Dip Dip & Swing

(Pre-race, waiting to port in)

Brittany and I decided to dump our hubbys for the day and compete in the Buffalo Bayou Regatta, a fifteen-mile canoe race through the center of Houston...and for some reason we both thought that we could easily paddle 15 miles without training.

The Regatta is the largest canoe race in the State of Texas, this year was no different with close to 450 boats. There were several classes, but Inflated Expectations, my two person inflatable kayak landed up in the unlimited class (which was a good portion of the entries).

Our morning started with me walking back to the registration area and yelling to Britt “Hey you want a breakfast taco, some random guys jumped out of a moving truck and chased me down in the parking garage gave them to me”. And that is when we both stopped and just realized what I had said and then shrugged and took a bite...that’s what I love about outdoor events. In any other situation in Houston there are so many red flags in that short phrase, but on a day like today its really just a group of nice guys offering you non-dangerous food in a dim-lit musty parking garage.

Our boat was stamped “sea worthy” by the Navy Seals and we were ready to get started.

Team Renshaw ported in on a steep wooded slope, which was not really even a port area. We were luckily enough to be in a class that allowed an in-water start. The corporate competitive class (the big aluminum canoes) required bank start, which was hysterical. Imagine 100 large canoes being cast down a steep wooded banks, probably half capsized trying to get started.

(Long Kayak Division start)

The day was beautiful, but windy (and windy in the wrong direction). We had a strong headwind almost the whole race. Brittany saw the first banner and exclaimed “There is our half way mark (which in reality, much to Britts dismay was our 3.5 mile mark)”. By mile three our shoulders burned, by mile six, without current and the wind at our head our arms ached and by mile 12 we were having to put everything into it, my knees and back were killing me. The whole race we trailed a quad boat and our goal was to overtake them and we did in the last half mile. We crossed the finish line with a time of 3hours and 20 minutes (I thought it was 3:40 but they just posted the race results, yay!). It was all we could do to drag our battered bodies out of the canoe and onto the dock.

(Britt still looking strong even though we both wanted to die)

The run itself was beautiful. The thick vegetation drowned out the roar of the city and there were dozens of beautiful mansions that lined the bayou (may who cheered us on and played music) and lots of beautiful retaining walls (and some not so nice ones).

(Approaching the skyline)

The last three miles we approached downtown and my favorite part was rowing under I-45, weaving through the bridge pilasters. We went past the aquarium and crossed the finish line at one of the downtown plazas where they had live Zydeco music and lunch.

(Maneuvering under I-45)

(Lunch party on the plaza, we made it!)

Britt stayed and packaged the canoe, while I got to ride the city drunk bus back to the parking garage. It was 30 minutes of bad drunk entertainment, it reminded me of riding Cyride home on a Friday night in college, expect these guys (same ones that offered me the breakfast tacos) were like in their mid 30's (and cannot sing Lady Gaga for the record). They even invited me to a keg-er that night, a kind gesture to a mother of three :) What a way to end the day.

Notes for next year...1. Get a real canoe (I love my inflatable but its not race material), 2. no more pretending I have the body of an twenty year old, 3. legs require sunscreen even in March!.

Thanks Britt for being my partner in crime!

Project #25: The New Pet (x183)

As parents what lengths do we go to to feed the needs our children's curiosity? Their minds are so open, so willing to lean. The question is can mine be the same, can I look at ideas with the same simplicity and excitement as a six year old? This week I am trying and because of it I would just like to say I deserve the Mother of the Year Award.

Erin has been begging for a worm farm for months now. I kept thinking it would be a passing fad, distracted by something covered in pink and glitter, since you know, she is a six year old suburban girl. But I soon realized this idea, wherever it originated, was here to stay.

After some research we decided if we were going to have worms, there might as well be some secondary benefits (besides entertainment???). We decided on Red Wrigglers since they are a composting breed (its like having a living garbage disposal). They can eat their weight daily in food scraps. Worm castings (also known as worm poo) has a highly beneficial organic fertlizer for gardens and beds.

After thinking about it for a while this is a win-win situation. The kids get a pet, I don't have to pay anything to keep it, there are no vet bills, and if (when) I get sick of them, I don't have to take them to the pound, I just dump them in the garden. And if they do take off, both the worms and casting sell for a high price, so Erin can pay for college by selling worm poo :)

So Friday evening we started E's Worm Ranch. While most worms farms start at 1000 worms, I didn't feel comfortable with that large of a starter kit.....We started with 183.

We made our barn out of a three gallon frosting bucket from Shipleys Doughnuts (ironically Erin's favorite place). Erin had her first try at drilling holes and she did an excellent job. The holes provide oxygen to the worms. The bucket was filled with wet newspapers and a handful of dirt and a few apples slices to get them started. Most people actually keep them in their kitchen. I was not sure how I felt about that, so right now they are living in the half bath we rarely use.

So far Erin and Eliza are deeply concerned about the welfare of their worms. They check on them four or five times a day and Eliza even sang them a song last night.

For those of you looking to start you own worm farm, its simple, thank you google for one more completed project!

Cheap and Easy Worm Bin

Run Like the Wind

Erin's and Melina, pre race

Erin ran her first road race Saturday. It was a 1K race and she was really nervous about it. On the way to her school that morning she asked me how you run. I told her that you find the fastest girl and keep pace with her until the end and then pass her right before the finish line, her reply was, "okay"! :)

Erin's behind the girl in the blue shirt (late start)!

We got there to warm up and there were about 20 girls in the kindergarten heat. They started each grade about 30 seconds apart and kindergarten was the last one to start. When they said go, Erin was still standing at the starting line, she was about five seconds behind everyone. However she looked really (can I even say too) natural running, but there were so many people going into the finish shoots I didn't even think she came close to placing.

The final 50

She was so excited she finished without walking. We stayed around for the school carnival and right when we were leaving I head her name over the loud speaker. Erin came in 2nd in her heat! She went up to get her medal and stand on the podium and the kid was beamming (so was mom)!
It still amazes some days how well she does, she is my living miracle, my daily reminder that the Lord is in control in all things.

Big Animals, Little Man

This is Isaac's new buddy. They play at the playground every afternoon, Ike loves hanging with the older boys!

Just outside of League City a couple of miles we have a wildlife park. Its one of those places that takes in illegal animals from homes that no zoo wants. In my opinion its much better than the zoo!

They have all kinds of deer, goats, antelope, bison, a camel, they even have a rhino (you don't feed him from the tram :) and lots of other random animals.
You get a bucket and feed gigantic animals from a tram pulled by a jeep. My favorite are the ostriches. They reach their head into the center of the tram, its hysterical to watch them, food flies everywhere, however Ike was a little worried.Isaac's favorite was the African cow with the gigantic horns (which made me a little nervous, considering there was a piece of grated steel between us and him.

The Great Outdoors - Texas Style

Last weekend we went camping with five other families. We had 12 adults and 13 kids under the age of 7. You should have seen the park rangers face when I gave her the numbers. She was nice enough to offer a group of campsites far away from the lake. We went to Hunstville State Park, north of Houston about an hour. We go camping about once a year and always with Ethingtons. Every time we camp it sheets rain and last time we went to Hunstville four years ago it sleeted (which is impressive considering it was April in South Texas). The joke is always we bring the torrent rain and they bring the bitter cold. However this time the weather was perfect, high of 72, low of 60 and NO SKEETERS!

Huntsville is a natural mecca on the outskirts of the concert jungle. Its located in Sam Housotn Nation Forrest, the campsite is situated under towering pines around a large lake. Its a kind reminder that Texas is beautiful, its just requires a minimum two-hour drive.
We got in a little early on Friday so we drove up to road to the Sam Houston monument. This is situated right on I-45 and the thing is a massive piece of fiberglass (everything is bigger in Texas right). They had a little visitor center and you can walk up to the monument. The granite base alone is probably 12' high.
We set up camp and started a fire as families trickled in. After a week about complaining how she hated camping, Erin soon was engrossed in finding flowers and sticks. Eliza was busy chasing the squirrels and Ike just rolled (literally, the boy was fifthly) around in the dirt. Erin and Eliza got their own tent for Christmas (thank you Academy $12 sale). We figured they would not last an hour in it alone, however they stayed the whole night!
That night we put the kids to bed and shot the breeze. Amber and I decided to drink water out of the spicket (there was no non-potable signs). It was fine until someone pointed out the yellow and red sediment. We figured we would both end up in the ER, however it just looks like we got out monthly dose of Iron.
Saturday morning Erin faced her fear of alligators and touched a baby one. We spent the afternoon out on the lake on our kayak and bank fishing. All in all it was perfect trip, the kids are already begging to go again!

Trouble Trouble....

I'm not sure who gives me more trouble these days...Thing 1 or Thing 2 :). Eliza has always been hard on Ike but now he is strong enough to fight back. A few nights ago Eliza took something away from Ike and he went up and gave her a two-handed push, enough to make her stumble backwards a few steps. And the look on his face was priceless, there was fire in his eyes.That was officially the moment I realized I was saying good bye to my sweet baby boy and hello to the terrible twos.

Ike loves salsa, he would drink the stuff if possible. He always looks like he is in pain while eating it, we have to take it away at some point.
Eliza still loves to bake, she made Jared chocolate chip cookies for Valentines day. I turned around to see her sneaking raw cookie dough. This is her "I'm so innocent look". When I see this look I know trouble has already arrived!
Eliza also loves to climb on anything and everything. Erin has started climbing trees (she can now climb the firemans pole at school and ring the bell) and Eliza is right behind her. So now one day I will have not only one, but two kids that fall out of a tree, I wonder if the ER has a two for one deal?

I love how kids improvise, why sit on a swing properly when you can use it as a trapeze?

Happy Valentines Day

We had a wonderful Valentines day! Jared and I went out Friday night to Texas Road House and then ventured over to the church adult dance (which admittedly was just as awkward as any youth dance). Luckily we had a group of friends that went which made it fun, until they held the male strut contest. When Jared saw there were old married women lining up to cat-call them he ran out of the gym, I honestly didn't know someone could move that quickly :)

He surprised me on Valentines day with a dozen roses and a giant cheese cake, I got him clothes.

Erin spent all week perfecting her Valentines box for class. She was so proud of it and did most of it herself. I cut out the legs and the eyes. She came home beaming that the school counselor thought it was so cute she took a picture of her with it.

Project #1 - Installation of a New Garbage Disposal

Right before we left for Christmas our disposal died. That in itself is not a big deal, but we dismantled it to see if it could be fixed and then realized that the dishwasher connects into the disposal. We capped one pipe so we would have half our sink to do dishes.

After some quick research we ended up with the Waste King L-2600 Legend Series 1/2 HP Continuous Feed Operation Waste Disposer. Amazon had it on sale for $56.00.

Why the 1/2 HP and not the massive 1HP you ask. I compost so we don't put a ton of food down the disposal (there are studies that putting food through the waste water system can cause eutrophication). So we just needed something that handled a few scraps left on plates and the occasional fork. Plus the 1/2 HP is a lot smaller, saving room under the sink.

Installation: WAS A BREEZE! This is the first garbage disposal I have ever installed.(Jared was so sick and I didn't want to wait a few more days). It took me about 40 minutes from start to finish. Waste Kings directions were easy to follow. Their design requires no screws, it has a gasket system that just slip on and twist to seal and is a one person job.

It been going strong for a month without any leaks.

The Great Project List

I decided to make a list of things that need to be done this year (primarily home improvement). You know the things you let slip. I am a list person, lists make me giddy, so thus I am hoping that proclaiming the large to-do list on the side of this blog will, well guilt me into getting something done. I also like to learn how to do thing so this may document my experience and hopefully help someone else not make the same mistakes :)

Hard Freeze

One of the few perks of living on the Gulf is I don't have to deal with crappy winters....until this year. It has been down right frigged the last few weeks. Last Thursday we got to participate in state mandated rolling blackouts (which ironically didn't seem to "roll" through the high end neighborhoods). We had almost a full day of 10-15 minutes of power each hour. The state had 55 plants out of 550 go offline because of the "extreme" weather. Thank goodness our third-world neighbor Mexico has a stable grid and was willing to support us.

Erin's school was on the same power schedule. The district would not let them close since the school did not have any phone service (and were one of the few school affected). By the time I picked Erin up at 3pm the school was 60 degrees and the teachers (who had to entertain kids in the dark all day) looked like they needed a stiff drink.

I love how all the other children come barreling out of school dressed like they are embarking on an Eskimo expedition and Erin runs out in a t-shirt. The girls got some good Nordic blood in her :)

Then last Thursday night the temps dipped into the low 20's and after raining all day it...ohhhh... froze. 1/4" of ice completely shut down the city of Houston. No civic building were open, NASA closed, no schools, no Walmart. We got a call at 5:15am from the city saying the interstate was already closed at all entrances and exits due to accidents. Being a northerner it seemd a little extreme, but then again there was no way in heck I was going to go out on the road with 5 million people who have never driven on ice. So it ended up just being a nice relaxing day.

I have been trying diligently, and failing miserably, to keep my tropical plants alive. This is what my yard has looked like for the past week. So I have to say this is the first time in year I would like it to warm up...just a bit :)

Moody Gardens Aquarium

Last Thursday Eliza's preschool took a field trip to Moody Gardens in Galveston. Ike and I decided to tag along for the day. At first Eliza was very adamant that I was not to go. And then I realized she was more excited about riding the bus than actually seeing the aquarium. So when I told her Isaac and I were just going to drive and meet her there, she was all cool with it :)

I carpooled down with a really neat gal, another Trooper School mother. She has two daughters, junior and senior and then they adopted Cooper as a baby, who is in Eliza's class. She was really down to earth and pro big family (which outside the church is fairly rare) and just all around really nice...now if I could just remember her name :)

Eliza was not overly impressed with the aquarium, but Ike loved it! His favorite was the penguin exhibit and he made friends with one who would just follow him back and forth on the other side of the glass. They had a good game of tag going.

Quotes by Erin

Just to archive..... Sadly Erin's vocabulary and comprehension have greatly increased and she has become a more compassionate towards her siblings. Now on to Eliza's quotes!

"Eliza, if you don't behave mom is going to sell you when our baby brother is born." "Erin, knock it off, you'll give her a complex." "No, mom....It will just make her confident."

"I will only love my baby brother if we name him "Luke the Skywalker.""

"Erin, what do you do if someone you don't know comes up to you?" "I spray them in the eyes with mace so they burn!"

"Mom, does Eva like Walley like a good girl or a bad girl?" "What???"

"Dad, when you get really old we are going to sell you!".

"Get out of here you crazy creature!" "Erin, don't call you sister a creature, its not nice." "But mom, she is a monster!"

"Mom, did your car die?" "No, Erin!" "Mom, I bet your just stuck in the grass, maybe that nice policeman behind you will push you out." "I don't think so Erin, that nice police man is writing mommy a speeding ticket." "Sweet, I love tickets...but can he still push us home?".

"Dad, your not really a girl, just a pretend girl"

"One day I am going to marry myself so I get ALL the gifts!"

"Dad, I want to wear my new raincoat". "But Erin, it's not raining out". "Here's the deal, I'll put it on and you can spray me with the hose o.k."?

Rainy Days

Last week I think it rained almost everyday (a mothers worst nightmare). My kids just get unruly if they can't play outside. So finally one day we decided to walk to pick up Erin. I'm not sure why I even put a rain coat on Isaac. He jumped in every puddle, by the time we got home he was soaked from the waist down. But it was worth the smiles.

Houston's Farmers Market Bike Tour

Bayou City Outdoors cycling tour
Britt and I checking out the produce (yes I wore that out in public, it was cold!)

Last Saturday Britt and I braved the cold (36 degrees) to join a local outdoors club on a 20- mile bicycle ride tour of a few of the cities farmers markets. Jared was sweet to take the kids so I could partisipate in what I think they call...a hobby.

The day started off chilly in the Heights (which I have never visited but is a kickin' side of the city). Our first stop, which was by far my favorite was called Canino's Produce Market. It was this huge open air, three part market. The best was the back room where you could barter and name your price. Their prices were fantastic. I got a pineapple for $1.00, red peppers were .50 each. They had lots of exotic fruits and beans from central America, it was my dream market! Unfortunately (or fortunately for Jared) we were on bike so I couldn't buy out the place :)

Then we rode to downtown Houston on part of the cities bike trails and visited two other smaller markets. Both were pretty yuppie, fun to visit but most things were out of my budget.

The morning was really enjoyable, minus my back tire falling off, but that is a story for another day). The group we road with included everyone from avid bikers to old lady on their cruisers with the big basket on the front. Everyone was very chatty and welcoming. If I lived closer and had time for a hobby I would think about joining the club.