I loooove to check things off of my to-do lists. I loooove that sense of accomplishment of having a completed, marked-through, bullet-pointed list. "Look what I've done today!" I want to yell from the roof tops. One major problem with this lifestyle is that I find that I often "go through the motions" of life. Shopping for Christmas presents, check. Wrap Christmas presents, check. Decide on menu for Christmas Eve get-together, check. Buy said ingredients, check. Have family over, smile for pictures, give big hugs, check. I'm a continuous check, check, check.
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| Christmas Eve. Check! |
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| Annabelle and her New Year's Eve date, Harrison. |
I was pleasantly surprised to have one of those days where I felt I was really living. I accidentally forgot to "check." The hubby, baby and I flew to Miami for a couple of days in the sunshine, followed by a half-marathon (for her) and a full marathon (for him) in Disney World (nothing says, "Happy 10 Year Anniversary" like a race!).
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| Annabelle and her daddy on the sands of the Atlantic. |
It was our first day in Miami that I was check-less. We awoke to a beautiful blue, sunny sky and 70 degree temperatures. The splits on my fingers had healed overnight, thanks to the humidity, and my cheeks felt like they were glowing. Breakfast was alfresco on a large veranda with a sea breeze and strong coffee. We walked barefoot on the beach and watched Annabelle dip her toes for the first time in the Atlantic. Lunch was at Miami's South Beach area. A lazy meal of excellent Cuban food while Annabelle waved to passer-bys from her high chair. South Beach is a vibrant, techni-color world of freaks, geeks, snow birds, Europeans and a wild assortment of Latin folks. We could have people-watched all afternoon. It has an energy, a "buzz" that made my whole face grin.
An hour or so of beach time (baby didn't cooperate with my sunbathing agenda!) and then off to dinner at a little pizza joint one mile from our hotel. "Let's walk it!" we decided. Warm evening, easy chatter with soft baby gibberish to fill in any gaps. A perfect day and not a single item was "checked". I've got to put that on my list to do more often.
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| At South Beach! |
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| Sign before the Disney half marathon at 4:30 in the morning! |
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| Running by Cinderella's castle before dawn. |
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| Finishing the race at Epcot just after sunrise. |
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| Annabelle and her new Minnie Mouse! |
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| Post-race party at Downtown Disney. |
Watch me out grow my rugby bear! Annabelle, 10 months old, Jan. 1, 2013.
