AYC Camp 2013

Well we had the start of the season meet and greet for the new and old members of AYC. I will have to say that I not only think Shawn had fun but I believe Robert and I did as well. We started out On Friday night 2.1.13 with a catered dinner from Moes and the first of many, I'm sure, Meet and Greet and team meeting. We, as in the board members and parents of the seasoned riders got the chance to introduce ourselves to the newbies. I still can't get over how far we have come in the past three years. Originally Friday night we had four boys stay with us. I think for most of the night they camped out in Shawn's room playing xbox.  Saturday went well, the younger kids worked on bike handling skills at Carrier Park while the older kids went for a road ride, I stayed behind and helped Lisa Brookshire get ready for the lunch rush and dinner. Saturday night we ended up with 8 boys staying the night. Sunday was another good ride for the guys, I got to drive sag and everyone did great. It was sad to see everyone leave but I think everyone learned and had a good time.

What a year

It's been a good year in some ways.... Robert changed his diet in the middle of the race year and I think his body is still trying to adjust and then a broke toe and now getting over a stomach bug but I think I am finally getting him straightened out.....let hope! Shawn decided to run Cross country at school as well as biking and Scouts, now time for Basketball. Slowing down is not an option and Robert wonders why I want a nap... go figure. We have done A LOT of work on the house and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Finally, Robert see he isn't Superman and needs to concentrate on one thing at a time so no more house construction until next fall. I'm doing good, Staying busy at work and counting down the days until my 3 year mark, almost 2 years down with 1 to go.

Summer

Wow,
What a summer!!!! It's almost over.We have been Racing, riding and working. Robert is doing WONDERFUL, He has made friends with Thomas, a local bikeaholic and nutritionist. Robert is down to around 161 which he is hot looking, especially in spandex. Robert is training and eating very well and is seeing his performance go up. Shawn is WONDERFUL also. he has been riding more in the past couple of weeks and he feels better. we went to Highpoint, NC in July for the NC crit Championships and Shawn took first place and a gold medal in his age group, we are so proud!

Other than all of that everyone is doing well and is just needing sleep!

Things are in high gear!!

Between Scouts,Racing and the house we have no time to relax soooooo for Shawn's spring break we are leaving town! We are going to stay in Townsend, TN for several days and hopefully relax and ride our bikes and enjoy good company. Shawn has been busy with Scout hikes,camp outs and service projects, he has also managed to make AB honor roll for the second time, AWESOME!!! He has informed us that he loves his new house, he likes sitting on the screened in porch with the cats in our swing. Robert is doing good, he is training hard and we are also motor pacing. He is also helping me with the outside work around the house when he isn't exhausted. He has worked on fertilizing and seeding the yard for me. We are finally getting grass! Work is good and so am I, I have bee riding as often as possible, been off the bike for about a week now due to scheduling and other issues. This week it's back on the bike starting Wednesday, I hope to get some long not so hard rides in, I don't like the BIG hills but rolling is fine, semi big hills are okay too. That's all for now......

Work

We are getting a lot of yard work done and trees planted before spring. I got the flower garden lined out but still need top soil for it. Getting bricks along the side of the house instead of the cheep plastic lining and Robert and Shawn got 10 trees planted along the back of the property for privacy. Everything is slowly taking shape. today's chore is taking the boards up on the side of the house and smoothing out the humps and I am going to try to dig the stumps up along the screened in porch then we should be ready to throw down some grass seed. The back of the property still needs a lot of work which is going to take a while to do. Robert has some really good ideas but we have a lot of cleaning out to do, which means there are trees to be cut and trash as in branches that need to be removed and or moved. We still have a lot to do but getting there slowly. Shawn is doing good in Scouts he has his first class and we are now working toward getting his star. He made AB honor roll for school, which we are very proud. Robert is Robert, Training hard and we did some motor pacing yesterday which was VERY cold! He seemed to feel better when we were done. Next weekend we go to Myrtle Beach for some much needed Sand therapy and fun.

a lot going on

Well a lot has gone on in the past couple of months, we got through Christmas and I think everyone was happy to have Christmas in our new house. Shawn bought a go-cart with his birthday and Christmas money and I think Robert and I like riding more than he does. Robert has also built Shawn his own garage for it. Shawn is also doing a life saving class every Saturday morning while I do spin at the YMCA.Got through my 40th birthday, I keep telling myself it's just a number BUT I have to say it has bothered me a little, I don't feel like I look 40. Robert did a wonderful job of surprising me with 4 days of parties, I drank more beer and wine in 4 day than I did all year. The most special thing he did was arrange for my best friend to come over from Knoxville on Saturday and stay the night with me,that I will never forget! Had a wonderful time. I'm going to spin class 4 times a week now and am feeling pretty good. Robert is training hard for race season which starts this weekend in Greenville. I Guess you can say the race season has begun, with Shawn and Robert both racing I have my hands full trying to keep up but I do enjoy every minute of it and wouldn't change it for the world! Good luck to both my guys this year and I will be the one screaming for you on the side of the road and your biggest fan!

Settled

Finally settled in our new house, we do get nervous when it rains hard. Still have a couple of boxes to unpack but for the most part we are done unpacking. Still have some small projects to complete on the house. Shawn likes the new place, he just doesn't have a lot of kids to play with, I wish that part was different. Robert leaves today for a week of dryer school, going to miss him very much!! I don't think he realizes how much we do miss him when he isn't here. Guess I will work out at the YMCA A LOT this week to make the week go by fast to get him back home quicker. Not much coming up, The holidays are not going to feel like holidays because of work, I only get off one day for Thanksgiving, but I am thankful for my job.

New House??

Just one of the many pictures of the damage that the roofers did. I'm getting a new house inside and out. The construction crew has to replace walls,ceilings,floors. As well as repaint everything! I guess God wanted us to have something newer and this was his way of giving it to us.

Closing!!

We are finally closing tomorrow at 1pm! at no later than 2:30 we should have keys in hand to out new home! I AM SOOOOO GLAD THIS IS OVER!! Now to move onto painting and fixing things. I know this sounds silly but I am looking forward to having breakfast on our new back porch with my husband and son. OUR house, our rules !!

Sold!!!!!

We are finally ready to close. We close 9/16/11 at 3pm. I am very excited!! I want to start painting Fridy night to get it done and over with but Robert says no, he just wants to change the door locks first thing after we close. I say we celebrate and work. One of our good friends Dave is coming up Thursday so I guess he will be the first one to see our new house after we close. Our new home, not rented but ours!

Loan was approved

FINALLY!!!! Our loan was approved today. Now I feel much better about packing and getting things ready to move. We have gotten a lot done but still a lot to do on the new house as well as packing this one. We bought Robert a new saw this weekend at Sears, I have a feeling he will be using it quite a bit. Now to line up the contractor and to move forward. Closing goal is Sept. 19th but Robert wants to push it out to the 22nd or the 23rd. I just want to get it over with.

Moving forward

WE GOT THE HOUSE!!!! now to move to new chores! We are suppose to close by October 5th but hopefully before the end of September, that way we can work on getting the repairs and painting done before we move in and the house that we are in now cleaned by the end of October. We are thinking the repairs won't take but a week, I am thinking they won't take that long and that will give us 3 weeks to clean all the furniture and get moved in, lets keep our fingers crossed. I am very excited! Our new home is going to be wonderful!

House buying 101

Okay so I didn't know much about buying a house! BUT now I am close to being able to pull my hair out!! I have learned so much over the past two weeks! I don't know if Robert let me do most of the research or if he just didn't have the time but I am very grateful! I also hope I took some of the pressure off of him, I know everything has been hectic but I have kinda enjoyed doing it. I feel like an adult making decisions not just someone that really doesn't have a say in anything like other women may go through. If we get this house I can say and feel like I actually helped on this one and it is truly ours not just Robert's because we have done this together. The last house was all Robert because I didn't have a clue as to where to even start. I think this will truly be a home....Well we counter offered last night so we should hear something today so let's see how it goes.....More later on the house.....

I want off the speedway

one of my favorite pictures........my baby's hands......Soooooo sweet!!


We have been very busy!!! Besides racing and traveling and Scout camp at Camp Daniel Boone and volunteering at our local bike race, we have been trying to look for a house. We have another big race weekend this weekend with Oram near by and a house full of people staying with us. The house hunt has been a challenge to say the least, either the house is on the road or you can spit on the house beside you or it's on a cliff, good grief can we please catch a break!! Anyway we will find our new pad it's just going to take time.Robert is doing good , grouchy as ever and Shawn is growing like a weed. Soon Shawn will be taller than me, I dread that. Well I  guess I will be off to Wally world this weekend to get school supplies together as school starts August 25th, I need to buy Shawn some new pants and some new shirts as well as go through his closet and get rid of the clothes he doesn't wear or is to big for, lookout Goodwill here we come!!

Busy

Well we had new family pictures made which I think turned out great, Thanks to Paul Christopher! We have been racing, Trying to find a house to buy,working, and my car is in the shop because something is wrong with it. On top of Shawn graduating from 5th grade and getting ready to go into middle school. Shawn and his dad did the Virginia Creeper trail this weekend  with the Scouts, they ended up doing 32 miles the rest of the Scouts did 17. Robert is doing okay, he has a lot on his mind lately hopefully the 4th weekend we both can relax and escape reality for a couple of days. Shawn is sooooooooooo glad school is out! He is ready for summer and summer fun, Hopefully it will be a good summer for him.

Now it's WOW

Full speed ahead!! first My son did an excellent job in Dillsworth the weekend of Mother's Day!! He wasn't last and he finished the race. He was tired but finished with a smile on his face! I am very proud of him. We have also been riding as a family which Robert needs to stop doing because he isn't training like he needs to, but that is another story. Shawn  got his new road bike, a red and white  Ridley, it is currently under construction and should be completed by this Friday.  This weekend we went to Townsend, TN for my first "Cookie" ride 45 miles or so they said, it was only 41.37 but felt like 45. I will have to say if it hadn't been for Robert I wouldn't have made it up some of those hills, well I would have but it would have taken longer than 3 hours and 30 min to finish. I had a blast!!! Beautiful country and I couldn't have asked for a better partner! It meant so much to be there with my husband and biggest supporter and Kinny Baker was there also and he helped, He would push me to pass Robert. I think Kenny had a good time but he is so hard to read sometimes.  I was very proud of myself and yes I teared up at the finish, who would have thought I could have done 40 miles.......can't wait to do another one!!

WOW

Okay so I did not expect to be this busy starting in April, Racing season is full on!!! Now Shawn wants to race, so he was excepted to a junior team, DIY, and is just about to come unglued. He is so excited about his first race which will be this weekend in Dillsworth. A BIG THANK YOU To the Brookshire family for helping him out so much!! Clothes, socks, shoes and a loner bike until we can find one for him, which is going to be a BIG issue. I am excited for him! I now know I won't sleep until I die, Keeping up with Robert and Shawn and still trying to drop my weight, I won't go back up but I think it's going to take me longer to go down. I do however have a ride coming up next weekend, Tour de Blount over in Tennessee. I can't wait, but on the same hand it will be hard, I've tried not to think about it but with Mothers Day here it's hard not to. I miss my mom!! Next Sunday will be 11 years, so it will be a bitter sweet victory when I get through this ride, I don't think anyone realizes much this ride means to me. The fact of me making it through it will be a miracle, at 240lbs last September I never would have been able to do 5 miles and 195 now I do almost 10 miles a day if not more. If not for Robert and Shawn I wouldn't be at this weight now or as happy!! God has given me a new wonderful job and I have more self esteem than I have had in years........45 miles here I come!!

Even more busy



Blue and Gold Graduation 2011

Dan, Shawn and Mike



Scout Graduation at Courthouse2011



As you can tell Shawn has Graduated from Webelos to Boy Scouts, he has joined 602 so he can stay with his friends and also because he likes Dan (The troop leader). We are very proud and yes at graduation I did cry, a little. We have had alot going on lately, My best friends little boy, Sonny had to have open heart surgery yesterday, he's only 15 months old and thank goodness he is doing very well. Sonny came off all IV's and the chest tube came out today and they got a room which is very good news!! I go a Government job at the VA in billing, and race season has started once more.

Busy

Okay, so we've been a little busy. Besides being sick (all of us!!)  and Shawn crossing over to Boy Scouts and Robert's racing season starting and I FINALLY  got a government job!!!!! Yeah me! I have been trying to get a job with the government for over a year and finally did it! I start 2/28th.  Besides that we made a trip to Charleston to help a friend move and visit with Dave and Liza and yes they ended up sick also, sorry guys....... But everything looks like it's on the up swing, so let's keep it there. Warm weather is on it's way, I can feel it, I am ready to ride my bike outside instead of sitting in spin class. Weight is down to 202 from 236 and I feel wonderful! I need new shorts for the summer, the ones I have are barley hanging on, which is a good thing!

My 39th Birthday

I had a wonderful day!! I had blueberry waffles with strawberry's and bananas, then headed over to work out with Robert and Shawn. We worked out for about an hour and a half and headed home. Robert rode the bike and I went back out to goodwill to find some exercise clothes. I don't have any shorts that fit, which is a good thing. Saturday night we went out to dinner at Papas and Beer with Annette and Paul. Oh and we have a new couch and love seat thanks to our neighbors, Bill and Donna. I had a wonderful birthday!! My family made it a VERY special day!!