We had a super weekend with the Daddy of our house. We showered him with love and gifts, and just enjoyed spending time with him. He's our SuperDad and we LOVE him crazy!
We want to send a big blog shout out to PaPa's Davis and James. We love you and hope that you had a wonderful day!
And, a Belated Happy Anniversary to Jeff and Wanda. I'm pretty sure it's 34 years they celebrated on Sunday. I'm really sorry that we didn't get a card out to you guys. I had Father's Day tunnel vision and flaked out on the anniversary card. (I didn't have my list with me. I can't live without my lists.) Anyways, we love you and we hope that you got to celebrate by doing something special!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Dixie Dude Trip 2010
Well, I'm really late telling you about Dixie Dude. I told you about the "running like an idiot" part of it. And the photo album told some of the story. We really did have a wonderful time seeing our family and celebrating Alex's graduation.
Our time at the ranch was spent eating three fantastically home-cooked meals a day, (which include a main dish, about 2 or 3 sides, a salad/ fruit, a bread, and dessert), playing in the swimming pool, at the playground, on the main lawn or in the lodge, riding horses, going into town, and sleeping. Basically, doing all of the "active" things in the TX heat burns off all of the badness that you end up eating at the wonderful mealtimes! :-)
Our kids had a blast seeing their MoMo, PaPa, Uncles Aric, NuNu and Alex, Gigi and all the rest of the family. They played themselves out everyday, and therefore they slept great! They got back into the habit of sleeping until about 7:30am on this trip, which was wonderful considering they had made a habit of waking up at 6:30am. I was not too keen on that development. Ever since DDR though, they've been sleeping later. Yay! That means I've been sleeping later. I still haven't run since the challenge. I want to. I've just had too much going on in the evenings, and I've been thoroughly enjoying the "sleeping in!"
They also got to ride horses for the first time, up to the cowboy breakfast, which they loved. They were able to have some fun playtime with their twin cousins, Collin and Cooper, too...which they've only seen once before.
One final exciting piece of info is that Uncle Larry got engaged to his girlfriend, Susie, while we were there. She's another Dixie Dude "lifer" that he and all of us met out there about 4 years ago (I think). She is very sweet, and we are very happy for them!
So, I think that's most of the story. We had a marvelous time, and we want to thank GiGi again for making it possible for all of us to be together and make wonderful memories together.
Our time at the ranch was spent eating three fantastically home-cooked meals a day, (which include a main dish, about 2 or 3 sides, a salad/ fruit, a bread, and dessert), playing in the swimming pool, at the playground, on the main lawn or in the lodge, riding horses, going into town, and sleeping. Basically, doing all of the "active" things in the TX heat burns off all of the badness that you end up eating at the wonderful mealtimes! :-)
Our kids had a blast seeing their MoMo, PaPa, Uncles Aric, NuNu and Alex, Gigi and all the rest of the family. They played themselves out everyday, and therefore they slept great! They got back into the habit of sleeping until about 7:30am on this trip, which was wonderful considering they had made a habit of waking up at 6:30am. I was not too keen on that development. Ever since DDR though, they've been sleeping later. Yay! That means I've been sleeping later. I still haven't run since the challenge. I want to. I've just had too much going on in the evenings, and I've been thoroughly enjoying the "sleeping in!"
They also got to ride horses for the first time, up to the cowboy breakfast, which they loved. They were able to have some fun playtime with their twin cousins, Collin and Cooper, too...which they've only seen once before.
One final exciting piece of info is that Uncle Larry got engaged to his girlfriend, Susie, while we were there. She's another Dixie Dude "lifer" that he and all of us met out there about 4 years ago (I think). She is very sweet, and we are very happy for them!
So, I think that's most of the story. We had a marvelous time, and we want to thank GiGi again for making it possible for all of us to be together and make wonderful memories together.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Dixie Dude Pics
Here's the link to the pics I uploaded to facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=168375&id=543072123&l=4a93c2d23b
Tonia- are you still unable to access these? Let me know, because I'll be uploading some to sams.com to print and I can send you the link to that album! :-)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=168375&id=543072123&l=4a93c2d23b
Tonia- are you still unable to access these? Let me know, because I'll be uploading some to sams.com to print and I can send you the link to that album! :-)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Running Revelation
Okay, so before I talk about the Dude Ranch...I want to mention that I had a lot of time to think while I was doing all of that running. At the Stroman track, I saw older people and younger people. I saw a lot of high school kids acting like high school kids, and it really struck me how far removed from that season of my life I feel. In some ways, I feel like it wasn't that long ago...but when I look at how very different my life is now, I definitely feel OLDER! I have to say that I had quite a moment of clarity!
I was meditating on how I'm about to turn 30 in September, and it seems like a turning point. A new decade, and a leaving behind of the twenties. At first I was feeling sad, but then I was hit with an amazing realization. I AM HAPPIER NOW THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN! Why the heck should I feel bad about moving into the thirties when I have everything I want right now?! I'm married to the greatest husband and father in the world. I have the two most amazing and adorable children on the planet. And we have everything we need. God has provided for us in ways that I would have never imagined 10 years ago!
I'm not saying that I have arrived or anything. I'm just saying that I think I've come to a place where I am really content, comfortable with who I am right now, and super grateful for all of the blessings and lessons the Lord has brought me thus far.
I think one of the secrets of life is just to try to appreciate and bloom right where you are planted in any given season, because the seasons will most certainly change!
I was meditating on how I'm about to turn 30 in September, and it seems like a turning point. A new decade, and a leaving behind of the twenties. At first I was feeling sad, but then I was hit with an amazing realization. I AM HAPPIER NOW THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN! Why the heck should I feel bad about moving into the thirties when I have everything I want right now?! I'm married to the greatest husband and father in the world. I have the two most amazing and adorable children on the planet. And we have everything we need. God has provided for us in ways that I would have never imagined 10 years ago!
I'm not saying that I have arrived or anything. I'm just saying that I think I've come to a place where I am really content, comfortable with who I am right now, and super grateful for all of the blessings and lessons the Lord has brought me thus far.
I think one of the secrets of life is just to try to appreciate and bloom right where you are planted in any given season, because the seasons will most certainly change!
Nike Challenge Chronicles
So now I'm going to chronicle my race to the finish of the Nike Challenge that I was SOOOOO caught up in. Over the last month, my main competitor, Chris, really stepped it up. We were running neck and neck, and I was starting to worry about what I was going to do with our impending vacation plans because the challenge was slated to end at 11:59:59pm Saturday, June 5th. I really didn't want to run over our vacation, but I was going to have to if I had any hope of winning. Both of us were posting anywhere between 2 and 4 miles daily, so there really was no room for even a day off.
Wednesday, we were to leave town after Aaron got off work. He got off early. I swapped cars and kids with him and went to the gym to put in a few miles before we left town. We drove to McKinney, TX and stayed the night. Thursday we drove to Victoria and once we got into town, I went to Aaron's old high school track to put in about 5K. Friday morning I went and ran about 4 miles, I think. It was hot and humid...it was south Texas.
The morning of the final day I was up 109 to 105 approx. I ran 4.5 miles that morning to put a good lead in. So, when we left for the dude ranch it was at 113.7 to 105.9 and I was up. I said I was done and was going to quit thinking about it. Well, as I was putting the kids to bed in our cabin, Aaron took our laptop to the lodge to upload some pictures and logged on and saw that Chris had done just enough to beat me and he was up 114 to 113.7! He came back to the room and was like, "are you up for another 1/2 mile?" It was getting dark, in the TX wilderness, and I was ready to run. So, I was going to go alone, and when I got all hooked up, my ipod was dead. So, I had to wait for it to charge. It was like 9:15pm. By the time it was charged, it was dark...so Aaron came with me. We jogged the dirt road that leads up to the dude ranch. It's a little over a mile long. It was hot, and humid and dark, and all we had was a small flashlight. The terrain was rocky. I had started to feel sick after dinner. About 3/4 mile into it I started to worry about wild hogs and coyotes. I was scared. Aaron said he wasn't worried, so we kept going. We ran 2.5 miles. I posted it and went to shower, feeling really bad. I was weak and tired and sick to my stomach. When I got back to the lodge late, Aaron said that he had posted another 10 miles! Either he ran a crapload that day, or he saved up a run to kill me in the end! There was nothing more I could do and I basically just killed myself in the dark, dangerous wilderness and heat for nothing. I went to bed but woke up around 2am and was up sick the rest of the night. I think I got dehydrated and was heat exhausted. And I suffered from stupidity too. The competition was fierce, but fun. I came in 2nd place. I pushed myself really really hard, and I am proud of what I accomplished anyway. Chris says he's never running again. I will...after a little break!
That's the story. I think it could work as a Lifetime movie don't you?
Coming soon...Dixie Dude commentary and pictures! Stay tuned!
Wednesday, we were to leave town after Aaron got off work. He got off early. I swapped cars and kids with him and went to the gym to put in a few miles before we left town. We drove to McKinney, TX and stayed the night. Thursday we drove to Victoria and once we got into town, I went to Aaron's old high school track to put in about 5K. Friday morning I went and ran about 4 miles, I think. It was hot and humid...it was south Texas.
The morning of the final day I was up 109 to 105 approx. I ran 4.5 miles that morning to put a good lead in. So, when we left for the dude ranch it was at 113.7 to 105.9 and I was up. I said I was done and was going to quit thinking about it. Well, as I was putting the kids to bed in our cabin, Aaron took our laptop to the lodge to upload some pictures and logged on and saw that Chris had done just enough to beat me and he was up 114 to 113.7! He came back to the room and was like, "are you up for another 1/2 mile?" It was getting dark, in the TX wilderness, and I was ready to run. So, I was going to go alone, and when I got all hooked up, my ipod was dead. So, I had to wait for it to charge. It was like 9:15pm. By the time it was charged, it was dark...so Aaron came with me. We jogged the dirt road that leads up to the dude ranch. It's a little over a mile long. It was hot, and humid and dark, and all we had was a small flashlight. The terrain was rocky. I had started to feel sick after dinner. About 3/4 mile into it I started to worry about wild hogs and coyotes. I was scared. Aaron said he wasn't worried, so we kept going. We ran 2.5 miles. I posted it and went to shower, feeling really bad. I was weak and tired and sick to my stomach. When I got back to the lodge late, Aaron said that he had posted another 10 miles! Either he ran a crapload that day, or he saved up a run to kill me in the end! There was nothing more I could do and I basically just killed myself in the dark, dangerous wilderness and heat for nothing. I went to bed but woke up around 2am and was up sick the rest of the night. I think I got dehydrated and was heat exhausted. And I suffered from stupidity too. The competition was fierce, but fun. I came in 2nd place. I pushed myself really really hard, and I am proud of what I accomplished anyway. Chris says he's never running again. I will...after a little break!
That's the story. I think it could work as a Lifetime movie don't you?
Coming soon...Dixie Dude commentary and pictures! Stay tuned!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
We're Back!
We just got back last night from a week long adventure in our favorite other country...Texas! If you are or ever have been a Texan, you understand this concept. Texas is big, and it has a little of everything. Plus, you can drive 12 hours and still be in Texas. Comprende?
Anyways, we went down for Aaron's youngest brother Alex's high school graduation and also his yearly family reunion at the Dixie Dude Ranch. I have a LOT to post. Aside from all of the wonderful traveling, visiting, celebrating, etc...I also finished up my second Nike Running Challenge. Let me spare you the suspense. I lost. I came in a respectable 2nd place with 116 miles. But not without putting up a fight and going out kicking and screaming. I will fill you in on all of the hot, humid, sweaty details soon.
For now, I have to figure out if I can fit a playset in the back of the Pilot. :-) Part of the twins' birthday is a nice big wooden playset that we've been eyeing for a while. It's in at Walmart and the site-to-store people are begging us to get it out of there. I have to measure to make sure we can get the boxes in the Pilot, or we'll have to find a truck to borrow.
I'll update on everything in detail when I'm a little more coherent from the trip yesterday.
Anyways, we went down for Aaron's youngest brother Alex's high school graduation and also his yearly family reunion at the Dixie Dude Ranch. I have a LOT to post. Aside from all of the wonderful traveling, visiting, celebrating, etc...I also finished up my second Nike Running Challenge. Let me spare you the suspense. I lost. I came in a respectable 2nd place with 116 miles. But not without putting up a fight and going out kicking and screaming. I will fill you in on all of the hot, humid, sweaty details soon.
For now, I have to figure out if I can fit a playset in the back of the Pilot. :-) Part of the twins' birthday is a nice big wooden playset that we've been eyeing for a while. It's in at Walmart and the site-to-store people are begging us to get it out of there. I have to measure to make sure we can get the boxes in the Pilot, or we'll have to find a truck to borrow.
I'll update on everything in detail when I'm a little more coherent from the trip yesterday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
