Reflection

My triathlon went surprisingly well on Saturday.  Last summer I was steadily coming in around the middle of the pack- this year I have moved up a bit closer to the top 1/3.  At least I'm improving! When I returned from the race I had the newest issue of USAT magazine waiting in my mailbox.  I read a fun article on a couple who are around the ages of my husband and I who are 2012 Olympic hopefuls.  They don't have any kids and train for 6 hours a day!  Can you imagine training that much every day?!?  Wouldn't it be great to have that much time?!? 

After thinking about it I realized that I kind of like my diverse, planned to a "T" schedule and I wouldn't trade my home life, great job, church family, and friends and activities for anything.  After a bit more reflection it seems that I'm in a very different place from where I was this time last year.  Perhaps it's because my kids are a little older and more self sufficient or maybe it's because all the organizational tactics I've implemented over the year have been effective.  While those are possibilities, I'm most inclined to believe that it's as simple as I just "got used to things". 

It took a while for me to recover from our failed attempt to move closer to family - the first year I was disappointed, grumpy, and sensitive.  The disappointment, grumpiness, and sensitivity slowly dissipated over the last year to where the sting is gone and relocating is no longer even on my radar.  As each year passes, the southwest becomes more and more our home.  When I returned from San Antonio last week, I sighed with relief upon seeing the expansive skies, and feeling the warm dry air. 

Likewise, I have fallen into a good work/home routine - my current balance is working well.  I am able to reach my goals at work while still spending plenty of time with the kids.  The kids are doing great and now that my youngest is a bit older, it's easier for the 5 of us to do fun things as a family on weekends and in the evenings.  I know that will only get easier over time.

Our home routine has gotten easier as well.  We eat dinner as a family every night and I'm thrilled that our menu is becoming more and more diverse as the kids get older.  Swim practice ended today with the banquet next week.  The kids had a great time!  My son made some amazing progress going from refusing to put his face in the water at the beginning of June to swimming freestyle.  Can't wait to see what next summer will bring!  In the meantime, there is soccer, dance, a new school year, and a delightful fall & winter to anticipate.  :)

Odd and Ends

It's been a while since I posted.  Since returning from Hawaii, time has literally flown!  Less than a week after returning from the Aloha state, I packed up and headed to San Antonio for a conference.  I was invited to give a talk there and also was presenting a poster with a colleague.  It was a great excuse to go shopping since I needed a suit in which to present and a fabulous dress in which to attend the Dean's dinner. :) The meeting was WONDERFUL!  My presentations went well and I ran into lots of colleagues and professors from North Carolina.  Even at the age of 34 it is still so heart warming when someone who taught you smiles and says, "I am so proud of you".  Friends from my graduating class are scattered across the states and it was a blast catching up with them and learning what they are doing. 

On a sad note, my grandfather passed away while I was at the meeting.  My father called at 6AM the morning of my talk.  I was already up and nervously getting ready when I heard the news.  My grandfather was a neat person - he was a physician, husband, father of three, grandfather, and a great grandfather.  He was 94 years old when he died and had been blessed with a good long life.  Unfortunately, I was in San Antonio without my passport and was unable to get from there back home to get my passport and then to Canada where he was living.  Therefore, I missed the funeral, and as Forest Gump would say, "That's all I have to say about that."

Swimming is still going strong at our house (picture below).  The kids have two weeks left.  As swimming is winding down, school excitement is building.  I am so excited for my oldest to start kindergarten in the fall and about the teachers my younger two are going to have this year!  Each new year brings exciting changes and new challenges and I look forward to what lies ahead!

As for me, I have a triathlon this weekend.  I don't feel ready because of all the traveling I have been doing, Oh well - I suppose I'll find out tomorrow... :)

Aloha!

My husband and I just returned from a week long vacation to Hawaii - yes, that's right...just the two of us!!!  My husband had a work meeting in Honolulu and I decided to tag along.  My in-laws graciously agreed to keep the kids and we are so very thankful to them for that!  It was a blast!  We swam, snorkeled, hiked, kayaked, and explored to our hearts' content.  Below are some pictures from our trip.  Thank you so much Grammy & Papa for making this possible!