YES.....you ARE!

Today was an incredible day.  One of those mountain top parenting moments.  Today Lily Grace WOWed me, astounded me and made me publicly cry in the doctor's office..........I was literally bursting with pride.  

It happened in 2 parts really, so let me start with right after school.  I have made it a mission to empower my girls.  I am raising them to be women who know how to be strong, bold and claim beauty.  They are beautiful.  I work hard to teach them that so much of the world will try to steal their joy....convince them of something untrue about themselves, but in their hearts they know who they are....who Jesus made them to be. Bold, daring, smart, courageous, kind women.  I say it......on repeat.  Over and over and over and over praying that one day it takes root and grows.  Today the seedling sprouted.

The kids play on the playground after school.  Boys chase the girls.......Lily loves it.  It inevitably gets out of control and today a little boy called her ugly.  She ran up to me wimpering but before I could say anything she stepped away from me, looked back at the little lad and said, "I know that I am beautiful, and smart and strong and brave." That was it.....and she went back to playing.  I stood there amazed. Yes, Lily you ARE.  I didn't have to prompt her......she knew.  She has heard it enough.  She grew up a little bit more right there....... I was so proud.

Then came this afternoon.  Lily was up for a well check DR visit and a few shots.  The last time she had shots I physically had to lay across her while 2 other nurses restrained a screaming, thrashing out of her mind Lily.  I was embarrassed (no its not about me....just being honest), and honestly angry.  So today I went to the DR gearing up for what might possibly lie in store.  Both my girls love the DR and were only too excited to get their ears, chest, throat, eyes, blood pressure and tummies checked.  As the time for shots neared the dread welled up in me.  The nurse walked in and I asked if Lily wanted to sit on my lap, "Not today Mommy, I'm brave, I can do it by myself."  Then little Evie piped in, "I'll hold your hand Lily, we be big brave together."  Lily and Evie sat right on the side of that bench and before the shot Lily put her arm right around Evie, "Watch how I do it Evie, I'm strong and brave."  Then folks.....she did it.  No tears, no screaming.  My Lily got 2 shots without even a whimper.  When it was done she turned to Evie and said, "See Evie, it only hurts for a second."

I sat in the corner completely floored and before I knew it I had tears welling up in my eyes.  Every time I have repeated and repeated and repeated myself.  Every time I have wondered if she will ever grasp how amazing she is. Every time I have worried that I am not doing my job right all welled up in one completely confirming and satisfying moment.  I couldn't help but cry.  YES you ARE brave!  

I love watching my girls grow up, and today I saw the seedling sprouts of incredible women. Women who will be rooted in the knowledge that they can do mighty things, that they are beautiful, that they are brave and kind and courageous, and that they are loved by a BIG God.  Women that listen to the still small voice speaking life to them and shut out the loud roar of negativity.  

These are my girls.  I am proud of them.  I love them.  They are Beautiful. They are Brave.  

Journey to IRONMAN: 10 Months

Its January 20th today which means I have exactly 10 months until I attempt and complete IRONMAN Tempe.  This is the year......this is the time.......my journey up the IRONMAN Everest has reached Camp 1.  Base Camp is in the rearview (yay for cheesy analogies :) )

I get all tingly when I think about it.  Back in 2007 when I let the idea of IRONMAN enter my brain I could not have even imagined that 9 years later I would be well on my way.  The starting line mere months from being my reality.  Makes me antsy with anticipation.

Oh how glad I am though that I still have those months to prepare myself for this amazing and life changing experience.  With the addition of Lady Dash to my crew I now have everything I will need to get there........ now its just the training.  How do you teach your body to swim 2.4 miles,  pedal non stop for 112 miles on a tiny seat and then run 26.2 miles in one 17 hour window.  Short story?.......by doing it.  Longer story?......by doing it with the help of someone educated and experienced in how to do it efficiently.  

I am ETERNALLY grateful for the AZ TRI Club and even more grateful for the new group I have found to train with, the Las Sendas Run, Bike, TRI group.  I am surrounded by incredibly accomplished, seasoned athletes who see what we all do as a team sport even though we all race individually.  

So I am now working with a coach who has me on a scheduled weekly plan.  Its taking some adjustment and consistent planning to fit it all in, but I am determined to follow her guidance and gain the most from it.  After all....I have many races to do.

Lost Dutchman Marathon

Phoenix Marathon

Marquee Olympic TRI

Rocky Point Olympic TRI

Espirit De She Olympic TRI

Mountain Man Half IRONMAN

Lifetime Olympic TRI

IRONMAN

If the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step then I am well on my way.  

The Gymnast and the Doc

2016 has roared in like a lion here at the Longmire home and we are embracing the new year with hustle, bustle and hope.  Lily asked if she could do gymnastics for a while and after finding the perfect fit for her at Diamondback Gymnastics she started a couple of weeks ago.  She was so excited to open her Christmas present and find a gym leotard.  Purple was her request....ONLY purple Mom.  I think I did okay.  

I took these pictures on the first day of gymnastics and she was so very excited to go.  I kept telling her that she should put some clothes over her leo so that she wasn't cold and she just couldn't do it.  Her leo was so pretty and she just couldn't wait!!!!!

Lily is simply growing up so very fast.  There is no toddler left in her right now.....she is a bonafide little girl.  She is smart and strong and bold and confident with a little defiant, precocious and sassy thrown in.  She is Lily Grace.....the one and only.

And Evie, oh Evie.  My very strong willed, tough as nails, stronger than a 10 year old Bee.  She just completes our family so perfectly.  Evie LOVES her sister and wanted to take pictures "Just like Lily!"  Right now Evie is really into Doc McStuffins.  Doc is a little girl who plays doctor to her stuffed animals and dolls.  The Doctor coat and matching doctor kit is nearly glued to her body at all times these days and she walks around the house asking everyone, "Do you need a check up?"  We sit as she checks our heart and lungs, "Take a DEEP breath Mommy!"  Our blood pressure, "Pump, pump, pump!"  Our reflexes (this one can get a little out of hand) and our ears and throat.  We never make it out of the Docs office without our shot too.   She is thorough!

Evie also has a temper.  WOWZA.  This girl can throw down and throw out punches with the best.  She bit a kid at church last week.  No I wasn't proud....but I did laugh.  This little blonde haired beauty is feisty with an attitude to match.  See this picture below,  this is "The Evie."  We see this little stance at least 3 times a day.  It is usually followed with a turn of the head, an adamant huffy "HUH!" and a stomp.  It's cute.......ish.  Oh how I pray the Lord uses that strength to wage the right kind of battles in her future.

We are busy these days doing everything we should be doing right now.  I am constantly reminded during the days of seeming chaos that one day I will awake to an empty clean house with no routines or legos.....or cheerios to contend with.  It may seem far off, but look at these girls.  I don't have babies anymore.  

Lily and Evie,  I am so proud of the little girls you are becoming.  I love you so much and wish I could communicate to you my dreams for you.  I pray you go far.  I pray you fall madly in love with Jesus.  The two of you are such sweet sisters and I pray that you will always be best of friends and love each other big.  Go boldly and with confidence, chasing your dreams and finding your way.

Love

Mom

I Believe

 The consensus is complete....we just love Grandmas and Grandpas around here.  We were so blessed to have Gma and Gpa Longmire here for 5 days!!! We did so much and had such a blast rounding out the holidays with their visit!

The girls got an extra special treat this time when we all got to go up to Williams, AZ to ride the Polar Express.  What an experience!   We made a whole day of the trip and stopped for lunch at this awesome place in North Scottsdale called DC Ranch.  Delightful pizza, company and a nearby park to climb trees and run barefoot in the grass.

After a couple of hours in the car we arrived at the depot for the Polar Express.  The station was filled with excited kids all dressed in their PJs for the trip to the North Pole.  

My girls were so cute and has such expectation about them.  Grandma Lynn and I really leaned into the magic and excited the girls with tales of seeing the North Pole and maybe, just maybe even getting to meet SANTA!  

Right before we boarded our car Evie found the pay phone and wanted to make a call.......

When asked she said, "I call Santa....!"   Great kiddo.....let him know we are coming!

We boarded our amazingly authentic 1920s train car and headed on our magical journey.

There is truly nothing more wonderful than watching the amazement of children.  From the moment we left the depot the girls were all in it.  They squealed when we went through the magical tunnel to the North Pole.  They believed we were there and couldn't understand why the North Pole didn't have more snow.  

They both sat mesmerized eating their cookies and hot chocolate during the reading of the Polar Express.

We made it to the North Pole and the girls saw Santa through the window waving away.  Lily was so excited.  As the train stopped to "fix a problem," we realized that Santa might just be making a personal appearance.  I even got excited!

When it dawned on Lily that Santa was ON THE TRAIN she couldn't contain her anticipation.  When the big man in red came to our car and talked right to her she was in awe.  I love this picture.......she asked Santa for a mermaid that swims in her bath........(guess what showed up this week.....thanks Gma and Gpa!)

The Polar Express was perfect and the simply perfect timing for Lily.  We got off the train and as we walked to the car she quietly turned back towards the train and whispered, "I Believe."  

Kids are only kids for so long and the journey on the Polar Express was one of those magical memories to last a lifetime.

Zoolights!

I cannot believe that we managed to make it until after Christmas before we went to see Zoolights.  Here in Phoenix, the Zoolights are a BIG thing.  I mean the Zoo starts setting them up in August.  No kidding.  It is unreal the amount of lights they have up around the zoo.

Even though we waited I am so glad that we got to see the lights first hand with Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Bob.  Grandma Lynn LOVES the zoo and simply loves to go every time she is here.  She was like a kid in a candy shop and the girls were only too happy to run down the walkway in pursuit of all the fun. 

Its hard to put into words how amazing the Zoolights are.  The light scenes and creatures literally everywhere you look make the experience so much fun.  There was an entire river of lights with a lighted eagle swooping down to make a catch.  WOW.  

Sweet Lily had had such a big day and after this picture she crawled into the jogger and fell fast asleep.  Talk about routine kids.  7:30 came and Lily was out.  Evie on the other hand had had a 3 hour nap and was fired up for the lights.  

While we missed having Lily experience it all we LOVED pouring into Evie.  She was so excited and had so much fun riding the carousel and getting one on one treatment from Grandma and Grandpa.  So special.

Grandma Lynn rode the cougar........I'll just leave that here :)

Zoo lights was so much fun and perfectly magical.  After popcorn, dinner and the lovely light show we all called it a night.  Lily was so tired she hardly woke up for us to put her in the car, drive home and put her in her bed.  Oh well......next year we will all take naps!