You know I love my new home state... but what is this obsession (need I remind you that Alaska is bigger?). Ha ha! Just had to get a little dig in before I started my story. (If that doesn't get a comment or two I think I'm going to hang up my blogger hat!) I just don't remember this many Missouri themed events when I was a kid - let me contemplate that: Truman drops a bomb theme, Lewis & Clark stroll through MO theme, Jesse James shoot out theme, okay I got it Samuel Clemens theme... nope none of those quite make the mark like TEXAS!
Tuesday night my eldest child, B was in a musical at his school. Anyone want to guess what it was about? Yes, good job Mr. Watson - TEXAS! When we moved here to the great big state of Texas B went to preschool and he had a Texas themed graduation, now we move again and another Texas theme! As you will see our B is a multi-talented individual and the musical was great (as were all the other Texas themed events we've been to in the last 6 years).
Enjoy the pictures and little video clip.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
This is a wanna be triathlete..
Last night my new "friends" in the tri club thought it would be fun to torture me, no wait that isn't it. They decided that since I have signed up to be in a triathlon on June 21st that I should actually experience what it was like, so last night we did an unofficial sprint triathlon (300 yard swim, 10 mile bike ride and a 2 mile run). It was a blast! I slept SO good last night, I was sore, tired and I felt incredible!! To my tri-buddies - THANK YOU! You all encouraged me, praised me and pushed me and I appreciate it!!
This is me AFTER it was all done - lovely!
This is me AFTER it was all done - lovely!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Laundry
That is what I should be doing! I have a mound sitting on my couch that is demanding my attention with its declaration of wrinkles but alas here I sit at my computer refusing to succumb to its hysterical demands.
So while I block it out I will tell you all, my avid readers, about my weekend.
Sunday the kids (the two big ones) and I went to Hippy-Dippy Land and volunteered at the Cap Tex Tri, now that was incredible! I only had two poor sorry individuals that thought we (the other individuals there voluntarily) should have a good tongue lashing. I noticed that the race had a bell curve to it, we had a few die hard athletes that came through at the beginning then a massive rush of people and then a few dwindling souls who were bringing up the rear (Side note: Those tail end athletes are my heroes - because they were there! It would have been so much easier not to do it knowing they would be last. I know this because I am/used to be one of those that didn't do it because I didn't want to be last. No longer - I plan to be at the end of the pack at my first tri, why? Because someone has to be last!). Back to my story... one guy (in the middle of the pack) got very upset when our small band, including four smallish children, began running low on water. So he said a few colorful words to increase my children's vocabulary and then ran off. Soon after that I was stopped by a lady who wanted to know how to get to the winner's circle, seemed like an easy question - "over there and up the stairs." Except that she had a stroller - hello! Uh oh, I really didn't know what to tell her so I pointed her the way of the stairs and hoped that she'd come across someone who could tell her... but not before she could utter these words, "what would you tell someone in a wheelchair?" Uh - "I'm a volunteer at my first event and I have no idea." Yep - I'm so quick on my feet!!! I didn't stop long enough to tell her that I felt her pain, that I am the woman behind a 50+ lb. double stroller daily trying to navigate all types of terrain. Oh well - I'm still hoping she found a way into the winner's circle and I hope that colorful vocabulary guy had a great race too! The kids and I had a great time, we got to see Coach Adrien and my friend Kathy and tons (100's) of people thanked us for being there and a few even came back to tell us that they couldn't race without us and they were so appreciative of our time. B&K really had a blast and now B is ready to sign up for the tri that K&I are doing on June 21st - sweet!!!
Yesterday we took a little family Memorial Day road trip to Alamo Land - we went to the Witte Museum to see the exhibit Our Body: The Universe Within. It sounded really incredible and I only found out about it last week, yesterday was the last day. Sadly we got there and they were sold out until the 3:30pm show which would have meant carting our kids around for 3+ hours and then going to see the exhibit. Somehow we didn't think Z&A would allow that - call us psychics if you want. hee hee! Since we were there we went ahead and went to the rest of the museum and that was fun but I was very disappointed. Here's a few pictures of the kids at the Science Treehouse (the best part of the museum in my humble opinion).
Here's a little calendar preview... which one should I pick, hmm...
A.
or
So while I block it out I will tell you all, my avid readers, about my weekend.
Sunday the kids (the two big ones) and I went to Hippy-Dippy Land and volunteered at the Cap Tex Tri, now that was incredible! I only had two poor sorry individuals that thought we (the other individuals there voluntarily) should have a good tongue lashing. I noticed that the race had a bell curve to it, we had a few die hard athletes that came through at the beginning then a massive rush of people and then a few dwindling souls who were bringing up the rear (Side note: Those tail end athletes are my heroes - because they were there! It would have been so much easier not to do it knowing they would be last. I know this because I am/used to be one of those that didn't do it because I didn't want to be last. No longer - I plan to be at the end of the pack at my first tri, why? Because someone has to be last!). Back to my story... one guy (in the middle of the pack) got very upset when our small band, including four smallish children, began running low on water. So he said a few colorful words to increase my children's vocabulary and then ran off. Soon after that I was stopped by a lady who wanted to know how to get to the winner's circle, seemed like an easy question - "over there and up the stairs." Except that she had a stroller - hello! Uh oh, I really didn't know what to tell her so I pointed her the way of the stairs and hoped that she'd come across someone who could tell her... but not before she could utter these words, "what would you tell someone in a wheelchair?" Uh - "I'm a volunteer at my first event and I have no idea." Yep - I'm so quick on my feet!!! I didn't stop long enough to tell her that I felt her pain, that I am the woman behind a 50+ lb. double stroller daily trying to navigate all types of terrain. Oh well - I'm still hoping she found a way into the winner's circle and I hope that colorful vocabulary guy had a great race too! The kids and I had a great time, we got to see Coach Adrien and my friend Kathy and tons (100's) of people thanked us for being there and a few even came back to tell us that they couldn't race without us and they were so appreciative of our time. B&K really had a blast and now B is ready to sign up for the tri that K&I are doing on June 21st - sweet!!!
Yesterday we took a little family Memorial Day road trip to Alamo Land - we went to the Witte Museum to see the exhibit Our Body: The Universe Within. It sounded really incredible and I only found out about it last week, yesterday was the last day. Sadly we got there and they were sold out until the 3:30pm show which would have meant carting our kids around for 3+ hours and then going to see the exhibit. Somehow we didn't think Z&A would allow that - call us psychics if you want. hee hee! Since we were there we went ahead and went to the rest of the museum and that was fun but I was very disappointed. Here's a few pictures of the kids at the Science Treehouse (the best part of the museum in my humble opinion).
Here's a little calendar preview... which one should I pick, hmm...
orB.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Swim Meet - May 23
Last night we had our first summer swim league meet. Yes, that is right, last night. That is highly unusual, ordinarily they are Saturday mornings but apparently someone had the date wrong and then they didn't want to rearrange it. SO we had a night time meet and it ran VERY long (we got home at 11:15 and we left early). Jason stayed home with "the babies" and I took the big kids so that I could volunteer and be a timer. My friend, Belle took some great pictures as you will see below.
Before I show you the pictures let me tell you about B&K. They did dyn-O-mite! K was a little hesitant about her first swim meet but she did great, I even got to time her once and each time she swam I got a great big wet fishy kiss after she was done. How can you beat that? B has been swimming "competitively" for about 4 years now and lately his coaches have asked him to see that competitive streak. B (for all of you who know him this is no surprise) is a very laid back kid - easy going (just like his dad) and non-aggressive, so you can imagine that this is not an easy thing for him to just pull out. Well last night he did it! I got to see it from the sidelines when he got about half way through the pool he suddenly; hit turbo drive, kicked in the power boosters, swam like he had three arms (maybe four)! Yep that is right my boy, B, dominated and pulled out a win! It was impressive!
Tonight the kids had a birthday party - they roller skated (aw memories! I heard 99 red balloons, some Prince, Madonna and visited with other 30ish women who remembered playing limbo, four corners and couples only skating... wow brings back the memories - if only I had a pair of socks I would have been rockin'). Oh yea and they bowled - this was not the type with a bar though so my childhood memories of going to the bar while my mom bowled and ordering Shirley Temples was not relived. Phooey!
Finally tomorrow we have a big day. The kids and I have volunteered (okay I volunteered myself and them) to go and assist at the Cap Tex Tri in Austin - should be loads of fun. We will be helping out at a run station, passing out water. We are going to cheer on "our team" - the group that I've been training with.
Before I show you the pictures let me tell you about B&K. They did dyn-O-mite! K was a little hesitant about her first swim meet but she did great, I even got to time her once and each time she swam I got a great big wet fishy kiss after she was done. How can you beat that? B has been swimming "competitively" for about 4 years now and lately his coaches have asked him to see that competitive streak. B (for all of you who know him this is no surprise) is a very laid back kid - easy going (just like his dad) and non-aggressive, so you can imagine that this is not an easy thing for him to just pull out. Well last night he did it! I got to see it from the sidelines when he got about half way through the pool he suddenly; hit turbo drive, kicked in the power boosters, swam like he had three arms (maybe four)! Yep that is right my boy, B, dominated and pulled out a win! It was impressive!
Tonight the kids had a birthday party - they roller skated (aw memories! I heard 99 red balloons, some Prince, Madonna and visited with other 30ish women who remembered playing limbo, four corners and couples only skating... wow brings back the memories - if only I had a pair of socks I would have been rockin'). Oh yea and they bowled - this was not the type with a bar though so my childhood memories of going to the bar while my mom bowled and ordering Shirley Temples was not relived. Phooey!
Finally tomorrow we have a big day. The kids and I have volunteered (okay I volunteered myself and them) to go and assist at the Cap Tex Tri in Austin - should be loads of fun. We will be helping out at a run station, passing out water. We are going to cheer on "our team" - the group that I've been training with.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Farms, brotherly love, peas & ducks...
I won't be talking about those things in that order, but here's the latest news near Hippy-Dippy Texas for Jason's Clan.
I went for my open water (aka murky) swim last night and I have been told that I should be proud of myself, even though I wasn't feeling it last night when the other 5 people there were at LEAST 100 yards ahead of me and a duck with her ducklings went sailing past me! But my self-esteem is intact, sort of! I will prevail. Here's the lowdown, I really psyched myself out yesterday trying to convince myself that I couldn't do it and by the time I got there I felt like I was back in the pool on the first night. I couldn't keep my face in the water without panicking and holding my breath, instead of breathing out. So there you go - it stunk but I'm glad that I went because now next time I shouldn't get so panicked.
This morning for breakfast Z had some "ogert" and wanted to share with his little sister. I couldn't resist this picture! So sweet.
After breakfast we went to an organic farm. It was interesting, the kids picked strawberries, I bought some lettuce and fresh eggs but Z was none too happy when he found out that all they had was a hen house and there were no pigs in the vicinity.
We also had some fun outside today. Z&A have really learned to appreciate the wonderful backyard that we have. I love to watch them toodling around enjoying the sunshine (which we have PLENTY of!).
Finally, here is a quick slide show to show you why Jason thinks A will be his new favorite date! She will eat ANYTHING!! Even peas!
I went for my open water (aka murky) swim last night and I have been told that I should be proud of myself, even though I wasn't feeling it last night when the other 5 people there were at LEAST 100 yards ahead of me and a duck with her ducklings went sailing past me! But my self-esteem is intact, sort of! I will prevail. Here's the lowdown, I really psyched myself out yesterday trying to convince myself that I couldn't do it and by the time I got there I felt like I was back in the pool on the first night. I couldn't keep my face in the water without panicking and holding my breath, instead of breathing out. So there you go - it stunk but I'm glad that I went because now next time I shouldn't get so panicked.
This morning for breakfast Z had some "ogert" and wanted to share with his little sister. I couldn't resist this picture! So sweet.
After breakfast we went to an organic farm. It was interesting, the kids picked strawberries, I bought some lettuce and fresh eggs but Z was none too happy when he found out that all they had was a hen house and there were no pigs in the vicinity.We also had some fun outside today. Z&A have really learned to appreciate the wonderful backyard that we have. I love to watch them toodling around enjoying the sunshine (which we have PLENTY of!).
Finally, here is a quick slide show to show you why Jason thinks A will be his new favorite date! She will eat ANYTHING!! Even peas!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Dance, dance, dance & update
This seems to be the new theme of my blog! I caught this on video today and had to share. As you can see in the background (toward the end) the bike is STILL in the box. Bad Daddy - Jason! Z wasn't feeling really well this weekend so Jason put it off until next weekend. So Z&A just have to wear their new helmets in their chariot - that is what I call the bike trailer that I borrowed from my friend, Heather. Oodles of fun! I'll try to get a picture soon.
Not a lot to report over the weekend, we cleaned the garage, sold our bed frame & box springs and now I'm anxiously awaiting a phone call tomorrow to see if I can get my bed! Yesterday afternoon I had VBS training and church in the evening. Today I took the kids in their chariot to the pool, A's first time playing in the pool this season. She's going to be a fish just like big brother B! If I can just get her and Z to behave in the chariot I will be set. At one point I turned around to see them batting at each other and yelling - oh what fun that is to pull along two yelling children beating on each other!!! Ugh! I debated yelling out, "this is not a jungle gym, don't make me pull this chariot over!" I opted for rolling my eyes, praying that no one got hurt and peddling like mad.
Last but not least, just to update you on my tri-training, I am signing up to compete in my first triathlon on Saturday, June 21st! Tomorrow night I will be doing my first open water swim - that's tri-code for non-chlorinated, muddy, bug and fish infested waters, did I already say UGH in this blog? Yep - oh well it must be repeated! Which leads me to my final update in this area, two weeks ago I swam 200 yards without stopping and last week I swam 3 - 200 sets back to back (I stopped between each of those)! I can say with all honesty that it isn't pretty but I DID it! Yea me!
Not a lot to report over the weekend, we cleaned the garage, sold our bed frame & box springs and now I'm anxiously awaiting a phone call tomorrow to see if I can get my bed! Yesterday afternoon I had VBS training and church in the evening. Today I took the kids in their chariot to the pool, A's first time playing in the pool this season. She's going to be a fish just like big brother B! If I can just get her and Z to behave in the chariot I will be set. At one point I turned around to see them batting at each other and yelling - oh what fun that is to pull along two yelling children beating on each other!!! Ugh! I debated yelling out, "this is not a jungle gym, don't make me pull this chariot over!" I opted for rolling my eyes, praying that no one got hurt and peddling like mad.
Last but not least, just to update you on my tri-training, I am signing up to compete in my first triathlon on Saturday, June 21st! Tomorrow night I will be doing my first open water swim - that's tri-code for non-chlorinated, muddy, bug and fish infested waters, did I already say UGH in this blog? Yep - oh well it must be repeated! Which leads me to my final update in this area, two weeks ago I swam 200 yards without stopping and last week I swam 3 - 200 sets back to back (I stopped between each of those)! I can say with all honesty that it isn't pretty but I DID it! Yea me!
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