HAK Rocks da Pool

The name of this swim meet for Gray was FREESTYLE. She opened with a personal best in the 10 and under 50 free with 42.99 seconds, dropping a full 3 seconds from her previous best time. She also won that heat and got to wear the tatoo that said "Heat Winner" - see picture. She also smoked her previous pace in the 100 free with a 1.40.31 posting, knocking off a full two seconds. Her 200 free relay team also killed their previous time and posted a 2.58.62 for third place in their heat. Picture above shows pre-relay strategery - Gracie, in orange towel, discussing how she will start off strong at the gun and set the pace, Heidi, squatting down with the back of her head to the picture, has to go to the bathroom, Sarah Grace, the short one talking to Gracie, will shoot out from the block on the third leg, and Britton, the tall girl next to Gracie, will bring it home, and bring it home she did! We are very proud of Gracie's perseverance! Go Hendrix AquaKids!

I would be remiss if I did not provide the Jackson snack update: 1 cinnamon roll, 2 Capri Suns, one baggy of Ritz Bits, 1 donut, 1 M&Ms, and 2 mini-cupcakes. He has found refuge with the little group of AquaSibs, as we call them. I wish I had a picture of them in their corner under the bleachers with their iPods, DSes, stuffed animals, and snacks.

Please pray for safe travel tomorrow for Nana and Papa Beach as they head to Arkansas!

Loading up the drier with wet towels...Denise

Field Trip to the Skatium

Pete served as chaperone today on Jack's preschool field trip for ice skating. They had a great time and Pete said he loved seeing Jack with his friends. Afterwards, the two of them hit the zoo for a bit on their way home. Jack called me at work and said "Mom, guess what I saw at the zoo? A gorilla's buttocks!" (his newfound favorite word upon learning that b-u-t-t is short for buttocks.)

Just finished my pasta salad for the coach's hospitality room at our home swim meet tomorrow. Pete will be timing the morning session in lane 6. Gracie is having sweet dreams of freestyle and breastroke, and Coke! (she only EVER gets caffeinated drinks at swim meets.)

Two more days!...Go Arizona!...Denise

Have I taken up blogging for a living?

Some of you may be wondering how I have time to update the blog during the day. Do I work at all? Fear not, I assure you I am at work. Being in a leadership position, I have the 'luxury' of being a participant in numerous conference calls every week. Because I am Delivery, my status is usually one of the first things on each agenda. I have my 10 minutes in the spotlight, and then I go on mute and listen for the next 50 minutes or so. Or like now...I am listening to a live webcast of the D&B 2008 earnings call...again, a required meeting. Since I am not a big wig at JP Morgan Chase or Bank of America, I will not be asking any questions, just listening. So I catch up on email, check on my team via Instant Messenger, and talk to my family. But if blogging were a paid full time job, I would consider it...

3 more days...Denise

Conway is in a Bubble

The kids are convinced that Conway is in a bubble. On Tuesday, practically every school was closed in the state for ice/snow EXCEPT Conway. Honestly, we had zero ice, just lots of mist and wet streets, and temps stayed around 35 degrees. So the weather teasers came on last night with predictions of big wintery mix, icy streets, yada yada yada for today. Jackson had big plans before bed last night - he was going to get up early, put on his coat, boots, scarf, and mittens and make his first snow angel! As I was putting on my makeup this morning, he came in, wrapped up in his blanket and laid down on the floor, fake-crying about no snow. Gracie was equally disgusted, as she has a math test today that she was hoping to postpone. So, no "weather station white" for us. Jack did go outside after breakfast and scrounge up some ice at the base of one of our trees. Don't laugh, Minnesotans, these kids are DYING to play in some snow. Ben and Emma - can you share?

Thanks for all of the comments, followers! It is working - even if it is just a quick hello, or say "hi to the kids," we are still communicating! Doug - how about posting some pics of your new garage and family room?

Please keep Susan Younghouse in your prayers. For the Karl side, this is a long-time church-family friend who is struggling with cancer. We worked for her husband and father in law during the summers in high school, and her son Matthew was the candlelighter in our wedding. Please pray for strength and endurance.

Giving up on wintery mix...Denise

Funnies...

The other day I was driving Jackson to school in the morning and it was misting outside. He yells from his carseat, "Hey Mom, you better turn on your wifers!" I cracked up. What a kid. I was helping Gracie study for her science test on ecosystems last night. She was having trouble remembering the definition of 'decomposer' in the food chain. Her book example for a decomposer was fungus. She came up with this: her brother is a 'fungus' , who likes the 'composer' Mozart. Whatever works. What a kid.

Game 3 Update

Unfortunately the Lady Tigers were handed their second loss of the season this morning with a 32-16 loss to the Lady Volunteers. Although Gray scored 8 of our 16 points. She was awarded the gray star for outstanding offense, where her coaches praised her for her smart play and hustle. The girl she was guarding was a head taller than Gray. On one play, her girl was bringing the ball down the court and Gray was waiting for her at half court. The other team set a screen on Gray, her girl took off dribbling down the right side. Not to be outdone, Gray rolled off of the screen to the left and ran all the way around under the basket and was waiting for her girl on her drivein layup. Gray surprised her, she flubbed her dribble, Gray grabbed it and took off down to our basket with an easy layup for a score. VERY smart play, to use her speed to her advantage!

To two of my faithful blog followers: Mom and Dad - yes, I forgot to add Ruby Tuesday, good call out. To Den and Dee - we are also all about 'kids eat free.'

8 more days until Nana and Papa Beach are here...Denise

Restaurant Favorites

Our Outreach Committee at church is collecting information on our families via a questionaire to be used as a "Get to know ya" piece each month in our newsletter. One of the questions asked us to list our favorite restaurants in Conway. When our list grew to almost 15 we started laughing! Yes, Pete and I like to eat out. Yes, our kids like to eat out. Yes, our weekly schedule is crazy. No, it is not because we are lazy. I LOVE to cook, when I have the time to concentrate. No surprise to most of you, I am an immediate gratification kind of person. I love to mow the lawn - it instantly tames an unruly yard. I love to vaccuum - watching dog hair and dust bunnies magically disappear. I love our shredder. I love to cut with scissors. I could go on and on. Anyway, here are some of our favorites - do you like any of these also? Chilis - chocolate molten cake dessert. Arbys - chicken salad and cheddar cheese dip for curly fries. Los Amigos - white cheese dip. New China Buffet - sugar biscuits and ice cream machine. Pizza Inn - chocolate chip pizza. Outback - getting blue cheese crumbles on a ribeye. MarketPlace - Jambalaya Pasta. Cock of the Walk - fried pickles. McDonalds - double cheeseburgers and strawberry shakes. Firehouse - #1, no onions. IHOP - smiley face pancake. Popeyes - red beans and rice, biscuits. Little Caesars - large cheese hot and ready, hot wings. Blackwoods Grill - gyros with feta and tomatos. Colton's - loaded baked potato soup.
Watching the clock for lunch...Denise

Wednesdays Rock...

...for many reasons. We have no evening activities, the work week is nearly over, and Top Chef comes on at 9:00! The kids are currently playing 'spa' in our bathtub (go figure - taking a bath willingly) while I prepare Jackson's request for dinner - Ms. Kay Casserole. Jack RARELY eats anything that I cook from scratch, much less foods that touch each other, such as casseroles. However, it was discovered this past fall that he has been eating Ms. Kay Casserole since he could eat solid food. She cracked up at the look of shock on my face and then quickly jotted down the recipe. Get ready, it is pretty advanced - ground beef, rice, cream of chicken soup, cheese slices on top. Pretty simple, but it is cheap, nutritious, and she can make multiple batches easily for a room full of hungry kiddos. It is now a staple of my cooking rotation. Thanks Ms. Kay - YOU rock!

Smoking Ribs and Watching the Playoffs is Manly...

...especially when you carry your fluff-dog around in your shirt all afternoon!

Missing Kruse...Denise

A Day for Girls, A Day for Boys

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

Girls Day Activities

1.Hobby Lobby for scrapbooking supplies

2.Lunch at Burger King

3.Getting our hair 'did' by the wonderful Lauren Moore at Caruso and Company (see before and after shots of Gray) the second picture above is actually the after picture

4.Shopping trip to Little Rock - Justice(the mega superstore for all things girl, also located at the West Park Mall in Cape), and Gap(jeans for Mommy!)

5.Finishing with the chick flick "Bride Wars" - our nachos and sodas cost more than our tickets into the show.

Boys Day Activities

1.Test drove a Mustang GT(not buying, just being boys)

2.Horse races in Hot Springs at Oaklawn. Jackson LOVED it. Lunch was Oaklawn's famous corned beef sandwiches.

3.Baked a batch of yummy cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

4.Movie night at home.

Today

1.Denise - grocery shopping

2.Pete - smoking a big batch of pork ribs

3.Gray and Jack - cleaning their rooms, doing a show to Vivaldi.

Making my list...Denise

Speech Update, Hoops Update, and Birthday Wishes

The 4H speech was a big success! Pete was able to attend and said that Gracie and her partner Leslie did an awesome job! We are very proud of her!

Second basketball game was last night and the Lady Tigers took a hit with a loss to the Lady Bulldogs, 28-12. Gracie played point guard and dribbled around the screen from her good buddy Katie Dather twice for two drive-in layups, scoring 4 points total in the game. She seems to be the most non-winded player on her team - guess that swimming is paying off in the stamina arena. Jackson snack update - nachos and a strawberry G2, no spills.

Special birthday wishes to Dennis - the best little brother in the world! You are always fun to be around, are a great teacher and coach, and a super dad and uncle whom my children just adore! Don't spend your dollar all at once!

Weather is warming back up today...Denise

Stressed

Please say a quick prayer for GrayGray today! She has two tests today ( one of them being math), and right now she is doing her 5 minute illustrated speech for 4H. Her topic - The Yorkshire Terrier. Before school she was stressed. Tonight is her second basketball game, and tomorrow is GIRLS DAY...more details later. BTW Doug and Terri - I am not complaining, but it IS 17 degrees here today, unprecedented for us.

Dear Mom,

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my Mommy you'll be."

Happy Birthday to the best Mom in the world! All my love, Deese

Jackson "The Brave"

Today was a day off of work (finally) for me to take Jackson in for his first filling. He is not a big fan of the dentist chair and has been anything but cooperative for his cleanings, even when our close friend Tammie assists. This morning he received oral sedation with demerol and strawberry gas and he was a trooper! They got in there to examine the tooth and it had decayed away too much for a filling, so he got a cap like Mommy's. Sorry for the cheetos face and debris in his other tooth - just look past it. LOL He is pretty proud of himself and so are we!

"It's so nice to have a mom..."

Saturday night frustration...after a long day of basketball, running errands, playing, helping Gracie with her 4H presentation board, watching the Razorbacks lose to Mississippi State, and baths, the LAST thing on Jack's agenda at 10:15 at night was going to bed. After two failed attempts at tucking him in, only to find him standing at the foot of our bed, I finally gave in to his planned set of requests, which always seem to come out when I am DOG-TIRED - Phase 1: fingernail back scratches - (under his shirt), Phase 2: back rubs (on the outside of his shirt), Phase 3: bugs and kisses (eyelash kisses), and finally Phase 4: the snuggle until he falls asleep. During the snuggle, he yawned and said "It's so nice to have a mom." In that instant, with one simple sentence from my five year old, frustration melted away, but left a lump in my throat. Thank you, Jackson Frederick Karl, for reminding me that I am your Mommy, the best job in the world!

Lady Tigers Game 1

Gracie's first basketball game was a W! The Lady Tigers were victorious this morning over the Lady Wildcats, 28-20. Gracie scored the first two points of the game with a steal and dribble down, short shot within the free throw lane. Game 1 gold star award for Best Sportmanship went to Gracie. Game 1 award for Best Popcorn Spiller on the court went to Jackson.

The Devil Went Down to Georgia..

..ok, not quite, but he does play a mean Flower Song and Monkey Song. Jack looks so poised on the big stage at UCA, his teacher Mr. Mike accompanying him on the piano as he dazzles the crowd with his sizzling Suzuki stringing. If the camera were to pan around to the audience, you would notice no one sitting in the seats, except Mommy, Daddy, and Gray. Out of the six 4 and 5 year old beginners that Mr. Mike had this semester, Jack was by far the most accomplished, meaning he didn't make you grimace and plug your ears when he played, and he actually understood the notes. On the day of the recital, his warm up went well, he knew how to bow when he was finished, and he was second in the line up. Mr. Mike welcomed him to the stage, and then saw Jack crawl onto my lap and wildly shake his head 'no.' He moved on to the next kid, and the next kid, until all of them were done, still no Jack. The audience was dismissed to the lobby for cookies and punch. Mr. Mike ran and locked every entrance to the auditorium and told Jack that now was his chance. Jack got up there and played perfectly, a concert for just his family! We are so proud of him! Maybe next time he will share with the rest of the parents and friends also. Gracie's contribution to the recital rejection? "I got all dressed up for this?"

Back to School...

Well, Gracie was none too thrilled about her first day back this morning. It took a while to coax her out of bed (as well as Jack, who still has vacation until the 15th). But we were right back into our school day routine quickly, after a Ziploc-baggie-omelette breakfast, by Pete. Jack will be at Ms. Kay's until UCA is back in session. It's a new year - my closets are clean, the house has been purged of useless things, kitchen cabinets cleaned out, and new projects list has been written. Daisy has a new VERY short haircut, which makes her look like a Chihuahua. Swimming tonight, and we are breaking in our new nanny today - good luck Miss Rose! Movies watched over the weekend - Monster In Law, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and Michael Clayton (excellent thriller with George 'the hottie' Clooney!)

love to all...D

Resourceful Pete

This one goes out to Papa Hartmann and Papa Karl, two of the most resourceful men in our lives. I can add Pete to that list as well. Some of you may remember our bargain shopping a few years ago to find a chair for my office desk at home. Well, I found what I wanted at Garden Ridge in the broken/bargain bin for a whopping $7.00, one leg missing. Fear not...a leg was constructed and covered with a skirt, see picture. Fast forward to December 2008...Jack likes to play with Pete's horse that Pete had as a kid. Dennis - I think you had this same horse, or one very similar. Anyway, horsey came up lame the other day with a broken leg and would not stand up on its own for Mary to ride to Bethlehem. Pulling from his same toolkit of tricks, Pete crafted a 'new' leg from a carpenter's pencil. Gray did not appreciate the esthetic...love to all, and Happy New Year...D