A Successful Event

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

My time was horrid–but it was a father’s day run and my father and I crossed the finish line together.  Our time was 47:17 but I don’t really care much–as I didn’t train and I walk/jogged with my dad.  As he gets older, I begin to cherish these moments more and more as I know that I am so lucky to have a dad who is young–he’s 59 and these will be memories I carry with me for the rest of my life.  He’s a great man.  We did vow to train for next years event.

I broke out in hives this weekend and was hopped up on Benydral as well as recovering from being sick all week and not working out for the whole week.  I could have run more at the beginning but I let my dad set the pace and we had a great time together.

I’ll post some pics when I get them from my aunt who took them.

I’m Going To Just Call It Crazy

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

I am running (I use that word extremely loosely to describe what I might be doing this weekend) a 5k.  I have never run a 5k.  I haven’t run anything since I was in my mid 20’s.  I am not in my late 30’s.  So, we’ll see what kind of joke this turns out to be.  But, hey sometimes you just have to go for something and see what you have in you.  I have ridden a century without having ridden a bike for over a year.  That takes hours.  I know I can easily walk 3.2 miles.  Anyway…I’ll update via twitter on Saturday.

Wish me luck…

I Have Been Converted

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

So, after years and years of being a Mac hater.  I am not a Mac lover.  I know. I know. I know that you all knew this years ago and us PC people just don’t listen.  With my new job, I was give the choice between a MacBook or a PC laptop.  I chose the MacBook as I really wanted to see what the fuss was all about and to get the opportunity to see if I would like a Mac.  I have been moving closer and closer to wanted to become a Mac lover since I got my iPhone, but haven’t had the money to drop on a MacBook considering I have a perfectly functioning PC laptop that is only about two years old and then we just purchased a new desktop for a rock bottom price and the price tag for a Mac will take your all ready over-extended breath away.  So, my MacBook Pro came in today and I haven’t stopped playing with it.  It is fun and I am having a good time with it.  I am going to check out some of the apps that it comes with–iphoto, imovie, garage band–and see what this thing can really do.  So all of you MacBook Pro users/experts out there.  If you have any advice I’d love to hear it.

At A Loss

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

on what to post about.  Not there isn’t anything going on in my life. It’s just that I am so busy and have so many different things happening that I have a hard time attempting to process all of it.  I am working and really like it a lot.  The kids love daycare–as I knew they would.  Part of me wishes on some level that they didn’t like it so much, but I know that being home with me these last few months haven’t really been fun for anyone–I was crabby and they needed/wanted more stimulation and interaction.  They get it now and they love it.

Noah is completely potty-trained.  He makes it most nights too w/out going in his pullup.  I am so very excited about this and the money it saves in diapers and the sanity it saves in trying to change a 3-year-olds diaper who doesn’t want it changed.  I have to say everyone was right-when they are ready it is so easy.  So, if you are fighting with your kid about potty-training chances are they aren’t ready.  I know not what you want to hear.  But there it is anyway.

I am teaching a class this summer as well.  That was certainly a last minute addition to my schedule.  I am hoping this means that my supervisor will give me a class or two to teach this fall as the extra money would really come in handy to help cover the cost of living and help pay down some of our living beyond our means that happened in the past.  Fun times.

I miss my moms group.  Now that I am working, I certainly don’t have time to get out much during the week.  I am off on Fridays and the kids are not in daycare that day.  But it just is one of those things that I miss terribly.  Not as much the group activities as I miss the ladies who were my friends.  But it is hard when one goes  back to work and the rest continue to be SAHM.  I miss them.

I have been sick the past few days.  A bit of a virus of some sort.  I haven’t been puking and I am happy for that and am also happy for Imodium A-D.  It has been a live saver. I have been avoiding food for the past 3 days.  I didn’t eat much on Monday and yesterday I ate a little bit, but then my body wasn’t real fond of the fact that I gave it food to process.  So, we’ll see today if I dare to eat.  I’d like to be able to work out but it’s hard when you are sick and haven’t eaten but about 900 calories in just over 2 days.  Makes for not a lot of energy.

Zoë is talking more and more.  She is getting easier to understand–she doesn’t have a lot of really clear words that anyone other than her parents understand, but she is getting there.  She continues to be a bit of a trouble maker.  She got in trouble at daycare yesterday for disrupting naptime–Noah told on her.  He’s really good about keeping track of all the other kids offenses–he often forgets his own.  She is a pistol and hilarious.  I find myself cracking up w/her many times a day.  The boys will have there hands full with this one.  I don’t even want to think about the battles we will have with her as she enters her teenage years.  Oh boy.  I am just goint to enjoy this part of it.

Time to get everyone up to start the day.  Thanks for listening in.  I miss you all too.

38-and 19-Months Old

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

Dear Noah and Zoë,

I have failed miserably in keeping up with your monthly letters.  I love the idea of doing it and I love having these little memories captured…but I am busy w/school, work, teaching, parenting, exercising, parenting, and wifing.  There just isn’t enough time in the day.  I will try to do a better job, but from now on–I will write one letter.  I know that seems kind of harsh and unfair–but in my own defense your milestone days each month are only 4 days apart and its tough, so you’ll just have to share with each other.  Deal with it and discuss it behind my back later…

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So much has happened and changed and I am amazed at how much you both have grown.  Noah you have done such a great job at getting potty trained.  You still are wearing pull-ups most days to daycare but you never go in them and it’s awesome.  I have to tell you how much I appreciate not having to change your diaper.  You have made a new best friend in your neighbor Dayton.  The two of you have spent the last two weekends playing together all day in both her yard and ours.  You run around naked together–enjoy it while you can as that will have to change someday–and play in the kiddie pools and in the sand box and last weekend the two of you laid naked–bare butts up–in the sun on white towels–I have a picture but won’t post it here–looking so precious and cute.  Your vocabulary just keeps expanding and I am forever pleased and surprised by you ability to use language so very correctly and in ways that are beyond your age. 

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Zoë have also grown and changed so much.  I have a hard time believing you haven’t even been home for a year yet (it’s coming up soon) because I really have a hard time remember what life was like without you.  You fit so seamlessly into our family and with Noah that it just feels as though you have always been part of our lives.  You are developing into a fireball of opinion, wants and needs with all of those things getting confused together.  You are talking and have words for many of the things that you want and if you don’t have a word for it you scream a little until I follow you and you can show me what it is.  You have become fascinated with Yo Gabba Gabba and you carry your little Foofa (so have no idea how to spell that) doll and ask to watch-“gagga gagga.” Its cute and you sit in your little arm chair with your hand down your pants and watch and you then get up and dance.  You make me smile and laugh everyday and for that I am eternally blessed.

 

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The two of you together are a force to be reckoned with.  Zoë does everything you do Noah and it is so cute–sometimes a little dangerous but cute and you love the attention she pays to you and you, Zoë, love the attention that Noah gives you.  You hold each others hands when you walk, you hug each other frequently and hit each other less.  The bond you are forming is so special, I hope you can forge it strong and continue to build it forever. 

Love you,

Mommy