ShannonAlbert.com - June 2009

Payton and I got to OKC Friday evening in time to get some Italian food and then head to the mall. Wouldn't be a trip to OKC if we didn't go to the mall! In this case, it was because Payton wanted some new jeans because....she forgot to pack pants in her suitcase. She also forgot to pack pajamas. This explains why her suitcase was so light when I was carrying it out to the car - it only had 2 shirts in it!

We'd never been in an Apple store before so we stopped by while we were there...



I have a feeling Payton will be spending much money in the Apple store someday.

After we all got some ice cream, Reaghan wanted to ride in one of the little rides.


When we got to OKC, Kam gave me this:


I hope I'm saying this right but I think it's called a "tag book" of our trip to Mexico where Kam took our photos, created layouts and had them printed on these tags. Then she took some embellishments which makes it a hybrid project (combining digital and traditional scrapbooking). It's so beautiful and I can't believe what good work she does.




More of Kam's work (and this pic doesn't do it justice) but this is the invite she did for Reaghan's birthday party. It's printed on thick pearlesence paper and so cute. I suggested to Kam that the RSVP email address be at her own domain name and she did. Such a nerd pimp Kam is!

I'd be lying if I tried to hide my joy in the baseball season coming to an end. We'll always do whatever the kids want to do for their activity but it doesn't mean I have to like the temporary burden it puts on our schedules. It was fun to watch the kids progress so much from bumbling players to actually making plays and hitting fairly regularly. I'm not sure Blake will want to play again because he gets pretty bored waiting for things to happen. We'll see next summer.

Mia...



Blake...

Did my runs this past week and as posted previously, the Sunday long run wasn't the full distance. Managed to fit in some cross-training and weight lifting during the week as well.

Weight-wise, I've once again hit a plateau and since I keep doing this and then manage to get past it, I assume this too shall pass. This past week people did comment a lot that I look like I've lost weight which was strange (but nice) since I've been the same for a little while now.

This next week, I'm shortening the runs during the week and focusing on time in preparation for this weekend's 5K w/Kam in OKC.

After our partially successful run on Sunday, Andy I took showers and napped for a couple of hours. Blake was so patient considering today was the day we were heading to All Star Sports - a place near our house that Blake's always wanted to go to.

They have race cars, batting cages, driving range, arcade, laser tag, and mini golf. We narrowed it down to race cars, arcade and mini golf.

First up, the race cars. Girls in one car, boys in the other. Unfortunately, the car we got in made it so that I couldn't push the pedals AND see out the window. Payton had to steer while I pushed the pedals. It was hilarious but we weren't exactly speedy.



Since I wasn't steering, I had plenty of time to snap pics while Payton was steering us....



They passed us!



Blake got a kick out of them passing us up and it felt like we rode for a long time. Too bad I barely saw the course!

Then we headed inside to cool off except the A/C was partially broken so it was probably in the 80s even inside. Little bit of time playing arcade games...

But first, a ride down the slide that goes from the second story to the first...





She won a stuffed animal her first try...awwwww.


Then we'd hoped it cooled off enough to head outside for mini-golf. It was warm but we did ok.




And then Payton cracked us up by doing the limbo under the fence to get her ball instead of just walking around the end to get it...


Practicing on a putting green while waiting for Andy and I to finish. Blake's got skillz, yo.


I'm glad we got to go but not sure how soon we'll be heading back. Expensive, not well-maintained enough and in need of a little TLC.

This morning, Andy and I got up and planned to do our run in these segments:

1/2 mile warm up walk
7 mile run
1/2 mile cool down walk

Here's how it went instead:

1/2 mile warm up walk
4 mile run
1 1/2 mile walk*
1 1/2 mile run
1/2 mile cool down walk

*I had to stop running because I had a bathroom emergency. Running made it worse so we walked slowly until we could get to a restroom. After that, I was fine to run again so we picked back up.

I'm disappointed I can't cross my 7 mile run off the list but we did do 8 miles total which is still good. The blisters on my feet, chaffed thighs, sore ankle, and swollen hands are all there even if the run was broken into pieces. Next weekend is another 5k so I'll be focusing on speed this week and then running the 5k on Saturday. Next long run will be the week after that so hopefully I'll be able to do the 7 miles continuously then.

I was so happy we were in town for the first time in a long time. That meant we could actually go to Blake's baseball practice. Coach wasn't able to come but the dads ran the show. It was very hot so the kids complained a lot but they have come a LONG way since the beginning of the season - they throw to first, hit more, field the ball more, etc.

When it came time to practice throwing to second, Andy became the runner who was running from first to second and the kids got a kick out of trying to throw him out.




After baseball practice, we walked over to the water park for some much needed cool down time. We stayed just long enough for a trip around the lazy river, a dip in the pool and some snacks before we headed out.

After getting cleaned up at home, we decided to head to the east side of town (my favorite!) for the evening. I had read that Red Robin was a favorite for families and even though it's a semi-national chain, we had never been to one before.



We loved it! It has a fun atmosphere, great service and the menu had something for everyone - healthy options (I had a veggie burger), traditional burgers (which Andy had), some drinks are bottomless (Payton had a strawberry lemonade), the steak fries are unlimited (we didn't partake in that) plus they serve alcoholic drinks (Andy had a margarita, of course). We'll be back!

We walked around the Waterfront area for a while and then went to Chill, a place that serves dozens of gelato flavors and a place I've been wanting to try out.

Chillin' at Chill...

The expression on Blake's face reminds me so much of David here...


Just proof that Payton exists and does in fact do things with us. No friend was along this evening so you'll notice she's trying to hide her cell phone because she's texting her friends while waiting for us to eat our gelato.


A fantastic Saturday and so glad it didn't involve traveling to another city. I'll get over the desire to stay in town very soon but for now, it's exactly what we needed.

On Friday night, we headed to the Starlite Drive-In where Dark Knight was showing.

We had the cooler packed with snacks and drinks, bug spray, our camping chairs, things that glow, blankets, and pillows.

Payton brought a friend along and we were ready for the movie to start...




We were so comfortable in fact that Blake fell asleep within the first half hour and I fell asleep within the first hour. I'm not much of a movie fan so sleep always wins if I'm tired. Andy (and the girls) did love it and was glad to be able to see it opening weekend.