Losing my Sole Mate

I don't keep things for very long. That's why I buy clothes from Target and Old Navy; they're practically disposable. But there are three things that I have owned for a significant amount of time:

1. Fraction Calculator--since 7th grade, so since 1989
2. Glasses--same frames since 2001. I still like 'em. And they ain't broke.
3. Spin shoes--since 2004, the only spin shoes I have ever owned.

I am going to elaborate on the spin shoes so if you were hoping for more on my fraction calculator or glasses you're out of luck. You can just stop reading.

If you're still with me, let me tell you about these babies. I started spinning in 2004, right after completing my one and only marathon. Cause that's how I roll. I'm all, "I'm going to run. I'm going to run a 5K. A 10K. A half marathon. A marathon. Okay, I'm done!" And then I move on to the next thing. "I'm going to try spinning. I'm going to teach spinning. I'm going to teaching spinning for twelve years. That's enough!" On to Tabata.

So when I started spinning in 2004 I immediately got the shoes. I had to look the part. The funny thing is I don't clip in when I ride outside. And the even funnier thing? I rarely ride outside.

But these spin shoes have been with me through TWELVE years of teaching spin classes...there were times when I taught four-five times a week, sometimes twice a day. And there was a good stretch between 2007-2012 when I taught consistently twice a week on Tues/Thursday. I taught right up until the end of both pregnancies. There were times I didn't teach--after having a baby, after moving and not getting connected with a gym right away. So based on all that, here is how many times I think I taught in those shoes. (Good thing I have my trusty fraction calculator to figure all of this out!)

750! I think I have taken and/or taught 750 spin classes in those shoes. That's 11,250 miles (assuming each spin class is about 15 miles)! Damn. Imagine if I did actually ride outside!

These spin shoes have been good to me. The only thing I have had to change on them is the shoe laces. I've lugged them around in my black Motorola Marathon 2004 backpack (hey, I may have quit running but I am proud that of that backpack!) for twelve years.

So that's why it was quite anti-climatic how my beloved spin shoes ultimately met their demise. I was subbing a lunch-time spin class (since I'm now focused on Tabata, I don't have a regular class of my own), and the worst thing happened--ONE person showed up. I would SO much rather NOBODY show up than one. But she did. And she was perfectly fine being the only one there so I had to be fine with it too. We got through it and she was a lovely person and we had a good ride. Afterwards, I unclipped, got off the bike and went over to get a wipe for my bike. As I walked on the gym floor I had this brief,  passing thought that the floor felt a little uneven. And then I took off my shoes, put them in my marathon backpack, put on my flip flops and left.

The next day I received an email from my manager, which went to a few of us spin instructors who had taught in the last couple of days. She said that the weirdest thing happened. They had found the sole of a spin shoe still clipped into the instructor's bike. They had to work really hard to pull it off; someone even broke a nail! She asked if any of us knew anything about this. I read it and almost wrote back, "No, that's weird!"

And then I remembered that weird feeling about the floor. I ran upstairs to my backpack and pulled out my spin shoes and GASPED when I saw this:

How did I not notice that the sole of my shoe didn't come off the bike?!! Anyway, I fessed up and had to say goodbye to my trusty spin shoes that have been with me through 750 classes, 11,250 miles, two pregnancies, six different gyms and four moves.


It had been so long since I had bought spin shoes; I didn't even know what the kids were wearing these days! So I went with these:

Because even though I'm not teaching a regular spin class right now, it's still my first love. Well, I guess my second after running. Which I do not love.  So I guess running is more like an ex-boyfriend whose backpack I still carry around.

Hopefully these bright white spin shoes will be with me another twelve years, which would make me 53!

What a difference...

Five years makes!!

What a difference...

Eight years makes!!

Last Days Craze

Both boys had their last days of school this week. Gus finished up Pre-K. Turns out he liked Pre-K so much he is going to do it again next year. (But this time it will be Pre-K: "The Young Fives" edition.) And Leo finished first grade, which fortunately, he will not be doing again.  


Gus' last day:

Gus' class had a party and some SUPER CREATIVE, crafty mom thought of having the kids decorate foam visors with foam stickers--Thanks, Gus' mom, for the awesome summer head gear!

And then it was Leo's turn to pose--and this year he did a DIY sign: 

At the First Grade party:

With one of his teachers who was so sweet to always scratch Leo's back and arms every day. 

With his wonderful and patient teacher who should be nominated for sainthood. 

Gus stuck around after the party to have lunch with Leo and his wild friends (see sainthood comment above).

Leo and his ladies after school

First day of summer: swim practice, doctor's appointment, lunch with daddy and then...THIS!! I don't think they have napped at the same time since Gus was a newborn. I am hoping this is a regular thing for summer 2016! 

Gus' Preschool Blessing

It is a tradition at Gus' preschool for the pre-k classes to have a blessing ceremony where they sing a couple of little ditties. Be sure to keep your eyes on Gus (as if you would look anywhere else!) during the "if I were a fish in the sea" part. Lots of interesting wiggling! 

The first song was just his class and the second was his class and the other pre-k class. (More of them are going on to Kindergarten so that is why they might seem more advanced ;)

It was SO adorable as you can see, and I remember singing both of these songs when I was young and almost as cute as Gus! 

Gus' Green Thumb + See ya Later, Splint!

Gus was beaming after school about his bean plant. He was showing everyone and the teacher said, "Gus' plant is the best one! Look at the roots. All the kids wanted to look at his!" So I said, "Gus, you have a green thumb!" He said, "My thumb's not green!" He is excited to take care of it in this flower bed that grandmother planted. 

As for Leo, he has had a splint on his teeth (see top picture) for about six weeks. He fell off his bike at our neighborhood Easter egg hunt and his top two permanent teeth got a little wiggly. So he sported these braces-like things for awhile. He thought it was cool, like he was a teenager, he said.

But now he's back to being an eight year old boy. Oh, that's another thing: Leo turned eight since I last posted. I am such a blog slacker that I haven't posted about that or even taken our "What a difference..." picture! I promise to do that soon...before he has real braces.

Spring Breakin' at Grandparent Camp

This year we decided to hold Grandparent Camp during Spring Break, rather than the summer. You see, April is the high season for Houston so we thought both grandparents and grandkids alike could enjoy outdoor activities in a mild, pleasant climate rather than running from pool to pool and sweating in between.

It worked out nicely for all parties. We got to see our Houston families at the beginning and end of Spring Break. During Grandparent Camp, each set of grandparents had one boy at a time, so they didn't have to deal with fighting and brotherly rough housing. They just got to shower each boy with individual attention, toys and sugar. And while they were doing that, Frank and I jetted off to Mexico where we received individual attention from waiters bringing us drinks. It was truly a win-win-win. (Okay, fine. Frank and I got the best end of the deal. Thank you, Grandparents!)

So now I leave you with another picture dump--our trip to Mexico (which coincided nicely with our 13th wedding anniversary), our family time in Houston and the kids at Grandparent Camp.