LOOK WHAT I DID TODAY!!!

About three months ago, I started P90X with two of my friends.  This morning we did Yoga X and FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE (at least as far as I can remember) I did a back bend. 

So I when I got home, the first thing I said: "Jim, get the camera.  Watch this." I was so excited to show him because I was showing him my pitiful attempts a few weeks earlier and then all my kids have started doing backbends and reminding me that I can't do one.

I know it isn't pretty but the fact that I even got up is a miracle and makes me realize that I have come along way in three months.  I think the area I have improved in the most is my flexibility; I have become a believer in yoga.  It has helped me so much in my running.

Sidenote:  If you look closely you can see scrapes on my leg and elbow.  Monday morning, I was minding my own business trying to get my 6-mile run in before meeting up with my friends to do P90X.  At mile 4, I tripped over a wire on the side of the road.  #!?#$$#!! wire. To make matters worse they were in the middle of repaving the road so it was extra rough as they were getting it prepared for a new layer.  To make matters even worse than that I had just passed this guy and I was feeling pretty good about myself and I know he saw me tumble!  Nothing humbles you like road rash.  

Whack! Smack! I love my Diamondbacks (even though they aren't very good)

Last night, Tommy, Austin, Jim and I went to a Diamonbacks game.  A couple of months ago we got 4 tickets six rows behind the Diamondbacks dugout at a charity auction.  We have been looking forward to the game for a long time (even though the Diamondbacks aren't very good this year).  Diamondbacks ended up losing to the Giants 8-4. 

We wanted to get there as soon as the gates opened so we could watch batting practice and let the kids try to get a few autographs, but we warned them that most likely it wouldn't happen.

Tommy and Austin ended up getting 5 autographs, which included one from Matt Williams.  The rest I didn't know well enough to be able to decipher their signature.  One was from a Giants player named Pablo Sandoval.  The kids came running back saying, "We got Panda's autograph."  We had no idea what they were talking about.  Apparently Pablo's nickname is Kung Fu Panda.

Then we decided to go play at the Sandlot.  Austin hit a few balls of the machine.  Above is a picture of him warming up.  Tommy hit some wuffle balls (most of the pictures didn't work out very well). 

I decided to take a few hacks as well.  I was relieved I never wiffed one.  Made solid good contact, which I  thought was pretty good for an old lady who hasn't hit off a machine in a decade.

The boys with their autographed baseballs.

Tommy holding up a sign made for him that says, "Bite the Giants."  In between innings Tommy would run up and try to get a ball tossed to him as the players came off the field.  And he actually got one after the 3rd inning.

Then a couple of innings later there was a foul ball hit and a guy sitting in front of us caught it.  He turned around and gave it to Austin so that both of the boys could have a baseball.  Austin was elated.

Taking a little rest.

Chase Field

Hot dog:  $1.50

Large Drink:  $6.00

Nachos:  $5.00

Kettle corn:  $7.00

Two game-used baseballs, five autographs, a night to remember:  PRICELESS!

Church Shoes

Sarah got some new "running" shoes about two weeks. "Mom, I'm going to wear my runnings shoes," and "Mom, can you please tie my running shoes? And "Mom, do you like my running shoes?" and on and on...

Sunday morning as we were all getting ready for church, sarah comes into my bathroom holding her "running shoes."

Sarah: "Mom, these aren't running shoes."
Me: "Oh yeah, what are they?"
Sarah: "CHURCH SHOES!"

So last Sunday, Sarah's running shoes doubled as church shoes (and she looked as cute as ever).

Kids First Hockey

This summer we found out about an awesome program provided by the Phoenix Coyotes. They were offering free clinics for kids between the ages 4-8. The kids get to keep their hockey gear for the next four weeks. The point is to get kids interested in hockey. Austin and Sammy had their first session last Saturday. They look super tough in their hockey gear.



Super Duper Tough!



Sammy did pretty good. Towards the end as he was getting tired, he was having problems getting up after he fell down. All the extra weight from the pads makes things a little more difficult. He did pretty good for his first time ice skating.



Austin has been practicing on his roller blades. He was staking around pretty good and even tried going backwards a little.

San Diego (Day 5): Heading Home

Sadly on Friday, day 5 of our trip, it was time to head home. The kids had a great time with all the cousins that were able to make it.

Jonny (in the back) will be going on a mission in Ausgust. Sammy, Tommy, Austin (right in front of Jonny). Sarah and Hannah (in front of the boys). Ashley and Stephanie (front row). Alexis and Emily were there as well, but they missed the photo op.

Jonny is one great young man. He patiently played with my boys for 4 days. He is a champion.

Goodbye San Diego!

Day 5: We had a very fun trip. Thank you, dad and mom, for putting this whole thing together. Also, thank you Debbie for running with me every morning. Yes, that's right, Debbie and I ran 6 miles every morning. On the way home we stopped at an outlet mall just outside of San Diego and we did a little school shopping. Sarah got two new pairs of shoes, church shoes and running shoes (cute post about that coming soon). I found two pairs of jeans that I like...woohoo! The boys got a couple of different t-shirts. We left the 60 degree weather and came home to 115 degree weather. I miss San Diego.

San Diego (Day 4): Hike & Del Mar Beach

After spending a couple of hours at Midway, both my brothers and their families went sailing (it is actually a really cool story about how they ended up going sailing), so we decided to go on a quick hike. There were a bunch of hiking/biking trails around where we were staying. My dad is huge hiker so we decided to check it out.

Sammy scraped his knee pretty early on so that was quite traumatic.

Or should I say "dramatic"?

Austin is our climber. He has given me a dozen heart attacks the way he jumps around on rocks and CLIFFS!!!

Almost there.

Waterfall? Really? More like a creek, but it was still beautiful.

I just had another heart attack. Over the edge of that rock is nothing but a 15 foot drop into a bunch of rocks.

Sammy and I safely climbing up the rocks.

My dad.

Sammy and Jim.

Tommy ready to head back.

Day 4 Hike: I wasn't too excited about the hike, but I am so glad I went. It was beautiful and it made me feel better about that whole bag of kettle corn I ate the day before. The kids burned off some energy and it was fun to walk through the perserve.

We were leaving the next day, so after cooking a quick dinner we decided to make another quick trip to Del Mar Beach before it got dark.

Still cloudy, but the boys didn't care.

Sarah and I bundled up in beach towels.

Tommy and Austin both did a great job body surfing. It was fun to watch them ride the waves all the way in.

Sammy looking for sea shells.

Sarah found some sea shells.

Day 4 Del Mar Beach: Great way to wrap up our trip.

San Diego (Day 4): USS Midway

We spent part of Day 4 (Thursday) at the USS Midway. A little pricey ($18 for adults; $10 children 6 & up) but pretty cool. I think Austin enjoyed it the most, and Sammy enjoyed following Austin around. Austin wants to be a military man, so he enjoyed looking at all the different jets.

Sammy balancing on the one of the anchor chains. As you walk in they give you a headset to wear around. There are numbers posted throughout the ship and you just punch the number in and then you get an audio tour.

Tommy listening to the audio.

Sammy getting brief on his next mission.

Sammy taking a rest after his mission. This is a junior officer bunk. Much roomier than where the enlisted men bunk.

Austin in heaven.

Tommy getting ready for a crash landing.

Austin giving Sammy a few pointers.

The kids and I in front of a really cool jet.

Austin: "Someday I am going to fly you."

A mouth full of missile helps the medicine go down.

Big brother is such a good example.

Sarah and Dad glad to be back on solid ground.

Day 4 Midway: Pretty good. A little pricey. I wish I would have paid for the kids to do some stimulated flying, but at the time I couldn't imagine spending even more. We didn't even go into the gift shop. The ship was massive. I should have taken a picture of it. We were limited on time so we weren't able to go in the top area where they control the ship (I have no idea what the term is for that - control room?).