Halloween 2015

Once again, we all spent the Halloween holiday doing our own kind of thing.  I guess, it's time to start getting use to this.  Everyone is growing up and doing their own thing.

John spent the weekend at the cabin and got his "halloween" deer.

Cooper hung out with me, and was mortified for only a moment wearing his costume.

The dogs and I hung out and mainly ate candy, although I think this year we had more Trick or Treaters than we ever had.  Part of the cul-de-sac did a Halloween thing, but we weren't really included.  Which is fine, because I stayed in and watch a Walking Dead marathon anyway.

Zack and his friends hung out at the house for a little while and then went out and did their own thing.

Autumn and her Halloween costume... who didn't see this coming.... Bat Dog!

Double duty with the bat wings.  Both are so freaking cute.

Although we were all semi-apart, I think we all enjoyed our Halloween celebrations.

Run This Year - 900 miles

While I've been rowing like crazy, including getting ready to row EVERYDAY this week, before we leave for Boston and the Head of the Charles, I have managed to get a few more miles in running as well.

I found the Hogwarts Running Club on-line, they host all these virtual races.  You register, the money goes to charity and you get a cool medal for completing the race.  They also compete for the "house cup" using an app called Charity Miles.  You log all your miles in the Charity Miles app and the house with the most miles is awarded the "house cup."  It's kind fun and I'm hoping it will give me a little incentive to keep up the running.  I got my 900 miles, along with completing my first Hogwarts virtual 5K, the Patronus 5K.  Brenna did it the same time as me, but in Wisconsin.  Kinda cool.

Head of the Charles

What a great weekend!  The Head of the Charles - the largest regatta in the nation... like the Superbowl of regattas.  I was very lucky to be able to go, mainly because there were only 8 of us that could go, so it's not like I earned my seat, but nevertheless, I got to go and I was going to make the most of it.
I was a little nervous because the hotel rooms are very expensive, so not only was I sharing a hotel room, but I was sharing a bed!  As a general rule, not my favorite thing to do... but I'm a team player...plus I was sharing with Jay (my bowmate) and the other 2 girls in the room, would have been my choice as well.  So, I was optimistic.

At the airport.

I gave everyone rowing socks as a HOCR party favor.

Our hotel was beautiful.  The weather was cold and windy.  We got there on Friday and had time for a quick practice on the water.  The course is curvy and pretty amazing, lots of bridges and scenery, of course when you're rowing you can't really look around.  We had a great dinner on Friday night, right in the hotel and then it was a pretty early night since we were rowing the next day.   We didn't row until 300pm, so in the morning, we had breakfast and then did our souvenir shopping and watched some of the races.  It was pretty nerve wracking... everyone was pretty revved up about how they wanted to do.  I guess in the past, the women's boat has done pretty well, but this year we were rowing in the 40+ category (instead of the 50+) which is a very competitive category.  I just wanted us to not be "Just Not Last (JNL)!"   It was a very exciting race (for me anyway).  It was cold and brutally windy, right off the bat we were passed by 2 boats, but one of those went on to win.  Then we passed 2 boats, and were neck and neck with another boat the whole last 750-500 meters, and held them off.  Unfortunately, our coxswain, wasn't able to take the best line and at one of the turns, we went way wide, but if we're being honest, it wouldn't have mattered.  I think we ended up finishing 24/25...so we weren't last!  

Afterwards was when the fun began!  These women can party... the bar hopping began.  I think I stayed up later and drank more than I have in years and years!   But it was fun and I enjoyed being with all these ladies.  Once again, I felt very honored and priviledged to even be allowed to go with them and row with them. 

Amazing Race

Woodbridge does the best Senior Field Trip, they started it last year, and continued it this year.  The Amazing Race...The kids form teams with an adult chaperone and they spend the day in DC hunting down clues for points.  There are dares, picture clues, trivia clues, speeches they have to memorize and recite - and each is worth a different number of points.  As you solve each clue, the chaperone must take a picture proving you've done it or found it with ALL the group members in the picture.  It is an exhausting, crazy day.  I was just thrilled that Zack and his friends were willing and even happy to have me as their chaperone.  You have to come up with a team name... we were the High Seas...get it... High Seas = Hyzy's... we went with the pirate theme!

Such a great group of kids. Not seemingly embarrassed about anything.  Such good sports and ready to have fun.

Yoga poses at the reflecting pool.

Chaperone had to do a gymnastics pose.  I was pretty proud of this one!

Jump shot on the mall

At the WWII memorial

With the Washington Monument in the background

Forming the 2016 year on the amphitheater stage

We may not have won, but I think everyone had a great time. I feel so privileged to have been allowed to participate with them.

Occoquan Chase

Oh Yes We DID!!   Champions of the Chase!  Been there, got the t-shirt!

Don't even know how many boats were in our category, but again, don't really care!  We still crossed the finish line first!  Zack's boat as well again.  The men are on fire this year and I can only attribute it to the amazing coxing they are getting! :o)

Bow Pair... still together...I've pretty much claimed 2-seat as my own!  Being "Bow-sized" helps I guess.  No one really begging to be in 2 seat.

Once again I survived 2 races, only this time one of them was in a 4!!!  I've only ever rowed in a 4+, maybe twice my novice year!  Never once, this year.  So, first time in a 4+, plus I was in the "young" boat (which means with the faster ladies) in a race!!  All I have to say is....never again... didn't like it, not one bit.  "I like big boats, and I cannot lie!"  

These came yesterday....Words Fail Me.

Occoquan Challenge

Our first regatta on our home turf, turned out pretty awesome.   My Women's Master 8+ came in FIRST!!!  Oh Yeah!!! ***Hands up in the air, dancing like I just don't care****.  Does it matter there were only 3 boats in our category... NO.IT.DOES.NOT!  1st is 1st!!

Zack coxing our Mixed 8 that came in 5/10 overall, but if they'd broken it down into age categories we were FIRST in the 50+ category!!  Woot! Woot!

Zack's Men's 4 also came in FIRST!!  Lot of bling around the Oxford Boathouse today!