Thursday, December 18, 2008
Ho, Ho, How Many Times Can We Visit Santa?
Yet another Santa visit. This time he visited Cassie's Dance School :)
Friday, December 12, 2008
Let it Snow! H-Town Style!
Snow! It's true!
The next morning, we let Cassie play
before she went to school -- she'd never seen it before!
before she went to school -- she'd never seen it before!
For her, it was fun...
For a while... Until her little hands got cold.
The fun lasted all of 5 minutes.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
On Being Thankful...
In Alabama for Thanksgiving, we had some fun...
A rare family shot
(someone always has to step-out to take the picture)
Let the negotiations begin. :)
"No, really, Santa, did you see this?"
Close-up of Nana's Tree
Artsy-fartsy picture of Nana's tree
Cassie.... well, being Cassie.
A rare family shot
(someone always has to step-out to take the picture)
Let the negotiations begin. :)
"No, really, Santa, did you see this?"
Close-up of Nana's Tree
Artsy-fartsy picture of Nana's tree
"Why can't our tree be this BIG, Mama?"
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Rock It Like A Hurricane... IKE!
Okay, the first thing is we're safe. :)
Second, we've also learned what our threshold is for sticking it out for another hurricane. Before it was a category 4 and higher, we would leave.... after this category 3 and higher. Even then a category 2 was pretty scary to get through.
I'm thankful that Cassie didn't understand the magnitude of what was about to happen, otherwise there'd be no way she would have slept through it! At least someone slept, because Mommy and Daddy sure didn't!
All of our neighbors banded together, which took the edge of the fear and frustration off. We shared food, water and generators -- yes! We were lucky enough to share a generator with someone! We were able to keep our food cold through 2 days of no electricity.
Ironically it was while the eye was passing over us that we saw the transformers blow in our neighborhood. We had water the next morning, only to find it stopped for several hours after. Water service returned but not the electric.
Ike took a good hit at our roof. At one point in the night we thought the roof was going to lift off the house. We called the neighbors across the street to ask them if they could see anything happening. They just said the roof looked like a porcupine with all the shingles standing on end. You could hear them coming off and sliding off. Some of them flung right off the roof with such speed that they were stuck in the fence the next morning!
Water was coming in the roof, leaking through the ceilings and air conditioning vents. After Ike, we got some more rain the next morning and the ceiling to our spare room and bathroom finally gave way to the water and caved in.
We drove around our neighborhood and quickly realized we were very lucky. We lost shingles that caused leaks, but others lost their roof down to the bare plywood.
We have some damage from various leaks throughout the house, but the biggest damage is probably ceiling. Our back doors and laundry room doors are so swollen you can't shut them. There's also a leak in the wall! It just amazes me how the problems just trickle down from the bad roof.
Here's some pictures, in no particular order...
The next day, after Ike, this once dead and
written off flower finally bloomed! It's a sign!!! :)
Second, we've also learned what our threshold is for sticking it out for another hurricane. Before it was a category 4 and higher, we would leave.... after this category 3 and higher. Even then a category 2 was pretty scary to get through.
I'm thankful that Cassie didn't understand the magnitude of what was about to happen, otherwise there'd be no way she would have slept through it! At least someone slept, because Mommy and Daddy sure didn't!
All of our neighbors banded together, which took the edge of the fear and frustration off. We shared food, water and generators -- yes! We were lucky enough to share a generator with someone! We were able to keep our food cold through 2 days of no electricity.
Ironically it was while the eye was passing over us that we saw the transformers blow in our neighborhood. We had water the next morning, only to find it stopped for several hours after. Water service returned but not the electric.
Ike took a good hit at our roof. At one point in the night we thought the roof was going to lift off the house. We called the neighbors across the street to ask them if they could see anything happening. They just said the roof looked like a porcupine with all the shingles standing on end. You could hear them coming off and sliding off. Some of them flung right off the roof with such speed that they were stuck in the fence the next morning!
Water was coming in the roof, leaking through the ceilings and air conditioning vents. After Ike, we got some more rain the next morning and the ceiling to our spare room and bathroom finally gave way to the water and caved in.
We drove around our neighborhood and quickly realized we were very lucky. We lost shingles that caused leaks, but others lost their roof down to the bare plywood.
We have some damage from various leaks throughout the house, but the biggest damage is probably ceiling. Our back doors and laundry room doors are so swollen you can't shut them. There's also a leak in the wall! It just amazes me how the problems just trickle down from the bad roof.
Here's some pictures, in no particular order...
This was the next morning after it was safe to come out...
I had already cleaned up the shingles.
I had already cleaned up the shingles.
This is evidence of the speed with which the
shingles were flying through the air.
This is the house boarded up, pre-Ike
More of the house boarded up...
we tried to protect our house!
Darren's handy work on the temporary roofing...
The next day, after Ike, this once dead and
written off flower finally bloomed! It's a sign!!! :)
This was just one of many lines at the local
food stores to get non-perishables and ice.
This was the steel frame construction of a new strip mall...
those beams used to stand up straight!
Our ceiling in the spare room...
Ceiling in the bathroom...
It's over... now the real fun begins with insurance!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Life Lessons
A life lesson for all of us.
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers .
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only
they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf ball first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked..' The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.'
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers .
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only
they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf ball first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked..' The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.'
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Front Yard
It wasn't really a huge undertaking for your everyday gardeners, but for us adding the annuals was a task. What we're really happy about is how much better everything looks, inlcuding our flowering plum. I planted it last year and watched it die and come back, die and come back... now the thing is doing great. I really didn't think it was going to make it!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Our Little Mermaid
Cassie started the first of 8 swim lessons at our local YMCA. She had a splashing good time! We figure if we get her swimming now (she already rides a bike) I'll have someone to do Tri's with....
Just kinddin'... well, sorta. LOL :)
Just kinddin'... well, sorta. LOL :)
It's Easy... Goin' Green!
True to the Toler side of the family, Cassie wanted to plant a garden and eat what she grew. So last Sunday she and Daddy planted some Strawberries, Peppers and Tomatoes.
In a couple months, we'll see if we have enough for salad!
In a couple months, we'll see if we have enough for salad!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
I came... I tri'd... I finished!
I did it! I finished the tri. We could not have asked for better weather, but by the time the run started it was getting HOT!
The lake was fairly calm and instead of an in-water start, they did a time-trial start, every 5 seconds. I really liked that. The swim was a challenge, but not nearly the chaos I had prepared myself for.
I crossed the swim start and had to wait as the lifeguards were actually bringing an athlete back. This guy was cut and buff... I was so curious as to why he didn't make it to the first bouy; of course it could be anything. That kind of made me a little more nervous. Anyway, my time had started, but I couldn't get in the water until this guy was in.
Darren took some video of me swimming; I couldn't believe it was me. Except for my droopy elbows, I was doing pretty good. About half-way I back-stroked it to get a rest to try to pull it out the last third.
I didn't try to speed through my transitions, I was just steady and took my time.
The bike... not to be tootin' my horn, was a joke after doing the MS150 in April, that was a breeze. The run on the other hand... oiy! The first mile seemed longer than the last. I probably walked a mile/jogged a mile total.
The total elapsed time was 1:15 when I crossed... that's from start of the entire race. I was one of the last couple dozen swimmers to jump in. I'll get my official times tomorrow.
I feel very accomplished right now. I feel like I could do it again and I definitely won't stop the swimming. I can only imagine how well I would have done if I had enough pool time under my belt!
Anyway... that's it. I'll leave you all with some pictures:
Mommy in her Uglies
Waiting for my Swim Start
Finishing the bike
Crossin' the Finish
My Finishers' Medal
My New Lucky Numbers
The lake was fairly calm and instead of an in-water start, they did a time-trial start, every 5 seconds. I really liked that. The swim was a challenge, but not nearly the chaos I had prepared myself for.
I crossed the swim start and had to wait as the lifeguards were actually bringing an athlete back. This guy was cut and buff... I was so curious as to why he didn't make it to the first bouy; of course it could be anything. That kind of made me a little more nervous. Anyway, my time had started, but I couldn't get in the water until this guy was in.
Darren took some video of me swimming; I couldn't believe it was me. Except for my droopy elbows, I was doing pretty good. About half-way I back-stroked it to get a rest to try to pull it out the last third.
I didn't try to speed through my transitions, I was just steady and took my time.
The bike... not to be tootin' my horn, was a joke after doing the MS150 in April, that was a breeze. The run on the other hand... oiy! The first mile seemed longer than the last. I probably walked a mile/jogged a mile total.
The total elapsed time was 1:15 when I crossed... that's from start of the entire race. I was one of the last couple dozen swimmers to jump in. I'll get my official times tomorrow.
I feel very accomplished right now. I feel like I could do it again and I definitely won't stop the swimming. I can only imagine how well I would have done if I had enough pool time under my belt!
Anyway... that's it. I'll leave you all with some pictures:
Mommy in her Uglies
Waiting for my Swim Start
Finishing the bike
Crossin' the Finish
My Finishers' Medal
My New Lucky Numbers
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
