Singing Happy Birthday to Zack

Here we are singing Happy Birthday to Zack!  Happy 5th!

Singing Happy Birthday to Maddie

Every year we sing to the kids (by themselves) for their birthday with a cupcake.  Here we are celebrating just us four!

My big Mishap

So remember I mentioned that I want to start training for a Sprint Triathlon.  Well...a couple of weeks I had a spill.  Not only did I have a spill, I also had some complications with a Yellow jacket.  First, I wanted to get in 30 miles (which would normally take me just shy of 2 hrs).  This was the first time I left directly from my house and not have Mike drive me out somewhere.  So, I left the house.  Less than 15 minutes in, somewhere between mile 4 and 5, I had a yellow jacket get stuck in my wrist band for my mace.  He started stinging me, and stinging me and stinging me.  I had to find a level ground to stop and get him out.  (I wear clipped in shoes and have clip pedals.  It is easier to go steady speed, but harder to start and stop because you are clipped into the bike.)  I called Mike right away to let him know that I was just stung repeatedly by a yellow jacket...his reply was "do I need to come get you, or are you going to push through it."  Well, to me that means I need to get over it!  So I told him that every 10 minutes I will check in and let him know if I am ok.  It was going great.  I was back at my 15 mph normal speed.
Then came my mishap.  I was just under 15 miles (aka my turning point, literally where I turn around) and I was going to go over a railroad track.  This particular railroad track is not perfectly perpendicular to the road.  In fact it kind of goes with the road for a little bit.  Somehow my front tire got into the railroad track groove and I went down.  HARD!  Somehow my foot came out of my clip (which was a GOOD thing) and I went off the bike.  I tore up my elbow and got asphalt rash all up and down my left side.  Luckily no car was behind me, so I didn't get hit.  My first thought after it happened (beside the excruciating pain) was to get out of the road as fast as possible so I wouldn't get hit by a car.  Then after I was no longer in harms way, I called Mike to come get me and then I looked at my battle wounds.   I looked a little beat up.  Don't worry, I am ok and I have since been back on the bike with no mishaps.  Just wanted to share my pics and story!

Zack at 5

1. What is your favorite color? Orange
2. What is your favorite toy? my nerf gun that hangs on my arm

3. What is your favorite fruit? Oranges
4. What is your favorite tv show? Super Hero Squad + Family Game Night + Transformer Rescue Bots
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chicken nuggets or Peanut Butter Sandwhich
6. What is your favorite outfit? My shark shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Mouse trap
8. What is your favorite snack? Cheese it's + Icie Pop
9. What is your favorite animal? Cow
10. What is your favorite song? The Circle of Life
11. What is your favorite book? Walter the Farting Dog
12. Who is your best friend? Colton+ Maddie
13. What is your favorite cereal? Fruity Pebbles
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play on the swing
15. What is your favorite drink?  Apple Juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my turtle
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Muffins
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A police officer

Maddie at 5

1. What is your favorite color? pink
2. What is your favorite toy? my Rapunzel Princess

3. What is your favorite fruit? strawberries
4. What is your favorite tv show? My Little Pony
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chicken nuggets 
6. What is your favorite outfit? A dress (the poofier the better)
7. What is your favorite game? Nabi, Minnie Mouse Hairbow Bingo
8. What is your favorite snack?  Icie Pop + Teddy Graham
9. What is your favorite animal? Pig
10. What is your favorite song? The Little Mermaid song 
11. What is your favorite book? Lala Loopsy
12. Who is your best friend? Callie + Zack
13. What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play + pick flowers
15. What is your favorite drink?  Water
16. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving Day
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my Singalong
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Muffins
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A princess

Birthday Shout

Five years ago today, God blessed us with not one, but two perfect miracles. Since that day, I have never felt so happy, fearful, clueless, elated, proud, loved, frustrated or whole in my life. I know it is totally cliche to say, but I really can't believe how fast the time has flown by. Happy Birthday Maddie and Zack. I love you so much and am so honored to be able to be your mommy!!

Zack is 5

Zachary Ryan... you are handsome, sweet, smart, friendly, outgoing, funny, inquisitive, shy, loving, sensitive, bold and just perfect.  Right now you are all boy!  You like playing soccer, playing basketball, swimming, reading, playing Mario Kart, watching the Tarheels, being independent, watching Transformers, playing with handheld action figures (especially super heroes like the Incredible Hulk), and bossing your sister around.  Mommy and daddy are so happy to have you in our lives.  Thank you so much for being you!  We hope you have a wonderful 5th birthday!  We know that God has something special in store for you!  We love you!!