Being Thrown in the Pool - Slow-Mo Videos

This past weekend we attended a family wedding in Midland. We stayed at a hotel and the kids loved the pool. Trey had fun throwing the kids around. Make sure to watch Trey's belly flop.

We Met with a Pool Designer & A 10 Miler on the Treadmill

Hi! How was your weekend?
Dakota has been busy selecting the tiles for our pool. Well, perhaps our future pool.

Saturday morning we met with a pool designer and he told us about all the finishes and options. I kept saying, "Wow! That's nice!!!!!" followed by...."how much?"

So apparently, I have expensive tastes. Everything I saw and liked is an upgrade. I had to reel myself-in and go to the affordable - standard wall. Everything you see on the right is standard. Trey and I found several tiles on that wall. Trey was thinking about having a Dallas Cowboys Theme pool (Star and all), but the designer asked him the question, "What if you want to sell your house and you lose a potential buyer because the guy is a Redskins fan?" Good point! So, I'll keep you posted on the pool process. Not sure if it's a done deal for us.

I had a super run week!

It rained Sunday during my long run. I ran outside for 6 miles and it started pouring, so I had to finish 10 miles on the treadmill. I kept stepping off the belt, every mile or so. Ugh! 10 miles is 10 miles and it was done in over an hour.  A long run on a treadmill is not my go to option, but I'm thankful I at least have that option when it's raining and lightning outside.

Recent PR Post Baby & Summer Fun

How is my training going????
I didn't run as often, I actually missed 2 runs, but I ran my designated long run, (16 miles on Saturday). That's the farthest I've ran since getting pregnant with Dakota. So, considering I hit my long run distance and I'm not dealing with any injuries, I feel pretty good about running, right now.

How was your fourth of july weekend????
The girls and I took a mini-trip to Abilene. Trey had to work. I stayed at my mom's house and Chey got all paparazzi.

Besides visiting with my momma, we also celebrated DJ's birthday at the Abilene Swim Club Pool. I know, another pool weekend, we can't get enough!

Birthday boy and family

Chey enjoyed the mini-Rapid Pool Slide
 
Dakota looking good in her swimsuit

We slept so loooong this weekend. Running gives me the sleepies and apparently swimming does it for the girls. Actually, Dakota didn't even swim, I suppose it's being passed around -- that gives her the sleepies

Dakota was sleeping hard this morning, I finally woke her up at 8:30 am. I was thankful I got a chance to run on the treadmill, while she was still in bed. Thanks, Dakota!

First Dip, Pool Showroom & Solid Run Week

Dakota went swimming in a pool for the first time, this weekend. We spent Saturday afternoon in Coppell with family and went swimming in their pool. It was a jam pack weekend. We visited all weekend with family. Trey's family was also in town, I'll post pictures of that soon.

You know how I'm always saying Trey is persuasive? Well, he's convinced me we need a pool. I'm not saying it's a sealed deal, but we did go to a "pool showroom" and our conversations have gone from, "if we ever get a pool" to "next summer when we're swimming in our pool."

Well, if we ever get a pool, I know one girl who will be very happy. Cheyenne took swim lessons. She went from being slightly terrified of being in a pool to being pretty comfortable. Here's a picture that Mrs. Amanda took of her and Luke together before class. Amanda is the one who took Chey to her lessons, while I worked....I did get a chance to go to one of her lessons. She was so excited to show me what she learned.

Despite being sick some of Monday and all day Tuesday, I had a solid run week. High-Five to me! Boom!

Dakota Was Mistaken For a Boy. It Happens.

My cousin Jeremy and his wife Jerrica, recently bought a house, in the DFW area. Their new house has a pool, so yesterday, we were all over that...

Jerrica and Dakota.

My uncle and aunt were also in town, they live in Port Lavaca. I love family time. I just wish more of my family lived in the area. Jeremy and Jerrica live semi-close, but they are still about a 45 minute drive from where we live.

Awwww, look at their amazing pool. I want one!

We watched the boys play an aggressive game of volleyball.

Dakota and I relaxed by the pool. She was perfectly content eating her hands and watching the boys. She was wearing a Cowboys onesie. Guess who dressed her? Jerrica's sister told me, "What a cute boy!" I was like no, he's a she.

Cheyenne didn't let her broken collar-bone stop her from getting wet. She just wasn't as active as she normally is. We took her sling off and she played on the ledge.

What are your plans for today????
I'm not sure what we are going to do. So, far we are relaxing at home.

How to Make A Double Chin Look Good

First of all, you must have a sweet face like this...

And second, you must have a sweet face like this...

End of discussion.

Mmmm, I love her to pieces. Today, I got her hospital bill in the mail. I think it's a fair price and much more affordable than Cheyenne's NICU stay.

So, this is where we spend a lot of our time these days, it's the master bedroom. It's still an unfinished home project, BUT I met with a painter and Trey and I are going to hire him to finish what we started. I can't wait!!!!!! My dresser has been in the entryway forever. I'm ready to have my bedroom furniture, back in my bedroom.

How was your fourth of July?

We spent it with our friends at their house. Since they live outside the city limits we got Cheyenne a kid pack of fire crackers. Once it got dark, I was enjoying the show, until Dakota started crying. She hated the noise, every time a big firework went off, she would jump and cry. Do you blame her? Poor baby. I went inside, fed her and by the time I was about to pass her off to a friend, the guys were done popping fireworks...Oh, well. I can't speak for Dakota, but I had a good time. Cheyenne is a big fan of the sparklers.

Taper Time, Pregnancy Style & Lots of Changes

I'm about 2 weeks from my due date (technically 15 days) and if I was training for a race, I would begin my taper, right about now. You know, naturally, I will taper during pregnancy too. I'm a runner, so this is how my brain works. But first the important question: Is it too early to start carb loading???? Pasta, sweet potatoes, come to mommy!

During a taper, one can become irritable, so don't be surprised if in the next two weeks, I start acting crabby. Blame it on the hormones and taper. I can only use this excuse for a short period of time, so I might as well make good use of it. Trey might say, I have already started acting this way and have been like this for some time -- watch it, mister!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...But I Don't Want to Say Goodbye
Yesterday, we went to a farewell party for two families who go to our church. One of the families moving away is Mike and Erin! I just want to cry and hold their ankles and tell them they can't go.

Erin has been watching Cheyenne for two years. Erin means so much more to me, than a childcare provider, she is my friend. I'm going to miss her and her family dearly. The good news is her husband recently graduated and he has accepted a Pastor position near Abilene. Yes, Abilene, Texas. So, that makes me feel a little better. It's not like they are moving out of state or anything.

Cheyenne understands her best friend, Brianna is moving away. She'll be fine, but I know she'll miss her Bia-Boo.

Childcare Change
Erin gave me plenty of notice about moving, so that allowed Trey and I to pray and find someone else to  watch the girls. A friend in our Sunday School Class was eager to talk with us about the possibility of watching the girls. We had her and her family over for dinner, talked about all the details and we all agreed we were on board.

Sometime, in mid-July, Tonya will be providing childcare services for Chey and baby Dakota. I'm thankful and relieved we found someone we know and trust. Tonya and her husband have 3 children, the picture below is of her with her daughter, Jolie. OH! Did I mention they live about 2 miles from our house? YAY!!!!!!

More Changes
Next school year, Chey will not be attending school (She attended a mothers day out program for two years). This makes me sad, but I'm thankful Erin took her while she was also teaching at that school.

To wrap it up, here are the major changes coming up:
- new baby
- friends moving
- new childcare provider
- no school for Chey

Change is inevitable and we can only learn and grow from it.

Fall into Fall & Goodbye Summer

This is what excites me about fall: sweaters, running, crisp mornings, drinking warm drinks and not sweating, jackets, hats, walks with Cheyenne.

To welcome fall, I have to say goodbye to summer. Even though it was one of the hottest summers, I have ever experienced, I will miss it. Here is the last batch of photos from our Port Lavaca trip. Goodbye pool time.

Hotel Pool

 
Hey, Bella it's not so bad, if you jump right in...
Like this...



My child stole the hotel toliet paper.
Why? Why not.

Goodbye Summer

It may be the beginng of the fall semester, but that doesn't change the hot weather forecast. At least we can still enjoy the pool, for a few more weeks, maybe even months...it's Texas y'all -- you never know.





For a little girl who would hold onto my neck with a death grip anytime we were in the pool, she sure has progressed.

She knows how to have a good time.

Okay, what are you guys up to this weekend? I've got miles and miles to run. What's new.

Gotta Work On My Form

If you are a runner, you know the latest talk is run form. While runners around the world are working on that, I obviously need to be working on my cannonball form. Summer Priority #1!

I like how Cheyenne is cheering me on....

Y'all! This pool is spoiling me. This weekend, I spent about an hour looking at pool websites. We don't need a pool, but it would be nice. In the meantime, we can enjoy our friends. By the way, I hear pool maintenance is a nightmare....well, more of an inconvenience.

How awesome would it be to swim laps in my own pool? That would be awesome. I can try to tri...

Cheyenne and I on the whale perch.

We stayed in the water until our skin got wrinkly.