Day 1 continued

Camping in the overnight town, Spencer, the first night was really cool. They had a parachute show and great fireworks. All Gavin wanted for dinner was a corn dog and corn. Ever seen a foot-long corndog before? This boy ate the whole thing! I had my first of many pulled pork sandwich that night...most people GAIN weight on RAGBRAI...there is so much food to eat and you are so dang hungry all the time it is hard not to.

Uncle Robby promptly claimed the couch in the motorhome for a nap on the drive to the overnight town...the kids didn't really let him sleep much! hee hee

Barry brought the team these funny jester hats that light up and blink...they turned out to be a great way for him to find the motor home very night when he rolled into town in the dark. Love this pic of Gran and the kids in their hats. We are looking forward to winter to wear them...they were a little warm to wear now!!

Tomorrow we plan to drive to the half way town, Laurens, and ride to the over night town, Humboldt...so we can take it easy in the morning. :)

RAGBRAI 07 Day 1

Rock Rapids to Melvin, 40 miles

The first day of our second RAGBRAI...we are the last out of the campground...just like last year. Uncle Robby was riding with us and Barry from New York and Dave, Matt and his Dad. My parents met us this year to be our support team...and the fact that I didn't have to use KYBOs (port-a-potties) all week was a wonderful thing. Our team is Katz and the Dogheads. We actually made a logo!

We stopped for breakfast about 10 miles out...breakfast burritos, with eggs, sausage, cheese....grits, oatmeal....just about anything you could put on a tortilla. Barry had a HUGE bowl of oatmeal with honey and sugar that he called cow vomit....ugh, thought I would vomit just thinking about it. We filled up and were on our way.

Next stop was Mr Pork Chop, a legend on RAGBRAI...this was his 27th year selling pork chops and his last since he is retiring this year. Luckily his family will continue the RAGBRAI tradition but Mr. Pork Chop's legendary pork chooooooooooop call will be greatly missed by many. They filmed the kids a couple of times trying to imitate his call...it just might show up on the Mr. Pork Chop website. Anyway, as we were pulling in to the farm..well there was Lance Armstrong hamming it up with Mr. Pork Chop. Uncle Robby and I were a little bit ahead of Sean and the kids so by the time Sean caught up to us (with my camera) Lance had just taken off....so those little yellow jerseys in the distance...Lance and his posse. Robby thought he would be funny and yelled out when we got there..."Hey, isn't that that dude from Dodgeball??" Very funny Uncle Robby.

So we finally pulled into Melvin, the half way town...the end of the ride for us. It was soooooo hot, it is really shocking how hot it is, especially when you stop moving and just sweat like a pig.
Mom and Dad were parked by this cool grain silo...had a really cool blue grey color so I tried to get some pics..this was the best of Gavin. Man was it hot!

So we packed up the bikes and drove to the overnight town, found a place to camp in the fairgrounds and settled in.

I can't stop!

I got so many gorgeous shots of my roomies....girls, can't wait to send them to you!

Check out the cool tats Rusty Pickle was giving out!

More CHA!

CHA Favs!

The product was hot and all but check out all these hot Mamas! We had so much fun! I can't wait to do it again!

For TRICIA!

Team Tallywackers on RAGBRAI!

Gotta go....more later! Miss you!

Getting Ready

Getting the bags packed, ready for a super fun weekend at CHA and then 7 days of hot riding h*ll in Iowa. :) So far the hardest part is packing for two very different trips all at once, plus the kids. I get serious anxiety over packing...always worried about not having what I need and then mad if I end up with too much. I just really like to be comfortable in my clothes....and that's not easy these days. I think I have switched sizes at least 10 times in the last 7 years. Sigh.

Can't wait to have some fun with the girls...see all the amazing talent at CHA. I am ready to be overwhelmed and amazed and I can't wait to get there!

8 random facts

Hmmm tagged by Minda...my DT sister at TallyScrappers

1-post these rules
2-each person tagged must post 8 random(... hopefully interesting) facts about themselves
3-tags should write a blog post of these facts
4- at the end of the post 8 more bloggers are tagged and named
5-go to their blog and leave a comment telling them they're tagged

My ranDoM fActS:

1. I love love love the ocean and SCUBA diving in it. Being under water is the most peaceful feeling in the world.

2. I once taught high school science in the school where they filmed 90210 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

3. I have a thing for fun linens and dishes. I love shopping for them and getting new ones whenever I can.

4. I always have to lie down when I have blood drawn or a shot...or I will pass out.

5. I've lived on the West Coast, the East Coast, the South and now I am stuck right here in the middle...the Midwest. I think I liked the West Coast best.

6. I was a biology major in college and my favorite subject was Parasitology and Genetics. :)

7. I can not play any instrument...at all. Although I am starting to learn violin through DD's classes.

8. I wish I was neater. I love organizing things and I love a tidy house...but I just can't get there!

k, I totally don't have 8 bloggin friends who haven't been tagged yet...so I am picking my WI buddies to tag...Julie, Shannon, Nicole. You're tagged! :) Hey, does Jen have a blog?

"Mama...

....can you get me some hair gel?" What???? My four year old is already becoming vain? The last couple of days he has used...aloe vera gel and then Purell hand sanitizer in his hair to try to get it spikey on top...I have no idea where he got this from. It is pretty cute. :) But I guess I better get him some real hair gel before he uses something really bad!

Fireflies

Lightening bugs...one of the best parts of summer. Gavin caught about 14 of the little buggers. I talked him into letting them all go the next day but I think a few escaped in the house. Wasn't really sure what they eat, to put into the jar. Other bugs maybe?

Gotta love em!

Happy 4th!!!

Love this country...and I am so proud and grateful to have been born here. Happy Independence Day!

Gab and Gav got to do a little neighborhood bike parade and carnival before we went to our pool party today. But Gavin is a little grumpy and wouldn't let me take his pic....can you believe that?? Geeze, what's a SBing Mom to do? But of course my little model was ready and willing as usual, showing off her face paint!

Now for the fireworks! Have a wonderful day!

Scrapmaina!!

Gotta love em! Got to meet Julie and Shannon for lunch...so much fun catching up with each other. Then I finally got to meet Jen and another cool scrappin' chick Sarah, another friend of Julie's. It is so nourshing for the soul hanging out with these girls. The time just goes too fast. I got a measly 2 1/2 layouts done...but that's okay because it was just so good to be there....repeat after me Jen.... :)

Thanks for a great day girls!

Good Daddy

Yep he sure is...the best.

AAAAAHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhh

I am sooo happy to be back in civilization. Up North was beautiful, quiet and peaceful...unless you consider the bugs!! Had a great time with our friends, kids had a blast catching little catfish in the lake. But now I am happy to be home sweet home.

They Did it!

Our wonderful friends Andy & Jodi FINALLY got married last weekend. We were so happy for them and we all had such a great weekend. I've never seen our kids have so much fun...dancing all night long. Doesn't the hubby look spiffy in the tux?? :)

BLUR!

That's what he is on the soccer field...I need a much faster lens to get him in focus! :) But I kind of like this look...it's pretty much all we see of him anyway!

10 Things

Random and Weird, huh?

1. Can't sleep in a bed unless the sheets and blanket are straight.

2. I have an extreeeeeemely low tolerance for pain...thank god for epidurals!

3. I love being under water..in a pool, in the ocean, it is so peaceful and quiet and beautiful (love SCUBA diving). I must have been a fish in a past life.

4. I can (or at least used to) barefoot ski.

5. Have to lie down when I have a shot or blood drawn or I will pass out.

6. I had a "baba" every night before bed until I was 5 years old!! And when I finished it...I always had to throw it across the room.

7. I wish I could be more organized...I should be organized...I am a Virgo...I have a strong desire to be organized...just can't get there! And when my life is very UNorganized I get panicky and can't function very well. Geeze!

8. I love love love love love the ocean....the smells, the colors, the sealife, the sand...why am I living in the Midwest???

9. I have over 12,000 photos stored on my computer right now...mostly from the last 2 years!!! (And yes, they are all backed up. :)

10. I too am much more sociable after a couple of cocktails!! :)


JULIE!!! You are sooooo TAGGED!!

I'm Already Home

This song is just so moving! Thanks Shannon for finding it for me! I knew you would country girl! :)

Oh My Gosh...

All I can say is Tim McGraw...."I'm Already Home." I guess it is one of his new songs. He performed it on the Country Music Awards tonight and I have been searching like a mad woman to find this song...I love it, I want it, can't wait to have it but I will have to get a box of tissue too!

MmmmmmmmmIMOSAS!

And my Monkeys. Had a wonderful, fantastic, amazing brunch at this wonderful restaurant. Sardine. They just started serving Sunday brunch and I think it is our new favorite.
Hope all you Moms had a FANTASTIC Mother's Day! If you are a Mom...you deserve it! :)