Saturday, December 20, 2008

Up on the Housetop

Ryan can be so stinking cute sometimes. Every night she has to have someone sing to her. Usually it's mom when she's here but it falls to me the rest of the time. She started asking for Up on the Housetop and I had no problems with that, except for the fact that we've been singing it since Halloween. Then she added hand motions which are so funny, I figured they must be doing this in her class. The line with "Christmas Joys" is in my mind forever. Cute RyRy snuggled in bed, jammies on, Izzy by her size and doing the hand motions in the air---then it hits you, "...Christmas Joys!" and her face lights up and we both start giggling. It's great to have this time together. I'm happy she "makes" me do it sometimes! Enjoy the video (ignore the fact that she keeps looking at Kevin making faces at her behind me) and
take time this week to enjoy the little Christmas Joys all around us!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Meet...

Jingle Bell Classic in Dalton
Cheeeeese!
Jared and Nick goofin around

The swimmers did really well today. Ryan beat 3 of her times out of 5 events. She got a DQ on her breaststroke, not sure what for yet. The big news is that she placed 14th in her 25 fly with a 31.72!! She earned 3 points for Gold with that placement. This was her last meet as a 5 year old, again she was the only one.

Jared beat two of his times, had no DQ's and he also placed in his group today. He came in 6th for his 50 breast (his favorite event) with a 53.77 and earned 13 points for Gold. I think he may have gotten a ribbon...we'll see!

Here are some pictures with the new camera. Still learning how to use it and the editing software. Good thing I have a holiday break to read up on it!

Can you find Ryan???
Coach Karen lifts Ryan up for the team meeting led by Coach Falco

Take your marks...
This is an awesome shot of Ryan and her 25 breast
Jared's ready!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Merry Christmas to Tracey...

I busted our little best camera ever when we were at Disney a few years ago. The one we got to replace it was "ok" but with as much picture taking as I do, I wanted something better. I have had camera envy for a while from my friends who have the Nikon D40. Rob thought it would be a great idea for me for Christmas (I SO agree :)). While we were in Michigan it arrived and Rob played with it a little. I begged to have it before Christmas so that we could take a family photo, use it at the swim meet in a couple weeks and also for Christmas morning. Not too big of a request since I added money to the cause! SO, here are some of my pictures from last night. I have a ton of reading to do to figure out how to use it!! As soon as Relay calms down (I will no longer be the chair after May 8th-9th) I am going to take a digital photography class. I can't wait to get started...if I only had more time in my day to read the books and watch the how to video...all in good time.

Here are some of the shots I took last night-I wanted to see how they posted and I was playing with the on-camera editing. Red eye reduction (too bad it doesn't remove chapped lips), black & white, filtering etc...










Sunday, November 30, 2008

Turkey Time at Uncle Ricky's


We finally got to my brother's house around day break on Monday of Thanksgiving week. We had tons of stuff on our list of things to do but only 5 days to get it all in. We took a nap after driving all night and woke up to SNOW!! Wahooo, one prayer answered. It's quite rare to have a measurable snowfall before Thanksgiving.

This is my favorite window in the house. It's in my room and you can see deer, turkey, and black squirrels running around...it's like looking into a snow globe!
As we were getting everyone bundled to go out and play, Rick and Kevin went out to shovel the drive. I'm sure Ricky "appreciated" the help, even though you get what you pay for...


By the time they were to the end of the drive, the new snow had covered what they just shoveled. This would exasperate me if I lived up North. Jared came out and decided that Kevin made it look easy to shovel the drive and decided to give it a shot. Um, nice try Jared...stick to inventions!

Jared lasted about 4.5 minutes and this included a few pushes with the shovel, a few snow balls to the siblings, and NO work on a snowman. I guess the white and fluffy is not his speed. Kevy and Ryan, however, decided to stay with me and make snowmen. I don't think I have ever made a "snowman". I usually make things like squirrels, turtles, bears, etc. The snow tells me what it wants to be :). The kids on the other hand had a great time dressing their snow people. Grandfather came out at one point and decided to make "a snowman that will be here until Spring"...it looks a tad like a pig, and we got creative with the decorations, but it was fun and we were making memories, all while Jared watched out the window. Is this the same kid that never wears a coat?!?
Later We saw a turkey wandering through the yard. I tried and tried to get a picture. I finally got it on film, but it was blurry...it was fun to try and catch him-guess he was a bit nervous this week...

American Girl


We decided to take a small jaunt from Rick's house to Chicago--about 3 hours--to go to the American Girl store for Ryan (we then took the boys to the museum of Science and Industry, but this was the first stop on our Windy City Tour). She'll be 6 in January (already!?!) and in our house you can pick a pet when you turn six. Since we lost Foxi in May Ryan has been begging for a dog. We would all love to have a dog again but it's unfair. We travel a lot more now with swimming and soccer and our yard is not doggie friendly. Our hearts want one, but our heads know better...so, Ryan chose to have an American Girl. She had her choice of any one she wanted and she picked the "bitty baby" with no hair. This is the closest she can get to how she looked anyways since they only have on doll with green eyes. The trip reminded me of when I made my trek to the Cabbage Patch (yes, I am that old...). I hope she will always remember the pilgrimage to the mecca that is the American Girl Place in Chicago.


Ryan Auburn and Izzy Rose

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving Angels

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
1Keep on loving each other as brothers. 2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
I am so thankful for my loved ones, my friends and our Burger King Angel. Many blessings to you and yours, this Thanksgiving, from the HomerHouse!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Dynamo weekend

I just got off the phone with Rob. He and Kevin are having a great time down in Savannah, Georgia. The first game this morning was a 6-3 win for the Dynamos. Kevin got on the phone and told me he "almost" scored a goal. He did have one save, apparently he saw the kid running towards their goal, anticipated (that progress right there) and did a, head down, full out tackle. Obviously not what the other kid was expecting. A penalty kick was rewarded to the other player, but Kevin was happy because he got the save. Ummmmm, maybe football instead? :)
The second game the Dynamos lost 6-2 and I'm not sure who scored the goals. There was a ton of noise in the background with the boys playing the Wii in the hotel room. Kevy's having some bonding time which is great!

The swimmers were at Dynamo swim club in Chamblee today. At one point I made a weird face and pretended to see Phelps coming in the door. Poor Jared fell for it and then I felt kind of bad...kind of. He had a hard day. He added at least 2 seconds to each time. Kind of what I expected out of him at the last meet since he had been getting over a week long fever. This weekend he had plenty of rest (slept in which is rare for him) and had a good breakfast. I guess this was a "slow" pool, most swimmers times were up a bit--I find that so weird...water is water...I guess a ball is a ball and a lane is a lane...

Ryan had a really good day, she just loves to swim. In fact she spent about 45 minutes in the warm up/down pool today. Not goofing, just doing lazy laps and hanging with her new swim friends. She enjoys it and that's all that matters. I think she's become sort of a mascot with the coaches. Coach Falco keeps kidnapping her and carrying her around. The last two meets he's held her during the team meeting and cheer. It's a riot. Jared found a shirt that has "Pinky" on it (the little ghost from Pac Man) and he's bugging me to get it for her. She asked to do the 50 Breast today and held her own. She also did the 25 Fly for the first time and beat her time on the 25 Back. She was the ONLY 5 year old at this meet, boys and girls...go get 'um Firecracker!

I thought I would have some fun with photos since I didn't take my camera today:

Homer & Phelps

who's who? :)

Jared & Ryan meet Katie & Michael....

ready for the backstroke

fancy footwork by Kevy and Beckham

bend it...