Thanks a lot, Influenza

 2015 is here and my resolution is clearly NOT to get back to regular posting. My free time most days is somewhere between 13 and 22 minutes. Paul is working crazy hours and I'm doing my best to be  mom, teacher, mentor, wife, housekeeper, chef, chauffeur, maid, runner, homework tutor, therapist, counselor, etc.  

This full overflowing  plate of responsibility and commitment leaves me too exhausted most days to be a writer. It mostly just leaves me exhausted.

I looked at Paul last weekend and sincerely asked, "Shouldn't we be getting weekends? Our kids aren't old enough for weekend long tournaments or crazy sports schedules. How are we so busy with chores, errands, work, and life that we have scheduled away all of our time?!?" 

His response: "Yeah. I don't know. But this sucks."

True dat, husband. TRUE. DAT. 

 

a rare moment of free time - we spent 30 minutes last Sunday evening doing something just for FUN. Firepit S'mores.

So January rolled in uneventfully enough and all was well (ish. well-ish. exhausting but well. ish.). Until this week, when the universe decided to FORCE us to slow down. 

(ENTER: INFLUENZA).

side note: I've been singing 'Influenza' to my students to the tune of  'Interjections' a la School House Rocks. "INFLUENZA! You'll have a fever, and a headache, and generally means you can't come to school and parents use exclamation points . . . " 

But I digress. We've got the fever, people. Emma officially went down Tuesday - fever and respiratory stuff - but her illness was rather mild. She broke the fever on her own and was able to be in school on Thursday afternoon. 

  

Emma voluntarily napping should have been my first clue that she was sick. 

I was home with her on Wednesday and was feeling rather smug about my nursing abilities since I thought that I cured my child in less than 18 hours. I really shouldn't take credit - that girls bounces back like rubber.

 

I cured this child in less than 24 hours. In the 1600's, I would have been accused of witchcraft for such healing powers.  

Thursday afternoon, I got a visit in my classroom from the school nurse - Lexi was sick. A fever and tummy ache meant Daddy picked her up from school and I got to use another sick day the next day (today). Bonus - she only threw up once and I was still at work, so Paul had to clean it up. #WorkingMomForTheWin. 

Poor Lulu isn't kicking this virus quite so quickly as her sister. She's been fighting intermittent fevers, chills, headaches, and stomachaches for more than 24 hours now. She's a trooper though. 

In a way I'm thankful. Taking a few days to step back from work and emails and errands and dance class has been just the respite I needed. I didn't know how run down and behind on things I was - sitting around your house for a few consecutive days with a sick kiddo camping on your couch (instead of running around like a wild hyena) affords one the time to start - AND FINISH - a project. I've also been able to talk to my family using nice words instead of giving staccato demands. I needed this time to chill out, truthfully.

I really am just trying to say Thank You (??) to Influenza A. 

Weird, but true.

What's on my phone

 My phone photos . . . most often the only camera I have with me. Here is the December round up:

 Dunaway Family Christmas!

The girls had a great time playing dress up and playing with their American Girl dolls; Trey had fun building legos without female interference.

Prior to Christmas, we were super busy with the kids' activities, work obligations, Christmas parties, getting our house in perfect condition (more to come on that later . . . ) and putting in a new water heater (not planned). THIS NIGHT: 

 was the first night we were able to sit down and relax in about two weeks. A night of watching "Love Actually" while snuggled up and splitting a bottle of wine was my idea of a perfect Christmas date night. Sweat pants are the new Little Black Dress when you are 30.

Paul took the few days prior to Christmas off from work and we were able to sneak in a movie during one afternoon. The popcorn was a huge hit! Big Hero 6 wasn't bad either. 

Two Sundays before Christmas, the girls attended the cheerleading clinic at school. They had so much fun and I had two worn out little ladies that night! 

Supper With Santa

 We took the girls to Supper With Santa and Illuminations at Botanica this year and it was wonderful. We picked the night they had pizza (because . . . well, because they would actually eat that) and after eating were able to snap some sweet photo ops before exploring the gardens. 

The girls were obsessed with having their pictures taken with Elsa. I'm not sure what she was doing with her hand here and clearly Emma wasn't sure either - she was trying to mimic the hand placement. It was too funny!

 The girls patiently waited in line for their turn to see Santa. Lexi marched right up and without batting an eyelash told him her name and answered all questions about what she wanted for Christmas (Isabelle, the American Girl doll and Raven Queen, from Ever After High, dress up items). 

 

Emma was pretty unsure about the whole process. She REFUSED to sit on Santa's lap, but was just fine standing next to his chair. This was her first time to see Santa and I think the whole thing confused her. When he asked what she wanted for Christmas she couldn't think of much so she said "Blaze and the Monster Machines" which super confused poor Santa.

Walking the gardens during Illuminations is always fun for Paul and me - he proposed there during Illuminations way back in 2005 and we had our wedding reception at Botanica in 2007. It feels like nothing and everything has changed when we go back.

2005:

2007:

2014:

 

 It was a beautiful winter night! I love that we get to share this place with our children and relive a very special night over and over again each year!

Merry Christmas 2014

 Our Christmas season was super busy this year, but our Christmas Eve and Day were spent at home this year. It was a wonderful, simple day! 

The girls each got new big fluffy bathrobes with their Christmas Eve pajamas and I I don't think Emma has taken hers off yet! 

Christmas morning, the girls "slept in" until 6:45! They were so excited to come down and see if Santa had come - and, of course, he did!

One of the major items on Lexi's wishlist this year had been the American Girl Doll, Isabelle. Emma, always wanting to be just like her big sister, would echo that she wanted an "American Doll" also. 

This is a face of sheer joy! Lexi screamed in such high tones that it made no sound when she unwrapped the doll.

 AGES ago, I ordered Anna and Elsa dresses for the girls and I was so excited to see if they liked them come Christmas morning. I think the fact that I could spend 20 minutes every night mending the dresses can attest to their popularity. Both girls wore the dresses for the next 48 hours straight! 

 

 Later in the morning, my parents came over and brought a few presents for the girls to open. Emma's big gift this year was a bike. She was very excited until she realized it was going to require her to actually do some work to make the contraption move. She quit after about 12 minutes of not being pushed down the street. No worries, we will get her there come springtime. :)

The day ended with a massive feast. This beautiful, well-buttered beast was a perfect centerpiece to end a wonderful Christmas.

Turkey Trot 2014

The 10 mile Turkey Trot might be one of my favorite races. You get a shirt, a free turkey, and 10 miles is challenging distance without messing with your head. This year was a bit warm and rainy, but after last year's 18 degree temps, I'll take upper 50's and wet clothes. 

No records were going to be set this day. Paul and I had gone to a wedding of some of our friends from college the night before and even though we took it easy, beers were still had and I don't think they mean cupcakes when they talk about carb-loading.

The wedding was fun, and it was nice to see people I haven't seen since college but man, I felt old that night. Several times they would play a song and everyone would jump onto the dance floor and I'd be left at the table thinking: "I don't know this song. How did all these people learn how to do this dance? Should I be concerned that the bride's grandma can 'wobble' and I, well IDK. I just IDK!" 

Also someone made a joke about an "8 ball" and I was like, "Oh I don't play pool" but really they were joking about drugs. Yup, I'm old and a bit of a square, but that's part of my charm. 

We called it a night at 9:15. 

Old. Nerds.

The next morning was race day. Thankfully the race wasn't until 9:30. Beer and Cupcakes.

The girls decided to level down to the 2 mile to help with a recovering knee injury. Paul and I went ahead with the 10 mile because I'm on a mission to burn calories to offset my wine and cupcake intake. Paul ran with me again this year because . . . well because of beer. He drank beers the night before and that was enough to slow him down to my more modest pace.

 

 

I tried really hard to look for the photographers and smile(ish) this year - normally they catch me when I am grimacing or using my shirt to wipe sweat from my forehead (I'm so Fancy). 

My girls never let me down and they met us at mile 6 to run us in to the finish line.

 FINISH LINE! 

Official time: 1:29:08  8:55/mile

NO-vember

 In the early days of this blog, I used to feel bad if I didn't update weekly. NOW, I feel bad for that poor girl from 2009. I don't feel true blog-neglect guilt until I'm down to a monthly post. Which is this post. 2019 me will be laughing her buns off reading this - we will be lucky to get a yearly update if I follow my current rate of decline. 

November has been a blur. But here are the highlights.

The first weekend I spent in Chicago with my mom, sister, sister-in-law, and brother. It was a fantastic opportunity to spend time together and indulge in a lot of retail therapy. We stayed in downtown Chicago one night and spent the other at their house in North Chicago. 

 

 Momma T and I - just boarded the flight! We were so excited to be getting away! 

 Having drinks on the 96th floor of the Hancock Building was awesome. I sat right on the window - my leg was touching the glass. I'm not at all afraid of heights (thank goodness!) and it was amazing to be able to look straight down the side of the building.

American Girl: This store is my happy place. I'm 30 and I still drooled over the Samantha doll accessories the same as I did when I was 8. Never grow up.

 a "little" retail therapy

 And some running therapy. 11 miles along base, beach, and trail (at triple the elevation I'm used to!) didn't do much for my IT band, but getting to hang out with my 'little' brother for a couple hours was great. I'm trying to talk him into running a race with me next year!

The next weekend was devoted to Christmas decorations. Now, many of you might be under the impression that Thanksgiving has to pass before Christmas can begin. I call you amateurs. Thanksgiving is a meal - a delicious one, true. In fact, it's my favorite meal. But once November 1st rolls around, Christmas season is GAME ON. We were late to the party this year and waited until the 2nd weekend to Deck our Halls.

 It turned out to be perfect timing, too - 3 inches of snow fell Saturday night. 

Snow outside+Christmas tree inside=Megan's Happy Place.

 Em's a Winter Beauty. 

 School Portraits 2014. I want to smoosh their cheeks and hug them tight. Let them be little forever, please. Wait . . . amendment: Let them learn to sleep all night and until at least 7:30 on weekends BUT also let them stay little forever.

 Paul took Lulu to a Newman Basketball game. She doesn't own any Newman gear (whoops) so we went for a color theme - Newman's colors are blue and red, so a patriotic tee is sort of the same thing right? Love thy country and the Jets.

Sweet sisters.