The Beast and Beauty. (By: Jess)

Leo and Cece Update, Jan. 2014

LEO BECK 2 1/2 years old 
-Talking up a storm!
-I love how you end all your words like this….. talkin, walkin, nappin, cry in, kissing

- You love to have everyone "watch this!"
- You got tubes up in your ears and you were such a brave boy!! Grandpa gave you $1 to buy new toys!
- You are KINDA getting intreated in potty training.
- You like to be alone when you poop. Your favorite spot to "do your duty" (as grandma and grandpa say) is in Cece's princess tent or under her crib or table.
- You love to watch "Polar Express", "Toy Story", "Cars", anything Donald Duck (Lion Around)  or Mickey Mouse, Peter Rabbit, Blues Clues, and Horse Races.
- You are a sports fanatic! Football, Basketball, Soccer…. anything with a ball!
- You loved Santa this year and started to understand Christmas a little bit more!
- You are a total Daddy's Boy and it (sometimes) breaks your Mom's heart!
- You love to go to school and playing in the gym
- You HAVE to give everyone who leaves the house a hug!
- Mom taught you how to roll your eyes. Hilarious!
- Cece is your best friend and worst enemy. You don't like to share with her, but you love to protect her.
- Time Out works for you
- You like to draw
- You like to wear your boots, Thomas the Train, suckers, and cheese puffs.
-You can be sweet as pie and mean as a hornet.
- Favorite color- Red
-Love to go to the barn and pet, feed, wash Scooter and Torie
- Your favorite game is tackle.
You have a blankie with orange tigers
- Your friends: Carson, Ross, James, Tyler, Trey, Jo-Jo, Hannah, Evie
- Your hair is always a hot mess and I have a feeling it will be "hard to manage".
- Still wearing size 2T or 24 months.
- You like to pet Gertie…… and more.
- Your favorite snacks: yogurt drops, goldfish, vanilla wafers, grapes, puffs, Lucky Charms (marshmallows only)

Ceceilia Grace 17 months 
- Starting to talk! Favorite words: Up, Mommy, Daddy, PaPa, Mama, No, Please, Hi, Bye, Yes, Yay, Go, Down, Out

- You are a dancing machine! Love to wiggle that butt!
- Super sleeper!
- Love doll, phones, ipad, dress up clothes and hats, baby stroller, herbie car, doll house, baby play pen,  art easel
- You want to do EVERYTHING your brother does!
- Tattle Tale
- Sometimes Mommy has to slap your hand when you are bad. Time out does not work…… yet.
- You give hugs allllllll the time!
- Wakes up happy and smiling!
- Messiest eater I've ever seen!
-  You have a blankie with pink stripes and another one with pink elephants. You also have a pink poodle puppy with big eyes.
- Trying to transition you off a bottle. You only have one at nite and it's a combination between a zippy cup and bottle.
- Have had a few ear infections…… probably have to get tubes like brother.
- Scared of animals
- Squeals with excitement
- Loves to play in the basement at Grandma and Grandpa's
- Crocodile tears when you cry

A goal. An accomplishment. (By: Jess)

This post serves several different purposes.

 It also absolutely does not serve another purpose.

The purpose of this post is to do the following things:

1. Give myself a big ole' pat on the back 
2. Tell my children that anything is possible 
3. Share my relationship, experience, and progression with running

The purpose that I am not trying to serve is the following: 

1. Bragging. THAT I am not doing or trying to do. Don't get it twisted. 

Moving on…… 

I started running… or my version of running... in November 2012. I really don't know what jump started my interest in running or what provoked me to "just do it", but running is something I have always wanted to say I could do. 

"Im a runner" is something (for some reason) was something I always wanted to be able to say with confidence and truth. 

I was introduced to interval running by my friend and co-worker Denise. She picked up the habit about a year prior and seeing her grow as a runner and change mentally, physically, and emotionally really got my attention. 

I started talking to her about it and she shared what she knew and experienced. 

I downloaded a couple interval apps on my phone and started out SSSS-LLL-OOO-WWW. 

I would run 25 seconds, walk 10 min…. for 1 mile….for one week. 

The next week I did run 45 sec., walk 8 min……. for 2 miles….. for one week. 

The next week I did run 1 min, walk 7 min…….for 3 miles…… for one week. 

You get the picture…. 

I can still remember the time when I ran 1 mile without stopping! That was like 15 min straight, WITHOUT STOPPING! I feels incredible and soooo proud! I remember calling Toby and telling him and him saying "Good Job Babe!". I smiled alllllll day and the next! I knew that this was something I MIGHT be good at. 

I kept it up and worked hard! My goal was to run 3 days a week. I usually did it after school. It was tough some days, and cold some days, and hot some days, but I tried my best to make time for it and for myself. 

Eventually I was ready for MY FIRST 5K!

 It was held at the school where I worked and was the PERFECT race to be my first! Not over crowded, lots of people I knew, lots of motivation, good weather…… God did good that day! 

(2) things happened during that race. 

#1- I was SECONDS away from puking, inches away from the finish line! Mind over matter….mind over matter…..mind over matter….. 

 #2- I got 1st place in my age division!!!! (small crowd…. I'm gonna leave it at that! wink wink) 

THAT day. THAT race. Wow it made me feel good. Proud. Confident. Athletic. Healthy. Determined. Accomplished.  Things I have not felt in while. 

After that, I kept it up. Running when I could, doing a couple more 5k's. I made it a habit. I didn't quit. There were days/weeks when I slacked off or just didn't have it in me, but for the most part, I tried to keep a consistent 3 days a week routine. Sometimes only 1 mile but 3 was my max. 

Then Denise…. see above…. put a bug in my ear. 

Half Marathon

Tybee Island, GA

Feb. 2014

Ha! Double Ha! No way was she suggesting that I participate!?!?!

Yep….. she was.  She had some kind of faith in me that I wasn't sure I had in myself. 

Of course I shared this with my BFF, Maria, and convinced her to attempt to train for this thing with me. Her reaction was similar to mine at first. 

I told Denise I'd think about it. And I did. A lot. 

I don't remember when it happened… but suddenly I knew something. 

I knew I wanted to do this. 

I knew that I could do this. 

I knew I wanted to aim for this. 

I was in. 

Training started. 3 miles, then 4, then 5, then 6, then 7, then 8…… 

3 days a week (no less than 3 miles)

1 day a week long run. 

Do another 5K

Do a 10K

I learned so much about myself while training for this event. I learned that I am strong. I learned that when I put my mind to something, I refuse to let myself down. I learned that running does wonders for my attitude. I learned that exercise is seriously free medicine. I learned that running clothes make me feel good. I learned that when I didn't run I was grouchy, irritable, depressed, and discouraged.

Sometimes I ran outside (my favorite), sometimes I ran inside the galleria, sometimes I ran on the treadmill (gross), sometimes I did the elliptical.  Sometimes I wan with Lisa. Most of the time I ran alone. I ran on vacations. I ran on weekends. I ran in snow. I ran in SC summer heat. I am at tracks. I ran through towns. I ran at parks. I ran on trails. Always something. 

Let me tell you something…… I NEVER thought I'd be able to do this. NEVER. EVER. 

Let me tell you something else….. I have done it. I am doing it. 

Its an amazing feeling to pick a goal. A goal you never thought you could, would, or should ever do. A goal that you honestly have to work for. Change yourself for. Push for. Plan for. A goal that tests your strength, self worth, self confidence, self esteem, pride, self respect, dignity. A goal that may cause others to giggle when they hear of it. A goal that some think… ."yeah right". I goal that people think is all talk. 

Its amazing to pick a goal like this…. and accomplish it. Complete it. Reach it. Meet it. Overcome it. 

 On Saturday, February 2, 2014 I will be running in a half marathon. 13.3 miles. 

(pause for gasps and applause) 

I haven't done it yet. Today is a Wednesday. But I KNOW I will do it. In my mind, it's already done. I didn't do all this work for nothing. I did it for reason after reason after reason after reason.  No way in hell am I not going to complete this. 

(sidenote: if I DON'T complete this race, know that I either got injured or something really bad happened….) 

My kids won't be there to see me cross the finish line. Neither will any of my family or my husband. Dose that bother me… kinda…. but I understand.  I will have pictures. I will have this blog post. I will have a story to tell. 

Leo and Cece will one day know that I did something I never thought I'd, in a million years, be able to do. They will one day (hopefully) be really proud of their mom and maybe one day pick a goal like I did. My husband, friends, and family know the hard work, sweat, injuries, pain, and blisters I endured to complete this goal.  They know how important this is to me. So even if they can't physically be there to see me complete my mission, I know that they will be thinking about it all day until I call and say, "I DID IT!" 

It's amazing what I did. It really is. If you knew me as well as I know me, you would say the same thing. 

I am so proud of myself.

Why HELLO, 2014! (by: Jess)

Last night was New Years Eve.

I have a love/hate relationship with NYE. I think a lot of people do. SO much hype, but for a good reason. I love the celebrating and the parties and the dresses and the noise makers and the champagne and the love that is shared! Its also kinda a sad time and I think the song that is traditionally played at midnight is sooo depressing.

Toby and I rang in the new year with Carson D. and our family……which is exactly what I wanted to do! We went over to Toby's cousins beautiful home with his brother and my soon-to-be-sister-in-law. We all had a great time! I talked too much, drank too much, and ate too much! But it was all worth it! I am so proud of Toby and I that we managed to actually see the ball drop this year! And I DIDN'T have a hang-over the next day. Beautiful.

Anyway- 2013 was good to me. I can't complain. At all. Nothing tragic happened in my life, all my loved ones are still alive and healthy, and I have (finally) accepted the fact that I drive a van. Life is good.

But, I do have some changes I want to see in 2014. I always do this… make a mental list of things I want to accomplish, keep the same, change, try, ect… Whether or not I stick to this list is somewhat of a question….. it's not like "homework" where if I don't complete it I will fail at life…. but its just a good way to organize and prioritize my life….. or at least give me something to do with my time.

2014
1. Maintain my weight and keep trying to loose that effin last 10.
2. Keep pushing selling promoting suggesting medifast. Cause it really does work.
3. Continue running and pushing myself.
4. Keep green smoothies in my diet.
5. Build my forever home exactly the way I want it. (cause I REFUSE to move again!)
6. Try and lower the amount of processed and packaged foods we eat.
7. Keep my teaching career updated, positive, exciting, passionate.
8. Date nite with Toby every week.
9. Keep Bloggin and eventually make a couple books!
10. Get bikes and take family bike rides this spring/summer.
11. Attend church on the reg.
12. Read more.
13. Keep important friendships up and running.
14. Take little family trips.
15. Cut out pop and beer.
16. Get back to meal planning and coupon cutting.
17. Run as many 5k's and 10k's as I can afford!
18. Another half marathon?
19.  Finish "Breaking Bad" and find another series I enjoy watching.
20. Attempt to organize/persuade a Treglia Family Trip…...somewhere!
21. Keep up Leo and Cece's binders.
22. Continue "Friday Nite Dinners".
23. Be easier on myself.
24. Swear less, pray more.
25. Stop taking anti- depressants.  (Let's not go Cra-Cra!)

I like it. This is do-able. I'm ready 2014….. let's do this!

Rosie (By: Jess)

There is this woman.

She means the world to me.

She has seen and helped me grow up, taught me specific life lessons, and is responsible for so many memories that I have.

She is not my mother or my grandmother.

She is my former babysitter. And my life would be totally different if she wasn't apart of it.

I'm getting ready to go visit Rosie today. I am beyond excited!

I call her "Rosie", but that's not her name. He real name is Ileana. Her last name is "Rose", so maybe that's where the nickname cam from. I'm still not 100% sure. My sister and I were not able to pronounce her real name, so "Rosie" is all I have ever called her.

She was a patient of my dad's and he "hired her" to look after Jill and I on occasion when my parents would go out to dinner on a Friday or Saturday night or when they would go on vacations.

I can remember my mom getting ready to go out with my Dad and Jill and I anxiously awaiting the arrival of Rosie. She always came bearing games, records, or something special for us. Sometimes she brought her "international coffee" (Cafe Mocha) and would always let me have a sip.

She taught me how to play Chinese checkers and rummie. She taught me songs like "A Bushel  and a Peck" and "Ring Around the Rosie". She taught me how to say my prayers and to this day I still have them memorized. She taught me that warm milk and honey helps to fall asleep and how to have a tea party that seemed soooooo real.

I remember making homemade bread with her and her husband and I remember that coconut lamb cake and chocolate truffles she would make us every year for Christmas. I remember the endless amount of books she would read to us and how she would always make my parents bed for them as a special surprise! I remember how she used to make the BEST mac and cheese by adding extra milk and how she would sometime speak french to us and we were mesmerized!

Every year for Christmas we gave her a book of stamps and she would be soooooo happy. One time she gave me a tiny pack of Kleenex because I told her I liked the one she had and she gave my sister a pencil because she liked to write. I learned early in life that it is "the thought that counts" and maybe that's why my Love Language is gift giving.

She is 91 years old and dosent have one gray hair. Still blows my mind.

She was the first non-family member I called to inform that my Dad had died. I can still hear her comforting words and sympathetic voice, as she tried to hold back her own tears.

She is the woman who caught my eye while I was walking down the isle at my wedding and that's when my tears started flowing. I can still picture her, sitting in the front pew, wearing a special flower pinned to her blouse, smiling at me and looking so proud.

I love her so much it always makes me cry.

She is a little old lady, with a tiny frame, with jet black hair and glasses. Her smile, smell, and embrace are so familiar to me and always make me feel like a child again. I am so lucky to have a woman like this in my life. Not many people do. I thank God for Rosie and for her presence in my life.