Olympic Fever already?? Watch these videos :)

I know the 2012 Summer Olympics are an entire year away, but for some reason I'm already excited about the games.

I love the summer Olympics. Especially gymnastics. 

In 1984, as a 9 year old gymnast, I watched the Bio-pic about Nadia Comaneci and I cried. Hard.

Tomorrow we're signing the Princess up for gymnastics. 

So, between my premature excitement of next summer's Olympics and her impending registration, I was inspired to play around on youtube & find some of my favorite past Olympic gymnastics performances.

First, was Dominique Dawes's 1992 floor routine. Incredible.

Then, the ankle sprain heard round the world:  

Keri Strug's 1996 gold winning vault performance. 

I showed Trinity, and while explaining what was going on, I got majorly choked up. I had to just stop. 

Bruce walked in so I replayed it, started to explain it to him, and couldn't even speak. 

I was BAWLING.

What the heck is wrong with me?

Watching Keri, I just lost it!

So, to pull myself together and get my emotions in check, I decided to watch some more routines-this time by the Svetlanas. Khorkina and Boginskaya, respectively.

Ah, much better.

So, what inspirational true sports stories get you choked up?

Getting back in the groove

This whole getting back into blogging on a consistent basis has been more challenging than I anticipated!

I've got lots of things to share, I just need the time, energy, and motivation to do so. I got some more great books from the library, new recipes and food to share,thoughts and ideas.

I'm back to work full(ish) time, and also have a child, household, hubby, and animals to take care of.

But, with all those maintenance obligations, we've been able to have lots of fun adventures as well.

Playing at parks situated on the Puget Sound and hiking the area are some favorite activities.

Look how green and lush!

Even when it's not really sunny out, the shore of the Sound is an adventurous place!

So much fun interesting marine life!

We got to be chaperones on a field trip the Princess had.

We saw some geoducks(pronounced gooey-ducks), moon jellyfish, starfish, turtles,and even an octopus that some divers brought up for the kids to see.
God's creation is truly amazing. Such diversity and creativity to be admired!

The Princess and I took a trip back to Wisco, as mentioned in the previous post.Seeing my dad again is always a cherished and special time. I miss him already.

me and Dad. look no ponytail :)

Much time was spent in swimsuits and in or near water. Can't complain.

 

 I found my mismatched, haphazard swimsuit at the local St.Vinnies thrift store for $4. A simple red and white top with a blue tennis skirt-esque bottom. Very patriotic. And frugal :)

Visiting the big kid was a blast as well. Serious bonding time was had. The Princess and I loved it.

We had so much fun with friends and had one of the best Independence Day celebrations ever!!

So, now we're back, unpacked, settled in, and once again into the groove of life in the PNW.
Bruce is relieved that the laundry, dishes, vacuuming, and other household chores are being taken care of on a regular basis.
He was Mr. Mom to the animals for 2 weeks and I think it just about wrecked him-ha!

I'm working on a "Bucket List" post, which is super fun. 
I'm finding out there's really not too much I have a deep, intense desire to do or try, and that I've already lived a very rich and experienced filled life.

Contentment is hard to find and usually something one must strive to achieve. 

Are you pretty content or restless?

Technically it's still Monday, although not for long in these here parts. 

I usually have the Music Monday video set to go early in the morning, but I was busy getting ready to go to my NEW JOB this morning.

So, I'm home now, the fam's fed and I'm chillin.

Here's a blast from the past that is super catchy and will no doubt get stuck in your head all day.

You're welcome.

Bruce likes to play around on youtube and share old school stuff with Trinity. She probably knows more about Run DMC than I do.  Anyway, enjoy the Sugarhill Gang :)

Transitioning and Confusion

As of this morning we've been back from Wisconsin for 4 days. It's taking a while to transition from heat and humidity to fall- like weather.

My dad has asked what everyone thinks of our newly acquired "tropical" tans. Truth is, the Princess and I have been out of the house twice and been in hoodies and sweatpants or jammies the entire time. Welcome to the PNW.

We've been having a good time juicin, cleaning, organizing, playing with the kitty, reading,writing, and watchin' cartoons. We've also been preparing the house for a major change-more on that at a later date ;) 

One of the juices I was SO anxious to make was beet/carrot juice.

Isn't that gorgeous?! Hi Boomer.

Every single time I eat beets in any form, there is a distinct result. No matter if I eat them baked, pickled, as a hummus, mixed with rice and beans in a burger, or straight-up juiced, or there is a distinct, um...."after-effect."
Remember the beet ice cream/sorbet from last summer?

It never fails, that within hours of eating them, I've forgotten about this result and my hypochondria is triggered. Ever hear of BEETURIA?

Anyway, I now have this gorgeous pulp and really have the urge to use it in some muffins!

If I still had my dehydrator, I'd totally be making crackers with this stuff!

Since I've been back home I've been in full-on organizing mode. I started going through a folder that has important papers and I came across the paperwork for Boomer, our beloved crazy cat. Well, the paperwork says that our little boy Boomer is a female.

WHAT??!!

So, I stood there dazed and confused as to why we assumed Boomer was a boy. I remembered that the lady we got him from said that it was hard to tell, but most likely he's a boy. So, why the "female" written on the paperwork?

I think I made Bruce's head implode just a bit when I broke it to him. So, from that moment on for about an hour we alternated between checking Boomer's "junk" to looking up "feline genitalia images" on google.

If someone ever did a history search on our computer without having that knowledge/ explanation, that could look seriously wrong. LOL! 

Guess what. We STILL aren't sure. 

Our poor cat probably feels violated beyond comprehension and we're just not sure if certain parts are certain parts or not.

*sigh*

I guess at this point only a trip to a vet will confirm one way or the other.

Since the sun is out and it's not completely cold out, I think we'll try to make it to the Puget Sound or to a nearby park for a while today.
Or maybe we'll head to the Pacific Science Center and see a show at the Laser Dome!

I'm also gonna work on my blog post about an upcoming major change in demographics in our household:)

I'm Back-My Return to Blogging :)

Wow-I cannot believe it's been 5 months since I actually had an original blog post! My last one in March was a "rerun," and a lame attempt at trying to spark in myself a renewed interest in blogging. 

 I lost interest and just wasn't feelin' it, so, I didn't do it.

And I didn't have to. It's not a source of income, as it is for many bloggers I know, so I had/have that luxury of blogging at my own convenience and interest.

People blog for many reasons and I do it to keep family and friends afar off, up to date, to share experiences and information I've learned, and because I like to write.

SO much has happened and I doubt I'll be able to fill you in on ALL of what's been going on, but I can share some highlights and events with ya. They probably won't be in chronological order, though, so bear with me! :)

Mt.Rainier from the airplane ride TO Wisconsin

Laaaaaaaaaaaaate Monday night, Trinity and I got back from a 2 week trip back to Wisconsin. It.Was.WONDERFUL. There was swimming, sunburns, fireflies, playdates, fireworks, pontoon boat rides, my yard sale, family visits, chigger bites, actual heat and humidity, thunderstorms, trips to Menards and the Oskri Organics store, kettle corn at the Farmer's Market, slip and slides, trampolines, movies and painting with Grandpa, mosquitoes, and hardcore midwestern "don'tcha know" accents to be heard all around.

Kettlecorn at the Farmer's Market

Out on the lake with our friends

Bruce picked us up from the airport with "Welcome Back" balloons in tow. I think we got back just in the nick of time.  His tolerance of our cat's rambunctious boredom-induced behavior, was thisclose to running out. There was an incident with a box of Cheerios that nearly cost the poor kitty his life.

Seriously, how could you get mad at someone with a face like that?!

Today when I checked the mail I got a package I was expecting, but the contents of which were unknown....a surprise if you will. It was a belated birthday gift from my mom and stepdad, and when I opened it....I was SO excited!

 Whoa. A Jack LaLanne Power-juicer. I am all over that.

I cleaned it up, set it up, and fired 'er up! 

I made some carrot apple juice and it was SO good. Tomorrow is gonna be all about the beet, carrot, apple juice combo for me, and straight up OJ for Trinity. 

Thanks Mom and Bobby!

Well, it's getting late and I'm still recovering from my late night 4 hour plane ride with 3 unhappy babies in our vicinity screaming their heads off and stinkin' up the plane with their poopy diapers.

I'm also trying to adjust to temps in the mid to upper 90s with a heat index of 104,

to this......

5 Day Forecast

• Tuesday
• 
• High: 66 °
• Low: 56 °
• Chance of Rain

• Wednesday
• 
• High: 67 °
• Low: 54 °
• Chance of Rain

• Thursday
• 
• High: 65 °
• Low: 52 °
• Chance of Rain

• Friday
• 
• High: 68 °
• Low: 52 °
• Partly Cloudy

• Saturday
• 
• High: 72 °
• Low: 54 °
• Partly Cloudy

 Yeah. One extreme to the other. Just like life :)