Bootcamp-DropOut : (

I am officially a bootcamp dropout and NOT happy about it!!  2 1/2 weeks ago I hurt my hip and it really hasn't gotten better.  I was at work last Friday and I asked them to put me in the MRI scanner and, low and behold, I have a "stress injury" to my right femoral neck.  He didn't call it a "fracture" but he said it "could be."  Alrighty then.  THAT BITES!!  4 weeks of running and conditioning DOWN THE DRAIN!!  He said "let pain be your guide" so therefore I can go to spinning class, just no running because that HURTS!  I am suppose to take it easy for 4-6 weeks but, according to me, 2 1/2 weeks is already gone so I only have 1 1/2-3 weeks left, huh?  It's pretty sad and embarrassing that my 17 month old can outrun me right now.  So for now, I guess I'll just spin, spin, spin and hope it heals sooner then later because I DON'T LIKE TO BE RESTRICTED!!  NOT MY STYLE!!  Enough for now...-AS

Quotes of the Day...

Today, I was telling Teagan that if she looked over there, she could see it raining in the distance.  She, of course, said "How do you know?"  I, of course, said, "Because I'm smart."  She said, "Did you learn that in Smart School?"  And I said, "Yes."  And she said she wanted to go to smart school.  Sometimes I tell my kids that it was on the "Mommy Test".  If you truly had to take a test to be a Mom, there would be a LOT LESS kids running around!!

Teagan says, "Do you want to see my eyelash blink?"  I said, "Sure."  So she tips her head down a little and blinks her eyes kind of fast and then she says, "That's what girls do when a boy says he loves her."  Shane says, "OK, don't do that until you're about 30."  Teagan, of course, says, "No."  I said, "Who taught you that?"  "I learned all by myself".  She probably snuck (is that a word?) out and went to "smart school".

A little later, I was cleaning up SHANE and TEAGAN'S macaroni mess on the stove (Teagan spilled the cheese all over the stove while she and Shane were cooking) and I was complaining about it while Piper and I cleaned it up.  (by the way, Shane was at work while this transpired) Piper said, "Daddy needs to clean it up."  I said "Yeah, tell daddy that or Mommy will have a cow."  Teagan said, "What's having a cow?  A pooping fit?"  Yeah, Teagee, that's it.  Silly girl.  Enough for now...-AS

AAHHhh...Quiet

Aaahhhh...can you hear that?  That.  Can you hear it???  FINALLY, I can hear myself think!! The girls have been in Fort Dodge since Tuesday night and I can finally hear myself think--after 8 o'clock that is.  Taffy does a good job of making up for the lost noise that the others create.  She's pretty loud and since she's not feeling well, she's pretty whiney(sp?) and clingy.  I also think she misses the girls.  There's no one here to pick on her so she kicks the dog instead.  Poor Willie--he's always on someone's list!!

So, Taffy and I had a date the other day.  We went to the mall.  I had a coupon for a free catalog from Penneys and we just wanted out of the house--dare I say it--It was TOO QUIET!!  So I took her to the play area and there she proceeded to give a little boy the business.  He was following her up the bridge and she didn't like it so she got out her little finger and ruffled her brow and said something that we couldn't understand but it meant she wasn't happy.  She also did that on the big climbing rock to a 4 year old who was in her way to go down the slide.  For a little squirt, she's got a BIG attitude!!  She gets that from her dad, you know.  

I told Chloe when she left that I wouldn't have to watch Cartoon Network the whole time she was gone.  I fully expected to get to watch what I wanted-- Yeah, RIGHT!!  Cartoon Network has been replaced by Barney about 7 hours a day.  (Actually, I'd rather watch Barney then Cartoon Network!!)  It's been nice to have the peace and quiet but I think I'm ready to have them back and the chaos that goes along with it.  They come home sometime tomorrow and we'll be waiting with open arms!!  Enough for now...-AS

PS. You can see in the 3rd picture she just got done giving that poor little girl the business for following her.  She was grouchy that day!! Poor thing just wanted to play!!

Swimming at the Y

Yesterday, I took the girls swimming at the YMCA.  They like to go swimming anywhere and the Y is pretty manageable for me with all the girls.  Chloe and Teagan are self sufficient and go about their own business but Piper is more reserved in the pool so she stays close to Aftyn and I.  I'll save the aquatic center when Shane can go with me to help.  Even Teagan and Chloe may need help there.  Summer is almost over so we better get there if we're going to!!  Enough for now...-AS

Words from Chloe...

On July 11 there was a party at out house, and our daughter, Chloe, told everybody that her dad shaved his goatee to look like he was a kung fu master.  Chloe thinks he needs a little more to look like a kung fu master. I think Chloe was trying to be funny ( everyone was laughing). I can't believe it because Chloe isn't really a class clown! It was pretty funny. 

PS. Chloe wrote that and pretended to be me...

Backyard Adventures--Again

Taffy--Queen of the Slide!!

Piper climbing, climbing...

Piper, Chloe and Teagan on the "surf board" swing

Taffy and Teagan on the slide...

We went to Backyard Adventures again on Friday.  With the threat of rain, we NEEDED to get out and burn some energy!!  We were the only ones there until a bus of handicapped kids arrived.  That turned out ok with only 1 kid that was wild.  I thought he would knock Taffy off a ladder.  She's scared of nothing and he was just rambunctious (his caretaker must know that because she followed him around like a hawk).  A little later, 2 of Piper's friends from preschool showed up.  We haven't seen Dylan or Hannah since the end of May so that was nice to meet up with some kids we know.  Chloe worked on her basketball skills since she just finished basketball camp and she played on the playground equipment.  Teagan and Piper ran around and played on everything and so did Aftyn.  She is afraid of NOTHING!!  Which is fine there because everything is relatively safe.  It was a nice morning to get out and play!!  We'll keep that in mind for winter, that's for sure!  Enough for now...-AS

Summer Fun!!

Teagan is a Monkey...

Taffy and Piper going down the tornado slide...

Taffy playing on the stairs, her fav...

Mmmm, this is yummy, Momma...

Chloe had 4 ears of corn!!

Today was pretty uneventful.  We are keeping it low key since the girls have camps in the evening this week.  We ran to Target to get some diapers and then we stopped at a park that we don't usually go to to play.  Then we stopped and got some sweet corn.  Teagan has been begging for it for a couple of weeks now.  Dad wouldn't stop so I did and we had it for lunch.  It was YUMMY!!!  Enough...-AS

PS. Quote of the day from Piper:  "Dad, you should be a mom so you can do 2 things at once."  (Actually, I told her to tell him that but we won't tell him. hehe!!)

Adventureland 2008

Piper, Teagan, Aftyn and Chloe waiting patiently to get into the gates...

Teagan (left) and Chloe (3rd from left) on the Frog Hopper...

Piper and Taffy on the semi's...

Piper on the Dragon ride...

Piper is WIPED OUT!!!

We braved the heat and took the kids to Adventureland today!!  Actually the temp wasn't too bad considering what the mercury said.  The bigger problem was me walking.  I pulled my hip flexor muscle and yesterday, I couldn't walk.  Seriously--COULDN'T WALK!!  Today is much better with the help of Ultram and Ibuprofen.   That's a whole different blog though...  We, of course, had to ride the raging river.  Piper wanted to go on it too and wasn't too impressed.  She didn't cry but stated she wanted to go back.  Sorry Sweet Pea, no turning back on the rides.  Teagan and Chloe were on the same page for rides and Piper and Taffy were on the same level so that worked out pretty well.  Piper wouldn't go on the Frog Hopper, a favorite for Chloe and Teagan.  I even offered to go on it with her but since she couldn't sit on my lap, it was a "no go".  Bummer!!  We almost lost Piper once.  She has NO attention span (much like her mom) and was in "Piper's World" and we took off to get some lunch and she got back in line to ride the little dragon ride.  I looked ALL OVER for her in that little area we were in and, low and behold, the little turd was back on the ride!!  What a RELIEF!!  BUT HELLO!! Stay with us!!  Shane and I both volunteered to go on the Tornado with someone but we had no takers.  Teagan almost consented to going on the big Dragon ride with Daddy but pulled out.  I think he really wanted to ride it too.  Not me, didn't like it the first time 10+ years ago, probably not going to like it any better today.  This wasn't the best week to go since the girls have VBS and Chloe has basketball camp, but what the hey.  It was the only day Shane could get off and the cheap tickets had to be used by a certain date.  Tomorrow is going to be UGLY with some GROUCHY GIRLS!!!  Tonights not too pretty with just Aftyn--she's grouchy so I need to get her into the tub and TO BED!!  Enough for now...-AS

The Science Center

Today we met Alicia and Isabelle at the Science Center, a rare treat for my kids!!  I generally don't like that place because it's expensive and most of the interactive displays are broken.  Today was no exception but the kids liked it, none the less.  Taffy started out there with us but then Shane came and got her so we could see the movie, "Sea Monsters" in the IMAX.  I always feel like I'm car sick when I watch a movie in there.  But it wasn't too bad today. (My motion sickness, the movie wasn't too great.)  The girls really liked the ball wall where the balls are put into this vacuum device and you watch them go through this tube system and see where they come out of.  The dinosaur room also was a big hit--not so much the dinosaurs but the sand box where you get to uncover fossils.  They also had a tent set up that they girls thought was a hoot.  Teagan asked not too long ago to go camping.  Holiday Inn is about as "roughing it" as I get and we all know what happens when my family spends time in a hotel (hint: vomit) but we won't remind Shane because I'm trying to work on a long weekend get away for our family before school starts since we don't really have anything planned this summer.  Anyway, it was good to see Alicia and Isabelle while they were in town since we haven't seen them in a month and a half or so.  It was a good day for all.  Enough for now...-AS

Summer Fun!!

Aftyn and Cael swimming...

Piper cheesin' it up...

Melissa, Avery, Aftyn and Cael...

Taffy ...

I put the brakes on leaving the house all the time so the kids had to find something to do at home!!  Yea, I know, I AM the meanest mom on the block.  (Although Piper has told me atleast twice this week alone that I am the "best Mom ever."  She even once said I was "the best mom ever even when your naughty".  So I can be the best and naughty all at the same time and since I'm really good at multi tasking, I can do it all!!)    Anyway, they got in the pool that's been on our deck since May and splashed around.  Teagan was in it and then went down the street to Abby's so she's not in the pictures.  I even let Taffy in the pool today.  Usually I steer her clear of that and she doesn't even care.  She's usually just happy to splash from outside of it.  Today she was kind of in and out of it--not really preferring either place.  Piper and Cael LOVE to splash around.  We are suppose to meet up with Alicia and Isabelle and go swimming while they're in town this weekend so that'll be fun.  Enough for now...AS

PS.  We had part of our 4 week assessment at Boot Camp this morning and while I gained 1 pound ( I blame that on the water I chugged before class this morning ), I lost 6 percentage points of body fat!!  Cass, one of our instructors, was quite impressed that I lost that in only 4 weeks.  Tomorrow we do our mile run.  I can't wait to see the results of that.  I'm sure that's improved in the 4 weeks time!!

PSS> There you go, Pam.  We stayed home!!  Tell your kids that...

The Zoo--Again!!

Piper, Taffy, Chloe and Teagan...

Piper and Taffy feeding the goats...

Taffy, Mommy, Daddy and Piper...

Daddy, Teagan and Chloe watching Piper feed the giraffe...

Daddy helping Teagan and Taffy feed the fish...

How many times can one family go to the same small zoo??  So far 3, maybe 4!!  We went to the zoo again yesterday.  We took Daddy along this time to show him the elephants.  They are only suppose to be there one more week.  We started backwards this time so we actually got to see the swinging monkeys, the lions and tigers and the penguins.  I knew they used to have penguins but I had no idea that had any this year!!  I LOVE penguins.  They are just the cutest little things.  We also showed Daddy the new playground.  He hasn't been there this year so it was all new to him.  We also fed the fish--Taffy really liked that and she liked petting the goats too.  Quote of the day yesterday:  "That must be a grandpa goat because he has a beard".  -Teagan said that and I thought this old lady was going to split a gut laughing.  I don't know why she thinks that, none of her grandpas have beards.  The favorite thing of the day, besides the playground, was feeding the giraffes (Lunch is always a big hit too).  Enough for now, gotta go get some girls from gymnastics...-AS  

PS.  Teagan said today, " I don't want to go to kindergarten, I'm too scared!"  What???  Since when is she scared of school??

2nd Annual 3rd of July PARTY!!!

We had the 2nd Annual 3rd (or 4th) of July Party and kids parade.  Last year, about 15 kids showed up at the parade.  This year, there was ATLEAST 50 kids!!  They rode their decorated bikes, trikes, scooters, or strollers around the oval a few times. (Some kids made it around more then others, obviously)  That kicks off the evening of food and drinks and FIREWORKS!!  (alot of them are of the illegal sort, but I stay out of that.  The cops only came by twice--that we know of.)  Shane willingly walked Chloe home for the billionth time and came back with the "porn stash".  He and Troy both have one and neither one is very becoming!!  Then there's Taffy and Avery (Cael's little sister).  They are 3 weeks apart, Avery being older.  She and Cael live across the street.  Lots of people came to the party, some of them not even from our neighborhood.  It was a great party!!  Enough for now, I gotta get to bed.  I'm doing a Boy Scout 2 mile Fun Run in the morning.  Won't that be "FUN"??  Good night and Happy 4th of July!!  -AS

PS  I ran it today and got a 17 something for time.   That's a little more than 8 1/2 minute mile.  I was pretty happy with that!!  My mile on the first day of boot camp was 11:26 3 weeks ago.  I'LL TAKE IT!! : )