December

December is always a fun month with all the Christmas and New Year's festivities. We celebrated all month long, baking scads of cookies, making a gingerbread house, cruising around looking at lights, visiting Santa, going to an amazing Bethlehem Walk.

Tad could hardly stand the wait for Christmas Day - he wanted a Nintendo DS so badly. (Think Ralphie from "A Christmas Story".) His dream came true on Christmas morning when he got his Nintendo Gameboy (close enough!)

Like Tad, like Granddaddy...

Matthias had the quote of the day when he opened a Dora trashcan and said, "Wow, it's a giant cup!!"

Naylor's Beach Tri

September 28, 2008 - The date loomed ahead of me on the calendar all summer. This would be the longest race I had ever done and quite possibly would ever do in my life. I trained hard all summer. Olivia travelled to Warsaw, VA with me the day before the race. After packet pick-up, we took a look at the beautiful river and then headed out for a carb-filled dinner and to drive the bike route. Then over to the Best Western for a little shut-eye.

The next morning was very cloudy and drizzly - perfect racing weather! I got my transition area set up, got all my body markings and my timing chip, and was ready to go. I couldn't wait to get the swim over with!

I knew the swim would be my biggest challenge. Since I do not enjoy swimming, I really didn't train at all for the mile-long swim in the Rappahannock. I took it slow - REALLY slow - and the tidal currents made the swimming tough. I got swept off-course at one point and really ate up some time getting back on-course. Here is my wave (all women - pink caps) waiting for our start...

Here I am coming out of the water after the swim...

I knew the bike route was notoriously challenging. In fact, one e-mail I received said, "The bike route builds character - LOTS of character." I was very nervous about it after driving the 26-mile route the night before. I was sure we had taken a wrong turn in the car because I thought there was no way it was humanly possible to climb some of these hills on a bike. But I ended up having great fun on the bike (as I almost always do).

The first half of the 6.2-mile run I felt pretty good. Then I crashed. I walked a lot the second half, but I was so proud just to finish the race.

Although it was pretty grueling, I am glad I did this race because I learned a lot about myself. I'm not sure if I'll do another Olympic distance triathlon (the Sprint distance ones are much more pleasant!), but I will definitely continue racing!

Broadway at the Beach 2008

Go Red Knight!!! We had fun at Medieval Times.

Best Buds

Wait a sec - are there 8 kids or 10???

Garden City Beach 2008

How many little people can fit in a hot tub??

Andy's favorite pasttime.

Tad's favorite pasttime.

Washington, D.C.

Andy and Matthias thought the ducks were hilarious with their "dupas" in the air!




Tad got his picture taken with his namesake's statue...

...so Andy had to also (Andy Jack with Andrew Jackson - yes, we know, it's a stretch!)