Gilcrease Orchard

 

Eat . Sleep . Run . Repeat

or is it... Eat . Sleep? Drive . Repeat


188 Miles

30 Hours

12 Feet

6 People

1 RV...

This, was our RAGNAR Relay Ultra Las Vegas 2011 experience.....

 Dear Team Cereal Killa's, 

There are few words that can describe the insane amount of fun I had running this race with you all.  I think we had one bad a$$ crew and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and getting to know each and every one of you during the grueling, intimate time we had in such close quarters.  Thank you for all the amazing memories that I will cherish forever. I'm STOKED to race it next year and HOPE to have the 5 of you (and the toenail lost) join me for  Ragnar 2012.  Until then, happy running....

Sincerely, 

TRIX the Rabbit

Age of Chivalry

Last weekend we took the girls to the Las Vegas Renaissance Fair.  It was also our first time attending.  I had no clue what to expect and was pleasantly surprised.  I definitely have an appreciation for that era and find the artsy side of it all fascinating.  I look forward to going back next year and hope that it's at Sunset Park where is has been in the years past.

We experienced the likes of royal parades, one-act Shakespearean plays, full contact jousting tournaments, no holds barred gladiator battles, strolling minstrels, sheep herding exhibitions, a fire breathing dragon, magicians, storytellers, comedians, jugglers, flame eaters, black smith forging demonstrations, singers and belly dancers and a variety of entertainers.   Some of the Guild's and costumes were out of this world.  Truly Renaissance and truly amazing!


GUILD

FAIRIES...of course Kady fell in love with this pair.  They told her they would come to visit when she lost her first tooth.

Pirate Parrot Show...Zoe was fascinated with all these birds as was I.  They would land on your arm if you were holding a $1 bill, grab it and fly up to the stage and place it in the tip jar.  Needless to say this pirate scored a few bucks from us.

Queen.....We searched and searched until we could find a queen.  Needless to say we found the queen and her entire family.  They were gracious and kind.  You wouldn't believe the detailing in these costumes. Gorgeous! 

 

 Human Tree...this costume was out of this world. To be able to walk on stilts in an outfit like this in 90* takes dedication  and skill.

ALL SMILES....a seat to enjoy the sights and a Snow Cone for the road.  It's Fall right?

"The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not uniform across Europe, this is a general use of the term. As a cultural movement, it encompassed a flowering of literature, science, art, religion, and politics, and a resurgence of learning based on classical sources, the development of linear perspective in painting, and gradual but widespread educational reform. Traditionally, this intellectual transformation has resulted in the Renaissance being viewed as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern era. Although the Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits, as well as social and political upheaval, it is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of such polymaths as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who inspired the term "Renaissance man".
There is a consensus the Renaissance began in Florence, Tuscany in the 14th century. Various theories have been proposed to account for its origins and characteristics, focusing on a variety of factors including the social and civic peculiarities of Florence at the time; its political structure; the patronage of its dominant family, the Medici.

The Renaissance has a long and complex historiography, and there has been much debate among historians as to the usefulness of Renaissance as a term and as a historical delineation. Some have called into question whether the Renaissance was a cultural "advance" from the Middle Ages, instead seeing it as a period of pessimism and nostalgia for the classical age, while others have instead focused on the continuity between the two eras. Indeed, some have called for an end to the use of the term, which they see as a product of presentism – the use of history to validate and glorify modern ideals. The word Renaissance has also been used to describe other historical and cultural movements, such as the Carolingian Renaissance and the Renaissance of the 12th century."

Bumper Bowling

2hrs and 10 frames later, bumper bowling was a success and a must do again....

CF Invitational

I have officially signed on to do the Ragnar Relay race this coming October 21-22nd.  I've joined a 6 person Ultra team that will run a total of 195 miles day and night.  It's going to be painful yet SO rewarding.  I'd like to say I'm looking forward to it but as of now I'm too darn nervous.

  

Go team "Cereal Killas!"

For weeks now I've been asking Kadence the same two questions everyday after school...
1) How was school today?
2) What did you learn in school today?

For weeks now I have receved the same two following answers...
1) Um...good!
2) Just things and stuff!

I guess it's better than saying she learned nothing.  I can really tell she's absorbing a lot and she really likes going to school.  She asks if she can go everyday!

Happy Birthday

.....to my beautiful sister!

9 11 10 years later...

2001 --The Attacks

Ground Zero

From Ground Zero I can see,
A city of people in misery.

A misery that has caused hearts to ache all over,
Everyone is lending a hand or a shoulder.

Lives were lost in a blink of an eye,
Not having a clue they were about to die.

People coming from far and wide,
With feelings and emotions they cannot hide.

Rescue workers, working night and day,
Hoping for a miracle to come their way.

Lives destroyed by terrorists and two planes by noon,
Our hearts bleed for the people that have left us too soon.

This tragedy has touched our hearts, which have sighed,
A million tears our nation has cried.

Now, stronger than ever our country will be,
The home of the brave and the land of the free.

I am proud to be an American and you should be too,
Living in the country of red, white, and blue.

By,
Chelsea Griswold - 8th Grade (2001)
Age:13
Haddam-Killingworth Middle School

2007 -- 5 years later

This is the amazing "Teardrop Monument" located on the Northeast corner of the Bayonne Penninsula in New Jersey.  Created by artist Zurab Teseretii, it was made and installed  by Russia on the 5th anniversary of 9 11 in 2007 to honor those who died and as a statement against world terrorism.  The tear drop is lined up with the Statue of Liberty.  

The names of the persons killed on 9 11 are inscribed on the base.  Like the Vietnam Memorial Wall.  What a magnificent structure.

2011 -- 10 years later


The ground zero memorial will officially be open to the public September 12, 2011 10 years after the Al Qaeda attacks on the twin towers.  The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.
The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker created the Memorial design selected from a global design competition that included more than 5,200 entries from 63 nations.
The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history.

I came across this book, which is neat Poetry after 9/11.  It's a compilation of poems that were found after 9/11 on telephone poles, on firehouse walls, in the bus shelters, and on the internet.  For someone who does not live in New York, what a healing sight that must have been to see.  I love poetry (although I do not write much myself) so of course this book is right up my alley.  

I remember exactly what I was doing that day, where I was, all of the people I was with and saw.  Sometimes it's hard to imagine that something of this magnitude happened in my lifetime.  I wonder if my girls will experience something like this in theirs.....

First Day of Pre-School

"The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives."

 ~Robert Maynard Hutchins

Summer Vacation Recap

Is it really September 1st???  It's hard to believe that Summer is coming to an end.  We have had a fun, full-filled, busy one.

For starters, Dominic and I both  began new jobs.  Keith and Dominic's event racing company was acquired by Lifetime Fitness and with that he became a full time employee of Lifetime.  He still does the same job but with different headaches and stresses than before and a lot less pressure.  He's good at what he does and I'm fairly certain he enjoys it.  I decided to take a break from the "stay at home" mom gig and go back to work.  For now I'm just waiting tables 3-4 nights a week while Dom stays home with the kids.  So far it's working out great even though I haven't managed to adjust quite yet.

JUNE

First event of the summer was the Diamond Kids Triathlon of which Kady participated in the fun run.  She looked SO cute and had a ton of fun....

Immediately following was a quick 24hr trip out to California for myself to attend a friend's "Royal Wedding" themed bridal luncheon.  The setting, an amazing mansion set high up on a ridge in the Anaheim Hills.  It was stunning and us ladies and our cocktail hats were a hit.  Here's a picture of the hat I made....

Next was a trip to Lake Cascade, ID where we met my parents for a long weekend.  Dom had a triathlon to put on and I competed.  Yours truly took 3rd place overall female in the triathlon as well....Go me :) Our furry kids were able to join us for this one.  The kids got some quality one on one time with Grandma and Grandpa where Kadence learned how to fish and caught her first one ever.  She ended up catching more fish then Dom, myself and my dad combined.  Is it beginners luck or skill inherited from her grandfather??  Who knows but I'm sure the pink barbie pole had something to do with it...

JULY

July started off with a BANG!  We hosted a 4th of July going away bash for our dear friends Mike and Halee.  He's in the Air Force and had been re-stationed to New Mexico.   There were tons of friends, food, booze, water balloons, jello shots, fireworks....shenanigans.  It was a good time...

We spent 10 days on the East Coast at Dominic's parents house.  His sister and family drove down with there camper from Maryland to join us for the week and set up shop at a nice beach front campground.  We did a lot of eating, shopping, hanging out on the beach, surf fishing and had a celebration for Nana's 90th birthday.  It's always a special time seeing the in-laws.  I just wish it could be more often.  We took Zoe's for her first time to the beach.  It's safe to say she's fearless and loved every bit of it. If only she loved the 5hr plane flight over. Ha! ...

AUGUST

Kadence began swim lessons this August.  Out of no where for some reason she became scared to death of the pool and swimming.  Odd because we spend so much time in our own pool out back.  She is 5 weeks in and making slow but great progress every day.  Even though she fights me every week to go, I think she secretly loves it...

Zoe sprouted 5 teeth over the summer.  Her vocabulary is vastly improving.  She says a new word everyday.  It's just hard to get her to repeat that word at the appropriate times.  Like always, she was a good and faithful companion and side kick this summer.  She sure does keep us on our toes.  The girls have been invited to more kids birthday parties this month then we could attend.  It's tough being so popular...

 Dominic and I were able to fit in plenty of date nights four ourselves this summer...always a must.  We went to a few different concerts outdoors poolside and what not.  Super fun...

Summer was a BLAST and I'm sad to see it go.  I am more than ready for fall though and some much needed COOLER weather.  By the way, Costco has Christmas stuff out already.  And I thought planning Halloween 2 months in advance was early.  Whoa...