Give Thanks, with a greatful heart...

The past two weeks for me have been filled with fun, friends, family and Many blessings!
The Month of November was really my first month since Marathon life, eating like a bird, and other schedule swallowing things, that I have had free weekends to go out and spend time with my friends! I had my first glass of wine since April! Needless to say...I'm a bit of a light weight... :)My friends have been incredible through everything. It's so fun to get to go out with them now and relax...











Molly and I even decided to have a super improptu, spontaneous pot luck dinner, last weekend. In two hours we had the house ready with 8 people expected to attend our dinner. As we were preparing the meal we decided we should be wearing aprons (compliments of Molly's large collection). When the boys arrived they felt slighted and wanted aprons of their own. What troopers...they wore them all evening.





Last week my students did presentations over their expedition on their community of Edwardsville. When their original audience from another elementary school cancelled on us we rallied together and put together a new presentation. The presentations were put on for the mayor, superintendent, newspaper, and every grade level in the school. It was pretty amazing when they put their work all together. Great displays of their incredible learning. So proud!

Finally it was Thanksgiving break. Sad, that I would not be in Rhode Island I was still excited to be home for Thanksgiving.
Dad, Lisa, and I ran the Thanksgiving day race. Day was the fastest in his age group...as usual! I had a personal Record. 5k in 26:17. I was pretty excited. My speed work has paid off. Now lets see if I can do the half next weekend in under 2 hours! :)

We had a wonderful meal, just the four of us, and then had friends over to play games! It was a lovely Thanksgiving....and yes...I enjoyed a small piece of pumpkin dessert!
The Thanksgiving weekend ended with an evening with friends, ice skating at crown center!
The holiday season has officially begun....and I AM EXCITED! God is so good and I could not be more thankful, or feel more blessed!

A Marriage of Donuts and Muffins

Eileen here. Of all the fall baked goods that I have concocted in the last few months, the one that stands out as the most additively delectable would have to be The Donut Muffin. It's not very autumn-y, not an ounce of pumpkin in sight (thought that WOULD be good... challenge acCEPted!), although I did take it upon myself to add 2-3 times more cinnamon than this recipe call for.

For your viewing/baking pleasure:

Donut Muffins:
* 1 3/4 cup flour
* 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 1/2 tsp nutmeg
* 1/2 tsp cinnamon
* 1/3 cup vegetable oil
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 egg
* 3/4 cup milk

For the topping:

* 1/4 cup butter
* 1/3 cup sugar
* 1 Tbsp cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a muffin pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices. In another medium bowl, stir together the oil, sugar, egg, and milk.Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined. Spoon the batter into the muffin pan and bake 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. While the muffins are baking, melt the butter. In a small bowl, whisk together the cinnamon and sugar. When the muffins are done, carefully remove them from the pan. While they are still warm, dip each one first into the melted butter, and then in the cinnamon-sugar to coat. Allow to cool a few minutes before serving.

(Adapted from http://sugarcrafter.net)

In other news, my new job at Mt Holyoke College is amazing! I love my classes, my co-workers, my office and my view!





The only downside is that the college is 90 miles away from Waltham, so I drive out there on Monday mornings and don't come back till Thursday evening. The upside to this downside is that the Hills have generously allowed me to stay in their guest house "The Barn" in East Longmeadow, which cuts down on my commute time by about 2 hours per day! This set up has also taught me to not take my time with Matt for granted, and I always get really excited to drive home on Thursdays! With all the driving I've been doing these last few months, Zippy (aka The Plum), my trusty Honda Civic recently rolled over to 100,000 thousand miles!



Also, I had to inform Matt that since this is a) my dream job, and b) in the most beautiful part of Massachusetts, he may want to consider a post-doc or faculty job our here once he graduates. I mean, I picked out our future house and everything, so how can he argue?

In honor of Veterans Day...

	Johnny Cash/Marty Robbins - Song of the Patriot .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate what the men and women who are serving our country sacrifice for our safety. No matter what the turmoil within our country is politically, there have always been that choice few people who are willing to step up, put their lives on the line, and defend our freedom. I am proud to have two of them in our family.




I Love you both, Katie and Daddy. Thanks for everything you do.

Love,
Lalli

I usually hate this Holiday...

So I'm usually a huge grinch when it comes to Halloween. I hate the costumes peo
ple come up these days and everyone always annoys me.... Well this year was different.

My Halloween weekend began on Friday at school. My third grade teammate and I dressed up as things 1 & 2 from the Cat in the Hat. The kiddos loved it! It was such fun do be a dork with my team mate all day! We got a note from one of the students thanking us for dressing up. She said she had never had a teacher dress up and it was so fun for her...and that is why I love my job!
Then we had Halloween parties at school. Crazy but such fun! My students were so cute in their outfits! One kid was jar of Pickles! I had to take a picture...How did she know about my relationship with pickles!?!


So after the crazy school day was over I hopped in the car and traveled five hours to visit James! It's been two years of him up there in Law school and I've been a horrible best friend and I've never gone to visit. James loves dressing up for Halloween and call it coincidence but this year he decided to be a penguin! (For those of you who don't know James and I....we LOVE penguins. We've always shared this bond)

James and I went to Law school fun events with friends! I, for the first time, enjoyed Halloween festivities. I did however enjoy looking at all the undergrads in constumes...I forgot that when dressing up for Halloween you don't actually wear a lot of clothing in college. I was supposed to be a slutty penguin...silly me!
Saturday Morning I woke up and took myself on a beautiful run through the Campus and University of Iowa!
James and I then joined up with his Law School friends for a pre game tailgate and then went the football game! James rocked the penguin costume the whole day! :) I was dressed up as a hawkeye fan for the day! :) What a great game though!

Saturday night, James and I were beat from going going going. We enjoyed a relaxing dinner at a restaurant on the water, then went for a walk, rented a movie, and went home! It was the perfect relaxing evening. Just spending time together like old times! It was wonderful!

I left Sunday morning. Driving home I could only smile, for multiple reasons:
1. I had an amazing relaxing weekend with an old dear friend. James and I needed that quality time together! I've missed him!
2. I got away from life for a weekend and sorted through some thoughts in my head.
3. Stepped outside my comfort zone and made myself participate in Halloween festivities!
4. Enjoyed the incredible weather all weekend!


Hey check it out....I blogged promptly!
Documented! I win!

I love Fall!

A lot can happen in a day...A journey to running a marathon.

Well I'm home. Marathon Experience = Indescribable
Here go my efforts to retell the story of my journey to Portland.

To Start the Whole adventure, my students and amazing friends created an amazing send off for me...


5:30pm Thursday September 30
I boarded a plane to Detroit. Unfortunately I was Zone 4 which caused me to be one of the last to board the plane. Upon entering the aircraft I quickly realized that there would not be any room for my carry on suit case to fit in the overhead compartments. I very willing gave my bag to the attendant who told me they would GATE check it for me (meaning I would get it when I got off the plane in Detroit, much like a stroller).
7:40 pm
Landed in Detroit. Waited when I got off the plane with the other Gate Checked bag folks....I waited....and I waited. No bag. When everyone had left I asked the attendent when I would receive my bag. She informed me that they had not "gate" checked my bag, but checked it all the way through for me. Ok...not a big a deal I guess...
8:00 pm EST
Flight to Portland delayed till 1:40.
2:00 am EST
Flight CANCELLED!
4:00 am EST
Checked into hotel after finally getting re booked on a flight....I would not be leaving Detroit until 7:40 pm on Friday...awesome. I was super excited because now they also had my bag, with my food, running shoes, and phone charger.
Well God sent me two angels that stood in as friends/uncles for the 24 hours that I was in Detroit. The Hawkinson Brothers were wonderful we had a great time getting to know each other and keeping company in Detroit.

After a long series of ridiculous events, 9 boarding passes later I arrived in Portland at 12:30 am on Saturday. My bag had arrived in Portland...sigh of relief...

So we slept then had to make the most of our togetherness that had been cut short.

We went to the expo to pick up packets and buy fabulous jackets to commemorate our achievement.


We traveled north to Freeport to do a little shopping and guess who decided he would come watch us run our Marathon...PATRICK DEMSEY! Yea he came to LLBean to see us!


So then full of anxiety and excitement we filled our bellies....
had chugging contests....
and put ourselves to bed for the next day would be a big day for us!




The next morning we rose early, ate our breakfast, got out running gear on, and headed out the door....



It's hard to describe how I was feeling that morning...full or excitement and anticipation...super pumped for that finish line..

Pre race Photo Shoot



Off we go....



Mile Twelve we were stunned to see Aunt Katie and Kathy Kelley! Best thing ever! Definitely gave me a boost of energy to make it around Princess Point. Our Family is amazing. Eileen and I had about the same reaction... :)



Into the home Stretch!



And the finish line!!!! WE DID IT!!




When we finished it was incredible! Aunt Kelly did not feel so hot and Eileen and I just ate all the food! :) We made it home, showered, napped, and laid around. Matt was our personal trainer and he stretched us all out. Mary gave foot massages, and Joe ate box after box of cheese its. :)




So now that it is all over...I can't explain how it feels to have run a marathon. I have lots of extra time in my week and I feel purposeless! Now that I've run the marathon...what is next? Crazy I know but now I need a new goal! I wish I could go back and do the weekend again!
Next time though...I want to do it with ALL the sisters....

Lisa that is a challenge...

My adventures with King Khameamea

Yes, blog world, there is a 4th sister...her name is Lisa. She fell off the planet because she wasn't doing anything cool. But i'm back, with one fabulously breif trip to Hawaii under my belt.



I learned many lessons while in Hawaii. Like how snapshots can be far superior to a posed picture, and how if you leave your beach mat by a tree...it won't be there when you come back for it 5 minutes later (in fact you'll find a homeless man sleeping on it not 5 yards from where you left it.)

We somehow managed to pack our days completely full with seeing all the signts that Oahu had to offer.
From relaxing and staying on the beach, to a PACKED full day learning about polynesian culture, to a beach front cheeseburger in paradise, we had ALL of the fun.

Mom and Dad are the cutest, by the way.



oh yes, and we are all ukulele champs, now. I was going to upload a video of me singing and playing the uke....but i realize my skills aren't up to par with Don Ho. And this blog is a less than forgiving crowd...so I will restrain. For now.

But at the culture center we went to a luau...ate poi! and we had so much fun at Hale Ohana Luau!

We climbed Diamond head, and snorkeled...and we shopped all over Waikiki beach! Also, count the newlyweds is a really fun game.

Dad is oh so special!

Its so beautiful....I couldn't stop taking pictures!

The USS Arizona and Pearl Habor Memorials were so moving, and an incredibly awesome way to spend our last day on the island. I just didn't want to leave...and I was so mad at Dad that he got to stay...an extra 25 days. :(

And yes, awesome beach-blown hair runs in this family. Its post diamond head tresses!


I think the pictures speak for themselves, but I can't say enough how perfect the timing of this trip was. I really needed something that nothing could ruin....I had strep and a ridiculous fever the day before I got on that plane...and thanks to antibiotics, I was good to go! I've come back to manhattan recharged and ready for the semester....but a little dissapointed in the lack of palm trees....


Besides that....theres not a whole lot I can justify complaining about...because i just spent 5 days in the most beautiful place i've ever seen.

In the words of my wise, wise father (at a tourist complaining)..."Shut up...you're in Hawaii!"

Life is good :)