Boo Hoo!

We went to Schlitterbahn yesterday (that's German for insanely, fantastic water fun - seriously)! I have to say that of all the water parks I have ever been to this has got to be my favorite, free parking, take your own food and there are three, not one, not two, THREE actually parks in one! We went on one ride that took us 45 minutes to get down - where else in the water park world can you go, spend 15 minutes in line and then it takes you 45 minutes to get to the bottom? Um nowhere! Usually it is more like 45 minutes to drag some water apparatus to the top of 10 flights of stairs, climb on and then 15 SECONDS to get down. Okay, I think you all get the picture - it was FUN! It was just B, K and I. Jason stayed home with the wee little ones, maybe next year Z will get to join the fun. But yesterday was actually relaxing for me, I wasn't constantly scanning the crowd counting 1, 2, 3, 4, phew!
No pictures yet - we got a waterproof camera so hopefully I will have some soon. Until then let me tell you my sob story. We went to the park with our friends from CS and they took B home with them - waa! My baby has left home and gone to college... no wait strike that he left and went to a college town but he's just playing and I'm sure having a great time. We miss him here though. So B when you read this know that I was missing you and thinking about you - oh yea and I had a blast yesterday, beating you down that slide was just a highlight!

My Man

I am SO proud of Jason so this blog is entirely dedicated to his accomplishment. Tonight we went to his 8 week VRT Fitness Boot Camp celebration and we had a great time. Jason has lost 14 lbs and 5 inches! He looks great and we are all very proud of him. Tonight Jason & I agreed that we will do anything for a "free" t-shirt - hee hee!
Here's a little montage of my sweetie!

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Recurring Theme

Swim meet pictures anyone?! I have to say that if had to choose between football, swimming or video game pictures of my kids I would choose swimming any day even though I can't get a good picture to save my life at the Hippy Dippy Land Swim Center! Oh well today we have a great montage with some video clips of #1 doing the butterfly and #2 doing the breast stroke AND the butterfly. In addition to that great entertainment I have another super game for you - remember Where's Waldo? Well we at Jason's Clan present to you "Where's K&B?" Good luck!

Both B&K are in the above picture, can you find them?

Find K in the above picture and then you can go onto the montage.

Here's a montage with a couple of little video clips - as Z would say, "woo hoo!"

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New family member?

No - I AM not pregnant. HA! Did I scare any of you?
We have "adopted" a little green anole that resides on our back porch. Her name is Fredrika and she spends her days watching the kids and catching critters on the back porch. Who knew I could develop an affinity for a lizard?! AS LONG AS SHE STAYS ON THE PORCH!!

I *gasp* did *gasp* *gasp* *gasp* it!!!

This is a LONG montage but my photographer, Jason was really good! When you have time, enjoy!
The experience was one that I will NEVER forget, I laughed, I cried (not really but I tried to convince myself several times that I couldn't do it), and I would do it again!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

T minus 3 hours and counting...

Will report back soon! Send prayers and happy thoughts!
With love from your favorite tri-athlete wanna-be

T minus 20 hours and counting

Whoop! I'm so excited - I just can't hide it! I'm sure there will be some truly lovely pictures to share later this weekend (notice I made no promise of when that would be!).

Just so you know I'm still thinking about you all - here's some cute pictures.

Yesterday my friend, Heather & her hubby bought a new mortgage so I watched their two youngest while they did all that. When Athena and Reece (better known as Reeses around here) woke up from their naps they were delighted to see each other - it was so cute I had to stop and take some pictures.

A practicing her "soft" touches here.
Z - the pied piper in the background.

The latest news

So we are having our Triathlon countdown (3 days). This weekend B,K and I will be participating in a Super Sprint Tri - 300 yard swim, 9 mile bike ride and 3 mile run. So in preparation this is what the kids have been doing - watching TV.


I have been trying to keep up with my normal workout schedule and adding in an extra workout when possible (B & I went bike riding last night). K is at Girl Scout day camp this week, she's having fun but not a lot to report on that note.

Z's feeling better - as you can see he was sick, or he wouldn't have napped!


Finally, my friend Rachael surprised me Monday with a little birthday treat. Thank you Rachael, Kyle & Elias - B&Z thanks for singing to me!

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Oh yea - A has also had lots of fun with this fun toy - on dry land!

My apologies

After I wrote my last blog I realized that it sounded very "waaa, woe is me." So I wanted to do a retraction. I get lots done every day and some of the things that I get done every day that make me truly blessed are that I get to spend all day with four people who give unlimited hugs, kisses, and are genuinely enthusiastic about giving and receiving affection!

So today to make up for that blog I did a lot of stuff that wasn't on my original list:
1.) I was up at the pool at 7am with B&K - they both swam about 6 different events.
2.) I was able to watch/time both of my "big" kids today.
3.) I took my big kids out to lunch - just the three of us.
4.) I took my babies shopping and we played wiggly shopping cart at Target - oodles of laughter.
5.) I took BK&Z to the pool and we played and played and played.

What I didn't get done:
the toys picked up, the dishes ALL clean, the mountain of laundry... but you know what - it will still be there tomorrow, so I'm not going to worry about it.

Thanks to all of you who reminded me to see the important things and to ignore the unimportant!

Lastly, a funny Z story. When I'm trying to get the kids out the door I often say, "come on little humans let's go." Well the other day I heard Z in his bedroom playing and he was talking to his "friends" saying, "come on little who-mans!" Hee hee!

So with that said here are my beautiful, wonderful who-mans that are true blessings to me every day!!

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What do you get done?

There are days (and this week I've had 4 of them so far) when I feel like I don't accomplish anything. Does anyone else feel like that? Well this morning I was explaining that to my eldest child (who by the way is feeling better) and he said to me, "You shouldn't feel like that, you keep us alive every day." Hmm... I suppose that is something! No offense to my beautiful (and highly intelligent) child but I suppose I was thinking more about cleaning the bathrooms and they stay clean, washing, folding AND putting away the laundry, keeping the kitchen clean for more than minutes at a time or keeping the toys, that keep escaping from baskets, contained. Today I am going to accomplish a lot:

1. wash the blood stains out of B's sheets - from his bloody nose last night
2. get the thrown up red sports drink off my carpet - courtesy of my three year old
3. try to get the previously mentioned three year old to the doctor
4. oh yea - and I'm going to do all those things mentioned above, at least I'm going to try!

But B is right I have done a super fantastic job of keeping these four maniacs (semi) healthy, fed and clothed.

Speaking of clothes - A LOVES her new shoes!
She brings them to me everyday and sits down so that I can put them on her.

My sweet three year old -
taken a few days ago when I was playing with his hair.
I hope he feels better soon!

A new hair cut, a princess and a smell

So here's the latest news out of hippy-dippy Texas.

K got a new haircut.

A in her princess regalia.

B's still feeling crummy and can't seem to shake it, so I took him to the doctor today. He did not have strep throat but the doctor was convinced that he had some type of bacterial infection because he "smelled" like he had some type of bacteria. "Huh?!" She suspects that he may be getting a sinus infection or something so she put him on antibiotics. But here's the kicker - my baby is taking tablets that you swallow! Next it will be a driver's license... I'm not ready for this. *sniff* My baby's growing up.

6 weeks

These are the before and after pictures so far, of Jason since he's been doing his fitness boot camp (or as he likes to call it fat camp). He reached a milestone today so I asked to take his picture and as you can see he's doing a tremendous job! Congratulations Jason on dropping below that elusive number. I am proud of you and I know that the kids are thrilled with your more active lifestyle!
FYI - It was an accident that he wore the same clothes both days & I think his hair looks nicer in the "new" pictures.

SO sweet!

This morning A found out that she has B wrapped around her little finger. She would come and get him off the couch and take him for walks around the living room. If he got free she'd come back and get him again... it was the sweetest thing!!!

For G'ma Bonnie & G'pa John

Dear G'ma & G'pa
Thank you for my new bike! Don't I look cool sitting in the saddle? Daddy put it together for me a couple of weeks ago but Mommy's been holding the pictures hostage on her camera. I hope you like this picture as much as I like my new ride!
Love, Z

Partners in crime...

5 years apart!

My day...

Here's a picture (a couple of years old) that I like with things that I really like:
G'ma C's quilt
my blue water cup
my children (although this is Z - he represents them all here)
pictures on the wall behind me
a stack of books by my bed
the remote and phone are a bonus too
sweet!

Last weeks pics

Not sure exactly how they did this but this is part of the fun that the kids had in Kingwood.

Home again

The kids and I are all home again safe and sound. Last Sunday (very unexpectedly) I was invited to go to the Southwest Texas United Methodist Conference as a lay person for our church The Journey. BK&Z went to stay with my brother's family in Kingwood and they spent their days entertaining their grandparents (G'pa Harold & G'ma Judy) - or was that the other way around? Anyway - they all had a great time and came back raving about how much fun they had! So thank you - Cheryl, Judy, Harold, Shawn, Justin & Mark for loving my 3 oldest kids. A went with me to Corpus Christi and spent her days playing with her friend Elias & his mommy, Rachael & his aunt Lynda. Apparently she is a huge fan of the beach and is going to be another water baby like her big brother B! The conference was interesting and helped me to gain a better understanding of the systems at work within the UMC - as Pastor Kyle says, "they are very methodical."
A and I got home late last night and then I was up early this morning for a swim meet. B wasn't feeling good so he didn't participate (he took about a 3 hour nap) so it was just K and I. K did great and was able to participate in two relays and EVEN got to do the butterfly... by the way she did GREAT! Wow who knew she had that kind of fly in her!!!
Finally we went out to for dinner tonight and we were paid a compliment. As we were sitting there an older gentleman came up and tapped Jason on the shoulder and he said, "You have four remarkably well behaved children. When you came in I was a little apprehensive but they did really good and I just wanted to let you know." After he walked away we couldn't help but laugh and wonder if that was a real compliment or if he was just surprised that our kids weren't hanging from the ceiling and screaming like banshees.

Picture of Shawn - Happy Belated Birthday!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Shawn -
he's with Z (obviously a few years ago).

Friday, June 6th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAWN!!!
If today were really Friday, June 6th it would be my nephew's 17th birthday! But since I am heading out of town and may not be able to get to a computer with internet (and access to my pictures) I am adjusting the date so that I can wish a really terrific young man a Happy Birthday!
So HAPPY early Birthday Shawny! We here at Jason's Clan love you and think the world of you! Oh yea and don't forget to stay safe!!!

Funny Z

I have implemented quiet time in our house so that A can get at least one good nap each day. Today I asked Z to sit in his bed for a few more minutes and I heard him calling from his bed, "now Mommy?" I responded, "Not quite yet." Apparently that isn't what he wanted to hear so he said, "Quite yes." Aw aren't they so cute when they are argumentative and they don't have a clue what they're saying?

Just the facts (and some pictures)

Friday night B had a Long Course swim meet in San Antonio. He did amazing!

This is B swimming a 200 backstroke!

Freestyle

Josh Davis (Olympic gold medalist) was there swimming - B got an autograph and we got to see him swim! Wow!

This is Josh Davis diving in (sorry it's a little blurry -he's fast!)
and splitting his swimsuit up the back - oops.

Saturday morning was a summer swim league meet. Hot, fun and B&K were both heat winners (K's first time!)

silliness with the suntan lotion - no she doesn't have any funny burns.


The inspiration for this little quote if you aren't familiar...
Swim said the momma fish, swim

Even Daddy & the babies got to come and watch a couple of events

Now that's a sweet dive!

"No, no more autographs you crazy lady!"

The next few are when K got her first heat winner ribbon (on the breast stroke)!
Way to go K!

A high five from Ms. Belle

Here's B:

This is were B spent most of his time.

B getting a heat winner ribbon on Saturday for the butterfly!

Sunday tried to clean the kitchen... but it's dirty again!