Surviving the Blizzard of 2010

Garrett invited a friend to get snowed in with us and Randy and I hit the grocery store with mobs of other last minute shoppers. I had already made the milk and toilet paper run; but I forgot Superbowl Sunday!! We basically shopped for root beer, chips, dip, and chili fixings. Good thing I had already purchased the essentials. By Thursday night, the water, milk, and bread aisles were decimated. My office closed Friday along with Fairfax County schools and Randy worked until about 3pm. We went out for lunch on Friday (a rare treat as we work in different cities) and I remember looking outside and thinking how the entire area would be blanketed by snow in a few hours.

Everyone was home and warm by Friday night and we sat and watched the snow pile up. By Saturday morning, our entire neighborhood was coated in white. James and I were the only two up when the power finally went out for good at around 8am. Friday night, we entertained each other with Just Dance on the wii (video below). It was a blast, great exercise, and fantastic family time.

Saturday morning, after getting a fire going in the woodstove and food cooking on the gas grill, we sat down for a marathon Monopoly session that lasted 5 hours. After almost going bankrupt halfway through the game, luck smiled on me and I managed to bankrupt Randy, followed by James, and then Garrett with my monopolies and hotels on the entire property line from Free parking to Go To Jail.

The power returned around 12:30pm but no one was willing to give up on Monopoly so we played until 5pm. Besides the deck, we didn't get much shoveling done on Saturday so the real work starts today. It has been fun being snowed in with my family and knowing everyone is safe. I doubt the kids will be back in school before Wednesday.

I've been here two and a half months . . .

Just got back from Yellowstone. That was the most unrelaxing vacation I've ever taken. I don't mean that I didn't thoroughly enjoy it. It was awesome, exhilerating, breathtaking, and lots of fun but definitely not relaxing. I had altitude sickness much of the week that mostly affected my ability to sleep and we were constantly on the move. We would get up at 6 to go on activities or sight-see early to catch glimpses of animals and big fish. I think we all could have done without the horse-back riding but the white-water rafting was amazing.

It was surreal to see animals walking alongside the road. Bison, elk, coyote, even bear (although the bear weren't that close), pronghorn, big horn sheep, mountain goat, even ground squirrels and prairie dogs. When we were on an eco-tour with a ranger guide, one man outside of our tour was asked to step away from some bison that were crossing the road. The rule is to stay 25 yards away from all animals. His response was "It's okay, I've been here two and a half months." As if the longer you stay, the closer and more interactive you can become with the animals. They're wild animals!! It became a running joke for us. The day we finally got to see the bears, we decided that another three months and I could probably go up and feed them. People can be stupid . . .

I can't say enough about the white water rafting trip. I never entertained the idea that our raft could get dumped. Not smart - we got dumped! It was scary and I wouldn't choose to do it again, but it was a great experience. The Yellowstone river is an awesome force - not to mention freezing cold. Randy scraped his shin but we all survived and the boys (Danny and Garrett) were predictably excited and wanted to do it again. The particular rapid that flipped us over was called "Yankee Jim's Revenge". It was named after an early settler of the area that decided he would charge a toll for anyone that crossed this area of the river and shoot them if they refused. Very neighborly!

I highly recommend a trip to Yellowstone. There was no shortage of things to do (we also mined for opals, shopped in West Yellowstone, fished several rivers and creeks both in and out of the park, and hiked around a bit). West Yellowstone is a beautiful town just outside the West entrance of the park. There is a figure-8 loop you can drive around the park and we only had time for the upper loop and part of the west edge of the lower loop - enough to see Old Faithful. We never got to see Jackson Hole, WY and plan to go back. I'm just hoping Garrett forgets about white-water rafting . . .

Just a day at the beach . . .

Oh my gosh! We are at Chincoteague for the Crump Family Reunion and Flounder Fishing Trip. This is the most amazing trip. Yesterday, I hopped on my bike early in the morning and rode all by myself to the Assateague National Wildlife Refuge. I took the Wildlife Loop to a trail that dead-ended at the ocean. I could have sat there for the rest of my life. The sound of the waves, the birds, not a soul around except for me.

I took Garrett and Beth with me today and they loved the ride. Just gorgeous weather here this year. Cloudy but not raining today. I'll be getting in lots of walking tomorrow at Kings Dominion. I'm planning on wearing my pedometer to see how many steps I get. I'm betting on over 10,000.

Garrett has had a great time. No flounder for Randy but the fishing was great anyways. What does he say? . . . A bad day of fishing is better than good day at work. Couldn't agree more . . .

Updates, updates . . .

We changed wards in August. We're now officially in the Falls Church Ward. I love it. Lots of new people - a few familiar faces. Garrett had a hard time adjusting but seems fine now. Randy is Scoutmaster and misses his family from McLean 1st a lot. He loves the boys in Falls Church. Scoutmaster is a challenging calling. Garrett graduated to be a Teacher. He is slowly making friends at Falls Church but also misses his McLean 1st friends. At school, he sees all of his friends and spends time with them after school. I'm in Primary teaching CTR8 and the kids are wonderful. There are 5 boys and 4 girls. The boys (in any combination) are a nuclear reaction. My team teacher, Beth Snyder, is a natural for teaching. She came into this calling and had those boys eating out of her hand the first day. It's an amazing site.

Now that the weather is warming up, I'm looking forward to getting out more. I have a plan (good intentions) to walk to Metro every morning and also get off two stops early and walk to work from Foggy Bottom. If I'm walking to Metro in the morning, I'll have no choice but to walk home in the afternoon. I think building exercise into my existing schedule is a good way to get it done. I'm using eTools on Weightwatchers.com. It only works if I use it!! I have kept the weight loss of the last two years without gaining so I have to be proud of that.

We are planning a summer vacation to Yellowstone this summer. Our nephew, Danny, may meet us in Salt Lake and provide company for Garrett. This is great bonding for the two of them. Maybe we'll get Jake this summer . . .

I joined Weight Watchers at work. I'm having trouble getting motivated. I have kept the weight off that I lost in 2007 but have not seen any further progress.

Been a while

Okay, so it's been a while. Updates, updates. Garrett has switched from trumpet to tuba. His band teacher sent an e-mail that Garrett is an awesome player and doesn't realize how good he is. He's finished with 7th grade in 2 short days and I realized he'll be driving in 2 years. WHAT??!! Okay, my breathing is back to normal.

Randy is busy with High Adventure planning and getting used to his new job. What? I didn't tell you? He left MITRE. He's now at Northrop Grumman. He likes it but most of all realized he wouldn't melt if he left MITRE. There is life outside! He loves his church calling - working with the older boys. He's planning the High Adventure trip and having the boys over next week for a cookout and planning meeting. Reminder to me - clean the house and put away anything breakable before Tuesday. . .

I'm still doing water aerobics with Mom. My weight loss has stayed the same which is better than gaining but I'd sure like to see some losses. I'm reading The Persian Pickle Club which is a cute book about a 1920's quilting club. I've really just started so I don't have an opinion yet. I've set a goal to lose 2 pounds and I get a pedicure. My toes really need it. I'm doing Weight Watchers at work for free but I've got to journal and get back to counting points.

Water babies

Mom and I have signed up for a deep water aerobics class at the rec center. We've already taken the class once and we really liked it. Two suggestions: wear a one piece suit and put your styrofoam belt on t-i-g-h-t! Don't forget - stand up straight, belly in, butt in, chest high, breathe . . .

Garrett has been working out with us in the weight room. He gets on the treadmill and is jogging for 10-20 minutes. He wants free access to the other machines so he has agreed to take a weight training for teens class (teen? when did that happen?). Once he finishes that class, he can workout wherever he likes.

Randy is starting a new job at Northrop Grumman. He is so happy and relaxed. I'm very happy for him. We're going out tomorrow night as Garrett will be at a friend's house for a sleepover. We'll be celebrating his new job.