"Alicia (Allen) Terrell"

This is the name I was known by at my 10 year high school reunion - Admitting that I have now attended my 10 year reunion makes me feel a little old. The next stop my thirtieth birthday (not for another 2 years, but still). I will also admit that despite some initial apprehension I had a really good time. It was fun to be 17 again for a couple of evenings. I enjoyed seeing people that I haven't seen since our milestone march across the stage at the Fargo Civic Center. I was impressed at the things people were doing with their lives. I know some pretty amazing people.
At the ten year mark most of us look pretty similar to before and are just getting started being grown-ups. It didn't seem like ten years had passed in some regards. With all that said, it also made me happy that those days are over. I love my life and where I'm at in it (even if the "where" is currently West Virginia). I'm excited to find what the next 10 years have in store.

The Promised Pictures

Here are some pictures from the past couple months complete with a few captions.

Lucas's first round of road rash. He fared pretty well considering the speed he hit the asphalt. (May, 08)

The people at Kroger were kind enough to give the kids some stickers to ease their shopping experience. Basically the kids were screaming and fighting and this was the solution. The screaming stopped until Elena tried to undo the damage to her brother by ripping the stickers off. (May, 08).


This is Toby our turtle. Drew found him in the garage gutter when he was up on the roof cleaning things out. We had fun making a temporary home for him. The kids got pretty attached to Toby. Elena had a hard time when we took him down to the river to let him go. She had to check on him to make sure he was OK. Thank goodness turtles don't move too fast so she could still find him.

Taking it easy in the sand.

Grandpa and Elena at the Teddy Bear Parade.

Calling Daddy on the Walkie-Talkie.

Missing something, hmmm.

I know what it is! Pictures! I was going through my blog and realized I'm a little short on shots. I'm at my parents and have been a little slow getting pictures from camera to the Internet. I will get some up here soon (especially for you, Drew!). Keep checking back!

Happy Father's Day!!

I have been blessed to always have a great father influence in my life. My Dad has always been one of my heroes, as every little girls' father should. Then I grew up and married a man who would become an amazing father. I am so fortunate.
I love watching Drew be a daddy to his two kids. It is so fun to watch them run around and try to impress him and play with him and just be as close to him as possible. He is their hero. He is mine. He sets an awesome example of love and service to Heavenly Father, hard work and dilligence, compassion, discipline, how to have fun and be adventerous, how to balance priorities, and how to show love to his family.
I know he doesn't get as much face time with the kids as he would like, but he makes the most of the time that he has and it means so much to Elena and Lucas.

We love you Drew and all of the Dads in our lives!

Love It!

Ahhh. Being allowed to drive around 75-80 mph with no worries of a ticket. For any of you who have ever driven through North Dakota you can appreciate this. I love my home state, but truthfully there just really isn't that much to see and you just kind of want to get to where you're going as fast as you can!

I had a wedding last night about 100 miles away. Most of the time in the car was spent singing at the top of my lungs through the pouring rain. The rest of it was spent thinking, "surely it must be getting close. Maybe after the next field." I'm just grateful I got to drive fast, once the rain slowed of course.

I've done a lot of driving across a lot of flat, straight shot states and I would encourage those states to get on the ball! Especially Ohio! For the love. Get me through there at at least 70, please!!!

Another great thing about driving through ND is the feeling that you can just stretch out and go forever. I get a little clausterphobic in WV, but at home I can see forever and there are few things I find more beautiful. I guess it's probably what you grew up with. I love the mountains and hills, but there is something about the endless sunflower fields that just really connects with me. As beautiful as they are, however, I don't mind getting to driving past at 75. =)

Do I know you?

I've lived a gazillion different places, so I've seen a lot of faces and known a lot of people. It's getting to the point where I see faces and I don't know if I'm supposed to recognize them. Do I know them from here? Do I know them from BYU? UofM? IU? Church? WV? You what I mean, right? People look familiar, but you don't know if you know them or if they remind you of someone else. If you do know them, from where do you know them. I'm rambling.
Joy, I bet you didn't know that you had a twin out in Fargo, ND. Well, I saw her today.
If I ever see any of you in some random place and look at you with a semi-contemplative expression, please help me out.

Picture this...

Me running. It's been awhile.
So, I have set a little goal for myself. I want to get in shape. I'm not aiming for swimsuit model or anything like that. I would just prefer it if I didn't jiggle when I walk. I love my body and realize that I need to take better care of it. I've taken the last couple years a bit too easy and now it's time to get into gear. So that's what I did today. I went running (running being relative). This is something that I used to do religiously when I was much younger and I loved it. The amazing thing was that I realized I still love it. I love it for so many reasons.
* I think it is fun.
* When you run you realize that you can always push your body to the next level-and there's always another level. The body is an amazing reserve of potential. Today I pushed myself out the door. Level One.
* Running is peaceful. I love the methodical rythm of my feet on the pavement (sometimes the beat is a little slow and it may get drowned out by my gasps for air).
* It is all about setting attainable goals (four more houses, ugh) that you keep working at to get to your major goal.

So anyway, I think I'm writing this more as a motivator for myself than anything. As I flail down the sidewalk like Phoebe (for any of you Friends fans out there) I need to remember that it's about having fun and taking care of myself. Plus, I am definitely grateful that I've rediscovered this hobby in North Dakota where it is as flat as a board rather than in West Virginia. Check back in with me when I return to the land of absent sidewalks, winding and narrow roads and ridiculous hills. I'll figure something out =)

Missing Daddy!

This post is for you Drew. I know it isn't the most fun for you when I pack the kids up and we run off to ND for a few weeks here and there. Thanks for being understanding about me needing a little break and enjoying time with my family. I just thought I would write about a few things the kids do to show me they miss Daddy.

-Every time Elena sits down with a piece of paper it's to make a picture for Daddy.
-Lucas will walk around dangling a sippy cup saying Daddee.
-When I talk on the phone with anyone Elena will run up and yell "I want to talk to Daddy."
-Elena likes to look at pictures of you.
-we drive by a hospital Elena says she wants to go and see Daddy at work.

You're a great Dad and the kids love you so much!! Now everyone here knows it too!

--In case you haven't gathered, I'm still in ND> The kids are getting a little stir crazy again with the rain, but it should be nice for part of the day so off to the park we go.

The sun will come out...

Yeah for the sun!! This weekend was perfect! The kids had a blast playing at my parents. My dad fenced in a portion of the yard, so we could stop chasing Lucas. He seemed to gravitate either towards the river in back of their house or the road in front of it. My dad also built the kids a sandbox in order to keep them out of my mom's potting soil. He also found these great toy cars (a jeep and a backhoe) that the kids could sit in and ride around the yard. We had so much fun just letting them play.

We're all recovered from the journey to ND and the kids are also feeling better. On with the vacation!!

Rain, rain, go away

We made it to my parent's house safe and sound. We have a great time here and it is a chance for me to get a little help with the kids. One little problem...

It's been raining since we got here.

It's been raining in West Virginia since before we left.

The kids want to go out and play, but it is cold and wet and they already have coughs.

Our basement flooded and Drew had to clear out the furniture and carpet.

Elena's favorite song when it rains is "rain, rain go away." I agree.