Robin's Ramblings

6 weeks to go!!!

2010-06-20T16:30:00.003-05:00

I have been so incredibly busy with school that i have actually forgotten to blog for the past 18 months! ha ha
I graduate with my bachelors degree in Radiation Therapy in 6 weeks! That just does NOT seem possible! I have been praying that I find a job and I really need to begin sending my resume out as well as find a suit and practice my interviewing skills! There are currently 3 positions available at M.D. Anderson and again I am praying that one of those positions are mine! My class is amazing and full of great future therapists but none have the passion for this career as I do! I truly do believe that God has led me here and I am hoping that we are both on the same page! LOL
I hope everyone is doing well...those of you who happened to wander onto my site!

Uprooted...in more ways than one! :O)

2008-09-18T09:09:00.010-05:00

One week ago today we were packed to the gills in my Excursion with Hannah, BJ, John and Ginger and Jim in his Colorado with Oreo (devildog). My sister, Vicki (who also happens to be the BEST SIS in the world) opened up her home to us in Seguin! We got on the road about noon, as did most of Clear Lake City due to a mandatory evacuation. Traffic was steady, but slow. There were only a few times when we came to a standstill and the total trip took us 6 hours. The trip home only took a little over 3! (Thanks to Heather for telling us about the Westchase toll road)

The kids were "hunkered down" with books, video games, ipods etc. They were AWESOME the whole trip.

" hey Mom- I will take pictures!" BJ got to sit up front due to his broken leg! One good thing to come out of it..."Shotgun"!

Friday was mine and Jim's 16th anniversary. Depending on the area power restorations we were talking about celebrating this weekend. Our favorite restaurant is not opened yet in Rice Village, hoping soon though! Sunday we celebrated Hannah's 13th birthday! i cannot believe i am a parent of a teenager. it feels like I was 13 just yesterday! Here is her cute teenage smile. Better enjoy it- I have learned that teenagers don't smile a lot! :O)

Hannah, Aunt Vicki and I went to Brooklynn's (my great neice) 3rd birthday party and when we came back Daddy had made Birthday Brownies. I decorated them and then we had a PARTY! They were delicious, but we still owe her a REAL party! 13 is a big milestone!!!
This is a dolphin webkinz from BJ! I told him I was going shopping for her and he made sure that I knew that is what he wanted to get her. He can be so thoughtful sometime.

Here is the room that we had to put Oreo in. Why? you ask??? Well were sitting out in the front of Vicki's house and my brother-in-law Mike saw Oreo run around the front of the house. Mike and Jim made sure that there were no holes in the fence and that it was locked so she couldn't get out. We put her back in the back yard and a minute later we saw her JUMP over the 6 foot fence. If I hadn't seen it myself I would not believe it! We had to put her in the back room that they use as a craft/ playroom. Imagine my horror when we walked out there and saw this!!!

NAUGHTY DOG!

We had gone to Gruene and John wanted a harmonica...so I bribed him to let me take his picture in these glasses! I love Hannah's expression in the background. (I just had to throw this pic in the mix!)

Here is the traffic light near our house (taken by BJ)

As we pulled down our street

A guy stopped by and offered to cut the tree up- we took him up on it!!!

Think we could use it as firewood???

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes! Time to go get my house back in order! Please continue to pray for those who lost so much in the tragedy of Hurricane Ike.

Let the fun begin!!!

2008-08-31T07:39:00.006-05:00

Well it is the official start to my junior year on Tuesday, September 2. Hurricane Gustav may make that impossible. I am feeling very sorry for the people in the northern gulf coast as they have already begun evacuations, but we are not totally out of the path yet. He could make a turn towards the west and hit us, although I highly doubt that will happen. We are prepared with water, gas and nonperishables. I am hoping that we do not have to evacuate because BJ had a football game yesterday and he was hit by a player on the other team and broke his tibia/ fibia bones in his shin. It was a clean break but he cannot move around and can only sit on the couch waiting for us to be at his beck and call. He HATES that. He is a very independent child who is very active and this is absolutely killing him, which is killing me!

Here are a few photos from our day yesterday!

right before the game...

after the injury and Dad brought "Josh" to visit (can you see how utterly ticked off he is?)

After we got home and settled...which is no easy feat!

He had 3 of his teammates stop by for a visit to make sure he was okay! He is a super duper trooper and I know he will be fine, however, it may take a little while. (physically and mentally) I am anxious to see what the doctor will say about his activity level. I got to see the x-ray and it was a clean break, which was a good thing. I was happy that there was no crazy breakage!

Please keep him in your prayers and pray that he has quick, painfree healing.

Thanks and I hope everyone stays safe from Gustav AND Hanna (for my East Coast friends!)

Stop the MADNESS....

2008-08-06T09:44:00.002-05:00

For the past week or so i have been absolutely consumed with Stephenie Meyer's series- Twilight. Please click on the link below to see for yourself. A couple of girlfriends and I were at the pool with the kids when they started talking about it and were screaming like giddy teenage girls. I just HAD to get in on the action and have read the first 3 books thus far. Yesterday was crazy as I read ALL day long due to Tropical Storm Eduoardo (weird name). I finished at about 430 pm. I am refusing to begin the 4th until I finish physics class (next Thursday!!!! woo hoo) because i have 2 tests next week so I cannot spend time reading the book- which once I pick up I have a very hard time putting down. It is going to be a very hard week because I MUST find out what happens with Bella and Edward and Jacob. Will Edward give her what she wants? Can they live in harmony with Jacob? How will she say goodbye to her loved ones? Oh my...too many questions.
I hope that if you begin this wonderful series that you will enjoy it as much as I have. If you have already read it...what did YOU think?

StephenieMeyer.com Twilight Series Twilight

What a difference a day makes...

2008-07-16T08:46:00.003-05:00

I switched from my 5 week physics class to a more manageable 10 week course. I had taken the second test twice and failed it both times much to my discouragement. My admittance into UT is contingent on my passing physics with a "c" or better and I knew that I needed to do something! My professor agreed to help me move to the 10 week class. They hadn't taken the 2nd test yet so I got to take it a 3rd time! Talk about God's plan...i really think he wants me to be a radiation therapist! :O) I got my grade back last night and i got a 103!!! That's more like it! I was starting to feel stupid in the other class and i know I am not...I just needed a little more time for my brain to wrap around the information and understand it!
Thanks for all your prayers...I hope I can keep the momentum up!

4th of July photos

2008-07-08T07:59:00.007-05:00

Here is a photo that I took on July4th. We had a fun evening watching fireworks and honoring the United States soldiers! I have been reading a blog called Confessions of a Pioneer Woman (by a woman named Ree) and she has some great tips on how to cook, take photography and how to live in general. She gave some tips about how to take great fireworks photos- the first being using a tripod! I don't have a tripod, so i tried to take them with a steady hand. I was thinking that they came out pretty cool, until I looked at Ree's post of her pictures. Now mine don't seem so cool anymore...What do YOU think? Here are couple more-

I hope everyone had a Fabulous 4th! May God Bless you!!!

Praise the Lord!!!

2008-07-03T10:26:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning when Jim went outside there was a package at the door from University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Sciences and I was accepted into the Radiation Therapy junior year program! I have to make it throught physics though and that is a TALL order, but I believe that this is God's plan for me so I will do what i can and put 100% into it! My family has been super supportive, especially Jim, and I have them to think about while I am working my hiney off! Physics has been giving me heck and I guess that is to be expected since I do not have a strong math and science background! I had to move from the 5 week program to the 10 week program because i just wasn't getting it! I think I will do much better at a slower pace. My new teacher seems real nice and knowledgeable. That is another reason that I think that this is all about God's plan! Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I know that I CAN do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me!!!

I call that "Parenting"

2008-06-24T12:08:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I had to run an errand and I took BJ with me. On our way home we decided to stop by and get Sonic for Hannah and John, who i had left in charge of a couple of chores, because i just KNEW that they would have complied. Once i got home and realized that the chores were undone I took the shakes and put them in the freezer. john was totally upset and Hannah just stormed away, the way that a pre-teen girl should, of course! ha ha
I had to have BJ at the baseball field for his first All Star game (which he won) and on our way I was talking to Jim on the phone. Apparently John had called him a few minutes prior and told him that i was "torturing" him by keeping the shakes from him and for requiring him to pick up his things! After laughing hysterically i hung up the phone and told BJ "John thinks that I was torturing him because I didn't give him the shakes- do you think that is torture?" BJ then replied, "that's not torture, I call that 'parenting'." Wow, sometimes you gotta love them!

Montgomery Family Reunion 2008

2008-06-07T18:39:00.008-05:00

This weekend family from my Mother's side travelled from all directions to join together at the Sylvester Community Center to reunite. Our last official reunion was in 1993 and 3 Montgomery's have since passed. My mom died in Sept. 94 and Aunt Billye in November 94 and Uncle Sonny died this year in April. The cousins started emailing after Uncle Sonny's passing and we decided that this was the best weekend and most of us made it. There were cousins I haven't seen since I was 2 that showed up! My cousin Jimmy is a cattle roper and he brought Maddie Pearl, his champion horse, and let the kids ride. Here are a few pics of the kids on her and a short video of John riding her like a pro!

We really had a great time today and I promise to post more pictures before too long of some of the other cousins! I can't wait to get together again!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T19:32:00.006-05:00

Today I celebrate my 13th official Mother's Day being a mommy! My life has been full of blessings from all 3 of my children.

Hannah is my first born and has blessed me with her sweet sweet soul. She was born nearly a year after i lost my own mother. I feel like God gave her to me special! :O) She is such a caring person and would do anything for anyone. She is 12 and full of innocence. She loves the Lord and believes He is king. What more could a mom ask for?

BJ is my middle child and has given me a new love of baseball. He loves to play and i love to watch him even more! This year is his first year in kid pitch and he is pitching and doing well. He doesn't throw too hard, but he is generally accurate and can strike out even the best hitters. BJ loves all kinds of sports, but loves people more. He would give his shirt off of his back if you needed it. Sometimes he can be a real toot, but do you know any 10 year old boy that isnt?

Then there is John, my baby. Don't let him hear me call him that though... He is one of the smartest and funniest kids I know. John is always keeping us on our toes. He is constantly making us laugh, or think about whatever he just said. i found this picture in with some that I was taking at his soccer game. i had to run to the truck and discovered this picture when i was looking through the ones i actually took of him. There were 3 of them, but this was the best! John is 9 years old and has given us 9 years of wonderment!

I am so blessed to be the mother of my children. I know I don't always let them know, but I am so proud of each one of them!
Thank you Lord for giving me 3 of the most awesome kids in the whole wide world!

I hope all the mommy's that read this had a wonderfully blessed day!

And my grades for this semester are IN....

2008-05-10T20:01:00.003-05:00

ARTS 1301 Art Appreciation-A
GOVT 2301 US/TX Politics & Constitutions-A
GOVT 2302 US/TX Government Institutions- A

WAHOOOOOOOO!!!!! I am so excited! I am done for this semester, but have a 5 week summer course in Physics to look forward to! I keep letting people get in my head and tell me how hard it is going to be...are you kidding? It is gonna be a piece of cake! I am waiting to hear whether or not I will get an interview at UT MD Anderson but will probably not know until June if that will happen. Please keep me in your prayers because i believe in my heart that God is laying this path for me to walk upon. I just know he wants me to be a Radiation Therapist- it has been too easy so far!

Hope all you mommy's have a most wonderfully blessed Mother's Day!

A few pics of the sweetest kids I know!

2008-05-01T06:46:00.010-05:00

Here are a few pictures of BJ's 10th birthday party at Kemah...He invited 3 friends and we had a blast- just me and 6 of the best kiddos I know! I realize that B's b-day was in March and these are overdue (WAY) but better late than never-

After cake, ice cream, opening presents, playing basketball until 1030 p.m., playing Wii the boys finally decided it was time for bed...in a tent with Dad! Sweet dreams!

Family

2008-04-22T17:39:00.002-05:00

http://www.papashollis.blogspot.com/

Here is a link to read a little about some of my family. Loyd's mom was one of my mother's sisters. Aunt Billye died 2 months after my mom died in 1994. I have been terrible at staying in touch and locating family members in the recent past. Our moms' youngest brother died last week and as sad as it is it has brought back the blessing of family. Uncle Sonny was one of the most dedicated men you would ever care to meet. There were several people who commented that what they remember the most about him is the way he took care of his mother (Granny) in her later years. I can only hope that my sons care for me half as much as Uncle Sonny cared for Granny.
here's to family and reconnecting. Thanks Loyd for getting in touch with me! I look forward to reacquainting myself and my family with you and yours!
Blessings always!!!!

Whoa Nellie

2008-04-12T23:03:00.002-05:00

I didn't realize it had been over a month since i had last posted! So much has been going on in my life and i don't know how to slow things down. I am still loving my classes and I think that I can pull an A out of both of them! I have registered for physics over the summer! YIKES i am sooooo nervous about that. i found out that the Radiation Therapy program was accredited and I am praying that I get in for the Inagural terms! They accept about 20 into the program and there are already about 40 applicants. i am so nervous, but because I feel this is God's plan for me i must have faith that I will get in. i will not even go for an interview, if i get invited, until July. Talk about hurry up and wait. I am going to have to brush up my Anatomy and Physiology before I start...again IF i get in!!!
On another note...BASEBALL is here! BJ is pitching and he is doing great! He pitched 3 innings today without walking anyone. The other team could hit the ball and our team could NOT get an out if someone handed it to them. We lost BIG time today, but B got the game ball. Coach said that he always gives 100% no matter what and always keeps his head in the game. That is very hard to do when you are losing. I didn't witness this because i had to leave to get John to his first soccer game ever! He played like he has always been playing. i will post pictures soon but needless to say i was sooooo proud of him. Hannah also started soccer today. She did great too. She is not as aggressive as i wish, but that is because she has such a tender heart. She is an amazing young lady! I will post pictures of our crazy busy Saturday soon! For now i better get to sleep...gotta teach CCE tomorrow morning at 8!

Power of Prayer!

2008-03-02T19:44:00.004-06:00

I have a friend who has a son named Jesse. He is a little over 2 years old and has a chromosonal disorder. When he was born the doctors prepared his family that he may not make it out of the hospital. He made it out and has grown to 28 pounds and for his condition is healthier than any doctor could predict. This past week they had to take Jesse to the hospital because he quit breathing. He was having some problems with his lungs. He had to be on oxygen and he was detiorating rather quickly. At one point they called in hospice and began him on a morphine drip to keep their little angel comfortable. The Smith family is rock solid when it comes to their faith in our God. Many prayer requests were sent out and people all over began praying for Jesse's healing. A couple of days later the hospital staff is completely perplexed! Jesse is breathing on his own without the need for oxygen. Cindi (his mom and my dear friend) said that there was no medical explanation for what has happened. I say, who needs a medical explanation when you have GOD? It is the season of renewal and rebirth. I believe that Jesse's time on earth is not near being over. He needs to be here to teach more people about faith. Please continue to pray for the Smith family. I will continue to pray for you! Click here for a more detailed story...
Have a blessed and faith filled week!

107...

2008-02-27T21:01:00.002-06:00

I just got my grade from my Art Appreciation exam and with the extra credit it was a 107! I am totally surprised and proud of myself! It is funny how much pride I am taking in my work now that I am an adult. I never use to work so hard because a grade was all I needed to pass the course. Now that I am trying to get a degree my grades really matter to me. I spend hours and hours studying and feel full of accomplishment as I cross a question and I KNOW the answer. yeah, being a student is pretty cool!

Super Sunday!

2008-02-24T20:14:00.002-06:00

have you EVER had one of those virus' that completely knocks you on your tiny hiney and puts you out for 24+ hours and the only thing you can do is barely make it to the bathroom before you puke your guts out? yeah me too! Yesterday! It totally rocked my world. i was supposed to be at BJ's 2 basketball games cheering him on,

but instead I was SICK in bed. My body hurt so bad and boy did I pray. I prayed for quick healing of my body! I believe God heard my prayers because I woke up this morning to teach CCE at Church and I felt like a new woman. I was still a little dizzy and was breaking out in sweats, but I felt 100% better than I did 24 hours ago! After Church I rested for about an hour and then my sweet Hannah and I went out shopping and got her hair cut. She looks adorable!

Don't you think???

After we went shopping we met the family at the batting cages (yippee...Baseball season is here)!

We then went to dinner and shopping at Academy. It was a great day! That is why I am calling today SUPER SUNDAY! i wish every day was so super!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-01-09T07:10:00.001-06:00

My beautiful family at CHRISTmas Mass 2007

Woo Hoo....

2008-01-08T06:07:00.000-06:00

I got an A in my Government Class!!!!! Yippeee....one more step in getting into the RT program at UTMDAnderson!
Just thought you should know! I am very proud of myself being a working mom of 3 and all! I start 3 classes next week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. I hope that I can pull all a's , but I won't freak out if I don't. it will be tough being a working mom of 3 and all! Basketball, boy scouts, girl scouts and band is underway and baseball is "fixin'" to start. Wish Jim luck! :o)

Aramco Half Marathon will be here in ONE WEEK...

2008-01-06T15:43:00.000-06:00

but I won't be running. I had been running with some pain in my calf and assumed that it was just "normal runner's pain". I finally consulted a doctor about the pain (when i had to turn around after 1.5miles). Dr. V said that I had severe tendonitis in my peroneous and achilles tendons. She assured me that we would work HARD and hopefully I would be able to run. I had seen her last Wednesday and Thursday and she gave me permission to try 2 miles on Saturday. I went out with my girls and turned around at mile one to head back. At about 1.13 miles i was dying from pain. I made it back and when I did I realized that with only 8 days left there was really no way I was going to be able to run the 13.1 miles. Talk about heart breaking! I did see Dr. V yesterday morning and she asked how everything was and I just about cried. She said I need to rest and no running for a couple of weeks at least. I will be out in downtown Houston next weekend cheering BAF runners on as well as my husband who will be running his very first marathon! Good luck to all of my friends who will be running! I wish I was with you!

School Rules...

2007-11-13T21:54:00.000-06:00

Oh my heavens what have i done? I registered for 4 classes at the local community college. I have decided that i am ready to start a career! I want to become a radiation therapist. In 1994 my mom was diagonosed with throat cancer. I had never heard of radiation therapy, however, this is the approach that her doctors wanted to take. It was a very intense schedule. We travelled to the hospital twice a day several times a week. It was very taxing on all of us but at the end of it all the radiation won and the throat cancer had been cured. Although the cancer metastasized to her lungs and she lost her life, I have always been intruiged about the hows and whys of RT. I want to be a part in helping patients heal and be a part in the success stories. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers!

Football season is nearly over...

2007-11-07T20:01:00.000-06:00

This has been a great season of TIFI football with BJ playing on the Sophomore Clear Lake Falcon team. He has learned a lot and as small as he is (don't tell him that) he sure is tough. When you look at him on the line he looks miniature compared to the big boys they put him up against.

Check him out running to block 43 from getting past him. He is fearless and never worries about getting hurt. He is there for one thing...to win!

They have only lost one game so far and we are going to be going to semi-final playoffs this weekend. I know it will be a tough game,

but with all these tough guys why should I worry?

I have always thought of BJ as a baseball player and football was just a time filler. I was sooooo wrong!Football has proven to be his second love. He has made some great friends and had some great times. I will try to let you know about the game this weekend.

I am so nervous for the boys because this has become a mission for them!

I really am not quite ready for the season to be over, but on Monday we have Coach evaluations for basketball....Will it ever end?

This weekend I was watching one of my friends 2 children and her son had a baseball game. Jim took him to the field and called me a few minutes later asking if B could play because the opposing team was short one player. This is what happened. He played a full game of football and went and played baseball in his football uniform. How funny does he look with his pants... By the way my friend's son was the one pitching to B...he made a double!

That's my boy! (At least one of them!)

Call me a copy catter

2007-10-17T21:55:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday.

I know there are words preceeding this photo, but I have to say thanks to my friend Heather, for introducing me to blogging. Although I am not a great blogger, it has helped me realize how important it is to count my blessings. So...

Diddle Diddle Dumpling...

2007-10-12T22:35:00.000-05:00

My son John. Went to bed with his stockings on...one shoe off and one shoe on...diddle diddle dumpling my son John. My mom used to say that nursery rhyme to me all the time. It has always been one of my favorites probably because my mom taught it to me. I have a son named John who clearly illustrates this little rhyme. He is the most curious of my 3 children. He is the youngest and more often than not he has but one sock on. He will take his shoes off as he is walking to the couch and somehow...don't ask me how...he only manages to get ONE sock off. I think that this saying represents more than just socks though. He is always dissheveled. He is a flighty child who is so incredibly smart that he is continually keeping us in stitches. For example...I am thinking about going back to school to get a degree in radiation therapy. He asked what a degree was. We talked about associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctorate degrees. He said that he wants a doctorate degree because then he could get a good job...not the one where you stand on the corner and sell newspapers. This just cracked me up because we had to have a conference with his teacher yesterday. He is unmotivated and doesn't do his work in class and then has to sit out of recess in "study hall" and finish his work that he did not do in class. It does not seem to bother him that he has to stay inside while all the other kids get to go outside. Daddy talked to him last night and I hope that with them spending a little more quality time together John realizes that in order to really succeed, he needs to jump in with both feet...both socks on and all!

Boys day out...

2007-10-07T17:16:00.000-05:00

Jim took the boys + B's friend "rooster" ;o) to the Texans game today. I sent the camera with them to document the day together! So...what do you think a 9 year old boy took pictures of... Let me just show you....

I guess that is what I get when i send my camera with 4 boys!!! They had a blast and the Texans won with 1 second to go! Whoa...wish I could have been there...nah...H and I went shopping and got new shoes...NOTHING beats that!

Women of Faith Conference

2007-10-06T16:34:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I went to the women of Faith Conference in Houston. I had a wonderful time. On Friday night my friend Heather was able to join Regenia, Johnna and Johnna's sister and mother for the Pre-conference. This was a "taste" of what was to come on Saturday. Nicole Nordeman, Mark Schultz and the WOF ladies were all there. We laughed, we cried and laughed some more! Anita Renfroe was there and I laughed until I nearly wet my pants (side affect of getting old LOL). She has a song which is called Momsense! Check out the website below to get a sample.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlY8STkhopc

This was a great weekend and i am soooo blessed to have such wonderful friends who share their faith! I hope that you take the time to tell your friends how much they mean to you! I hope mine know how much they mean to me!

Say it a in't so....

2007-08-13T20:02:00.000-05:00

Holy Moley i missed a run today and am kinda sad about it. Okay, so now what? I will get my lazy butt up at 5 tomorrow, get my runnin gear ready and meet a crew at a local high school for speed training. What IS speed training you ask...well...it is where you run a mile warm up (4 laps around the track) and then run faster than normal for 30 seconds and then slow her down for 30 seconds...Sounds easy huh?!?!?!? Go ahead, i double infinity dog dare ya...try it. Oh yeah, we do the 30-30 12 times...or for 12 minutes. THEN we run a mile cool down. This is approximately a 3 mile run. No big deal, but it is a tough training that is very beneficial. i felt great after the run last week. I can't believe that i am ACTUALLY saying this, but, I am looking forward to tomorrow. I had a pretty good 6 mile run on Saturday and then drove to my cousins house for the weekend. I was really worried that I would be sore and uncomfortable, but all in all it was great. I guess this training is working. I am learning to really like this running thing after all. Oh no....what next....let's NOT go there!

When you find yourself....

2007-08-01T09:22:00.000-05:00

by Brad Paisley...that is what I am listening to right now. I am looking and I hope that can find myself...soon. You see, I have always viewed myself as someone who had the identity as mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, volunteer- you know- the "Go to Girl". I have always been there for everyone in any situation, big or small. I have not been a judge, because that is up to God. I "just do it". I don't know who I am, other than the titles listed above. I am training for my second half marathon and I am looking for myself. I am hoping that with this journey I can find the strength within to "find myself". My kids are getting a little older and helping out around the house a little more. Let me show you a couple of examples...

Here is B mowing the front yard....

and here is H mowing the back yard...

They have been helping more with the laundry, dishes, picking up their things-which gives me a little more "me" time. I am trying to figure out where my life needs to go at this point in time. i am struggling with some issues, big and small, and I need to work them out. I am praying to God that He sends me in the direction in which I can do the best work for Him. I hope that eventually, sooner than later, I can "find myself"....

Woop Woop...I did it again!!!!

2007-07-31T12:28:00.000-05:00

Well, it is OFFICIAL. i have begun my training and signed up for the Houston Aramco Half Marathon. i am so excited that I could just scream. I need to push myself and do this. Right now i am so out of shape and i wonder if I will EVER breathe well again. My breathing has been so labored while i have been running lately. I guess it is because it has been so extremely humid. It feels like the world is on my chest. Saturday we ran 5 miles. For the first 2.5 miles I ran a 5:1, then we took a Gu break and walked through a cycle. I was getting dizzy and so so tired. I made it to about the 4.5 mile mark and dropped down to a 3:2. I started feeling better and made it back in and finished in 1:11. A little longer than I had wanted, but, hey, I FINISHED. This week i am hoping to improve by a few minutes. I wonder if it will be 5.46 miles like it was last week? After all, I think I did okay! I will try to post when i can about my progress.

2007-07-16T21:19:00.000-05:00

Run Robin Run....

2007-07-16T07:42:00.000-05:00

Good Morning!!! I began my "official" half marathon training on Saturday morning running 3 miles- although I think that it was a tad bit farther than 3! Afterwards my group of girls did what you call "core". Imagine, if you will, getting on your belly, holding your body up with your toes and elbows for 3o seconds- TWICE!!! Yeah, yeah, doesn't sound like much...total of 1 minute- you say to yourself- "NO BIG DEAL"...my response- TRY IT YOURSELF! After we did the front we do each side for 3o seconds. Whoa Nellie! By Sunday night I could barely move. It hurt to sit up in my bed. Call me a wuss, but once again, my response is the same...try it yourself and THEN come talk to me...the next day!

I am so happy that I have such a great group of people to train with. Last year I would have said girls, but this year my crazy husband has decided to do the FULL marathon. It turns out that running 13.1 miles is too wussy for him. He said 26.2 or nothing! WOW...I am totally impressed. I can't let him know that though! This morning he actually got up at 530 and went running with "the girls"! I have never felt safer! He kept up with us ladies who ran the half last year. I don't know if I am more impressed that he kept up or that he woke up! I am a little tired, I feel sore, I feel like I need 6 more hours of sleep and I feel GREAT! I am so happy to be training again and I am happy that my DH is doing this. I am a blessed Woman, Wife, Mother and Friend! Thank you, dear God, for giving me strength, courage and will power and an AWESOME support system. Go Blue Racers!

Easy...easy like Monday morning...

2007-06-25T13:31:00.000-05:00

Oh my, here i sit watching the weatherman tell me that it is going to rain ALL week long!!! YUCKO. I love the rain, the sound of the thunder rolling, but i HATE the fact that we are stuck in the house. We spent a lot of time outside this weekend. Hannah learned, on her own doing, how to mow the lawn. She earned $1o for it too. She is such a precious angel and I never expected her to want to do any manual labor! She hates to do anything that has anything to do with any type of work. It was such a wonderful surprise to see her outside with daddy showing her how to run the lawn mower. I was taking Jim out a cold drink and there they were engaged in all the ins and outs and safety issues that go along with the lawn mower...you know...there once was this man who mowed the lawn in flip-flops and he accidentally cut off his toes....OH MY! Hannah had proper shoes on....don't worry. Depending on the weather, she has a job to mow my friends lawn this afternoon....for $10! She made $5 working the concession stand last night! She may have enough for the heely's she wants by the end of summer!

I guess i will go out and get some games out for us to play...or should I take a nap...or bake cupcakes with the kids. There are so many rainy days ahead...i guess that I will do it all!

Thursday boredom

2007-06-21T09:47:00.000-05:00

today is take your kids to work day at Boeing, where Jim works. You must be at least 9 years old to participate. I have 3 children, 2 which are 9 and older. John is ONLY 8 and gets to spend the day with Mommy. Lucky him....yeah right! We have been brainstorming all morning about what we can do. Neither one of us want to do anything extraordinary because we want don't want to do it without Hannah and BJ and Daddy. so....what are we gonna do? He is laying here playing his new game on his DS and I am watching Regis and Kelly, eating my oatmeal and blogging...talk about multi-tasking- remember I am a mother of 3!!!!

What to do, what to do? I guess we could go grocery shopping...we are gonna have 4 friends over tonight to play. The parents are going out. My friend H and her husband are going on a date and my friend A and S are going on a business meeting. They are both always wonderful when it comes to taking care of my kids when I need them, so, i happily agreed to watch their kids. It should be fun. I think we will order pizza, make cupcakes and rent a movie and play games! Not much more to talk about today. Hope the day gets a little more exciting!

Good Morning Sunshine...

2007-06-20T08:07:00.000-05:00

That is my very favorite saying everying morning. Today is my first day of official "blogging" so- Good Morning Sunshine! I am going to try to count my blessings today because so many simple things go unnoticed. For example I got up this morning and sweet little voices go "mornin' mom!" What a sweet sweet sound...for now until they begin fighting over "yoshi's island" or "star wars II the original trilogy" for their Nintendo DS...lite. But, I will count it as a blessing. I woke up and there was no coffee made...that was NOT so much a blessing. You see, I normally make the coffee the night before so it will be ready and hot when I wander downstairs. Today, however, i met my husband at the top of the stairs when i was getting ready to go and make it and i am sure he was thinking that it was NOT a blessing that there was no coffee either. However, when he comes downstairs after the shower that had to wake him up, (rather than the coffee), he WILL have a perfect cup of coffee waiting for him! I have another recent blessing to count...International Delight White Chocolate Raspberry creamer! Oh my heavens it is so yummy you want to make sure that coffee is ready and waiting for you when you wake up. ;]
I tried to find a picture of it but since I am so new to blogging I am picture dumb. i will learn.

I guess I better go get ready...I have promised my daughter a DS lite of her own. Pink of course!

I will keep in touch! Blessings!