The Rowdy Moudys

We had a great weekend together recently with all of Gabe's family. His parents, siblings, and all their families met in Azle to suprise his sister Lynsey and her husband Robby who were in the Metroplex for a wedding. It was the first time we've all been together in about 2 years, so it was great to have everyone there and laugh and visit and have fun. (photos courtesy of Robyn!)

The whole Moudy Fam

Crazy Cousins

Blurb

My sister-in-law Robyn recently blogged about Blurb. It's a website with free software that will upload your blog into a book. First, she tried a small soft cover book and was really impressed with the results, so for her 2007 blog entries she decided that she would make a bigger hard cover book. WOW! It is TOTALLY impressive!!! It's more than just a nice way to print your blog as a scrapbook of memories . . . it's a beautiful coffee table book. She said she would highly recommend everyone giving it a try. She took pictures of the book so that you get an idea of the final product. She's also a professional photographer, so her book is really awesome, but I'm excited about printing my book out just to have as a scrapbook since I never seem to get that done. Here's how hers turned out.

Are YOU up for a Half Marathon????

Ever since running the 1/2 marathon in February, it's amazing how many people have told me they are interested in learning more about running one.

"What does it take?"

"How do you train??

Maybe they are just "interested", yet have no intention of actually running a race of this distance, but I'm hoping that once they get a personal invitation, and have a date race set in the future - they will honestly consider it! I believe that ANYONE who truly wants to accomplish running a 1/2 marathon can do it - it is a very attainable goal. And, it will be one of your life's most special accomplishments. I was recently involved in a class where I had to look back over my life and write down 7 of the most meaningful experiences of my life. One of the top 7 memories I have is running my first 1/2 marathon along the Nile River in Jinja Uganda in 2002.

Now I'm talking to YOU. Maybe you think you are not cut out for running long distances. While running in the race in February, I was amazed at all the variety of ages, body types, and even the physique of the competitors. There were many people running that I would not have expected to be in that kind of shape. There was one lady in front of me the entire race - she looked to be in her late 40s and she was quite overweight. However, I could NOT CATCH THIS LADY. She beat me by about a minute. All this to encourage you - if you are interested in running a 1/2 marathon, now is your chance. I won't guarantee that you'll enjoy the process, but I will guarantee that you''ll feel an incredible sense of accomplishment at what you've done. And, your level of fitness will make your body feel great!

If you are a woman reading this, this is your personal invitation to train for, travel to, and compete in the Inaugural Rock 'N' Roll 1/2 Marathon in San Antonion on November 16, 2008. At least 3 of us have already committed, and there are about between 5-10 others who are considering it. This is going to be a FUN event. Check out the website - there will be over 70 bands playing along the course and then a huge concert that night at the Alamodome which you get into free with your race bib. The bands at this even have not yet been announced, but some in the past have been Journey and INXS. You run past the Alamo, the arts district, and the Tower of the Americas.

So, now that you want to run this race, how do you start??

Well, glad you asked.

There are many training plans out there, but I've always used Hal Higdon's Plan. It's for novice runners, and only requires running 4 days a week. Take a look at it! Notice that this 12-week training schedule assumes you have the ability to run 3 miles, three to four times a week. If that seems difficult, consider a shorter distance for your first race, like perhaps a local 5 or 10K race. And, just start where you are. Run a lap, walk a lap, run a lap, walk a lap. Work up slowly. You have 4 full months to get to a point where you can run 3 miles several days a week. Runners World online has lots of great tips and advice.

Training officially starts on September 1st. If you are interested, please let me know!

I'm looking forward to training with some of you, and can't wait to find out who all is on board!

YOU CAN DO IT!

New Kitchen

I have to tell you all that I have the best husband in the world!! While I was away for Spring Break, he worked his tail off, along with his brother Matt and our nephew Noah. They demolished our old kitchen - which if you've been here before, you know that wasn't much. It only had 2 upper cabinets and 2 lowers and a set of rough old drawers. Anyway, in 3 days, they basically reinvented the place! We still have work to do to finish it up - like texturing the walls on the places where they took down the cabinets, and filling in holes in the sheetrock which they made while doing the electrical work. Then, getting the island in it's place and a counter-top for it, and doing the floors and finish work along the bottom of the cabinets.

As is everything in an old house, (especially when you are fixing it up yourself), it's a process. I got my new stove today, but naturally, the fittings it came with don't match up with the gas-line - so it's off to Lowe's tomorrow, like we've done a thousand times for this and that to make it all work. Oh well...

I LOVE having a dishwasher!! I realized that I haven't had one in about 9 years, expect for during the few months we stayed in the Mack's house when Avery was first born. I love to set it on delay start and it runs in the middle of the night and I wake up to clean dishes, without ever hearing it or anything! It's like magic. As my mother-in-law says, "it's fabulous to go away and let your machines do all your work for you!"

You can see the new sheetrock behind the sink, and the places we need to texture and paint.

I've been tagged

My friend Amy tagged me, so I have to come up with 7 (or more) random facts about myself.

1. I love to do laundry. Especially now that I have a new front-loading washer and dryer - I am thrilled to see how much I can stuff in each load and to see how the clothes come out so clean. I love to check and see if the stains came out, and am really excited if they did. (weird, I know).

2. I have a major crush on Tom Brady, even though after the Super Bowl this year, I think he's a cry-baby. And, by the way, Gabe (and my whole family, for that matter) knows I think Tom is a Hottie, and he's okay with it. Gabe is secure in our marriage and doesn't feel threatened....

3. I have attempted to kill a spitting cobra with a short-handled meat cleaver, and have also washed my hair, while leaning over a bathtub, to discover a spitting cobra looking up the drain at me.

4. I am afraid of tornados, and driving in the rain.

5. I will be perfectly happy if I never travel overseas again. I have had my fill of international travel, and am happy to stay put! I wouldn't mind Mexico, or Canada, but that's about it. We've talked about going to Italy, but...nah, I'd rather just go to Colorado. (and it's WAY cheaper)

6. I have freakishly small wrists in proportion to the rest of my body.

7. I miss the food in Africa - cornmeal mush, curries, and beans or chicken cooked over an open fire with dirty pond water and grit.

8. In my family, I always win when we play games. Even if I try to lose, so that they won't be mad at me, (because I feel bad when I always win), I still win. I can't help it.

Easter & Spring Break

I seem to go in spurts - lots of blogs all at once and then long lulls of silence. Hopefully I will get caught up with this spurt.

Happy late Easter!

Good thing we got these 2 beautiful pictures BEFORE church.

Because the following 2 pictures are what I got AFTER church. I think by then she was ready to get out of the dress and into play clothes!

We had the most fun Spring Break and Easter! Avery and I got to go the week of Spring Break to Allen and spend time with my family there, and my sister and her fam in Sulphur Springs. We also got to see my brother Mike and his wife Julie on Easter weekend, although they were gone most of the week on a ski trip to Aspen (I know, rough life!) We had a garage sale, lots of shopping days, and a kids day where we went to see Horton Hears a Who, and went to GattiTown for pizza and games. Gabe flew in for Easter weekend and we drove home together, so that was great!

Grandad, Mimi, Uncle Mike and Aunt Julie at our favorite Mexican place, La Finca.





Avery with Mimi


Mimi & Grandad