Traded a night at Barley's for a night with Kaileigh

1) Kaileigh and Bella entertaining us with song 2) ornament 1 3) ornament 2 Diffused moonlight was shining through the half-moon window as I cracked an eye towards the clock. It was about 5:40am. Time to get up. By the time I brushed my teeth, pee'd, and was downstairs, it was 5:45am. I choked down my vitamin then tucked my toes neatly under the lip of the sofa to rip off 55 sit-ups. Fifty push-ups and forty curls later, Ykraps and I were bundling ourselves for an early winter's walk. It was brutally cold! It was only 10 degrees! The forecasted low wasn't expected to drop below 18, but somehow it had plummeted further. Perhaps because of the clearing skies. To complement the low temperatures, there was a swift NW breeze blowing too, only adding to artic blast. I was eager to get back home and get some hot coffee in our bellies. But the last time I gave Ykraps coffee he got the shits. Although, it might have had more to do with the creamer than it did with the coffee. You see, I gave him the expired stuff. Never again, though. I don't care how much he begs! I took Mindy a cup and placed on my night stand. She was grateful. I returned downstairs to read the Daily OM, meditate, and prepare breakfast and lunch. Today's Daily OM was about experiences and how we may at the present perceive them as either positive or negative. In the long run, however, they're neither. Instead, they're building blocks of a well intending universe. http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2006/5957.html Come 7:00am lunches were packed and breakfast was ready. Neither of kids wanted any breakfast. Mindy departed around 7:20am and I took to the shower. I made quick work of my shower and dressing. I was back downstairs ready to go by 7:40am. I took a few pictures, strummed my guitar, and picked up a few items laying loosely around the house. I arrived at work by 8:05am. It was a beautiful sunny morning with just a few clouds hanging around in the eastern sky making for an interesting sunrise. In fact, Mindy called my cell to tell me how taken back she was with the sunrise from her point-of-view. She described something I couldn't see from Hilliard. She was in Grove City. My work day started off like most Friday's. It was really intense. I worked hard up until time to leave for a run. I made it to the gym by 1pm. It was only about 18 degrees. Definitely cold with the ever-present Hilliard wind. As I wound through the Britton Farms subdivision and out onto Davidson Rd I saw a gathered crowd and heard the unmistakable sound of a marching band. What could it be, I wondered. I figured it might be a celebratory parade for the Division 1 State football champs, The Hilliard Davidson Wildcats. It was. They were holding a parade in their honor all along my running trail. As I made my way around the corner and along Davidson Rd, I was out just in front of the marching band. The amassed crowd cheered me as I ran by as if I were their champion. I made the most of it and used it to motivate me. About halfway down Davidson Rd. I had to divert to the road as the crowd poured onto the asphalt running path. By now I was well in front of the parade and the anticipating crowd began to chant and cheer for me again except this time even louder. Of course it was all in jest, and in the name of fun. I played along and thanked everyone for coming out as I ran by. I thought to myself that this might be the closest I ever come to such glory, except, perhaps, when I move onto the afterlife. For certain, this run was one for the book! I was back and showered by 2pm. Too, I was hungry and looking forward to my packed lunch and the last half of my work day. Things got even busier in the afternoon. I was completely immersed in work related escalations. As busy as we were, I was able to smoothly hand-off all the major issues to my peer and left for home somewhere near 5:15pm. I witnessed heavier than usual traffic on I-270 south as I got in my vehicle. So, in an effort to avoid the mess I took the back way down Old Dublin Rd. I was home by 5:33pm - record time and no traffic jams whatsoever. Mindy and I made arrangements earlier in the day to have my GD, Kaileigh over for the night.. Mindy picked her up after school and after running a few errands. I was excited to see her. I haven't seen her for about a month. Mindy made pigs-in-a-blanket for the kids and chili dogs for us. They were delicious. After dinner the kids played and watched the movie, Elf. We blew up our queen-sized air mattress so all three kids could sleep in Bella's room. They were excited, and consequently, they stayed up much later than usual. They didn't fall asleep until well after 9pm. That's almost unheard of in Jacob and Bella's world. Kaileigh, I think, stays up later routinely. After the kids were down for the count Mindy and I relaxed in the living room before getting in the hot tub. We hadn't been in the hot tub for probably a month. It was awesome. We piped out Xmas music and there was lots of steam due to the frigid, clear winter air. After hot tubbing I popped two bags of popcorn and cracked yet another beer. I drank four throughout the night. We headed to bed around 11pm.