Jen Elmer

This amazing girl came to visit for a week. We first met Jen over 10 years when her father and Mike were stationed at the same Army base in Maryland. Her family instantly became some of our closest friends. I have loved watching Jen became the incredible woman she now is. And, oh boy, is she incredible. She just graduated with her Masters this summer, while still teaching full time.

We loved having her come. But there sure were three sad little girls when she left. Hopefully, she can come back soon. I miss our talks.

tri

Waking up at 5 a.m. so many mornings would be hard if I did not have some really great women pulling me along. I finished another tri. I beat my time from last year, which I was happy about.

happy father's day

Little did I know that the college boy that I fell in love with, would become the most amazing father I know.

deductive reasoning - three year old style

K said to me tonight "Mom you don't look like people. You look like a mom. So you are a mom."

I remember a time when I looked like people. I had great clothes - that were not wash and wear. I had MULTIPLE outfits (not just the same mom ones that I tend to wear everyday- sorry clothes in the closet - someday buddies). I had hair that was blown dry straight EVERY day (seriously, who has time for that? Someday I will free the pony tail). Back then I was real people. Although, truth be told, I would rather be a mom - sensible shoes and all.

K also said this week to Jen Elmer, who is visiting (more on that later) - "Fight the power! Mom is the power!" Someone told me the other day that three is a window into the teen years. We are in BIG trouble.

moab

Over Labor Day we went camping in Moab, UT. with our friends the Pettingils and Korthes. It was an incredible weekend trip. The landscape was beautiful high dessert with fascinating red rock formations and deep canyons along the Colorado River. The landscape in Moab is so unlike anything I am use to, and yet I am so fascinated by it.


My favorite part of the trip was being with such incredible families. The Korthes and Pettingils are the type of people that you leave feeling uplifted and happy. They are genuinely good and I so appreciate the influence they have on my daughters and Mike and me.

the past 12 years ...

Today we had to say goodbye to our very first wedding present. As silly as it may seem I was a little sad. I remember being so excited when we recieved them. It is a bit amazing to think that it was over 12 years ago. It made me think of all of the changes and experiences that Mike and I have gone through.

In the past 12 years we have:

Honeymoon in Costa Rica
Move to Maryland (Mike stationed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds for the Army)
Dina works in Annapolis
Trips to Washington D.C., N.Y.C., Baltimore, Boston, Utah, Bethany, Idaho, Outer Banks, Philadelphia, Gettysburg
Travel to England, Iceland, Germany, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Vatican City
Mike does the Annual Bataan Memorial Death March marathon with his army unit in full army fatigues
Leave military
Move to Arlington, VA
Mike starts law school
Dina transfers to Camden Yard, Baltimore office
Emerson Marie Chatwin - FINALLY!
Mike summers with E.P.A.
Dina transfers to D.C. office
Mike summers with firm in Boston
Dina stops career
Move back to Washington D.C. for last year of school
Graduate from grad school
Pass first Bar Exam
Rileigh Camille Chatwin - miraculous birth
Move back to Boston
Mike starts first law firm
Buy first mini-van (Mike concedes)
Try to start business
Katherine Andrea Chatwin
Stop business
Amazing friends
Sell beloved old Civic
Drive cross country with girls
Move to Colorado
Buy home
Start second law firm
Pass second Bar Exam
Start third law firm
Pass third Bar Exam
Train for triathlon
First trip alone to San Fransisco
In those 12 years we both turned 30
Drove the girls to tennis, soccer, Spanish, swimming, ballet, art classes, piano, music classes, zoo classes, running club, drama club
5 siblings got married
4 grandparents passed away
12 summers passed (Beach trips, beach houses, vacations with Guymons, New Hampshire [Sarah's], Utah, Newport, Rhode Island, Nantucket, Boston, Vermont, Concord, Lexington, N.Y.C., back to D.C., Cape Cod, Williamsburg, Gloucester, Worcester, gardening, swimming, BBQs, tennis camp, hiking s'mores)

Can't wait to see what the next 12 years hold. I really love that boy.