Woo Hoo! And all that...

Look closely at the girl with a white shirt and blue pants...do you see it now? Does she look familiar? Because it is me, finishing my first half-marathon!!!! I know the pictures aren't great, but they had a photographer on the course, and when those pictures are ready I'll post them...in all my tomato-faced glory.

I'm running with my neighbor, Kathy...who has kicked my butt into gear for several months now (and for some reason keeps bringing up a marathon that she wants to run...ugh).

I have to say that this is one of the things on my list to do before I'm thirty, and I did it!! It was freezing that morning, but I really only felt cold for the first half-mile. We ran up and down a million hills (they didn't call this race "Run For the Hills" for nothing!) and I'm proud to say finished in exactly the time we were aiming for: 2 hours, 45 minutes...and some odd seconds, I can't remember.

Brian had plans for lots of awesome pictures. He made shirts for the himself and the kids that said "Team Krista!" and he made me one that was very cute (I will post it later), but was up all night with very sick kids (he let me sleep, Thank you Brian!!!), so only managed these few at the very end of the race. We'll make everyone put their shirts back on and take pictures once they're all over the swine flu.

Anyway, I know it is lame to say...but I'm totally proud of myself! It was really a fun and challenging race, and I'm crazy enough that it might not be my last.....although don't ask me today, as I woke up this morning with every muscle in my body hurting. Did I say hurting? I meant, SCREAMING IN PAIN!!! Oh well, nothing half a bottle of ibuprofen and laying on the couch all day won't fix, right?

What Have We Been Up To?

I guess you all know we've had a dead blog for a while now, so instead of trying to update every little thing that you've missed (I know you are all dying to hear every detail of our lives...) I'm going to hit the highlights.

First up: I got a new sister! In a move of unparalleled genius, my little brother managed to get that gorgeous girl you see up there to marry him. Nothing against Marcus, we just all really love her! They got married on July 25, 2009.

Shantel, welcome to our family!

Oh, and did I mention that I made that cake? Hmmm? What's that you say? It is gorgeous beyond compare? You wish you had my talent? What?

We also welcomed another new family member this year...my sister and her husband had their third boy on August 17th, 2009. He was five weeks early, but a healthy 6lbs and 14 ounces. His name is Jett Isaac, and he is very adorable.

I got to go down to spend two weeks with Nanci and the boys after he was born. Wyatt and Garrett are so funny, and they just love their new baby brother. Congratulations Ryan and Nanci! You make them so pretty!!

Scrape....Scraaaape.......

I know we haven't been the best bloggers lately (MASSIVE UNDERSTATEMENT WARNING!), but we have been very busy with other things. I won't catch you up on everything right now, but I will let you in on what I was treated to earlier this evening.

I was putting on my running shoes in preparation for yet another seemingly unnecessary torture session, when I heard a very loud scraping sound coming from my dining room. Brian and I have been doing a lot of home improvement projects over the last month (and with lots of generous help from parents and friends, I might add....thanks, guys!), and as I listened to this oddly unfamiliar and ominous sound, I started to get scared.

We've been doing a lot of projects....but that doesn't necessarily mean we know what we are doing, or really that we've been finishing any of them. So I wondered what could possibly be going on in the dining room...when I know we had just agreed to finish all of the kitchen projects before we started on anything else.

Well, long story short...you know that seriously ugly popcorn ceiling problem we used to have? You know, the one with the awesome circa 1970's glitter in it? Brian went to Home Depot and saw a new tool, a tool that looked like it was supposed to be for scraping popcorn ceilings, and he thought to himself, "self...we should buy that tool and get rid of that ceiling!" So, he listened to himself, bought the tool....and now there is no more popcorn ceiling. Wow. The only problem is that there is now popcorn ceiling dust on every surface in our house, and in every crack and crevasse.

Now, if I could only get him to focus that energy into finishing the paint job going down into our dungeon...I mean, basement....

Okay everyone...I guess you'd definitely better come to Casa Hobbs and check out all of our fine work. Especially make sure you comment on the fine workmanship represented in the dining room ceiling!

Autism Awareness Day!!

I'm guessing that there are more of you out there than I know who have a family member touched by autism. Our nephew Grant was diagnosed just before Kindergarten. Grant is just a few months younger than Madison, and I remember countless conversations with his mom, Melanie, when they were little guys about how different they were. I remember Melanie saying that there were things he just didn't do, and I frequently was unhelpful and told her that Madison was just more outgoing, that boys were different than girls, that he would catch up...all the things you want to believe because you love them and can't imagine that anything could really be wrong. But Melanie knew something was wrong, and even did, I think, all the right things. She told her pediatrician, she was persistent and she kept trying. It took longer than it should have to diagnose him, but having that diagnosis has opened doors for that beautiful little boy. (See http://travandmel.blogspot.com/ for Grant's story and Melanie's challenge!) Sooo, Melanie has asked everyone to help early intervention by posting the following early warning signs on your blog. I have seen the amazing difference the autism services have made for Grant, and especially for his family. It can be a sensitive topic for any proud parent, but with early intervention, a child with autism has so many possibilities...they don't have to live alone in their world.

Okay...so post these warning signs on your blog! And be like Melanie...be persistent, don't be afraid to keep asking questions at your pediatrician's office, don't be afraid to push until you get the help you need.

I need to briefly say that I am so proud to have Melanie as a sister-in-law. I know there must be moments where it all seems like too much for her, but we all see how strong she is, and we are all amazed.

Watch for the Red Flags of Autism

(The following red flags may indicate a child is at risk for atypical development, and is in need of an immediate evaluation.)

In clinical terms, there are a few “absolute indicators,” often referred to as “red flags,” that indicate that a child should be evaluated. For a parent, these are the “red flags” that your child should be screened to ensure that he/she is on the right developmental path. If your baby shows any of these signs, please ask your pediatrician or family practitioner for an immediate evaluation:

No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter

No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter

No babbling by 12 months

No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving by 12 months

No words by 16 months

No two-word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months

Any loss of speech or babbling or social skills at any age

*This information has been provided by First Signs, Inc. ©2001-2005. Reprinted with permission. For more information about recognizing the early signs of developmental and behavioral disorders, please visit http://www.firstsigns.org or the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/actearly.

I'm NOT Going to Apologize...

...because, really...all those excuses about being busy and trying to have a life are getting old. Sooo, on to what's going on around here!

Okay, so I spent two hours blog stalking The Meanest Mom blog...maybe I deserved two hours to myself while Ben was wandering around in a diaper so smelly that I turned on Phineas and Ferb just to get him out of the room so I wouldn't die from the fumes. After all, I'm the one who had to change that diaper eventually. Someone ought to reward me for that.

While I was sitting there reading and nearly peeing my pants laughing (or maybe I did pee my pants...I have had two children...who are you to judge?), I decided to write my own post in the style of The Meanest Mom...so, Mean Mom..this one's for you:

LATEST SCORE IN THE BATTLE FOR CULINARY PREFERENCE IN THE HOBBS HOUSE:

BRIAN: 2 KRISTA: 2

Brian and I have different views on what is edible and what is disgusting. For instance, I find tuna fish to be disgusting. I'm sorry for the tuna *shudder* lovers out there. I can't even stand the smell of it. I can always tell when someone has opened a can of tuna in my house, and I will spend a half hour bleaching the sink to get the nasty tuna smell from the *gulp* run-off from draining it into said sink. I have been known to puke after smelling it...granted, I was pregnant and at the time most things made me puke, but still...that is how much I dislike it.

Since we began having children, or at least since our children could eat things that weren't strained or blended or drinkable, we've been fighting for control of our children's preferences. Luckily for me, they spend more time eating things I make and have therefore gained most of their taste for all things edible from me. I think this is fine. I only eat delicious things.

Recently, however, things have started to get ugly. It all started when I made peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and neither child would touch them. Brian has an irrational hatred of peanut butter. Honestly, who hates peanut butter? He won't even eat it when it's covered in chocolate. I don't know how he did it, but somehow he managed to pass this on to not one, but both of our kids. And to add insult to injury, my daughter then proceeded to tell me that she would rather have a tuna-fish sandwich. As I narrowed my eyes, because clearly this is all an evil plot to make me sick, I could only think of one person devious enough to get her to like it.

The score was then Brian: 2, Krista: 0. Something had to be done.

I already knew that even though I had tried to be diplomatic about approaching the whole fungus family, Madison had so far refused to partake of them. And to seal the score I attempted to feed Ben some soup that had chunks of mushroom in it (I didn't make it, obviously), and without prompting he spit out the mushrooms and consumed everything else.

Hehe....Krista: 1

And last night we had the final breakthrough...I made Manwich. Mmmmm. Now I know you are all judging, but really...who doesn't love Manwich? I don't like to advertise this, but I think I could seriously eat an entire pound of Manwich by myself. It's for this very reason that I don't make it very often, coupled with the fact that Brian hates it (something ridiculous about soggy bread) and I would be forced (haha) to eat it all by myself. So, last night I made Manwich. Ben loved it, take that Brian! Madi? Why do you ask? Well, I can say with total honesty that she ate it...under duress...but she still ate it.

I'm taking this one, I need it! Brian has already introduced them both to cheese sandwiches dipped in ketsup! I have to take what I can get!

A Gift...From Me, Or...A Lesson on Bravery...

So, the first five (5) people that respond to this particular post will get something made by good'ol me! (My choice.) Sound too good to be true? Well, it depends on how you look at it.
Details:
1- Not 100% satisfaction guaranteed. You might not like what I make especially for you.
2- It will be especially for you.
3- It will be completed within one year.
4- You will have no clue what it will be. (Story, poetry, some other grand invention. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!)
5- It might be weird.
The Catch? (Of course there is a catch, silly!) Do what I did. Re-post this little giveaway for your friends and family on your blog with the same unbelievable lucky first five offer. Then, "comment" and let me know that you did it. Within one year you will get a fun little something made just for you--by me!P.S. This is open to anyone, even you lurkers out there!! P.P.S. I know what you are all thinking...she'll never send me a present! She doesn't even update her blog!! I promise that there is updating and presents to come!!!

Election Day

If you've read our blog these past few years, you know that we try to keep it lighthearted here at the Hobbs World Travelers. We like to discuss what our family is up to...what we're currently interested in...things like that. But today I have to bore you all with my own political agenda. Last night our country elected Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Our country was founded 232 years ago by a group of men who believed that another political way was possible. They met in secret to establish a government whose people could voice their opinions without fear of deadly consequences. Where new ideas and changing old conceptions was not only allowed, but expected. Over the course of our nations history we have seen our government use it's power to better a nation. Sometimes changes have come slower than some would have liked, but these changes were made within the confines of our laws. People complain about not having a voice in this country, but our country gives us a voice based on the fundamentals of our inspired Constitution. All over the world throughout the centuries since it was founded, our country has been a model for democracy and peaceful transfer of power. With the election of our 44th President, we have seen that peaceful transfer of power again. It is incredible, and something to be thankful for. To be born or to have been naturalized in a country where we can voice our differences, where the candidates for leadership in our country can vary on policies and not fear for their lives is a wonderful thing, a very fortunate thing.

Your candidate may have lost last night, but if you went to the polls and showed that you cared enough about the freedom that was won and has been protected for you so many times, then I feel that you have shown your pride in our country and you have proved that our country's government still works.

I am personally proud to be a part of this election where more people showed up to vote than in many years. I am proud to witness an historical landmark in our country's history. We are all concerned about our future. There is a lot for our new President to deal with in the next four years. I'm just glad to know that I live in a place where we can let our leaders know, through our votes, that we are either satisfied or dissatisfied with their progress. If you are not happy with this year's election, remember that you can vote again to make a change in the next election. It is easy to be upset or angry or even scared when things don't turn out the way we want them to, but I believe that the right thing to do is to rally our strength to make a difference where we can. I believe that we can all do our part to make our cities, states and country what we want it to be. Don't let an election make you give up what you want to fight for. If you voted, you proved that your voice CAN be heard, which is something that many people in this world cannot claim.

Princess No Teeth....

I'm not sure what kind of introduction deserves to be here. If you don't pee in your pants when you watch this...I'm not sure you are human.

Madison has had her two front teeth loose for a couple of weeks, and two days ago she insisted on having them out. Brian tried just pulling, but they really weren't loose enough. Madison kept playing with one in particular, and by the time Dad decided to get out the string it was pretty loose. They tried a couple of string methods, but it kept slipping off. Then Brian came up with the brilliant idea that you see above. Enjoy!

And here are the pictures post tooth removal. The other front tooth was pulled last night (by me! I know...eeeeewww!!) We've decided that she's just in time for looking like a Halloween Jack-o-lantern. Cute, huh?