Fresno Magazine Photo Shoot

I mentioned that I had the opportunity to be a part of a photo shoot for Fresno Magazine on October 20th (Lauren's Birthday).  The Junior League of Fresno was featured in the December edition of Fresno Magazine.  It was an absolute blast.  I got a call from the fabulous Liz Kern, Fresno Magazine Associate Editor and fellow Junior Leaguer on Tuesday for the Thursday photo shoot.  Thankfully, I already had a (much over due) hair appointment scheduled.

Here are a few of the results if you are interested (and I promised my dad the link to the online magazine).  CLICK HERE Our spread starts on page 34 and my pic is on page 38.

Makeup (um, airbrushing?!?!  yes please!): Julia Cantu, Iron Bird Beauty Bar
Hair: David Carona, Hungry Hair Salon
Photos: the fantastic and talented Michael L'Heureux

Shortcuts: TFTP

5 Weeks until the Half Marathon
Distance: 13.03 miles
Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Avg Pace Per Mile: 9:36

Running on Christmas Eve... in the country...  My two biggest fears about running in the country are the big dogs (that I can't outrun) and the big fast trucks (that I can't see coming around the bend).  I zigzagged my way through the country roads. 

As I ran I was tempted and my logical senses were tested.  I am the kind of person who likes to get from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible.  As you know, that is almost always a straight line.  My run was mostly North/South (up one long country road and down another), so when I passed streets running East/West that would quickly take me back to my parents' house and a hot shower, I had to fight the urge to take a shortcut.  Of course, not running 13 miles wasn't an option so the shortcuts were really empty temptations but your head doesn't always make sense after running for an hour.  

The easy and efficient option was the shortcut, but it was cheating.  My path was longer and harder... and in the end surprisingly more fulfilling.  A person like me who speeds through life needs this lesson.  God's path for us isn't always the easy path but the journey is what makes the destination worthwhile.  We put aside comfort and efficiency for the greater gift, completing the journey, surviving, and succeeding. 

My journey over the last year has very much been like the longer run.  Putting work on the back burner has made a lot of things crystal clear.   I can see the shortcuts but most of the time I can't afford them.  So I will happily journey on with three little kids and a husband with a heavy career.  Grateful for the long run that I can't cheat. 

Callahan Christmas Card 2011

Our Family Name Christmas Card

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Christmas Theology

Here are a few tidbits from the mouths of my babes.

1) Patrick: Mom, God has his hand on us.
2) Keith: Jesus is the light.  That's Jesus, there's Jesus, and there he is up there.  (pointing at the street lights, car lights and the moon)
3) Patrick: My favorite part of Christmas is the presents.  I love it because it is like unwrapping the gift of God's love! (throws arms wide open).
4) Keith: KING HEROD WANTS TO KILL ALL THE BABIES!

We've got the Holy Spirit.

Crying it out.

I may have told you that Lauren is not the best at sleeping through the night.  We were doing really well before her birthday and now we have a forced co-sleeping arrangement. 

http://crappypictures.typepad.com

It's cute and great.  She likes to sleep on my neck.  So if I'm not laying on my back she pulls my hair and smacks me to get me to roll over.  She also likes to sleep horizontally in between us.  Usually this means kicking Kevin in the face.  Another favorite is burying her head in between the mattress and head board (fun.).  And did I mention that she refuses to have any blankets on her?  brr.

I know you think we are weak parents but the whole point of this post is to tell you that we aren't weak, she's just stronger.  Crying it out was the option for both boys.  Usually this had more to do with going to sleep, not staying asleep.  We've tried to let her cry it out.  We get vomit as our reward each time.  Lauren cries so seldom that when crying happens in her world it is worth throwing up.  Great.

So we go to bed a little bit earlier every night, hoping for more than an hour of sleep.  Sometimes we're lucky, other times not so much. 

When this passes (hopefully prior to her 15th birthday) I won't miss it.  I will sneak in her room and wonder at the sweetness of a child sleeping in her own bed.

Elf fail

 We have a new addition at our house.  Buddy the Elf!  Santa's helper dropped him off on our doorstep Thanksgiving weekend. 

 If you've never met an Elf on the Shelf, here's a little info.  Basically, the elves are how Santa knows if the kids are being naughty or nice.  The elves return to the North Pole each evening to report to Santa.  Then they come back to the house and hide in a different spot.

 The boys named our elf Buddy (duh.).  He's helpful at finding missing things: Keith's glasses.

 He's super silly.

And he knows how to get into strange spots.

After hearing a lot of moms rave about the power of the Elf, I thought Buddy's arrival would be a huge hit.  The boys love him and they search for him the minute they are up in the morning.  But we have a four year old who is less than convinced.  "Buddy is just a toy!" 

Buddy's feelings are hurt and I'm sure he is in the process of writing a little note to Keith.  I'm also sure that there will be bigger and better pranks in the week leading up to Christmas.  Until then.... status quo.

A destination in mind: TFTP

8 Weeks until the Half Marathon
Distance: 4.11 miles
Time: 37:11 minutes
Avg Pace Per Mile:9:03

Today I passed 100 miles.  So far, yet...not.

After 100 miles on the same routes around my neighborhood, I am now struck by my desire for a destination.  As I run, I wish I could have run to Starbucks for a salted caramel mocha.  I probably would have run much faster for a salted caramel mocha.

Running in a circle is sort of annoying. I've started changing my circles to limit my back tracking.  For some reason I can make myself believe that I'm going somewhere.  I need a destination, I need a place to end up.... which is why the last half mile is the best.  I'm heading home.  Home to smiles, chocolate, a hot shower, wine, and my couch.  I love running home.

Keith: Halloween 2011 

Last night Keith and I were snuggling on the coach playing his Leapster and I had a realization, he FINALLY knows his letters!  He's on the tip of the reading iceberg!  He's identifying letters more and more.  Unlike Patrick, he can also memorize books.  His most recent book is Go, Dog, Go.  "Do you like my hat?" 

267 Days and 22 Hours until Kindergarten!