Lessons from Trials

Okay, here is a warning for all my non running blog readers: this post will be all about running and running as a metaphor for life. I will not hold it against you if you skip my ramblings!

In all seriousness though, I just wanted to share an inspirational story with everyone. I have been watching the Olympic Track and Field Trials this past week (mostly way too late at night, as there is never live coverage of running events) and one of the best stories of the whole week was in my favorite race - the women's 10,000 meters.

First of all, you should know that to make the Olympic team you need to accomplish two things. Finish your race in the top three AND achieve the Olympic "A" time standard at some point during the year. The three women in the above picture all pulled away from the pack early on in the race and it was quite obvious that they would be the top three finishers. End of story for the first two runners, but not so for the runner in the third spot, Amy Begley. She had yet to achieve her "A" standard, so even if she finished third, but missed the time of 31:45 she would not be going to the Olympics. Towards the end of the race, the two leaders pulled away and the chances for Begley to make the team looked pretty hopeless. It didn't look like she was running fast enough to make her time. You can go to runners world and read more eloquently written accounts of the race than mine, but the point of the story is this. During her final lap, Amy Begley reached very deep down past her doubt and fear, and through a lot of physical pain, and gave everything she had to cross the finish line in 31:43:60. She made the Olympic team with 1.4 seconds to spare!

I am a sucker for a good story of athletes triumphing in the their sport, but this one is especially interesting to me. It makes me think about how often we give up on something because it seems impossible or people stop believing in us, or because it just plain seems to hard. I for one give into doubt all the time and give up on things way too soon. Who knows what I might be able to accomplish if I squashed my self doubt and pushed through the pain to the finish line. Next time I am in the middle of something hard I hope I can remember Amy Begley and how her determination and hard work let her accomplish something huge.

Oh, and here's another reason I love this story,

the "girly" display of joy expressed by teammates and good friends Kara Goucher and Amy Begley when they realized they had both made the team!

4th of July Fun

Since it was the fourth of July, a well known boating holiday, and also Cy's birthday, Wes' parents suggested we all get together for some boating fun. We readily agreed and left early yesterday morning (we are Shealy's after all!) to meet his family at the dock. We put the boat in, amongst many already drunk people, and headed up the intercoastal for some fun.

Noah requested early on to go "fast" - this was after his request to "drive the boat" was denied - and we spent a while just cruising around. Eventually we stopped so we could get in the water and let Noah go for a swim. We assumed that he would love it because of his new found water obsession.

You can't tell in the picture, but Wes and I are laughing because of the look on Noah's face once he got in. He did not want to be in that water and made they very clear by whining to get "back in boat please!" I think what he really hated was the life vest but he was required to wear it the whole trip anyway. We lifted him up into the boat and then he really enjoyed himself watching Mom and Dad struggle with the current. He laughed and mocked us like all good children should!

See all the mocking!

Anyway, we eventually got back in and finished our boating adventures just in time to get cleaned up for lunch. Despite our lack of a real dining room table we invited the family over to our place for some burgers and cookie cake. (There were other things as well but these were the high points!) Wes used his newly acquired paparazzi skills to take some fabulous family pics!

Here I am making, and sampling, my world famous guacamole. (A disclaimer: I am the only person who has deemed it "world famous").

Nana and Noah read his new favorite book while they wait for lunch.

Cy opens some birthday presents!

And here is my favorite picture....

.....perhaps the Colonel had one too many pieces of cookie cake! (or was it beer?)

After everyone left Wes, Noah and I all took a good long nap. Later that evening we went to Blockbuster to rent a movie. (Doesn't really constitute a rockin' 4th of July I know, but we do have a 2 year old...) Anyway, we also let Noah pick out a kiddie movie to rent - we had never done this before - and he thought it was so great! He loved picking it out, carrying it home and getting to watch it. We weren't so keen on his choice - episodes of the Backyardigans - but he was so cute about it we couldn't complain. (By the way, if you don't know about the Backyardigans don't worry - you will one day!) Here is Noah being very melodramatic about what is happening in his movie,

And here is a picture of Noah once he realized I was taking his picture. He was throwing out some cheesy grins while being blinded by the flash.

After we put Noah to bed, Wes and I watched our movie with some left over cookie cake. The perfect end to a fun holiday!

My Son the Baby Lion

Noah has a way with the ladies.

Ever since he got it for his birthday, The Lion King has been Noah's favorite movie. No, not favorite movie, obsession. Anyway, he quotes it as he watches and sings and dances to the music and recently has taken up roaring at the end of the movie when Simba reclaims Pride Rock as his own. The problem is that he thinks it is cool to roar like a lion all the time.

So yesterday Jessie (who was in town for a few days) and I took Noah to our neighborhood pool to "jump in the water" - his second favorite thing to do after watching The Lion King. We had the pool to ourselves for a while which was nice. Noah put on his swimmies and we splashed around the whole pool. Right before we were going to leave some people showed up and they had a little girl close to Noah's age. She came running up to Noah, who was standing in the shallow end, and gave him a big smile. I told him, "Noah, say hi!". He looked at me, grinned, turned to the girl and ROARED in her face! At first she was (understandably) confused. She smiled again and I silently prayed he would say hi this time. Nope. He roared again. This time so close to her face that she ran back to her parents at the other side of the pool. Noah giggled at this and then walked over to the top step and proceeded to roar even louder (in victory?) several times for all the pool to hear.

Yep, my son is that kid. The one who, not only is totally weird, but really seems to enjoy being totally weird! I am hoping that we outgrow this. Soon.

Six Years Down

As of today Wes and I have been married for 6 years! Yep, over halfway to double digits...by the way babe, that means over halfway to a fabulous vacation and expensive piece of jewelry. Better start saving now - number 10 will sneak up on you fast!



In all honesty it's hard to believe it has been six years. Then again maybe not...we have lived in 3 different cities, 7 different apartments/houses, graduated from school, joined the air force, braved the world's biggest Labrador Retriever, AND welcomed Noah into our life! Come to think of it, that's a lot for 6 years.



I was looking at our wedding photos when we were unpacking boxes (hmm...maybe that's why it has taken so long) and I was amazed at how young we looked. I know, I know, we are still young but...I mean we looked like we were a couple of kids playing dress up or something. It's weird to look at those two people from six years ago, because in a way they don't exist anymore. We - especially me I think - have changed so much since June of '02. The cool thing about that is even though we are so different than we were when we got married, we are still really good together. The Kelly and Wes that exist in June of '08 know so much more about each other and therefore are so much stronger as a couple. I love that despite the ups and downs in marriage, you can look back and realize that it all works together to make you better. And of course, the best thing to come out of this marriage......




....our little man Noah!

Happy Birthday Aunt Bo!

Well, I wouldn't be me if I wasn't late with everything! Andrea, I have a card for you but it has yet to be mailed so....I figured the next best thing would be to give you a birthday shout out on the blog! So here it is - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Hope you have a fabulous birthday and that your husband and daughter let you kick back and relax and enjoy your day! Look forward to seeing you soon!

This is Noah turning up his nose at you because I told him you did not want a talking toy car for your birthday. He thinks you are very uncool!

We're Not Dead! See, here our the pictures for proof...

Okay all you loyal blog readers (if there are any of you left!), we realize that we have been a bit slack with the blog updates lately. Even our friends Matt and Emily have managed to "out-blog" us and they have a newborn! (Who, by the way, is adorable. Click on the Loveall Family link to see really cute pics of baby Andrew!) So anyway, to atone for the sin of not blogging I am offering up many cute pictures of Noah at his 2nd birthday party. We had friends and family over to the house - 2 days after we moved in! - and had a cook-out followed by presents and cookie cake. It was a great time and Noah had a blast running around and playing with everybody!

Noah runs around the backyard while being chased with balloons by Claire. I think this was his favorite part of the whole night!

Noah eagerly awaits his piece of cookie cake...

.....and then eats all the blue icing first! He is definitely my son!

Nana and Bebe watch Noah open presents.

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Noah behind the wheel of his new car...watch out neighbors, Noah is driving!

Noah and Aunt J play with some of his new cars. Apparently the tiny inexpensive ones are just as thrilling as the huge, not-so-inexpensive one! Who knew!?

Guitar Hero Fun

So while we were homeless these past few weeks we stayed at Cy and Carissa's house. They were very generous to house and feed us, but most of all they generously shared their Guitar Hero video game with us. Since neither of us are big fans of video games this one must be good because Wes and I are both addicted! We beat the "easy" level and are now working on "medium". Here are some funny pictures of us playing - and few of Wes trying out Dance, Dance Revolution. (He wasn't such a fan of that one!)

Wes is not exactly the best at this game!

Noah sits in his usual place - right up front - to watch Aunt Carissa rock out!