Stawberry Picking

After Bruce's Triathlon, the kids and I headed up to pick strawberries with Bruce's mom and sister...we went to Wegmeyer Farms from a friends suggestion...what a BEAUTIFUL drive and a fun time! We didn't take many pictures...to busy picking, you know!

Chase marching off to get to work...he's all about business

Beautiful red berries!

Addy was my super-assistant...she would pick the berries, put them in her mouth to suck on them but wouldn't bite them, and then she'd throw them in the bucket after they passed her test. She was covered in strawberry juice! Here she is, being silly...this is how she takes EVERY picture...grinning with her eyes closed...I must need a faster camera, eh? :o)

In TOTALLY unrelated news...I have a topsy-turvy tomato plant...I HAD to have it, the infomercial is on all the time at work...it's all I wanted for Mothers Day...Bruce and Chase searched everywhere...my co-worker ended up finding me one. Just a picture update...I wish I had taken pictures earlier on to mark the progress...but it's rocking along, Chase and I planted it 3 weeks ago...looking forward to our yummy topsy turvy tomatoes this summer!!

Bruce's First Triathalon!!!

On Sunday Bruce participated in his first triathlon...it was a "sprint" triathlon, which is a great way to get started...I'm not sure what the distances were, but it looked challenging and FUN! I would love to train for one! We were so inspired by the variety of competitors...there were a handful of younger kids around 10 or 11 (I think) AND there were some older folks too...there was at least one lady who was 69 and a man in his 70's...that is AMAZING to me!

Just a few pictures...I wish we had taken more! Here's Bruce right before the race began...showing off his number, and trying to hide his gray chest-hair (seriously...)


Swimming...it was a "serpentine swim" up and down the lanes, you swam down a lane, ducked under the rope, and headed up the next lane to the opposite wall, all the way down the pool...from there they ran outside and got geared up for the bike ride
Here is Bruce coming up on the dismount line from his bike ride...

Run Forrest, Run!!

And here's my guy, booking it through the finish line...I have NEVER seen him run this fast...we work out together 3x a week, and he always "jogs" and he was flying down the home stretch after running 1.5 miles (I know all of my running friends are probably like whoop-de-doo, but seriously, after swimming and biking, I was IMPRESSED!!!)

Bruce finished in 51 minutes...a FANTASTIC time for his first time out (the time on the clock above isn't right...that was from the time the first swimmer entered the water...they started in 5 second intervals)

Great job Babe, we are so proud of you!!!

And a special THANK YOU to Brian, for getting Bruce involved and for training with him!! **Side Note, Brian placed 2nd in his age group...way to go Old Man!!! :o)**

Email my mom just sent me

Gotta love modern technology...even my mom has a blackberry!

Chase and Addy are up at her house today, and this picture just popped up on my email...I added Spongebob for everyone's sake! Looks like Big Brother is trying to show Addy the ropes...she's sitting on a mini-throne...I still haven't found out if she went or not ;o)

Silly Rabbit...TRIX are for kids

It's around 3pm and I get a call from the house...I answer:

"hello?"

...heavy breathing...ah, it must be my little man.

"Oh, Hi Chasey! What's up?"

(in the most exasperated voice you can imagine) "Mommy, where is my bunny yo-git?"

"Wha? Bunny Yogurt? I've never had bunny yogurt!" (totally playing along)

(more teenager stuck in a 3 year old's body exasperation) "Mom, mom, you know, my bunny yo-git we got at Harris Teeter the other night" (I can see him throwing his hands up in the air)

"Oh! Your TRIX yogurt...it's in the fridge out in the garage" (I caved and bought it...I had a coupon and it was on sale...Chase also bought his sister Dora yogurt at the same time...he's always thinking about her...my little ladies man)

(Chase talking to grandma...still flustered) "See, I told you we needed to call Mommy, it's downstairs in the garage"

"Thanks Mommy"...click

That call made my day :o)

A Daddy's Dream come true...

***Guest post by Bruce M. Bilek***

The day began with a phone call from Aunt Tiff letting me know she landed seats for the Nats game. I of course asked her what section (can't go unless they're great seats...) She replied back with 128L row D. I told her I would check with the HMIC (Head Mommy in Charge). So after jumping online to see where the seats were (Front Row behind the dugout) and getting it cleared with Mommy we were going to the NATS game. It was now 3pm and we had a lot to do before the game. Chase and I headed to the store to get him a NATS shirt for the ball game. Once we got back it was already 4pm and I headed to our (Chris & I) boot camp http://plumblinetraining.blogspot.com/ After a GREAT hour work out I was driving down Belmont Ridge Road headed for the house when I started thinking... Ever since the day Christine & I found out our first child was going to be a Bilek Boy I have had many hopes and dreams about the times and memories I would share with my son. It was not until then that I realized one of my dreams was about to come true... I was taking our son Chase to his first Baseball game. Best of all the woman we both love so much "Mommy" joined us in our special moment. From the moment we arrived Mommy watched the awe in Chase's eyes of his first game and the awe & pride in Daddy's (My) eyes as I tried to take in Chase's every ooohhh, aaaahhh, WOW, and scream of CHARGE! The night was everything and more I could have ever imagined. Of course my Chase had his favorite moments of the game.

Chase's top 10 list from his first baseball game.

10.) Chase eating his 1st hot dog at a Baseball Game. (2nd Inning)

9.) Chase eating his first pretzel at a Baseball Game (4th Inning).

8.) Chase Getting Cotton Candy at his first Baseball Game (Top of 5th Inning).

7.) Chase Chugging his first lemonade at his first Baseball Game (Bottom of 5th inning).
6.) Chase's first Baseball Game "WHOA I SHOULDN'T HAVE ATE SO MUCH" (Top of 6th inning).

5.) Spending time with Mommy at his first Baseball Game.

4.) Spending time with Daddy at his first Baseball Game.
3.) Harassing the NATS bat boy to get a game used ball. Not only did he get a game used ball, he used his charming skills he gets from his Father ;o) and scored another game used ball for as he would say "HIS ADDY" he loves and thinks about his sister all the time!

2.) Getting to ride on Daddy's shoulders leaving the game!

1.) Sharing a truly special moment with Mommy & Daddy. We love you Son...Finally I apologize to all for such a long post. I want to thank Aunt Tiff for scoring us such great seats which allowed me to have the night of my life with my son and wife. It truly is the little things in life that mean the most. Chase, Mommy & Daddy love you and we look forward to the many firsts, fun times, and memories we will share with you and your sister over the years! (Addy was at home with Grandma in her crib thinking "Wow it's nice to have a quite home at least for a little while since Chasey isn't here...) Chase I will always remember our first game April 30, 2009 St. Louis Cardinals Vs. Washington Nationals. I am so proud to call you my son!

P.S. Yes the NATS lost in their normal fashion as they blew the late lead and lost 9-4 to the St. Louis Cardinals

Thanks Aunt Tiff!

Belle with a little Old School Madonna thrown in for fun

Carol got Addy this Belle costume for her birthday...she loves the Beauty and the Beast movie...the dress is way too big for her, so she doesn't wear it much yet...but she loves dancing around like a princess, so after bath time the other night, we were rocking out and she was looking completely ridiculous with some frilly hair thing, her binky and the lacy, ruffly number she was in. If you look close enough, you can see that she has stickers on her ninnies...lovely ;o)

And just because I can't get through taking pictures without Chase jumping in front of the camera to be goofy...one of him being the little monster he is.

Supermarket Sweep

Bruce beat me home the other day so he grabbed the kids and went on a big adventure to Harris Teeter to get supplies to make some pizza! I met up with them on the way home and the 3 of them were having a blast cruising the aisles. Addy was especially pleased with the situation because her daddy let her help push the little-person cart with Chase...I make her sit in the cart! :o) Chase was proud to get to get to play big brother and help her along



Chase with a classic Chase-face...and I'm not sure what Addy was doing...

Family Shot...everyone wearing chef aprons...even Bruce was a trooper...we had such a good time, and our pizzas turned out great! Chase was being annoying and blinking on purpose through all of these pictures...Addy was being goofy too
Bruce got a gold star for the adventure out and idea to make pizza...we've never done that at home and the kids loved it! :o)