Nockout Nolin - Future Roller Derby Skater

Nolin is ready to get started in roller derby.  She even has a derby name - Nockout Nolin!  Hopefully she will follow in her Mommy's footsteps & be a skater for VCRD one day!

Paul & I both love roller derby for so many reasons. For one, we love the community. There is such a diverse group of different personalities & different backgrounds in Vette City Roller Derby, but everyone just seems to fit. It's a place where people who may never otherwise be together, come together. Second, roller derby is about strong women. It empowers women & helps build confidence. Third, it is great exercise & it is just plain fun!

We want Nolin to become a strong woman when she grows up. We want her to be confident in herself. We know that roller derby can help her achieve these things!  But until she is old enough, she will just have to be a fan!  :)

Things I Love...

In celebration of Valentine's, here are a few things that I love (in no particular order):

My Husband - Paul

 

Paul & I have been together for 8 1/2 years & married for 5 1/2.  I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband.  Paul always makes me laugh & keeps me smiling.  He takes great care of me & our pup, especially since I have been pregnant.  He is very passionate & dedicated.  He puts 100% in everything that he does!  Paul is going to be a terrific daddy to our little girl!

My Puppy - Kai

 

Kai is the best pup I could ask for!  He has such a fun & special personality.  I have written about him many times, but I just can't say enough how much I love him.  Our home is so quiet & empty when Kai is not home with us. 

Tiny Markham - Nolin Leigh

I am almost 30 weeks pregnant, & I am already in love with this little girl inside my belly.  I cannot wait to meet her & see what she looks like!  She is going to be a very loved little girl!

Family

 

My family has always been very important to me.  I am so thankful to have a family as large as I do, because it makes family gatherings so much fun!  In December of 2009 a very special family member was added - my sweet nephew Ryder.  I just love him!!

Friends

 

I have also been blessed with many great friends throughout the years.  These are just a couple of my friends, as I could not post pictures of all the wonderful friends I have!  I love girl's nights & girl talk - even with all my male friends!  :)

Chocolate

There was no way I could escape the love of chocolate in my family - both my parents love it, as well as my grandparents!  I cannot go a day without at least a little bit of chocolate!  My latest obsession is homemade chocolate chip muffins.  These are great, b/c they are full of fiber, but I still get my chocolate fix!  I always say that I will eat anything if chocolate is added to it!  :)

Spring

I always tell Paul that I should hibernate in the winter.  I am not made for cold weather.  So, my very favorite time of the year is Spring!  There is nothing more wonderful to me than warm weather, walks outside, lights & sounds of the baseball field, flowers blooming, green grass, & lots of daylight!

Traveling

Something that Paul & I don't get to do enough is travel.  We enjoy it so much!  I love seeing new places & meeting new people.  In the future, I want to retire to a mobile home & get around to all the places I have never been!  This picture is one of our engagement photos taken at St. John's College in Cambridge, England. 

Roller Derby

Almost a year & a half ago I stumbled across something I had never even heard of - Roller Derby.  Since I was a child, I have always loved skating.  So when I found out there was a roller derby league in Bowling Green, I had to check it out.  I was terrified that I would get hurt or look silly, but I went anyway.  I fell in love right away & actually turned out to be decent at it!  Vette City Roller Derby has helped to make me a stronger, better, more confident person & I love my roller derby girls!

Music & Theater

I have always enjoyed listening to music, but recently I have developed more of an appreciation for it.  I love all types of music from Frank Sinatra to The Beatles to Eminem!  Since I love music so much, I also enjoy the theater.  Paul & I love to see musicals especially.  One day we hope to be able to make weekend trips to New York to see Broadway plays!  :)  One of favorite shows was The Beatles - Love - Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas.