Turkey Trot 2009

The kids ran in the YMCA Turkey Trot 1 mile Run in Fredericksburg this morning. This was Bethanee second time running this race but Jackson ran it for the first time. Both were excited about running on a very foggy morning. We met friends at the start line and at 7:30 A.M. Bethanee age group launched for the 1 mile run. She ran the entire race by herself and finished in 10:30. Jackson's heat started at 8:30 and he wanted me to run with him. So at the start line I positioned myself behind him for a little of motivation. Jackson ran the entire mile and finished in 12:10. They both had a large cheering section led by Jillian. After the race we went to Krispy Kreme for after running treats and hot chocolate. The early adventure was a great way to start the Thanksgiving Holiday. In a few hours we are headed to Lake of Woods for Thanksgiving Clifton Style. They don't know this yet but I will be Directing a Thanksgiving Kids Play. Bethanee has already asked for a solo.

Finally All Moved

Okay, I can distinctly remember watching all of our stuff burn to the ground less than a year ago. So how is it that we have so much stuff? I mean really it has only been one year! It took a few days but finally we are all out of the rental house. The last load in VanPelt came over today. Now it is time to organize it and put it all in the right spot. I just want to put it all in the guest bedroom (out of sight.....) But Tracee is insisting that we do it right the first time (I love that girl) Today Tracee picked out blinds from Lowes and yesterday we picked out a water softener for the house. We have much to be thankful for this thanksgiving.

Good Morning House

There is nothing like waking up and then having to think for a bit, "Where am I?" When I was backpacking around the country it was an every morning experience. This morning it was nice. Tracee and I woke up in our new room in our new bed and went downstairs to morning coffee in our new kitchen. It is nice to finally be home. However, our lot has never stopped being home. Even with the burnt out remains of the former house still smoldering, it was still home. Today, with much help from friends, we will move the rest of our stuff to the house.

Bethanee's Play

Bethanee and the rest of the Grace Prep Players did an excellent job last night during their school play.

The House is Done

Gary Hermanson of Hermanson Homes presented us with a finished house today. Everything is complete except the final landscaping which will have to wait a few days. We are extemely pleased with his creation. It has been a long time being away from home but it is finally over. We will be moving in over the next several days and hope to spend our first night in the house maybe on Friday or Saturday. During our final walk-through a reporter from the Free-Lance Star stopped by for a follow-up story about the house fire. He thought that the title might be "From House Burning to House Warming." It will be in Friday's home section of the local paper. For Tracee her favorite part of the house is the custom look of the rounded corners throughout the house and her new kitchen. For me it is the foyer with its wide open design. You can go into the kitchen, down to the media room, or upstairs all from one area. This was another Gary idea to make the basement more inline with the rest of the house. We took a couple of trailer loads over to our house this evening and plan on get much of the moving done on Friday night or Saturday. Any Help? Just show up at either house on Friday around 4:00 or Saturday anytime.

Hipster Dufus

While at Party City in Fredericksburg Jackson tried on some of the coolest sunglasses on the rack. He even asked me to take this picture. No, we did not invest in such fashional eyewear. Do I have any reason for concern? CLICK HERE.

Bike Overhaul

I'm using the triathlon off-season to make some much needed upgrades to my bike. I'm riding a plus 15 year old Cannondale that I picked up at the beginning of last season. While it got me through my first three triathlons, I did my research and decided to make some upgrades for next year. First was the carbon fiber fork which will significantly cut down on road vibration. The other big improvement is the aero bars which will help lower my wind profile. The idea is the less wind that you have to push the fast you can go. Like Lightning McQueen said, "I'm a precision instrument of speed and aerodynamics."

Famous Vans

Since we purchased the VanPelt there has been one prevailing question, "How are you going to Customize it?" Yes there seems to be an assumption that we will not just keep the van white (boring) but that we will soon turn the van into a rolling piece of art. Now at the beginning I must tell you that the van will most likely stay white and thus boring. (so you're telling me there's a chance) However, in the interest of community consent here are the top five van customization ideas. Which one would you support.

1. The A-Team - The only thing more cool than B.A. Barachus (A.K.A. Mr. T) was his van. This 1983 GMC G-Series van sported a V-8 and could be used to storm compounds, save women and overthrow small non-descript governments. Another advantage was that it could be easily modified each week with the use of some simple hand tools such as a blow torch and a welder. It also could course launch itself over enemy vehicles and small rivers.

2. The Mystery Machine - How could those pesky kids and their dog Scooby Doo ever get around without the lime green and light blue Mystery Machine. This is a popular way to paint a van. In fact I saw the Mystery Machine driving on I-95 several years back. This is Bethanee hands down favorite idea. I mean how cool is it to be picked up from school in the Mystery Machine (when you are 6 - probably not as cool when you are 14).

3. The Shaggin Wagon - Harry blew his life’s savings to create this 1983 sheep dog van in the epic movie Dumb and Dumber. Probably the coolest feature of this van is that the dog’s leg has to be lifted in order to gas it up. Another neat feature is that if you sit in the passengers seat and swing your arms its like your running at an incredible speed. One of my favorite movies of all time.

4. Uncle Rico's Van - The 1975 Dodge Santana. This wasn’t just a van. It was an adventure named after one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Not only could this van get you from point A to point B, it could go off the beaten path to point C and keep you there indefinitely. If I had this van I could definitely throw a football over them mountains? For those who are confused - Napoleon Dynamite - 2004.

5. The Ecto-Mobile - Who ya gonna call - Ghostbusters! In the 1984 hit Dr. Peter Venkman used this Ghostbusting Van to save New York City from the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. This 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor was completely customized to suit all of your paranormal activity needs. While it is not technically a van, you could make it work. The best thing about this van is that I could drive around in a tan jump suit all of the time and look completely normal. (yes I said normal)

"Van" Pelt

It was not a big problem, but it needed to be addressed before next camping season. The Tahoe is a great vehicle and I will continue to drive her as long as she allows but with her 5.3 V-8 and 1500 frame she was just not pulling the the 5000lb travel trailer with ease. She would pull it but I figured I was at about 95% of max capacity, not great. So I knew that I was going to have to up my hauling game. I basically had two choices, a full size Suburban with the 2500/3500 frame or the full size van in a 2500/3500 frame. Both come with the Chevy 6.0 liter V-8 with a towing capacity of 9800lb (that should be enough). So I started looking for a good deal on a Suburban or a Van. I found just what I was looking for last week on Craigslist from a Landscaping Company in Maryland. It is a 2004 Chevy 3500 set up for 12 passengers. The van looks great and it was a super deal, so on Veterans Day we drove up and drove it home. Before we left we (including the seller) prayed a blessing over the van, very cool. The thing is a beast and drives like a Mac Truck. It is completely void of all niceties, it is just a van, but that is all I needed. Tracee and I like to joke that we are that kind of family, so big that we have to have a commuter van for transportation. Yes we are "that" family, and we love it. We haven't come up with a name yet but we were thinking about "Vanpelt. "

Let's Bake some Cookies

I enjoy sharing my love of cooking in the kitchen with the kids even though it usually means big messes. It's nothing that a cloth, paper towels, or a broom can't handle. Bethanee quickly wanders out of the kitchen and gets involved in some craft project because cooking is not her thing. Jackson dons his apron and follows me around with the stool. He can be tasked to measure and prep many dishes. Usually we have done our baking while Jillee takes her naps. But with her naps going down to about an hour, I decided we'd do cookies after lunch and add Jillian to the mix. So here she is measuring out brown sugar. She needed much direction, but did a great job. She can dump the measuring cup and get it in the bowl. She followed Jackson and Bethanee's direction and got her fingers in the bowl of raw cookie dough for a taste test. And after the first batch cooked and cooled, they all enjoyed the fruits of their labors. I can't adequately blog her conversation with Jason as she explained the cookie making process (partly because I'm not sure what all the words were) but she conveyed that she had made cookies and ate two.