Steelers Training Camp

During the last week of August, I took a day to visit the Steelers training camp at St. Vincent College. The campus is located in scenic Latrobe PA, in the foothills of the Allegheny mountains. Both Tyler and Ellie came along and had lots of fun. We watched practice, took part in the NFL experience and even got some got some autographs. While we came close to getting fan favorite Polamalu - he one person down from Ellie, we did get lasts year's number 1 draft pick, Ziggy Hood.

Polamalu was impressive - last player off the practice field and last player signing autographs. And yes ladies, he does have better hair than you. The second photo is action shot of him making interception during practice.

There was plenty of stuff for kids to do - a whole NFL experience in which they could throw passes, kick a field go, go through obstacle course, and try one full pads. Take a look at the last photo - you can barely see Ellie's fingers sticking out of the shoulder pads

Guess Who Turned 3?

We had small celebration for Drew's 3rd birthday last Friday. A bigger party at the pool is planned in a couple of weeks. For now, he enjoyed cookies and ice cream. If anybody asks him how old he is, he holds up 3 fingers and says "Tee"

House Renovations - Exterior

Next in line of updates on the house renovations. I figured this time I would provide a view from the outside. The first picture was taken about 6 years ago. We actually used this to advertise the house as a rental when we were in K.C. You can see the single car garage on the right side.
The second picture of the outside is also taken from the front, but is from the opposite corner. You can still see the old garage that will become our new kitchen. Above the old garage, they have framed out the new Master Bedroom. The workers are putting on new roof and pouring cement for the foundation of the new garage, which you can see in the last photo.

The final shot is straight on. The new, 2 car garage is framed out, along with the new roof over the entrance and Master Bedroom. The 2x6 supporting the overhang on the garage will be replaced by columns with brick on the bottom. We will also have new columns to replace the existing ones around the entrance. The new garage does eat into the driveway a bit, but it will be nice to have space for both cars.

House renovations - 2nd Floor

Couple more pictures from the house renovation, this time on the second floor. These are before and after pictures from the second floor, which currently has master bedroom, (2) kids rooms, a study, and (2) baths. We decided to do was widen the hallway about 18", move the master bedroom out over the existing garage/new kitchen, then use the space that was the master bedroom to add new bathroom for the kids and new bedroom for Drew.

The first picture shows the old view from the master bedroom doorway, looking towards Ellie's room. You can just see the handrail for the stairs on the left. The second picture, is taken from within what will be the new master bedroom looking towards Ellie's room. You can see how much longer and wider the hallway is. The framing for the wall and door to the master bedroom is showing.

The 3rd pictures shows the old view from the opposite end of the hallway as the first - standing in Ellie's doorway and looking down the hallway towards master bedroom. Compare that to the 4th picture (ignore the mess). You can see again the wider hallway, and the framing for both Drew's room on the right and the new bathroom on the left.

Once again, I have included the architecture diagrams for the old and new 2nd floor layout. Next week, I hope to add some shots of the exterior. That should give an idea of how everything fits together.

Renovation - first floor

In case you didn't know, we are having major renovations done to our house before we move back in. When we moved back to Virginia last year, our tenants still had another year left on their lease. For the past year, we have been renting in the same neighborhood. We started the renovations about 3 weeks ago when our tenants moved out. Over the next few months, we thought it would be fun to post some pics of the work in progress.

This post focuses just on the kitchen area. We are having the wall between the garage and kitchen knocked out, and moving the new kitchen into what is the existing garage. The first picture shows the kitchen before work started. You can see the door from the "old" kitchen out to the garage on the right, and just a small bit of the door to the deck on the left. The second picture is the same view after the wall between the garage and kitchen has been remove. Pretty exciting!

The 3rd image is also a picture of the "old" kitchen, but taken from the opposite side as the first two. I was standing with my back to the garage facing the oven and sink. Do you like that faux brick backsplash? I know Melissa won't miss it. The last shot shows same view, minus the counters, cabinets, stove, etc. We are going for the minimalist look.

The last two images I have added are the blue prints of the before and after looks on the 1st floor. I apologize for the poor resolution, I had to convert them from pdfs to jpegs, so they might be a little hard to read. For the most part, we are leaving the living room & family room alone, and only making minor changes to the dinning room. The before or existing blueprint is on the left, with the new one on right.

Ellie Swim Team Trials

Ellie has joined the swim team at our neighborhood pool - The Wahoos. We are not wild about the team name (kidding), but the team is good and the atmosphere great. Of course, Ellie is only 6, so we don't want to get carried away. She has great stamina and swims pretty fast. She needs to spend a little more time in practice on starts and finishes, but she is doing great for her first time. The first photo is start of 25 meter butterfly for 8 and under. She is in the bottom lane, with the white swim cap.

She is competing in all 4 strokes:

• freestyle,
• back,
  
• breast, and
  
• butterfly

Most important, she has lots of fun with the other swimmers and coaches. Her first meet is Monday, June 28th. I hope to post update a couple of days after that.

Quick update on Ellie's first swim meet; she swam three strokes and achieved 3rd in Butterfly (out of 8 swimmers) 8 and under, 1st in Breast (out of 8 swimmers) 6 and under, and 4th in backstroke (out of 24) 6 and under.

Drew helps in Poppop's Garden

A couple of weekends back, Melissa took Drew down to Charlottesville to visit the grandparents and see a Sesame Street Live show. Drew had great fun watching Elmo, Cookie and the rest of Sesame Street. He also had a lot of fun helping Poppop plant his garden.

Ellie's new Bike

We final went and got Ellie a new bike, without training wheels. She took to it right away, zooming up and down our sidewalk. She still needs a little time to learn turns. The good news is, she has learned how to crash from one of the best, her old man.

Signings

Ty was lucky enough to get a couple of autographs recently. The first one was at a book signing for Rick Riordan. He has written the popular kids books called Percy Jackson Series, based on Greek and Roman mythodology set in present day. The first one was made into a so-so movie, called Lightening Thief. The author is touring to promote his a new series based on Egyption mythology, called the Kane Chronicles. Ty got an autographed copy of the new book.

The author signed books and answerred questions at Politics and Prose, a neat bookstore in NorthWest D.C. Ty was pretty excited, even if it did make for a long night.


The second signing was at a card trade show. Steeler running back Rashard Mendenhall . Ty was very excited to meet him and get his autograph.

Christmas Newsletter

Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies….okay, this isn’t the condensed version of the classic The Wizard of Oz, and as you may have noticed from the return address, we aren’t in Kansas anymore. But like Dorothy, we survived the cyclone, of moving, that is.

Reflecting back, it has been a good year. It started out with Dave looking for a new job – Capital One decided to shut down their KC office by mid-summer 2009. I guess that would make Dave the ‘Scarecrow’, but looking for work instead of a brain. The combination of work opportunities and family lead us to follow the yellow brick road back to Virginia, where Dave found work at Navy Federal Credit Union. While he is enjoying his new job, it was great that he had time off to help with the move and spend time with the kids this summer, although we did not even make a dent in the “Honey Do” list.

Speaking of the kids, they have shown the heart of the Tin Man as well as the courage of the Lion adjusting to the move, a new school, and their activities.

Before we moved, Tyler attended his first overnight camp with our Church. I think we were more scared then he was, especially because of the spectacular summer Kansas storm that decided to roar through the first night. Tyler continues to play soccer – he joined the Annandale Boys and Girls Club travel team. He teamed up with a great group of boys and has excellent coaches who hail from England. Ty started the 3rd grade, and has not missed a beat socially or academically. He still enjoys anything sports related – he’s plowing through sports novels and even decorated his new room with Hokies, Steelers, and other sports paraphernalia. Dave and Ty also enjoyed going to the Steelers vs. Redskins preseason game.

Ellie was busy this summer, attending cheer camp and Vacation Bible School. She was very excited to start Kindergarten ½ days this Fall, and has made lots of new friends. After school, Ellie keeps busy with soccer in the fall and swimming in the winter. She also continues with gymnastics year round. She and Drew have a grand time reading and playing together in the afternoons waiting to pick Tyler up from the bus. Did we mention she lost her first two teeth?

If you know Drew at all, you will not be surprised that he insisted on not being left out while big brother and sis went off to school. The first day Ellie and Tyler left for school on the bus, he was NOT pleased (see picture on the right), so we found a great pre-school for him. He calls it "Drew’s School". His personality is really developing, somewhere between class clown and daredevil with a whole lot of sweet in between. It seems not a day goes by that he doesn’t have a new bruise or bump from trying to keep up with Ellie and Tyler and he always succeeds in cracking us up with his silliness. He loves life and makes the most of it every day!

Melissa (guess she is Dorothy?) has been the glue that keeps the family together. She still manages to squeeze in a couple of days of work each week for Booz Allen while taking care of the kids and house. Not sure how she does it, but my guess is it involves ruby slippers and flying monkeys.

Of course, we can’t forget our oldest child, Toto, I mean Aspen. She is doing well for an old lady of 14 years. She still loves taking walks and begging for table scraps. In fact, since we don’t have a fence, she has managed to take herself on numerous long walks.

In between taking the kids to practice, work, and the move, we have managed to have some fun. Before we left KC, we made a point to see several KS landmarks including the horse and carriage ride around The Plaza, the Liberty World War I Memorial, and College Basketball Hall of Fame. The highlight of the KC sites was the American Jazz Blue Room, where we heard an impromptu performance by KC native and Grammy-award winner Oleta Adams. She was amazing! We then moseyed over to the historic Musicians Foundation Club for an after hours performance (opens at 1:00 am). We wrapped up our KS stint with a going away party, complete with a huge water slide.

Dave & Melissa also finally made it back to Blacksburg for the first time in 10 years. We had a great time tailgating and watching Hokie football. Melissa took Tyler and Ellie to see their great grandmother – not sure who was more excited, Grandma Trout or the kids. Dave continues to find time to run and mountain bike, and even ran a 50K for his 40th birthday. Tyler has started to join Dave on the shorter runs. Don’t tell Ty, but his old man has trouble keeping up with him.

We miss our dear KC friends, Oklahoma Joes’ Z-man sandwich, and Gates BBQ sauce, but we are happy to be able to call on grandparents to help with babysitting, and to enjoy birthdays and holidays with family, catch up with old VA friends and make some new ones.

One more thing…remember at the end of the Wizard of Oz, where the Great Wizard leaves Dorothy behind while he travels home in a hot air balloon? Well, we will be moving again next year. This time, it is only about a mile down the road, back into our old Virginia house.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Fountain Head

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Fountain Head

Trying out new tool to share info from my garmin. This was ride at Foutainhead trail this past Sunday (beautiful day). You tube video of what the ride is like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VzA5wnf7Dk&feature=related

Halloween 09

First Halloween back in VA was a success despite a little rain and Ty recovering from pneumonia. Ty was a rock star, Ellie Wonder Women, and Drew was Elmo. Drew really got into it this year, loving all the candies. Dave's parents made the trip up from Charlottesville too. Dad French was Batman to go with Ellie's Wonder Women.

Drew School

We found a great pre-school for Drew to attend 2-days a week. St. Mathews Preschool is literally right behind Ty and Ellie's elementary school, making drop off and pick up easy. And Drew absolutely loves it! He calls it 'Drew's School'. He still misses Tyler and Ellie, but it helps now that he has his own thing too. Of course, it helps us parents a little too


As you can see, his teachers are really good. They create a warm and caring environment for the kids to learn in. Each week, he comes home with some project he worked on, and boy is he proud of it.

1st Day of School

Click on title above (1st day of school) for link to more photos. Kids first day at school. We have almost 30 kids at the bus stop, thanks to budget cuts. Makes for a fun morning, however. I am thinking about setting up a starbucks at the corner - I can probably make a ton of money with the mom and dad crowd

Ellie loses her first (and second) tooth

Before we left Kansas, Ellie lost her first tooth on June 20th. Then when we got to Virginia, she lost her second. Both on the bottom front. Combine that with her entering Kindergarten, and this have been a big year for our little girl!

We are back in Northern Virginia and settled in (mostly)

We have finally started to settle in, with most of our stuff unpacked or in storage (thanks Mom and Dad Fulton). Ty and Ellie start school next week. What a long summer, getting out in May in Kansas, and not starting on Sept in VA. Lots of stuff going on, so I am going to try to make shorter, more frequent posts instead of one big one.

Last weekend, Dave took Tyler to see the Steelers vs. Redskins preseason game at FedEx Field. It was a bit wet, but we have good seats, 11 rows up from the 20 yard line, behind the Steelers bench. Except for traffic, we had a great time. Plenty of Steelers fans around us. I have posted pics online here

Back in Northern Virginia

I know it has been ages since I posted, but I have a good reason - we moved back to Northern Virginia (aka NoVA). Late last Fall, I learned my company would be closing their KC office. Since then, Melissa & I decided to move back to DC area and have been working on finding place to live. As some of you might know, we still own a house in NOVA. Unfortunately, the tenant's lease runs through next summer. After much searching and many false starts, we finally found a house to rent in the same neighborhood, meaning the kids won't have to change schools when we move back into our old house.

More information to follow, but if you would like our new contact information, shoot me an email at dave.french@gmail.com or sent one to Melissa's work email.

Going 30 for turning 40

For those who don’t know, I recently had the “privilege” of turning 40. Along with a little extra ‘attention’ at my annual physical and having to get glasses, I tried to ignore it. If you know me, I am not big into birthday celebrations anyways. When Melissa asked what I wanted to do, I replied, “same thing I do each year to celebrate my birthday, run a race.” I know it’s childish, but it’s my way of saying “I’m not getting older”. So on February 14^th (yes - I abandoned my wife and family on Valentine’s day) I took part in the 5^th Annual Psycho – Wyco Trail Run.

A Trail Run, in flatter than a pancake Kansas? Yep, and this is my 3rd year doing the race, but the first time I actually signed up for the full, 3 loop, 31 miles version. The course is a 10 mile loop, described as being “rocky, rooty, and hilly bridle trails & single-track trails.” Okay, but this is still Kansas, so how tough could it really be??? Highlights of the course see map) include:

• only 22% of the course is flat, the rest has average grade of 17%>
• Total of 10,000 feet in elevation change
• There is 1/3 mile section of paved road, but wait, it is at 20% grade
• “Fall down hill”, a negative 20% grade of mud and ice (and yes, I fell once)
• “The Triangle” as twisting, turning, game-trail section that makes you dizzy
• “Speed demon ridge” a fun, downhill section along top of ridge
• >“Misery Ridge” every see mountain goats on animal planet? Sort of like that with more mud

So how did it go? If you have to pick an ultra to do, this is the one. Fully staffed aid stations every 3 – 4 miles manned by super-friendly people, many are seasoned ultra runners and stocked with every kind of sugar you can think of.

First Loop
Start of race, I lined up with 250 other weirdos (or trail nerds and mudbabes as they like to call themselves). The first loop I was feeling great. A little icy, with temps around 29 degrees. The sun was just coming up, making for beautiful morning. I started a little fast, due to race high. Around mile 3, while somewhere in the ‘triangle’, a runner in front of me startled a deer, who charged out of her hiding place. I yell for someone to put a race bib on it. Rest of first loop went great, but I finished a little faster than I wanted to at 1 hour 50 minutes. Feeling great, having fun.

Second Loop
I added some body glide to my feet to help with hot spots, stocked up on jelly bellies and gu, and took off for second loop. Lots more mud, combined with some fatigue, made me a little slower, so I start walking up the hills. Coming out of the slippery triangle section at mile 14, I eat my 1^st package of caffeinated powerbar gel and felt good enough to pick up pace. I passed time over the next several miles by chatting with another runner. The interesting thing about these races vs. road races– everybody is so friendly! I made it through second loop at 2 hours, 17 minutes, including about 10 minutes at aid stations. My body is feeling the effects of first two loops, so I stop just long enough to get some food (pb&j, Gatorade and mountain dew) before taking off for final lap.

Third loop
I spent most of the final lap in daze, but I do remember lots more mud, lots more walking, lots of slipping / sliding down hills. I keep eating rest of my gels and jelly bellies, but I guess it wasn’t enough. Around mile 7, I started to feel a little dizzy / light headed and wonder if I will be able to finish. Fortunately, at mile 8 is an aid station. A staffer asks what I need / want, and I sort of blankly stare at him as I hand over my water bottle for refill. He suggests some sugar, and hands me a mountain dew. I think I owe him my life, because 2 glasses of dew and I feel the fog lift. Only 2 miles to go, and I know I can make it now. Only problem is, they save 3 bad @ss hills for last 2 miles of the loop. I think I was actually moving backwards between the mud and my lack of strength on the last hill. However once I cleared, it, I summoned my last reserve of energy and ran it home for last ½ mile.

Results

So how did it feel to finish? Perhaps this joke describes it best –

One friend sees another friend hitting himself on the head with a hammer.

Second friend asks “Why are your hitting yourself with a hammer?”

First friend responds “because it feels so good when I stop”.

Seriously, I finished with decent time of 6 hours and 40 minutes and it was a total rush. I finished 5th in my age group and 31st out of 100 overall. Not a bad way to celebrate my 40th birthday.

Why do it? It is hard to explain, but there is something spiritual about it when your whole world narrows down to one thing. There is no room for worries or pressure or anything else. Plus, my Garmin Watch estimates I burned through 3,500 calories, meaning I got to eat whatever I wanted the rest of the weekend, including the delicious turkey dinner Melissa made on Sunday to celebrate.

You can read more about the race at the KC Star or at the race site

Photos courtesy of SeeKCRun and Rich Stigall

Christmas Time

Okay, I realize it is almost February, but I am finally getting around to uploading pictures from Christmas. Hey, it is not like we were late on our Christmas / New Year's / Martin Luther King / Inauguration cards this year. Oh yeah, I guess we were, since I just dropped them off at the Post Office today.

As you already know, the main gift this year was a trip to Disney World. We were to suppose to get back around 5 pm on December 21st. However, thanks to delays, we got home around 1 am on December 22nd. At least we didn't get delayed on the way there.

So, that said, we still got the kids a few things. I think Tyler's favorite gift was probably the Palomalu jersey. After they way Palomalu played last week, who can blame Ty? As for Ellie, I am pretty sure the American Girl doll was top of her list. As for our boy Drew, he just had fun tearing into everything. I think he was surprised no one was giving him a hard time for making a mess.

Where in the world (Disney) are the French's?

Here is a hint (photo at left). For Christmas this year, we took the family to Disney World. Both sets of parents are here as well. It is only our 3rd day, but we have been busy! We have seen lots of the characters, including Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, as well as the characters from Bolt (Mittens, Rhino and Bolt), Frozone from the Incredibles, and lots of the princesses.

The highlight for Ellie so far was the diner with Cinderella. During dinner, we had visits to our table from Cinderella herself, along with Prince Charming (Ellie danced with him), as well as the evil step mother and Cinderella's two step sisters, Anastasia and Drizella. Let me tell you, the two step sisters were the most entertaining of all the characters. Just take a look at these two photos.

This is a great place to be for the Holidays - lots of lights, decorations and celebrations. Cinderella's castle is all lit up each night, along with an incredible fireworks show. Over at the studios, there is a great show inspired by Fantasia, called Fantasmic. It is an amazing use of pyrotechnics, water, and lasers. Oh yeah, don't miss the Osborne Family Lights (not this Osborne). Can you believe all these lights were done by one family on their house?

Later this week, I hope to have a web album up of our pics. You can also click here to see photos taken by Disney photographers.