Jake

2004 was a big year for us.  We bought our house, got married, and got our dog Jake.  In October of this year he would have turned 11.  We knew he was aging but he still acted like a puppy.  Always happy in the morning and loved being outside, running around.

Friday night around 2 am, Brendon heard Jake crying in his crate and took him out.  We have noticed more of this lately but just thought it was the change in schedule.  Saturday morning Olivia let him out of the crate and he slowly walked up the stairs.  Brendon got him outside to go to the bathroom and he went to go and nothing happened and he laid down in the grass.  This happened a few more times as Brendon propped him up.  Brendon carried him back in the house and he drank some water but then just laid by his bowl and wouldn't get up.  Finally Brendon decided to take him to the vet because he was not improving and wouldn't eat or drink.  They did an Xray and they saw a tumor but wasn't sure if it was cancer, they either think his kidney or spleen ruptured and he was bleeding internally and it was filling his abdomen.  They could have done surgery but it was risky for his age and not sure of how long he would live after.  We made the best choice for him and put him out of pain and put him to sleep.  It was an agonizing and tear filled decision.  We were happy to spend 10 and 1/2 years with him.  He filled a lot of our memories and was with us during good times and bad.  He lived a happy life with lots of love and dog bones, and adventures.  He is missed greatly by us and lots of others.  He was our first child and big brother to Olivia. He wasn't just a dog, he was part of our family.  The house is too quiet...and I keep thinking he is here behind me. We miss him bunches...

Olivia asked the best question, "What are we going to do without Jake?" Such a big question from her 4 year old brain...and we couldn't find the right words to answer her.  Right now, just remember him as he was...the happiest, most mischievous, cute dog he was.  Thank you for the 10 1/2 years of good memories and adventures and some misadventures!

Some of our final moments with Jake

R.I.P. Jake Donald Barth 10/17/2004- 7/4/2015 you were one son of a pup Jakey!

4th of July

4th of July didn't turn out the greatest (will explain in next post).  But on July 3rd we did some crafts and made a dessert.

Brendon and Olivia had daddy-daughter day and night.  They went swimming, had dinner, went out for milkshakes and watched a movie outside!

We did end up with a good dinner and some fireworks with our neighbors. 

Peachtree Road Race 2015

Friday afternoon my friends Joan and Tina met at our house and we headed down to Atlanta.  We stay close to the start line of the Peachtree Road Race which makes life easier.  We checked in and zoomed off to the Expo.  Lots of train riding and walking and finally we got back to Buckhead about 6:30ish and had some dinner.  Then back to the hotel to prep for the race.  It was REALLY wet.  It rained...a lot.  The sprinkle and rain felt good though.  At mile 4 I saw the lightning and heard the thunder.  Little did I know they postponed the race about 40 minutes.  I noticed the color warning system flags turned to red but no one was directing us to stop running.  I had a 57:26 finish time which I was pleased with.  It was a nice soggy walk and wet ride back to the hotel.  But it was a great run for me =)

Expo fun

Parking lot view from hotel

We missed our friend Kim...

The guy all the way on the left we met in the elevator.  Little did we know he was a famous running sports newscaster and was interviewing an elite runner in the elevator (who ended up being 5th over all male in the race)

Being Ok with being 36

I had an aha moment while we were in Buffalo.  We were out with some friends, and one male friend said, "Look at that girl, she has mom jeans on." In that very moment, I felt my age of 36.  My reply was, "Hey...I wear mom jeans!"

So there it is, I am 36 I don't have the coolest clothes and I wear mom jeans.  And guess what I am proud to wear them.  I am proud of who I am at 36.  I realized that I just need to be happy with who I am at the present moment.  I don't need a sparkly top, tons of makeup, the skinniest jeans- I am more comfortable in me and who I am, for what I believe in. It is tough being a woman- it is like a constant competition- who lost weight, who got new clothes, etc....the list goes on, and on. 

But this is me, take me as I am- I am a woman who had a baby, my body has grown and shrunken a few times, runs (slowly most of the time), teaches school , has a husband who loves her (mom jeans and all), and a family that loves me.  I am sure that my BMI and metabolism have tanked and my body is FAR FROM PERFECT.  But what I need to love most- is ME and worry about ME and not everyone else and opinions.  In no way, shape, or form, am I perfect...NOT even close.  But I have to love what is on the inside and outside, and gosh darn it, stop second guessing myself. 

I am imperfectly perfect or perfectly imperfect (which ever way you want to see it) and I'd like to stay that way!

Swim Lessons Round 2

Soo...swim lessons the 2nd time around didn't go so well.  Tuesday we had tears... she cried because she didn't want to jump in the pool.  The teacher told her that if she didn't want to do something then she should tell her and that she won't have to do it.  Well Olivia took FULL advantage of that Tuesday and wouldn't do much at all.  I tried to be so patient with her but at the same time she was being a stinker.  I had to use some bribery with her the last 2 days which went a little better.  But not a lot of pictures turned out and most of the time I was really watching her interaction with the teacher...but her little "fear" of water hopefully will fade...we hope...or she will be the only kid in 10th grade with a puddle jumper on!