Monsters

Hope and Ralph came over after the marathon bearing gifts for their goddaughter.

What a great shirt!  I was amazed at the monster face my dainty girl conjured up 

after trying on her gift.

Her other gift was this adorable doll.  

Hope and I talked to her about naming the doll and I suggested Ruby but Sophie has her own ideas and decided on Mary.  So now Harriet, Charlotte and Mary 

crowd into her little toddler bed (and then Sophie comes and invades ours!)

Running

Hope and her Marathon Man

I love to run.  The best depiction of what the sport does for me is in the movie Forrest Gump when Forrest wakes to find Jenny gone and takes off running- down the lane, through his town and eventually across the country until- he stops.  He's worked things out and can go home. When I run, I put my body on autopilot and my mind goes off in a million different directions in a way it never does when I'm at rest.  I solve problems, come up with creative ideas and even write blog posts on my runs. 

2008 marked my 20th year as a runner.  I'd run here and there before that including one disastrous season on my high school track team but I began in earnest when I got to UVA in an effort to avoid the first-year 15.  Those early runs were all at night with my friend Julie.  We'd leave the dorm at 10:30 P.M. and run up to five miles.  Mostly though, I've been a solitary runner.  I don't run with a jogging stroller or even a watch.  It's just me, my ipod and the pavement.  

I've run a few races over the years, my favorite being the Hood to Coast in Portland, Oregon when my brother David was there working for Intel.  The Hood to Coast is the "Mother of all Relays". It goes 197 miles from Mt. Hood to the Pacific Ocean in Seaside.  Teams are made up of twelve runners who do three legs apiece.  David and I ran for Intel's team two years in a row and we did it in about 24 hours- a decent time.  The first year we ran, I did legs 12, 24 & 36 and had the privilege of running into Seaside and completing the race for our team.  It was amazing- the beauty, the noise and the euphoric finishers milling around on the beach.  A once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This morning, we dragged our young kids out of bed to go watch our friend Ralph Gonsoulin run his third Houston Marathon (fourth marathon overall).  I love races, especially marathons. There's something amazing about watching all of those people push through intense pain to reach a goal.  We drove all over the city like a clown van and were able to catch Ralph at three different points. We held up our signs and cheered for all the runners.  The best of course was when Ralph passed us.  Chris tried to be creative with his cheering to help motivate Ralph and at mile 22 yelled, "Ralph, you're looking good, you're a good-looking man, Ralph, you're one attractive, good-looking man!"  We got a few laughs from friendly bystanders.  Unfortunately, Ralph missed his goal of 3:20 by a mere one minute five seconds.  We are all sure that if it hadn't been such a hot day, he'd be on his way to Boston now.  It's only a matter of time though.

For me and Chris, one of the best things about today was the opportunity to show the girls how much fun it can be to get out and support someone we love.  Hopefully they'll do their share of both running and cheering in their lives, but it's good to show them that they don't have to be the ones in the spotlight to have a good time.  

So, if you ever decide to go for 26.2, give us a shout, we'll be there in person or in spirit cheering you on to victory!

Our cheering section.  We started off with balloons but didn't secure them well enough to survive Grace's attempt to hold them.

Ella watched the runners with great interest.

Ralph at mile 22.  He's on the right wearing the white shirt and hat.  He looked strong.

Many of the runners gave Mia a thumbs up for this sign.

Ralph with one mile left to go.  We had to sprint to see him.

An example of what runners run through- Ralph first felt it at mile 9.

Two of the "Intel Runny People", ready to run through the night at the 1998? Hood to Coast

David finishes a grueling third leg.  It was over six miles, all uphill in the middle of a hot day.  He ran it fast!  We made him a ribbon of toilet paper to break through at the end.

Running is a family affair

David, Tara & Alice at the Liberty 5K 2006

The Liberty 5K is a cozy race held on the fourth of July in Winchester, VA.  We've run- or walked- it as a family several times.  It's the hardest 5K course I've run with four hills, one long, steep one at the end.  The year I was pregnant with Grace, I walked the course with my sister Jamie.  We were dead last and the police car trailed us, picking up cones as we passed!  I wish I had a picture because we had a great time and I was very proud of my huge self!

In 2006, David, Tara & I all placed in our age groups.  Chris gave up his chance to place and paced me instead.  I made a personal best that day so I appreciated his help.  Of course, I still finished behind my little sis!

Chris and Madeleine at the Liberty 5K, not sure which year.

Madeleine is always at the front of the pack in her age group's fun run.  

One year she came in second.

David in the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon

I love this picture because he makes it look so easy

In-Laws

I consider myself very lucky in love. I'm also lucky in in-laws.  I guess that makes sense.  

I remember the first time I met Jack and Barbara.  I was in the middle of a very dense 15 page paper on Don Quijote when Chris rescued me with an invitation to lunch with his parents.  I remember Barbara as an attractive, welcoming person and we had a great time getting to know each other.  She told me later that after that lunch she hoped I was "the one"(thank you!).  Our relationship was tested not too long afterward when Chris and I found ourselves facing an unplanned pregnancy.  Chris drove home to Wichita to tell his parents and to their credit, they sent him right back to Lawrence to be there for me when I called mine.  They have never wavered in that kind of support for me and for our family.

Jack is an admirable man.  He is hard-working, dutiful and funny in an I'm-not-trying-to-be-funny way.  He is also an outstanding grandfather.  Whether it's suffering through the Texas heat at an all-day swim meet, showing up for the 107th softball game or just shuttling Madeleine around, he is always there for the girls. Every Friday after Mass he takes them for a treat and they look forward to that time with Grandpa all week.

The thing I admire most about Barbara is her loyalty.  She is like a pit bull when it comes to those she loves (I had to use a dog analogy as she loves dogs more than anyone I know except maybe my sister Jamie).  She never screens my calls even though I often call with a request for help and she comes over every week to watch three of the girls while I take Sophie to kindermusik.  She has a special bond with Ella that I love to see and I don't mind when Ella leaps from my arms into hers. 

When we're with Jack and Barbara, we're never short on laughter.  In fact, I can think of several times when we've laughed so hard in public we thought we were going to be escorted out.  One time, at Cowtown in Wichita, I was 8-months pregnant and we started laughing so hard Jack thought I was going to choke.  He said, "I'd give you the Heimlich manuever, but I wouldn't know where to hold you!"  Classic Jack.

So, here's to you, G & G Doyle...thanks for leaving nice, pretty, ski-bunny Denver for this hot, mosquito-infested, hurricane-prone coastland with us!

One of many hilarious Doyle dinners

Celebrating Sophie

Look at me, I am THREE!

Since we hosted a New Year's Eve party this year, we decided to save Sophie's birthday celebration for Sunday night of the weekend my parents were here.  I bought a huge turkey and we did a reprise of Thanksgiving dinner with stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and cranberry sauce.  Sophie had both sets of grandparents there (lucky girl!) and of course all of her sisters.

She was dressed like a princess and enjoyed everything- the dinner, the toasts, the cake, blowing out the candles and the gifts.  She was so interested in her next-to-last gift (a little piano) that we never made it to the treasure hunt to find the last one.  We're saving that for one day when we need an adventure.

We all played pin the tail on the donkey- the first time I've done that in 25 years!  It was fun, the birthday girl won and no one accidentally pinned someone other than the donkey!  

All-in-all, a wonderful celebration.

The guest of honor

To Sophie!

Me with two of my favorite people

Getting ready to serenade the birthday girl

Chris didn't quite make it to the donkey

A gift from Ella (she had some help picking it out). I think it was Sophie's favorite.  She doesn't like to play the game, just build the Cooties and make them talk to each other

Mommy & Daddy and a tired princess

More Goodbyes

Alas, we took down the tree today.  A running joke in the Kreitzer family is that every year when we've finished decorating the tree, we stand back and say (in a very sappy voice), "This is the prettiest Christmas Tree we've ever had!"  This year, for the Doyle family, I think it was actually true.  Our tree was the perfect shape and size and held all of our ornaments-amazing in itself.  So I was sad to say goodbye.  I was also a little reflective as I packed up the kids' special ornaments, thinking about how much they'll change this year before they open them again.  

I was lucky to have helpers today.  Mia persevered through the whole thing while Grace lost interest and started playing with Sophie.  Ella helped out by sleeping through it, otherwise we might have had a repeat of last year when Sophie went through the boxes and tossed glass ornaments on the tile when our backs were turned.

It's nice to have a clean, uncluttered living room again, but I'm already thinking about excuses for more celebrations - and soon!

My helpers in full dress

Sophie just hung around looking cute.  She won't get away with that much longer!

Here they're playing pretend games with the ornaments

We had fun with our Advent calendar this year.  Each night we found a piece of candy and a note for one member of the family.  The notes went something like this:  "Everyone say what they like best about Madeleine", "Sophie, give everyone kisses", "Chris, do a funky dance"  The kids loved it and learned to be happy for their sisters when it was their turn to get the candy!

I bought this dancing Santa after Christmas when Madeleine was about three.   It is a favorite at our house.  Chris and I like it for about a week.

New this year, I love this wreath!  

I also love the personalized wreath hanger.  That'll be up all year.

The only thing that could convince me to buy an artificial tree is the sad goodbye we say to our live one.  I hate putting the tree out at the curb.  It feels like we're betraying an old friend.

TEAMS

Kingwood Team 8

(Top from left) Greg & Jane Miller, Ron & Jennifer Farace, Dom & Christy Villareal

(Seated) Michael & Michelle Rouselle, Chris & Alice Doyle

(MIA) Ray & Nellie Guillory

It's almost a cliche to say that marriage takes work, but anyone who says differently is either lying, not married or living in denial.  Everything in our fallen world tends toward ruin.  Any homeowner has experienced this truth as he works to maintain his property with much labor. Is marriage any different?

One way Chris and I decided to care for our marriage was to join a group at our church called Teams of our Lady.  TEAMS is a Catholic lay movement under the protection of the Blessed Mother designed to strengthen marriage and build community.  Couples work on five key endeavors and meet once a month for a meal and discussion.  We have been with Kingwood Team 8 for two years now and really love it.  I have to admit that at the beginning, I didn't really look forward to our TEAMS meetings.  It felt a little too serious for Friday night.  Since we've gotten to know our team better though, things have loosened up, and our discussions have gotten more personal and helpful.

This past Saturday was our annual team retreat.  Chris had volunteered to organize it.  He needed a facilitator and, in a fit of nepotism, asked my parents.  With all of their experience with Marriage Encounter, mentoring engaged couples and teaching NFP, they were well-qualified and did an excellent job.  Their theme had to do with treasure.  They used the metaphor of the pearl, the opal and the diamond to talk about our relationships with God and with each other.  We learned a lot and had good discussions as individual couples and as a group.  I was proud to introduce my parents to the Team and the Team to my parents.

In talking about the TEAMS movement, one of the guys commented that if it were just a social club, it wouldn't be a priority for them, and that is so true.  All of us have young families and busy lives but we've carved out the second Friday of every month to celebrate our shared faith, enrich our marriages and be a support to each other.  Chris and I feel blessed to have such amazing friends.

Larry & Mary Ann Kreitzer, our fearless leaders

I brought up the rear of the rosary walk

A couple of EEs

Our gracious hosts

A typical TEAMS dinner, November 2008 

Goodbye for Now

It was a sad day at the Doyle house as we had to say goodbye to Grandma and Paka.  This has been such an awesome visit, I'd love to have them here for a whole month.  Plus, Mom and I only got one walk in.  I dragged her four miles round trip to Turtle Bridge, so I think she's glad that was our only jaunt, but I'm not!  

My parents are great house guests because they are so easy to please. Give Dad a paper and a jar of Planters and he's happy (understanding of course that he misses the John Deer).  Mom was in heaven with our "library" and managed to read the whole Narnia series minus the last book while she was here.  

The hand-off to Martina happened in Brenham, Texas, halfway between here and Austin.  We met at the Blue Bell plant.  I'm not an ice cream connoisseur - I know much more about wine and gourmet potato chips - but Blue Bell is my favorite ice cream.  It's only sold in 17 states and Virginia isn't one of them, so we have a lot of eating to do before we move in a year or so!

The tour was great* and ended with huge samples.  Ella rated her own and had no problem polishing it off.  Afterward, we had a picnic at a nearby park and gave hugs goodbye.  We'd gone about five minutes down the road when the girls asked if we could go to Grandma and Paka's house.  They cried when I told them that going for a month in February wasn't a possibility.  We'll all be looking forward to heading east this summer.  

Thanks for everything Mom and Dad.  We love you!

*We found out that it takes 50,000 cows to provide the milk for one day's worth of ice cream production!

** Stay tuned for more posts about the adventures we had with Grandma & Paka!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Blue Bell!

Two cuties

She ate the WHOLE thing!

Enjoying the Texas weather

This was a first for Sophie

Drew is on the move!  Good luck Martina!