Birthday Bangs

April 22, 2014 -

For Claire's 7th birthday, the only thing she wanted was to get a real, big girl haircut that includes bangs at a salon.  The backstory here is that I don't like bangs on little girls.  Sorry if your daughter has them, but I still don't like them.  It's not because I don't like the look necessarily, but more because I think it adds upkeep and work.  Claire has asked for bangs for as long as she has been able to talk.  My answer has been the same every time, "NO!"  Daren and I finally decided that she could give bangs a try, so we surprised her with a big girl trip to the fancy salon where she could ask for bangs.   Praise God that she didn't ask for the silly looking ones that are cut straight across the forehead.  Those are my very least favorite!  I will admit, begrudgingly, that she does look pretty darn cute with her new, big girl bangs!

Getting a fancy hair wash 

Blow dry

BANGS!

Hyde Park Spring highlights 2014

Here are some Spring 2014 highlights of Harper's time at school!  I am so happy that she has had the chance to go there.  She has the sweetest group of friends.  She gets to participate in a huge variety of activities (music, cooking, chapel, Spanish, dance, art)  She learns about God.  She learns about love.  She learns how to be a good friend.  I could not be more thankful for Hyde Park.

Emma's birthday celebration!

What is love? Harper says "Listening to my sister's words and giving her space."
I am special because "my sister loves me."

Easter egg hunt!

Centers!

Harper painting a robot 

Rodeo Day!

Austin 1020

April 2014 - This year, I trained and ran the Austin 1020 with Mary, Jenn, and Kat.  Well, let me restate.  I trained with Mary.  Jenn and Kat trained together, because they are WAY faster than I am.  Mary is patient enough to put up with me.

On race day, the four of us met pre and post-race to take pictures and congratulate one another.  I was proud of myself for finishing it and for following through with my goal.  I jogged most of the way until about mile 9 where I really "hit a wall."  Mary motivated me to keep going and we finished strong!  I had quite the cheer squad yelling for me along the way which motivated me, as well.

It was exciting and it made me feel good for some of the kids I love the most to see me fit and strong.  If I expect them to be active, I want them to also see me active.  They were proud of me, and it meant a lot.  Claire, Chris, and Charlie ran the last 100 yards with me.  I cried with pride and emotion as I crossed the finish line with them.

Mary, me, Kat, and Jenn pre race

Finish line!

Austin High Teachers Dare to Be Different!

Best cheering squad in Austin (Mom was there too, but she is the photographer!)

Mary and I around mile 6 

Crossing the finish with 3 of my loves!

Doss'd and Confused 2014

April 2014 - Doss Elementary's big annual PTA fundraiser is fun-filled, themed night.  This year, it was Doss'd and Confused.  We had a blast!  Daren loves to dress up.  Problem is, I couldn't get him to quit wearing that wig!

Some Doss Dads 

Claire's 1st grade teacher is the coolest! 

He likes this outfit WAY too much!

Doss'd and Confused!

Harper's SMSD Parent Night

April 2014 - Shirley McPhail's School of Dance held Parent Night, and Harper was so excited for us to come and watch.  She did a great job for most of the evening.  Towards the end, Harper lost a bit of interest in performing and began to do her own thing.  Go figure!  I have to say that my favorite part of the night was when she did her own moves.  :-)

Tap, tap, tap

Shuffle and hop

Making up her own moves!

Wheel to Survive/Go Wheel Warriors

This year, I joined a team called the Wheel Warriors in an effort to raise money for ovarian cancer research through the Be The Difference Foundation.  It was a surreal, incredible experience.  People banned together in teams and rode on spin bikes all day long.  Our team each took a shift to ride.  I personally raised $1000, and I intend to do this every year.  It was a religious experience.  Really.  It was.  I cried throughout as women survivors rode at the front.  Those who'd passed were in pictures on a screen flashing at the front of the room.  Names of those we rode for were all over the room.  It was nothing short of God's miracles that I walked into a huge room and the first name I read among hundreds was Maurine Nix.  Talk about tears...  It was so wonderful.

This was my fundraising page:

Why do I ride? I ride in memory of the beautiful women I've known who have lost their battle with ovarian cancer.  I ride in honor of the warrior women who are currently fighting the disease. I ride on a team with my warrior women friends so that we can work together to raise money for a wonderful cause.  I also ride in honor of my two daughters, Claire and Harper, so that one day, they will Be The Difference, too.

Did you know that...  One woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer every 24 minutes. 22,000 women, this year.  One woman dies from ovarian cancer every 37 minutes. 15,000 women, this year.  Sadly, 70% of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will die from the disease.  And there is no reliable early detection test available for ovarian cancer.

These women are our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends and they deserve better. We all deserve better.

On March 30, 2014, I will be participating in Wheel to Survive, an inspirational 6 hour indoor cycling event where 100% of the money I raise money will help women battling ovarian cancer today and to provide research dollars for a cure. Your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Please help me reach my goal by making a donation today. You can also help me reach my goal by sharing my page or link with your friends by email, or on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter. Better yet, register today and come ride with me.

Thank you for your generous support and joining me to Be the Difference in the fight against ovarian cancer. MY OVARIES THANK YOU TOO!  Our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends are counting on us. The time is NOW!

Johnny's Mother - Maurine Nix...  I rode in her honor that day.  Her name randomly was the poster directly in my eyesight.  So when I got tired or thought I couldn't continue, she was my inspiration.  It was very special!

3 of the Wheel Warriors - Lissa, me, Jennifer AND notice my tattoo!!  I finally got my "dream come true" sleeve.  Even if only temporarily...

Go Wheel Warriors!

I9 Soccer - Harper

Harper's soccer season began very rough.  It was FREEZING cold and she was pissed.  To say the very least.  She cried NON-STOP the first game and refused to do much of anything.  After lots of pep talks, ice cream bribes, and a dose of self confidence, she grew to enjoy her time on the soccer field.  She even scored several goals.

Before her first game...

During her first game...

Second game...YAY!

Trophy day!  She was so excited that the trophy was a girl.  I thought it was hilarious she noticed.

The rest of the Caymans

We visited the town.  It was quaint, quiet, and simple.  We toured the turtle farm where the girls got to hold turtles.  We visited the botanical gardens.  It was a great place.  Caymans has a little bit of something for everyone.  We loved it!

Flip flop tree

Iguanas are everywhere!  The girls were not afraid, but Mommy was.

Dolphin Discovery, Caymans 2014

Bucket list item checked off the list - Ride a dolphin.  This was one of the coolest things I personally have ever done.  We had to swim alone out into the training pool and allow the dolphin to pick me up and take off.  Claire had a fierce determination to do it.  She cried as she swam out to meet the dolphin.  Daren and I told her repeatedly, "Claire, you don't have to do this" to which she quickly replied behind her own tears "But, I want to.  I am just scared."  Sure enough, she did it and she loved it.  It was so cool to watch my brave, strong little girl experience a once in a lifetime thing.  Harper wasn't tall enough to be allowed to do it, but she was perfectly content getting hugs and kisses from the dolphin.

Stingray City, Cayman Islands 2014

Stingray City was a majestic, magical experience.  Stingrays look scary.  In fact, a stingray's barber killed Steve Irwin.  They are scary.  According to Cayman Islanders, this is all false.  Stingrays are the "Labs of the sea."  So, we tried to go into Stingray City thinking of them as such.  The islanders were correct.  The stingrays allowed us to pick them up, hold them, pet them, and kiss them.  Legend says that you receive seven years if you kiss a stingray, so Claire, Daren, and I all received 7 years of good luck.  Harper was just fine looking and petting.  :-)