Play'n in the rain!

It's my Birthday! In Pictures!

For you mommy!

Love Joslyn!

XOXOX

Got up early, took a bath!

Watched the Tour live! Go FrAndy!

Watched a special video from mommy

Went to the Atlanta Zoo

Held Papa's hand while we were attacked by evil pigeons!

Looked up at all the pretty birds!

Monkey! Monkey!

Big scary gorilla!

Feel much safer way over here!

Mommy and Papa got me a baby Elmo! I love him!

Me and Papa playin'

Giving Odessa a goodnight hug!

What a great Birthday!

Thanks to everyone who sent me cards and gifts!!!

Love Joslyn!

XOXOX

French Broad Cycling Classic & Team Performance

This weekend found the family traveling to Asheville, NC for the French Broad Cycling Classic. The classic is a 3 event omnium. Included in the omnium is a time trial, road race and criterium. Friday night we left town around 1pm to only find gridlock on I85 to Greenville. We decided at that point to get off the interstate and take a scenic drive through the north GA mountain skipping SC altogether. We arrived with about 40 minutes for Kate to warm up and get to the line for her individual time trial. Sadly Kate had a malfunctioning bike computer. The sensor was rubbing on the magnet which is attached to a spoke on her wheel. So she needed to stop and readjust the sensor. The process of slowing down, stopping and starting back up cost quite a bit of time. In the end she was pleased with her performance even if the overall results didn't show it.

Saturday morning was the very difficult road race. The road race was a rolling course with 3 distinct climbs. The last 2 being the hardest! Kate was riding a strong race and was staying towards the front. With so many smaller climbs the field was shattered leaving about 20 women to tackle the the last 2 climbs together. I was following the race in the car and started to move up past all of the slower competitors. Kate had about 9 or 10 teammates in the race. So as I made my way up I started to pass some of her teammates. As I got closer to the top and thinking that the next rider would be Kate, I was so surprised to see Kate still at the front with 2 other teammates and samll group of 5 women! At this point I drove on to the finish to wait for her at the top of the last climb of the day. Another reason I drove ahead was because earlier in the race there had been a crash which had involved 6-8 women. One of which had ended up with a broken frame! So I picked her up and introduced her to Joslyn and Odessa who were also in the car with me. I took her to the finish where her boyfriend was waiting. And where I would be waiting for Kate. 3 women had broken away and in the end the eventual winner came from that group. As I sat at the top the anxiously waiting for Kate. I then saw the women kate had been riding with cross the line! But no Kate! Then a few more women crossed the line, still no Kate! Finally I could see Kate making her way across the line. She looked tired and in quite a lot of pain. As it turns out the day was very hot and humid and Kate was a victim to the heat. Both legs had seized up with cramps on the run into the final climb. Kate ended up 20th on the day but knew a top 10 was hers for the taking.

Saturday night we had dinner with the team. Took some team photos! Which I was/am the un-official, official photographer of team Performance Bicycle Racing!

Sunday was the 3rd and final leg of the French Broad Classic. The Criterium was a 1mi circuit with a little climb that I'm sure hurt the legs after yesterdays race! Kate again rode a strong race. Her teammates were awesome taking home the win as well as a couple of primes (preems = cash prizes). In the end Kate finished a respectable 14th. After the race we quickly got our things packed up and headed to the Greenville Airport. Kate was flying out at 6pm to Milwaukee, WI. She has work to do and then 6 days of racing at the International Cycling Classic, also known as Superweek! So if your in the Milwaukee area over the next week come out and watch some racing!

Here are a few shots from the weekend, enjoy!

Thunder and Lightning

Watermelon!!!

Lycopene Leader

Watermelon is the Lycopene Leader in fresh produce, having higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. In fact, fresh watermelon contains higher levels of lycopene than fresh tomatoes - a 2-cup serving of watermelon contains and average of 18.16 mg and one medium-sized tomato contains 4 mg.

Heart Healthy

Watermelon has heart healthy properties because it is naturally low in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol.

A recent study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) about watermelon consumption and heart healthy benefits was completed and published March 2007. The NWPB has four new structure-function claims derived from this study:

1. Watermelon consumption increases free arginine and citrulline, which can help maintain cardiovascular function.
2. Eating watermelon can help maintain cardiovascular health.
3. Watermelon has amino acids such as citrulline and arginine that help maintain the arteries.
4. Watermelon amino acids citrulline and arginine can help maintain blood flow and heart health.

Wisconsin and the Tour of America's Dairyland

The last 2 weeks of June found us in Wisconsin for the Tour of America's Dairyland as well as a visit with family and friends. The first of these 2 weeks Kate was racing all over Wisconsin. we visited Grafton, Sheboygan, Elkart Lake, Fond du Lac, Greenbush and a home town race in Downtown Appleton! Overall the series was a lot of fun and Kate was racing really well. Appleton, being our hometown, kate wanted to show all of our friends and family the hard work she has been putting in with a strong performance. It was great to hear everyone cheering for her as she rounded turn 4. Sadly with 4 laps to go she got caught up in a crash and didn't get to contest the sprint. She said after the race she felt like a rock star with everyone cheering for her. It was nice to have the support of so many friends and family at the race. In the end Kate finished 6th overall for category 2 women.

With the races wrapping up June 27th Kate raced of to San Diego, CA for a HR conference while I stayed back with Joslyn and the Grandparents. Kate rejoined the vacation 5 days later!

My week with the grandparents found us going to the park and zoo with Joslyn. Joslyn is becoming more and more aware of her surroundings. The trip to the N.E.W. Zoo was a lot of fun. Joslyn was real excited when she got to feed the giraffe and see a lot of new animals she has not seen at the Atlanta zoo. Other than trips to the park and zoo we spent much of the time relaxing and watching Joslyn play. I almost forgot to mention that we went to my mothers retirement party! So congratulations to my Mom on time served!

On the 4th of July, Joslyn and Kate flew home and I stayed and watched the fireworks with my parents. But that afternoon I got to take a quick trip to the ER! I took a nap after dropping Kate and Joslyn off at the airport. When I woke I felt really weird and my arms and face were tingling. So we went in to check it out. 3 hours later the doctor said I was fine and that the tingling should go away. Later that night I was feeling better but was disappointed I didn't get to spend some quality time with friends on the 4th.

All in all it was a great trip! Here are the photos to prove it!

Road America

Road America

Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac

Iylee @ Grandma's Retirement

Joslyn's Cuz

Iylee @ Grandma's Retirement

Joslyn @ the Park

@ the park with gramps

@ the zoo with gramps

Feeding the giraffe

Up close

Joslyn and her pet Giraffe!