Race Weekend...

Our favorite weekend of the year! Right after we picked Logan up from school, we left for Indy. We arrived at Kathy's house a little after 5PM, missing all the Carb Day events--oh well. After we got settled in and freshened up, we headed downtown for dinner at Buca di Beppo. The girls were in heaven...getting spend time with John, Kathy, Lauryn, Lyla, and Carol--not to mention one of their favorite restaurants.

Party of 11 (TK's #)...

Logan and Lauryn...

John, Lyla, and Kathy...

Maren with mommy and daddy...

Saturday morning we got the girls up and ready early so we could get over to the Speedway for the drivers meet and greet. We got to see Tony (again). He was so sweet, posing for a picture with the girls. He always is! We also got to see Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and Dan Wheldon. We heard Michael Andretti doing practice laps with Mark Whalberg in the two-seater, but we didn't get to see them.

The girls and TK...

Ryan and Marco with the girls (oops, Carsyn blinked)...

With Dan--he's still such a cutie...

The Pagoda...

Having fun at the track...

After the track, we went back to Kathy's and did some grocery shopping. We had a nice lunch cooked out on the grill, before cleaning up for church and stop by Daddy's Aunt and Uncles to meet two new little babies. The girls had fun playing with their cousins. Then it was time for our annual night-before-the-race mass at St. Chris. We were so glad that Fr. Mike had mass and we got to chit-chat with him afterward. It's always so nice to be "back home again in Indiana". After dinner we got all the girls to bed so mommy, daddy, and Kathy could take the traditional walk down to 16th and Georgetown. Good times...

Justin, Luci, Jennifer, Tommy, and Maren...

Alex, Macy, Carsyn, Maren, and Logan...

Sunday morning--race morning--the girls ate a good breakfast and got slathered with sunscreen before packing the coolers and snack into the car and driving over to our old street in Speedway. Surprisingly we got over there super-quick. We hung out at Fred's for while, trying to stay cool and making sure the girls went to the bathroom before we walked to the track. It was so super-hot (the hottest race EVER recorded--in fact), so we had a little picnic in the shade behind turn one. We went up to our seats for all the pre-race traditions that we love so much. It was a very exciting race, especially seeing Tony move up eight positions in the first two turns, and eventually climbing all the way to second. I really thought he was going to be the first driver to win from a last row starting position. Unfortunately he ended up 11th, but that's still pretty amazing considering he started dead last. The girls did really well despite the heat. We had a great race weekend. Thanks to Kathy and Carol for putting us up and making us feel at home!

The girls and their race buddy, "Uncle" John...

And a new race buddy, "Aunt" Kathy...

Carsyn and Mommy ready for the most famous words in motor sports...

Logan...

Maren and Daddy watching the parade lap...

Trying to stay cool behind E Stand...

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing...

Immediately after school last Thursday, we hit the road for our Memorial Day weekend. We drove all the way to Beavercreek, OH that night to check on the progress of our new home and to tour the girls new school.

It's getting there...

After seeing our house and visiting the school, we headed the rest of the way to Indianapolis. By the time we got to our hotel, it was too late to make to Carb Day, so we just walked around at the canal and went over to Circle Centre. The girls had fun walking along the canal, but it was kind of nerve-racking when they got too close to the water.

On the canal...

Our family...

Saturday morning we got up pretty early so we could get over to the track and get in line at the drivers' autograph session. We waited in Tony Kanaan's line, while Nana waited for Marco Andretti. Tony was as sweet as ever. He even got up from behind the table and walked around to pose with the girls. Luckily, no tears from Maren this time.

Waiting patiently in line...

Carsyn and Marco...

The girls with our favorite--TK...

In front of the Pagoda...

After leaving the track, we went back downtown to our hotel for lunch and the Indy 500 Festival Parade. This was our first time ever going to the parade. That's right...after living in Speedway for 25 years, Mommy had NEVER gone. The girls loved the big balloon floats, especially the My Little Pony and Sponge Bob. Mommy and Nana liked seeing Mario Andretti and Mario Lopez! After the parade we walked over to Buca's for a late lunch--yum!

Maren waiting for the parade to start...

Carsyn and Sponge Bob...

Monument Circle...

Saturday night we went to mass at St. Chris, one of our favorite race time traditions. We were so glad to be back at our home parish. And, fortunately Father Mike had mass and we were able to visit with him a little after church. We also were very happy to see Kathy, Carol, and Lauryn at mass, and finally get to meet little Lyla! After mass we stopped by Mommy and Daddy's friends' house. The girls had a blast playing with their kiddos. Then we went back to the hotel. The girls were able to hang out at the hotel with John and Kathy a bit before going to bed. Then Mommy, Daddy, John, and Kathy headed back to Speedway for the annual walk down Georgetown Rd.

The girls ready for church...

Carsyn, Lauryn, Logan, and Lyla after mass...

Carsyn, Logan, and Rylee...

On Sunday morning we ate breakfast at the hotel before making the drive over to Speedway. It was very smooth going most of the way. The last mile of the trip took about 40 minutes. We definitely did not like not waking up in Speedway on race morning. Next year we will totally be looking for a place to stay--any offers to put up all six of us??? We were able to park at our old neighbor Fred's house, and hang out there before walking over to the track. At the track we put down some blankets and let the girls play around in the shade before going up to our seats for all the pre-race traditions. The girls did great at the race. Maren slept from lap 5 to lap 105. Carsyn spent a lot of time walking around with Nana during the middle of the race. We saw a lot of action in turn one this year. It was a great race day, and the rain stayed away. However, the outcome could have been better--a lot better. After Tony crashed on lap 98, we had no one else to cheer for (Marco got taken out on the first lap.) Thankfully, he was okay. Next year...

The girls with Uncle John before the race...

Mommy's girls...

Logan enjoying the festivities...

Carsyn and Daddy ready for the parade lap...

Maren and Daddy waiting to see the cars come into turn one...

Saturday Night Special...

Yesterday afternoon we took the metro downtown to the National Museum of Natural History for their Orchid Family Festival. Logan and Carsyn enjoyed crafts and learning all about orchids. Unfortunately, Maren always falls asleep on the train and missed most of the festivities. But, she woke up in time to go exploring around the dinosaur and Africa exhibits. The girls loved it. They have really become big fans of the Smithsonian Institution. Afterward we took the metro up to DuPont Circle for dinner at Buca's...one of our favorites! It's always easy to over-eat there. I guess it makes up for the Ash Wednesday fasting. What a fun night!

Little artists...

Maren woke up just in time for the woolly mammoth...

The girls, hungry and ready to go eat...

Outside the museum...

We're stuffed...

Today we've been taking it easy. We are anxious to see whether or not we get the 4-8 inches of snow they're predicting for tonight. Could be another snow day tomorrow...check back tomorrow and see...

Spring Break...

So, right after school and our squadron's change of command, we took off for our road trip to Arizona. We have all been spoiled the last year and a half only having to drive three to five hours for a nice vacation. None of us was looking forward to the almost nine hour drive to Mesa. But, everyone did well. We stopped in Palm Springs for dinner and made to our hotel before mid-night. This was Daddy's and Maren's first time visiting the Phoenix area. They were warned before hand though, that we ALWAYS have terrible weather when we go there. (Two years ago we went for Cubs Spring training and a friend's wedding. We actually ended a 142 day drought on the wedding day--sorry, and one of the games we had tickets to was rained out.) This trip was just as expected. Prior to our arrival temps. had been in the low 80's. When we got there--about 59 degrees! At least it didn't rain this time...

We actually did have a couple of nice days. On Saturday we went to the pool after breakfast. The girls loved playing in the pool with Dad while Mom tried to get a little sun and a few pictures.

Carsyn swimming--with Daddy's help...

Logan...

Carsyn...

Maren...

After a fun day of swimming and partial sun, we got cleaned up and got ready for dinner. We asked the girls where they wanted to eat...one guess what they chose? Luckily for us, and ironically for them--there are California Pizza Kitchen's outside the state of California.

Poor Carsyn fell asleep during dinner...

Logan and Carsyn went with Mom and Dad to the game on Sunday. (Maren stayed at the hotel with Nana and took a nap.) We were so excited because we got to see Carlos pitch--he's our favorite! The girls were really good, especially after we bought them cotton candy. Daddy was smart and bought pretty good seats in the shade. It was very sunny, but pretty chilly that day.

Carsyn and Logan right before the first pitch...Go Big Z!

Carsyn wanted to get a closer look...

After the game we hung around to try and get autographs and pictures. We saw most of the team, but they all play the "sorry, I'm on the phone" trick. oh, well.

Come on, Carlos. We're your biggest fans...

After the game we went to mass for Palm Sunday...it was not your typical Catholic church--yikes!

On Monday the weather was sort of nice again, so we spent some time at the pool.

Maren is a real water baby...

Time to dry off...

Later that afternoon we went to Scottsdale for a little shopping at Fashion Square and to meet Nana's friend, Debbie. Afterward we ate dinner at Buca's in Old Town Scottsdale.

What sweet girls...

We also had tickets to the game on Tuesday. Before the game we were able to see a lot of the players and finally got a few things signed and some pictures.

Carsyn and Logan with Sean Marshall...

Maren wasn't too sure about Carlos (Marmol, not Zambrano)...

Since all six of us went to that game, we tried to sit out in the outfield for a while. But, it got pretty hot and very sunny that day--Daddy should have worn sunscreen!

To keep the girls entertained, Nana took them to a shady spot to play for few innings. This was the highlight of the game for them.

Monkey Logan...

Monkey Carsyn...

Monkey Maren...

Our family in front of Hohokam Park, Spring home of the Chicago Cubs...

It was a great trip. Every Cub fan should go to Spring training at least once! They went 2 and 0 while we were there--hopefully that's a little foreshadowing for regular season! We checked out early in the morning on Wednesday and headed back to California.