Did NOT keep the rubber on the road this morning!

Metal Grates of Bridges hurt when you land on them!

This morning (like many mornings) I headed out for a ride along the beach. It was super early (5 sharp) and misty/damp out. I was working on some bike intervals for strength with a couple of guys and was overall pleased with my effort...20 miles of WORK...keeping up..hanging on...We had pretty much "called it a day...(at 6 am) and were heading back in. We were heading over the same bridge the ride originated from....just kind of chatting as we went...and then it was like instant chaos..carbon grinding against carbon and bodies on the ground. The tire of one rider caught the edge of the slick (from moisture in the air) metal grate and slid out from under him...in the process that bike tire caught my bike tire and my bike did the same sliding act. It was like a slow motion movie...my thought as I was going down..."this is going to feel great on that sharp metal" Needless to say...we survived...it was ugly...lots of road rash...cracked helmets....bruises...blood..YUCK! I am thinking tomorrow I may be a little sore. I am sure the left side of my body is going to be a rainbow for awhile! But thank goodness...I live to ride another day!! I guess if your going to go down lets pick one of the worst surfaces possible...I did manage to run three miles afterwards....three thoughts led to that decision 1) its on the schedule 2) what if this happened on race day...I would have a heck of alot more than 3 miles to hammer out 3) I may be too sore to run tomorrow! Until next time...

Soccer

This year we allowed Mitchell to play on a competitive soccer team (photos still coming). What this meant to me was a lot of practice, games at a distance, money, and commitment....no more show up and play for an hour a week. Preston and Nicholas did the show up and play this season. Preston really enjoyed soccer and was a bit more aggressive and scored his first goal....which was soo exciting for him and me as I knew how much he wanted it. He has asked to play where Mitchell is playing next season...so onward and upward...we will ALL be moving over to Largo in the spring. It has been a good experience for Mitchell thus far so I am hoping for a positive experience for all three boys in the years to come...time will tell!

Nicholas is so stinkin Cute!!!! Couldn't miss his team in the florescent green!

Preston loves soccer....movin up to the big league next season!

Halloween 2011

Well Halloween has come and gone...and in my mind that is the kick off to the holiday season. My kids enjoy Halloween immensely because of the candy fest. Being a pretty health conscious family sweets are not the norm over here....and if we do have them somebody in this house created them. So, needless to say, Halloween is a treat. Being the mother of boys I kind of roll my eyes, to myself, when Halloween is approaching because it is always a matter of "what super hero are we going to be this year" BORING....10 years later! I always suggest historical figures BUT noone loves that idea. Needless to say, when Pac man and the ghosts were on "the table" as a possibility...I was thrilled and it had my vote!

We enjoyed an evening with grandparents and dear neighborhood friends (who have 5 boys)which is kind of a little tradition that we have and love. As John was getting ready for the evening he hauled out our big double stroller (don't even know how he dug that thing out) (mental note to self...call a hauling company...that could go) and I said to him "honey, we don't have any babies anymore to push around" but he thought we should bring it for overflow of candy, beverages, and any tired children. Anyway...another year of family tradition come and gone...but these are the moments and events I cherish and treasure!

2011 Carving Creations!!

Halloween Stash

Devin did not dress up for Halloween but did escort his brothers to the door , which was of course worthy of candy...he was asked several times if he was a "Hollister" model

Radford's going "retro" in 2011 with Pacman..Inky...and.. Blinky

CHOICES......

So this race season did not go as PLANNED...as if you can ever really plan life. I opened up with a decent to fair race in New Orleans and then trained pretty hard all summer for the upcoming fall races in Augusta and Miami. Somewhere about late July /Early August a seed was planted in my head out of nowhere that with school in session I could not be a racer and an effective homeschooler of FOUR.. both in the same body. Now many people juggle many things but what I could not seem to wrap my head around was doing both things WELL. I was not willing to school my children without giving them 100% of myself intellectually and creatively....yet on the other hand I have the inability to approach a 70.3 or most any race with the attitude of I just want to finish or I am just doing this for fun. So as I weighed all of this out in my mind ....I came to the conclusion that I must choose one or the other.....so of course I choose my children. There really was no choice to be made but it sure felt like choosing. I was very "down" for awhile as I really love racing and was so "race Ready" at the time of this decision but the races were still 6 to 12 weeks away and something had to give. The lesson learned is I need to set up my 2012 race season differently...I need to utilize ALOT of my summer...even if it means stacking races a little closer than normal....I need to relish in the time I allow my self to race because my race season is SHORT. Fortunately, I really enjoy the training aspect and can still indulge in that aspect every or most mornings between 5 and 8 AM.......So I am looking forward to 2012 from a racing perspective....but I cherish every day with my children as that season of my life will end all too quickly. At the end of the day the resounding thought in my mind was this...."It is their time" meaning that when I was a child my parents supported, nourished and participated in all my sports and activities as busy and time consuming as it was.....and as I look back that is a gift beyond words....so I want to give nothing less to the four children that I have so that when they look back one day they will feel as if they were given the same gift of limitless time, love and support in their childhoods. Choices.....

Happy Grandparents day .....the boys are so blessed to have such an amazing relationship with them

Another Fun day on the beaches of Florida

These are some of our treasures after a day of hunting with the Hackney family

A Visit from our Favorite Aunt Joy!!

Devin and Grandma.....August Birthday Buddies

Birthday's are more Fun with Family

This Cake looked delicious but was HORRIBLE!!!!!

Devin turns 15!!!!!

A New School Year is Underway

The school year has begun and it is running smoothly overall. I will say it is one heck of a busy day. We have chosen to let Preston and Nicholas play Friday night soccer once again. Mitchell has made and moved up to a competitive traveling team (goodbye Saturdays) and Devin is about to begin monthly golf tournaments. The boys are still taking piano lessons and improving leaps and bounds while Devin continues to tackle playing the organ in church. Our biggest undertaking perhaps has been our involvement in Speech and Debate. Devin will be competing in debate this year as well as Apologetics and Interpretive Humorous Speech with his brother. Mitchell will compete in Speech only taking on a 10 minute persuasive speech as well as a duo with his brother. Oh...and I forgot boyscouts...Devin is hoping to make Eagle this school year. So this is what is taking our time on a day to day basis....more details to come on many of these things individually.