I won't go into all the details of sleeping when we're not at home because I don't like complaining and that's all I've got when dealing with that subject. Let's just say Malia was up early and enjoyed looking at the Christmas tree. Since Daisy's crate is so huge, we decided we didn't have room for one and since we weren't going to be home for Christmas anyway, we decided not to get one this year. So it made Malia's discovery this morning that much more special. She was intrigued for sure.
Matt still had a headache from all of Malia's screaming yesterday in the car so I asked my mom if she would accompany me for an outing. First, we went to Light Years, this amazing jewelry store in Southpoint Mall. One of their locations is on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill and I used to go there all the time. Now, I try to visit when I come to NC because they have so many neat things. So we went there first and then headed to McAlisters- another if at all possible must stop when I'm in NC. We went to get him out of the car and he had spilled his juice all over his lap. So we got back in the car and went across the street to Buy Buy Baby to get him some pants. I always travel with diapers, wipes and extra clothes for both kids but when my dad and brother helped unpack the car last night, they got put inside. Thankfully I had an emergency stash of diapers and wipes so I only needed to get pants. So we got him changed and while I could have stayed and done the shopping I was planning on doing in Buy Buy Baby, I was so hungry so we went back to McAlisters and I enjoyed my bacon spud. I got the kids a cheese pizza and some Hi-C. They loved it! They drank out of the straw like pros and ate their whole pizza. Then we headed back to Buy Buy Baby and my mom sat in the car with the kids while I ran in and got a couple of Christmas presents for the kids. I hit Barnes & Noble next and then we headed home.
We were gone for so long that my dad got home from work soon after. We got a family meal from KFC for dinner- my dad always makes sure the kids get (more than...) enough to eat.
So if anyone was in doubt of my love for Zachary- let me provide you with some proof. I got up at 5:30 for this crazy man. And happily! We got up, I got dressed in a haze and then we got to the race spot. Zachary put his bike where it belonged and then we sat in the lobby of the gym for a while, walked in the pool area to check it out and sat on the bleachers until it was time to line up. Zachary started off swimming- here he is waiting to start on the side:
Here he is in position, waiting for the cue to start:
And in action:
After a few laps, I went ahead outside so I could see him run out. They ran from the pool, barefoot to where the bikes were parked:
And here is the start of the bike route. It was down the road so there wasn't a better view than this.
So as soon as I couldn't see him anymore, I went and got a prime spot at the finish line. Now, I have been to a few races- half marathons, marathons, 5ks... and one thing that really aggravates me is when people who know the person they're supporting isn't going to finish for a while but they stand right there anyway. I wasn't going to have to deal with that today though because I was gonna get there before everyone else. Well I did but that didn't stop a family of four from walking right in front of me as I was taking a video of Zachary crossing the finish line.
Oh well. I got this picture right after my failed video shoot.
He had so much fun! He said it was a lot more fun than a marathon. So we sat at some picnic tables and let him recover a bit and then we headed back to the house. We picked up a swimsuit for Liam on the way and we got him changed when we got back and then headed back to the same place the triathlon was held and Liam got to play around in a splash pool!
Malia hung out in her umbrella stroller:
I decided to walk in the splash pool too so I didn't get too many pictures but afterwards, Zachary jumped in the big pool. Here's Grandma walking with Liam to the pool:
And here's Liam and Daddy playing some basketball:
After our pool adventures we headed home where I took a nap and then we headed to Raleigh to meet my family for dinner at McAlisters. After dinner, we had a photo shoot!
Zachary likes to ask his parents to drive when we all ride together in the van so that we can relive the old days and sit in the back of a sienna together- how sweet is he? So Grandma got this silly picture of Malia from the front seat- this is her new favorite posture.
Also Malia said "mama" today! I kept thinking she might be but when we got back to the house she said it again and Zachary confirmed- so we had a very special day. Zachary got to use his God given talents and really enjoyed himself, Liam got to spend time with mainly Grandma & his daddy at the pool which was a fun and different environment, we got to see my parents, Matthew and his girlfriend and I got to hear the sound every "mama" yearns for! Oh and Zachary I got to sit real close in the back seat :)
