THE FINISH LINE

We made it!! There's nothing better than making it across the finish line!! I wish I could say the triathalon was easy or not as hard as I thought it would be, but that would be a lie. It was definitely the hardest physical "thing" I've ever done, second only to labor. Kristy did a great job of journaling our experience on her blog - visit her site for all of the details. It's strange how proud I feel of myself - that I actually said I'd do it, actually trained for it and then actually finished it without dying!!! I'm not sure I've ever felt this kind of overwhelming sense of accomplishment before - it's weird and wonderful - all at the same time. All this being said, I couldn't have done it without Kristy. She "carried" me through the run - verbally. She was constantly talking us through it, encouraging me to go a little further, telling me I could make it and helping me hold on until the end. So I have to agree with her when I say it was a great day and great accomplishment, but it was made so much sweeter by sharing it all with a friend.

And just so you know... transition went great - my pants stayed in place the whole time!!!

Check out our race pictures at Opix photography - just search by our names.

What is WRONG with me???

I am some kind of freak show right now! In the last 10 minutes I have been in and out of several work out clothes - trying to find something to wear for the triathalon on Sunday. Right now I'm sitting at the computer in my wetsuit - trying to decide if it is comfortable and if I can actually move my arms in it to actually swim. I've tried taking it off as fast as possible in hopes that my pants won't actually come off at the same time - which is a huge possibility!! I've also tried to explain to Jim that "cellulitiness" is actually a word as I show him several outfits that do not help my "cellulitiness". What is WRONG with me and why did I ever think that a triathalon was a GREAT idea!?!?!?!?!

First Day of Third Grade

Here he is, ready for the first day of school! Caleb started Literacy First Charter School today - which we have been on the waiting list for two years now. So, needless to say we were very excited when we got a call last week that Caleb was in. Caleb wasn't quite as excited as we were, but by the time we finished school shopping and visiting his class, God had done a mighty work and Caleb was actually saying he was "excited" to start school.

Last night, he decided that a warm bath or shower would be a good plan in the morning before school to help him "relax". Where do they get this stuff!!! So, the morning went flawlessly. After a warm bath and a waffle he was ready for school.

I will update you later on how his first day at a new school went.

We Got Nothin

This is what happens when two women stand around on a Saturday afternoon and say, "We got nothin". Meaning - we've got nothing to do!!! Kristy came over on Saturday with her kids to swim and hang out - Jim and Bret were both out of town. When we finished swimming, we came in the house and didn't know what to do with ourselves. So.... as we stood in my kitchen I said, "I want to cut that pine tree down". Next thing I know, Kristy and I are outside sawing down the pine tree that was starting to take over my driveway. Moral to the story... women standing around with nothing to do - really isn't true - we always have something to do!!!! Kristy and I laughed and laughed about whether or not Jim would notice we cut the tree down - pretty hard to miss the two trash cans overflowing with pine tree!

The Tooth Fairy Doesn't Work Weekends

I'm a terrible mother!!! Wait, Jim's terrible too because I asked him to remind me and he didn't. So, Joshua lost his first official tooth - the natural way - yesterday. We were all so excited and we made a REALLY big deal about the Tooth Fairy coming. Guess what happened??? The stupid Tooth Fairy went to bed and forgot to visit Joshua Hammond. When Joshua woke up in the morning he brought Jim in to look and see that the Tooth Fairy had not come. Jim, in his wisdom says, "The Tooth Fairy must not work on the weekends" which Joshua seemed OK with and went about playing as usual. So PLEEEEEEEEEASE pray that the Tooth Fairy isn't a flake tonight - we need her to visit in a BIG way!!!

Compared to the Feldberg house - where they have a rockin Tooth Fairy that writes letters - the Hammond Tooth Fairy sucks!!!

MOMENT TO REMEMBER

Summer is a wonderful time - most of the time! Caleb and Joshua take a few days to get into a rhythm together when there is a break from school. They usually spend several days getting on each others nerves and then mysteriously and wonderfully, they become the best of friends. This picture was taken a week or so into summer vacation. Caleb had decided he was going to teach Joshua how to skateboard and Joshua was all for it. They went in the back yard and Caleb helped him get on his gear and then he helped him balance on the board - he never did really MOVE on the board, but Joshua was very proud of himself, nevertheless. Moments later, I looked out the back door to see them sitting on Caleb's board reading a book about skateboard ramp tricks and talking about skateboarding off the back patio steps. I laughed to myself and quickly got the camera to savor this sweet brother moment.

Good-Bye to Willy

So, I'm not sure where to begin... what seemed like a few days away camping turned into tragedy.

We went to Doheny to go camping on Sunday and when my in-laws went to feed the dog on Monday morning they couldn't find him. They finally discovered he was in the side/gated area of the back yard - which we aren't sure how he got there. This wouldn't have been a problem except for the fact that I have been trying to "eliminate" a squirrel problem in our backyard. When Willy was in the side yard he ate all of the squirrel poison that I had put back there. I say "all", but "all" was probably only a half of a cup. I really wasn't too worried about him - it was a small amount and he's a pretty big dog. Until...

Tuesday morning when my in-laws went over to feed Willy he barely acknowledged them. This is not normal, Willy would never pass up an opportunity to play ball!!! So, when Jim went home that morning for a meeting he found Willy laying at the bottom of the steps - barely responsive and he died within the next 30 minutes.

So, while we were camping I had to tell the boys that Willy died. Poor Joshua cried and cried and kept saying, "Maybe Daddy will bring me a brown dog". Caleb, hasn't really cried or said too much about it. When I told him that Jim was taking him to the doctor because he was sick he said, "If Willy dies I will cry like a baby!" but he haasn't done that yet. For me, I kind of miss him, but mostly I feel guilty. Guilty, that I didn't really like him. Anyway, here's to Willy - the dog that would never pass up an opportunity to play ball!!!!