Lap-a-Thon 2009

So, while we're on the subject of bringing it, this morning, our three Wahoos participated in the team's annual fundraiser, the Lap-a-Thon.  I volunteered and counted laps for some of the swimmers including Madeleine and Mia.  The girls swam back and forth, back and forth, until their practice time was up.  I had a great time watching them.  Madeleine attacked the task with the same energy she regularly puts into swim practice.  While her friends walked and talked their way through many of the laps (probably what her mom would have done), she worked persistently toward her goal of 200 lengths.  She modified it to 100 after about ten minutes when she realized she'd have to be in the pool way past her practice time to reach 200.  I was impressed with the 100 and it's probably a good thing we didn't get anyone to sponsor her per length!  

Mia was super cheerful and had a great time swimming with big sis' and the big kids.  All of the swimmers were able to choose their strokes for this event and Mia mostly chose "the bunny hop".  She be-bopped her way down and back 40 times and was incredibly cute doing it--I wish I'd remembered to take video.

Grace swam 12 lengths and could definitely have done more were it not for her fear of missing something important while under water.  She was disappointed her friend Iman wasn't there to share in the fun.

If you're reading this and would like to sponsor your favorite Wahoo family, please write a check to the Wahoos and mail it to Casa Doyle.  Thank you for your support!

Here comes Mia Cottontail

The Lap-a-Thon is definitely not all work

Grace had fun shooting her sisters with this water gun.  

She fired it into the air once and soaked me as well which she found hysterical.

They've got the Wahoo power!

"Are You Ready to BRING IT?"

Her form falters as Mom makes her laugh

If you happen to be an exercise aficionado but have not yet discovered Tony Horton and his P90X, you must check it out.  It was brought to our family the way several of our favorite things have been--via my brother David and SIL Jes.  They started P90X in January and now have a small following of people who have seen their results and believed enough to try it for themselves (click here to see them.  It's pretty incredible.)  

So, Chris and I have a set of the videos and though neither of us is doing the program in its entirety, we both spend quality time with Tony on a regular basis.  I do Ab Ripper X more than anything else and am just beginning to be able to do moves like "Crunchy Frog" and "V Up Roll Ups".  Lately, I have felt that my runs have been doing less and less for me.  I can still run a good distance but I haven't been feeling strong or fit.  I'm hoping that Tony can help me with that.  The workouts in P90X target muscles I obviously haven't touched in some time because they leave me hurting...in a good way.

Yesterday, Madeleine did time with Tony for the first time.  She and I made it through ARX together and half of Arms and Shoulders before I reminded her that she had a swim meet later and needed to rest.  I see more mother-daughter P90X workouts in our future.  

Other Doyles who've been bringing it:

Last Saturday, our Maggie G joined the "No Lane Rope Club" when she swam 25 yards for the first time ever without stopping.  She actually did it twice--in freestyle and backstroke.  I sometimes forget that she's only four.  Wow--we are so proud of her hard work and determination.

Meanwhile, on land, Amelia Rose rode a bike for the first time without training wheels.  She's been working on this off and on for awhile but since we don't have a great place for her to ride, she hasn't made quick progress.  This week, she made the decision to do it and off she went riding her bike all the way to the pool.  Way to go Mia!

So, I'll sign off with the question of the day-- in what part of your life are you "bringing it"?  Take it from Tony--"you can do this...if you want to".

Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jack (Or Maybe Cotton Candy)

A reenactment of the big moment

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you have probably noticed that I have the teeniest of teeny tiny crushes on Gregory House.  It's a bit of a joke at Casa Doyle and Chris is okay with it because he likes House too and understands my admiration.

With Chris, I don't worry so much about competition from movie stars or swimsuit models but I do sometimes feel like I'm jockeying for position with people like Mike and Mike in the morning, Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman.  So I've tried to learn more about the sports Chris follows and I've become an enthusiastic Astros fan (though I still have trouble following the games on the radio).

Thursday night was fun.  It was the first game we've attended as a whole family.  The girls were interested and we were able to stay until the bitter end.

The highlight of the night for me didn't happen on the field though.  On one of our bathroom runs, Grace emerged from her stall holding a ten dollar bill and saying, "look what I found, Mama".  Her sisters were a little jealous and Madeleine even remarked, "that's more than I make babysitting."  We talked about what she could do with her newfound wealth (including saving it) but in the end she decided to buy a bag of cotton candy to share with her sisters.  I  made her bag captain and watched as she generously handed over one huge piece after another without any worry about what would be left for herself.  It was one of those magic moments.  And even though our 'stros lost, we left feeling like winners.

Bonus photo

Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Pence

("These dreams go on when I close my eyes...")

I Don't Care If I Never Get Back

by guest writer, former short stop, Chris Doyle

Last night was an everyday ordinary special kind of night.  For the first time in over a month, the Doyle family did NOT have swim practice, Spanish class, a mothers' meeting, a school function, a book club...  It was a cool 80 degrees, low humidity, just beautiful outside.  So, what did we do with our night off from our busy lives?

My favorite sport is baseball.  Football is fantastic, basketball is thrilling, but America's slow easy flowing pastime is TOPS for me.  But why, you ask?  Baseball is too slow, too long, too boring, you say?  That's why I love it!  It's like sitting in an ambush...you settle in, watch, wait, then BOOM!  a flurry of activity and back to watching, waiting, basking in the scene.  

Baseball is ok on TV, much better on the radio, but very best live and in person. The smells of the ballpark:  popcorn, peanuts; the sounds: the snap of the leather, the crack of the bat, the tide of the crowd; and the sights: I love the moment when I walk into a baseball stadium, crossing the threshold of a modern day colliseum, the long green outfield, the brown arc of the infield, the signs and scoreboards and flags and nooks and crannies that make each ballpark unique.

And so back to our story... last night, with nothing better to do on a beautiful cool summer evening, Frodo Seven piled into the van and headed out to the ballpark to watch our hometown heroes, the Houston Astros, at Minute Maid Park.  We are so lucky to have good major league baseball right at our fingertips.  A 30-minute drive, $5 parking, $18 for 6 outfield bleacher seats (just $1 for kids!), and we were ready for baseball.  The retractable roof was open, the cotton candy was sticky, the beer was cold, and the fans were friendly to our bevy of girls who impressed the Astros faithful nearby by knowing who the main players were.  At one point, Grace asked me the score, and when she heard the Astros were trailing, she yelled out, "That's Not Fair!"  Chuckles all around.  

Did the Astros win?  On this night, it didn't matter.  We were there as a family under a tall Texas sky enjoying one of my favorite traditions of summer.    

She's in Eighth Grade Now!

Our shining star moves up to eighth grade!

It's been a big couple of weeks for Madeleine.  She attended her end-of-the-year sports banquet, paddled her way through Splash Day and cantor-ed at her final Mass as a seventh grader.  She is looking forward to a summer of swimming, babysitting, reading, two vacation bible schools and lots of quality time with the Kreitzer side of the family. (Less than a month and counting!)  

Chris has already joked that it's so nice having her around full time that we might have to homeschool her next year.  Madeleine told me that that would be fine with her (which is a compliment to our homeschooling friends--she hates to miss out on the fun!)  I assured her that she would be gracing the halls at SMMCS next fall and graduating with her friends in May.  And then?  I think she may need to do eighth grade again...and again...why do kids have to grow up?

SPORTS BANQUET

Madeleine ran track for SMMCS this year.  Her relay team made it to finals which was cancelled because of swine flu.  She may try a new sport next year.

Madeleine and her track coach, Mr. Walsh

Stephanie, Madeleine and Lauren

They've got it all.

Our dancing queen tried out her moves in the back with me 

while the awards were given.

SPLASH DAY

Inflatables, shaving cream and lots of water=FUN!

Emily, Cristina and Madeleine

Mr. Walsh

so cool that at one point he was covered in shaving cream and soaking wet.

Now those are the teachers you remember.

Unsuspecting Madeleine :)

This is as close as I got to the shaving cream

Not sure that's Gabby

Barbara and I volunteered at Splash Day too 

but didn't have jobs nearly as cool as this one!

Jumping for Joy

Yay!  Eighth grade!

(maybe mom and dad will finally get me a cell phone...)

"Bond. James Bond."

Madeleine and persecutors

No party's complete without the Macarena.

Madeleine's Ink

It melted away

LAST MASS & AWARDS

Madeleine won several awards including all A honor roll for the year.

We were so proud of her for meeting that goal.

Madeleine sang the responsorial psalm

Sophie joined big sis' and friends

PARTY TIME

Gabby hosted the girls for an after-school celebration

True Love

"I'll have what she's having, Mama."

One day recently, Sophie earned herself some time in the corner.  To avoid arguments about posture, I usually ask the girls to drag in one of our small pink chairs from outside to serve their time in.  When Ella saw what her beloved big sis' was doing, she pulled the other pink chair over next to Sophie and settled in to keep her company.  It touched my heart.

In other news:  The job fairy has come to visit again.  I was offered a Spanish 1411 class for the month of June.  This is exciting for two reasons.  First, it's the class I just finished teaching so preparation will be minimal and second, the offer came at a time when we have several special events on the horizon and can use the extra cash.  What a blessing.

Under-Bubbles-Fun!

Sophie:  the Under-Bubbles-Kick Queen

Yesterday afternoon, we made our first trip to the pool as a family.  Sophie and Ella were both reintroduced to Under-Bubbles-Kick.  Sophie loved it and was swimming from Chris to the steps in no time.  Ella was a little less enthused but Chris was gentle and persistent in guiding her to the wall.  She didn't cry too hard.  I'm planning on doing structured lessons with all of them while we're in Virginia this summer.  Mia and Grace need some work on their strokes, Sophie needs to learn to breathe and Ella just needs more time in the water.  If I'm lucky, I may even get to teach some of my nieces and nephews.  I think the ones I taught a couple of summers ago have forgiven me.

It's a Sophie Mermaid

Proud of herself

We were at the pool with our friends the Williams and the Credeurs

Here are Mia and Madeleine with three of the Creduer kids

They love their babysitter!