OK... up to this point Cindi gets all the credit for this incredible blog.  But with her out of town this past weekend I had to plan the social calendar and now report the day's events.  The highlight of the weekend was the INDIANAPOLIS 500!  But before I get to Sunday I have to give a brief recap of Friday and Saturday.  Friday we (me and 3 sleepers) dropped Cindi at the airport at 5 am then back to get some more shut-eye at, this time, a Sam Club (can't always stay just at WalMarts).  I hate to say it but the remainder of the day was pretty much boring.  We did a bunch homeschool then errands including the bank, BlockBuster, Home Depot, the grocery store then ended up at an RV Park in Indianapolis called Lake Haven Retreat.  Sounded good but, not so good especially because it had rained and the gounds were "muddy."  Incredibly this was the first real day it had rained on us since we started this adventure a month ago.

With me at the helm again planning the social calendar Saturday was well... not too exciting.  I did find a $1.25 movie theater.  So we took in a double feature like when I was a kid.  We saw "Horton Hears a Who" and "College Road Trip" (I know what some of you are thinking, College Road Trip??  No it is not an R-rated fraternity flick.  It is actually a G-rated Disney movie for the whole family).  The day ended with a good night sleep at the W Hotel.  Oops,  I mean the WM.

RACE DAY!  I have to admit I'm not the biggest track fan but I definitely could not pass up the opportunity to take my boys to the INDY 500, "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."  I did grow up watching it on TV and remember names like A.J.Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears (all 4 time winners).  This event is HUGE.  My point of reference is the Rose Bowl where over 100,000 people attend.  The 500 has between 300,000 and 400,000 at the track!  Tanner, Sterling, Peyton and I all purchased general admission tickets so we were free to roam the inside of the 2.5 mile track.  We planted it in a great spot near turn 1 where we watched the military unraveled a gigantic USA flag right in front of us.  Then 4 jets came screaming by right above us.  It's times like these when you feel proud to be an American!  We moved around over the next 3 hours to get different views of the race and cars.  The kids all picked there favorite cars including WiiFIT, Indiana Jones (Marco Andretti), McDonalds and Target.  The buzz during the race was mostly about Danica Patrick, who started 5th and was doing well in her GoDaddy car until another top 10 driver ran into her in the pit area.  She was not happy about the altercation which got a lot of press the next day.  For those of you who are "Dancing with the Stars" fans, Helio Castroneves in the Team Penske car eventually finished 4th.  Did I mention these rocket cars are LOUD, jetting by at over 220mph?  Now I know why every booth sells ear plugs and headsets.  The eventual winner of the 92nd Indy race was Scott Dixon, a New Zealander in a Target car, who actually started in the poll position.  With the win he pocketed a record $2.98 million.  The kids including me had a great day which was ultimately finished off by picking up mommy at the airport then driving to Fort Wayne for a get motivated show.  ...Nights at the Hyatt are oh so appreciated. 

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Hey everyone, sorry about the long delay in posts.  Over the weekend I was in DC for my cousin's weeding and Dave was in Indianapolis with the kids at the Indy 500.  He is going to write a blog on his weekend and post it sometime today.  I'm going to fill you in on my weekend and the last few days as well.   First, I have to tell you that if you have been trying to reach me on my cell I'm not trying to ignore you.  My cell is still in DC...long story!  I will have it back in about a week.  

Last Friday morning. I got in to Washington National Airport at 7:40 am and caught a shuttle to the hotel.  I stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn in Virginia.  It was a really nice hotel.  The free breakfast was the best free breakfast I have had.  I hung out with my Aunt Annette, Uncle Steve, cousin Dina , her husband Daniel and their adorable son Brandon for a while before heading over to see the groom (my cousin Alan).  It was so great seeing everyone!  I absolutely adore the whole Springer Family and am so blessed to be so close with them all.  I was also so excited to hang with Brandon. I hadn't seen him since his 1st birthday (he is 2 and a half now) and I so enjoyed getting to see him and his so sweet personality.  He is soooo cute....I would post a picture but the only pictures I have are stuck in my phone which is with my aunt in DC.  Well after breakfast I got to go visit with my cousin Alan as he was working on a video for the rehearsal dinner.  Alan and I have very similar personalities and we have always been really close.  We are both very sarcastic so we constantly give each other a hard time.  I really enjoyed visiting with him and hanging out with him and his friends over the weekend.  

Well, to make a long weekend short...The rehearsal dinner was fabulous!  The video my cousin made was outstanding...the best pre wedding video I have ever watched.  He is a 2 time Emmy nominated producer for a sports show so I guess I knew it would be awesome.  The wedding was absolutely beautiful.  Lauren (the bride) looked amazing and Alan made quite the groom.  The wedding was in the Ritz Carlton so you can imagine how nice it was.  I would tell you about the reception, but I had to leave after the ceremony and catch a plane to Indianapolis so I missed it.  My flight was at 9:10 and I really didn't want to leave the wedding so I didn't get into a cab till 8:30!  That's when I lost my phone...I was in such a hurry getting out of the cab and into the terminal that I dropped my phone in the cab.  Surprisingly, I made my flight and after a lot of phone calls to cab company my phone was located.  I had the cab driver bring it to my Aunt at the Ritz and she is going to ship it to me...Yeah!  

The reason I had to rush away from the wedding was I had to work in Fort Wayne, Indiana at 7 am Monday and the only flight that would get me there before that time was the 9:10 pm flight which was right at the start of the reception!  Dave and the boys and the RV picked me up at the airport and we all drove to Fort Wayne.  We have spent the last 2 days at the Hyatt Place.  I have worked and they have had a chance to catch up on home school, and relax and swim.  I forgot to mention, Dave and I also were blessed with a golf game while in Fort Wayne.  It was really nice to hang with my friends and have a break from the kids.