Thanksgiving

All

I can’t believe that it is 6 weeks since I last posted on the blog.  In that time we have had a trip to San Diego which just was not long enough and had John’s parents out to visit too.  This Thursday is Thanksgiving and John gets a long weekend off work (Thursday – Sunday off).

So what has happened during the course of the month.  We had a wonderful trip to San Diego where we stayed in the Grand Pacific Palisades Hotel and Resort and Carlsbad (http://www.grandpacificpalisades.com/).  They actually bumped us across to their sister resort which is timeshare only called the Marbrisa (http://www.marbrisaresort.com/index.aspx).  We had booked ourselves a 2 bedroom villa and ended up with a studio apartment attached to a one bedroom apartment so plenty of room.  The Marbrisa also shared a back entrance to Legoland with the Sheraton which meant we could walk from our room into Legoland California (http://www.legoland.com/california.htm)  We had a wonderful day exploring Legoland arriving just after they opened and leaving as they closed.  We drove across to San Diego on the Sunday having booked the dogs into the Raintree Pet Resort (http://www.raintreepetresort.com/).  We visited Legoland on Monday; explored downtown San Diego, Seaport Village (http://www.seaportvillage.com/) and also went on the ferry from Coronado Island across the bay and back with Kirsten on Tuesday.  Wednesday we spent the day at Seaworld (http://www.seaworld.com/sandiego/) and then on Thursday we explored the local vicinity which meant Carlsbad itself and it’s beaches and also the Outlets (http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=66).  We will definitely be going back to San Diego in 2010 but maybe at the start of summer rather than the end this time.

John’s parents arrived a week after we returned and left last Monday.  Hopefully they enjoyed their trip even if they went home a little exhausted.  During the visit I (Sigrid) participated in my first 10k together with my neighbours/friends, Nicole and Amy.  I set myself a target of completing in 90 minutes but actually finished in just under 83 so was really pleased with myself.  Nicole and Amy both finished a few minutes ahead of me (http://www.zazoosh.com/photos/249142443).  The 10k was part of my training for the half marathon in January, but the last 2 weeks I’ve not been so good at keeping up the running.  I got back to it today, but took it gently only running about 2.3 miles.

We also now have Kirsten’s headshots from the modelling agency and her picture has also been posted online on their website (http://www.theyoungagency.com/models/babies/displayProfile.php?idl=W&idf=Kirsten).  We have been given about 50 copies of the picture to use at auditions etc and I also need to pull together a stat sheet for her to be attached to the pictures.

I know this doesn’t bring you fully up-to-date, but at least it gives you a little more information as to what has been going on.

Best wishes for the upcoming season.

Free Time – Oh Definitely!

Well Conrad and Marie Claire left on Monday night.  Congratulations to the pair of them.  For those of you who aren’t aware they drove across to Las Vegas during their stay and got married.

At the Drive Through

The next piece of news for those of you wondering is that Kirsten had her first audition on Friday afternoon.  I’ve never seen so many toddlers in such a small area.  The children went in in groups of 3 and they were auditioning for a toddler fitness section on local television.  The producer apparently realised that 2 year olds weren’t capable of actually following the instructions but we still went ahead with the audition as we were there.  I felt that Kirsten did a great job but knew basically then and there that there was little, if not, no chance of her getting the job.

Some of you are aware that I went and had an ultra sound last week.  No I am not pregnant and we never really suspected I was but I had been suffering from nausea for about a week and also have intermittent severe cramping which is a problem I’ve had for about 18 years off and on so I decided to go to the doctor.  He was concerned that it maybe a gall bladder problem.  The ultra sound showed nothing but I had also been put on some “over the counter” medication for a week and I have another appointment with my doctor on Tuesday morning.  He was also talking about doing some further tests as there is a chance that my gall bladder is not working correctly.

Next it is that time of year again and I have signed up for the next Fitness Challenge at the gym.  It is called “Fall Into Fitness” this year and the kick-off is Monday evening and runs then for the next 8 weeks (finishing approximately mid-December).  Simultaneously to this I have signed up for a number of 5k runs:  Race for the Cure Phoenix (http://www.komenphoenix.org/site/c.nsKZL3PHLtF/b.3748649/k.BF88/Home.htm) this takes place on Sunday; New Times 5k run (www.Phoenix10k.com) which takes place on November 8; the Lumineria Run in Cave Creek (http://www.luminariarun.com/) on December 5th; Tri for the Cure sprint triathlon (http://www.triforthecureaz.com/) on April 11th next year; and last but not least my plan is to sign up for the Phoenix Half Marathon (http://arizona.competitor.com/) which takes place on January 17th, 2010.  I am going to a training launch party this evening and the plan is to sign up there and then run a 5k with them (http://arizona.competitor.com/features/srp-kick-off-party/).  A friend/neighbour of mine is also taking part and that is what has convinced me I can do this.

You can see with all this going on whatever free time I/we have is to be spent training.  Kirsten will be getting out for plenty of fresh air.  Of course next week we go off for 5 days for a family holiday to San Diego and then John’s parents arrive just in time for Halloween on 29th October.

Best wishes to you all

Kirsten First Audition

So I’ve just received a telephone call this afternoon asking if I can bring Kirsten along to an audition for a spot on a local television broadcast that will take place next Wednesday.  The audition is on Friday afternoon so I’ll let you know how it goes.

Guests – Round 2

So my (Sigrid’s) parents left on Sunday night and Conrad and his partner, Marie Clare, arrived on Monday night.  They head off on a 4-day trip to New Mexico/Alberquerque tomorrow morning, Thursday.  Whilst my parents were here they did 2 mini trips.  Their first one was round the california border with a couple of stops by border patrol.  Their informative titbit is if you are going to check out Yuma the areas for sightseeing are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  During their second week they took a 2-day trip across to Globe which they said was amazing with plenty to see and do.  We also took a big family trip down to Phoenix Zoo on the saturday and great fun was had by all.  Pictures can be see on our shutterfly site.  Follow the link to the right of the page.

Kirsten finally had her head shots taken by the modelling agency last Saturday.  She woke up and was bloody minded so we weren’t holding out much hope and warned the photographer on arrival that this maybe no fun.  He said no worries he would take as long as needed and if required she could watch others having their pictures done and he’d just fit her in…so she was as good as gold and after about 5 minutes he turned round and said he had the perfect shot.  We were out before our timeslot as we’d arrived 20 minutes early and the previous person had also arrived early.

As for potty training…yeah right.  Kirsten tells us she needs to go potty as soon as she has gone.  We then go through the rigmoroul (not sure of spelling) of sitting on the toilet, wiping our bottom, flushing the toilet and washing our hands before putting on a dry nappy.  Every store she has to try out the restroom no matter what.  If she sees a door in a wall she assumes it has to be a restroom and decides she has to go through.   Please, please, please let it be soon.  She goes through the night dry and although sits on the toilet and potty (yup both) before going down for breakfast it’s not until she eats that she does anything.  I’ve even had her running round the garden for 5 minutes naked before sitting her on the potty in the hope that she would do something.  She also goes through her nap dry.  It’s eating and drinking that gets her to go.  Keep your fingers crossed.  I’m exhausted.

Kirsten is also learning the tricks of how to prolong going to bed…potty…you forgot to clean my teeth…not all the guests have kissed me goodnight….you didn’t read that book to me….I need the potty again.

Talk  to you all soon.

Guests Arriving

So, our first guests arrive this evening at Sky Harbor (Phoenix Airport) at 17.10.  It’s my parents (Sigrid’s parents).  They are with us until September 20th.  Then Conrad and MC arrive on September 21st and stay with us until October 5th.  We’ve then got a few weeks free so have booked ourself our first real family holiday.  We’re going to go to San Diego from October 18 – 23rd and the dogs are booked into Raintree Pet Resort.  Then last but not least John’s parents arrive on October 29th just in time for Halloween and leave on November 16th.  Yes it’s the busy season.

Kirsten is loving school.  The problem is I can’t mention it on a non-school day as she’s immediately telling me to get shoes on, find my bag and get the car started…not that she’s keen or anything.  We’ve dropped gymnastics.  I wasn’t sure if I’d over scheduled her anyway, but when we arrived at class on Monday we found the other 3 had all transferred to another day due to their siblings starting school and parents not wanting to make 2 visits to the same place in a week.  When I spoke to the owner she asked if I could transfer Kirsten to another day as she wanted to cancel her class and I said that wasn’t possible.  Also I realised that Kirsten needed at least the company of one child as Monday’s class was a bit of a failure as Kirsten had no competition.  In the end we decided that I would just stop Kirsten all together.  This is fine as with all the guests arriving she gets a little extra time to be spoiled (as if she needs more spoiling).

Hopefully you’ve all seen the pictures of Kirsten’s art work that I have posted on our shutterfly page.  If not follow the link on the right hand side of the screen and once there look in the “Projects” folder.  She’s quite the budding artist although she doesn’t like to get her hands messy…sorry nora not sure how I’m going to get those painted hand prints for you.

Kirsten is also close to being potty trained.  Not that I’ve done any of the work.  Because there have only been 6 in her class the teachers have been working on it and on school days Kirsten is pretty good.  It’s just those in between ones.  I think this morning we sat on the toilet about 8-10 times (including whilst at Fresh & Easy) peed in the toilet about twice and I still had to change the nappy about half a dozen times (including 4 in 30 minutes)…let’s not go there.  I’m hoping with the help of the guests in the next few weeks (especially Nanny) we’ll get there.  I’ll let you know how it goes.