Natalie at Volleyball

Natalie watches and cheers for Mallory.

One tired Momma!

Pooped Momma at the end of Saturday

Racing Experience

Joe's big gift for his 50th birthday was the chance to drive an actual NASCAR stock car 8 laps around the track to Richmond Internation Raceway. Today was the big day. I also had a ticket to ride 3 laps around the track. Of course, the forecast yesterday was rain on and off all day in Richmond today and you can't race in the rain. I was told that we still had to show up at the track and if the class was cancelled because of rain, that Joe would be given a voucher to reschedule his class sometime in the next year. So we left here around 8:30 this morning and drove in the very cloudy, but not rainy weather to get to Richmond just after 10:00. It started to drizzle for a few minutes after the first group started driving and they called them into the pits to wait for the rain to stop. Fortunately the rain delay only lasted about 5 minutes and everyone in the group got to finish the laps without any more rain. Joe got to drive in the #20 car and I got to ride in the #8 car. He loved the experience and wants to do it again on a bigger track. I was glad that my ride was only 3 laps because I was a little nauseous by the end of my ride. See pictures below.

NASCAR Driver?

Suited up and ready to ride. I got to go first.

I got to ride in the Bud car

Getting into the car for my ride. Joseph was thrilled that I got to ride in the #8 car, one of his favorite cars.

Ride-a-long

Getting ready to cross the start-finish line during my ride-a-long.

Instruction Time

Joe gets instruction before getting to drive.

Waiting his Turn

Suited up and ready to go.

Getting into the Racecar

Joe gets into the car he gets to drive.

Behind the Wheel

All strapped in a ready to go.

On the track

He had to follow a pace car around the track. If he kept up with the lead car, the lead car would go faster each lap. The fastest speed on the first lap was 96 MPH, the fastest speed on the last lap was 105 MPH. I said he kept having to slow down to keep from driving into the back of the pace car. He would have liked to have gone faster.

Back to Pit Row

Pulling back into pit row after his 8 laps were over.

Spring is Here!

And with the warm weather comes the spring sports season. Monday was t-ball practice for Bailey (5:30-6:15), volleyball practice for Rachel (6:30 - 8:30) & gymnastics for Taylor (5:30 - 9:00) & Bailey (6:30 - 7:30). Tuesday was baseball practice for Joseph (5:00 - 6:30) & volleyball practice for Mallory (7:00 - 9:00). Wednesday was t-ball practice for Bailey (5:30 - 6:15), volleyball for Taylor & Rachel (6:30 - 8:15) & gymnastics for Taylor (8:30 - 9:30). Taylor is giving up gymnastics on Wednesday from 6:00 - 8:30 in order to play volleyball. Thursday was baseball practice from (5:00 - 6:30) & volleyball practice for Malloey (7:00 - 9:00). Friday is gymnastics for Taylor (3:30 - 6:30). Taylor called around 5:30 to come home because she didn't feel well.

Busy Day as a Stay at Home Mom

Here's a list of things that I got done today: Took shower and did new 10 minute ab workout. Folded 4 loads, washed and dried, but did not get folded 2 more loads. Made egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast for me and waffles for Natalie & Bailey. Picked up and vaccummed downstairs to get ready for physical therapist visit. Spent 45 minutes working with Natalie and the therapist. We were trying to get her to walk across the room pushing a walker toy. She did it 5-6 times, yeah Natalie! Made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Browned ground beef and made chili for dinner. Got Joseph and Taylor started on their home work when they got home and took Natalie upstairs to lay down for a short nap. Natalie nursed and I dozed for 1/2 hour when I realized that I wanted to sleep more than Natalie. I got up and took her downstairs to Taylor and went back to bed for another 1/2 hour. Got up and made cornbread to go with the chili for dinner. Dished up chili into bowls and took Natalie, Bailey, Joseph & Taylor on the run. Left Rachel home to fend for her self and to wait to be picked up by a friend for volleyball practice (6:30-8:30). Dropped Taylor off about 30 minutes early at gymnastics(5:00), drove across town during rush hour to get Bailey to the first T-ball practice(5:30) for 40 minutes, drove back across town in not so ruch hour traffic to get Bailey back to gymnastics for her class(6:30-7:30), went to Best Buy with Joseph & Natalie while Bailey was in class and got a brand new digital camera to replace the one that quit working this weekend (it was only 6 weeks old), picked up Mallory from her boyfriend's house(8:00), picked up Rachel from volleyball practice(8:30), took Mallory, Joseph & Bailey home, then back out with Rachel and Natalie to pick up Taylor at gymnastics(9:00). Last we stopped at the grocery store in
the way home to pick up a few much needed items (cereal, quick & easy dinners for next few nights, dish washing liquid, etc.) Put away groceries and spent an hour trying to get Natalie to settle down and go to sleep (unfortunately she catnapped in the car while we were
driving all around). Read and typed this email. Time to go to bed, I'm exhusted from my day away from work. LOL

Natalie & Rachel

Natalie & Rachel in the car during one of our many trips today. Doesn't Natalie look thrilled to be in the car?

What is Natalie listening to?

Natalie watched the Sponge Bob Movie on the way home. She usually doesn't get headphones, but everyone else was sleeping so Rachel thought she should have a pair.

Hi Mom!

Today we went to Arlington Cemetery and while we were there we left flowers for my Mom. Carnations were her favorite flower and red was her favorite color. After we left, Bailey cried for a while because she was so sad that she hadn't gotten to meet my Mom before she died. It was sad for me to see her so sad. I wish my Mom could have met Bailey and Natalie too. Bailey asked me if my Mom had wanted to die? I told her my Mom died because she had been very sick, that most people who die do not want to die. We also spent some time talking about my Grandma and how she is very old and will probably died sometime probably in the next couple of years. I want her to be prepared for when it happens. What else can I do?

Happy 98th Birthday!!!

My grandma turned 98 on Wednesday. Two of my cousins and my one cousins two children came for a visit this weekend to my Dad's house. We celebrated Grandma's birthday on Saturday with my Dad, three of her grandchildren and seven of her great grandchildren. The cake was sent to my Dad's house for Grandma's birthday by my sister Linda.

Grandchildren

Three of Grandma's grandchildren: Karen, Carolyn & Jimmy.

Great Grandchildren

Seven of Grandma's great grandchildren: Kristen(19), Taylor(10), Bailey(5), Rachel(12), Natalie(1), Mallory(15) & Micheal(12). Joseph wasn't with us because he stayed home and spent a boys only weekend with Joe.