Breakfast at the Roy's

 If I ever want to tell a funny story about the Roys, I simply tell the truth!  This story is just a glimpse of the Roy Family breakfast routine.  I'll start by revealing that Vickie is NOT a morning person, but around 1997, when all the babies started going to some form of school, Vickie decided to make breakfast for the family.  Ever since, she's been a breakfast machine, pounding out bacon, eggs, waffles, oatmeal, crepes, eggandsausage croissants, cereal, and other treats for the masses.  It's great!  Here's a brief pictorial: 

  

Vickie doesn't usually sleep well (that's a whole separate episode) . . . until about 6:30 am, just before she needs to wake up to start breakfast!

That ol' alarm clock is NOT Vickie's friend.  Especially if she has to work (she has a part-time job with School District 11, and sometimes has to get up at 6:15 am)

This is an actual picture.  Vickie has made breakfast so many thousands of times, that SHE NORMALLY MAKES IT WITH HER EYES CLOSED IN THE DARK!  This is the truth--I've witnessed it!  But since daylight savings time has made it brighter in the morning, Vickie wears sunglasses to make breakfast.  TRUE--YOU NOW SEE THE TRUTH!

Today she made delicious bacon and eggs and biscuits with jelly.  My fav!

While Vick is making breakfast, DOUG gets to do his job, which he loves.  Here's the crazy mutt making his contribution to the breakfast routine!

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Here is the breakfast crew:  Vick, Summer, and Doug.  Notice his nose poking up there--Summer and I hate that (because he pants on us) so we make him sit on his carpet.  He usually sneaks off within a few minutes and is panting again.  Of course, we start with a family prayer to get the day going in the right direction.  Yes, we still use the Prayer Chart since we can't remember whose turn it is, even with just three people.  I hope we do better when there's just two people . . . .

Mom is satisfied when we've been fed and pushed onto our daily activities (which for me isn't much, but for Summer, it's a mad dash to school)

Here's Summer streaking off to Li'l Blue (her Ford Escort car) and her first period class, which is Seminary.  Even with my fastest shutter speed, I could only capture her in a blur.  By the way, Summer isn't a super-morning person either, but she does a great job getting it going anyway.  Do any of you remember what Summer was famous for when she was little?  Every morning while sitting in her high chair she's have a little sharing moment, and we'd all yell "MORNING BLOW!"  Mom quickly grabbed a tissue or two . . . .

After breakfast, Vick likes to read the paper . . . 

And work the crossword puzzle and other newspaper puzzles (Suduko, word scramble, etc.)

I hope your breakfast routine is as fun and nourishing!  Thanks Vick, for getting us going!

Love, Grandbill/Dad

Boston Marathon Fun!

CONGRATS TO KRISTA FOR RUNNING THE PRESTIGIOUS 2011 BOSTON MARATHON!!!  Krista conquered the Beast in 3:39:59 (that's THREE HOURS, THIRTY-NINE MINUTES, and 59 SECONDS!), and had a marvelous experience from start to finish.  Can you believe she ran that far that fast?  I couldn't ride my bike 26.2 miles that fast, but she scooted across that course with aplomb.  Good job Kris!

Vick and Summer and I got to be a part of the adventure, and we sure loved being with Krista and seeing her run.  I must say, I've never seen anything like it: 27,000 runners, 500,000 spectators, and an entire city/region focused on that one event.  It was marvelous!  We flew into Hartford, CT, on Saturday, then went into Boston the next day so Krista could pick up her number and race materials.  Then on Monday we took her to the starting point in Hopkinton, then we were able to drive to a couple of points on the route to watch her run.  So much fun.  And we were proud to pick up our exhausted but exhilarated runner at the finish line in downtown Boston.  How did that skinny pigeon-toed little kid in the overalls and ponytails get to be such a great runner?!?  I don't know, but she sure has inspired all of us with her great feets/feats!

The next day we drove up through Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire to see the sights and add five states to the list for Summer and Krista (I think they have about 42 states total now).

We just had the best time (well, Krista had the best time, but we had the best experience!)

Here's a video at about the 15K point.  I'm giving Krista an energy bar.  She looks great!

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Here's the finish line in downtown Boston the day before the race.

Excitement for the start of the race!

Krista with her li'l white purse at the finish line.

We walked the "Freedom Trail" and stopped this old graveyard.  This is the tombstone for "Mother" Mary Goose.

This is the start line in Hopkinton, 26.2 miles up the road from the finish line.  26.2 miles I say!

On the morning of the big race, Krista was ready to go!

Here she is just before boarding the bus to the athletes' village.

This was at about the 10K point (Krista not pictured--she's too fast to catch in a snapshot!)  Lots and lots of runners--you just can't imagine how many runners.

Not long after the finish, Kris still had energy for a smile . . . but that's about all!

We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse that night--Great food, but Krista was a bit rung out.  Who could blame her!  Actually, she did just great and we had a fun time.

Here we are at the Atlantic Ocean.  (Inside joke: When we arrive there I said, "Let's get out of the car."  You better believe Krista and Summer were popping out of that back seat before I even stopped the car!)

We toured the New England area and hit five states in one day.  It was a fun drive, and I especially like the miles and miles of stone walls in the area, like the one pictured above.  So interesting!

We hope to go back and do it again in the future.  Charina is running a half-marathon next week, so you never know--maybe we'll be going up there with her!

Nice work Krista, and thanks for inviting us to THE BOSTON MARATHON.  We loved it

Love, Grandbill

Ram the MAN

Some of you may have checked out the Carter blog recently.  Well, I felt it was my duty as a grandfather to reveal the true nature of RAM THE MAN.  Though his mother thought it would be fun to put him in a dress, Ram only complied because he knew his Aunt Jamie spent a lot of time making the dresses for his sisters, and he was being a willing model.  In actuality, however, he's much more comfortable in the natural states you see below.  This little guy is PURE 100% BOY, and though he shows his soft side once in a while, he's definitely on the track to tough-guy status.

Ram the MAN is GLAD(iator) to be the protector of his shishters and his family.  Russel Crowe has nothing on this tough boy!  Of course, Brooke and Viana adore their hero!


(Contrast to the pics on the Carter Blog, HERE)

Ram the MAN is ready to go with the three-point bombs or buzzer-beaters.  He's easily the MVP (Munchkin-sized Valuable Player) and he can sink-'em or stink-'em, depending upon how long it's been since he ate lunch.  Dave Rose is already scouting this big guy!

Ram the MAN has been lifting pumping some serious iron lately.  He'll stand in front of his sisters any day, and he's ready for anything and everything.  (Except in this instance, he's holding it 'cause he's gotta go!)

Keep up the good work little man!

Love, Grandbill

Tortoise and the Hares

 Let's hear it for the hares...

 ...Who caught the tortoise ( but one didn't catch her till after the half way mark!)

Way to go OLD PEOPLE!!!!

 

Summer was the family winner, Dad PR'd over his last 5K (all those treadmill miles finally paying off!)  and I just trotted along.

What a great day to live in Colorado, IT WAS GORGEOUS!!!!!