Mom's turn: A Date with Disaster!

Today started with smiles,

me getting off of the Red Lady Express lift at the top of Houston

Christina ready for another day on the slopes

gorgeous weather,

me and Travis...still the faceless HH

Karson & Kay

and lots of time on the slopes…

more giggling girl shots

we heard from the locals that they had record setting snow fall up here this year. How exciting to be a part of that!! We even got to see and take pictures with Bubby & Better Bear, uh…on the other camera. Unfortunately we ended up in the medical clinic after our last run of the day!! Christina fell yesterday during one of the snow storms and hurt her wrist – by this afternoon, and one more tumble later, it was unbearable. SOOO – off to the doctor for x-rays…and the diagnoses of a fractured wrist at the growth plate.

OH MOM...don't put THAT on the blog!!!!!

The good news is that a fracture at the growth plate does not require casting in children, only splinting, and after a good night’s rest she can be back on the slopes tomorrow. We will be avoiding the free ski terrain area though!

Mom's turn: 7 things

This challenge is from Ginger. It was suggested for fun I should share 7 Things You May Not Know About Me:

1) I went to 10 different schools (that I can remember) from k-12 while growing up, and no I was not a military brat.

2) I played the flute in high school. I actually played very well, but I didn’t pursue it in college.

3) I went to UNO, Delgado, & LSU for a combined effort in my two degrees…which I no longer use as I am a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) thanks to my fabulous husband’s hard work!

4) I was raised as an only child and discovered when I was 18 that I had a half brother, Roland, who had just recently been born.

5) I grew up with just “me and my mom” and inherited a rather large family when I met and married my husband…I claim his grandmother as my own.

6) I never had an athletic bone in my body until I started bicycling at 23…again, thanks to my husband. (That’s why I originally joined band in high school – to get out of gym class!). Now I seem to be out of control with both running and cycling at any chance I get!

7) I never had wisdom teeth. LUCKY ME!!!!!

So, there you go. If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged. Post a comment so I can check out YOUR seven things

Mom's turn: I'm back with more from Colorado

Okay…pictures from yesterday were a bust – Teeny failed to bring her camera-to-computer adapter as I requested and all pictures were taken with her camera before I realized this! So for a quick recap – the day was fabulous!!! My nephews and my daughter got their “ski legs” much faster than the rest of us and were hitting the free-ski terrain and the jib park bright and early. As the day wore on, my HH got brave and he decided he needed to do it as well! He still thinks he’s 20…but today proved differently, he could hardly move after yesterday’s stunts! Today I brought the video camera out to catch more jumps, but after gimping through some warm up runs, my hubby and DD came back to the condo for lunch and stayed put while my SIL, Kay, and I took her youngest son back out on the slopes.

just the girls...

When they got rested they came back out to join us, but by then I was exhausted and ready for warmth. We were expected to receive 20 inches of snow here – I think that’s more than I’ve seen in a decade!

this is a house burried to it's roof in snow as seen from our 3rd story condo!

However, the weather couldn’t seem to make up its mind today so it made it very hard to dress appropriately…the sun would come out and you would heat up and start to sweat and peel extra layers off, then the clouds and snow would come and freeze the sweat to your body and you would get chilled while trying to replace the previously peeled layers!!!! AHHHH…back to the condo for a hot shower, Advil, and wine!

in pj's and ready to rest...Samson is happy to see us.

Something to look forward to each evening, however, was the fact that I didn’t have to cook!! I have the BEST brother-in-law in the world…he happens to be a chef and owns a restaurant in Jackson, MS called Foodie’s. As luck would have it, he sent tons of healthy, precooked food for us to simply heat and enjoy.

delicious pork tenderloin

black rice with red bell-peppers & sweet potatos served cold

fresh green beans

I can’t think of a better way to unwind and prepare for what tomorrow has to hold…uh, hopefully a camera will be included in the fun :-D

Mom's turn: Colorado SHOPPING DAY!

This was our extra day…we spent it shopping in the quaint little town of Crested Butte, which is actually at the bottom of the mountain. All the girls gathered with giggling anticipation! And the boys followed along in search of food.

Kay, Christina, Elen & Karson

Christina, Travis & Elen

The weather couldn’t have been better…although it was cold, it was postcard perfect. The snow was measured in feet, which in incomprehensible to a Southerner!

the snow was almost as tall as I am in places

My purchase was a new pair of boots – and an absolutely perfect purchase it was, too!! My toes were frozen, but after I got my new boots I was able to walk all over the mountain without a care in the world. Wonderful while we wandered around in search of the perfect new fetish for Christina. She found just the right ones to add to her collection – a cougar made from Colorado lapis lazuli and a small beaver.

no bigger than my fingernail...amazing that the artist can carve such details

We ended the day by picking up our boots and skis in anticipation of an early start on the slopes tomorrow…then the boys, Kyle, Kristian, and Kole, spent the evening tubing while Kay and I enjoyed a drink as we watched. Now that’s the perfect ending to a fabulous day! Off to bed for another early start!

Chocolate raspberry martini...helps to keep you warm in the snow

Mom's turn: On the road again...

We drove from Baton Rouge, LA to Crested Butte, CO in just two days for a wonderful family ski vacation and have had tons of giggles along the way! First of all – I’m privileged enough to have my own chauffeur!Okay…so it’s my DD and it didn’t last very long; the rest of the 1288 miles were driven by my other chauffeur – my HH. And what long drive would be complete without an audio car book from Cracker Barrel? For this one we chose John Grisham’s latest novel, The Appeal. Of course we had to have our morning Starbucks two mornings in a row…how could we wake up with a smile without that!

Karson & Christina enjoying their "white mocha frappaccinos"

And then there is the Braum’s ice-cream we stopped for in Texas…peppermint ice-cream Sunday with marshmallow topping, almonds and whip cream – oh how I miss Braum’s! Louisiana only has Baskin Robbins…and NO, ice-cream is not ice-cream.

We also enjoyed some very interesting sites along the way.

a beautiful mountain pass

We stopped at Capulin Volcano National Parkto hike down the cone of the volcano

Kyle, Kole, Christina, Karson, & Kristian - the CREW!

and throw snowballs at each other. Snow, snow, and more snow! We’ve been to Crested Butte five times and have never seen the amount of snow on the ground that is here this time.And a bunch of wildlife: antelope, Sandhil Crane, elk, and mountain goats,

look closely...there are several in the picture

and a miriad of hawks, prarrie dogs, and various mountain birds. We finally made it to the condo and the boys have no idea what to think of the snow. Off to bed so we can enjoy all tomorrow has to offer. We got here a day early and I can’t wait to put it to use exploring all of the shops in town.

Mom's turn: Just Whistle While You Work...

Okay - well this is Christina's TENTH soccer season, and even though I can't believe it's gone by so quickly, I love watching her grow into such a wonderful young lady! Last year she took the referee class and passed the test. So now when she's not playing a game, she's ref'ing one. We live for soccer over here, because in the South it's pretty much played year round!!!

click on the "play" button below to see her in action:

Samson looks forward to her working games, too - that's when he gets to take long walks all around the soccer complex! Tonight we were trying to avoid the "lakes" left by the previous night's deluge...well, I was trying to avoid them. Samson thinks he's part retriever so he actually aims straight for a puddle!!!!

My OTHER baby's idea of fun - click the "play" button to see:

Mom's turn: Little Leprechauns

Yesterday the babies got a new hair cut…just in time to be stylish for St. Patrick’s Day and our vacation! Lucky little fellows :-D

Fetishes...NOT what you're thinking.

My friend Brenna introduced me to Zuni fetishes. (stone animals orginally carved by Navajo Native Americans)
She has a collection of them. I loved them so much I decided to start my own collection!
I have been collecting them for about 3 ½ years now. My collection has now grown to 7.
The first one I got in Colorado is a dolphin; one side has a black opal in it. It is also still my favorite. I am hoping to get another one on our next Colorado vacation which is in less than a week!!

Hear are some of the animals I have and their meanings:

Bear- Bear is the guardian fetish of the West. Bear represents strength and self-knowledge. He is a spiritual guide and also carries within him supernatural powers. Bear is a powerful healing fetish. White bear is the most powerful medicine bear.

Beaver-Beaver is industrious and diligent. He represents achievement and hard work. Beaver promotes family unity.

Coyote-Coyote is the master trickster who often tricks himself. He represents humor and the ability to laugh at one's own mistakes.

Dolphin-Dolphin represents the spirit of trust and friendship. He is very loyal.

Horse -Horse represents partnerships and strength. He also represents power and expanding one's abilities. Horse has innate healing powers.



I also have an elephant, but it is not a true fetish. To be a true fetish it has to be a certain size and has to be a North American animal. I would really like a dragonfly! There are a lot of those that are really pretty!

Mom's turn: Running with the Kenyans

…okay, well maybe with them isn’t quite an accurate declaration. More like just in the same race as they are in would be a better statement!! The Kenyans usually run, uh WIN, the CCC; it’s used as an international qualifier for many other events. My family and I are running for our health – that’s a funny concept because since I’ve been running I’ve had more injuries trying to get “healthy” than when I was content to be a couch potato and sleep in on weekends!!

SOOOO – with all of my new found injuries, I have discovered quite a bit about the running mechanics of shoes.

More bars in more places...a new way to communicate

(Teeny's, mine, Travis')

It amazes me that the Kenyans can run barefoot through the desert and I have to log mileage on my shoes to be sure that I replace them in time and avoid more injuries!! For people who are prone to injuries it is recommended that you replace your shoes every 300 miles.

Nothing's better than the smell of new shoes!!!

(mine, Teeny's, Travis')

Also, you should alternate shoes on consecutive running days; in other words always have two pair by the treadmill.

the "alternate" pairs

(mine & Travis')

I put so much energy into the thought process of my training you would think I was a champion of some sort instead of the over one-hour 10k seeded runner that I am!!

the retired pairs, used only for walking or hiking (or in Teeny's case - thrown away all together so the smell would stop infiltrating the rest of the house!!!!)

Travis', Teeny's & , mine

For my foot and knee issues – the shoes that I need are the Asics GEL-Nimbus; they provide more cushion and enhance the foot’s natural gait, in turn helping my knee track better. Along with my fancy shoes I wear a knee brace while I run.

Teeny’s are the MIZUNO Wave Inspire to help control her over-pronation problems…which aggravates the shin muscle and makes her more likely to get shin splints and twist her ankles. Definitely NOT what we need since she has already suffered a broken ankle this soccer season! So along with her super shoes she wears an ankle brace while she runs.

Travis started with extra control shoes because he has flat feet and had issues with plantar fascitis, but after cortisone injections and foot binding he has improved and moved up to the MIZUNO Wave Inspire like Teeny. He doesn’t get to run with any funny looking stuff like me and Teeny…hmmm, somehow that doesn’t seem fair!

a shmorgesborg of foot oder

So, looking stylish with all of our nerdy running gear, we have a race tomorrow and the weather is supposed to be freezing and raining - oh boy!!!!!!!! Whose idea was this running stuff anyway?? I'm not even sure Travis will be able to run because he pulled his Achill's tendon on Wednesday's training run (nothing but ice for him). We are on the Tyler-Possa team with my friend and the race is the Komen's run for the Cure (to benefit cancer research); I believe in torturing myself for a purpose! It helps remind me that I'm strong and able bodied and that life is great in spite of all of my injuries! And with that in mind, hopefully I can make a difference for those who are not quite as fortunate.

Samson says, "where are mine...I'm ready to run!"