Where Does the Week Go?

Started the week with the cold that seems to make it's way around Florida and I'm sure everywhere. I was pretty much down for the count on Sunday and Monday but had some things to do on Tuesday. To tell the truth just getting out helped me feel much better.

I really didn't want to go to Weight Watcher's on Wednesday, hadn't walked since Saturday and made up for it by eating anything I could find. The scales told me exactly what I was expecting to hear (a gain but still under my goal weight) but I knew everything would get better because I was up and about.

Thursday everything was pretty much back to normal, walk with Tammy, errands, and then home. I did stop off to see Andy, Nikki, and the kids which always makes my day.

Friday I was back to walking my speed, did six miles, had a good time, and felt pretty good. Dan was off today so we went out and did our weekend errands today. Started at Lowe's, then BJ's, Target (where we found a patio chair for 75% off), and Office Depot. It was time for lunch by now and we headed to Olive Garden, Dan wanted to try one of their new summer dishes. Everything was very good and we enjoyed ourselves. Books-a-Million was next on the agenda, followed by Kohl's, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, Publix and then home.

After having such a good walk yesterday I thought today would be no problems but I just couldn't get it in gear. My first mile was the slowest I have walked in months and it didn't improve much with each mile. I ended up at just under an hour for four miles, that's about six minutes slower then normal. I'm just chalking it up to sounding like I was trying to cough up a lung on the walk. I feel fine but still have the congestion and cough, from past experience that could hold on for a few days or a few weeks. Here's hoping for the few days.

Spent the morning doing chores around the house, Dan mowed the yard, it grows so fast when it rains everyday. I vacuumed, mopped the kitchen floor, and did laundry. Then we were lucky enough to have Andy and the kids come over for a visit and some fun time in the pool.


Riley and Andy having some fun.


Riley decided he wanted to get out of the pool until he realized that he couldn't touch the bottom of the pool and the float wasn't such a bad place to be.


Kaleigh just always looks so cute.


Kaleigh helping Baapa weed some of the plants.


Going for a swim and learning to kick.


The curls have just appeared this summer and aren't they just the best?


Let me tell you, it takes a long time to fill a dump truck with a shovel.


Kaleigh and Andy.


Playing in the little pool, as we now call it.



Riley in his new dinosaur towel, he really like it and thought the hood should be pulled over his face like a mask.


Kaleigh in the butterfly towel, although Riley insisted it was a ladybug.


After a good time in the pool, Andy and the kids headed home and we watched a baseball game for a while.

It Was A Great 4th!

Tammy, Kim, and I started the 4th of July very early. They picked me up at 0530 to go to Winter Garden for our 5K walk. By the time the race started it was very hot and humid and it took a long time for the walkers to spread out enough that we didn't feel like we were walking on someone's heels. But all in all it was a very good walk.


Coming up to the finish line, our actual time was about 5 minutes less than what is on the timer because that is how long it took us to get to the start line after the race started. There were lots and lots and lots of participants. It was a very good time that we finished in, just what we were shooting for, maybe even a bit faster.


After the walk they dropped me off so I could shower and get ready for the party at Tammy's house. It was the usual cast of characters.

After we ate it was into the pool for most everyone. Here I'm not sure who is carrying who, although we do know that Breann has the longer legs so it must be her.


Kaleigh really loves being in the pool and would really like to know how to swim so she can just go off on her own.


Cheri enjoying a few minutes of peace and quiet or at least the quiet of the pool.


The surfer boy.


Jessica was having a good time floating around.


The boys were pretty happy to have gotten Tom.


But Cole got his.


And there he goes.


As you can see from Riley's face he knows he is going under.


And his excitement at having come back up.


Kaleigh playing peek-a-boo with the tube. She actually floated in the tube for quite a while.


Getting warmed up and dried off.


Then the sparklers came out.


The two fisted sparkler.


Didn't notice until I was looking at the pictures that Riley looked like he was trying to blow out all his sparklers.


Chris had been working on his Bronco most of the day and really should have jumped into the pool and gotten cool and clean but he wanted to do sparklers also.


Jared seeing what he could do with 2 sparklers.


Maybe next year Kaleigh can have a lit sparkler, this year she only got to hold one.


Not sure if he is imitating the Statue of Liberty or what but it is Andy so you never know.


Then it was inside to enjoy some watermelon.



Kaleigh brought Luke his ball and she seemed to be saying "Now you give it back to me and then I'll give it to you." She was very cute.

As you can see a good time was had by all and of course we can't wait until the next get together.

Catch Up

This week seems to have flown by, haven't done anything really exciting but time just disappeared.

Wednesday was the normal Weight Watchers (down 1.6) and shopping, then I worked on stuff around the house. Finally got pictures backed up to my hard drive but I still have to copy them to dvd.

Thursday I was out and about with Mum, Dad, and Tammy. Of course we went to Panera and can you believe there wasn't a single bagel to be found in the place. So we just turned around and left because that is what we come for. Did a few errands and then it was home for me.

Today was my long walk, 6 miles, did it in 1:25:00 which is pretty much my norm. If I can keep this pace for the 1/2 marathon next March I will be very happy.

Then I went over to Andy and Nikki's to take pictures of the kids. I do this every so often and I usually get some good shots. These are just a few of the many that I took. Both of the kids were very cooperative today and Riley was disappointed when I started taking pictures of Kaleigh without him.

A Day at the Beach

Today was our day to go to the beach. Headed out just before 1000, this time was chosen hoping that Kaleigh would fall asleep on the ride and not miss her nap, didn't work, she was awake for the whole ride.

Seemed to be a lot of people on the beach but seeing as how I don't often visit the beach this could have been a normal day.

Kaleigh wasn't to sure about the water and the feel of the sand.


Riley really enjoyed just running, picking up shells and playing in the sand.


This was right before the only huge wave of the day came in and knocked Kaleigh over. She was a bit scared but got over it very fast.


Playing with the beach toys.


Everyone heading out into the water.


As you can see there really was no surf and every now and again there would be a little hump of a wave.




Burying Kaleigh's feet.


Riley really liked this octopus mold and just stamped with it all over the sand.


Andy, Nikki, and Riley went back into the surf while Kaleigh and I stayed on shore.


Just checking to be sure Dada was still there.


Digging a big hole and filling it with water.


Why do they have to taste the beach? Wouldn't be so bad if she just tasted it once but no! She tastes it, spits out the sand, tries to wipe her mouth out and then sticks another handful into her mouth.


This is when I put the camera away and took Kaleigh into the water to get all rinsed off. Got out to Andy, Nikki, and Riley, switched for Riley and we came back in so he could play some more in the sand.

After we had been on the beach for just over an hour the lifeguard let us know thunderstorms were coming and we should get out of the water. We had just enough time to gather everything up, rinse off under the showers and change our clothes before the rain started, so we kind of lucked out.

All in all it was a fun time on the beach and everyone is ready to go back again soon.