Thanksgiving and Granny Teri's Visit

We had a great Turkey day visit from Teri (Trav's mom)!

Travis fried the turkey....

And Teri helped carve (and pick at the skin!)...

And a picture of my first official thanksgiving formal table in my new dining room!

We are so grateful Teri made the long drive to come see us and spend a few precious days! Can;t wait to see you soon!

Day After....

I have to take something back. I said in my previous post I was thankful for alcohol. This morning I am NOT thankful for tequila. HOwever, I am very thankful for advil and coffee!

Thankful

This is the time of year we all feel very thankful for the big and little things in our lives. Of course I could provide a list of thousands of items, but after much thought, deliberation and a few drinks, I have narrowed down my "thankful list" to the following 4 items.

1. FAMILY - they know me and STILL love me. They make me laugh and cry. My family and our closeness provides hope for the future of my children that a strong family unit IS possible and thriving in this modern time.

2. FRIENDS - I definitely have the best friends. I can honestly say my girlfriends are always there for me no matter what. My girlfriends are also some of the craziest people I know which makes our times together exciting and fun. If nothing else my friends provide a standard or control (in the experimental sense) for being crazy. If ever I think I might be losing my mind, I generally call one of my girlfriends and realize, I am not so crazy afterall!

Tracy trying to pop my head off with her biceps

Notice Diana trying to take me out on this water slide

3. RUNNING and TRIATHLONS - I know this seems silly but this year I competed (and did well) in 2 half marathons, 3 triathlons (one olympic distance) and too many running races to count (both with and without the stroller). Running as part of NCRC is something my whole family can do together, promoting a healthy lifestyle for our kids. My tri's are mine and give me a sense of accomplishment and pride. More importantly I am healthier than I have ever been and that is a wonderful feeling.

4. ALCOHOL and PHARMACEUTICS - yea I know I joke about this but I am truly thankful for the advances of modern medicine and the ability of brewmasters to discover a method of brewing lower calorie and lower carb beer. My friend recently introduced me to MGD 64 and I think I am in love. With only 64 calories, I can have twice as many!

This is Aunt Margie still loving me after we had a "few" of the above mentioned items

So this thursday, as I am at home with my family (after running the 8K turkey trot at 8am!), cooking dinner, drinking wine with my mother in law, and talking on the phone with my girlfriends I will feel peaceful and happy as I stop and purposefully take a moment to be thankful for all I have. And then a child will pummell me in the crotch with his/her head....

Happy Early Thanksgiving!

We celebrated thanksgiving on Sunday with Anji's parents - the Bhuta way!

Me and Nana - right after she told me my face is "not skinny"

A beautifully Set table

Does anyone else see the irony in the vegetarian carving the turkey?

Ready to eat

Who doesn't love crazy Uncle Matt?

We are so thrilled he is officially part of the family!

Awwwww...

Raking Leaves - Kids Style

This is the first year that we had fun raking the leaves as the kids really got into it.

My little helpers

Get to work you two!

Now time for some fun!

Sweet Girl

So those of you who know me, know I embrace every minute of "girlieness" I have with my daughter. She is head-to-toe girl, from loving everything pink and princess to the attituide and drama. Here are some of the pictures I took this weekend while she was taking care of her baby.

Holiday Cookies and Ode (Hilsen) to Margie

Holiday Cookies - First Batch

So we kicked off the holiday season by making our first batch of cookies - sugar cookies with purple sugar on top. I know they are the simplest to make but my kids LOVE these the most. Of course this involved licking the beaters (at the risk of contracting salmonella poisoning from the raw eggs, but this is what it's all about, right?!)

Hilsen Margie

So, this is an e-shout-out to Margie in Norway. You will be thrilled to learn that Sammy knows Mikes and also loves it! Here we get a variety pack of all the flavors and she couldn't wait to dig in!

We miss you margie & cannot wait to "drink a few Mike's" with you next year!

Diwali and Firemen

Last weekend was a fun Diwali (festival of Lights) celebration at Brier Creek and of course we took the opportunity to dress up the kids. Notice Sammy's expressions - she has such a big attitude for a little girl!

Also, Friday was volunteer day at the kids' school so they wore their firemen hats, and were very proud! Again notice Sammy's attitude!

Slight Flight Scare and Anji Drama

This week I had an interesting experience travelling to the West Coast for business. Here's the story. We layed over in Houston, and I barely made my connection. As I sat down and looked at the guy next to me who had just been released from some sort of mental institution as was determined by the MULTIPLE hospital bracelets on his wrist. Also he was apparently on some sort of hallucinogenic medication as he continued for the entire trip to wonder why people kept "tapping him on the shoulder." So we are airborne and all of the sudden the O2 masks drop. The pilot gets on the PA and says, "we are having some trouble with the air pressure in the cabin." (NO Shit!) "It appears the door has opened and we are leaking air. So we will turn around and make an emergency landing."

Ok I think I can handle this no biggie, so we'll just be delayed. The the pilot says, "and because of the amouunt of fuel we have on board we will be making a "hard emerency landing and there will be emergency vehicles waiting for us on he runway in case we blow a tire and there is a fire."

Hmm not getting better at this point. Now the crazy guy next to me (who also by the way has very little regard for basic personal hygeine) starts freaking out and reading the instructions on how to open the emegency door, which I forgot to mention, I am sitting next to! Finally, I told him to shut up and sit the hell back down - I think made him cry in his fragile mental state.

We landed, it was hard (my butt still hurts) and we did blow a tire so the firetrucks doused us with fire retardant foam. then we taxi'ed to a gate and sat there forever while Continental figured out what to do with us. Being the drama queen I am I immediately got out my laptop and wrote the following as a message to my kids and husband. You know all the things you don't put in a will. So here's my official advice to my kids if something ever were to happen (depressing I know). In true airline fashion, after 90 minutes the flight attendants announced that "the door if fixed and we will be taking off for san jose in 10 minutes!" yippee?

To my Kids

• In this world there will be people you do not like, do not get along with and even hate. Above all I want you to respect the rights of others and recognize that even though you may not agree others deserve your respect.


• You two are very smart and have the capability to achieve and master anything you put your mind to. Once you set a goal do everything you can to achieve it, nothing is more satisfying than knowing you have achieved something you set out to do. Additionally think very carefully about all social. Sports and work commitments. You should never fall through on a commitment you have made.
  
• Laughter is the BEST medicine. No matter how difficult, please actively seek to find humor in all situations and your daily routine.
  
• Your family is the most important people in your life yesterday, now and forever. Friends and lovers may come and go but family is forever. Especially siblings.

To my Sweet Sammy

• Being a woman in this time is a powerful thing. Please use your power for good and work .to make an impact on others and mankind with your intelligence and drive. It is a fine but extremely powerful balance to mastering feminine and charming while standing your ground and commanding respect from your peers. A key to this is active listening and speaking confidently and eloquently.


• You are beautiful inside and out. Embrace this and love yourself before you fall in love with anyone else. The most attractive thing any boy will ever love about you is your confidence in yourself and your self-respect.
  
• Please always dress well. Nothing slutty ever looks nice. If I am not around and you need help, find a group of close friends that will give you honest opinions.
  
• Speaking of close friends, strive to surround yourself with quality people – friends that are there for you in tough time and who you would reciprocate for if they were in need. In tough times you may not feel comfortable talking to me, dad or grandma, but you should always talk to someone. Find these people that are good listeners and strive to do this for them when needed!
  

To my special Jason

• Man you are smart! Please work to harness this and apply it to something that will make you happy and make a significant impact on society
  You have my permission and I encourage you to find the things in life that truly make you happy and pursue this to the fullest.


• Always believe in yourself, and know that your dad and mom have been through all of the difficult emotions and decisions that you are facing. You can always call Uncle Brian or Uncle David if you have something you want to discuss confidentially. I have their word that they would not tell your mom and dad unless you were physically in danger.


• Please always treat women with respect, even if they are mean or gross, you still owe them respect as a human being.


• Know that I am always proud of you and that you could do nothing that would disappoint me or make me stop loving you.
  

To my Travis

• I love you, but more importantly I adore you and respect you as a wonderful person, father and husband. I am proud of your code of ethics and your ability to stand firm on your personal beliefs and policies


• What I want for you no matter what in life is to BE HAPPY. Do what makes you happy and surround yourself with good people, as you do now


• Also please always wear nice pants and shirts that look good on you, and encourage the kids to dress nicely as well. If I leave any one legacy behind please let it be of good fashion, and laughter!
  
• I know it wont be easy but if I am not around, please care for my parents as I would. Make sure they maintain a close relationship with the children – this is important to me.


• Please teach Jason and Samantha to love someone as deeply and unconditaionally and with respect as you love me
  
• Encourage the kids to talk to Brian and David, Sarah or Elizabeth as necessary with no strings attached if they do not feel comfortable talking to you. I want the kids to feel like they have a network of people that surround them and all love them.

Concert on Sunday 11/16, 4pm NCSU

My symphony has our fall concert on Sunday! Please come and hear some great music!






DETAILS:



The Raleigh Civic Symphony Association in conjunction with Music@NCState proudly present: RALEIGH CIVIC SYMPHONY Randolph Foy, ConductorNovember 16, 4 PM, Stewart Theatre, NCSU

Premieres I
Hector Berlioz - King Lear Overture
Carl Schimmel - Piano Concerto (premiere) Blair McMillen, guest soloist
Franz Schubert - Symphony in B minor (unfinished) with final movement from "Rosamunde"


Tickets: $10 Adults, $5 Students, Children Under 12 FREEAvailable at Ticket Central or 919-515-1100For more information, visit http://www.ncsu.edu/rcs

Introduction and First Post

I have been looking for a way to chronicle my life's struggles, humorous embarassments and general acheivements. Mostly for my kids in the future to read but also for my own benefit so that I do not lose perspective of all that I have and all that I have become through this crazy thing called life.

I titled the blog wanna-be superwoman becuase I have always strived for perfection and have difficulty saying no to others. I pack my days chock-full with activities starting at 5am and finishing when we all pass out at night. It often seems I am building skills for life that are important but do not belong on a professional resume, so I am going to start keeping a real-life resume. My initial qualifications are as follows:

Work Experience

• A mom to 2 beautiful children
• A wife of 7 years to a wonderful husband
• A senior quality engineer which keeps things interesting and pays the bills
• A runner
• triathlete, competing in sprint and olympic distances
• A road cyclist with a continual supply of matching outfits
• A violinist playing in the Raleigh Symphony for 10 years now
• A housekeeper (well sort of)
• An avid fashion consultant to my family and friends
• Reality TV junkie
• Avid Reader, book club member
• Expert Online shopper (as certified by amazon.com)

Skills

• ability to find the humor in most any situation, even when its inappropriate
• extreme sarcasm
• negotiating skills (I almost always win)
• Ability to talk "potty talk" with my children in attempt to appear as a "cool" parent
• can juggle 5 bags of groceries, 2 sippy cups, half eaten lollipops, and a 2 year old and 5 year old in the bathroom at the local grocery store while retreiving wipes and hand sanitizer from my diaper bag while simultaneously talking on the phone trying to make plans for later that afternoon
• have yet to lose my kids in a public area (trust me this is a HUGE accomplishment)
• Regardless of time of day I can always drink a martini - I also make a darn good margarita (sauza!)
• Have obtained an insane amount of information about HD and its technical specifications and associated peripherals via the process of osmosis data transfer from my husband
• ability to bullshit in almost any situation

So that's a little sneak peak into my current skill set. I intend to use this blog to communicate about my favorite things which are my family, friends, traithlons, cocktails, music, TV, and other misc items. Please enjoy and feel free to comment whener you feel appropriate (or not - that's funnier anyway).