Almost Always

Triathlons are fun, but they are not THAT spectator friendly. Anyone in my family will tell you. It's almost always a scorcher. And it's almost always a long wait as we watch for Jim to whizz past us here and there over the course of the one, two, five, or eleven hour event... depending on the race. BUT in the meantime, we have ourselves some fun. (Fun = Face-making contests.)

It's almost always a draw.

Summer This and That

To quote my dear friend, "Summer, I love you. Please SLOW down." Boy, that's for darn sure. Here's what we've been up to...

Jim's triathlon season is hot and heavy (and hot) this year. Recently, we traveled to Lawrence, Kansas where he competed in a Half Ironman event. Although he didn't finish as quickly as last year (just 16 minutes shy at a touch over five hours), he did extraordinarily well. We love you, Jim. On top of everything else, you look good in spandex, and THAT is sure something.

While we wait for Jim to swim, bike, or run past us, we spend our time well enough.

Emma, with her friend, Brayden. Sharing is not her forte yet, but we're working on it. This shot is probably captured mid-protest at being passenger instead of driver. Driver is better, you know.

Jack passes his spectating time as part-time "butterfly charmer."

In other news, we've been to Branson for a mini family vacation. Silver Dollar City was, of course, in the plans. (No crazies this year! It's a Christmas miracle!)

Emma is still small enough that she's limited on the rides she is allowed to enjoy. Six foot Jim is still big enough that he's limited on leg room while acting as riding companion.


Why is it that I can't manage to get a shot that includes my kid on these stupid rides? There's always a pastel colored wing in the way.

Or thorax.

Or knee. Come on.

And why is it then that when it's Jim's turn, he has absolutely no trouble capturing all THREE of us in the perfect action shot? Good grief.

The next day we visited White Water.

Emma doesn't much like White Water.

She often let me know that she did not like White Water.

Except during the times that she liked White Water.

Or was asleep.

All in all, we had a great summer family weekend. We are home now, fresh from our travels, only to head to Topeka for the coming weekend. Another triathlon! Good luck, Jim.

What "To-Do"... Progress Update 1

A few weeks ago, I made myself a to-do list for when summer arrived. I'm happy to report that summer HAS arrived, and I've started to work on a few things from my list. Here's an update:

1. Ummm... this one's not a good one to start with. There's still no system.

2. I have done no painting, but I HAVE done a little decorating. Mostly I've prepared to decorate. But progress is being made. About a month ago, I purchased twelve 5x7 greeting cards of Ken Bailey prints that I absolutely love. Why greeting cards? The prints were outrageously expensive, and by getting greeting cards, I wouldn't be forced to choose between all the quirky animal designs that I... pretty much couldn't choose between. So. Here are my greeting cards, now framed, and hung in the kitchen. (Note: Some of you that I've spoken with about this plan might be confused. Yes, I'd planned to put them in kitchen bathroom, but I decided I wanted to look at them more often than when I was... well.... you get the point. The thick black framing also kind of overwhelmed the small bathroom space, and it just didn't quite work. So the kitchen was a win-win. Do you like? I do!)

Next on the decorating agenda is the kids' rooms. Emma's room has had me thinking for some time now. I put some ugly stencil on the wall right before she was born, and that is going by the wayside.

Goodbye, ugly stencil. I loathe you.

Inspiration to change Emma's room came when A) the crib left the room and real furniture entered in its place and B) my friend Ashley showed me the cutest print ever I've seen. It reminds me so much of Emma.

Danavee and I went to Target recently with this print in mind, and it was really by accident that we stumbled upon this little canvas set pictured below. It's pretty cute as well. So I'm thinking Emma's room is developing a bird theme. This is actually pretty fitting... I've called her my "little bird" since she was an infant. (She also happens to sustain life on french fries and not much else... So this is all very appropriate.)

Lastly... paint. I'm thinking some kind of aqua to match the pictures. Paint sample cards have been obtained, but no decision has been made.

All the top cards are for Emma's room. The bottom two cards are for Jack's room. He has long insisted that he is going to become a scientist when he grows up, and in perfect alignment with that, he has requested an "outer space" room. More on his room ideas later...

3. We HAVE gone to the lake and the pool already this year! FUN!

4. Let's not talk about number four yet.

5. Or number 5.

6. Jack and I planted some flower seeds just this morning. I don't know that I've ever grown something pretty from a seed. So, we'll see.

7. Number seven is new on the list. Run a "Bug Bed and Breakfast". Thanks goes, again, to Ashley who asked if Jack might be interested in using her bug vaccuum gun and matching bug pod. Oh yes, indeed, Jack was interested!!! Currently, a guest named "Buggy" is staying with us for the night. He looks a lot like a small roach and was vaccuumed up by Mom. (Jack was a little too scared to do the deed.) We plan to let him go tomorrow morning and find a new guest to suck up and force into our snazzy bug accommodations. Enjoy your stay, Buggy.

4. Jack is also sort of tilted, and that's weird.

Recently I and my coworkers were given an end of the school year gift. It was a lovely gesture on my boss's part. It was really and truly nice and, I believe, meant to be kind of a goodbye gift to many of us that will not be a part of her staff at the beginning of next school year. Each staff member was set up with a family portrait session and a free 8x10 from Lifetouch Photography, the same folks that take the yearbook headshots in the fall. A free family portrait! How sweet. I eagerly signed my name on the sign up sheet that was taped to the mailbox room coke machine. The Hoodenpyles would be photographed at a park in the early morning on a Saturday. I looked forward to it.

The photographs are in. I think my family's photograph is good, but the more I look at it... the more awkward it gets. Here it is. Stare at it for 2 seconds, and you'll like it. Stare at it for 12 seconds. Your left eyebrow will raise, and you'll cock your head to the left. At 34 seconds, you'll have a list of strange things about this photo. Maybe you'll even be laughing as hard as I am right now.

Let's compare lists right now:

1. The scenery. There's nothing like dead grass and a crappy bench for a photoshoot.

2. Emma. She has the Barrymore Firestarter expression. Shudder.

3. The arrangement of the subjects... specifically, Jack. If this photo had a caption, it would read, "Sometimes we let him come in the house on the weekends."

But really, this photo WAS free, and it's only mildly awkward, I guess. Visit http://www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ and you'll understand that awkward can get WAY more... awkward-er. Here are a few of my favorites that, like our photo, feature 'unique' family poses.

Kid Heaven

This is the newest installment in grandma's back yard. It is Heaven on Earth for little children. They can climb and pretend. They can slide and swing. They can run, and jump, and tumble. After the expending of all of this excess energy, we are so thankful that this fancy, fancy thing brings out the angelic tired and spent sides of our children. Having said that, we are aware it sometimes brings out the devils in them too.

I don't know what it is about Emma here. Could it be the impish grin at the pleasure of slamming her feet into her brother's back? Could it be the teeth gritting and the torqued-for-extra-momentum body posture? Could it be the kitty cat ears on her jacket that kind of double as horns? Or could it be the dramatic and pained expression on her brother's face? I'm just not sure... Either way, play on, little 'angels'. Play on.

What "To-Do" About Summer

My summer break is getting nearer and nearer, and this summer, I'm looking at things differently. Most other years, I would spend January-May salivating at the thought of lazy days and nothingness. Then, stunned at summer's actual arrival, I'd stall - overwhelmed by all of the empty spaces on the schedule. I'd spend so much time considering all of the glorious options that I'd actually end up doing nothing. This year, I feel so different. I don't want to wake up in August one morning and realize that school's around the corner, feeling like I have to ask myself, "What exactly did I do with all that time?" Instead, this year, I want to use and appreciate all the minutes. I don't want to waste my days. I don't want to be caught without a plan. THAT'S when time sneaks right by me. This summer is going to be different. I'm claiming this summer. It's mine.

Here is my first step at making THIS summer a different kind of summer... a to-do list. I'm not usually a list maker. But here goes. It's time for new things.

1. Create a system. This is the first on my list because it's the biggest and most important to me. I'm good at a lot of things, but housekeeping has never been one of them. I like for things to be orderly, but I don't specialize at creating the order in the first place. My home time has a tendency to cause me stress, and this is because I don't have a system. Things don't have a "home". Instead, things get shifted around in stacks from place to place. Surfaces are storage spaces despite the availability of drawers or cabinet spaces. We have a shifting clutter problem. All the closets in my house need a system. All the bedrooms need a system. The laundry needs a system. _______ needs a system. You get the point. Organization eludes me, and it's about time to do something about it. I may invest in a label maker if that's what it takes. I may even containerize. Oh dear.

2. Do a little painting and decorating. Parts of my house are cozy and comfy and feel like me. Other parts are bare and without any personality at all. It's time to make certain rooms more comfortable to live in. Things that make me smile and feel happy are going on the wall. It's time for color. It's time for quirkiness. It's time for filling the spaces with us.

3. Go to the pool often. Our neighborhood has a pool. I haven't always maximized use of this wonderful and kid friendly feature. It's time to make this an "almost every day" hang out. Sunshine feels good. Bring on the freckles! A few are poking out across Emma's nose even now. Grin.

4. Be healthier. Every woman I know says this, but really... Summer is the time to eat more fruits and veggies. Eat often, and eat lighter. Nibble on good things. Look up new recipes. Cook more. Eat junk less. Way less.

5. Move more. There was a period of time this school year where I pledged myself to routine exercise. I openly groaned about it, but I did it. And gosh, it made me feel good. Every part of my body felt different, and then it began to look different. It was wonderful, but I will admit that our family time suffered when I tried to add in my exercise around Jim's strenous triathlon training. I'm not quite sure how to realistically manage exercise, family, and work at the same time during the school year. But summer? During the summer, I've decided to take advantage of the free time and return to feeling stronger.

6. Plant something... and then... here's the tricky part... keep it alive. Every to-do list needs a goal that stretches the listmaker. A challenge. This is mine.

I can't WAIT for summer! What are your "to-do's" for this year?

Two Minutes

This candid camera style video is one of my most favorites of the kids in a long time. It could be because in it, they are just so... THEM. Two minutes of typical Emma and Jack as sister and brother on a Thursday.

Sometimes it just kinda sucks to be the big brother on a Thursday.