In Memory of Bob

For Valentine's Day we bought a little fish tank and each of our kids picked out a little goldfish. We had our first casualty yesterday. On Monday, Bob, Caitlyn's fish, somehow got caught behind the filter . . . well, he didn't make it. It appeared to be a slow, painful death. He attempted to swim around for a day or slow, but when Caitlyn got home from school yesterday, he had passed (You can see him just above the plant, he is slightly upside down.). Bob was a good fish. He loved to swim and play with his roommates. He never gave us a moments trouble. We would like to thank him for the love he brought to our home . . . we hope his replacement will be as cold and fishy as he was. We love you Bob! Just keep swimming!

It is time!

I have the strong desire to put this off . . . I don't want to do it . . . it is my least favorite thing in the world . . . but I really have to do it. POTTY TRAINING! Brevin will be three in July and starting Preschool in the Fall. It has to be done by then, but needs to start now. I don't have great luck with it. I would rather give birth several days in a row. I really think he is ready, which doesn't make me happy. He will tell me right after he has wet his diaper and lay down to be changed. That is a good sign . . . right? I will sit on the potty and even ask to go potty, but he has yet to put anything in to the potty except a lot of toilet paper. I need HELP! I need some great, wonderful, fabulous ideas! Please, I am begging you, my friend! Please tell me what has/did work for you. My hope is to start next weekend, it will take me a week to work/talk myself into it! Thank you in advance! I will update you as we go aong, unless for some unknown reason I get hit by a car or train . . . accidently of course! ;)

Excitement and Apprehension!

The excitement is more for Caitlyn and the Apprehension is for me! Tonight I took the night off work and took my "baby" to her Middle School Orientation! Can you say freak-out!? I am excited for Cait to go to Middle School, but I just can't believe she is actually "ready"! It doesn't seem that long ago that I held that sweet, albeit, large baby in my arms (you know she weighed 10.3 when she was born, right?). I have been asking her if she is excited, to which she responds "No.". I asked her what she was thinking/feeling about it. She of course responds to me "Nothing.". After the orientation and we walked around the school, she finally admitted that she was excited, she was of course very serious when she said it. Love you Caitlyn! I am very excited for you! Just promise me you will always be my sweet little baby!

Vegas, Baby!

Every year for the last six years John has traveled to Las Vegas to attend the NASCAR race. Before that time, John and I would watch the race on occasion, but not necessarily fans. After John went and we both learned more about it, well, we became diehard fans! It has become an annual event. We have even converted a few friends who thought that it is boring! Don't knock it until you try it!

Do you like my white trash look? I especially like the dirt on my face. We sit on row 12. Amazingly the debris from the track ends up on my face!

This year we bought Neon Garage Passes for Friday. That is the day they qualify and practice, so they work on the cars. John has a nice view of the infield behind him.

I was mesmorized watching the crews work on the cars! By the rear tire you can see the blue fan, they had one one each tire, where I assumed they kept the tires warm? Leaning in the window is Matt's crew chief Drew Blickenderfer otherwise known as "the Blick".

Matt Kenseth is standing next to the tool box with the "Blick" next to him. And looking in at the engine is the car owner Jack Rousch, aka the Cat inthe Hat.

This is for Craig Shipley! We know you love Ryan Newman! He is in the car you know, heading out for practice. Hello, NNNewman.

Dale Jr., the crowd favorite. I actually like the guy . . . unless that is, if a Jr. fan is nearby!

The DeWalt trailer, Matt is in there . . .

That is Matt there on the left . . . the Daytona 500 winner of 2009! He is won two of the three races thus far in the season.

Me watching practice. We stood right next to the cars as they filed out on to the track . . . they are so loud and rumble so much I could seriously feel my ovaries shake as they went past.

This place is so big! This is the cars filing out on to the track.

Jeff Gordon driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet. Not necessarily a fan, but good driver none the less.


Kurt Busch, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge. Probably one of the least liked driver, along with his brother Kyle, who actually won the race. He is a good driver, with a titch of attitude.

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway! There are 142,000 seats, which were sold out. On top of that number add all those working the race from the concession stands to the safety personnel and the crews for each car . . . not to mention all those that are in the infield in their RV's. Whole lotta peoples!

I am amazed by the pit crews! See if you can change 4 tires in 13 seconds!

The race off of Pit Road. Try doing that without going over 45 MPH. And when you go over, penalty!

The start or restart of the race, amazingly loud! Awesome!

Dave and Jen Park. They had never been to a race, didn't know a lot about it, but wanted to check it out.

My white trash sugar, John, and Dave and Jen

After the Race . . . what do you think . . . do you think they liked it? Of course they did! Even though our driver, Matt Kenseth, had his engine blow before lap ten, we had so much fun! Thanks Dave and Jen for joining us! Next year? Same time, same place?