What a day...

I set the alarm on my phone for 3 so I could wake up when Katie did. I wanted to give her a good morning send off and some words of encouragement. I didn't sleep well all night, I kept thinking about her doing another Ironman. I really wanted to be there but, in hind sight, I felt pretty useful at home.

Mom and Dad kept calling for splits and also to help locate other teams athletes. It was such a brutal day in Kentucky! The weather was very hot. The commentators kept saying it was the hottest conditions they had ever seen during an Ironman.

Okay, I could write a whole post about Katie. I am so proud of her. Even though she medical DQ'ed because she was dehydrated and had to be taken to the medical tent for IV's, she is still my hero. Every time I watch an Ironman, I always get inspired! I wish I could do that. It is so amazing to me. Next full Iron, I will be there. But, It was pretty handy having someone with a couple of computers. (my husband is happy to have his back tonight :-)

The girls started school Wednesday. They love their teachers and the kids in their classes. I am always glad about that! There are not that many girls in the first grade in Okoboji so, they have 5 boys to 1 girl. Annie is fortunate enough to have her best friend in her class, Taylor Timmerman. The bad news is that Taylor is moving. They are leaving town October 1st. Annie will be heart broken. Any advice I can get about how to help her adjust to that is greatly appreciated.

The summer flew by! The 10th of August we had a Relay for Life event at work. It was actually a tour of Kitchens but, all the money we raised ($5000.00) went to The American Cancer Society. It was not a bad fund raiser for out first year of doing it. The next time I know some things we can do differently to help make the fundraiser run smoother.

The girls did the twin contest at the Iowa State Fair. They didn't place this year but, it was nice to have a day and a half off of work. And, it is always fun to go to the fair.

Jason and I are living with celebrities. The girls and five of their friends are featured in a Special Edition of Women's Inc. Magazine for a back to school picnic. Annie and Abbie think they are Rock Stars! I guess it is as good as being in Camp Rock.

Not much else going on around here. Jason and my anniversary is tomorrow. It has been 8 years since both my Dads walked me down that flowered path to Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World" into the arms of the man of my dreams. Boy, did I need a reality check! Eight years, and twin girls later, now look at us.... just kidding. Oh, and I forgot to add, two crazy dogs! The little one thinks he is bigger then the big one!

Well, I hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend! If you are surfing the web and need something to do, go to ironkatemonster.blogspot.com and leave an uplifting comment for my sister!

Has it really been that long?

I can't believe it has really been that long since I have last blogged. But, I guess it has. I have been getting a wrath of crap from Katie and my Mom about blogging. I have just been very busy.

Summer is always a busy time for us as it is for everyone. Where do I begin?

the weekend of the fourth we busy, we attacked the bushes and hedges around our house on the 4th during the day. (that is what you do when you live in Okoboji, you hibernate) That night we had plans with a bunch of friends to meet up at the green space with all the kids to watch the fireworks and the band. It was great and the kids all had a ball. It ended up being even more people then we thought and more kids then we thought but, the more the merrier! It was crazy! We had gone to Walmart and bought the giant bag of sparklers and had every kid swarming Jason for sparklers. It was wild. Then, five of the Dads, took all the little kids up the the front by the mosh pit. The kids thought that was GREAT! Of course, the girls think their Dad is a hero for that! Then, one of the other mom's and I took all the kids for ice cream. We just had an all American good time and the fire works were spectacular as always.

The next day, Jason put closets in all day and I took Scout to the vet. We were busy all day and then went to some friends house that night for a bon fire, and the girls spent the night there.

Sunday, was race day, Katie raced in Lake Stevens Washington and qualified for the 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater Florida in November. She did so good! She finished 5th in her age group. She ran her butt off that day. Usually the run is not her best part of the sport but, Sunday, the run was very strong!! We were waiting around most of the day to hear if she qualified a spot for Clearwater. It was a rollercoaster of a day! So, I guess you know, I will be in Florida in November. Wooo Hooo! Team Kate Monster Support Crew reporting for duty!

This week as been nuts. It has been work, work, work. I don't know if I have mentioned the fact that we are doing a Relay for Life fundraiser in August? It is a tour of kitchens that I have designed. I didn't want to do it until November. I was hoping to have some time to gain some energy back but, Joe told me we needed to do it in August so, I told him that was fine but, I needed lots of help. Do you think I am getting it? It is really a lot of work and a lot of extra hours and I knew it would be. I just wish I could snap my fingers and have all my energy back. I am still extremely tired. I haven't been home before 6 any night this week. And, I have had late appointments two nights this week.

We are leaving in the morning for Cedar Falls. Cami and Brian get married tomorrow. The girls are going to stay in Oelwein with my Dad and Mary for next week or part of next week, that hasn't been decided.

Big news in Nascar, Tony Stewart is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing. My long love of the number 20 is coming to a close. That is bitter sweat. I heard today that his new number for next year will be 14. I am good with that, my lucky number is 14. Maybe that will bring good luck to Tony! I hope the best for him and his owner ship and all I have to say is ,"Go Smoke!" And, I guess we will have to start learning how to yell for a new sponsor next year.

Okay, I guess I have caught everyone up on the not so excited parts of my life. Have a great weekend everyone and I will work harder at blogging, I promise!

What to say and where to begin?

so, I am really struggling with all the different medications I am on. Most of them make me incredibly tired and irritable which is totally not me. I don't feel like myself one little bit. I am not the happy go lucky Chelley everyone knows and is used to. I don't know where she is and I would really like to find her soon! I miss her. So, if you find her somewhere please send her my way. I really need her.

News from Okoboji, one of the local favorite eating establishments burnt down early Monday morning, Tweeters. It had the largest collection of Iowa Hawkeye memorabilia known. The only things that survived the fire were one basketball and two bottles of ketchup. The basketball blew out of its glass container and made its way to the basement. That is also where the two ketchup bottles were. The Owner says she will rebuild.

It is really hard to believe the 4th of July is next week already. We had such a long winter here and now it is just getting nice and the humidity is taking over. I know by September when the kids go back to school it is very likely to be the hottest days of the year. Yesterday the girls and Molli were at the pool from 12 noon until 5 o'clock. That is what summer is all about. Last week they were busy at the beach and swimming off the Smith dock most of the week. They are getting tan. It makes me miss the days when I stayed home with them and did all those things and had a great tan. We used to have so much fun.

Well, that is really all that is going on in our lives right now. Have a great week everyone.

I have fallen and I can't get up.

Please Read.....

As most people know, I have more sisters and brothers then your average person. I have a sister in need right now! Cami, (Mary's youngest daughter) lost her home yesterday. They had a house in Ceder Falls Iowa. It is now filled with water up to the roof. Cami is getting ready to get married to Brian (her high school sweetheart, July 11), they have a beautiful daughter Isabelle who just turned 2 in April.

Cami and Brian had just purchased their home about a year ago and done a ton of work on it. They are both very young but have their heads on straight and their priorities in line. It is so cool to see two young people that way. They are very good parents to Isabelle.

Thank God they are safe and I know whatever is left in the house is just stuff but how sad to have to start all over. They are staying with my Dad and Mary for right now. I know all your thoughts and prayers will be with them too.

Jason is going to try and scan a picture of them later for me to put on the blog.

Crazy, crazy weekend!

I am telling you, I seriously don't have time to go to the bathroom these days.

I forget to stop and drink water and eat food until I am starving. I promised myself I wouldn't get back to this way once I felt better, and here I am again... The craziest thing is, I still don't even feel great! I feel terrible. I have walking phenomena, sinus infection, and my stomach still hurts every day. I honestly wish I could snap my fingers and I wouldn't feel so tired. All I want to do is sleep and I don't even get enough of that. I lay there at night and my head is just swirling with work and guilt over not spending enough time with the girls.

I am really struggling.

My desk is piled a foot high and I never get to the bottom. It just keeps getting higher and higher.


In reality, I know this is all hormonal and I will get over it!

Yesterday at 1:30 I ran to grab some lunch quickly, my friend Becky Heller stopped while I was gone and hooked me up with some more supplies, Puffs with vicks and Grem-X and some great pictures from Saturday night. My husband was in fine form!!!! We will just leave it at that.

The New Man In My Life...

Isn't he cute! Right this minute he is trying to play tug a war with Tiger's tail!