One week down!

So, it's been a week now and NO Cigarettes!!! I usually walk 1.5 miles a day and since the 10k is 6.2 miles I guess I need to step it up a little. But at least now my smokers lungs won't get in the way.

1st step towards 10k

So...last night I smoked my last cigarette...That's right, I finally quit smoking. Even though I have been walking almost every night for the last three months, I was still smoking (about a pack every two days). Please wish me the best in my efforts to keep up with this because so far it has been really difficult.

September 1, 2008 US 10k Walk

A friend of mine and I have decided to take the challenge and do the US 10k walk here in Atlanta this September. It works out to be about 6 miles and you can walk at whatever speed you want. We have 40 days to prepare so...wish us luck!

A little dirt never hurt

This past weekend we did a little yard work,
prepping some planters for some shrubs, flowers
and trees. The boys started the yard work while
the girls went to Codi's college to register her for
classes.


Usually Andrew plays outside like any
other boy, but manages to not get dirty. However,
this time I guess he figured out that a little dirt
never hurt.


Alyssa has never had a problem getting right
in the dirt. As you can see, she is in "hog" heaven.

Too much Home and Garden TV

After a fairly delicious dinner at Steak and Shake last Friday night we decided to take a walk through Home Depot...While strolling through the lawn mower aisles, Andrew looks up at me and says "Let's build something together...You can do it, we can help". I suddenly realized maybe he deserves more of his own tv time.

Cousinly love

This summer my 15 year old nephew, Wesley, is staying with us. One morning while Wes and Andrew were getting themselves some breakfast I overheard this conversation:
Andrew: Wesley, do you love me?
Wes: (no answer)
Andrew: Wesley, do you love me?
Wes: (silence)
Andrew: WESLEY, DO YOU LOVE ME? (no shouting)
Wes: Andrew, of course I love you...we're family.
Andrew: Wesley, am I your little buddy?
Wes: (smiles almost laughs:) )

This was the first 4th of July Dale has been able to enjoy with us in two years. So needless to say we kept busy to make up for the past years. My Mom was here to visit and spend the weekend with us also, which was fantastic. We went to see our downtown Cumming (a very small suburb town outside of Atlanta) fireworks on Thursday night, which were really a warm up for the whole weekend. We wanted to see how Alyssa would react to the heart thumping explosions...she did very well. On Friday morning we Dale and I took Andrew and Wes (our nephew who is staying with us for the summer) to the Steam Engine Parade in downtown Cumming...Andrew loved it , but after about two hours of really loud whistles he said he wanted to go home so he could tell Grandma "all about it". Then Friday night we planned on going to Stone Mountain for the laser light show and fireworks, which I heard are excellent, however, when we drove all the way there we were three and a half hours early, but they had closed the gates due to capacity. Then we decided to go see Lake Lanier's fireworks. When we arrived there we paid the $10 per car fee and were told that was all we had to pay to get in the park and see the fireworks. However, when we got to the entrance of the park it was an additional $10.70 per person to get in to see the fireworks. Needless to say, we tailgated in the parking lot till the fireworks show was over, then we drove home. I will have to say, the fireworks show in Cumming was better...maybe because it was free...maybe because we could actually see it...go figure. On Saturday we did a big breakfast and later in the afternoon we had a huge cookout. The kids went swimming and had a tea party with their Grandma (sugar cookies and raspberry ginger ale). The weekend overall was a success...Thanks Mom for celebrating with us, the kids miss you already!