Monday, May 26th 2009

^●●● Cap Tex Tri!!!  1:36:07

Wow!  What a fun race!!!  I was so extremely nervous at the start.  I hadn't trained as much as I had hoped I would.  And my biggest concern was that I hadn't done any long distance training.  I have only practiced for more than an hour and a half once since February!  But, for whatever reason, it all came together yesterday! I finished with a time of 1:36:07, far better than my goal of 2 hours!!  I finished in the top third of my age group, and the top third of all the women racing, which I am pumped about!! The Swim - 750 meters in 17:46 minutes While swimming is probably the skill I am least familiar with, it is almost everyone's worst skill, so I wind up in the middle of the pack.  I am a lousy freestyler - so despite my swimming 101 class, I swam the breaststoke.  I find the stroke very relaxing, and although it is not very fast, it is very steady, and I always seem to finish in the middle of the pack.  Which is good enough for me! The Bike - 12.5 miles in 44:44 minutes This is my worst skill, comparatively.  I averaged 16 mph, which is the fastest I have ever biked, and even so I was passed like I was standing still!  This was a very flat and easy course, which explains my good time.  This is the skill I will probably work on the most next time (if there is a next time), because it is, I believe, the portion where it will be easiest to shave off a few minutes. The Run - 3.1 miles in 27:32 minutes Running is my sport.  It is what I enjoy, and it is what I am good at.  After I finished the other two portions, I think that I was so pumped to be through them, that I just flew through the last 3 miles.  My final pace was 8:49 per mile!

Me with Amy Jackson.  Amy was the one who pushed me to do this race, and kept me practicing!  This was her first tri! I only caught up with Dave at the tail end of the race.  Dave took this right after I saw him and the boys.  It was my last few meters.

Monday, May 11th 2009

^●●● Countdown to summer!

It has been a while since I have updated this web page.  We have been so very busy, I haven't even had the 15 minutes it takes to post an update! 

Dylan had his last soccer tournament the weekend before last.  Four games in one day made a very tired family!  His team one two and lost two, but all in all, we had a good time.  Swim lessons also ended the same week, so we should start having a little extra time.

Mother's day was wonderful.  Dave made me my favorite breakfast - Eggs Benedict.  The boys and I then went to church and Sunday School.  Then Dave watched the kids so I could go on a bike ride with a friend to Decker Lake.  Decker Lake is a course that I haven't ridden in a long time (since my last triathlon, two years ago).  It was a lot of fun, very hilly!  After this ride, I finally signed up for the CapTex Tri in two weeks.  I figure, I may not be as ready as I'd like, but I am as ready as I am going to be :o)

Then Martha came over in the evening and we had a delicious steak dinner. It doesn't get much better than this!

On Saturday, I went early in the morning for a run with Danielle - something we haven't done together since Christmas!  I then went to a bike mechanics class afterwards.  In the afternoon, the boys and I went to see the new Star Trek movie.  Overall, a busy but fun weekend!

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

^●●● Muster Day

Every year, Camp Mabry has an event called Muster Day.  I have always wanted to go, but we always seem to have something going on that weekend.  This weekend, although we had a full slate, we set aside a few hours to check it out.  The cub scouts were volunteering at the event, so we spent about an hour helping out, an hour exploring the grounds, and then an hour watching the Joe Scruggs show (very entertaining children's musician).

Here are some photos:

Thursday, April 16th 2009

^●●● Magic!

For the second year in a row, our Pack has had a spring recruitment with a Magician.  This year was kind of special for us, because Kyle was here "officially" as a prospective kindergartener.  For years he has sat through all the cub scout events as a sibling.  Now he could finally be a cub scout.  He even had one little boy from his class show up.  And Kyle was so proud to show him all the cub scout "moves".  It was very cute! It was a great pack meeting.  We had around 8 new scouts show up, and if they didn't enjoy the pack meeting, then scouting probably isn't for them.  The kids started outside playing games, and then were brought inside for the individual awards.  We talked about all of our upcoming cool events (Muster day, NASA, Day camp, etc.) and then the Magician had his show. The magician was "John Maverick, Austin's Second Greatest Magician", and his MO is that of a second-rate magician.  He had the kids and the adults in stitches. He would do a trick, and have it either fail, or be really obvious how it was done.  He'd string the kids along, "the ball didn't disappear, it just rolled to the other side", they'd shout.  And then he'd finish with a little sleight of hand  and the ball would really disappear.  He picked one volunteer from the group, and to Kyle's huge delight, he was picked (the fact that he was the pack leader's son might have had something to do with it!)  And Kyle was the biggest ham you ever saw.  He was so incredibly sweet.  He was the perfect straight man for all of the tricks, and then would laugh so hard, he'd have the whole crowd laughing twice as hard.

Sunday, April 12th 2009

^●●● Easter

The Easter Bunny came today!  He brought a great basket full of fun toys, including a balsa wood airplane, a Webkinz, a silly straw, a large bakugan, and of course, some chocolates.  He also hid over 100 eggs around the house, which the boys merrily sought!  Afterwards, we went to church and Sunday School, and then headed down to Cedar park for a delicious dinner with Grandma.  A beautiful day!

Saturday, April 11th 2009

^●●● Eggstravaganza at Mount Olive

Mt Olive asked the Cub Scouts to host the plinko board for their annual Eggstravaganza.  Dave ran the plinko board while the boys and I enjoyed the festival.  It was very simple, but a lot of fun, with crafts, a inflatable jumper, Easter twister, and of course, an Easter Egg Hunt.

Friday, April 10th 2009

^●●● Kyle lost his first tooth!!!

Kyle lost his first tooth today (well, at least the first one he has lost naturally!).  It has been loose for a couple of weeks, and finally became very loose today.  I had just read the boys a bit of our bedtime story - The Neverending Story, and put them in bed.  Seconds later Kyle came bounding out, "Mom, My tooth, My Tooth!!!".  It is was so fun to see how very excited he was.  He proudly showed his new gap first to me, then Dylan and Dave.  He pulled out the "tooth holder" that he made in kindergarten and placed it under his pillow, and laid down to sleep (The tooth fairy doesn't come until he is asleep!)

This is clearly a new milestone for him.  One more step on his way to adulthood (Waaah!)  And it is so fun to share the excitement :o)

This was far more fun than his very first tooth, which was knocked out while on the monkey bars three years ago!

Friday, March 27th 2009

●●● Bonaire!!

We're back!  And our trip was fantastic!  Outstanding!  Wonderful!!  Bonaire is virtually unchanged from when we visited it ten years ago.  A wonderful small island with excellent diving and snorkeling, private beaches and beautiful scenery.

Dave and I spent the mornings of Monday through Thursday diving, while the boys were in Ocean's Classroom.  This was a program for children 6 and up, which began with a lesson about fish, and then snorkeling.  Although this program was not quite all it proclaimed to be (the advertisement claimed kayaking, cave exploration and boat dives) the boys had a lot of fun playing with the other kids in the program.  And Dave and I really loved the shore diving!  In the afternoons and Friday and Saturday, we explored the island, swam, built sand castles, watched wild flamingos, went night snorkeling, visited Klein Bonaire, an uninhabited island just off the coast of Bonaire, and just about everything else you can imagine! Dave took hundreds of pictures, and I have not yet culled through them all.  When I do, I will set up a separate Bonaire page.  Until then, here are a few from my camera.

The highlight of the trip was definitely snorkeling with the boys.  Dylan really took to snorkeling.  Kyle enjoyed it too, but it was impossible to pull Dylan out of the water.  The best part was showing the boys the beauty that we love underwater.  Throughout the trip, both boys got to see a school of over 20 squid, moray eels, flounders, lizard fish and lots more. Dylan got to see a turtle and octopus also!

Thursday, March 12th 2009

●●● Kyle's Stage Debut

Click here to see a video of Kyle's performance

Today was Oak Hill's kindergarten program - Dinostars!  All the kindergarten classes got together and sang four or five really fun songs.  My favorite was the "Raptor Rap", complete with arm-crossed, rapper style motions :o)

Kyle was selected to be the "joker"!  He got to go onstage and speak into the microphone and he did a great job!!!!  "What happens with two dinosaurs crash?  Tyrannosaurus Wrecks"  He spoke loudly and clearly and even had a little hand motion to go with it, that made the whole auditorium laugh.  Very cute and very fun!!

Sunday, March 8th 2009

●●● Spring Campout

The boys hanging out in the tree   This weekend, we went on our Spring Campout with the Cubs.  Because the school carnival was on Friday night, our pack picked a close location.  Camp Ben McCulloch is about 12 miles from our house.  When we have had rain, there is a very pretty river than runs through it, but even in our current drought conditions, it is a nice. There is nothing I enjoy more than seeing a pack of boys run wild, leaving their Nintendos and Wiis behind, and just playing!  Dave picked out a leather wristband craft that was a huge hit with both the kids and the adults.  We played kickball, went for a hike, and had our typical campfire.  This campground is also conveniently located right across from the Salt Lick (some of the best barbecue in Texas!).  We went on a short tour of the restaurant and saw their smoker and barbecue pit and even a little of behind the scenes.  And then for dinner, we got to eat it! Yum! But the highlight of the whole weekend was the tree.  Right in the middle of our camp was a huge live oak with low hanging branches.  The boys spent almost every free minute climbing or swinging from this tree.  I really love to see the boys enjoying the outdoors, and God's natural playground.  There was a very nice playscape on the premises, but it was of no interest to the boys, who much preferred the tree :o)

Dylan making use of his whittling chip Ahhh, the smell! Making of the world's most awesome cobbler! Dave working leather with the boys

●●● Oak Hill Carnival

Friday night was the carnival at Oak Hill.  Carnival is an incredibly crazy and chaotic event that the parents spend an enormous amount of time preparing for, but that also earns a decent amount of funds to be put to use by the school.  The Cub Scouts have a "Plinko" booth, and Dave usually spends the entire night manning it along with some of the other cub dads.  I usually spend my time divided between helping the boys' booths and, in my few spare moments, tracking down the boys to make sure they are okay.

As exhausted as we are when this evening is over (it started at 8:30am when I helped the coordinator transport stuff from her house to the school and ended at 9pm with cleanup) the boys really have a great time. 

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
●●● The Southland in the Springtime

When God made me born a yankee he was teasin'
There's no place like home and none more pleasin'
Than the southland in the springtime 

The Indigo Girls said it, and boy were they right.  On my run this morning, I passed a world just waking up.  Blue and gold irises showing off in winter beds, Red Buds and Bradford Pears afire with blooms, trees budding in bright green; almost everywhere I look, things are starting to wake up and show their colors.  I had to stop for a minute and just watch and listen to the sound of a woodpecker tapping out his spring song, and then jump over a tarantula crawling across the road, just waking up from a long winters nap! 

Ahh, I do love Texas :o)

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

●●● Blue and Gold

Today was Dylan's Blue and Gold ceremony for cub scouts - and this year, Dave also received his Woodbadge beads. 

The week started off a bit rocky, when we finally heard from our volunteer cub scout organizer, who informed us that she had not yet procured a caterer, and was overwhelmed and needed to hand off the job. 

After much panic and confusion, a number of people, including myself and Beth (who had the flu), managed to put together a really fun event.  One of the den leaders knew the owner of Canoli Joes, and got them to sponsor our catering. 

Beth's mom played in a Japanese Drum Team, and they played for us (really awesome and a lot of fun!) I have never seen a Japanese Drum team, but they are fun to watch - a very energetic band!  And afterwards, they allowed all the boys (even the big ones!) to come up and try out the drums.  This was a huge success!

 Two other leaders offered to organize the boys in a game of limbo (very simple, but very fun).  The boy scouts helped serve and clean up -- And the whole event went off without a hitch, a very fun evening!

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

●●● Austin Half Marathon

Another 13 mile race - my last one until next year.  This race is very hilly and a lot harder than the 3M (which is almost completely downhill), so I knew my time would be slower.  Also, because we've had so many sick at home, I have missed the last two Saturday long runs, so I wasn't sure how I would do.  I lined up with the 9 min/mile pace group, but passed them pretty early on.  Unfortunately, there were so many running, that my slowest mile was the first, as it was physically impossible to move any faster - there were so many people piled up.  But things opened up, and I started going faster.

My final time was 1:56.  Two minutes slower than 3M, but ten minutes faster than the same race last year, and one minute faster than my goal, so I am happy!  The coolest part is that I placed "76th" in my division.  No medals given out for that ;o), but it did put me in the top 12% of my division, as well as the top 12% of all the women running. Which is the highest I have ever placed.

Now that running is done, I will start training for a triathlon!

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

●●● La Casa de Los Infermos

When you're sick, no one is a better friend than Rajah!

Our house has been struck by the sickness bug.  This particular one came in with Dave.  It starts with a low grade fever, and is followed by intense congestion and coughing.  Dave has missed one or two days of work, and has worked many half days coming home and going to bed.  Dylan was out of school from Thursday until this Monday.  And Saturday night, Kyle placed his head down on the dinner table.  He took a nap the next day - highly unusual.  If Kyle stops moving, you know he's sick!  Both boys were feeling better on Monday, so they went back to school today.  Dylan is doing better, but Kyle took a turn for the worse, and looks like he has a long evening of croup ahead of him.  He'll be home again with me tomorrow :o(

I have managed to avoid it so far, with only a minor cold at the same time as Dave's started, but I have no doubt, with all the coughs I have endured, and late nights helping whomever, that my time is coming...

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

●●● Pinewood Derby 2009

About a month ago, Dylan sat down with a pencil and paper and drew out a design for his car.  We were so proud of him - because he did this with no help.  And his design was perfect.  Maybe it wasn't the fastest design - but it was all Dylan. It was in the shape of his favorite Pokemon character - Pikachu.  Kyle picked out the "wing" shape; very fast and very sleek.  The boys spent hours working with their cars.  Kyle had some hands-on Daddy help, but Dylan did his almost totally by himself, with only guidance for Daddy. Even though Dylan's car was not the fastest design (too front-heavy), he spent enough time preparing the axles and whatever else they do - that he placed second in the pack race!  Kyle is still competing in the sibling race, as he won't be a cub until this spring.  Kyle's car blew past the other siblings' cars, and actually was the fastest of all the cars - earning the "track record" And in the pure design (not speed) awards, both boys won the "Most Outlandish Design" award for their division! But most important of all, the boys both had a great time!

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

●●●3M Half Marathon - A new PR!!! 1:54:32!!!

Note:  My chip time is actually 3 minutes faster than the clock time,
because it took over 3 minutes for me to cross the start line after the
gun went off.  I am the one in pink :o)

Today was the race I have been working and training toward since September.  My goal was to finish in under 2 hours, and my "training" goal was to finish in 1:57.  This means that my training results indicated I could finish in 1:57, but I'd have been thrilled to break 2 hours. 

I really don't know how I managed to finish so far ahead of my goal.  I started the race off with Victoria, someone I had run some of the Saturday runs with occasionally.  She is faster than I, and set a pretty stiff pace for the first couple of miles.  I HATE to run alone - so I kept up with her, figuring I would drop back after the first seven.  But after the first seven, something strange happened, I felt stronger!  I actually pulled ahead and increased the pace.

A couple of things helped.  First, I ran the last seven miles of the course last Saturday.  I had almost skipped the run for a variety of reasons, but my running coach convinced me I HAD to do it.  And I am so glad I did.  It was such a confidence boost after I finished the first 7 knowing I had just run the last 7 miles last Saturday, and they were pretty easy, mostly downhill.  Of course, this time I already had 7 miles under my belt - but since running is mostly mental, somehow it worked ;o)

Also, I used Sport Beans (a kind of sugar jelly bean that is  used to deliver energy after the first hour of activity).  I haven't used them much, but decided to try it this time (I have been hungry on previous long runs).  Maybe that sugar kicked in and gave me an extra boost.

And maybe it was just a good bio-rhythmic day. 

Whatever the reason, I am thrilled with my results.  I finished 1,539 out of 4,140, and finished in the top quarter of my age group!  I ran this same race last year, and finished in 2:12, so I beat my previous race by 18 minutes- over 1 minute faster per mile!!!

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

●●●Grateful

Being grateful is a theme that I have come across at least three different times in the last few weeks.  Along with this comes the realization that our attitude controls how much we enjoy or dislike an event.  If we choose to look at the good side of things, everything is more enjoyable.  There is more good. 

As part of this, I have been identifying those multitude of moments in my life for which I am grateful.

This morning, as Dylan was leaving to go to school, he walked off the front porch and stopped and gazed to the east.  He stopped and said, "Wow, look at that". And there, over the hills, was one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen.  Vivid and bright, and spreading over half the sky.

I am grateful for beautiful sunrises. 

But even more so, I am very grateful that I have a child who stops to stare at the beauty of God's world around him.

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

●●●My quiet season

Winter is probably, okay, certainly, my least favorite season.  I am not a fan of cold weather (which is one of many reasons why I live in Texas) nor the lack of sun and shorter days. But also, after all the hubbub of the fall with the start of school, Halloween, Thanksgiving and of course Christmas, January and February were pretty much let downs.  The only real holiday is Valentines - which is a pretty lame holiday in my book!

In earlier days, I used to desperately count down the days until spring...  But recently, I have come to appreciate the hibernation of winter.  It is a down time in our very busy lives.  A time to stop and take a deep breath.  In spring, the boys will start their sports again, we'll begin camping, gardening, hiking, etc.  Our lives will be full, fun and busy.  

So right now, I am appreciating going to bed earlier and having a few weekends that are not scheduled down to the hour -- because I know that this brief respite will not last!

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

●●●Bonaire Here we Come!
We made our spring break plans this weekend!  Dave has been traveling and working so much.  A sudden deadline has appeared, and is taking all of his time and attention.  He had intended to take off 5 days vacation for Christmas, but wound up taking off only one day, and working weekends :o(  So, we decided that we'd use the extra dollars and travel miles to go somewhere fun over spring break.

We have been to Bonaire many years ago (before kids) and have been wanting to go back again.  And it turns out, that there is a direct flight from Houston to Bonaire.  So we made our plane reservations this weekend!  Let the countdown begin!

Thursday, January 1st, 2009

●●●Happy New Year!

The end of a great year and the begin of a new! 

I am not much into going out to a huge party for New Year's - so for the last couple of years, we have invited over a few friends for a laid back New Year's Eve party.  We have some drinks, enjoy Dave's outstanding barbecue, blast off some fireworks, and try and keep ourselves up until midnight (the kids are always much better at this then the adults!)  The kids have a great time, and we do too.  And every time, we really appreciate those who come and join us!

●●● Old Blogs

I have moved my old blogs off this page.  If you'd like to check out what we did last year, here are the links:

Fall 2008

Summer 2008

Spring 2008