a lot of changes

Today after a stressful session teaching same/different with those pesky Venn Diagrams, I had a conversation with a particular 4th grader about having a positive attitude during speech. "We all have to do things we don't want to, but you get to choose if you will do it with a stinky attitude or a positive attitude. It's your decision." Clear enough, right? Wrong. While explaining how eye-rolling and huffing/puffing is disrespectful {and more importantly will not earn him a coveted "super straw"}, he informed me that he "is just going through a LOT of changes right now". I stopped mid-sentence, first in confusion and then hesitating before asking the next question cautiously, "What... kind... of changes?" He told me, accompanied by one of his signature eye-rolls, "Well, I'm just changing a LOT right now. You see, I am only TWO years away from becoming a teenager. That's why I am changing so much." 

Touche. 

Likewise, the Barrett household has "just been going through a LOT of changes" right now in the past 3 years. Yesterday marked the anniversary of our 3 year engagement. It was merely 3 years ago yesterday that Tate asked me to marry him. I don't know why he wanted to claim me after only 6 short months, but I'm sure glad he did! And change has been inevitable ever since... accompanied by a few eye-rolls every now and again, I'm sure. 

The other night over pesto chicken pasta {one of the many things we have learned to cook together} on our back patio {while fending off a certain, droopy-eyed golden retriever}, Tate and I played a fun game. We had to name 3 ways we had changed in the past 3 years due to one another's influence. It could be anything- personality changes, routine changes, likes/dislikes, etc. After little thought the verdict was: 

Tate: 

1. I cuss less often.

2. I am more particular about food. 

{false. very false, if you know Tate, you will agree}

After further questioning, he rephrased by saying, 

"Well, I am more particular about the finer things." 

{oooook, Mr. Fancy Pants. I've created a monster}

3. No response.
{Typical. At least we know some things haven't changed.}

Danielle:

1. I cuss more often. And by more often, I mean ever.

2. I am on time more often. 

{also false. If you know me, you will agree.} 

I quickly retracted that statement after laughter from both parties

3. I am more laid back about the little things.

Well done. Here's to three damn {that's from the post-Tate Danielle} good years together! Can't wait to see how much more changin' is to come for Mr. Fancy Pants and Mrs. Potty Mouth Barrett. I love you and appreciate you more everyday! 

Also- yesterday was Dr. Robby Barrett's birthday! Happy b-day Rob-o! I hope your day was filled with your favorite things including Long John Silver's, The Ghost of Mr. Chicken and roller coasters. 

meet tigley

Wrigley and Tillie got to spend some quality cousin time this weekend {that is if "quality time" consists of Tillie running away while Wrigley follows her around the house, breathing on her neck}. Tye and Katie went out of town so we got to dog sit for a few days. Let me tell you, we were excited but Wrigley was FREAKING OUT!! On the other hand, Tillie was a little leery at first, but warmed up to the idea. We went on walks, played in the backyard, and had a cookout {where Wrigs showed off her skill of licking the air 2 inches away from the food so that she technically isn't touching the chicken, but still annoying everyone at the same time}. Look at Wrigley smiling in this pic; I told you she was excited. 

Although cousins, these puppies couldn't be more different {I know weird right, because they are related and all}. Tillie is chill while Wrigs is a wild woman, Tillie is content while Wrigley is nosey, Tillie is fast and agile while Wrigs is fatigued after a jog to the mailbox, Tillie is humble while Wrigley struts her stuff proudly, Tillie is a rule-follower {determined to walk on the sidewalks only} while Wrigley must be restrained on a Gentleleader. Tigley is a great combo of both extremes. Just look at the evidence below-- one is just happy to be getting out of the house, while the other is definitely scheming. And Tate looks thrilled to be on puppy patrol. Despite this picture, everyone had a great weekend! Can I get a "woof" for some cousin love? 

tall texan: part deux

What do these things have in common:

triathletes, men in Texas flag t-shirts, guns, pink snorkels, strippers

They can all be found at the Tall Texan triathlon 70.3! 

We had so much fun at last year's race, we made the trek back to Boerne, Texas for another exciting weekend of swimming, biking, running and antique shopping. The only difference between this year and last was that Tate was on the "disabled list" so he couldn't run and the man shooting the "start gun" left his Texas flag t-shirt at home. Double bummer.

thousands dozens of triathletes at the swim start waiting for the fog to clear

typical. Tate talking strategy and Dad focusing

and they're off

luckily, pink snorkel made another appearance 

 

well, that's always a comforting sight

trying to resist those {wetsuit} strippers 

ladies- no means no.

"kinda dizzy" while running to the transition area

wild bill out and about

starting the 56-mile bike. it was a rough ride from what I heard 

consisting of cattle guards, lost water bottles and "loose livestock."

touching sight: the tri dualthete cheering on triathletes

go dad! you're almost there...er...halfway there. 6 more miles to go!

the 2nd place athlete in his age division and his #1 fan

us

Way to go guys! Next race: Ironman Texas 140.6 May 19, 2012

oddly normal things triathletes say

It's Ironman training season! While my favorite two triathletes were feasting on a breakfast of bananas, yogurt and goo, I was lucky enough to overhear their interesting conversation. Well, to be fair, "interesting" is a relative term considering what is strange to me is normal, even necessary information to them. I mean just think of the unbalanced training session you could have if one training partner ate a red apple while the other consumed a green one unknowingly. Oh the madness! While preparing for their 75-mile bike ride, the following odd normal things were overheard:

"Oh no {in a very serious tone}. My nutrition didn't come with a scooper!"

"Are you telling me I have to trim my leg hair before using my KT tape? I didn't even bring a trimmer!"

"How many scoops are you using?"

"How many water bottles are you taking?"

"What flavor goos are you using?"

"Are you having a red apple or a green apple?"

"I'll bring an extra Island Nectar goo for you to try."

"I like the tropical flavored goo. It tastes...{thinking for the perfect adjective}...banana-like. It doesn't have an overpowering flavor. It's kinda sweet. You'll like it."

"Sooo, are you going to finish off your second bottle as you are riding up to the finish or midway through?"

"See, {showing me his Nike pouch proudly} this is the 1-bottle fanny pack. What's the zipper for? My bubble gum."

a frantastic spring break

Last week was spent Spring Breakin' in San Francisco. I'm still enjoying the fact that we both have a Spring Break this...ahhh the cush lives we lead as a school district employee and graduate student. Tate didn't know it when we planned this trip, but he is supposed to work in the research lab over the breaks...oopsie. Might as well live it up since this will most likely be our only shared Spring Break. And that we did.

It was a great trip! We saw new sights, ate great food, never set our alarms, met up with old friends,  and got rained on...a lot. However, that didn't slow us down a bit! 

The first, and most important stop for this environmental scientist was The Muir Woods. We saw the GINORMOUS redwood trees. Magical. This place was absolutely breathtaking! Also breathtaking {and budget taking} was the $9 pair of bear socks I bought in the gift shop to appease my soaking wet feet. Oh well, at least I will always have something to remember those redwoods by. I need socks, but Tate will forever hold those precious tree memories in his heart. He really loved it. Really. 

Next up- wine tasting in Sonoma. I know, we are classy people, so don't be surprised. We thought we knew very little about wine, then we went on this wine tour, and we realized we knew nothing. The best part of the tour was watching the "wooly weeders" {a.k.a. sheep} eating the grass in the vineyards. They bring in sheep because it is cheaper than lawn mowers. The sheep eat and the ground is fertilized, so everyone wins! 

We ended the night having dinner with Allison and Chris. Allison and I were neighbors growing up and now she is livin' the life in SF. We caught up over fried chicken and deviled eggs at Wayfare Tavern. It was so good to see y'all! Come to Texas sometime and we can take you to a local, little dive called 

Chick-fil-a.

We had to stop by Boudin's Sourdough Bread Factory for their famous clam chowder in a bread bowl. It hit the spot on this particular rainy, drab day. The interesting thing about Boudin is one side of the building is a bakery and the other is a store. The bakery is constantly pumping out hot, fresh, perfect sourdough rolls, then piling them in baskets and sending them over to the store on a little ceiling conveyer belt contraption. So, my bread bowl was potentially made like 5 minutes before I ate it. So fresh! 

We visited the sea lions a few times at Pier 39. They were pretty awesome, and knew it.  I wouldn't let Tate go to the aquarium so this was as close as he got to the wildlife. Soak it up. 

Nothing tops off a visit with the sea lions like a little afternoon delight at Ghirardelli Square. Get your head out of the gutter, I'm talking about ice cream here. We split a GIANT cookie sundae while  dark chocolate was being made right there in the store.

Woah, here we are up close and personal at Alcatraz. I did my research and heard good things about the Alcatraz night tour. So, we took a chance and booked it...scarrrrrry or so I thought. But actually, it was just a little eerie and a lotta interesting. We highly recommend the night tour. It was awesome! It got dark by the time we entered the prison and we saw a spectacular view of SF at night all lit up. This was my favorite stop on the trip.

We stopped by Lombard St., the curviest street in the world {I think}. We just stopped here literally long  enough to snap this picture. It was cold. The street is really curvy. That is all you need to know about that. 

Oh, hello sun! The shy guy finally came out on our last day of vacation. It was nice to walk along the bay in the sun and finally get a clear shot of the Golden Gate Bridge before we headed back home. It was a FRANtastic {see what I did there} way to spend our last day in San Fran!