Happy to be THERE ~ Telluride Vacay Day 3

We hit the trails early this morning with the jog strollers again and wouldn't you know that when the terrain was stroller friendly the kids have decided they would rather walk than ride...sigh! 

But the kids are getting along great and Tate, Kari and Lee's oldest son, has been so helpful with the little ones.  I think they prefer to all 3 walk together rather than riding separately. 

This morning's views from the mountain between Telluride and Mountain Village were spectacular and were not the slightest bit affected by the light drizzle.

A trail closure extended our hike a bit but that just gave us more time to enjoy the scenery.  We were all starving by the time we got back to Mountain Village but the sun had come out so we got to have a leisurely lunch at Tomboy Tavern.  Tomboy Tavern is one of Mountain Village's most popular restaurants and their giant yellow outdoor umbrella clad patio is still the to be scene place apres ski.  Though during the summer it seemed totally appropriate for 3 tired, hungry kids and 4 thirsty adults! 

After a relaxing afternoon, we headed out to dinner with plans to try the Thai place, Siam Thai.  Given that we had 7 people it was quite a lengthy wait and when I took Maison inside to go potty it was so hot in there I wanted to faint.  We decided to try a restaurant across the street called There.  The good news was that they had a table available.  The bad news was that it was big enough for about 3 people (if you go to their website and click "The Place" and scroll down you can see the small table in the window on the right).  We were so crowded that at one point Kari told Tate that if he didn't stop touching her she was going to have a panic attack!  I was right there with her.  It was very hot in there and very crowded but considering they had delicious food and an available table we were just happy to be THERE!

Rockin Stroller Coaster ~ Telluride Vacay Day 2

Kari and her family come to Telluride every July and they graciously offered for us to come along this year.  We had never been before and are always up for a new adventure so we were super excited to see what all Telluride had to offer.  I personally was looking forward to a day that didn't involve small places or vomit inducing car rides.

We started our first full day in Telluride off with a morning hike.  Kari had suggested that we rent jog strollers for the kids to make the hike easier.  Some of the terrain was rather rocky so it made for a bumpy ride and a strenuous workout for the person pushing a 30 lb toddler in a 20 lb stroller up hill over rocks!  The hike was well worth the view...Telluride is beautiful!

View from Maison's stroller:

Rocky strolling terrain!

Fast friends:

3 Happy Hikers:

After our hike we had lunch at the Parlor cafe at the Sheridan hotel.  The Sheridan hotel, established in 1895, is the oldest hotel in Telluride and was the perfect spot to relax after our hike.  We went back to house to take naps, read, etc.  I really don't remember the last time I sat down to read.  It was wonderful!

For dinner we took our friend Jan's suggestion and ate at Cosmo's.  It was as good if not better than Jan description...completely fab!  We had a great time despite the couple who lucked out and got the table that was right above our party of 7 that included 3 kids, 2 of which were 3 or under.  The children were actually great so other than their mere presence I have no idea why these people were giving us the stare down.  Did we not see a sign that said no children are allowed?  Seriously if they act better than most adults who cares?

The last 24 hours have been like a roller coaster from bad to fab!  We are loving Telluride so far!

Thankful for wine ~ Telluride Vacay Day 1

We. are. here.  It's really arguable who is worse...me or Maison.  I literally hate travel days.  I hate the hassle at the airport of checking in, security lines, maneuvering the airport with a toddler in a stroller, gate checking strollers, numerous toddler bathroom stops, etc.  But the only thing I hate more is having to fly on a small plane.  I have enough common sense to know that flying into Grand Junction that we would not be on a 747 but I wasn't expecting a plane the size of a coffin.  Yes, a coffin.  I walked onto the plane with Maison and literally didn't even make it past the cockpit before I turned back and told Adam I couldn't do it.  To which he replied non-verbally by pushing me with the carry-ons and gave me a look that read "YOU'RE GOING, I didn't haul 50 lbs of crap through the airport for nothing". 

What every claustrophobic person likes to know is that they are in the LAST row of a VERY SMALL plane.  Why I do not have a standing prescription for Valium is beyond me.  I'm pretty sure a shot of vodka and a Valium would have immediately cured my aliment but no such luck, I had to suck it up and set an example for Mais...hhheemmm.  Let's just say the flight was from hell but the other passengers were fortunate that I talked myself out of about 15 panic attacks. 

When we made it to the Ale House in Grand Junction for lunch I could have not been happier.  I could not have poured wine down my throat any faster.  I'm pretty sure I drank an entire glass before we even ordered our meal.  I am so thankful Kari suggested we stop for lunch before driving to Telluride and so thankful that they had decent wine!

I was doing just fine when we stopped in Montrose for groceries but was ready to jump out of my skin when we hit the mountain roads on the way to Telluride.  I really admire Adam's patience.  I don't know how he does it considering Maison didn't nap the entire day and was non-stop asking for the iPad and I was non-stop complaining of car sickness.  How is he not an alcoholic?  And I have to hand it to Kari, she does know me well.  After I recovered from my car sickness she offered me a glass of wine...what a good friend!

Handling the Heat

For the third straight year, I competed in the Too Hot to Handle 15k this morning.  Every year after immediately crossing the finish line I swear I'm not going to do this race again.  Let's be honest, despite it being part of the Run Project race series, I probably would have signed up anyway as some how the miserableness fads away when it's time to register for the next year.  It's like childbirth, you don't recall the pain until you have to do it again.

Running 9.9 miles in the oppressive heat is just that, MIS-ER-ABLE, but if you waited for optimum running temp around here you would be waiting forever.  Apparently I enjoy an extremely red face and sweating profusely as I have absolutely nothing to report other than that I finished.  Finished at 1:31....bettering my goal of 10:00 pace with a 9:50 pace and finishing an entire 5 minutes faster than I did last year.  After a celebratory patio (patio, why not?  If I can run in this temp I certainly can sit in it!) lunch where I washed down my lunch with 3 glasses of Chard, I'd say I'm handling the heat just fine!

Editor's Note:  There are no pictures of this event because apparently handling a camera, watching a toddler, and trying to see when someone is crossing the finish line is too much multitasking for some people.  No we will not be naming names but I do appreciate Adam, Maison, and my mother coming to watch me finish.  Some of these people may or may not have had cameras with them...just saying.

I Heart Water Violators

I realized this morning while running 8 miles that I could never be a runner in Dallas if it weren't for the sprinklers.  Since we have been in a severe drought and under water restrictions for over a year there is nothing more pleasing than running through the nice cool water when you are sweating to death.  Our neighborhood is on alternating watering days so depending on your side of the street you either water Mon/Thurs or Tues/Sat, which means there is no watering on Wed, Fri, or Sun. 

Anyone watering on a non-watering acceptable day is considered a water violator and is subject to fines by the COP.  I personally LOVE the water violators and it has nothing to do with their defiance in order to achieve lovely green grass.  There are studies that show that water restrictions actually lead to more water usage than times without restrictions  Apparently everyone wants their water ration like Sally from A Charlie Brown Christmas, "All I want is what is coming to me.  All I want is my fair share."  Even if that means gaining their share on a non-sharing day.

So on Wed, Fri, and Sun you can find water violating sprinklers to run through but you have to be very good.  It's an art, I must admit, to be able to hear a sprinkler running from a block away.  It's a very special art considering I can't hear Adam in the room next to me but I can hear a sprinkler a block away over the pitter patter of my feet and with Britney blasting in my ears.  An art indeed!

Winey Birthday

My mom can come up with some good ones and when she suggested hosting a wine tasting for Shari and my birthday we were completely on board.  My mom chose a Spanish theme so all the wines, cheeses, and apps were from Spain.  It really turned out to be one for the record books as she planned on 6 bottles of wine for the 6 people that were drinking and I lost count after 9 bottles...don't judge even if it is a Sunday afternoon it's MY BIRTHDAY!

She also got our red velvet cake from my favorite bakery, Bake Rejoice.  We have absolutely raved about her cakes since she made Maison's first b-day cake and this was literally the BEST cake I have ever eaten.

Mais and I checking out the red velvet!

Adam and Maison gave me cake decorating and cupcake decorating classes.  I've always been in awe of how anyone could make amazing things out of frosting and fondant...I cannot wait to start my classes!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHARI!

Babying Eddie V's

In celebration of Shari and my birthday we had a family dinner at Eddie V's.  I could feel the stare down from the valet as he opened my door and I went to open the back door to get Maison.  I felt the judging when no one made a move to help me open the door when I was carrying a 30 lb toddler and when I got the head to toe once over from the hostess when I put Maison down and fluffed her dress.  Ok I get it...nice restaurants cringe when they see a toddler coming.  When we located my parents and Shari at our table, we got the "you have a Baby...in a bar" stares from the tables around us.

But these people obviously don't know my toddler and her love for the iPhone because she didn't make a peep.  In fact, the drunken business men and the man whose date that looked to be about half his age were actually more of a spectacle than my 2 1/2 year old.  Besides the waiter didn't have a problem with it and was already prepared with a list of child friendly dishes the chef could make.  If they don't want children in their restaurant then I doubt they'd be able to whip up chicken fingers in 5 minutes flat.

Do you think the 'judgers' congratulated me (hheemm, ok Apple) on raising such a well behaved child on our way out?  Let's just say I took my sweet time buckling Maison into her car seat all while giving the head to toe once over to all those diners standing in the heat impatiently waiting for the valet behind us to pull up with their expensive cars.  Hopefully they tipped poorly...maybe the valet will think twice before delivering a toddler hating stare down next time!

Waitless in Dallas

I was so excited for my pre-b-day dinner that Adam had planned for me at Suze.  We had been there before when I was pregnant with Maison so I had to miss out on some of the best bites and of course the wine so I was looking forward to our return visit.  Suze owner and Chef Gilbert Garza is the husband of Lisa Garza who was a finalist on Next Food Network Star.  She use to be a sous chef there until she made it big on the hit show and as you know Adam is all about restaurants that have anything to do with Food Network.  Our first visit was flawless so it was high on our restaurant list.

Unfortunately, we either got a brand new waiter or they no longer care to hire waiters with fine dining expertise because he did not have the answer to any question we asked.  He literally said at least a dozen times, "I don't know.  Let me go find out."  That coupled with them being out of several entrees and the entrees we got being average at best we weren't exactly thrilled with our return visit.

After diner, we decided to stop at Obzeet for an after dinner drink.  Obzeet is about as eclectic as it gets in good ole Plano, Texas (actually they are in Dallas but they are so far north I consider it Plano).  It's a coffee house, bar, restaurant. furniture store, that features live music on their koi pond patio.  Yes, weird to say the least.  Tonight's band was rockabilly which attracted groups of swing dancers in full 50s costumes.  It was pretty fun to watch but apparently the theme of the night was bad waiters as it took us over 30 min to get our drinks.  When she brought them to us she said it was already past last call so those would be the only drinks we would be getting. Uh, that works out because it's the only drinks we wanted.  And our coffee drinks were cold; maybe she was too busy swing dancing to deliver our drinks while they were still hot which isn't exactly challenging since even at 11pm it's still 100 degrees outside.  Yes, it's a little weird to be drinking coffee outside in July in Dallas but Obzeet boozy coffee drinks are the best so it's worth it....but they certainly aren't the best when they are cold.  Double strike out tonight!

Parading the 4th

We just got back from the Plano Fourth of July parade.  I haven't been since I was a child and either it's changed quite a bit in the last 30 years or I don't recall it being completely lame and full of political advertisements.

"I'm bored, where's the all the floats and hoopla I was promised?"

To Maison it is all the same, she doesn't care if a politician or Ronald McDonald is handing her a flag to wave or throwing her candy; she thinks it's fantastic.

"There's Ronald McDonald!!!  I have no clue who he is but Mommy was pretty excited to see him.  YEA!!!"

It was not a complete lost cause.  Maison thought it was fab and I saw just about the best float ever...the one for the Plano Republican Women's Club.  I called my mom on the way home and told her I found a club that we had to join.  To which she informed me that she was part of the club in the early 80s when we first moved to Plano.  I should have known...some things never change!

The fam will be here in a few hours for our annual pool party so I'm off to decorate.  I think we'll actually get to swim this time since it's forecasted to be about 125!  Besides as Texans like to say, "it's not too bad in the shade" or "there's a nice breeze."  

HAPPY 4th of July!!!

Surprise Dinner Guest

While having dinner at Fearings, we had a surprise visitor drop by our table to say hi....

Chef Dean Fearing himself!

Zaza-ing

Just checked into the Zaza for a weekend of spaing, gossiping, drinking and what-noting with my besties.  Can't wait...couldn't come at a better time!!!

Taste of Crow

I have been patiently waiting for the official results of the Best of the Best Tri to be posted so that I could see in writing my name above Cash but the results were not posted on Sunday at 4pm when they usually are....nor were they available on Monday.  If fact they were just posted!  Due to some computer error (maybe the one that held up getting timing chips assigned???), the times announced on race day are all right but the rankings are different.

I did NOT get 5th place but 9th.  Ok, still top ten so I'll take it.  I had the 2nd fastest swim in my age group behind the woman who was the overall female winner, and had the 15th fastest swim overall.  I had one of my fastest runs at 25:07.  Now if I could just improve my biking.  My biking sucks and is solely the reason I didn't place in the top 5.  Something to focus on for next time!

But the biggest blow of all??? Cash beat me again!  There it is in black and white Cash above Maslow....so this is what eating crow tastes like.

Hanging with the Best

When my alarm went off I was cursing myself for getting into this, dreading the drive to Denton, and starting to nervously question whether I had forgotten something.  I put on my tri suit, tightly pulled my hair back in a low bun and headed to the kitchen to have my breakfast of champions.  While washing down my peanut butter bagel and banana with a double espresso, my mind was frantically dashing between going over the laundry list of things I packed last night to make sure I had everything to trying to recall the directions on how to get to Denton.  All needless worry as I had gone over it and over it last night.  I knew I was ready...I just needed to convince myself that.

I woke Adam up exactly at 5am so that he could pump my up my bike tires and load my bike.  Hey!  I'm a triathlete not a bike mechanic.  I don't want to get a tri and realize I have a flat tire because I didn't pump the tire correctly, so Adam is kind enough to do it for me and give me a proper send off.  As I pulled onto the tollway in the pitch black dark, I tried to calm my nerves by focusing on the directions...exit 380W...as the last thing I needed was to get lost.  I recognized the names of the roads out in the sticks and got to Denton with no issues.

By 6am, I was parked, unloaded, and in line for body marking.  When I entered the transition area, I was shocked how few bike racks there were.  Where were the hundreds of people there normally are?  I set up my transition area and got in line to get my timing chip.  Apparently the computer went down and they couldn't assign the chips until it came back up so I waited and waited and waited.  I started getting nervous that I was going to be pressed for time for my pre-race rituals.  Imagine my surprise when there was no line for the bathroom, no wait for a mirror to put on swim caps, nothing.  No large crowd checking out the swim facility...what on earth is going on?

As they called the athletes to line up they announced that out of the 14,000 triathletes that participated in races in the 12 months that was were used for qualifying for this race they only selected 200 participants.  Ah, so that explains the low numbers!  Tris usually have 600-800 people in them...

I found my spot right between numbers 106 and 108 who were both men that are about as tall as Adam.  My heart sunk and I got a knot in my throat.  Wow, so this is what the top 200 triathletes in the Dallas area look like.  What the flying flip am I doing here?  I only spotted one woman in front of me.  I'm sure there were a handful more but it was hard to see anything given the height of the guys I was about to be swimming with.  Within minutes the first woman exited the pool and she spun around in a circle seeming to be completely disoriented!  She literally had to be told which direction to go....yikes!

Before I knew it, it was my turn.  As I'm telling myself to swim my own race and not worry about the jolly green giants bulldozing me I see bubbles in my face.  Dang it, someone is taking their sweet time, now I have to pass them.  I hate passing...expending the energy to gain a couple of seconds in the pool is just not worth it.  I totally throw off my cadence and stupidly take the last corner with 2 other swimmers.  We all three try to sprint to the end of the pool and this light weight got thrown into the ropes.  Nice start...

As I'm running to the transition area I see Adam, Maison, and my parents cheering me on.  I quickly put on my cleats and helmet and grab my bike.  The bike is 16mi down and back on a highway.  The most eventful thing was seeing some poor guy trying to fix a flat tire within the first few miles.  I would just have to quit.  I have no idea how to fix a flat so I don't even bring a flat kit with me.  When I had about a mile left, I reached for my Gu in the back pocket on my tri top and it wasn't there.  Where is my Gu?  Did I drop it?  That's a bummer!  I like to gu at the end of the bike so it hits me on the run.  I see my fam again as I'm coming into transition and I'm so focused on them I completely miss the dismount line.  I abruptly pulled my cleat out of the pedal but luckily didn't crash.  I hear my mom screaming "Go Marcia!" as I go to rack my bike.   I decide to look down and there was my gu!  Hallelujah!

2 laps around the stadium and then I'm finished.  I surprisingly felt good going into the run.  I took 2 Alieve this morning for a nagging pain I've had in my side for weeks that 2 doctors and a bazillion tests later no one can figure out what causes it so I just motor on.  I think that might be the key to no bike to run transition pain!!!  I see my fam again as I'm finishing lap one and then they headed into the stadium to see me finish.  I hear the announcer calling out names of each finisher getting louder and louder....and then I make the last turn into the stadium and sprint to the finish line.

I did it!  I finished the Best of the Best Triathlon in 1:31.  I got my medal and finisher jacket and found my family in the stands.   Before we headed home, I decided to check the finishing times when I went down to get some food and water.  I couldn't believe it...I got 5th place!  5th place?  REALLY?  What's better than 5th is that while I was down there I heard them call out "D**I Cash" (name hidden in case she googles herself!).   This girl beats me EVERY TIME.  I have no idea who she is, what she looks like...nothing...only that after every tri her name is located above mine.  But not this time...

Pre-race Jitters

I just picked up my packet for the Best of the Best Triathlon that is tomorrow.  Due to the expected high temperature the race start has been moved up to 6:45am which means I will have to leave the house at 5am to drive to Denton....which means I will have to get up at 4:30am.  Awesome, just what I want to do on a Sunday.

I was second guessing myself as I pulled into the parking lot to go get my packet and was really questioning my participation when I saw the athletic specimens that were also getting their packets.  What on earth have I gotten myself into?  Then I realized I was number 107...lowest number I have ever been in a tri!  Maybe things aren't so bad...looks like a I got a good spot for the swim start.

Daddy's Little Girl

In celebration of Father's Day, Adam wanted to have brunch at Cane Rosso.  We have heard how fab Cane Rosso is for months but given it's reputation for a lengthy wait and it's location in Deep Ellum we hadn't gone.  Cane Rosso (red dog) is named after the owner's red vizsla, Zoli.  What's up with us picking restaurants that people name after their dogs?  Although if my dad were to ever open a BBQ joint it would probably be named Charlie's in honor of his beloved shar pei, so who am I to judge?

Adam of course didn't pick this as his father's day brunch spot due to the name, he picked it because it was featured on America's Best Bites.  Who knew that one of the best pizza places in the U.S. was in good ole Dallas, Texas?  In my opinion, it was better than any pizza I've ever had in New York or Chicago...yes, I said it.  BETTER than Chicago...sorry Adam!

I was a little worried what Maison could eat given her dairy allergy until I noticed they had Nutella pizza.  I've never seen a pizza place in Chicago serve Nutella pizza.  I'm just saying...Maison is certainly Daddy's little girl....she loved it!

YUM!  Nutella

Helping Daddy open his presents

And of course, you have to dance it out when you have a tummy full of sugar...

Happy Father's Day Adam!

Leisurely Laying Bricks

Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be any more 'bike trail' material I have more to share.  I just finished my last brick workout before my tri and did the bike portion on my usual section of the trail.  There were so many walkers, runners, leisure bikers, groups of talkers, dog walkers, duck feeders, etc that I was seriously like an obstacle course rather than a bike ride.  It was such a slow ride that whenever I happened upon an open stretch I really tried to sprint as fast as I could.

Wouldn't you know that during one of these sprints I ran into the segway cops.  Apparently, bikers are so hazardous to the non-bikers using the BIKE trail that we now have segway cops to police the bikers from using the space that was initially created for them.  Yes, that makes sense.  So when I'm trying to have my most intense workout of my entire tri training I'm followed not by one but by two of Plano's finest to make sure that I don't break the 15 mph speed limit or put a runner, walker, duck feeder, rat feeder, etc in harms way.  We know that taking out someone one stupid enough to feed a rat would be a bad thing...right?

I also find it interesting that the signs posted everywhere that say NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES apparently don't apply to the Plano police.  So they can break their own rule yet I can't ride a bike on a BIKE trail without being followed.  Seems like a good use of the ungodly tax dollars we pay on a yearly basis.  

While we are at it why don't we have a nutria update?  At the 2nd most populated spot to feed ducks I saw probably 30-40 nutria hanging out between the waters edge and the trail.  How could there possibly be so many in one spot....well after a little research I found out that nutria are polygamists.  The males take 2-3 mates which share one burrow.  The females have 4-6 in each litter and have on average 6 litters.  So even if you are not good at math you can see how last week there were about 10 and this week there are about 30-40.  At this rate, if I lived with a yard facing the creek I would move because now that these river rats have a taste for people food and people they will soon be brave enough to go into yards and houses to find it.  When this happens I'm sure it will some how be the bikers fault for getting in the duck feeders way and forcing people to feed rats.  I can already see the aftermath:  "Bikers band from Plano bike trails due to over population of River Rats."  Doesn't make sense of course, but neither does anything else on the bike trail...

Donuts for Dad

Adam had his first school party experience today at Donuts for Dad.  Maison was so excited that she got to wear a 'party dress' to school today and that Daddy was going to school with her.

 Once they got to school, I don't know if Maison was more excited about Daddy, actually getting to eat a donut, or the gift she had made for him.

Happy early Father's Day!

Laying Bricks

I just got back from my first Brick (15 mi biking + 3 mi running) workout for my tri that is coming up exactly 2 weeks from today.  After 9 1/2 hours of training this week all I have to say is wow.  I'm not going to lie.  Doing a brick workout sucks.  The first mile of the run you feel a little ill.  Not like heat exhaustion ill but like in physical pain ill.  There is no other way to describe it other than you feel like you have a wagon or a trailer connected to your butt that you can't lose no matter how fast or hard you run.  It...is...just...still...there.  Yuck city!

My tri training ranges from 8 hrs a week to 10 hrs a week because I have been training for the tri and my 15k that is on July 15 at the same time.  So one of the 'runs' in the tri training is a 7, 8, or 9 mile run so that I'm ready for the 15k in mid-July.  Training for a tri and a distance run at the same time, in the summer, in Dallas I've learned a few things:

1.  Your face is an alarming shade of red...like call the ambulance you are choking or having a heart attack red
2.  You get amazing tan lines.  'Amazing' being sarcastic, of course, considering my legs are white from about mid-thigh up.  My stomach is white and I have the outline of a sports bra permanently imprinted into my chest and back.  The rest of me is "Ellington Tan" the golden color I can thank my dad and his Cherokee Indian heritage for.  Strapless dresses will not be happening anytime soon.
3.  Every inch of me hurts.  My plantar fasciitis ridden feet are killing me.  If that was it I could take it as they always hurt....but my lower back has decided it doesn't like swimming, either that or I'm way to old for this crap.
4.  Sleep is now 5 hours a night, 6 hours if I'm not awoken by Maison.  Getting up at 5:30am to be hitting the pavement by 6:00am in order to beat the heat does not allow for much sleep for a working, toddler rearing, triathlete wanna be, mom....

But I view this tri as an once in a lifetime opportunity for me....this party girl isn't getting any younger!  If you want to come see what will possibly be the fastest sprint tri in Dallas history, come to the Denton Natatorium on June 24 at 7am.  Look for me, I'll be the one in the head to toe black Zoot (yes, I compete in a zoot suit...insert snickers now).  The elite triathletes should finish well under an hour so should be a great race to watch!

Historically Driving Home ~ SA Vacay Day 3

If you have not been to Guenther House on your trips to SA, you are sorely missing out.  Guenther House is the home of the founding family of Pioneer Flour.  It was built in 1860 and after a 2 year restoration, the restaurant opened in 1988.  I have been several times for brunch and it never disappoints.  I'll admit the wait sucks, especially with 2 toddlers, but really what good restaurant do you not have to wait for?  The best thing to have during a lengthy wait?  Drinks?  Ok, so maybe the 2nd best thing?  That would be a super cute gift shop that sells the best baking supplies (need a tortilla flattener?) and super cute items (princess tea party book anyone?) that you just have to have!  The store is super small and I could easily kill an hour there...all I have to say is, "what wait?"

After 2 hours in the car and 2 showings for Toy Story 2, we stopped in Salado for lunch.  We stumbled along a great little spot, Adelea's on Main.  Adelea's opened in 2008 by 2 sisters who launched their culinary careers based on recipes their mother had passed on to them from their late grandmother.   They still feature some of these recipes in the restaurant.  Adelea's and their bar, Hemingway's (named after their dog) is located in a home that was built in 1925.    I can't think of a more fitting location!

The rest of the trip was completely non-eventful...unless you count seeing Toy Story 2 for the 3rd time today as eventful...sigh.

Toddler Dream Day ~ SA Vacay Day 2

Toddler Dream Day includes the following:
- Brunch with all the Sesame Street characters
- Playing games with the Sesame Street characters
- Waving Abby Cadabby's magic wand
- Getting picture taken with every character from Sesame Street
- Seeing Shamu show, not once, but twice
- Feeding the dolphins
- Spending a good portion of the day in the Sesame Street Bay of Play water park for kids
- Visiting the sea lions and manatees

Toddler Dream Day does NOT include:
- Much eating; too hard to eat when Sesame Street characters are at breakfast
- Napping; too much to see and do!

So where do you eat with 4 tired adults and cranky, hungry toddlers?  Lulu's bakery of course!  Unfortunately, none of us made it to a cinnamon roll.  Did you really think Adam would go to SA and not eat at a restaurant that was featured on Man vs. Food?


If you are wondering where are all our fab pictures that capture Maison having her dream day, they are on the camera that we brought but left the battery at home.  We're hoping that that we can bribe Jon so we can have copies of his pics!

Remembering the Alamo ~ SA Vacay Day 1

I remember my parents taking me to see the Alamo several times when I was a child.  I remember passing through the front door and being shocked that that was pretty much it.  A standing facade with cannons laying around.  Other than the barracks there really wasn't much to see.  Shari, Bubba, and I would run around and climb on the cannons and try to pick up cannon balls, whether it was allowed or not.  I have fond memories of trips to San Antonio, so when I found out that Sea World has a Sesame Street Brunch I was convinced that we had to take Maison.

We took the day off so that we could drive down and see the Alamo before heading to dinner.  Imagine my surprise when we walked in the front door of the Alamo that it wasn't just a shell of a building....it has now been 'renovated' so it is enclosed and has air conditioning....yes air conditioning!  And the barracks I fondly remember running through are now a museum.  Museum about a war with 2 two year olds (Jon, Lisa, and their son Jayden were with us) = BOR-ING!  Bored two year olds = WHIN-ING!  Needless to say we didn't last long...

Maison and Jayden in front of the Alamo:

Since the Alamo didn't last long we went shopping at El Mercado (the Market).  The kids convinced us that they HAD to have maracas which I'm sure will be the gift that keeps on giving...

Maison and Jayden hanging at El Mercado:

Unfortunately these are the ONLY pictures I have of the Alamo, El Mercado, and our yummy dinner at La Margarita (one of the best Mexican restaurants in SA!) because when I started to take Maison's picture at the Alamo I realized the camera wouldn't turn on.  Turns out it requires a battery to work and said battery was plugged into the charger in Plano.  I only feel like documenting so much with an iPhone....but at least I got one shot of Maison's first trip to the Alamo!

Super Swim Master

 "I got this one for mastering Super Waterbabies."

"I'm so happy I think I'll dance a little."

"Look at me and my ribbon!"

"Mommy said lay it down for a minute so that she could see it."

"Mommy is so proud of me!  Next week I start Extreme Waterbabies....I'm so excited because Emma's Mommy talked the instructor into moving Emma up so that we could stay together.  I'll be back at the end of the summer to hopefully report that I'm excelling at Extreme WB!"

No Pool for the Pool Party

Adam and I hosted our annual Memorial Day Pool Party on Sunday this year.  You know you are getting old when you need a day to recover from the festivities before you can go back to work....especially considering how hard we know I work it means I'm really old.  And as happens every year since the neighbors tree grew big enough to shade almost our entire pool, the water was too cold to get in.  Every year I set out the towels and the sunscreen and rarely does anyone make it in past there knees.

Partaking in the towels but not the pool:

And, as usual, this is the ONLY picture of our party.  No pics of the tent decorated with red, white, and blue star lights.  No pics of the Chinese lanterns, pin wheels, bunting, flags, or pom-pom ceiling and door decorates.  For some reason, every year I set out the camera and no one ever takes a single picture.  The one above came off Adam's phone.

  

I think it's time we start new traditions for Memorial Day...don't wear your swim suit and don't bring your camera and maybe we will luck out with warm enough water to swim in and some fab pics of all the swimming...

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Acute Limping

Maison's friend from swim class, Emma, parents invited us over for dinner and to swim.  The girls had been swimming and playing on the play set all afternoon.  After dinner, they were sitting nicely enjoying their popsicles:

While we were sitting at the table talking, the girls went to climb up the ladder on the playset and then we heard mass hysterics.  Maison was screaming bloody murder and crying.  She said she fell going up the ladder and hurt her leg (shin).  At first I thought she was fine but then she started limping.  She was trying to continue playing but really couldn't walk normally.  Maison rarely cries from bodily injury, in fact, she didn't cry when she cut her eye on a brick (see Brick Eye) so it was a little alarming that she was making such a fuss.  Considering I saw a third grader break his femur (largest bone in your body) while kicking a soccer ball at recess, I wasn't about to just assume a limping child had not broken something.

So off to Acute Kids we went, agreeing along the way that if the x-ray showed a fracture we would say thanks but no thanks and head to Children's hospital.  Luckily it was just a bruise.  So no treatment required other than ice and rest.  They told us she should be fine in a few days but they would have the orthopedic specialist review the x-rays and call us on Tuesday after the holiday.  We are praying that they are right...the last thing we need is another health problem with Maison.

More Bike Trail Idiots...

Just when I thought the the bike trail couldn't get anymore interesting, today I saw it all.  I was on my usual section of the bike trail when I saw a family of "beavers" hanging out right by the trail, about 15 feet from the water edge.  I had a run in with what I thought was a beaver not too long ago (see Unwelcome Friend) but today I realized it was not a beaver but a nutria (aka river rat).  Apparently they are taking over the duck pond and there are signs every where saying NOT to feed them and not to approach them because they bite.

So what did I see today other than about 10 nutria hanging out by the trail?  That would be an Indian guy with his kids and wife (in sari) feeding them bread.  Sure, why not feed a rat a little bread?  Are the ducks a little boring?  Maybe the nutria would like to snack on your wife's sari.  Or better yet, why don't you take them home and fry them up in a pan and make stir fried nutria like they do in Louisiana???  Now that that they are comfortable enough to approach the bike trial maybe they'll take to sunnying on the trail so there will be another obstacle to avoid.  Wouldn't that be fabulous?  Let's take a look at what a nutria looks like, shall we?

Would you rather be cussed out or chased by a river rat that wants bread?  Sounds like an adventure race not a bike ride...geez!

Getting Wild with Mark Chesnutt

We went to the Wildflower Festival today in Richardson to see Mark Chesnutt and we had the BEST TIME!  Maison thoroughly enjoyed all the festivities...

Taking on the hoola hoop:

Checking out baby goats:

Checking out my future b-ball competitors:

Enjoying the 'jumping fountain':

Dancing it out to Mark Chesnutt while sucking on a ring pop:

Apparently Mark Chesnutt may have "only planned on one or two" but it looks like he was referring to bottles not drinks.  He needs to "go through the big-D and I don't mean Dallas" that would be a big diet.  He's certainly packed on the LBs since we were in college but he still has some of the best country songs ever written!