Backstreet Boys

So we went to the Backstreet Boys concert last night. This is the second one that Dave has dragged me to. Not really dragged but he is definitely the fan, not me. We went with our friends, Stephen and Tiff. Tiff is the the fan in their relationship. I actually enjoyed the concert. They do put on a good show. I really like their second to last CD. The older stuff is a little cheesy for me. They each sang one of their solo songs that they have. Brian Littrell, whom I really like alot, sang on of his song from his solo CD (Welcome Home). It is a christian CD and I love his solo stuff. He has an amazing voice and that whole CD is good. The concert was at Chastain Park. We had lawn seats and packed a little picnic. It was really comforable and fun to just hang out before the concert started.

BACKSTREET'S BACK, ALRIGHT!!!

First Day of 4th Grade

These are pictures of Madison on her first
day of kindergarten. Look how much she
has grown!!

Today is Madison's first day of 4th grade. She is going to a different school this year. Since I got a new job she is going to go to the school where I am working. She actually went there for one year in kindergarten. She was a little upset at first about leaving her friends but she is being so mature about it. I know she will love her new school. Everyone is so nice!! Since I am only working part-time, I am not working on Mondays so she had to go without me today.

Dropping her off this morning brought back so many memories of her first day of kindergarten.....

She was so brave walking into school that first day. As we got closer and closer to the school I lost it. I tried to hard so not let her see me cry. I knew that would only make things worse for her. She didn't notice the whole way to her classroom. The teacher greeted us and helped Madee put up her bookbag. At this point I was a basketcase (Madee still had not noticed me crying at this point). Her teacher started looking through her lunchbox and found the note that I had left Madee telling her that I loved her and to have a good day. When Madee saw this she finally looked up at me (as if to say, "Mom did you do this??!!). That's when she saw that I was crying. Then she started to cry. I had to just leave at that point because I knew I was only making things worse for her. It was the saddest day of my life. My little girl was growing up. I knew this was the beginning of her independence. I was not ready for that.

And now here she is, a 4th grader, returning to the place where it all started.

That's the Madee face that I know and love:)

Triathlon

I completed my first triathlon this morning. It was a 400 meter swim, 13 mile bike, and 5 K run. We could not have asked for better weather. It was almost chilly this morning. Getting into the lake water actually warmed us up. That is remarkable for mid August!!
The swim was not like anything that I was expecting. Swimming in a lake in the middle of 60 other women is not even close to swimming in a country club pool. I couldn't see anything under water and every time I tried to get into a rythm I would touch the person's butt or leg in front of me. You just had almost no space to actually stretch out and swim.
The bike ride was actually my favorite part. We went all the way up 41. I didn't really get tired or hurt at all during the biking.
When I made the transition from the bike to the run I immediately started cramping in the calves. Luckily, I had a small hand held water bottle with an energy drink and electrolyte pills. I took two pills right away and the cramps very quickly faded. At the very end my quads started cramping but it was o.k. since it was at the end.
Everyone at the race was so friendly and supportive of each other. All and all, I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely do another tri.

Special thanks to my wonderful dad who woke up at 3 a.m. to drive two hours to get his camera to capture all these wonderful shots.

Crazy Dell Salesman

This video cracks me up everytime I watch it.

Brotherly Bonding

Dave and his brother Hank decided to take a hiking trip on the AT last week. They went with a couple other guys that Dave works with. One of the guys' wife dropped them off at the trailhead in NC. They started on Thursday and hiked 37 miles and finished on Saturday. Madee and I and Holly, Hank's girlfriend, drove all the way to NC to pick them up on Saturday.

These bears cubs were on the trail. The mother was down the hill a ways and Dave was able to get very close the the cubs. It wasn't far from the car so his plan was to run back to the car if the mama got mad. Aren't they cute??!!








Dave and Hank on their LONG hike.