Boondoggle

Once a year, the Pediatrics Residents and their families get together for a weekend of family friendly fun. It is called Boondoggle. We have been able to go every year and we love it! It is usually held the end of October or early November. This year it was on Halloween weekend. That didn't put a damper on our Halloween fun. Everyone got to the campsite/cabins around 8:00 PM on Friday night and proceeded to pass out candy to the costumed kids. Kylie was Ariel and Sadie was a Care Bear, but wouldn't let me put the hood on. Miki was a "Funny Bunny" and I don't know what I was (a tired mom that night!)

We got to the campsite (Fort Sam Houston side of Canyon Lake) when it was still light out, so we got the perfect site. Beautiful view, deer galore, isolated and quiet, right next to the port-a-potty. That is right, there were no pretty restrooms at our convenience. We had no running water and stinky, dark port-a-potties. The only thing that I was grateful for was that Sadie isn't being potty-trained right now. The funny thing is that we could have chosen to stay in the cabins like the majority of Miki's co-workers. The cabins were quite the step up. Refrigerators, TVs, ac/heat, running water, stoves, showers, three bedrooms, fully furnished, dishes, etc. But who would want to stay some place nice like that anyway?

We did really enjoy camping. It's all about the adventure. That first night, Sadie woke up screaming in the middle of the night and wouldn't calm down until I took her out of the tent. Then I had to carry her around for a good hour. I finally got her to agree to sitting with me in the car and she immediately fell asleep. I knew that wasn't going to work for me, so I woke her up and convinced her to go with me into the tent, where she insisted on laying on top of me. I slowly wiggled my way out from under her over the next few hours. Neither one of us got much sleep that night.

The next day, Saturday, the interns and residents had a sand volleyball match with the 3rd years winning and I am sure it was because of Miki! The kids played on the beach and loved the sand and sea shells. The interns, 2nd years, and 3rd years then played some team games to see which group was the best. I didn't see what all of the games were, but I know that there was tug-o-war, a relay type game, and a game played with ping pong balls and hula hoops. And of course the 3rd years won.

We had dinner at a nice restaurant, Papa Docks, where Miki gave out awards. I will have to see if I can find those and list them on a post. Then we went back to the camp site for one more sleepless night. Thanks to everyone for such a fun time. I will definitely miss this group when we leave San Antonio. My friend Kimberli said that she was grateful that her husband picked Pediatrics because the group is just so family friendly. Everyone cares about each other's family and kids and are genuinely interested in what our families are doing. I would have to agree and count myself blessed for the many acquaintances and friends that I have made because of my husband's job.

56 Things That I Have Done

I copied this from a friend's blog (thanks Karyn) and loved seeing all of the things that she has done, accomplished, and experienced. I was curious to see how many of the things I had done. The highlighted ones are the things that I have done. Try it out yourself!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (never read Songs of Solomon though, but it still counts)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

Halloween Party Pictures

My cute girls all dressed up for Halloween. Kylie wanted to be a purple fairy princesses. You can't tell in this picture, but she is wearing wings. Sadie got to wear the snow princess dress that Kylie wore when she was two.

Kylie-Halloween 2006

Sadie-Halloween 2008

Kylie and Jordan and...Sadie?

Kylie saw our neighbors, The Pieroni's, leaving for a family walk on Sunday. She insisted on forcing Sadie and I to get our shoes on and try to catch up with them. This was a bit tricky since I am a paranoid mother and wouldn't let her cross the street on her own. She would run ahead of Sadie and I and then have to wait for us to catch up to her at each intersection. Finally, at the last intersection, the Pieronis noticed us and I let her cross on her own because Kevin was right there.
We had a nice visit with them at the Tripps' home. But had to head home all too soon. Kylie and Jordan held hands the entire way. I had to get a picture. I borrowed Kimberli's camera and was taking this first shot and then in the corner I noticed a little girl across the street. It was Sadie! While I was distracted by the cute little couple, Sadie had decided that she was big enough to cross the street by herself just like I had let Kylie. I threw the camera at Kimberli, all the while cursing myself under my breath, and ran to Sadie, who then started running from me. Has this ever happened to you before? I know it has. This is every two-year old's favorite game.
Kimberli must have taken this next shot as I was busy collecting my rebel child. I love how Kylie and Jordan are looking on as I discipline someone other than them.

Kylie's One and Only Soccer Game

Kylie had her soccer game on Wednesday, the 22nd. It was supposed to be on Monday, but the coach was sick. So we worked it out that she did her make up game on the same night with her friend Gage Atwood.
Here is a picture of her with her certificate and medal.
And also a cute picture of her with her buddy, Gage. We were so glad that he was able to play soccer with her this year because it made her less shy and timid.
As you can see in the videos, they just ran and ran and ran. Kylie got two goals. I couldn't get the video of her second goal to show properly. Sorry. But this other video is where she almost made a third goal. I apologize for my loud voice (you may want to turn down your volume) and terrible camera skills. Miki wasn't there and I had Sadie to juggle. It was also a cold and windy day. Okay, enough excuses. Really, I just wasn't paying attention to the camera during the most important moments of the game.

Kylie's Soccer

Kylie is enjoying soccer again this year. The only thing is that she isn't really playing soccer. They have a soccer program on base called First Steps and they teach the kids the basics. They learn to kick, trap the ball, throw the ball in, head bump the ball, and run and kick the ball in the goal. The entire time dad (and maybe mom if dad isn't available) is right there doing it with her. She enjoys having something that she does with her dad and has especially loved it this year since her friend Gage is in her class with her.
It just bothers me that they don't really ever get to play. The last practice is supposed to be a game and that was supposed to be today. But the coach got sick and they cancelled class. Now she has to make it up with a different class and kids that she doesn't even know. Kylie is a good kicker and will stay with the ball and run it down the field, but if she is around a lot of kids that she doesn't know, she freezes up. Luckily, we are able to go to the same make up class with her friend Gage and I think that will help. If she is interested in soccer again next year, we will be looking for a league where she actually gets the experience of playing.



What a cute face. What is she thinking right now?

Who is the hottie guarding the goal? Can I get his number? (Okay, cheesy I know, but Miki is in Fort Hood for 4 weeks so just deal with it!)

Great dribbling and look at the expression of pure joy! Too bad I was never any good at sports. Hopefully the kids will take after their father, at least if he has anything to do with it they will be dunking baskets not chassing and grapevining.

Listening to the coach at the end of the game. Here is Kylie standing next to her great friend Gage. We are glad that they have had so much fun in the same class this year.

A Little About The BUG!

I had Sadie in a little rotating play date every Tuesday for a couple of hours. This was a picture that I took of the girls in our playroom kitchen. Sadie with her friends Kelsey and Cambria. I thought it would be good for Sadie to have some time to play with kids her own age (there aren't that many around here) and for me to have some time without either of my girls. I thought I could do a lot of things this fall, but I was wrong. I have learned that I get more and more stressed the more things I take on. I was just so overwhelmed with all of the things that I had committed to that I felt like I was going to burst and who was going to take the fallout from that? My family of course. So, to save them all from much misery, I cancelled almost everything that I had been doing, including Sadie's play date. Really, on the scale of things, how important is a play date for my daughter that is 2? Right, not that important. Besides, I think that we can have these girls over to play sometimes, but I just couldn't have it always scheduled. Too much commitment, no room for spur of the moment fun!

Here is a cute picture of Sadie wearing her belated birthday present from her Aunt Leah. Of course it would be a pretty princess hat. Can't have enough princess stuff in our house! Thanks Leah. We love it! Hope you are loving Chicago!