Jack's First Track Meet...

Jack had his first track meet the other weekend on, what I felt like, was the coldest and windiest day of the spring so far. 

Jack's race was called so he checked in and the proceeded to take off his warm ups, which would not have been a big deal, but it was 30 windchill and he didn't run for about 30 minutes! He actually could have kept them on and then right before his race, he could taken them off. Oh no...he wanted to be ready!

He practiced some starts with people in winter coats behind him!

Can you spot Jack in the middle of the crowd trying to get some body heat off of other runners who are dressed warmly? Some kids opted for running in their winter clothes: stocking caps, sweatshirts and mittens! That would have been me! Check out the boy to the left of Jack in the Nike sweatshirt. His face says it all, "Dude, where are your clothes?"

Finally, his race started! 

Jack is will be 11 by the end of the year, so he runs with boys that are 11-12 years old. He is actually one of the youngest runners.

He hasn't placed in many of his races, but his times are sure improving!

He actually got fourth in his heat and ran a person best time! Jack and the boy next to him decided to run with their eyes closed and just feel the fast.

 Suddenly, I notice that Jack was in dire need of a haircut. His hair is actually flowing in the wind!

 Run, Jack, Run!!!

 He immediately ran to put on his warm clothes that felt like he was tucking into his snugly bed.(Jack's words)

 Oh wait...he saw that a teammate was running and decided to cheer him on! Check out his shoes...one spike and one running!

 Here are Jack's fans watching from the stands. Who wears a stocking cap, winter coat and blankets wrapped around them at a track meet?

I don't want to complain too much because I know those 100 degree track meet days where the sweat runs down my back and I have to make sure to wear a certain pair of shorts so all the sweat doesn't puddle on my rear (too much sharing?) are just around the corner!

An Unexpected Visitor...

I was up early the other morning and decided to walk outside to enjoy the peace and quiet that only early mornings can offer. I walked around to check on my flowers...to see if the poison ivy was dying off yet and walked over to the pool. 

So I am standing about where I took this picture and I noticed something INSIDE the pool house on the right side. Now this is one of my fears...waking up to a deer in the pool, a snake anywhere or just some creature out there.

Well, my fears were unwarranted. We have a neighborhood feral cat and I figured that was what was creeping out. The "animal" continued his journey stopped just to the right of the garbage sack. I started to wonder, "How and why in the world is that cat keeping it's ears that close to its head?"  

The creature then moved to the step, stopped and sniffed the air. I squinted my eyes (apparently that helps my vision) and I suddenly had a gut retching realization: THAT IS NO CAT!! 

But what is it?
Should I run for cover?
No. Just quint my eyes harder...

OH MY!! IS THAT..IS THAT A BEAVER? 

No. Can't be a beaver because it doesn't have a paddle tail. But it looks just like a beaver!

It then jumped down the step and started to waddle to the left by the bricks and went around the pool house and disappeared. 

OF COURSE Jason was out of town, so I text him immediately. His response, "Are you sure it wasn't a pheasant?" (hahahaha...remember that story??" 

No, actually his response was, "Are you serious about the animal in the house?" I explained how it was a beaver with out the paddle tail, more of a little bushy tail. 

He then sent me this picture asking, "Is this it?"

YES!!

 

This is exactly what it looked like and it was BIG! 

This, my friends, is a groundhog. And this, my friends, was in my pool house. 

Punxsutawney Phil visited me, which does not thrill me.

 

I did a little research on this creature and found they are the largest species in the squirrel family. So not only do we have tons of squirrels, but now we have HUMONGOUS squirrels. Groundhogs are skilled climbers and SWIMMERS (not in our pool) which helps them to escape less-skilled predators (such as myself.) Oh...and the reason for it being out so early that morning...they get up early for love. Who wouldn't want to start their morning coming across a giant squirrel looking for love. 

Polar Plunge!

The boys just couldn't stand it any longer! They had to get into the pool. Please keep in mind that the pool has not been cleaned, so leaves and dirt and "stuff" are floating on the top of the water, AND the water temperature was only 63 degrees! 

Of course, Jack was nominated to go first. 

Needed to double check that the water was freezing!

Check out the look on his face as his warm toes hit the ice! Sam is sooo double thinking this little adventure. Jack said the water was so cold, it took away his breath and he couldn't breath. 

Sam's turn! 
Maybe...

Still waiting...

Anytime, Sam...

(whistling)

 Still thinking it through...(me napping)

and then he suddenly bolts!

 His face is priceless, "Oh Golly! No turning back now!! It is going to be sooo cold!"

 "Oh Jeepers! Here it comes! If I pull up my legs it will delay the contact with the ice water."

Oh. Brrrrrr.

 

Then I couldn't believe it...they decided to jump in again!

Jack demonstrated his pencil dive or maybe it was one large shiver.

 For a moment I thought he was going to actually walk on water before plunging into the pool.

For some unknown reason, Sam decided to jump in again. 
I think Jack was yelling, "Don't do it!"

Sam:  "Oh Golly, Jack! I'm going into the ice water again!! What was I thinking? If I put my feet out, maybe I won't actually submerge into the water. Oh jeepers, it is cold on my toes" 

Jack:"Yep, Sam!! you are in! No saving you now! I can see your feet touching the water!!"

 Sam had a friend over that was joining in on the "fun." But, check out Jack...he is such an un-expressive kid! Or he might be breaking out into a rap song...never quite sure with Jack. Sam is done...wrapped in a towel that also has a hypothermia lining that he quickly sewed in by himself! (heehee)

I can tell that the boys are going to have hours of fun this summer, no matter what state the pool in in! Me..I am not even putting a toe in until its heated...to at least 80 degrees!

My Snake Boys...

We headed down to Kansas City for Mother's Day weekend and spent the day walking, shopping, eating and watching people!

I snapped a quick picture of my boys because they had planned their blue outfits and what mom can let a coordinated outfit picture pass by!

 We went out to eat on the Plaza that night and a guy just happened to be standing around allowing people to put his pet snake around their necks. Really? I don't know about you, but this was the first time I have run into a guy on the street with a snake.

I wasn't too surprised that Jack wanted to hang the snake around his neck (as long as Jason was with him) but Sam sure did knock me off my feet and out of my socks when he turned to me and said, "I'm going to do that!"  I couldn't believe it!! 

And...he wanted to do this alone!! 

This was HUGE for Sam in so many different ways and I was so proud of him!! He is starting to spread his wings a little and it's fun to see him try them out every once in awhile. 

Me...did I try it out. Absolutely not. No way, No how. 

But, it is the first time I felt bad for a snake. It had to be drugged out just to lay like it did...that actually bothered me, even though it was a snake.

Alex...

I just finished the book Alex by Pierre Lamaitre and all I can say is it is one of my favorite crime/thrillers that I have ever read.

TAlex is the second in a trilogy, but I did not realize this until after I started the book. You can easily follow along without reading the first book. There are events brought up that occur in the first novel, but the author does not make you feel as if you have missed out on anything. The novel also won the best thriller of 2013.

About the book:

In kidnapping cases, the first few hours are crucial. After that, the chances of being found alive go from slim to nearly none. Alex Prévost – beautiful, resourceful, tough – may be no ordinary victim, but her time is running out. Commandant Camille Verhoeven and his detectives have nothing to go on: no suspect, no lead, rapidly diminishing hope. All they know is that a girl was snatched off the streets of Paris and bundled into a white van. The enigma that is the fate of Alex will keep Verhoeven guessing until the bitter, bitter end. And before long, saving her life will be the least of his worries.

And that is all I am going to say about this book except that it twists in a way that I have never had a book twist before and I loved it!! I hate to build it up too much, because then a reader doesn't feel as if it lives up to my rave reviews. But, for me, I would definitely put this on my top 5 books I have ever read!

How to Pass Time

In Jack's young like, he has spent a lot of time at Sam's sporting events. He rarely complains and finds many different ways to entertain himself. 

At last weeks Lacrosse game Jack found a very tall hill.

And spent the time tossing up a Lacrosse ball...

and catching a Lacrosse ball..

Eventually, a little boy asked Jack if he would join him in rolling down the hill. 

"Sure," said Jack. 

So Jack spent the rest of the evening rolling down a hill.

Good thing he's so laid back!

Happy Birthday, Sam.

Happy Birthday to Sam!

I love to look back at pictures and see how the boys have changed, but it also brings a tear or two or more to my eyes because it has gone by so fast. When you have a baby, everyone tells you how fast it will go and I knew it would, but gosh darn, it goes by soooo fast. 

Seven years old.

Eight Years old.

 

Nine years old.

 

Ten years old.

 

Eleven years old.

 

Twelve years old.

 

Thirteen years old.

 

Fourteen years old

Taken last night. It warms my heart.

(Yes, Sam is tall...6')

 Oh my baby (babies) are growing up!

I know I can't change it, so I need to enjoy what a great young man Sam is becoming. Though, it is soooo hard to see him grow up sooo fast...have a mentioned that?

Resetting!

A person that I have mentioned before (I think) is Cory Spieker AKA the Reset Girl. She has been a very inspiring person to me, along with many other people, over the last few months! I've watched her video several times on how she "Reset" her life and I started to believe that I could do the same.

You can watch her video by clicking here.

(Reset Girl, Me and My Forehead)

I have known for some time there are some things I need to change, do, accomplish and try, but just didn't have the guts. Things and life were going fine with a few hiccups here and there. Lord knows, change is hard for me, so why would I ever explore changing what was already pretty good? Then I realized "pretty good" could be even better.

Cori states in her video, think of something that completely scares you, that you never thought you could do, then do it. (WHAT??) Then, if you can do THAT, you can do anything...because you did the one thing that scares you the most! Well, my biggest fear are snakes, but I seriously think I would go into convulsions and die if I were to have a snake experience, so I don't think death or medical issues would fall into this category. 

This is where the Leap of Faith comes into play. 

Before heading to the Bahamas, I did a lot of self talk to myself about how I was going to go down this...thing.  To refresh your memory, it's a 60 foot drop. You can see people waiting in line on the right side...just for a size perspective. Ugh!! It is at such an angle, that when you are on top of the slide, ready to go down, you look out and see your feet, nothing else...no slide! You just have to push yourself and go for it! There were several people who got on the slide and had to get off, some were even in tears. This thing is intimidating.

While waiting in line, I started to get the trembles. But, I kept telling myself that if I can do this...I can do anything!! I told Jason, "I can't do this." And you know what he said, "Yes you can...You can do it!"  And I did!! I took a Leap of Faith!

When I got out of the water, I had so many emotions (Jeepers, Katie, it was just a water slide!) but it was more than a water slide to me. After quickly adjusting my suit, which had gone to places that a suit never should go...there was a worker who took my picture (they do that everywhere!) and I had the biggest smile on my face!!  Unfortunately, I didn't buy the picture because it was $40 for two 8x6 pictures!!  But, I still have the memory, which is bigger than any picture! 

One aspect in my life is my blog. I am going to change it up. It's something that I have thought of for a loooong time, but it was easier to keep it as it was, but now I want and am ready to branch out more.

 I started by making a list of ideas that I want to include on my blog and came up with over two pages!! Many are things that I already include, but the "biggest" change for me is that I want to share more of my creative side.  I want to explore You tube-videos, (which Jack has already agreed to help me with) and some days I may just share a quote or a thought.  I am resetting my blog. YAY!!

I would say I am on a "journey" but to me, I am more on a Road Trip. My road is under construction and will be bumpy at the start. I have already gone down many side streets and have encountered forks in the road, some days I will go at a steady, consistent speed and other days, I know I will hit a dead end, a caution area or a detour. But, it is my road that I am building and driving the car and I am pretty excited about it all!

 

Phase Three

If you stop out to our house, you will notice a new smaller house in our North yard.

In this area, we have put what Jason has dreamed of having ever since I have know him. He has mentioned building one of these for YEARS! Even before we moved out here and had the land to complete his dream. Now, the time was right and the boys are at the perfect age to enjoy this addition...

Yep. We have added a pool! (Nice, clean cover we have. Ew.)

We actually started this project in late October. The pool was built, filled and then sealed up for the winter. The construction workers have worked on the project on and off through out the winter.

 Since the weather has been warmer, the construction has been in full gear!

Thought I would share a quick little tour with you. (It is still about 2-3 weeks from being completely done.)

This is a picture the day they poured the cement for the patio area. The unfilled square on the right will be a fire pit.

 Where Jack is standing, that will be the entrance through the fence.

I am now standing at the entrance. You can see the rock wall and how the pool is built into the hill, which is nice for privacy. The odd shaped item to the left of the pool is the basketball hoop.  

The cement guys put another plastic cover over the pool cover so the cement dust wouldn't get int the pool. That is why everything is wrapped and looks a bit stange.

 Jack is now standing where the spring board will be placed. .

Sam is demonstrating how to use the spring board.

This is the view from inside the pool house looking out. This will have a screen that can be lower and raised as wanted. 

On the left side of the room, there are sliding doors which house a "kitchen" type area. A fridge, sink and cupboards. The next door is a storage area.

The back windows are all screen in and then a bathroom on the right. There's also a fireplace to warn up on cool nights. (heehee)

And A view from the just outside the pool house. Amazing how Jack keeps showing up in all my pictures!!!

 These are pictures I took last night. The electricity is connected and Jason pulled back the cover. The water was actually warm, but very nasty and dirty!!

The spring board is now installed and Sam is once again showing how to start a dive. 

We are super excited to jump in and get some good use of this new addition!!