iPhone 3GS Stolen at Gap Kids at Town Center Plaza in Leawood KS

So I had a little drama this weekend. Anna, Carter, my mother-in-law and I were shopping at Gap Kids. Carter was in the stroller and I had parked it kind of out of the way so I could look at the sale rack on the girls side of the store. When I turned around from the sale wall I noticed a guy standing at the table of girls knit capris. He was tall, thin, dark skinned, maybe Indian, short black hair. I noticed and thought to myself, that's weird that he doesn't have any kids with him in here.

Then Carter needed to go to the bathroom. He had been in the stroller playing a game on my iPhone. I took the phone, pushed the button on top to turn it off and sat it right on top of the stroller. My MIL and Anna were still shopping right around the stroller so I didn't think anything about it. I took Carter to the bathroom in back. We talked about the game he was playing on the phone.

As soon as we came back I noticed it was gone. So was that guy. But I just couldn't believe someone would steal my phone. So we used my MIL's phone to call it. Nothing. I looked around. We checked the bathroom but I just knew I had left it on the stroller. I actually went outside and looked around for that guy.

We came back in and I asked them to call security. They brought me the number and I used my MIL's phone to call mall security. I asked the Gap lady about the security cameras.

"Oh those don't actually record anything." Apparently they are just for looks. Helpful.

Mall security came and then Leawood police came and I filed a report. Then we walked down and around the corner to the ATT store and had them turn off my service. I went to Apple after that but the only way to get a new phone was to use my upgrade. I didn't want to waste my upgrade on the iPhone 4 when the 5 is rumored to come out in September. I went home empty-handed and actually went phone-less for 48 hours.

Which seemed like a long time. I realized how addicted I am to my phone. I use it to check the time. For the calculator. To check my calendar in the morning to see if I need to dress up. To check the weather. It seems so cumbersome to boot up the laptop to do these things, ha!

So today at work while I was still complaining about having my phone stolen and beating myself up for leaving it on my stroller with some creepy guy there who was probably scoping out little boys, my boss mentioned that there was an extra iPhone 3 somewhere. It makes a funny buzzing noise but it works. Awesome.

So tonight I am syncing my laptop with this borrowed iPhone until the 5 comes out and I can use my upgrade. Perfect. Made my Monday a little better :)

I'm Suddenly the Suburban Soccer Mom

My mom told me I just began "10 years of taking kids from one activity to the next. Until Anna can drive."

Anna has started gymnastics once a week. And LOVES it.

Carter has started soccer practice twice a week. And LOVES it.

A few weeks ago Anna also did a dance practice one night with the high school girls and then performed a few nights later.

She also had a music performance at school along with a book fair.

AND, my job has convinced me to go back to work full time. No more day off for me to catch up on errands, laundry and appointments. I'm now squeezing everything in on the evenings and weekends. When I tell people this they all have the same reaction "Weren't you working full time already?" Apparently this is only news to me.

I also became an aunt in the last few weeks! I can't wait to meet my first nephew Sam. I look forward to spoiling him, cuddling him and watching my kids play with their first cousin at family gatherings.

Next week is spring break! I'm taking a few days off to spoil myself and then spend some QT with the kids. Hopefully we will find some fun activites to be had outside (if the weather finally holds out - it has been so weird over the last few weeks - snow, ice, fog, rain, bleh.)

I've been fighting a stupid cold for three weeks. And pink eye for two days.

A few weeks to my first half marathon this year. The next one is just four weeks following that.

2011 is looking to be a busy year of travel. Should make for some fun and exciting blog posts with lots of pics.

Hello from Boston

It's really really cold here. No really.

I don't think the heater is working in my hotel room tonight.

After the dinner I ate tonight I must hit the treadmill in the morning.

I forgot a pony tail holder but a gentleman at a store at the airport gave me a rubber band.

Philadelphia practicially has an entire mall in their airport.

Had a cute conversation with Anna tonight where she told me all about some new addition math homework that she learned today. She was really excited. She referred to subtraction as "take away" which I thought was cute.

That is all. Good night.

Hello from Virginia

My view from Chicago to Norfolk.

I'm here for some meetings for work tomorrow. Preparing to travel is always a little hectic. Lots of errands yesterday (Christmas exchanges, groceries, new shoes for the kids) and then this morning I was a laundry machine. I am thankful for good flying weather today. I was even brave and ate lunch before I flew. Ever since I got sick on an airplane 5 years ago I've been cautious to eat anything before flying. That lesson was well learned. twice.

Ate at a delicous seafood restaurant tonight at the tip of a co-worker who used to live here - Catch 31. Yum.

Got to watch Eat, Pray, Love on my iphone during all the wait time that happens during traveling. When you don't have kids it's a lot of time to just sit, think, do nothing, watch a movie. It's kind of weird to not have someone nagging you constantly and only letting you sit for 2 minute increments.

Ran on the treadmill last Thursday for my first run in over a week. I made it about 3.3 miles. Ran Saturday with the group on snow-packed roads. Made it 6 miles. Yesterday I bought some brand new running shoes to begin training in and break in before my upcoming races. I brought the new shoes with me and it just might be what I need right now to spark a slight motivation in getting on a treadmill.

Looking at a very busy week that began with traveling today. Working a full week and then some. Plus our annual work holiday party (that we have in January) this week too. I will definitely need a drink on Friday.

December Daily - Day Twenty

Monday. Struggling a little bit to make it through what is only a 3 day work week. Weak.

I get my Christmas cards in the mail! Hooray, they will make it before Christmas :)

Christmas card pictures:

I can imagine in a few years they will want to sit on opposite sides of the bench 

Here are my Christmas decorations in my office. The photos on the wall are last year's Christmas card pics.

The door to my office.

December Daily - Day Seventeen

That's my mess of a desk at the end of a week during "beer thirty." I found this Mike's hard pomegranate lemonade in the beer fridge. It matched my outfit.

My mom had picked up the kids from daycare. Kevin and I fed the dogs and they had a race to see who could drink more water faster. Baxter is almost as big as Tassie and he's only four months.

We went out to the Peanut with Sam and Candi for bar food and drinks.  

Then we went back to Sam and Candi's house and watched Knight and Day. Well mostly, I fell asleep at the end. Honestly, it's rare for me to see a whole movie anymore.

December Daily - Day Sixteen

Carter finds that Baxter pooped on the bed in the guest bedroom. Just the way I wanted to wake up. I just washed those sheets from when he pooped on there a few days ago. Yay more laundry.

I drop Anna off at school. One minute later and she would have been late. Then Carter and I went to the bank and then had breakfast at Starbucks.

I got to go the dentist to have two fillings replaced. I have been grinding and clenching my teeth so bad I went through two fillings. Bleh.

I went to the office for a few hours after that to catch up on billing and a few things.

I picked up a few Christmas presents on the way home, the kids, and that asthma medicine at CVS along with some december daily photos I'd ordered to hopefully scrap this weekend.

Carter made me a gift at daycare today. He says it's a secret and won't tell me what it is. Very cute.

Feeling a little grumpy this week. Ready for the weekend.

Did a little more shopping on Amazon.com. Love the free shipping.

December Daily - Day Fourteen

The day of December Daily fatigue.

Anna wakes still sick. At 4:15 am. I cancel my plans to run with Candi.

She's up for good around 7:30. Almost immediately loses a tooth. I'm scheduled to take Carter to the dr for his 4 year checkup and to get an asthma plan together. We get out the door on time for once in our lives.

Carter weighs 36 lbs and is 40 3/4 inches tall. He stood on the scale all by himself. A first. And then announces "I'm almost a teenager!" Everyone in earshot laughs.

We leave and I get starbucks for the first time in 9 days. I have a serious caffeine withdrawal headache coming on. Take Carter to daycare and then work from home.

Anna is fine during the first hour she's medicated and then steadily goes downhill after that until the meds wear off and she is lifeless on the couch and doesn't even want to eat dinner.

I have a presentation at 2:30 I can't get out of. My mom meets me at the client to pick up Anna. I go pick up the kids from my mom's after my meeting is over at 4.
I gave the kids a bath. Then I gave Baxter a bath. And blow dryed him.

I didn't take a single picture.

December Daily - Day Six

Hello, Monday. We meet again. I'm on my own for getting out the door because Kevin was still on his hunting trip. The night before I stayed up organizing the chaos to look more like this in case Kevin comes home today.

Even though I got up at 6:15 I didn't leave the house until 8:15. Ugh. 2 hours. Monday.

At work, this travel mug from my Helzberg client makes me happy. Full of coffee from home.

I go to lunch with one of my co-workers Ramsey to talk about social marketing my own dept within DEG. Panera is our usual go-to.

After work that night Anna has swimming lessons. We have been doing some private sessions to try to get past Level II. I let Carter swim also now that we are a member for the winter.

 Kevin gets home and discovers my unfinished project in progress. I'm pretty sure he's pissed but he doesn't say anything. At least my shoes look pretty :)

Hilloween 2010

On Friday before Hilloween I got a voicemail from the daycare. They wanted to ask me an "interesting question." I wondered what my kids had said. I called...

Day care owner: "Carter was talking to his teacher and me today at recess. He said he is going to have a babysitter this weekend because his parents are going to a naked party. Are you going to one of those sex toy parties?"

Oh great.

Me: "Um, we're going to a Halloween party. There will be some girls there who will be spray painted, but I will be fully clothed."

Rewind to the night before. We were explaining to Carter that they would have a new babysitter because we were going to a Halloween party. Of course he wanted to go and we said it was an adult-only party. He started to throw a fit and for some reason Kevin said "there will be naked girls there, you can't go."

And so that's how it got translated at recess.

2nd Annual Company Picnic

Then on Saturday morning after I got back from my work trip we had our 2nd annual company picnic that I plan.

We had a great turnout and great food.

But the balloon guy was super lame. He could hardly make a dog and mostly just made flowers.

He even made a kid a triangle. I plan to complain because it was so embarrassing.

Oops. Got a little behind.

Oops, I am way behind in posting. Going to try to catch up!

Last week I was in Indianapolis for the annual ExactTarget user conference. Lots of late nights, lots of networking, lots of learning, lots of meetings, lots of eating, not a lot of sleeping.

For those of you who don't know what I do, and care, ExactTarget is the software that we resell at my company. It is an email service provider (ESP) that sends email marketing campaigns.

My team configures accounts/clients on the platform, and then creates and manages all of the sends for those clients. My team also leads the strategic ideas (what emails to send, why, when, how often, etc.) We try to make them relevant to you, by asking you what you want and tailoring content based on what you click on and purchase. Because god knows we all get enough email. My husband calls me a spammer, but in my mind it's not spam if you signed up for it.

Anyways, here is a link to a video of one of our graphic designers speaking at the conference last week about some testing we did for Helzberg Diamonds. It is a little long and most of you probably don't care, but if you do, or you're bored and have 6 minutes to kill, there you go.

They have you going from 8 am until 1am at the conference every day. On Monday night there was a Monday night football party where Julie, Megan and I played the Wii they had setup.

On Tuesday we heard Sir Richard Branson speak.

On Tuesday night we had dinner at a museum.


On Wednesday night we went to a train concert and then hosted an after-party. (this is pre-show from the private VIP balcony area)


When I got home from my trip on Thursday night I had notes on my bathroom mirror. Too cute.

I missed them and they missed me too.

Let's just say...

Our toilet has had a rough week. Kevin and I must have caught the stomach bug that Anna had last weekend. Kevin fared worse than I and even went home sick from work for the first time in six years on Tuesday. I ate toast for dinner that night and had to take several "breaks" while trying to bathe and put the kids to bed.

Wednesday I didn't even have coffee and only one soda late in the afternoon. This is an absurdly low amount of caffeine for me and I greatly feared the withdrawal headache that I was sure was imminent.

Kevin fared worse than me but let's just say we each had our own embarrassing moments and were forced to recon with the fact that it definitely isn't all rose petals and rainbows.

I am annoyed with my daycare this week. They took Anna's class on a trip to the Omaha Zoo. An overnight trip leaving Wed around noon and coming back today. But I didn't think Anna was old enough to go and come to find out neither did three other parents who didn't let their pre-first graders go either.

BUT the kicker is that my daycare made me find other daycare arrangements for the time they were gone. And I am not getting reimbursed for this. Lucky for me my mom was off yesterday afternoon and I was off today. But I was still really annoyed with this.

Today I took the kids to Jumpin Jax. We ran into another parent and kids who used to go to our daycare. They had switched and I asked how it was going, thinking I might switch because two former families from Anna's class are there. Or so I thought. They have since switched again. They said that daycare had too many kids with behavior problems. They are now at another daycare that is actually really close to the one we go to now. It also has a private school that the family across the street attends.

But then he asked me something that made me stop and think. He asked me if the kids were unhappy. And you know, I really think they are happy there. I think they like it there. So really what's the point in switching. He also said something else. He said he had been trying to make a daycare a preschool. And I think I am doing that in my head too. And when I really think about it, Carter has been practicing writing his name and I don't even remember Anna doing that at three so I think I will leave it. Seems like I'm trying to drum up some drama.

Bought some new running shoes at the Adidas outlet today. Excited to try them out this weekend.

Vacation - Wednesday and Thursday

Original plans: Leave Wednesday morning at 8 am. Arrive in Louisville around 3 pm.

I stayed up on Tuesday night till 1:30 am working to get things caught up before leaving for the rest of the week. Around 2:00 am Carter came down and asked to watch cartoons. It's the middle of the night Carter, let's go back to bed. 2:30 am Kevin puts his arm around me and asks why there is a child in our bed. I don't really care, I've had 15 minutes of sleep and am "out."

About that time we hear coughing and I feel something wet and lift Carter up as he pukes all over our bed. I ended up being up with him for the next three hours and then falling asleep for a very short while.

6:30 am change of plans for vacation. We stayed at home until my mom could come over around 4 pm. I took a 1.5 hour nap in the afternoon. She stayed with the kids until Kevin's mom arrived around 7 pm. We arrived in Louisville at 2 am got to bed around 3 am. Got up at 6:45 am. After hotel coffee and a McD's mocha I was able to speak. I have now had less than 7 hours of sleep in two nights.

We went to the Maker's Mark distillery that morning.



I had more coffee. The boys dipped their own bottles.


We got to try the new 46 bourbon.


We took the tour and the guide told us about 46 and that it doesn't even exist on site. We all felt very special and knew he was lying.



We ate lunch and had margaritas at a Mexican restaurant and did some shopping in the Bardstown area.


We had some more drinks back at the Mexican restaurant.


We had a delicious dinner and dessert out that night. Drinks back at the hotel and then to bed.

2 am I wake up sick. On the toilet with the trash can in my lap kind of sick. I have what Carter had. I'm up every hour until we have to wake up at what seemed like an ungodly hour to me at this point. At this point I decide I am not going to throw up anymore and don't have to go to the bathroom more than once an hour so I can probably go to The Oaks.

A Week in the Life - Friday

I have about 15 minutes of peace in the house in the morning between when the kids leave with Kevin and when I leave for work. Sonar settles in for his nap.


Part of my morning routine before I leave to keep Sonar from causing trouble (and peeing) upstairs when he wakes up from his nap.


I stop at the dry cleaners on the way to work to drop of Kevin's shirts so we can get them back on Monday next week. They pick up and drop off at our office so I will take these home with me from work on Monday.


My first meeting is at my "office" at Starbucks by our building. Because I do not have a door I have any semi-private meetings here. Today I am meeting with one of my Email Marketing Account Managers about her recent presentations with two clients.


My desk as I've known it for the last few months and for the last day.


I have a new associate starting on Monday who will sit at my desk. We are out of desks now and waiting for our new construction to be done upstairs in our additional space. This won't be for a few more weeks. I put all my stuff in boxes, clean out my desk and will work from another associate's office next week while he is on vacation. After that I'm not sure where I will sit. I am sort of a nomad until the new space is ready.

We usually spend our Friday and Saturday nights with our best friends Sam and Candi and their little boy Alex. On most Friday nights my parents keep the kids, as they do tonight. We go out to dinner at Ted's Montana Grill.


Sam and Candi have their little boy Alex with them tonight.


Afterwards we go back to Sam and Candi's since they have Alex so they can put him to bed. We have a drink and play spades. It's rather uneventful but I love our predictable weekends with our best friends.

A Week in the Life - Thursday

My earliest wake up call of the week: 4:30 am. I actually think I somehow hit snooze in my sleep because I didn't hear the alarm until 4:39. Crap! I hurried to get my running clothes on and head over to Candi's house. I left Tassie at home because I was super grumpy this morning and knew she would only annoy me. I let Candi take my picture even though I was not in a good mood and would really rather have been in bed. Super sleepy. Luckily Candi is chatty and talks a lot to get my going. When we finish it is light and the sun is starting to come up. That's nice.



They are having their basement refinished and I went inside to check out the progress. I'm excited and it's not even my house, but we do spend a lot of time there and it will be fun to have another "living" space to hang out.

Afterwards I head to a local coffee shop to get a Zebra Mocha.


Home. No one else is up yet. While I'm showering Anna comes down and snuggles with Tassie on the bathroom rug. It's really cute and I wish I had the camera. Then it's over and she's off to watch cartoons. She can turn on the TV and cable by herself and navigate to the channel she wants now that she can read. It's very handy.

Anna didn't have school today and I'm off on Thursdays. We had planned a girls day but of course when Carter got wind of it he wanted to come. He promised to have good behavior and I gave in, thinking I want to have quality time with my children but fully knowing I may regret my decision. The kids eat yogurt and Carter also has a pancake while I do the dishes from last night.

I check email and work for about 30 minutes to make sure the day goes smoothly while I'm gone. We're ready to go. Anna had written me a sticky note earlier in the week and put it on my mirror. It says "Dot froget adowt Thrsday mommy" translation "Don't forget about Thursday mommy"


8:45 I had a long list of errands and returns to get done. We were ready early so I decided to go ahead and drive to the outlet mall since none of the other stores were open anyway and it takes 45 minute to get there.

9:30 Carter has to potty so we go to Target, take care of business and get a few things. It starts to sprinkle.

10:00 We head over to Banana Republic Outlet so I can return a few things my mom got me for my birthday that don't fit. It really starts to rain. Luckily Anna has an umbrella and rain coat and Carter and I have hooded sweatshirts and I brought the double stroller. We are wet.

Kids are great at BR. We head across to Stride Rite Outlet to look for sandals. They have nothing I want in either kids' size. I find a pair of shoes in a half size larger on clearance ($12!) for Anna for fall. We buy these and now she has to go potty. So we head next door to Gap Outlet where they have a bathroom.

We get a few things here as well including a gift for Anna's teacher who is having a baby and some shorts for Carter. Carter starts to whine. I think he's hungry. It's 11:00 so I decide we can eat and we are probably done at this outdoor rainy mall. I run in the rain pushing the stroller to the nearest restaurant Chipotle and we eat.

Carter eats little and drinks a full drink of orange soda. Then he has to potty again. We are done around noon. I have an appointment to get my bangs trimmed at 1:00so we go ahead and leave. We are soaked by the time we get in the car what with all the unloading and loading of the stroller and bags, etc.


12:30 We're early but it's ok. Bang trim goes wonderfully. No charge.

We head to regular Banana Republic because I need to exchange some shirts and I have two pair of BR Outlet pants I want to get altered. The lady tells me they can't alter the BR Outlet pants. "Not even if I pay you?" "No. They are a completely different store" she says. "Owned by the same company" I think. Whatever. Carter gets really fussy. We go back and forth and back and forth. Do you want to go home? Do you want to go to daycare? Do you want to stay and have good behavior and get a treat? He thinks about it. We go outside and he thinks some more. He decides to have good behavior and seems to pull himself together. He's tired I can tell but he won't lay down in the stroller.

I try on one skirt and decide there isn't anything I want. I only have 30 days for returns so I decide to just get store credit so we can leave. Waiting in line Carter starts to mess with some contraption on a manequin. I pick him up and hold him while he begins to throw a fit while I wait for the one lady in front of me to checkout so I can get my store credit before my 30 days expires on my receipt.

Finally.

We leave. I didn't get to half of the things on my list but I can tell this is only going to get worse. We drive home. It pours. Both kids fall asleep. I owe Anna a treat for her good behavior so I go through the Dairy Queen drive through.

We get home and Carter wakes up and throws a fit.


The heating and air conditioning repair guy arrives (long ongoing saga). I move some laundry around.


3:00 I decide to try to take a nap. The kids keep coming in every five minutes. The thermostat is right outside our bedroom door and the guy keeps talking loudly to Kevin as he's fixing stuff.

I actually think I fell asleep for awhile.


4:40 The kids are begging me to get up to play babies. Eh. "I'm serious" Anna keeps saying.

I play babies by sitting in the chair in Carter's room and watching them play with the baby toys I'm planning to sell in an upcoming garage sale.

5:15 make dinner. Carter helps. Homemade margherita pizza.


Anna opens another present from her birthday party last weekend and I teach her how to make a pot holder.



Carter wants to do everything his big sister does. He gives it a try. I check email and make sure the day went smoothly and there aren't any issues for tomorrow. Find out I probably need to hire another person for some new work we are expecting. Post a job on Career Builder and in Facebook and LinkedIn hoping to get some resumes ASAP.

While Kevin does the dishes I give baths, brush teeth and put both kids to bed. I read "Froggy gets dressed" to Carter. Anna reads me a story from a new Curious George book she got for her birthday. She's never read it before and reads the entire thing. Carter won't stay in his bed. A pretty typical night.

Anna reads Curious George from Cara on Vimeo.

Anna reads Curious George and Carter won't stay in his bed.

8:30 Kevin and I watch a DVR'd episode of The Office while we eat our DQ I got earlier. Tassie gets raw hide because it's her fourth birthday. Happy birthday Tassie.

Blog. Bed.