The new Spectrum!

So this is what I found today and where we have decided the kids will attend.

http://www.spectrumstation.com/northlandTour.htm

I went and toured yesterday and it really has everything I was looking for. It's time for the kids to be in "school" and not just at someone's house being watched. The curriculum here looks fantastic. I am a little disappointed that Mira won't get to go to the preschool I had originally picked for her, but I am excited about this new place. It didn't take long and this was the only place I went to, but it's difficult to find places that will do random days part time. At this place I just drop off my schedule and that works fine for them. The price is totally reasonable.

I think she's going to really enjoy learning in a new environment. It's very school-like. They have the same teacher every day and spend the entire time in their own classroom. G will have a different class than Mira and I think he'll really thrive there. It's going to be a big transition for them, but I think it'll be a good thing. My plan is to send Mira 3 days a week and Griffin 2 days a week. That means that occasionally (about once a month) we'll have to depend on family or other sitters to watch him when I work, but on the other weeks, I'll have one day a week to spend with just him and I. I am really excited about that- he loves his alone time with us!

So that's our news! We'll be starting some time in the middle of July. They get to do 2 free 1/2 days to ease into it which I think will be a great help! I'm going to take them there to see their classes before we start too.

Another long wait.

Well, it's been another long wait, I know. I haven't taken many pictures lately. I've been stressed that my albums are only up to August of 2008, so I guess that's making me take less! We've been busy! Last week I took the kids to Worlds of Fun for our first 2010 visit. It was FUN! The kids are big enough now that they get really excited about it. Mira even gave Snoopy a hug! Mom forgot the camera though :( This weekend I took the kids and went to my cousin Jared's wedding in Albany. It was a good time. The kids were terrible and mom had to take G to the hotel at 8, but once the dancing started, Mira had a blast! I again didn't have a camera....but here are a few snaps my mom got.

Silly kids watching Scooby in Mira's suitcase at the hotel this morning!

B went to a different wedding in Saint Louis! Next weekend we have another family wedding in Palmyra. It should be fun as well.

Tomorrow the kids are going to Pepper's and I have some daycare hunting to do. Pepper announced today that she's quitting in August to take a Preschool Assistant job. I really am just in shock right now and very stressed. I know I have a couple of months, but it will fly by. Wish me luck!

This week is going to feel like the beginning of summer I think. The summer movie program starts and we will probably go to the zoo. I hope it doesn't rain too awful much! Each week I have planned a movie, either the zoo or WOF, and the pool. We are getting a bang for every buck we spend! Watch out- we're having FUN this summer!

Fresh Paint!

Old:
New:
Doesn't it look like a new house?!

Happenings.

GASP! It's been more than a week! Sorry! I have been consumed. We had memorial Day Weekend to play and then I worked on Monday for the holiday. We took the kids to the pool three times in 2 days! G LOVES it. He jumps right in and doesn't mind getting his face wet. Mira is a great swimmer with her water wings, but won't jump in yet. She can get anywhere in the pool unassisted! It's been really hot here every day so we've been outside a ton.

I started training for my long triathlon this week- it's pretty tough. I am starting to doubt my ability to do it well. There's never a question of finishing....you can always finish- even if you crawl, but finishing well is the question. I never desire to be competitive, just average. The biking is the hardest part for me, so I've started lifting weights and riding really hard rides with big hills. I'm pretty sore today...

The kids have had colds. Both ran a fever for a day, but now just are stuck with coughs. Otherwise they seem back to normal. I have to work this weekend and Mira is going to NE MO with Lana and Carly, so G and B are on their own!

They started painting the house yesterday! I think it's going to be great. A HUGE change. I will post some pictures this afternoon. They just got here to start on the trim!

Sweet Boy

Helped mom with some yardwork yesterday- here I am obtaining some "free" limestone rock! It was just like a biggest loser challenge. HARD!
Me and my sweet sweet guy. He wanted puppy in the picture. He's so cute.
Can't stand it, can you? He loves his puppy girl so much!

All day Every day.

More playing outside- I decided to have G wear his swim shirt- I think it's going to be a must every time we're out. I have learned with my children, if I waver even one time, there will be a fight from then on....
We also got the sprinkler out- they had a great time with it as well. I really like this sprinkler- it doesn't go all that high, but connects to the hose really well.
This pool is just really too small. I need to get a better one soon!

Our friends Sheryl and Kowen came over- Kowen will be one this weekend. He was really cute playing in the water- I got the little toddler pool out and the kids thought it was great playing with him!

Man, It was HOT. I went on a jog after the sun started going down, but it was still nearly 90. SO HOT. I guess that's what it's going to happen all summer. I'm going to have to get the kids a pool big enough for me to get into because sitting out there with them is torturous. The are finally big enough this year for me to take them to the pool by myself though, so I'm excited for it to open!

On another note- G is using the potty sometimes!!! It's really not consistent- I don't really have the energy to tackle it quite yet, but he's figured out how to make it come out when he wants it to! It's super cute- the first time I set him on there and he peed he said in a really exciting way, "IT CAMED OUT!" I'm going to get him some Thomas and Lightning underpants today!

KC Triathlon 2010

No pics today as I never take my camera to my own events....just a story.

So today was the first triathlon day of 2010. I say first because now I feel the need to do more before the season is over. Today was eventful. My friends Erica and Kellie did the race with me. They started a little late- as the first waves of swimmers entered the water, the clouds started rolling in and the wind started blowing :( It was CRAZY wind. I didn't think much of the choppy water until I was actually in it. It was a ton of waiting until my group went- probably about 45 minutes. So we stood around and chatted and tried not to get too anxious. The water temp was about 60- lots of people wore wetsuits but I toughed it out! So finally when we got into the water and started swimming the first thing was the piercing cold but that feeling quickly got pushed to the back of my mind as waves started hitting my face with every single breath. I was gulping water and air like crazy. It was pretty scary actually- I've never swam in waves like that before. In a triathlon with people of this caliber it's pretty rare to see many swim strokes other than freestyle ("crawl") but everyone was breast stroking, side stroking and even back stroking trying to figure out how to swim with the current and the waves. I tried side, but I felt really out of control. I finally settled on back stroking occasionally to get me past the first leg. At the turn for the swim the waves were actually working with you so it was easier to settle in. I was still gulping air and reeling from the feeling of impending doom on the 2nd leg, so I didn't really do very well there. The 3rd leg was when I was finally able to hit my stride and just swim. I started catching up to the pack. There were a ton of swimmers that freaked out from the cold and the waves and just quit. It was crazy!!! I finally made it to shore and ran up the beach. Running in is always the strangest feeling. You are trying to run hard but SO out of breath.

I got my shoes on, not drying my feet as much as I should have and got my helmet and glasses. The bike seemed ok for about 10 seconds, and then we started riding directly into the crazy wind. :( I guess that's why God gave me all that wind to train in! I really had a terrible bike- my average speed was awful and I felt so weak. My stomach was still completely full of air from the swim and I was really uncomfortable. I lost a lot of time. On the way back to transition right before you get off the bike, I totally flipped my bike and flew over the handle bars....I've never bike wrecked (since childhood) so it was pretty weird. I just kind of freaked out for whatever reason and my hand clenched the brake on accident. Awful. I was totally embarrassed but not hurt- just scraped palms and right knee (the bad one, of course). I went back to put my bike and helmet up and headed out to run.

Talk about WEAK. My run was awful. SO SLOW. I was actually looking forward to the run this year because I've really been running all winter, but I was so worn out from everything else that I did really awful. All I could think about was quitting and walking.

BUT- I finished. I am still proud of my accomplishment. I truly only trained for 3 weeks for this race. There were only 300 finishers for a race that had over 1000 people signed up....interesting. A triathlon takes every ounce of everything you have in your body and soul. I will say though, after that swim, if I hadn't ever done one before, I don't think I'd be doing another. It was terrible. Now I need to find another to improve!!

I rode down with our next door neighbors who had paid extra for the "experience" tent. It included private bathrooms and a tent with free beer and food! HA! We ate a little and drank some beer and then headed home. I felt awful for most of the day, but I think now I am rehydrated and doing better. My arms are killing me= probably from catching myself....oh well!