Some pics now

A few pics of Gran J and all the grandkids!!

Not sure how I got everyone to smile at the same time but it worked!!

My 5K race starting group in the distance

Here I go, I'm starting the race.....Thanks mom for the pics!!

Now I'm at the finish....I'm on the home stretch now!!! This is how I ran most of the last 2 miles of the race. I was pretty much by myself in between groups, which I like so that I didn't get distracted and try to go to fast or even too slow. It worked out great!

I was so happy about my 209 th place!!! There were approximately 700-720 racers (all women by the way!) Go girls!!! I came in 209 and then there were 99 competitors in my specific age group and out of the 99, I came in 34 th!! I am very proud of myself!! So happy that I was able to complete my goal that I started over 10 weeks ago!! GO ME!!

So happy that I had my family supporting me at the race!!

Granny and B were making faces at each other waiting for the awards to finish.

Never really thought I might enter a 5K race, actually train for it, actually run in it, and then finish in the top 1/3rd. Just goes to show that you can do anything if you set your mind to it!!

Now: I received this award today!!

My friend Susan gave me this award today! I feel honored! This is what she said on her blog:

"And last...but not least, Tricia...we were besties for a few years in high school. Love reading what her beautiful boys have been up to. She just ran a 5K, too...RAN, not walked. Awesome!!"

Thanks Susan for the great award and also for the props on my race!! Of course I love her blog and her kids are soooooo adorable!! I am supposed to now pick 7 people to send this to. I will try my best. I mostly lurk other's sites and for all my reader only friends out there......it's time for you to start blogging!! Go ahead, you can do it!!

Great visit

The boys had a great visit with Mimi and Gran J last weekend. Thanks so much for playing with them while we spent our anniversary out. We did some needed shopping (for my new couch) and then we headed to the casino. We didn't do much gambling, but we enjoyed a nice dinner without any rush and just relaxed, chatted and enjoyed some good food. Thanks Mimi and Gran J!!


D's first soccer game was cancelled due to weather. I'm not sure when his next one is, but I hope it's soon. He is really wanting to play soccer.


The week went fast and then it was race day. Here are a few pics. They also had photographers at the race so when I get those pics i'll post those too.! It was alot of fun, there was even a lady that was 82 that walked the 3.1 miles, way to go!! I might even check into another race in October, whoo hoo!!

Blogger isn't cooperating with the pics so I'll try to post them tomorrow.

Our trip to see..

When Elmo Grows UP. We took the boys to see Elmo last Saturday. We are starting to make this a yearly event. We first took D three years ago and B stayed at home with Granny. Then last year we went with our boys and some friends and their three boys. This year it was just us and it was a great time. Each year Sesame Street Live has a different story and this year it was Elmo. When the show started B just kept waving at all the characters, it was so cute! We were on the floor and the boys got to see most of the characters up close. D even got to run to the end of the row and hug Telly. We got the boys cotton candy for the first time and they gobbled it up. We definetely had little sugar monsters running around the rest of the day!

If you want to see more Elmo fun...check it out here. (password and site deleted)

I'm trying out a new photo blog. I might start posting a few pics on here and the rest on the pic blog that I have put a link to on my side bar. We'll see how I like it over the next few months.

OK, didn't like it..

I did put a supposed password but I was a little suprised to see it had 50 views since I looked at it last night. Don't think I even know that many people(hee hee) So I have deleted the site. So if you clicked above and it didn't work it's for that reason.

Meanwhile you can go HERE now to see the rest of the Elmo pics.

Where O Where

Where have I been....well let me tell you. I had a great busy weekend and start to the week and then........my internet crashed.UGH!! Mike was out of town and I just couldn't get it to work. I was so frustrated and I had many other things to do online and of course do some blogging. So he came home late last night and within minutes had it fixed, of course!! Thank goodness! This is short for now but I'll update more later with lots of pics to share!
I ran the 5K today!!!!!!! I did it, I did it, I did it!! I'm so happy. I was so nervous but as soon as the race started I became more relaxed! I'm not sure how many people actually were there, they said they had 1200 registered. I hope to find out the exact number, but by the looks of it I would guess at least 800. I came in 209!! I was so excited. Thanks to a girl I don't know that we helped each other keep pace about the last 1 1/4 mile. She just ran up beside me and we just knew that we would help each other so we just kept the pace and when she would start to slow she would speed up to me and when I started to slow then I would speed back up to her, it was so great!! I really enjoyed it and the best part is that I completed my goal of running the entire 5K(3.1 miles) without stopping! Mike and the boys and my mom were all there to support me and cheer me on, THANKS!!!

HAPPY 11TH ANNIVERSARY!!

To my friend, my husband, my love, my life, a great father.....without you my life would not be complete!! Happy Anniversary!!

TODAY, TOMORROW, ALWAYS!!

" And now here is our secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye."

--Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Fun day

I think D had a really good time at Papa's house. He even went to eat where "the old people go to eat" I haven't found out exactly where it was but apparently there were only "old" people there according to D! Hysterical!! He was a good boy according to Papa and he wants to go back again when he has another day out of school. B wasn't too happy this am that he had to go to school while D went to Papa's. He started crying for Gran J (who is coming tomorrow). I told him that he won't be here till tomorrow so then he started asking for Mimi....too cute! He is very excited though that we are going to see ELMO with Sesame Street live and when it's over Mimi and Grandaddy J will be here!
Thanks Dad for watching D today!!
After dinner we decided to go up to the Y and do a little swimming. The boys had a great time! D was swimming around all by himself with just the arm floats and B still held on to one of us the whole time. They just converted the indoor pool to salt water. We want to try to get up there more often so the boys can get more used to the water and learn to swim. They were so excited to go we could hardly get there fast enough. Fun family night!!!
Weekend agenda: tomorrow is Elmo, shopping while the inlaws are babysitting (still trying for the new couch and possibly a bike for D's upcoming birthday) then our dinner night out not sure where yet but I'm looking forward to it. Sunday we'll grill out and have a little get together. It's nice to be able to have alot of family close by to get together on holidays and special occasion. We are truly blessed. Monday---who knows?? Not sure what we are going to do yet..
Have a great weekend!!
Thanks Mom for the beautiful anniversary flowers!!!!!!!

I'm so excited

I did it!! I did it!! Even with my foot hurting me!! I ran the entire 3 miles tonight with a time of 31:20!! wowsy!! I used some others on the treadmill around me as motivation and just kept on going!! My foot has been bothering me since I ran on Tuesday. I'm telling myself it's only muscular and surely not a stress fracture or something. I refuse to have an injury stop me 1 week before my big race!! I have been stretching it all the time and it really seems to help when I stretch it. I think it might be a muscle down the outer part of my lower leg tensing up and making my foot hurt, that's right, yeah that's it.....
Gotta go, bedtime for boys....

Change of plans

Seems like most times I make a true plan it works out differently. I didn't even come close to getting out the scrapbooking today, but that's OK. I did make it to the gym and accomplished a new time on my 3 miles, I am thrilled. I am even more thrilled that I ran the entire 3 miles except for 1 minute. The 5k is 1 1/2 weeks away. I have been training the 3 miles but I think the 5K is actually 3.1miles. whatever....I know my time will probably be different since the race is outside and I've been mostly on the treadmill. In reality my true goal is not time related at all, my goal is to be able to run the entire race without stopping. I feel like I'm headed in the right path but who knows once I'm out there with all the elements. But I'm thrilled that I did so well today, thanks to my iPod. Who could possibly run or workout without one I don't know!!

Also went shopping with mom and bought way too much stuff. The plan was to get a new outfit for my 11th anniversary dinner this weekend. I left with two possible dresses for the occasion and a bag full of other clothes and two pairs of shoes!! But it was so hard to resist the 75% clearance rack and the extra 15% for putting it on mom's credit card....yes I am planning to pay the bill unlike the old days in high school....hee hee! My 11th anniversary is on Saturday and we are taking the boys to see ELMO in Sesame Street Live. It should be a great anniversary having a family outing. My in laws will also be in town and are watching the boys Sat. night for us to go out and have a evening alone. I have no idea where or what we are doing but I do have a new dress to wear! :)

The boys have decided they know how to make honey. It's easy...just mix ketchup and mustard together and voila!! now you have honey!! (too funny!!)

D is catching on so quickly to things in his Spanish class. He already knows several colors and can count to 10 in spanish, wow! Wonderful how a young mind works, and not to mention B is learning too just from listening.

I took some pics of the "me dolls" that D and his class mates did...they are pretty cute!

D gets to spend the day with Papa and Grandma Dee on Friday. He is out of school and they are watching him. I told D that Papa was going to babysit him on Friday. "babysit???????? I am not a baby!!" was D's response. I had to change it and tell him that Papa is going to watch him and then he was Ok with it. He is looking very forward to playing on Friday at Papa's house!

Finally

Finally a day off tomorrow!! I have been working extra hours at work and I'm done.....yippee!! Although I do have to go to the torture chamber tomorrow to get my braces tightened, or should I say loosen my used to be straight teeth with no spaces. The spaces are starting to form now where he wants the new teeth to come into eventually once they pull the baby ones, I am NOT looking forward to that day at all!!!!!!
Lots of rain here today, some remnants from Fay I believe.
I might break out the scrapbook supplies tomorrow........scrapbook???? what's that?? I was doing so good and once I cleaned up the dining room and put it all away I haven't gotten it all back out again yet. It's time though! I must finish B's first year, preferably before he turns 3!!
D is still enjoying school and loving aftercare even more! He asks everyday if he can go to aftercare, I guess because he really gets to play as compared to real school now. B is still having issues adjusting to our earlier departure in the am. He doesn't like to be rushed and has been throwing fits in the morning as we are rushing around trying to get out of the house on time. I hope he adjusts soon, I hate starting out the morning with lots of crying! Let's hope for the best tomorrow.

It's Thursday night almost Friday!

First of all thanks to mom for all her help this week carpooling, it has been wonderful!! Devin even learned how to peel the husk off of corn on the cob, that would of been a sight to see!

The "me" doll of D is almost complete, show n tell tomorrow, D wants to bring his lunch to school, I told him he could have M n M's after dinner, we might have popcorn and watch a movie tomorrow night.

B is having art and gym class tomorrow. At least that's what i've been telling him so he doesn't feel left out of "the classes". He wants oatmeal for breakfast and is the sweetest little jumpin bean I know! His smile and sparkling eyes will just make this mommy melt.

I have a easy day at work tomorrow, we are trying out a new machine and getting to just play on it without patients tomorrow. Maybe chinese takeout for dinner tomorrow. We haven't had it in awhile and I've hit my 20lb. marker for wt. loss. ( I did treat myself to some doritos tonight too :) :) I have one more month for the work weight loss contest. Actually for that one my loss is only 14 right now but I'll still take it. I'm hoping for 20 for that one too though. We'll see.

Glad Mike is back home from out of town and that he didn't get delayed by the storms in Florida.

The 1st cookie dough drawing is tomorrow for D for selling at least 5 items. He has a chance to win $20. I'm sure there's alot of names to draw from but let's hope for the best.

Just some tidbits, so now off to bed, gotta get up early hit the elliptical and some killer abs with the balance ball.....ouch!! Toodles

Tuesday greetings

It's now official! I am a room mother!! There are two preK classes and today I contacted the other room mother. The story is kinda funny because I emailed her to introduce myself and let her know I'm totally new at this and about some planning for the upcoming year. Meanwhile just as I hit the send button I receive a message from her. Weird I thought, how could she have answered back so quickly? She was actually typing a message to me at the same time telling me who she was and that she was new at this and let's talk about some planning. It was just too funny I couldn't believe it. We emailed back and forth several times throughout the day to work on a few fliers for the Open house on Thursday. Then on my way to pick up the boys I stopped at Target first for a few items. (This is so bizarre!) So I notice a little boy with his mom and the boy has on D's school uniform. My antisocial self was going to just ignore the fact that he went to D's school but I decided to fight my inner self and talk to her. I asked the mom what grade he was in and she said PreK . Oh neat, what class, we proceed to talk and she asks my name.....I tell her and then she screams out her name!!! SHE IS THE OTHER ROOM MOTHER!!!! We were both pretty beside ourselves....what are the chances we'd meet in Target on the day we sent emails to each other at the same time. Totally wierd I know!!!!! Wow! She was very nice and we talked for a little bit then headed our ways to see each other again on Thursday. I just can't believe that happened, it was so coincidental!

D had a soccer scrimmage last night but I missed it. We have a neighbor that isn't doing well with cancer and I'm on a list of people to provide food in rotation for them so they don't have to worry about cooking. I took food down and stayed longer than I thought so when I finally left it would of been too late by the time I got to the field. I then decided that it was my chance to finally run again. I quickly changed and headed out the door! Whew! I did pretty good considering I haven't ran in two weeks. Therefore I followed my 5 week plan instead of 7. The good news is that I got up and ran again today and followed the 6 week plan. It kinda kicked my butt on the last interval of 9 min run and 1 min walk for 40 minutes. I had to stop several times on the last interval but I just kept pushing myself. So I won't move on to the 7 week plan just yet. In fact, I don't know that I'll even be able to accomplish the next few weeks plans because they seem almost impossible. Anyway I hope to try to run 2 more times this week on the 6 week plan to see if I can move on to week 7 next week during week 8. (Did you follow all that???....) The race is less than 3 weeks away. I'm not too worried because I know I can run it, I'm just hoping that I can do a good time. I have been mostly practicing on the treadmill and the running outside with hills and all tends to really slow me down. But I can only do my best.

Tonight the boys spent about 40 minutes sitting at the kitchen table cutting up coloring book and magazine pages. I didn't know it would keep them busy for so long, it was amazing. D and I also worked on his "me" doll for school. He is almost finished, I just need to print a hot wheels car to attach to his hand. I think it turned out pretty good. D glued on the eyes, nose (which are dried beans), the mouth(ribbon), the hair ( some leather string) and the clothes. The material scraps that Dee brought over worked out great. D wanted to wear shorts and not pants and he picked out the green material for a shirt. He also wanted to wear "Nike" shoes.....I tried my best to draw the swoosh for him to color, he didn't think it quite was acceptable but I convinced him to color it anyway!

FLASHBACK! Oh yeah, last Sat when I took B to gymnastics. He has a absolute wonderful time and it was sooooo much fun until...............he was standing on a mat in front of the uneven bars and decided to just jump into the air. He jumped right into the lower bar of the uneven bars(I saw the whole thing happen right before me) and it hit him right in the face and he flew backwards and landed very awkwardly. I immediately thought he'd have a bloody nose and we would be heading to the ER. He, of course, was screaming hysterically (yes I did sign a waiver excluding them of all liability..hee hee) he was already starting to swell up a knot right on the bridge of his nose. He did not get a nose bleed and he finally quit crying, then he was back to his jumping bean self and having a great time. I was worried he might have a black eye the next day but he didn't. It stayed a little swollen for a day or two but all seems well. I almost had a heartattack when he jumped into that bar. It's one of those things that happens so fast that you can't even react. I'm just glad he was OK. I am planning to go to another trial class this weekend of the class that he would move into in a few months after his birthday. I want to make sure that we would enjoy that class just as well. I'm sure we'll like it and I'll sign him up. He had so much fun singing songs, playing with bubbles, playing with a giant parachute and tumbling and jumping all around on the equipment. The teacher was great also.

Got a suprise package in the mail today also. My sis in law's sister sent it to me. About a month ago I sent her a huge box of boy baby clothes. She has two girls and is due in a few months with her first boy. So I sent her some of my stuff. She sent me a great gift basket with a cookbook, coffee, cake mix and some chocolates. It was so sweet and totally unexpected, thanks so much!!

D also made me a bracelet today in his aftercare class. It's so cute. It has beads on it and then an "S". I asked him what the S was for and he paused and said " because everyone was putting one on theirs" Ok, good enough! I love when they bring home projects or artwork they've done at school. I already have two shoe boxes full of stuff they have done and there's alot of years of school left, but hey that's what mom's are for right!!

A little shout out to Alexis also!! Hope school is going well for you, we're very proud of you!!

Well that's all my jabbering for now. Toodles

Soccer Video

OK, the video uploaded this time!

Happy Birthday to DAD. We enjoyed a great lunch and D even made a card all by himself to give to him.

Still have the sniffles here. I hope it's on it's way out, literally!! Well just a short one for now, the boys are napping and I think I'll just veg on the couch for a little while.

Hair cut time

Wow, the boys hair has really grown! I better get it cut soon. hee hee


Don't you just love how you can play around in Photo Shop. I forgot I had done this several months ago just playing around. I found them and decided I must post! Too funny!

Who needs the board game for Twister?? Not my boys they just play without it!!

SO MY VIDEO WON'T UPLOAD RIGHT NOW, UGH! MAYBE TOMORROW!

D enjoys soccer so much already that he even was willing to practice with daddy out in the yard. I was taking secret video through the window!! I love the stop move D put on the ball trying to fake daddy out. Surely, that was coincidental! He couldn't of known that was a real soccer move now could he? I'm not sure if he'll keep the enthusiasm as the season goes on, but he seems to really be enjoying it so far!

Mike and I have the sniffles here. I despise the sinus drainage! I hope we are just able to keep it from passing on to the boys, let's cross our fingers!!

B has his first gymnastics class tomorrow. He calls it "nasty class" I thought it was pretty funny, but then I didn't want to egg it on. I sure don't want to be in public and have him start yelling " i want to go to nasty class" I'm sure I'd get a few stares from that!!

D came home with his first homework assignment. It's a blank paper doll type thing. He is to decorate it to look like him using his family's help and anything we want to use. This is right up my alley. I'm already trying to think of some creative things to do. I hope to try to have as many family members as possible help him so that it will have alot of meaning to it. We have a week to complete so we should have plenty of time. I told D that we'd definetely have to find a way to put a hot wheels car in his hand!!:)

The boys (and me) watched Milo and Otis for the first time. The boys were really drawn to all the animals in the movie. We haven't watched the whole thing yet, but they sat through the first 40 minutes or so and didn't even get up to play. I was amazed. They watched a little more tonight and maybe we'll finish it tomorrow. It's a cute little movie and that Milo is quite the stunt artist I must say!!!!!!! I'm suprised some animal activists haven't tried to jump in, especially when Milo jumps(or maybe helped) off the big cliff into the water, wow!!

Well that's all for now. Hope we get to feeling better soon!

My 2nd try to upload pics

Enrolled B today for an intro trial class of gymnastics on Saturday. He's already pretty good at the splits!



Here's D's personalized nap mat. It has his name and a baseball glove and ball on it. Very cute, Thanks again Grandma Dee.



I didn't know how small they made bowling shoes. Wow, look at B's little cute bowling feet!




D was already trying to perfect his technique. Love the leg up technique like WE all did!!

Check out the game one scores!! Big (is D) , My B (is B) and Ole (granny). I think I only got like a 76 or something. D almost beat granny and I in round one. Mike actually one that game with multiple strikes and even a Turkey(3 strikes in a row). Pretty good I say since we probably haven't bowled since BK! (before kids). Mom and I stepped it up in game two though and beat him!! :) go girls!!

D loved all the running involved in soccer practice.



WARNING!! CHECK YOUR SOUND BUTTON, THESE VIDEOS SEEM TO HAVE REALLY LOUD VOLUME ON THEM, AT LEAST ON MY COMPUTER SO BEWARE!

Here are some videos:
Ok this dancing video of B is great. I'm not sure if he's doing the MC hammer or James Brown....hee hee!!

B like the bowling but lost interest quickly probably due to his age. D loved it and mostly stuck with the spinning technique. He tried the between the legs and even with his fingers in the holes, but had the best luck with spinning it.

Then the last one D is trying a little soccer dribble. I think he did pretty good for his first practice!

Happenings on our home front

We had a good weekend here. I didn't do any landscaping or get a new couch but...we took the boys bowling for the first time. It was a blast. B didn't really have too much interest after about 1/2 game but D really loved it. He started playing for himself and B's turn. He kept trying different techniques too so he could see which one he like the best. He was doing this on his own by watching other people, it was very cool. Mike beat Mom and I pretty bad the first game, but I do have to tell you that mom came in 1st , me 2nd and Mike 3rd on the second game..hee hee!!!
I only got called in once over the weekend thank goodness. Thanks mom for watching the boys on short notice since Mike was gone RC racing. You know I couldn't of gotten called in on Sat when he was home, only when he wasn't, go figure!
I'm pretty much slacking on the 5K training but tomorrow it's on again!! I am getting back on the treadmill and running my heart out!! I am going to cheat a little and stick to last week's training schedule since I didn't do it at all last week (bad me!) So I don't want to jump ahead to this weeks training just yet, besides I need all the training at this point. If I do pretty well for last weeks then maybe by the end of the week I'll do this weeks agenda, we'll see.
D's school is going well. He seems to really be enjoying it. I made my first school lunch this morning. He wants to take it again tomorrow. It's too cute because he told me tonight what he wants in his lunch bag....ham n cheese sandwich, apple, cereal bar, goldfish and "something else" He wasn't sure what the something else was so I told him I would put a suprise in there and he won't know what it is until lunchtime....mommy fun!
B is doing pretty well. I think he is still adjusting to the fact that D is not going to school with him anymore. He was been clingy and wanting lots of attention. I think he has noticed all the attention on D for his new school. So we are doing our best this week to make big claps and congrats for things he does at his school.
D had his first soccer practice tonight. I think he loved it! REally! He practically had a smile on his face the whole time. I don't know for sure that it's really the soccer just yet, or just the fact he gets to run around alot. The boy loves to run!! He might even end up cross country running, or track who knows. But he had a good time and did really good!!
I'm going to my first PTO meeting tomorrow night. It's not the one specific for D's grade but they encourage you to attend as many as possible. I want to go so I can learn more about the school and what's going on and get to know some other parents.
I hope to take B to an introductory gymnastics class this weekend. He loves to jump around and isn't afraid to do things. He can even pretty much do the splits!!
Before I forget, D wants to thank Grandma Dee for the personalized napmat cover. Very cool! he likes it alot, thanks again.!
Goodnight
WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT!!!! My pics aren't uploading again. I'll have to add them tomorrow, stay tuned!! Off to watch some swimming on Olympics, the men's relay swim was so exciting, down to the last stroke!! I"m rooting for Michael Phelps, what an inspirational story!!

Day 3

So tomorrow is day 3 of school. wow, I can't believe it. It's starting to truly be our new routine now. Tomorrow is D's first whole day of school. So far he has only had 1/2 days. He has PE tomorrow too so he'll get to wear his PE uniform. (pics to come later). He seems to be enjoying school and adjusting very well. I'm so happy. I plan on being a room mother and just waiting for my info packet of what to do. Very exciting!! I want to be very involved with his school as much as possible. Who would of thought just 10 yrs ago that today I would be volunteering to be a room mom for my son in PreK. Wow!! Amazing!!
Well TGIF to everyone. I'm not sure what's up for the weekend just yet except that I'm on call...yuk! Maybe some yard work if the weather stays just a little cooler and maybe a new couch if I'm sweet....hee hee.
B's new obsession: muscle shirts! I'm not sure what started this trend but now everyday B is wanting to wear a muscle shirt. I even tried to tell a little white lie when he was picking out his shirt for tomorrow. He wanted a muscle shirt and I told them they were all dirty. Shame on me....he found the last one hanging in his closet anyway. How he spotted it from his view I'll never know, but muscle shirt it is for tomorrow!! By the way...he's still singing up a storm. He really sings several times daily. He even sang himself to sleep in the car the other day. I wish I would of had a video camera. I thought he was playing at first when I looked back and his head was tilted, eyes closed and just barely whispering the words to "squishing up my baby bumble bee". He kept singing it quieter and quieter until he fell asleep.........PRICELESS!!
Goodnight.

Our big day!!

We made it through another milestone!! Mommy did good too!! I didn't even go through a box of tissues!! I'm proud of myself!! I only got teary and Mike said that was the same thing as crying ....hee hee, but I think I did good. Only about 1 1/2 hours and I get to go pick him up. I'm watching the clock waiting anxiously to pick him up and hear all about his first day.
At the open house D was really shy and funny acting when we were meeting his Spanish teacher. Well today as we were walking to his class he asked "when do I get to go to Spanish class?" I think he really likes the teacher, it was so cute!! He also wanted to know: where the water fountain is and where the hall pass is. Those are very important things you know!!

A very exciting day around here!! I can't believe it's here already!!