Fall Fun!

A lot has happened since my last post so this might be long!

First off, in case you are not exactly sure where we moved to this might help:

Too funny!

Anna and Ben had their school pictures taken. Aren't they adorable!!!

I've been trying to find a good place to have Ben's hair cut since we moved here and I have had the hardest time! In Sacramento we had "Ms. Esmeralda" who Ben loved! The kids hair cut shops here have been messing up Ben's hair so I finally tried an old fashioned barber shop. Ben looked great after his hair cut but he was very upset that an old dude was cutting his hair! He was so sad =(.

Unfortunately I had to give that place the axe because Ben looked miserable. I asked my swanky hair salon if they could cut Ben's hair and to my surprise they would! Ben LOVED Ms. Lydia =)

He's laughing hysterically here!

Mr. Ben was all smiles the whole time and the price for his hair cut was the same as the old barber shop!



I ran in a half marathon last weekend with my wonderful running friends Kim, Susan and Cindy.  It was called the "Iron Horse Half Marathon" and it was hosted by the running store that I work at. It was absolutely beautiful. We ran on country roads through the rolling hills of horse farms. It was by far the most beautiful race I've ran. At mile 7 there was a "herd" of about 40 thoroughbreds on a farm that would run with us to the end of the fence and then synchronized they would all turn around and run in the other direction. I bet the horses are not used to watching 1200 people run down their country road. They wanted to show us how it's done!

Waiting for the race to start!

We ran on these country roads. It was very hilly!

Myself and Kim (my old neighbor)

Coming in to the finish line!

Top:  Cindy and Susan; bottom: Kim and myself

I finally received the images for the rest of the photos I chose from the photographer. I don't have the hard copies yet so these have his web site on the bottom. I must say that I got one heck of a deal but the con is that I don't have the hard digital copies yet! I was told they are "in the mail". Here are a few more:

He's so handsome!!! xoxo

She was having a great time! Anna is quite the ham!

Ben tells me he's a "big boy" but he sure looks like his mama's baby here =)

 I attended my first University of Kentucky tailgate and football game! It was chilly but it was fun.  I'm not sure what it is about the Wildcats but they are easy to love and root for. I am a Cal girl -- GO BEARS !!!!  But,  the Wildcats have grown on me =). Maybe the good Kentucky people have something to do with it?

Look at these pants .... those are little UK embellishments!

6 foot portable grill!

Getting set up for the fun

Great seats!

Here are a few more photos from last week:

Beautiful Anna!

On her way to her Girl Scout Halloween Party. Yes, Ben is wearing her black heels in the background. He was practicing his dancing =)

Kiddos playing outside

 

Mr. Stud Muffin. He wanted to wear some "jewelry" so he has a pendant of Saint Ann around his neck. He wanted to wear the same pendant to bed tonight! Maybe Saint Ann is his guardian Angel?

Anna "exercising" =)

Anna with her best friend Sofia. They were pretending to be puppies here.

Off to the Races!

October in Kentucky is all about the horse races at Keenland. The race track at Keenland is stunning and I feel lucky to live so close to such a spectactular place (about 2.5 miles away!).  Typically, along with my girlfriends Kim and Susan, I run at Keenland on the weekends and am amazed that we are able to run in such a beautiful place. However, during the months of October and April our running haven at Keenland is overtaken by horses and spectators! Last Friday my girlfriends and I made it out to Keenland but instead of wearing our running shoes and shorts we dressed like proper ladies, placed a few bets and tasted some of the fine Kentucky bourbon =).

Susan, myself, Kim

After paying your $5 to enter Keenland you enter the winner's circle and watching the horses parade around is breath taking. If you've seen the movie "Dreamer" this is where they shot the winner's circle scene.

This is a photo taken at Keenland in the fall. I did not take this, but yes, it does really look like this here in the fall!

 Okay, so I did not have beginners luck in my bets placed at Keenland but I did have luck in where I was standing! My friend Kim went off to talk to somebody and Susan went to buy some food and there I was standing alone. It turned out I was standing in the "clubhouse" area for VIP's, but hey, I'm not from here and I didn't know that!  I was leaning against a rail, looked to my right and was about 3 inches away from Bobby Flay, one of the Food Network Iron Chefs. I was thrilled! I wanted to take a photo with him but didn't want to be a nuisance so I didn't ask. I took it as a compliment though that he let me stand next to him and didn't have me escorted away by security  =) (there really was security around him). 

See him?

 

Recognize him now?

 My other fun encounter at Keenland was meeting John Wall one of the famous University of Kentucky basketball players. He plays for the Washington Wizards now but last year it was all about John Wall at UK. The basketball players are like royalty around here. Along with horses and bourbon, Kentuckians LOVE their basketball! John was at Keenland with about 8 other basketball players. He was in town for "Midnight Madness" which was UK's first basketball practice. Rupp Arena sold out in 10 minutes just to watch these guys practice!

I guess the yellow rope was supposed to be security for this guy? Don't they know he plays in the NBA now?

This is an incredible photo!

 Okay, I know you are waiting for photos of the kids! I have been horrible at taking photos lately. My new job has left me a bit scattered! I don't have many photos but Anna and Ben are doing great.  They both started gymnastics and love it.  Ben's class is more of just bouncing on inflatables and getting his wiggles out but Anna is on the balance beam, bars and the full nine yards. Anna is also still in dance and Daisy's. She loves it all!

I had some photos taken recently by a local photographer. We just took some fun photos in our everyday life. No fancy clothes -- just how we typically look! This photographer specializes in sports photos and was having a promotion so I asked if he would take some fun, sporty pics of the kids and I.   I got a great deal but I am still waiting for most of the photos to be edited ( I guess I got a deal for being patient!). Here are two of the photos and I am waiting for the rest:

This was at the end after Ben and Anna had ran around and played.