My future godson:
Sunday, July 22, 2012
I'm gonna be a godmother!
Jamine called me Friday night and asked me to be Blake's godmother. I'm so honored! Being a little boy's godmother...it makes me feel so grown up, so responsible, so happy.
My future godson:
We're heading up to Cochrane for my 10 year high school reunion this Friday and making a dinner stop in Columbus to see Jamine, Brandon, and the boys. I can't wait to see this little guy and his brother again!
My future godson:
Jamaica!
Ahh, we had a fabulous time in Jamaica. It was beautiful, relaxing, and fun...and great to spend time with good friends again. We ate a LOT...and most of it was extremely delicious...including the interesting cocktails.
We went to Dunn's River Falls on Sunday. The falls were beautiful and we had fun climbing up them. Our newly purchased water shoes were great...though not as stylishly Jamaican as Mark and KJ's. We were able to see a little bit of the countryside between our resort and the falls. Most of the areas we saw were pretty poor with some really nice developments in between.
On Tuesday we went tubing in the White River. It was so much fun! Our bus ride was much longer this day. We went through the city of Ocho Rios which was pretty much what I expected of a Caribbean city. We passed by a bunch of schools on our way up the mountain and saw a lot more people out than we had previously. It was beautiful! Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera tubing as I was afraid it would get wet (though I did manage to stay in my tube the whole time so it may have been fine). These pictures are from the end point.
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| The lobby of our resort |
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| John with his welcome drink, a yummy juice |
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| Our resort from the beach |
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| The view from our balcony |
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| This is the life...reading in the sunshine before breakfast! |
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| Mark and John playing chess |
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| John observing as Mark plays goalie |
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| We made it! |
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| The view from the main resort bar...gorgeous! |
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| Relaxing on the beach...so great! |
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| Our last night at the resort...definitely could have stayed for a few more days! |
Sunday, July 8, 2012
New year, new resolutions: Revisited
Now that we're just over halfway through 2012 (Crazy!) I thought I'd revisit my resolutions. On January 22, 2012 I blogged about three resolutions for this year:
I blogged about our eating habits recently as well. We're doing a good job of eating more veggies. My favorite new meal is sweet potato tacos...mmm! The first time I made them for my hubby I made them with ground beef...but he also likes them with just the veggies!
I think I'm doing a great job of enjoying the moment as well. Sure, I still think about the future...but not nearly as much as I used to...I guess I'm too busy enjoying the here and now. Of course, it's good to think about the future some...long-term goals are a good thing...as long as you enjoy the present as well (well, that's my two cents anyway).
Now it's time to get ready for the first week of the next session at work...the students will be back in full force after a two week summer break. It will only be a four day week for me as we're off to Jamaica on Friday...enjoying the moment!
- Keep exercising.
- Eat more vegetables.
- Enjoy the moment.
I blogged about our eating habits recently as well. We're doing a good job of eating more veggies. My favorite new meal is sweet potato tacos...mmm! The first time I made them for my hubby I made them with ground beef...but he also likes them with just the veggies!
I think I'm doing a great job of enjoying the moment as well. Sure, I still think about the future...but not nearly as much as I used to...I guess I'm too busy enjoying the here and now. Of course, it's good to think about the future some...long-term goals are a good thing...as long as you enjoy the present as well (well, that's my two cents anyway).
Now it's time to get ready for the first week of the next session at work...the students will be back in full force after a two week summer break. It will only be a four day week for me as we're off to Jamaica on Friday...enjoying the moment!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Me, a runner?!?
I never really thought I'd be a runner. Maybe I'd tolerate it, maybe I'd even like it every now and then. But for me to actually be a runner? Nah! A few events this last week have had me wondering though...
Last Saturday, Mom and I went to both yoga and Zumba in Millennium Park for 45 minutes each. It was a great workout. Then, we went to the Cubs game, walked around the neighborhood a little bit. But, I was still missing something. So, when we got home, I went for my 6.5 mile run, figuring I'd stick to about a 10-10:30 minute/mile pace...nice and easy. I ended up going quite a bit faster than that (averaging around 9:45 minute/mile) and felt amazing! Apparently a run was just what I needed.
Then, on Tuesday, after spending a couple of days with the new Kurth twins, I went for a 30 minute run in crazy heat. I even overheard someone I passed by say "It's way too hot for running" in that "she's crazy" voice. Hmm...
On Thursday I got up at 5:20 in the morning just to get my run in before it got too hot. That's what really got me thinking about this.
But, of course, I am training for something...two somethings...the Brewers Mini Marathon on September 22nd and the Disney World Half Marathon and Marathon (Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge) on January 12-13th. The real test will be whether I run while I'm on vacation in Jamaica next week...and then when I'm on vacation in Montana in August. We shall see!
For now, I'm shuffling my training schedule just a bit so I'll have a shorter run for Jamaica and a longer run (8 miles) tomorrow. I'm so excited to run in cooler weather...yay!
Last Saturday, Mom and I went to both yoga and Zumba in Millennium Park for 45 minutes each. It was a great workout. Then, we went to the Cubs game, walked around the neighborhood a little bit. But, I was still missing something. So, when we got home, I went for my 6.5 mile run, figuring I'd stick to about a 10-10:30 minute/mile pace...nice and easy. I ended up going quite a bit faster than that (averaging around 9:45 minute/mile) and felt amazing! Apparently a run was just what I needed.
Then, on Tuesday, after spending a couple of days with the new Kurth twins, I went for a 30 minute run in crazy heat. I even overheard someone I passed by say "It's way too hot for running" in that "she's crazy" voice. Hmm...
On Thursday I got up at 5:20 in the morning just to get my run in before it got too hot. That's what really got me thinking about this.
But, of course, I am training for something...two somethings...the Brewers Mini Marathon on September 22nd and the Disney World Half Marathon and Marathon (Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge) on January 12-13th. The real test will be whether I run while I'm on vacation in Jamaica next week...and then when I'm on vacation in Montana in August. We shall see!
For now, I'm shuffling my training schedule just a bit so I'll have a shorter run for Jamaica and a longer run (8 miles) tomorrow. I'm so excited to run in cooler weather...yay!
Cade and Blake Kurth
Earlier this week I was able to visit Jamine, Brandon, Cade, and Blake. Ooh, those two little boys just stole my heart! It worked out perfectly that I had Monday and Tuesday off of work...the boys came home from the hospital Friday and Saturday...my mom was visiting us in Chicago so she could drop me off in Columbus on her back home...and Jamine's mom wasn't going to be able to visit until later in the week...perfect!
Sunday afternoon, Monday, and Tuesday morning consisted of feeding, changing, and holding two adorable little boys. I was extremely impressed with their parents too! They already had a schedule made and adhered to and were a really great team...which was especially evident when they gave the boys their first baths at home. I'm so proud of them...already champs at parenting twins!
Brandon wondered aloud why I wanted to come...and whether or not I would still want to have babies soon by the time I left. The answer to that is a resounding yes! Sure, it's overwhelming to think these little ones rely solely on you for their care...but it's also pretty awesome. I can't wait to have one (or two) of my own! I am so glad I was able to spend those couple of days with the four of you...and can't wait to visit again!
I have to admit though...I was a little exhausted and slept for the first hour or so on the train ride home. It was a good exhaustion though...a very happy, content one!
Sunday afternoon, Monday, and Tuesday morning consisted of feeding, changing, and holding two adorable little boys. I was extremely impressed with their parents too! They already had a schedule made and adhered to and were a really great team...which was especially evident when they gave the boys their first baths at home. I'm so proud of them...already champs at parenting twins!
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| Tummy time with Cade |
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| Cade and Blake |
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| Cade being held by the giant owl pillow |
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| Holding both boys, Blake and Cade |
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| Miller Park from the Amtrak |
Chicago Scholars
I don't think I've blogged about Chicago Scholars yet...weird! Chicago Scholars is an organization that provides a structured program for students who will be seniors in high school in the fall. It's a 5 year program, designed to get them into college and through college. My role will be during this first year...from now until next May when each scholar announces where he or she will attend college. After that, scholars are assigned peer mentors and continue to work with the Chicago Scholars staff.
I can't even remember where I heard about Chicago Scholars...I know I got an email (possibly from my UIC account) about different mentoring opportunities in Chicago and I thought Chicago Scholars sounded like a good fit for me. I applied to be a mentor quite awhile ago...and then found out I was chosen to be a mentor in April, I think. We had a couple of mentor orientations in May where I got to meet one of my fellow mentors of Cohort E (there are 3 mentors and 7 scholars in Cohort E).
The next step was meeting the scholars at the Scholar-Mentor Breakfast. It was a very informal and fun event. Two of our scholars and one of our mentors were unable to attend, but those of us who were there had a great time getting to know each other a little better.
The following week there was a Scholar-Mentor-Parent Orientation. I finally met the third mentor in our group then as well as the two scholars who were unable to attend the breakfast. The scholars received a lot of additional information about the program and what is expected of them. The parents also received an orientation in a separate room. When this was over, we all met together over lemonade and brownies. It was so good to meet the scholars' parents. At that point, I really felt like I was making a difference already!
There has been one workshop for the students so far but I wasn't able to attend. There's another one coming up next weekend but I'll be in Jamaica so I won't be able to be there then either. Our cohort is planning to get together in a couple of weeks to hang out outside of official events. We've tried this once before but only one scholar was able to attend. It was good though...she was one who had missed the Scholar-Mentor Breakfast so it was great to get to know her a little bit better.
So far, the majority of my contact with the scholars has been through email and text...checking in on how their individual counseling sessions with the Chicago Scholars staff are going...figuring out which colleges they're going to apply to...reading over an essay. It's been fun...and I look forward to getting to know them better and helping them through the college application and decision-making process.
Another great thing about Chicago Scholars is that it gets me out to other places in the city that I may not have visited otherwise. The photos above from IIT are a great example...it was a beautiful campus and I don't think I would have ever gone there if not for that event!
I can't even remember where I heard about Chicago Scholars...I know I got an email (possibly from my UIC account) about different mentoring opportunities in Chicago and I thought Chicago Scholars sounded like a good fit for me. I applied to be a mentor quite awhile ago...and then found out I was chosen to be a mentor in April, I think. We had a couple of mentor orientations in May where I got to meet one of my fellow mentors of Cohort E (there are 3 mentors and 7 scholars in Cohort E).
The next step was meeting the scholars at the Scholar-Mentor Breakfast. It was a very informal and fun event. Two of our scholars and one of our mentors were unable to attend, but those of us who were there had a great time getting to know each other a little better.
The following week there was a Scholar-Mentor-Parent Orientation. I finally met the third mentor in our group then as well as the two scholars who were unable to attend the breakfast. The scholars received a lot of additional information about the program and what is expected of them. The parents also received an orientation in a separate room. When this was over, we all met together over lemonade and brownies. It was so good to meet the scholars' parents. At that point, I really felt like I was making a difference already!
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| The Green Line going through the McCormick Tribune Campus Center at the Illinois Institute of Technology. |
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| View of downtown from the train platform at IIT. |
So far, the majority of my contact with the scholars has been through email and text...checking in on how their individual counseling sessions with the Chicago Scholars staff are going...figuring out which colleges they're going to apply to...reading over an essay. It's been fun...and I look forward to getting to know them better and helping them through the college application and decision-making process.
Another great thing about Chicago Scholars is that it gets me out to other places in the city that I may not have visited otherwise. The photos above from IIT are a great example...it was a beautiful campus and I don't think I would have ever gone there if not for that event!
June recap
Wow...June flew by! It seems like it was just June 1st...and now it's already July 7th. Time flies!
June 8-10 - We rented a car and drove up to Oshkosh for Natalie's high school graduation. She was a salutatorian which I didn't know until right before the ceremony...such a smart girl!
Saturday we helped prepare for the party on Sunday...and spent the afternoon poolside at Annie's apartment. It was a gorgeous day! We saw lots of family and Natalie's friends at the party on Sunday...and a couple of teachers too (including one who also taught John and Annie)!
June 16-18 - We flew up to Minneapolis to spend time with Mark and KJ and Conor and Lisa...and watch the Brewers beat the Twins at Target Field. The girls ruled baseball bingo...I got first place and KJ got second.
After the game, we met up with Karen and Matt for dinner at Cafeteria. Karen and I were in the nursing program at UW-Madison together...it was so great to see her again...it had been quite awhile!
Sunday we just hung out with Mark and KJ. We attempted to go to the zoo but it rained while we were at lunch so we opted to stay inside instead. We also played beersbee, a Frisbee game where to try to knock an empty beer bottle off a pole. It was pretty fun! We flew back to Chicago early Monday morning...I went to work on the way home and was only 15 minutes late!
June 19 - Jamine texted me the evening of the 19th to let me know the boys had arrived that morning. I talked to Brandon for a few minutes to get all my questions answered. The boys still hadn't been named as Jamine hadn't held them yet...but they named them later that night. Cade Jefferson Kurth was born at 11:07 am, weighed 5 pounds 1 ounce, and was 18 inches long. Blake Luther Kurth was born at 11:08 am, weighed 4 pounds 11 ounces, and was 17 inches long. So exciting! (Photos in a new post!)
June 21 - I'm so glad I subscribe to the Explore Chicago Events RSS feed...I've found out about so many cool things! June 21st, John and I went to the Adler Planetarium for Adler After Dark. It was pretty cheap and really fun! We even got to see Mars, Saturn, and Mercury through extremely powerful telescopes. It was awesome!
June 22 - A college friend was in Chicago with her family for the night so we all got together at Millennium Park for music, drinks, and appetizers...and then dinner at Sweetwater. It was so good to see them all and catch up again!
June 22-24 - Annie came to visit us for the weekend! Saturday morning we went to yoga and Zumba in the park...with a break at Caribou in between. Then, we had lunch at Lizzie McNeill's on the riverwalk and did a little shopping. Saturday evening we had dinner at Harry Caray's on Navy Pier and then saw Cirque Shanghai. Cirque Shanghai was amazing!
Sunday we had breakfast at Wildberry (our favorite!) and then went on the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise. The river cruise was great...we were just glad it was mostly cloudy so we didn't get too hot!
June 27 - I met one of my Chicago Scholars and another mentor for dinner (more about Chicago Scholars later) and my scholar mentioned that there was going to be a live ballet performance in the park later that night. I walked over with her on my way home and ended up staying for the entire performance...standing on the edge of the Pavilion near the front. The performance was a simulcast of the Paris Opera Ballet's Giselle which was going on at the Harris Theater, underneath Millennium Park. I've never seen the Pavilion so packed before. It was awesome! Such a great, free experience for everyone there!
June 29-July 1 - My wonderful husband turned 29 on June 29th! My mom also visited for the weekend. Friday evening, we went to Elephant and Castle for John's birthday dinner. It was really yummy! We sat outside with the train squeaking around the corner every few minutes...a little annoying but pretty cool too.
Saturday morning Mom and I did yoga and Zumba in the park. It was a lot of fun but it was hot! The three of us met Keith at the Cubs game to celebrate John's birthday. Luckily we were in the shade. It was a fun game though...the Cubs won and Mom enjoyed her first trip to Wrigley!
June 8-10 - We rented a car and drove up to Oshkosh for Natalie's high school graduation. She was a salutatorian which I didn't know until right before the ceremony...such a smart girl!
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| Natalie and her boyfriend, Race |
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| The family: Ben, Annie, Kathy, Natalie, John, Em, and John |
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| Grandma Jo, Natalie, and Grandpa John |
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| The newest Badger in the family! |
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| She was pretty happy with the Wii...those are tears in her eyes! |
June 16-18 - We flew up to Minneapolis to spend time with Mark and KJ and Conor and Lisa...and watch the Brewers beat the Twins at Target Field. The girls ruled baseball bingo...I got first place and KJ got second.
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| John's panorama of Target Field |
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| Em, KJ, Mark, and John |
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| Target Field |
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| KJ, Em, and Lisa - Post-game beers |
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| Karen and Em |
June 19 - Jamine texted me the evening of the 19th to let me know the boys had arrived that morning. I talked to Brandon for a few minutes to get all my questions answered. The boys still hadn't been named as Jamine hadn't held them yet...but they named them later that night. Cade Jefferson Kurth was born at 11:07 am, weighed 5 pounds 1 ounce, and was 18 inches long. Blake Luther Kurth was born at 11:08 am, weighed 4 pounds 11 ounces, and was 17 inches long. So exciting! (Photos in a new post!)
June 21 - I'm so glad I subscribe to the Explore Chicago Events RSS feed...I've found out about so many cool things! June 21st, John and I went to the Adler Planetarium for Adler After Dark. It was pretty cheap and really fun! We even got to see Mars, Saturn, and Mercury through extremely powerful telescopes. It was awesome!
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| Trying out the astrolabe |
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| Em, Vibha, Mona, Jess, Anit, and Jess's mom |
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| #CHI 100...still haven't figured out what that meant! |
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| Vibha, Anila, Sarita, Anit, Jess J, Jess S, Tara and Em |
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| My first yoga at Millennium Park of the summer! |
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| Em and Annie after yoga and Zumba at the park |
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| Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon |
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| Annie and John |
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| John and Em |
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| Example of a building with reflective glass |
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| Willis Tower and River City |
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| Merchandise Mart - This building is so big it has its own zip code! |
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| Our neighborhood from the very east end of the river |
June 29-July 1 - My wonderful husband turned 29 on June 29th! My mom also visited for the weekend. Friday evening, we went to Elephant and Castle for John's birthday dinner. It was really yummy! We sat outside with the train squeaking around the corner every few minutes...a little annoying but pretty cool too.
Saturday morning Mom and I did yoga and Zumba in the park. It was a lot of fun but it was hot! The three of us met Keith at the Cubs game to celebrate John's birthday. Luckily we were in the shade. It was a fun game though...the Cubs won and Mom enjoyed her first trip to Wrigley!
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| Em and Mom in front of Wrigley |
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| Blast Houston into the AL...haha! |
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