I've got to apologize for the lack of blogging that I've not done. I have no real excuse, just life took a hold of me and I got behind. Before you dive into the blog, I need to set a few things up. For some crazy idea, I thought It would be challenging and fun to enter into a 10 mile running (yes I said running) race after talking to a friend of mine. Well, as it turned out she wasn't able to do it, but I still went full steam ahead!!!! Why, you ask...ummm I guess deep down I wanted to see if I could do it! Well, I prepared like I should have by building up to running 5-6 miles 3 times a week and 3 miles the forth day. I was doing great, felt good etc.. Then Easter Day happened! Yes, Easter Day....We had a great time with the kids , did the whole egg hunt and then decided to watch some basketball down in the basement. We made some snacks and I got a glass of water and started down the basement steps then........BAM!!! I fell on my a** going down the basement steps and messed my back up pretty bad. 2 WEEKS!!!!!! before the race in DC. OMG! So, I couldn't train for 1 week. I was able to run 2 days and took the rest of the week off because my shins were hurting me. Only running a couple of miles...ummm not good! So we plowed ahead with getting ready to leave for DC on Saturday, April 5th. We made it to DC, no problem. My neighbor Kim and her husband Ken offered us his Mother's apartment to to stay in while we were in DC. Sweet! What great friends they are and it really did work out so nice for us. The kids enjoyed riding the Metro all over and seeing the city. We had a beautiful day on Saturday and probably walked a good 6-7 miles that day. It is now Sunday, April 6th........Race day.............to be continued below.......................

It is Race Day! You can see that it was a dreary morning! Scott took a picture of me before I lined up, then one of me in the starting corral, and then me taking off. God help me! Let's hope that I don't picked up by the scooper patrol for not keeping above a 14 min mile. Please just let me finish.......................................

I DID IT!!!!! I ran the whole 10 miles......OMG! The rain,
cold weather, and wind could not stop me! I was emailed the
Official times today and, I did better than I thought I did. I
Ran a 9 min. 27 sec mile and finished with the time of: 1:34
and 30 sec. and placed 6374 out of 12,309 runners. In women

only I placed 2,389 out of 6,402! And in my age group (35-39) I placed 324 out of 883!

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the link to the Cherry Blossom 10 mile run page:

http://www.cherryblossom.org/course/course.htm

They raised 1 million for the Children's Miracle Network!

This is the WWI Memorial for the soldiers that served from
the DC area, a fountain with coins, a few more friends that
we met along the way, and the beautiful Cherry Blossom
Trees in full bloom.

The George Washington Monument, and the Korean War Memorial.

Here are some friends that we met on the way to the Lincoln
Memorial.

The Lincoln Memorial.

Jessica and me at the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC.
Saturday April 5th, 2008

Jessie took these cool pictures of the WWII Memorial.
Great job Jessie!!!!!!

Rachel standing in front of the WWII Memorial
with her new permanent cast in HOT PINK!Sweet!
She said she wanted to jump in. That's Rachel for ya!

DENVER, COLORADO BABY!!!!

Here we come. Why I decided to learn how to ski at the age of 38,is beyond me, but I'm glad I did. I did great!!!!! I had a lot of help from everyone and I listened in my instructor in the half day class. Everyone was so nice and patient with me. I'm proud of myself for going for it. So, here are some pictures of our adventures. Sorry we couldn't get more, but it is hard to ski and take pictures at the same time...just as Scott! I do realize though that I have these pictures out of sequence in the blog. I realized that after I had already published the pictures of Rachel and her breaking her arm. Oh well............One more thing, I know that there are not that many pictures of Scott, and I'm sorry about that but he always has the camera. It's kinda like when we drive to Ohio or anywhere really, he never let's me drive!!!!!!!!! So enjoy the pictures.

We had a beautiful day on Thursday and Scott got off work at noon, so we decided to go to Red Rock, Colorado to go hiking. Just Beautiful!!!! It was so warm out and yet there was snow.... amazing. We also went hiking at a place near the Lockheed Site.

Scott and I hiking at Red Rock, Colorado. Almost 70 degrees
outside, but there is snow on these rocks!????? Just to let everyone know, we were traveling with a furry little bear named Browny. Rachel thought we might get lonely, so she let us take him along to keep us company and to see Colorado since she couldn't. :) Awwwwww -----So you will see him pop up every now and then on our trip.

We have ARRIVED!--- at Silverthorn, Colorado. This is the place
were we will be staying and it is so cool. This is Carl taking a picture of someone in the doorway??, Dan cooking breakfast, the hot tub, and Erica, Dan
and me making the grocery list, well I was really standing there eating a Biscotti and saying "ya, that sounds good"! :) I mean a girl has to eat, right??

Just messin with the animals......I think that is a badger that Brian is snuggling with!!!

Wow, what a beautiful day to ski!!!! We are at Breckenridge Ski Resort and had the best day skiing. Perfect weather, and it is my second day skiing and loving it. SWEET!.......Browny decided to come along today to enjoy the beautiful mountains behind me. That is Brian in the other picture. He is our friend and he works with Scott. He was the master mind of the logistics of the trip. He knew all the resorts that we went to inside and out and was in charge of which ones we went to first and so on......He is crazy on the slopes and a wonderful host and guide. He was hanging with Scott and I for awhile(for my benefit).....I know he was anxious to get up to the top of the mountain to rip in one of the Bowls on the slopes. He wanted to make sure I was comfortable on the slopes before they(Scott and him) left to tear it up.

The place that we stayed at while skiing was way cool. This guy is an avid hunter. Black Bears, Deer, Badger's and probably more. Browny got real cozy with the Bear. Maybe they were related???

Mitchell didn't want me to take his picture before he left for school on picture day. So, that's why I don't have one of him. Typical Mitch, thinks mom is crazy to want to take a picture of him when he's going to get one taken at school...duh!!!!

Rachel on picture day--Spring 2008! :)
Doesn't she look so sweet?

Jessica on picture day---Spring 2008
Doesn't she look cute?:) Looks so grown up.

Good news, Bad news!

We made it home from the ER after only spending about 3 hours there, but..............Rachel broke both bones in her left arm tonight at Flag Football practice. Scott was with her at practice and saw it all go down. He saw her wrist right after it happened and knew instantly it was broke. Her wrist was bent the wrong way and Rachel new something was wrong too. Scott called me and I came immediately. I made it in time to ride in the ambulance with her. Shortly after we arrived, the Coach and a couple of her teammates showed up at the ER and were allowed into her room to see her. That really meant a lot to Rachel to know that everyone cared so much. They stayed for awhile and really cheered her up. When they left, the doctor came in and said she needed x-rays done. Scott again went with her and that was not a pretty scene. Rachel did not like having to move her arm and wrist for the x-rays. The ER doctor told us that her arm was badly broken and when he sent the x-rays to the orthopedic surgeon he said to put a temporary cast on her arm tonight and make and appointment in the morning to see him. I just hope she doesn't need any pins in her arm. The break was BAD!!!!!! Let's just hope that Rachel can get a good night's sleep tonight. As you can see in the picture, she is barely holding it together. Poor Boo Boo! :(

We thought that Rachel should get a bath before she sees the Orthopedic Surgeon tomorrow. As you can see, she loves getting into Mom and Dad's Jacuzzi tub. We took advantage of her only being able to use on arm and made funny hairstyles on her! :) What a nice mom....taking advantage of her poor,hurt, little girl. Jessie joined in too! LOL -- Oh, she had fun, it got her mind off of it for awhile.

Today is Wednesday March 26th, 2008. It is the morning that we go and see the Orthopedic Surgeon. He might be able to set her arm in the office today. Let's hope he can. If he can't Rachel will need surgery.

This is the day of the Surgery- March 27th 2008. Rachel has just come out of surgery and VERY upset that she doesn't have her permanent cast on! She was in pain so the nurse gave her some Demerol and she had a reaction to it, so they had to give her Benadryll on top of that, and as you can see--- it knocked her out!!!!! When she came out of surgery, Sampson(her favorite stuffed animal) had the same surgery as she did. LOL :) So, she didn't go throught it alone.

Rachel at her Flag Football Game. The first game after she broke her arm at practice. The team gave her the "Team Mascot" a tiger with it dressed in the teams colors. She was Team Captain, was presented with the game ball at the end of the game with all the players signatures, and a gift from the coach, which was a teddy bear that had an ice pack on it's head. This was also Team Picture Day, and she got to hold the tiger and game ball in the picture. It was all very sweet and thoughtful for the Team to do this for her. I know it meant a lot to her. She was very surprised and thankful.

This is the Easter Cake that Jessie and Emily made.
They stayed at Emily's Grandmother's house outside
of the city. This is the drive into the city.--- Spring Break 2008

Here is my Lady Liberty!

Jessie and her BFF(Emily) visiting The Staue of Liberty.
Lady Liberty looks good! Spring Break 2008

Pictures at Ellis Island--2008 Spring Break in New York City