Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo

We took the kids to the carnival and rodeo this weekend. They have been looking forward to this since I bought the tickets. The singer for the night was Jason Aldean and they kids LOVE his big green tractor song so they were very excited to see him live.

We did the carnival first. I could not believe how brave the kids were this year, mostly Jonathan. Kaela is a trooper and like me loves to get on the scariest rides. I really didn’t think Jonathan would get on any of them but he did right along with Kaela. Bryanna not so much, she was nervous about the Zipper and decided she would sit it out. Kaela said while they were waiting to get the ride started Jonathan looked at her and asked if he was going to die! She laughed and said no just hold on tight! They had a blast spending the 150 tickets we had purchased.

The kids also enjoy the actual rodeo before the concert. We love the bull riding. I could never imagine being on a bull and being swung like they do. They also have this event called Mutton Bustin’, you can only be 5-6 and you get to ride a sheep. The longer you hold on the more points you get. Some of the kids fall off immediately but others actually hold on for dear life. It is so cute and priceless to see the kids face when they get thrown off, it is hilarious!

Rodeo Cook-off 2010

Carlos and I ventured out for an adult night out. We don’t get many of these so I was super excited and put on a bunch of make-up! I even bought a pair of boots this year and was totally thrilled to put them on even if they were going to hurt my feet by the end of the night. We went with a bunch of friends and met more friends out there and had a great night. The weather was clear but windy and really cold. Too cold to even venture out of the tent we were in. Here are a few pictures from our evening:

Half Marathon

This past weekend I completed one of my goals for the year; a half marathon. It was everything I thought it would be, scary, nerve racking, hard, tiring, exciting and so on. Six months ago when I began running I NEVER would have thought I would have this goal. I joined the running group because other friends were and thought it would be fun to have “girl time” on a Wednesday nights never thinking that I would enjoy it as much as I did. My goals kept getting bigger and bigger and by the time I knew it I wanted to do a ½ marathon.

I was nervous all day on Saturday. Hoping I didn’t over eat or eat the wrong thing because when you are a runner your stomach can do some weird things. The last thing I wanted during the race was to have to a) use a port a potty and b) use a port a potty to go #2! Saturday night I began to get all my stuff ready which made more nervous. I got in bed around 8 because I wanted to get plenty of rest. My alarm clock went off at 6am Sunday morning and I jumped out of bed ready. I was SO ready for this race. I am a true believer of the power of positive thinking. To me the race was mind of matter and I was 100% sure in my mind that I could do it. I got to the racing grounds about 30 minutes before so I could stretch really well. The most I had run was 10 miles so I wanted to make sure that extra 3 wouldn’t kill me. They asked us to start lining up, I seemed to be the only one without a partner but I wasn’t worried about it, I was ready. I plugged in my ear phones, turned up the music and began to run. I ran and ran my heart out. I didn’t stop once which was another goal of mine, I didn’t want to walk. Mile 12 came and I was totally exhausted, how my legs kept going I still don’t know but I got to the finish line with my mom and Kaela cheering me on and I did it! It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment, one that I will never forgot.

My stats aren’t the best but I didn’t run the race to be the best, I ran the race to prove to myself that I could do it. Here are my stats:

Ryan Flores's personal results:
Gun time: 2:32:36.7
Chip time: of 2:32:12.2
Pace per mile(based on chip time): 11:39
Age Group total finishers: 20
Age group place: 15
Age group percentile: 75
Total finishers: 355
Your place among total finishers: 308
Overall percentile: 87

Will I do another ½ marathon absolutely; maybe I can even beat my own time next time around. Now on to a bigger decision, to train for a full marathon or not to train for a full marathon?!

Moving along

I was told today by a friend who reads this blog that I haven’t updated lately. I haven’t, I haven’t had too much to say I guess. Our year started out crazy. The first month Carlos lost two grandparents, 29 days apart. But his grandparents have been reunited once again and that it is pretty amazing.

I have been “training” for my half marathon. Basically training consists of short runs during the week and a long run on the weekend. Last weekend I did 10 miles. It was hard, I will not lie but I think I can do it. I am supposed to do 12 this weekend but I have been trying to get over a cold so I am not 100% sure it will happen. I am ready mentally though for the 13 miles. I do have to go get some energy snacks to carry along with me during my journey to 13.1 miles. I am excited and ready, ready to mark it off my list of “to do’s”.

My little boy turned 8 in January. We had a small celebration at home. He got a cool bike and a sharp knife. The knife is for the country, when he goes hunting with daddy. He was very excited to get both. Baseball season is right around the corner. Carlos is going to be the assistant coach this year and is pretty revved up for it. He has been at the park on most pretty days with the kids practicing.

Kaela starts softball in the next couple of weeks. I think she is nervous. She has never played before but is a great catcher and she can hit the ball as well. I know she will do great and I cannot wait to watch her play! My favorite sports are always the ones my kids play.

Spring break is coming up and the kids are ready for a break. We have no plans of going out of town. Kaela and I are going to see the Black Eyed Peas in concert so I am pretty excited about that. I LOVE concerts and her and I have been going to them since she was about 2. I also have my first photo shoot at a wedding. I am SO nervous but really exciting for the experience. I have been on a million wedding websites getting ideas and I just hope everything turns out well.

Miss T this update was for you! I have lots of pictures to share and belated birthdays to post so that will be next!

Faces of Leni

Lennon is my neice and I thought these pictures were too cute. They were from my dad birthday and she LOVES cake!

Life and death

Our days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months…well the month of January and it is just about over. WTH is that all about?

Our year ended unplanned with the death of Carlos’ grandfather so it was a bitter sweet New Year to say the least. It’s been almost a month and time is still going. It’s so weird how one life ends but the rest of us move on. Death is an odd thing, one that I truly haven’t grasped yet. It’s such a sad process and sometimes, me being the optimistic person I am, wish that it wasn’t so darn depressing. I know there are instances where a life is cut way to short or someone loses an awful battle from a mean disease. But I do wish that when a person has lived a good long life it just isn’t so darn sad, but in reality it will be and there is no way around it.

Now Carlos grandmother isn’t doing so well so I think mentally everyone is trying to prepare themselves and spend time with her while she is here. They were married 59 years, can you imagine? The minute her husband died she began the process of dying as well. Although I don’t know if she fully understood that he was gone, her heart knew. He told her, he wanted her and still does and I honestly think their reunion on the other side will be beautiful and they will be able to live happily ever after. For that reason, maybe it won’t be so sad?

I’ve lost 3 of my grandparents, all to serious diseases. My grandfather Matthews, who I never knew, his life was cut way too short from cancer, he was in his 30’s. My grandmother Nancy fought a long battle with cancer and my Grandpa Navin was an alcoholic. I long for the day that I can see them again. I miss being called Dolly by my grandfather, I only wish my grandmother would send me a box full of crap from her attic again and I would love to meet my other grandfather to see if my dad is anything like him and just get to know him.

I haven’t been to too many funerals. Both my grandparents were cremated so there were only memorial services. I sure did learn a lot from Carlos grandfather’s funeral though. I made a lot of my own personal decisions about when I die. I know what I do and don’t want for myself and others grieving for me. I am a giver for sure and I want to be a giver until I die and after. I want my body to be donated. Donate every good organ I have so someone else can live a longer life and a part of me will carry on. For me that is the way I want to go and be remembered, hopefully it won’t be anytime soon though!

In the end life moves on whether we are ready or not.

2009 Questionnaire

One of these days I will have another real post. I have been sick and just busy. But I will leave you with this for now, the 2009 Questionnaire. I love doing these especially when I am bored at work.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Joined a running team

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Yup, I had 3 last year. 1. To lose weight which I did 28 pounds to be exact. 2. Sell more on Ebay, I sold stuff on ebay but not sure if it was more than the few years. 3. Buy a D90 Nikon...so I got the D5000 instead but hey I got the camera of my sweet little dreams!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No new babies this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Carlos’ grandfather passed away on December 30th

5. What countries did you visit? I wish I had left the country, maybe sometime in the near future but nothing planned.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? No cellulite on the back of my legs

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Thanksgiving morning, completing a 5K

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Running 10.5 miles

9. What was your biggest failure? Not sure if I had a failure really. I would love to have gotten to 13 miles but it all takes time.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing major thankfully

11. What was the best thing you bought? New bedroom furniture and red paint for the walls...it’s lovely.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Kaela got an “Outstanding student” award. Jonathan and Bry got a “Caught Being Kind” awards as well.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Won’t say names or point fingers but it doesn’t take much time to say hello every now and then.

14. Where did most of your money go? Carlos’ truck was in the shop 3 times in 2009...f’ing expensive!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Turning 30! Most people don’t get excited to turn 30 but I was. Wanted to have a huge party but ending up out of town instead which was just as nice.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? I’m a single lady by Beyonce

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier for sure.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner for sure
c) richer or poorer? Same, no richer or poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Family dinners

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Laundry

20. How did you spend Christmas? All of my family can’t ask for much more than that.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009? Only with my husband

22. What was your favorite TV program? Biggest Loser, dude 2 seasons in 1 year!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Tiger Woods...cheater!

24. What was the best book you read? I guess the Twilight Series, the first 2 were darn good, the last too not so much, I think I read them in 2009...seems so long ago!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? iTunes, I know such a loser but I just learned how to download everything on all of our iPods, I know my brother n law is happy about that!

26. What did you want and get? Camera

27. What did you want and not get? A bike

28. What was your favorite film of this year? The Proposal, I have watched it I think 7 times already.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Turned 30, we celebrated in New Braunfels with a bunch of friends, love me some floating on the river and relaxing on a lake!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Have a flat tummy after all my hard work but it’s still there dammit!

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Lots of leggings, flip flops...dude size 8 finally!

32. What kept you sane? Myself and a few pedicures!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Gerard Butler, um HOT!

34. What political issue stirred you the most? I don’t do politics

35. Who did you miss? My grandparents for sure.

36. Who was the best new person you met? Lorraine J.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. If you stick to it, it will eventually happen, everything just takes time.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. I had the time of my life and I never felt this way before...Dirty Dancing...it’s all that came to me!