The Summer of Avery and Brooklyn

It was HOT this summer in Missouri. We don't like to stay in. These are the following things we did to not go crazy.

1) Popsicles. Lots of popsicles!

Popsicle was Brooklyn's first 3-syllable word. She says it like a champ!

2) Friends

We couldn't have done it with out you guys!

3) Water. Running in it, drinking it, jumping in it, etc

Last summer I bought this huge blow up pool for ten bucks

It also doubled as a huge bath tub

Best ten bucks ever spent!

4) Lastly, one of the biggest reasons we didn't go insane this Summer is because we had an extra playmate with us (OK, last year she technically was with us, but she basically drooled, rolled around and looked cute, now she is in it to win it)! 

The past few months they have really become good buddies.

 

Here is to Fall, and probably our last Fall in Kansas City. We better soak it up, this is the best time of year!

Retiring

Around March, this past year, I was feeling a bit lost. I was losing myself to diaper changing, Baby Einstein watching, yoga pant wearing (as an outfit), etc. You get it. So to snap myself out of it, I decided to do something that made me feel like me. So I signed up for a marathon and a sprint triathlon.

A couple of months later, I was feeling good. I did both a half and full marathon. It was Summer, so of coarse warm, which meant I was getting the vitamin D back in my system.

I was kind of over racing, come on, it was like a hundred degrees everyday in July! Who wants to train in that weather?  I just wasn't really in the mood anymore. But I did train... a little. I got in some biking, running and oh yeah, and I swam some laps in the pool twice. I did about two or three brick workouts.*

*Brick work out: Two or more events combined; commonly a bike workout followed by a short run to help the adaptation between the muscle groups.
I learned this term about a week before the race, and Trav says I use it all the time now, like all of a sudden I'm a professional athlete.

So September 8th came around, and I found myself driving with my friend Shauna at 4:30 in the morning all the way to the country, Olathe, KS.  

This was a really cool and well organized race. It was an all woman's race, which was great, no male speedos! 

The race started at 7:30, but my heat wasn't until 8:10. I was a little nervous because this was my first race in a real body of water, not just a swimming pool. They gave us real shower caps to use which  were fluorescent pink, for just in case we drowned, they would see us.

When the race started, we all jumped in the lake. I was totally getting kicked in the head, and may have kicked in the head as well. Once we separated out a little, I was feeling great! It was so much fun swimming in a lake, but I had no idea what was going on. I could have been first place, or last place.  I really did feel like my pace was decent, and that I was possibly out in the front of the pack. 

Once the swim was over, I ran to my bike, dried off a little bit and took off. As I was going out the entrance, I saw these little twerps roll in.

The bike was fun. Since we were the last group, it felt like I was passing a ton of people. But then out of the blue, I got passed by this chick. Whatever. The whole 10 miles, we kept going back and forth, passing and getting passed. I couldn't kick her. I think on the last mile, just by pure annoyance, she pulled back, because I didn't see her again. Sorry girl, I have a disease.

The last event was of course, the run . I got off my bike and started awkwardly running. When I sign up for these races, I honestly just do it so that I can feel good about myself, and have something to train for. Then when I'm in the race, I get this weird impulse to just beat everyone. I don't think of myself as competitive, but apparently I am because I kept seeing people in my age group and trying to pass them.  So I saw this girl up ahead who was in my age bracket, and yeah, my pace was a little faster than hers, so I casually passed her up. Then the 3.2 miles, I swear turned into 10.2. My legs were burning, I had a cold, so I couldn't breathe, I was not in the best place! The last mile, the chick who I passed up on the first mile, totally passed me up. She was flying! I tried to keep up with her, but I was going to die! So girl with the orange tank top, PROPS! Thank you for humbling me, you ho! 

Travis, thanks for snapping these beautiful shots, I wanted to crawl in a hole and die at this point.

All in all, I thought my swim and bike were great but my run not so great. When I looked up the results, I was surprised. I seriously was slow slow slow on the swim, I did good on the bike, and I rocked the run.  Weird. 

Anyways, I took 2nd in my age group (no thanks to you orange tank top girl with two braids,) and 15th overall.

Next triathlon I'm gonna brick it up in the training... yeah Trav, you heard me.

But for the year of 2012, I am officially retired. I think I found "me!" Bring on the sticky floors and poopy diapers. 

Speaking of poopy diapers, the kids were great fans, but then they got bored and decided that they were going to jump in the lake

Oh and Travis, who never appears in pictures was there too. Thanks for the support!

Obituary

Baby Bob
6/26/2009- 9/1/2012

Baby Bob created joy in the life of many children. Avery and Brooklyn both were better because of Baby Bob. Baby Bob came from out of no where in the Charles house hold. To this day, no one really knows how Baby Bob came to be. Some say Baby Bob came due to an accident,  maybe an innocent toddler dragged him into their world. Others feel it was by fate that this angel appeared out of nowhere. In any case, Baby Bob was Brooklyn's first dolly she connected with. To this day, she thinks that every baby is called Baby Bob. Baby Bob was Avery's first spouse to her beloved Baby Patty. Just as Baby Bob entered the Charles house hold, he quietly exited their lives. He was simply out for a stroll in the stroller with the kids, when the family made it home, there was no Baby Bob. Search parties were delayed due to the event of hurricane Isaac. As soon as it was cleared, they resumed and the body of Baby Bob was recovered on the above street in the middle of the road. His head was then discovered on the sidewalk yards from the body. Baby Bob was survived by his guardians, Travis and Milli Charles, his wife, Baby Patty, his two children Baby Rita and Baby Blue and of course the people he made happiest, Avery and Brooklyn Charles. Services will be held Tuesday, September 4th near the Charles house hold. Baby Bob will not only be remembered for bringing joy and smiles, but for bringing the Charles family together in rough times. May he rest in peace (no pun intended).

The remnants

Missouri has been dry. The grass is yellow. We haven't had any electrifying storms. But than a hurricane named Isaac hit the gulf. We got the remnants of it clear out here, in middle of the country, Missouri. And we took advantage.

Man, its unreal to think how powerful Isaac really was when it hit the coast because it was a pretty good storm here! I don't really want to ever find out, we are good with just tornadoes.

Best Weekend Ever!

Allie is one of my best friends. I met her in college. We eventually shared a room. We go way back. She has come to visit Trav and I about 4 times since we moved to Kansas City. I would like to think its because she and her husband Matt love us oh so much. But the reality is, they just really love the Kansas City BBQ joints. Lets be honest, we are cool and everything, but if you want some amazing BBQ then you come to Kansas City.

We got used.

Jokes, we loved hosting the McFarland family. The kids got along great! Avery and Kate played for two days straight. For some reason though, Avery could not ever remember Kate's name, so she would say, "is 'a girl' sleeping over tonight," or "can I play with 'a girl'?" Sorry Kate, but I do have to say that after you left, she said, "that girl is my best friend." So I guess that means something?

We had a really fun time. We went to an open gymnastics gym, you know, for the kids, but I think the adults watched a little bit too much olympics. We tried to see if we had a chance for Brazil 2016. We don't.

We ate at Hawg Jaws BBQ for lunch, and it was delish. And of course, had to go to the famous Red X. Matt was in Heaven with the strange old man that stopped to shoot the breeze. For some reason he attracts that type. Lucky him.

Matt took some awesome pics of us on Saturday. Yes this is sort of a plug for you Matt, but don't get too excited, I think 4 people read my blog. If you are reading this, use this guy, he is one of the best in Utah!

Then of course, we went for the big guns that night, the famous Jack Stack BBQ! We got a babysitter for the kids, and lived it up that night, well once we found Jack Stack that is.... Travis! 

It was wonderful! I love you McFarland's! One day we will travel the world together!

I turn my back for one minute...

And my kids find my make up and use it to give each other makeovers... seriously, one minute!

So yeah, I scorned them a little. But since they were all glammed up and everything, why not put on a fashion show for their Dad?

I think they learned their lesson!