Josh, Collin, &Joe - HOT!

Last night I was at a concert! A few months back Tim and I bought tickets to see Josh Gracin, Collin Raye, and Joe Nichols. (Pictured in that order) We ended up with 7 tickets and we were looking forward to going! As the day approached we realized that we didn't have a sitter - all the YW are out of town and N had a ball game! So, Tim (bless his heart) offered to stay with the kids, go to the ball game (well, he had no choice in that - he's the coach!) and take care of things while I go to the concert! So - I found 2 ladies that like country music and I took em' with me. I ended up giving away 2 of the tickets and had to "eat" 2 others - Oh well!
I didn't know that this was a "blanket and chair" sort of concert - so we weren't prepared in that manner, but we did have a nice time chatting and listening to music into the wee hours of the night! The weather was perfect and it was great to go to a concert without having to worry about the drunk next to you spilling his beer! When it finally got dark it did turn into make-out city so that was fun! (I felt a little left out!)
Anyway - Josh Gracin is a doll - he did a great job and he's so cute! Collin Raye has a lot of older music so that brought back a few memories. And Joe Nichols just has an amazing voice with music that really touches your heart! Thanks ladies for the great time, the chit chat, and the laughs!! And remember - DON'T DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER!!!!

A Flying Lemon!!

Saturday we decided to head to the zoo! I enjoy going to the zoo - you always see a "horse of a different color" (of the human nature) and animals too! The zoo was particularly crowded on Saturday and that is never good for one's stress level when trying to herd kids into the various exhibit areas. It wouldn't be so bad but in general people have lost all ideas of common courtesy. For example, when I see a family with kids walking into an exhibit, grocery store, whatever, I'm not going to force my way into the door (or out of it for that matter) separating the family. I'll patiently wait my turn so that the mother can keep up with all of her kids and not lose her mind trying to find them in the crowd because of my rudeness! It has become a "ME" generation and those that pay attention are far outnumbered by those that don't - hence stress rather than joy at the zoo!

It wasn't all bad! We did have a nice day seeing the animals, listening to the sounds of nature, and just spending time together. One of the best parts of the trip came just as we were starting to leave. We were passing by the elephants (for the 20th time!) and we realized that they had finally gotten their Popsicle down (the one in the picture). The elephant (above) just celebrated her 48th b-day, making her the oldest elephant in North America. I guess she didn't want to be looked at, or maybe she didn't like my green shirt - but she picked up one of the lemons from her Popsicle and threw it right where we were standing. It was probably humming along at about 50 mph when it hit the fence directly behind me! YIKES - I wouldn't want to be in her path out in the wild! I guess you don't mess with an elephant and her lemons!

swimming

Well, I've done it! I decided to get back into competition swimming - at the age of 32!

HISTORY: When I was 12 my parents divorced, my mom went to New Mexico with my two youngest siblings and my sister, Aonika, and I went to Texas with my father. Prior to moving we lived in SoCal. We rode our bikes everywhere, we played in the pool constantly, we were always going. When we moved there was no more riding bikes to school (too far), no more pool time (no pool), and we didn't know anyone so we didn't get out much. Needless to say, puberty hit and skinny girls became -well, not so skinny. My dad said he needed to do something so he signed us up for F.A.S.T (Friendswood area Swim Team). I'd never been on a swim team - I didn't even have a clue what to do, how many strokes there were, etc.. It didn't take long for me to pick it up though and wouldn't you know I took to it like a fish to water! I soon found myself, along with my sister, in competition swimming - it became my life. This continued on through High School with 6-8am practices and then again at 4pm. The stroke that most people hate quickly became my favorite (the Butterfly) because I was good at it and I knew it. Local meets and State meets were the norm in our house - we were always at the pool - there was never a clean towel in the house. At one time I found myself working with the STARS team (a division of Jr. Olympics) and at that moment I realized that the competition bug had a huge hold of me. I loved competing, I loved the feel of the water, I loved training. I went on to college and swam for 1 season. My swimming career came to a halt because I wanted to persue atheletic training, then I met and married Tim, had Kahlyn, and that was it.

I've found myself at the pool on and off - I've tried to get back into the game but without the right motivation it's so hard. I've even coached teams and didn't get in to do the workouts myself.

PRESENT: So, I've decided that it's time to get back in the pool. It's time to reconnect with that love and to start competing again. So, I went last night - for the first time. I jumped in a little timid and got out with a huge smile. I made all of the intervals that were given to me, I was able to keep up with the other gals in my lane, and everyone was super nice to welcome me, cheer me on, and stroke my ego by telling me how great I was doing! I have full intentions of continuing and now my goal is to be ready to compete in full competition by September. YEEE HAW - I love the water!!

Bedroom Secrets...

Have you ever had a friend that you felt totally comfortable around? Someone that you could share your bedroom secrets with and they would laugh right along with you and think nothing less of you?! HEHEHHEHEEE... well, I have always said "if you don't have a friend that you can share your secrets with then who can you talk to?" Don't you remember when you were little and you had a secret. Did it just make you bust at the seams when you wanted to tell but you knew you shouldn't? But what did you do? You found someone to tell anyway, and you swore them to secrecy. Somehow by telling just one person you found a little peace and comfort in knowing that you could talk about your secret and it was still a secret! (yeah, you know I'm right!) Anyway, on my way home from the pool last night I bumped into a friend and we chatted. I got to know her better than I had before and I am happy to know that she is real - that she lived life with all of it's ups and downs and that she doesn't pretend she didn't. In the course of our conversation I realized that I had found someone that I could share my "secrets" with and she would think nothing less of me for it or about it! I think it's great to have those types of friends - the ones you can giggle with and cry with and share those secrets with!! After all, the bedroom can be a pretty funny place when you think about it!!

Summer days!

Over the last few weeks I've had the opportunity to really get to know the Woolston family. I must say that they are a wonderful bunch and I've really enjoyed my visits with them! My kids seem to really enjoy their time with the Woolston-gang as well! Today we had a few of the kids over! We played in the sprinklers and enjoyed some Popsicles! It was a beautifully HOT day - so perfect for playing in the water! E.W. is a doll - he just smiles and smiles, L partook of his first Popsicle and got the hang of it right away, and M and S.W. seem to get along great!! I love summer days and all of the fun that comes with it!!

Way to go Nathan!

On Tuesday, after I picked the kids up from their afternoon with Christy, N said that he wanted to take the training wheels off of his bike like Seth. So, Wednesday morning, while the kids were off to one of their various activities, I took the training wheels off of M and N's bikes. Just as I suspected, N took off into the sunset after being steadied one time. He's been riding like he's done it all his life ever since! In fact, he was out riding his bike at 8am! When I asked what he was doing he said "practicing!" M is still struggling a bit, but I bet she'll have the hang of it in a few days! Just wait until K returns- she will be so excited to have bike buddies!

Ignore the wallpaper - Look at the bed!

Ok - so never in my married life have I owned a new bed. We bought a new headboard when we got married (our first purchase together) and that's been it in the way of bedroom furniture. So, we decided recently that it was time to get a new bed. We wanted to upgrade from a Queen to a King! We went all over the place and finally settled on this one! While we were waiting on the bed to come in we looked around for a mattress set. We ended up purchasing one from an individual (new of course) who got it for a wedding gift. He already had a king sized bed from combining households with his new wife and they didn't need this one. The mattress is actually a double sided pillow top made for the suits at the Monte Carlo hotel in Las Vegas. It sleeps very nicely!!

I didn't realize how high off of the ground the bed was going to be but when we added the mattress - WOW (I should now go and buy a small step stool!) I've always wanted a high bed - it makes me feel like a princess!! So, I'm really excited to have a new bed - one that's new from the start! I told Tim that if he's nice I might invite him to sleep in it too!! (hehehehe)