decided to look at, we hit it.

Since I’ve been having a little bit of a motivational issue as of late, I was actually looking forward to the cold.  Seriously, you do have to be a bit off to do it, but once you have, you feel like you can brave the world AND WIN.

Needless to say, at 5:01 am we were all emailing back and forth in a frenzy and we decided to bag it.

All except Todd and he lives to tell the tale.

And here

is what Lucy did during the party.

Unfortunately The Bickersons had a babysitter bail and could not make it AND THEN were kind enough to let the dog have a sleep over.

Thanks again!

Soiree

Every so many years, we decide to throw a holiday party.  These parties strangely enough usually coincide with me being pregnant.   However, this year, it did not…thank God.

I am usually really good about capturing events with my camera but this time I don’t have a lot to show for myself.  This might be my favorite of the few I have.  Or this.  I don’t know, there are a few others but I was just too busy drinking Old Fashions to remember.

Anyway.  This Soiree, that brought some of our closest and dearest people together for one night, to drink till they were silly, eat till they were full and just plain old enjoy each others company while in cocktail dresses, was a success in so many ways.

Most of all, it reminds me how lucky I am to be surround by so many wonderful people.

Cheers!

Thanksgiving turkey + nuts = funny

It always gives me just a touch of peace when I find out my 3rd grade boy isn’t the only kid thinking these things are funny.

Lunch & coffee with Mrs. Bickerson

Whit headed off to have lunch with girls yesterday.  Here’s a glimps of it.

And today, Lucy and I went over for a little doggy playdate.  I can’t believe I did not take any pictures.  Needless to say, Lucy has been sound asleep for the past two hours.

Thanks Whit!