Tour Dallas!

So this weekend I participated (along with some friends and 3500 other folks!) in the Tour Dallas bike ride to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research. It was my first time to participate in a cycling event, and I must say I've got the bug! About a month ago I purchased a snazzy road bike and have really enjoyed the cycling...I even got the cool shoes that clip into the snazzy pedals to maximize the pedaling. It's soooo much fun!!!



Here are some pictures from the weekend....




So Kristy, Scott, Tineka, Alani, Inala, and I were doing the 8 mile ride while Sidonie was a champ and did the 30 mile ride!!!! My experience was pretty funny...I was loving the entire ride experience and I had a blast once we got out of the crowds and had some open road to stretch our legs on!! After climbing up the viaduct in Downtown Dallas we got to fly down it...I got up to 25 MPH and it was a super rush! But then came the bummer twist of the event: mechanical failure on my almost brand new bike! Oh no! So, with an unfixable bike I was supposed to get picked up by a Sag truck, but the truck never came! Kristy decided to call it a ride at the 4.5 mile mark where I had my blowout, so we ended up having to walk 2 miles back to the start. The bummer of it is that I had my snazzy cycling shoes on (which are not conducive to lots of walking) and so I ended up walking in my socks for the 2 miles. I still loved it even though my feet were killing me by the time we got back to the car. My crocs never felt so good!!!

What a blast of a time! I can't wait for the next cycling event to come....or really I guess I can't wait for REI to call me on Monday and let me know when I can have my bike all fixed up and back on the road!!!

Here's to some new fun...

Church Lady

Quick Pic

So I like to make just about everything fun....case and point: sometimes my PT gets pretty yuck, so last week I invited Darla to "dance" with me while I did some of my resistance band work!

Here's to having fun....even at PT (which is going really well I might add!)...

Blessings,

Church Lady

Almost two months???

Wow!! Has it really been almost two months since I have blogged??? How boring! Well actually, life has been anything BUT boring lately! I am busy these days with alot of physical therapy getting the foot all better, and indeed it is working!!! In fact, today I had an appointment with Dr. G (my surgeon) and she gave me clearance to jump, skip, rock climb, play....basically to do whatever I want to! Of course, she followed that statement with one that went something like this: "of course if you do all that it will still hurt...and also, when did you want to schedule your surgery for the right foot?" Talk about a mood killer!!!

I am sure I have some pictures of something that I should post, and I will look at my camera and see if I can ease back into the blog world full force here in the next few weeks. The next BIG thing on my list is Relay for Life so be sure to check out how you can join a team, form a team, or donate and be a part of the largest grassroots effort for fighting back against all types of cancer.

All right...well that's good for now. Things in the Church household are going well. Work for both of us is busy and good, health is good (after I had a lovely 3 day grapple with the nasty flu), and life in general is floating along.

Here's to walking on two feet...with two shoes...no boot, no cast, no crutch!

Have a Happy Monday!
Church Lady

Fun Times...

So I mentioned that I had a little surgery on the 14th of December, and well I'm actually pretty laid up as a result of said surgery. In the midst of my frustrations regarding not being able to do, well, ANYTHING I found some comfort in the crazy silly workings of my sister-in-law, Erika. Now the two of us left unattended with art supplies can get a little silly and my casts have proven to be the perfect canvases for some fun expression. Take a look...

Merry Christmas from my newly attached Achilles tendon. Yay!!!

And Below is my "Throwback Cast." How can you go wrong with a green Converse??

Here's to happy healing,

Church Lady

Back in the Land of Internet...

Hello folks! It's been a while since I have posted, and once again I have photos that need to be edited and uploaded and blogged about but I am not quite ready for a full on post!! I've been a bit under the weather since my fun surgery on December 14th, but thanks to my sweet hubby and Santa, I have a snazzy new laptop that is helping me return to life online.

So, look for a better post with photos coming soon. Also, thanks to all of you who have called, prayed, and checked in on me during my surgery and recovery time. I am recovering pretty well, just annoyed with the inability to do things on my own....I sure do like my independence!

Hope you all had Merry Christmases and safe, happy, and fun New Year's celebrations.

More soon,
Church Lady

How Cute is Riley??

Soooo cute!!!

Today I took some pictures of Riley in hopes of finding "the one" for cards and framing and such. It wasn't the best set of pictures, but she is so adorable that a smattering of Riley pictures just can't be bad!!!

Here are a few of my favs from today....enjoy.

Aunt Churchie

Photo Shoot...

So my good friend Sam asked me to come and photo her precious baby, Emily, so she could have pictures for Christmas cards and gifts....I absolutely loved doing this and have really enjoyed editing and cropping the pictures. I sort of want to start a little side business! I have always loved taking pictures, and it turns out I occasionally get a really great shot!!!

Here are some of my favorites of Emily....

Have a blessed day,

Church Lady :-)

Riley's Party!

Here are the birthday party pictures as promised!!! We had a nice bug themed family party at Riley's house complete with an awesome cake made by Gramma Dawn and cupcake decorating for the "kids."

Look at this mountain of presents for me!

Hmmm...I think I will just eat the ribbon!

My cousin Alex went a little wild decorating his cupcake!!!

Mommy and P-Pa went a little nuts too!!

Yay for me!!!! What should we do next??

I wonder why everyone is looking at me...

And why is Daddy spitting on my food?

Yummy! That cake was good! Time to open my presents!!!

Aunt Traci and Uncle Cory got me a giant block wagon!

Who knocked over my Little People Bus???

This is my buddy Noah...isn't he cute?

I love Luke the Leaf Eater!!! He's so cool!

G-Na and P-Pa sure know how to shop!!!

After a hard day of eating cake and opening

presents, a girl needs a nice warm bath.

Look at me....I'm 1!!!!

Finally.... A Post!

RILEY TAKES HER FIRST BITES OF CUPCAKE!!

So....Here is a long over due post regarding Riley's birthday. Things have been a little on the hectic side lately and apparently blogging is what gets kicked off the "to do" list! Alas, for Riley's birthday (which was way back in October!) we went to the pumpkin patch with her play group. Here are some cute pictures of the events.

What else should you see soon on my blog you might ask? Well, more Riley birthday stuff followed by a few 3 Day pictures and maybe even a post on my cruise that I took.

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. I did...but there are no pictures! Perhaps a text blog.....nahhhh....too many other blog entries promised! Enjoy the pictures!


Church Lady

Hey Aunt Traci! What's up? It's my birthday today!

Daddy....why are you walking so slow?

Hurry up!

I see the perfect pumpkin!!

Come on everybody...get ready for the picture.

I think I will stand up since it's my birthday today!

Slacker

OK. I admit that I have totally been a blog slacker. I have a TON of things to blog about with great pictures....I just haven't made the time to do it. Perhaps this week will be the week. I did complete the 3 Day and I did take a week long cruise, so perhaps with those two monumental events complete I will get back to normal life and blogging and such.

Upcoming posts will include: Riley's birthday, the 3 Day, and the cruise. Look for at least one of those this week!!

Also, on a side note, those of you who are prayer warriors: I have an appointment on Friday the 16th to determine when and maybe if (but probably just when) I will begin the process of having both of my achilles tendons and heels surgically repaired. The process from surgery through recover will be very long and I am assuming less than fun, so if you'll send a few thoughts up to the Big Man on my behalf, that would be great!

Fun posts coming soon,
Church Lady

All About Riley!

This weekend I got to spend some quality time with Riley and so, here is a post devoted to this adorable little nut. She is getting so big! This Friday is her 1st birthday, so there will be more pictures and posts next weekend after a fun trip to the pumpkin patch and her party..so be on the look out!

In the meantime, here are some shots from Riley's first official professional photo shoot as well as a snap shot or two of mine. She's walking and talking these days and is just an absolute joy to be around...ahhh, so cute! I love her!!

I love this last shot...I took it yesterday. Seriously, that lip melts the heart everytime! No worries folks, she was giggling and playing in no time!

Here's to the cutest baby ever,
Aunt Churchie

Weigh Day

Hola folks....just a little post to let you know that I am back on the WW Wagon!! Last night I had my meeting and I lost 1.8 pounds...so I am back on the downward trend! Woo hoo!!

Life is good, things are busy, my hubby got an awesome promotion (SO PROUD OF HIM) and things at the Church house are moving right along...I can't believe it's already mid-September!

Hope things are groovy with you...have a fantastic day!

Churchie

WW Update

Well, I have been off the WW wagon for several weeks due to the last week of summer camp, a week of vacation, and then the insanely hectic beginning of school. I am happy to report that I went last night and weighed in...the results aren't great, but they could be so much worse: I gained 2.4 pounds. Looking back at the past month and the amount of unplanned and fast food meals I have had, I am actually pleased with that number.

Like my WW leader said last night, it's a new week and I was there...so here's to being back on track and continuing to shed the pounds! Only 7 more weeks until the 3 Day...so watch for me walking around the streets of HEB!!!

Back to normal (almost!),
Church Lady

My Short Summer Vacation...

Well I have been a blog slacker lately simply because I have been insanely busy with finishing up Summer Camp (it was a huge success!) and starting up the school year (it's still pretty chaotic!!) but I am back now and wanted to share some pictures from my little vacation to Colorado between the end of camp and the beginning of school. Enjoy!!!

This is a great shot looking up from the Arkansas River back towards the cabin that my brother has and so graciously let Cory and me enjoy for a few days.

The three shots above are from a little drive that we took. We visited Monarch Pass and then stopped at this beautiful secluded little park with a great bridge and beautiful views.

Cory and I hiked up to Agnes Vaille Falls...and man are they gorgeous. You can climb up and over rocks until you basically reach the point where the water is just pouring out of the mountain. It was really amazing!

These three shots are from our fabulous day of Jeep renting and off roading!!! Wooo hoo! I am not sure that anything can top that day for a while! It was awesome to be on roads only traveled by 4x4 vehicles, ATVs, and dirt bikes! I loved it!!!

We had a great trip to the cabin and can't wait to get back. These last two shots are on our last day...the first one is just before we left the cabin and the last one is a great shot Cory took at the Royal Gorge.

Can't wait to be back in the mountains,
Church Lady

Happenings and Stuff...

Well, it was a doozy of a Monday today!!! Work was crazy and will prove to be very crazy for the last two weeks of camp (thank goodness we are almost done!!) and I had my WW meeting tonight so it was just a non-stop busy busy day.

At my meeting I am ecstatic to report that I had a 5.8 pound loss for last week!!!! WOO HOO!! I am super excited and sure hope I can keep up a downward trend for this week. My goal is to lose at least 30 pounds by the 3 Day, and I have lost 11.4 already and have 13 weeks to go, so I think this is definitely an attainable goal! Yay!

As for the walking...stop by www.Traci3day.com to check out how that is going, and be sure to click on the "Donate Here" link to contribute to my fundraising...I have to hit at least $2200 in the next few weeks, so every little bit counts!

Life is good, the hubby is great (I am so proud of all the hard work he is dong training for his half marathon), the puppies are bouncy and fun, and of course, little Riley is as cute as can be!

Thanks for stopping by to read...

Have a super fun, super cool, super charged day!!!
Churchie

Grrr...

Well I just got home from my weigh in at WW and this week was definitely not as fun as last week. I gained 0.2 pounds...which I know is not much at all...I mean heck, if I would have gone pee before the weigh in I could have had a maintain!! Oh well...my food choices were pretty mediocre at best last week, so I am not overly surprised at the small gain. Except I did do a lot of working out.

It's a new week and Cory is on board to help me have a much better week this week...so hopefully next Monday I will have a nice loss to report.

Trudging along,
Church Lady