Our Savior's love, shines like the sun with perfect light. As from above, it breaks through clouds of strife.

Mar 17, 2010

It is time for the Madness


I love this time of year. We have a bracket and if any of you wish to join, you are more than welcome. Don't think you need to know anything about Basketball. You will beat Greg Regardless of your basketball knowledge.Here is the information:To accept this invitation and join the group, click the link below (or cut and paste the link into your browser's address bar).You'll be asked to enter the group's password before you can join. The group password is included below
.http://sherwoodbracekts.mayhem.sportsline.com/e

Our Group password is: ASUrules

Mar 16, 2010

Amazing Race, minus the cameras, Phil, and the million dollars

by Greg...
On Friday March 5th, Nicolle and I got to participate in an Amazing Race type event taking place in downtown Greensboro. We were excited to do "Around Downtown in 80 Minutes" because Greg has organized a number of these races for family, friends and coworkers, but has only raced in these events twice, and never with Nicolle as a partner.

This was a risky move on both Greg and Nicolle's part for many reasons:
  1. They are both very competitive
  2. Greg finished 2th & 5th respectively in the races he has been in
  3. Unlike the previous races which had 40-60 people in then, this race had 95 teams of two (or 190 individuals)
  4. Greg is fat and had not exercised in 3 or 4 weeks
  5. Nicolle is always right
  6. Greg is always right
  7. Reason 5 + Reason 6 = Marriage counseling if Reason 5 does not = Reason 6

Anyway, we got arrived at the race with time to map out our route. On the 4th review of our
route Nicolle recommended a gutsy move, which -if performed with precision, accuracy, and speed -could vault us into the running for a top spot. Greg felt this tactic would demand too much needed time and result in absolute failure.

After much discussion, Greg finally gave in to the high risk, high reward strategy.

Then the gun sounded, grandmothers trampled crying babies, and we were off.

Over the next 57 Minutes and 12 seconds Nicolle and Greg dodged, jumped, answered questions and ran around downtown Greensboro.

The race went considerably faster than Nicolle and Greg had planned, and despite not knowing that the population in downtown Greensboro is not 1000 (rather 1500) people, we finished getting to all the stops.

As we sat and waited for the results (scoring was based on how many points and bonus points received-time finished was the tiebreaker, if needed) there were some raffles. This provided one of the humorous highlights of the evening. A guy who looked like my brother in law Bryant (see below) won a complete hair cut and style package from a local salon.

Calgon Take me away


In a stroke of good luck, Greg won a Triad Stage coffee cup and Nicolle won a Gift basket from a local boutique bakery.

Then the announcement of the 3rd place winner was announced (this was good for 4 tickets to Triad Stage) it was ........ some other team.

We were sad that we did not win those tickets, but we maintained hope that might have gotten 2nd place. But alas, the prize of a dinner for two at a fancy restaurant went to some lucky couple who think neon green and pink are still in style. (I wonder if they heard MC Hammer wasn't 2 legit to quit?)

Then came the Grand prize:
1 night stay at the Greensboro Biltmore Hotel
Dinner for 2 at 223 Elm Street (easy to find on GPS)
8 Tickets to any show at Triad Stage
and Bragging rights

IT WAS US. WE WON. Greg grabbed the microphone and started thanking his keen sense of direction, his agent, his cow "No Horns" who made him hate cows so much that he had no issue eating meat, which gave him the mental acuteness to figure out the fastest route. When the music started playing he asked Nicolle if she had anyone to thank, but then remembered to thank his old teammate Micheal Aagard, "We did it Micheal, We did it."

The tears were flowing, the pain and suffering were worth it. The years of training had paid off , for this moment, this one moment in time..
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel
I will feel eternity

Go TEAM USA





Mar 1, 2010

Clara's trip around the world.



Clara had a very fun month at preschool. If you want to see what she's been up to, check out Miss Shelley's blog.

6 Months

Sarah-Jane is 6 months old. I know I sound like a broken record, but I can't believe how fast the last 6 months has flown.

Stats:
26 7/8 long
18 lbs.
80th percentile for height and weight (we have big girls)!
She is getting more steady in a seated position and is close to crawling... I think my blissful days with a non-mobile baby are coming to a close! She has quite a grab, but -so far- is still very happy even when we need to take away things she can't have.


Vancouver Olympics 2010

I love the Olympics. I find it so inspiring to see people push themselves to the limit... to do their very best... to work unbelievably hard to accomplish their dreams. It inspires me to want to do my best, despite obstacles or setbacks. I mean, if Anja Paerson can win a bronze medal in alpine skiing one day after wiping out like this, then surely I can survive one more 3 year old meltdown, right? Especially when I know that when I peek in on her, later, after she has gone to bed I'll see this... a very cute, sleepy girl reading through her library books one more time before she falls asleep.
I recorded all of the Olympics, because I didn't want to miss anything. I still have about a week's worth of viewing before I get through them all, so don't tell me any results from the final week, ok?