Saying No-No to Na-Ni

It has been a while, about 2-3 weeks since I last did a general update for the myself and the family, so here we go.  Since Maya's birthday weekend things have been pretty much back to normal for our family.  We have settled back into our old routine, as opposed to the IM training routine we lived under for the past year.  It honestly feels good.  I won't sit here and make this another IM post about where I want to go with my racing or where I have already been, since I have just about beaten that to death (just see Operation Kona and/or Taking a Step Back).  I will simply say, I am happy where I am in life and wouldn't change a thing for the world.  I am happy with myself and my accomplishments, which, I seem to often forget about because I am so focused on what's next.  I am also happy with what I have been able to provide for my family over the past month.  Although, I will completely admit, I have a long way to go to be the provider that Sarah is.  For example, when I am off from work I am responsible for getting Maya to her preschool class.  Since, it has started, I have brought her there 3 times now, including today.  The first time, I biked her and Delaney to class and had her there about 20 minutes too early.  In my second attempt, I forgot her backpack, but had her there right on time, unfortunately I was 10 minutes late in picking her up.  Today, I thought her class started at 12:45 as opposed to the real time of 12:30.  Good thing I was early and had her there at 12:40.  I felt terrible.  I am just not nearly the parent Sarah is, and I think I have taken that for granted too.  But anyway, things are going well for us.

So long nani!

This past weekend, Sarah and I officially decided to make the commitment to forcing Delaney to give up her nani (ie nuk, plug, pacifier, nu-nu, etc).  The past couple weeks we stopped giving it to her unless she was in her crib or sleeping.  But, now it was time to make the leap to going 100% nani free 24 hours a day.  In order to accomplish this, we figured we would make Delaney feel like she was giving it up.  To make that happen, we took a trip to Build-A-Bear in the mall.  We allowed Delaney to keep her nani in her pocket on our trip there and she was allowed to pick out any animal she wanted.  She chose the German Shepard and as a cop, I'll admit I had a little smile on my face when she picked it over a kitty, pony, bear, or other girly animal.  Then, when it came time to stuffing her new dog, "Woof Woof," she placed the nani into Woof Woof all by herself.  Granted, she had no idea, exactly what she was committing to at the time.  But, none-the-less, she did it and she was proud.  That night, it hit her, she gave up her nani!  We thought that she would cuddle Woof Woof and be able to calm herself, but ironically, she wanted NOTHING to do with Woof Woof, she despised Woof Woof.  Almost as though Woof Woof stole her nani.  I thought I would walk in there and she would have Woof Woof ripped open and sleeping with her nani in her mouth.  Lucky for us, though, the realization that she no longer had her nani lasted less then a week and each night got progressively better.  She has since grown to adore Woof Woof and bring it everywhere and also is completely nani free and happy.

Maya continues to make us forget that she is only 4 years old.  Most of the time she is acting as if she was 8 or 9.  Sarah brought her to the doctor for her 4 year old check up and her height is now completely off the charts for a 4 year old.  Her weight puts her in the 98 percentile for her age, but she is actually on the lighter side when you take into consideration for her height.  Evidently, we grow 'em tall in the Kohl family.  After 3 attempts she has finally passed her swim lessons and has now graduated to "Pike."  I honestly think the week in Mexico had a lot to do with her comfort in the water along with her ability to swim.  I guess swimming for 6 hours a day for 5 straight days will turn your kid into a swimming machine, who knew?

She put the majority of the puzzle together without help!

As Halloween approaches, Sarah has been taking the girls to just about every single trick-or-treating event in the area.  The girls have now taken them to a trick-or-treating at an area hotel, Sweet Street in Green Bay,  Zoo-loween in Oshkosh, and Zoo-Boo in Green Bay.  We have one massive bucket of candy already and it ain't even Halloween.  This year, the Maya has been going as Merida from Disney's Brave and Delaney, a cute and cuddly monster.

Just one of the girls' trick-or-treat outtings

After the YMCA's Freaky 5k this past weekend, I entered Maya into a photo costume contest put on by Fleet Feet of the Fox Valley.  I posted a picture of Maya and I after the kid's fun run, of her in her Merida Costume for a chance to win a $50 gift card to their store in Appleton.  I found out last night that we won!  I was excited to tell Maya she had won.  Later today we are stopping out there to see what new running gear we can get Maya.  Hopefully we will be able to find something for her, otherwise the gift card will help get daddy a new pair of shoes.  But, I would much rather allow Maya to enjoy her mini shopping spree.

The photo that won Maya her $50 gift card.

Last night, I picked up a full 2nd shift worth of overtime.  Believe it or not, this was my first ever full 8 hour shift on 2nds since coming off of training.  Working last night sparked the conversation between Sarah and I about the possibility of me making the jump to 2nd shift full time.  At first, it sounds like an obvious jump, I would get to sleep at night, which would lead to a more normal lifestyle, better mood, not so physically worn down, and sleeping with Sarah on a regular basis again.  But, then I start to really think about it and what I would be giving up.  I would be giving up the time at night with Sarah and the girls.  We get to have dinner together nearly every night and I get to put my kids to bed.  I get the mornings to myself, right before I go to bed to get a quick workout in.  I also, enjoy the guys I work with on 3rd shift.  It would be a serious change for us as a family and just as big of a change onto Sarah.  So who really knows what the future will bring, all I know is it will not be an easy decision at all and there will be a lot of give and take.