Mall of America

Friday night while we were out shopping, my mother-in-law texted me to see if Kileigh and I wanted to go with them to the Mall of America on Saturday (yesterday).  I said sure, so we headed home, packed our bags for the weekend and went up to their house.  Saturday morning we had breakfast and headed over to the airport.  Kevin met us outside security with our boarding passes and we got on the first flight to Minneapolis.  Right after we boarded, Kevin walked on the plane.  I knew he was going to be able to get off early and fly with us, but his parents didn't know so they were surprised.  The flight was quick, just over an hour.  When we got off the plane, Kileigh discovered a little kids play area with a slide.  At first, she wasn't very interested in going down the slide and was scared, but then wanted to go down it again.  It was hard to drag her away.  She would have been content to play at the airport all day.  Once we left the terminal, we walked through the parking garage (outside) to the light rail station.  You would think they could have an indoor walkway, especially in the winter, but that wasn't the case.  We took the train to the Mall of America, which was a short ride.  My in-laws had been there, but it was our first time.  When we first got inside, I was like "WOW" we are actually at the Mall of America.  Once we started walking around, it seemed a lot like any other big mall that you maybe have been to, except for the amusement park in the middle and the fact that there were a lot of Minnesota suvenior shops.  After walking around for awhile, we were looking for a sit down place for lunch and decided on Ruby Tuesday, because I knew we could get stuff for Kileigh from the salad bar and she was already really hungry.  Anywhere else, we would have been waiting for a long time.  Besides, she is at that stage where no matter what you order, she rarely eats much of it anyway.  We each got the salad bar.  My mother-in-law order a broccoli chicken pasta.  My father-in-law and Kevin ordered burgers and I ordered the sliders.  Once we were done with lunch, we continued walking around.  We found a dress for Kileigh for St. Patrick's Day.  How sad that we had to go all the way to Minnesota to find one, but now that we did, I am happy that Kileigh will look cute.  Before we left, we stopped at Cold Stone for an ice cream treat.  Yummy!  Then we headed back to the airport.  We got there early and were able to get on an earlier flight.  We went back to my in-laws house and watched the Olympics.  We were wiped from all the walking and went to bed after watching the US women win gold in the bobsled. 

Today we went to church and then went to a newcomer's lunch at one of the church member's houses.  We met a couple younger couples, one of which has a daughter who is only a few months older than Kileigh.  They have played together in the nursery a few times and have become friends.  They actually live right down the street from us, so we might have to plan some playdates. 

Tonight is the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics.  We really enjoyed watching them on tv, but are excited about a couple new shows that are starting this week:  The Marriage Ref and Parenthood.

Watching the Olympics

The Brumfields came over last night for dinner and we watched the Olympics.  I have really enjoyed being able to watch the coverage during the day now that I have a job that permits it.  There have been some races and some disappointments as well.  Watching Shaun White win back-to-back gold medals in the halfpipe and Shani Davis win back-to-back gold medals in the 1000 meters were great races.  Apollo Ohno's race the other night was impressive.  Just when I thought he didn't have a chance of getting a medal, the Koreans knocked themselves out and the Americans went 2-3.  I have watched a lot of the curling this week and have been disappointed because the Americans have lost a lot of matches that seemed like they should have pulled them off.  Lindsay Vonn's gold medal performance was amazing.  It's inspirational to see someone compete in the Olympics through pain.  What determination she had to go after her dream!  I was disappointed in Lindsay Jacobellis' snowboard cross performance.  I mean really....that's two Olympics races now where she lost the gold medal, unfortunately this time she didn't even get to compete in the finals for a medal.I am sure there will be note-worthy performances in the next week.  Looking forward to the rest of the competition!

Baby Margaret has arrived

I just heard the news that our friends had their baby girl today.  Margaret Rose arrived at 3:32pm weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces.  I can't wait to meet her!

Is this the year?

You are probably asking yourself what am I talking about.  Kevin wants to move up to the next level of management with Southwest.  He and his bosses feel that he is ready for his own station.  The position that he is looking for is to become a station manager in a city that Southwest flies to.  His bosses thought last year was the year for him.  He applied last year for the position in Milwaukee and was 2nd in line, so we knew that we needed to be patient and that something else was in store for us.  When we found out that Southwest was going to start flying to Panama City, FL this May, it was obvious that he was going to put in for it until he found out that they weren't going to interview for that position.  Since it's a small station, they are going to put the current Houston station manager in the Panama City position too.  That person will be in charge of both stations.  Just recently while on a business trip to Dallas, Kevin learned about the Indianapolis station manager position.  He applied for it and has his interview on Thursday.  So please pray that the interview goes well.  Thanks!

Happy Valentine's Day

I had to steal this from friend Sonya's blog.  This is one of my favorite bible verses as well.

In honor of Valentine's Day and the 8th anniversary of our engagement, God's words on love say it best.

1 Corinthians 13


Love

1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.  4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Kileigh's 1st date.....with her daddy

Earlier this week I was reading an article in the paper about a man with three daughters.  He has been taking them on Valentine's Day dates for years and now that they are all in college and in other states, he still has plans to continue the dates.  He takes each girl out on her own date so they get one-on-one time and allows them to pick their favorite restaurant.  In the early days he mentioned it was a lot of trips to McDonald's.  Now the evenings out are more expensive and he is thankful that he has the means to continue the tradition today.  This year his oldest daughter was driving home from Indiana and they were going out tonight for their dinner.  Tomorrow he will fly to North Carolina to have dinner with one of his twin daughters and then Tuesday drive 4 hours to have dinner with his other twin daughter and then drive a few hours to an airport to catch an early flight back home to Chicago for a noon meeting on Wednesday. 

Wow what an inspirational story that was to read about a father's sacrifice to let his daughters know how important they are to him and to want to be a part of their lives.  Of course I saved the article and brought it home to share with Kevin.  I thought that it would be a neat tradition for him to start with Kileigh.  Since we were leaving Saturday to come to my parents house for the weekend, Kevin took Kileigh out on their 1st Daddy/Daughter Valentine's date.  They went to a local pizza place that we really enjoy.  Kileigh loves wandering around because they have two rooms that are separated by a large garage door that is open sometimes and closed at other times.  They each enjoyed their own pizza and then brought home for me to enjoy as we watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. 

I hope that they are able to carry on the tradition over the years no matter what is going on.  Due to Kevin's current work schedule, he is able to spend Mondays alone with Kileigh while I go to work.  I know that he enjoys the time alone with Kileigh as much Kileigh spending it with her daddy.  Monday is known as Daddy Day.  Sometimes they go to the zoo or the aquarium.  Last Monday they went to the pet store to see the fish.  They also stay at home sometimes and hang out watching movies, playing, and coloring.  I love that he wants to spend time with Kileigh and think it's important for a little girl to have that relationship with her dad.

Update from the past week......

Kevin spent the past week in Dallas on business, so it was just us girls holding down the home front.  Wednesday Jen came over for dinner and Thursday I had dinner at the Case's, so I wasn't alone all week long.  Friday after work, Kileigh and I ran some errands and anxiously awaited Kevin's arrival home.  He got home about 9:30, after Kileigh was in bed so he had to wait till morning to see her.  Saturday was Daddy Day for Kevin and Kileigh and Girl's Day for Sarai and I.  We got massages, had lunch at Olive Garden, did some shopping, and worked on the nursery.  Sunday morning we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel and went to church.  Kevin's parents came over in the afternoon and we watched the Superbowl. 

Kevin had to go in last night at Midnight because they were expecting the worst from the storm and actually shut down the airport.  Luckily he didn't have to stay overnight and is home now.  Tonight is Biggest Loser night.  I am sure the rest of the week will fly by and it will be Saturday before we know it.  We are taking Kileigh to see her grandparents in Charleston this weekend and watch the Olympics with them for a couple days.  I am thinking that Kevin has a special date planned for him and Kileigh too.  Stay tuned for further details..... 

2010 Goals

One of my friends wrote a blog about her 2010 goals, so I thought that I would be a good idea for me to write mine down where I can revisit them at a later time and access my progress.

1.  Read the bible daily.  Kevin and I decided that because this is something we both want to do, we can do it together.  Of course we are starting on a week when he is out of town, so we will either conduct it over the phone or through the computer.  I have read the whole New Testament, but never the whole bible.  I also read bible stories to Kileigh at bedtime, so that's another way to dig into Gods word.

2. Pray daily.  That may seem silly if you do it all the time, but for someone who lets life get in the way or doesn't always know what to say, that can be difficult. 

3.  Go to church regularly.  Not that God takes attendance, like the pastor spoke about at church yesterday, but in 2009, we had a span of 5 months where we didn't attend.  We had been attending our old church sporatically in the last two months, but decided to make a change to another church.  We attended our friends church yesterday and really felt the missing pieces were coming together. 

4.  Join a bible study.  I am not sure what type I would like to do, but maybe a Women's Bible Study or Disciple Bible Study.

5.  Read more books in my spare time.  I used to read all the time when I was growing up and kind of got out of the habit in college and when I was teaching.  Now that I am a nanny, I actually have a lot more free time during the day in which to read.  I have been reading the newspaper daily.  I am rereading Dear John by Nicholas Sparks because I am excited about his new movie coming out soon.

Ultimately my goal for 2010 is to be more obedient to God and to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.  I have grown stagnant in my faith and need to be refreshed and revived spiritually.