Dear Scott! You Called me out!

Scott called me out! I have Virginia pictures out the backside and I'm working on a powerpoint to present to our 5th grade students and staff (I'm sure they will be thrilled).
Until then - here are some pictures to whet your appetite!

This first pictures is of Redoubt #10 (this was when and where we won the American Revolution) with the help of our French friends at Redoubt #9. I started with this picture because for me it was the most emotional part of the trip - my imagination was vivid and clear as I imagined the suffering, sadness and ultimate relief as this particular obstacle was overcome. Proud to be an American!


This next picture was also emotional for me. This is me with Bunny - the most amazing history teacher I have ever had the pleasure to spend time with. I feel bad because I was unable to take notes while she talked. She knew so much, had so many stories related to people in history and completely captured my attention! Thought she was GREAT!!!


I went all the way to Virginia and met an Austinite - that was AN AGGIE!! Oh yea!! Gig'Em!


Part of this experience was living out and seeing how people lived in the 18th century. Here I am doing just that:

Watering the crops!

Searching for worms on tobacco.
If a slave master found a large one they might make a slave eat it,
since it meant they were not doing their job well enough if a worm got that big!

This is a hogshead.
Tobacco was shipped in a barrel just like this!
Insanely big, huh?!

The next picture is of part of my group. Brina, Jo, Linda, Debbie (my running partner), Steve, Mario & Lindsey.

Me & George Washington!!! Actually, as you probably know this isn't the REAL George Washington, but he was amazingly knowledgeable. It was so cool to listen to him present!


This is where I stayed - actually the very first picture that I took. I had the BEST time and cannot wait to go back and to share all of my new found knowledge with anyone who will listen and let me show them my "stuff!"

Potty Trained! (and oh yea I'm going to Virginia)

She did it! She's got it & she has her big sister to thank. I believe that K was crucial in teaching A how to use the big girl potty. Day 1 was a huge disaster, Day 2 it was like someone flipped her little switch and she suddenly "got it!" Nice!

Tuesday this week I leave for Colonial Williamsburg - I am SO excited! Can't wait! Tomorrow is laundry day, packing and taking the car to the shop (again!) - then watch out Virginia here comes Sherry! I even get to go to Montecello (Thomas Jefferson's home) - oh boy I can't wait for that too.

When I get back - watch out you will be looking at LOTS (I mean LOTS) of pictures!

Swimming, Potty, Running And Dear Scoot (not in that order)

Most of you know my brother, Scott, does a lot of traveling for his job, we'll he's at it again! So my blog posts are back to being personal messages to our dear Ghanaian brother/uncle! :)
Dear Scoot - come visit us (bring Shelby) and take us to do something fun! Love you!

Z&A are taking swim lessons. Let me start by saying that this is Z's year to learn to swim! He's doing great, he's following directions, trying hard and just generally giving it his all. Now let me tell you about my strong-minded, princess A! Day 1 her favorite thing to say was, "I don't want to." I tried diligently to let her know that wasn't acceptable but waited until later to have a little sit down with her about how big girls don't tell their teachers that and that if it happened again she wouldn't be staying (or playing in the pool) while Z had lessons. Day 2 my little goof decided that she'd just NOT get into the pool. Thankfully her teacher, Ms. Jill, wouldn't have any of that and forced the issue a few times. We took the opportunity to play at the pool afterward and I think that was a huge turning point. Day 3 K went with us and stayed on the steps with A&Z. A was a little dream, volunteering and trying hard. Finally Day 4, A was on her own (no K to sit with her) and she did GREAT! She volunteered, put her face in the water and followed her big brother's example - yea Z&A!!!

Potty Training - Child #4 - my most stubborn child! Well with some encouragement from my friend, Rae Ann, we've "discovered" that all the pull-ups are gone. The only thing left in the house is big girl underwear (well there are some big boy underwear too but you know what I mean!). So my girl is in bed right now with big girl underwear and she is relegated to the kitchen on the floor until she figures it out. This is what we did for Z - only he did the naked thing. When Jason told her tonight that she'd have to stay in the kitchen and couldn't sit on the chairs she looked at him with her big bright beautiful eyes and said, "why?" Ha! So hopefully in two or three days we'll have an update letting you know that she is officially potty trained AND I will
stop getting pop-up FB adds about potty training!

Finally I have decided that I want (okay that is a little strong), would like (nope that doesn't do it), feel compelled to "try" to run a 1/2 marathon. I work well when I'm working towards a goal. So my goal is The Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon in November (San Antonio). I'm excited and nervous. Tonight I ran 3 miles (that is 12 laps) on the track without stopping. This was big for me even though I've run a couple of 5K's because it feels like a beginning. As I got to my last lap I reminded myself of the Bible verse that gets me through this physical activities that I've been subjecting myself to lately -

"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me"

Philippians 4:13

The great thing is that just as I thought this scripture in my head I looked up in the clouds and saw a very small rainbow in the clouds. A promise! So I have a LONG way to go but I'm going to do this! Prayers always appreciated!

Introducing my new phone!

Early June Jason decided that we NEEDED (yes I agree that is a strong word for it!) new phones. He researched, he reviewed, he waited... and finally found the phone for him (and therefore me too) - the HTC Evo. Let me just say I was doubtful and not convinced. Now that I've had the phone for several weeks let me correct my original hesitation with this statement - I love my new sudoku playing, FB access, limitless texting, email catching AND camera phone! Love it! Didn't know I was missing out on so much!! So to introduce this new member of my being here are some moments that it has helped me capture.

St. Louis Science Center my fearsome four put together the arch -
who knew they were so incredible?!

BKZ had no fear of this T-Rex (A thought it was a little too lifelike!) -
I thought this was a great way to capture the big fella!

This picture was taken for A's dad -
our lovable geek/nerd that knows all about nano technology.

White Castles - do I need to say more?

My crew with Rae Ann's crew makes a BIG crew having lots of fun!

A special moment on our MO trip -
K playing the piano for her Grandpa Jess.

Please Daddy?!

A's friend Elias giving her a boat ride -
it is good to be a princess! Ha!

Swim lessons for Z&A

"Watch out for the donkeys!" something I never thought I'd hear during a tri!!

Today was my first open water triathlon, Tri it in Spanish (300m swim, 20k bike, 3.2k run)! I was SO nervous, I really thought several times in the last 24 hours that I would toss some cookies (but I did not). Here's how it happened:
I prepared for the swim by following my friend Eileen out to the waters edge, she insisted that we move toward the front (not way up front with the really fast people) but we decided after the last one that we didn't want to go to the back and short change ourselves. When it was my turn I was prepared, goggles ON! I jumped in and did what I know how to do, I swam. I started strong but when I got to the tunnel (yes tunnel!) I panicked a little and flipped over to do a backstroke. When I came out of the tunnel I flipped back over but only to find that I could not see through my goggles! Ugh. I attempted a small windshield wiper action in my goggles so that I could see the last buoy and it worked. I finished strong and felt really good about my swim.
The bike ride started out flat but then there was a steep incline (read BIG hill) and the road was very bumpy - with traffic, including a truck that did not want to pass me, finally did. I don't mind other bikes behind me but a truck is a little intimidating sitting on your tail. As I rounded the half way point of the bike I was feeling good and smiling, but not as much as I was 5 minutes later when I rounded a corner and heard these words from a police officer, "watch out for the donkeys!" Sure enough I saw a herd (4 or 5) donkeys prancing down the road. Initially they were on the other side until a bike scared them to my side. I was cautious but anxious to get by them, they were obviously scared and I didn't want to be in their way. After several laughter filled moments I was able to pedal like a mad woman past the herd. Wow! That entertained me all the way back to the steep incline where I did a "woo hoo" as I flew down - FUN!
The run! Oowei! The run was tough! As I've explained before there is nothing quite like running when your legs feel like spaghetti. Sadly I was not able to run like I would have liked until the end. For the record let me tell you that people standing around cheering is a must on these runs! As I got to the two mile mark there were a couple of people and they started cheering and telling me I was almost done, then there was a water guy, then another couple - I ran the remainder and finished running. It felt great until I stopped and then I was woozy. I got some orange juice.
For the record Eileen was third in her age group. I am so excited that I have this great friend that does these things with me - what a great treasure her friendship is to me. Eileen's daughter, Shelly got some pictures so hopefully I will be able to add those soon.

7th Annual Splish Splash and Irritated!

Somehow I missed this blog last year (I'm working on that!) Every year since 2004 we have gone to Wapelhorst Park in St. Charles MO when we visit Gramps and G'ma Bonnie. Guess what! We went AGAIN!! Doesn't look like we will be ending this tradition anytime soon, Z&A are now in love with this park too! I have tons of picture on my camera (thanks Bonnie) but I'm going to post our underwater pictures - we love those.

We have our camera and we are ready to go to MO to play with Gramps & G'ma Bonnie!

BKZA with Gramps!

Shocking I know! B underwater!

K underwater - yep shocking!

Now sit down people! Z's VERY first underwater picture.
This trip was a huge success for my Z-Man,
he went underwater happily many, many times!!

Me and my fearsome foursome.

Now do you want to see how much these kids have changed? Want to see why A thinks that she's been there before and was wearing a pink bikini? Ha ha! Then check out these links, 2004 thru 2007 and 2008.

Aw summer...