My Future Olympic Gymnast

Avery has, for the past two years, taken gymnastics. He loves it and we love the exercise that he gets from it. Last year, his coach made a point to let us know that he felt like he was "gifted" in the sport. I really don't see any reason that the coach would have told us that if he didn't believe it - it wasn't an awkward moment of silence that he needed to fill and I had paid our tuition six months in advance, so we were a sure thing until the end of the semester.

Don and I decided to let him stay with the current program that he's in and then, when he started kindergarten, we would see if he wanted to continue and if he did, then we'd go to a "real" gym.

The kids were invited to a gymnastics party at a "real" gym earlier in the summer. I was blown away at what I saw. I picked up a registration packet and we were all but signed up. When I called the gym, they suggested that Avery take a class free-of-charge, then at the end I can enroll him.

At kindergarten age, the kids are split into boys and girls. Each gender begins work on the apparatus that are relational to their gender. I was super-stoked that he would be learning rings, parallel bars, vault, and everything else.

We've been so excited about the Olympics and curious to what Avery would think when he saw what gymnastics is really all about. So far, he's loved it. Don said that he's already trying to imitate all that he sees.

I knew that Bela Karolyi lived in Houston, so I began to research him. I was a HUGE HUGE HUGE fan of the 1996 Women's Olympic team. Come to find out ... Bela and his wife, Marta, still run a camp in north Houston every year. For a five day session, it's a little over $400. A bargain in my opinion to train with the couple that has trained all the best Olympians that US gymnastics has known.

Now, I'm noticing that two of my favorite male gymnasts, Raj Bhavsar and Jonathan Horton are both from Houston. Come to find out, both trained at a gym that is only about 20 minutes from our house. Guess who I'll be calling tomorrow morning to check for openings this fall?

I figure that regardless of whether he makes it to the Olympics or he's just flipping around in the back yard, we owe it to Avery to get him the best training possible. Because you never know what his future holds ...

Mary Lou Retton goes to the same church as us ... if I could just run into her in the ladies room to get her opinion :)

Tropical Storm Let Down

Well, Edouard fizzled out. He was headed straight to Galveston and expected to be a Category 1 by the time it made landfall. Somewhere along the road, it made a turn north and landed a little early.

This morning before I left for work, the weathercasters were predicting 5.8" of rain at our house. I went into work to get done a few things that were necessary for others to do their projects, and then left right before it was supposed to hit. I did hit a few deep places on the way home, so it was a great move to come on home.

However, it's now late afternoon and the whole thing has fizzled out. I'd say we got 2" (I realize that 2" is a good amount of rain), but it's nowhere near 6".

I think I'll "try out" for weathercaster. I think I'd be great, and obviously, could do just as good of a job as the yahoo's we have around here!

Tidbits of useless info :)

(1) Here are pictures of the hairbows that I got for Piper at Sam Moon. I'm so excited for Piper to be "Bows Gone Wild" ... These are a big enough size that they should last for a while.

(2) The smoothie recipe that I posted the other day. If you want to make it even better, add a banana. I had one banana that was on it's last day and tossed it into the blender last night. It made the best smoothie in the world EVEN better. I didn't think it was possible.

(3) There's a tropical storm headed my way. I'm a little excited, because I've been afraid that I'm going to screw up watering our yard. God must have realized that and decided to take some pressure off of me. My sweet friend, Diann, knowing that I'm a Hurricane Novice bought me a battery-powered radio and some batteries this morning. She's filled me in on all the do's and don'ts of living in a tropical zone. I'm just ready for a break in the heat. And, calling off work would be great too!!!!

Sam Moon and IKEA

It was a day of shopping. I had to go to a store that I've heard about for over a year. Twice there have been trips planned to go here, only to have them not pan out at the last minute. I decided to brave it by myself today. Sam Moon was amazing. No, Sam isn't a male friend that has a dying affection for purses and accessories. Sam Moon is the name of the store, or excuse me, shopping center. It wasn't just a store - it was a strip mall with all different stores all beginning with Sam Moon. Sam Moon: Luggage; Sam Moon: Accessories; and Sam Moon: Home Store.

I loved the luggage store. So many cute sets. I could have left with 20 different sets of luggage - I loved them all. They also had great picture frames (which have nothing to do with luggage). And, don't forget the backpacks. I wish I had needed one!!!

Let's move now to the accessory store. I have never seen anything like it - the greatest conglomeration of crap in the world. I bet there were 900 different kids of earrings, 2005 different necklaces, 412,000 purses. It was out of control. I was happy that they had hairbows. Not for me, silly ... for Piper. (I laughed when I pictured myself with a hairbow. I should do it one day just for effect.) Anyone with little girls knows that finding a store that sells hairbows is a covert mission. Well, Miss Piper is well set. I bought 24.

Because I'm a glutton for punishment. I left Sam Moon and went to IKEA. Call me crazy, but I did it. There were a few things that I needed to finish Piper's room and various other projects. Thanks to my good judgement, I talked myself out of most everything I thought I needed as I walked the aisles. However, I have never seen a greater number of people in one place in my life. I would love to know what that place makes in one day - I couldn't even begin to guess.

Let me just add that if you've never eaten at the IKEA cafeteria, you are really missing something. Let me recommend the Swedish Meatballs (with gravy), although today I was good and had the vegetarian lasagna.

It felt like it was 900-degrees outside today. It made me glad that I'm a Christian. It's days like today that I think "If Hell is anywhere as hot as this, I want absolutely no part of it." I seriously thought I might melt. It was awful.

I hear the faint cry of the pool calling my name for tomorrow.

A Berry Good Smoothie

I ran across a fantastic (and easy and cheap) recipe for a smoothie. It is so incredibly good for you, too! I need to jump back on the "healthy" bandwagon, so I tried it and now can't get enough.

1 cup of fat-free vanilla yogurt (use the store brand)
1 cup of fresh strawberries, cut into thirds
3 cups of ice
1 Crystal Light Singles packet (you know, the ones you put in bottled water - also, feel free to use the store brand. Oh, I used Wild Strawberry flavor)

Holy Cow - it's so good!!! It made enough for two tall glasses. I drank one for my dinner. The other serving I put into a Ziploc freezer bowl and popped into the freezer. This morning, I'm having it for breakfast. As it thaws it's like an Icee. Or, if you are a Disney World fan, think Strawberry Dole Whip. Super yummy!

So, try this recipe this weekend - it's Summer Perfect.