Harvesting our Gourds

Happy VeggieTales Gourds

Keith and Tricia decided to plant a few seeds in our flowerbed. Vines started growing, so we thought we were growing pumpkins, but it ends up we were growing gourds. It was a really fun process of watching them start as beautiful yellow flowers and then turn into yellow and green bumpy gourds. Today was a beautiful sunny day and a perfect day for Keith and the kids to harvest their gourds.

Here is Tricia cutting a big one off the vine.

Parker had a lot of fun harvesting the gourds. Here he is checking out one.

Here are Tricia and Parker with the Fruits of their Labor.

Keith, Tricia and Parker headed off to the neighbor's houses to deliver some gourds to them. They all loved them and some even put them in their front yard fall displays right away. It was really fun to watch the kids excitement as they told me about sharing them with the neighbors.

Watching the kids harvesting their crop made me think of my relationship with Jesus Christ and how I am so thankful that at a young age a seed was planted in me. That seed was knowing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and He rose again. He did this for me so that I could be forgiven of the things I had done wrong and would do wrong in the future. He did that so I could spend eternity with Him. Once I accepted His gift and prayed to ask Him into my life, I became like a plant that that grew and was harvested by Jesus Himself. Don't be left out in the field unharvested. Please if you ever have any questions about Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for you, feel free to ask.

New workout buddy

I have a new workout buddy and I'm so excited. We will be working out on Tuesday nights at the YMCA.

Cindy and I met last fall at ETC preschool. I was a teacher's assistant in the 4's class. Jack is Cindy's son and was in my class. He came about 3 days a week. After awhile Cindy and I started talking. I found out she just moved her from another town. She has a daughter a year older than Tricia and Jack and Parker had a lot in common. We got together and the rest is history. We get along great and our kids do too. Our kids will be going to AWANA, a mid week kids church program while we work out. The church is right down the street from the YMCA, so it will be very convenient for us to go and workout.

This is Cindy and I a couple of months ago at a scrapbooking night.

We went tonight and got in 30 minutes on the elliptical or as one of Cindy's friends calls it the eucalyptus machine. Next week we are going to work out 60 minutes. It's so much more fun with a friend.

Here is a picture of our kids on our boat this summer. They loved going tubing. They are all becoming such good friends.

Last week I lost 2.2 pounds on weight watchers. I am back going to meetings after taking most of the summer off.

I'm back in the mood to lose weight and am doing well. I will be going to Curves 3 days a week, the YMCA 3 days a week and taking Sundays off. It feels good to be back.

Let me know how all of you are doing. Keep on keepin' on and if you haven't started yet, get up off the couch and get going. You'll feel so much better.

Here are a few bible verses for encouragement:

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength

Babysitting Luke

My Aunt Meepa does a great job of babysitting me. Here I am all buckled in next to Tricia. She took this picture of me. We just dropped Parker off at his friend Jack's house and we are heading to Tricia's violin lessons. I love to hear her play.
This is me taking in the sceneary around the property where Tricia takes violin. Mommy don't worry Aunt Meepa washed my hands after we were done with the photo shoot. Notice my cute Elmo outfit Aunt Meepa put on me. She also made me wear these silly Elmo shoes too. I was starting to untie them there on the right. I was dying to get these things off.



I was trying so hard to get that Elmo shoe off. I did not want to wear them anymore and then all of the sudden. . . .


V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!! Look Aunt Meepa no more Elmo shoe. Aunt Meepa was so nice she took off my other one and did not make me wear them anymore. I've got her wrapped around my little finger.

While working on getting my shoe off I was listening to Tricia play the violin through an open window. I started to sing really loud and later Tricia told me she could hear me. I didn't realize I was that loud, but between getting my shoe off and hearing Tricia play I was one happy camper.

After violin we went to a meeting at Tricia and Parker's school. I got to go in Parker's class and Tricia really helped me to be happy so I wouldn't cry during the meeting. Another baby kept crying so I was really good. Tricia told me that when I go to Kindergarten this would be the school I would go to, so I really took everything in, so I will remember it when I go back.

We went to pick up Parker after that and then I went to Aunt Meepa's house. I cannot seem to remember much after that.

Aunt Meepa here. After we got Parker I got Luke to sleep and Tricia set up a Bean Bag Chair for him and now they are having an overnighter in the living room. She couldn't stand the thought of sleeping upstairs when her little cousin was sleeping in the living room. They are both sound asleep. Tricia and Parker both loved helping me babysit and cannot wait until the next time.

Tah Tah for Now!

Pictures from my second triathlon

On August 13,2006 I competed in my second Triathlon of the summer. I already posted my results a couple of blog posts back, so this is just to let you see pictures and read a little bit more about my day. ENJOY!!

Here I am getting my numbers put on the morning of my triathlon. I was number 1021.

Here I am singing the national anthem waiting for the swim to start. The man behind me (labeled mamma's Boy in blue) was 32 years old (our ages were written on our calf) and had his mommy there to put on his swim cap. It was so cute!!

Here I am coming out of the swim. Giving Tricia and Parker a thumbs up.

Here I am getting my bike out of transition on the left and heading into transition on the right. Tricia took the one of me on the left and Parker took the one of me on the right. They were pretty much my photographers of the day.

Thumbs up!! The bike was a little bit harder this time, but I was able to persevere and finish what I came to do, a triathlon. Go Me!!

This is the best picture Tricia took all day. She was trying to get me crossing the finish line. When I saw this picture I couldn't stop laughing. She said, "Mom you were running so fast it was hard to get your picture." Too cute!!

The picture above is the one Tricia took right after she took the above picture and this picture of me is right after I sprinted across the finish line.

Doing this Triathlon was very hard. I was not as in shape as I had wanted and almost didn't even sign up for it, but as I saw my husband and kids on the sideline I knew I could do it. I did a lot of praying that day too and the Lord helped me and gave me strength that I didn't even know I had. The second I crossed the finish line I knew that triathlons are definitely something I want to do every summer now. My kids kept telling me how proud they were of me and they both want to do a triathlon next summer. I'm so glad that I can be an example to them of what living a healthy and active life is.

Just today the kids were going to go play out in the neighborhood. They were going to start off roller blading, then scooter and then ride bikes. Tricia yelled upstairs and said, "Mom do you mind opening the back of your Mini Van? We need somewhere to sit to do our transitions!" It was a very proud moment for me.

Next up on my healthy journey is a century ride on October 1st and lose 20 pounds by Thanksgiving. Please ask me how I am doing with that along the way. I need the support of others and really appreciate all of you so much in my healthy journey. I couldn't do it without you. Thanks.

We've Got New Pets

Tricia and Parker have been saving up to buy new pets. The day finally arrived and on Monday August 28, 2006 Keith took them to buy their new pets.

Tricia bought a Russian tortoise and Parker got a Leopard Gecko. It has been a lot of fun getting to know them.

Tricia had her named her tortoise long before she even brought him home. His name is Comet.

Parker picked the name Speedy for his Gecko because the first time we took him out of his aquarium and tried to hold him, he jumped out of our hands and was very speedy, running into our linen closet in the bathroom. Speedy's middle name is Dan Chi. Dan Chi is a Kung Fu term meaning single Sticky hands.

Here is Tricia with Comet. This is my favorite picture. I think Comet looks hilarious. Parker said it looks like he is doing a disco dance. He didn't really like getting his picture taken.

Here is Parker talking to Speedy Dan Chi. This was the first day that we really got to hold him because we had to let him get used to his new habitat. Speedy eats crickets and meal worms. Yummmy! Also, if you grab Speedy by the tail by accident he will release it. It is their defense mechanism. If that ever happens I will be so grossed out. Yuck!!

After buying Parker's Gecko I found this poster and had to get it for him. We have it by Speedy's cage. Here Parker is showing him the poster for inspiration.

I think he got the idea. He looks like King of the Lizards!

We had a great evening playing with our new pets and look forward to many years of memories.