Basic Blog Question

Hello Fellow Bloggers~
  I know this is going to sound really weird but because I took a while off from blogging, I have forgotten a few things.  The most important is how to respond to the comments that are left for me.  
  I have had several blogs all opened up with different email accounts and I know that at one time I would receive the comments left here at one of the email addresses.  My problem is, I can't remember which one.  I've gone back and checked each one to see if it is the "right" one and can't find the comments.
  So, if you have left a comment for me and I didn't respond back to you . . . this is why.

  Does anyone know if I can go in and change the email address to which the comments are sent?  

CrossFit Goal Check-In

I know I have said it before but CrossFit has truly changed my life.  Besides the sense of community and support that you receive at a CrossFit box, I love that I am constantly meeting new goals and surprising myself with what my body can do.

This week was a big week for me.  I hit 3 new PR's (personal records) in strength.  Back in January I wrote about my 2013 CrossFit goals and what I wanted to accomplish this year.  Well, yesterday, I met one of the goals!!

The last time I tried for a 1 rep max in dead lift, I got up to 170lbs.  During yesterday's WOD we were supposed to reach a 2 rep max.  When I got to 170lbs, I blew threw it.  I then went up to 185lbs and that was easy, as well.  Well, when I was that close . . . I had to try it.  I went up to 200lbs and I did it!  Not only did I lift it but I held it for about 20 seconds while this picture was taken.

     
I love that I am constantly challenging myself and working towards new goals.  With each PR I hit, I get such a feeling of accomplishment.

I still have 2 more goals to reach:
1. Do a handstand push-up from the ground.
2. Do 10 Kipping pull-ups unbroken. . .so far I have done 4.

I hope that you are still reaching new goals and breaking old boundaries, too.  I'd love to hear about them!     

Opening Day 2013-The Official Unofficial Holiday in St. Louis

Monday was that very special day again in St. Louis.  The day that almost every St. Louisian has circled on their calendar and starts counting down to beginning in January.  Opening Day for the St. Louis Cardinals!!

St. Louis truly is "Baseball Heaven" and there is no other place that I would rather be that at Busch Stadium on Opening Day.  This year I decided to surprise Kanin and pull him out of school to go to his very first Opening Day.  He was so excited!

For the past several years I have been in charge of the tailgate.  I normally get all of the food and get down to Busch early in the morning; however, after spending the entire day out in the rain at last year's Opening Day, and the forecast of rain again this year, I decided to skip the official tailgate and just eat at one of the restaurants downtown.

We were meeting other people downtown so we brought a cooler, some chairs, and bags to hang out for a bit.

My love and me

Two of my 3 main men

Scott and our nephew, Paul

Our niece, Susie, and her hubs, Doug.  Notice that he is wearing a blue shirt . . .he's a Cubs fan.  He was banned from wearing Cubs gear to Cards' Opening Day so he chose the bluest shirt he could find.

Our neighbor, Corey, and my bonus daughter, Emily

If you ever get the chance to come to St. Louis, you must go to Grant's Farm to see the Clydesdales.  They are beautiful, graceful, and elegant animals.  When they entered in to the stadium, and I got really excited, Kanin made the comment that "they are just horses".  I had to school my son!! The Clydesdales ARE NOT just horses.  To St. Louis, the Clydesdales represent so much more.  Yes, they are Anheuser-Busch (which employees thousands of St. Louisans) and beer (which we are a drinking town) but they are a representation of the pride of St. Louis.  They are a connection to the past. 

Each year for Opening Day, after the Clydesdales come out, we have the player parade.  This parade is always led off by our Hall of Famers.

Bob Gibson

Lou Brock

Red Schoendienst

Ozzie Smith

 

Whitey Herzog

Of course, the biggest glaring absence this year was that Stan the Man Musial wasn't there.  Sadly, we lost him over the winter.  He will never be forgotten in St. Louis.  The Musial family unveiled a new memorial out on the left-field fall.

After the Musial memorial, the players all started to come around.

Cy Young Winner, Chris Carpenter

Adam Wainwright saluting the soldiers who were preparing for the National Anthem.

Kanin's favorite player, Jason Motte

Matt Holliday

 

The most exciting thing of the day happened in the 6th inning when Reds shortstop, Brandon Phillips, hit a home run ball.  One of the bleacher bums we sit with caught the ball and then gave it to Kanin!  He was SO excited!

The ball had an official Opening Day 2013 stamp on it.

Even though we lost, we had a fantastic time and we had so much fun celebrating a Happy New Year!

I truly love this town

Easter 2013 Re-Cap (Late)

I know this is late but I finally am feeling well enough to post about Easter.  I was hit hard by the flu bag for an entire week and still have a nasty cough to show for it.

Because of the flu, I really didn't think that we (I) were even going to celebrate Easter this year.  My sister-in-law volunteered to host it again this year but I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to make it.  Luckily, on Saturday I felt well enough to get out for a couple of hour to pick out Easter outfits and then made it to church on Sunday.

 The kids woke up to their Easter baskets.

My babies:  Caleb (3), GracieAnn (5), and Kanin (9)

Family picture 2013

Caleb received an extra special gift . . . a big boy seat.

After church we headed to Scott's sister's house for lunch.  Of course, there was lots of Pinterest inspiration present.

After lunch, the kids were definitely ready to hunt Easter eggs.

My great-nephew, Ben (5).

I was happy that Kanin still wanted to hunt Easter eggs this year.

My other great-nephew, Ian (2).

Ian decided he didn't want to be in the picture.  Of course, we missed the other kids this year--Ali, Aidan, and Kenzie

After hunting Easter eggs, we came inside and dyed a few eggs.

I was really happy that I felt good enough to be able to be with the rest of the family.  The kids had a great time and it was nice just being together.