Easter Pictures

Just had to share this pics of the grand-kids from our photoshoot at JCP! They are quite adorable, if I must say so myself!!

Elani is 3 1/2 (will be 4 in July) and Lenix is almost 14 months!

Pics from Bristol

We are in Bristol

We left home on Thursday, March 13 at 2 pm and headed North to Bristol, TN for the 5th Race of the NASCAR SPRINT CUP race of the season. We stopped just north of Spartanburg, SC for a nights rest and a hot shower, arriving at the Track at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Friday, just in time for SPRINT CUP Practice at Noon. The morning of Friday was absolutely beautiful with the sun coming up in the mountains, but the closer we got to Bristol the cloudier it got and the rains came. It rained off and on all the day, but we did get a couple hours of practice before, even though Qualifying was cancelled and Jeff Gordon will start 2nd next to Jimmie Johnson. We went into Johnson City to an Olive Garden for dinner since it was raining and Cully hadn't arrived with his camper and then we got some groceries for the weekend!

Saturday morning the sunrise was gorgeous with a lot of peachy colored clouds, but now that it is 1 p.m. the clouds have taken over again and it is starting to spit some rain. Before the rain started earlier this morning, Cully, Janine and I walked to the top of the mountain to view the Race Track and the Drag Strip.

More to come as the day goes on.

Later

2008 Daytona 500 Weekend

It was a great weekend of camping, food, friends and Racin'! The weather was perfect, with nice sunny days and cool evenings. We even had a fire outside in the evenings to sit around!

Thursday for the Gator Duel, I was with the Official NASCAR Members Club ("ONMC") in the infield for Driver Intros. We weren't as close as we have been at other tracks, but we did get to get some pictures and a wave or two from some of the Drivers as they walked by.

We had a great time with our new Race Friends from Indiana, Dusty & Jamie, and Bob & Windy. Janine and Ashley came to the campsite and spent time with us there too on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday we all went bargain hunting at the Flea Market and everyone came home with a treasure or two! We also went to the Driver Merchandise Trailers

Saturday found us lounging around the campsite, soaking up the sun rays and reading magazines; just plain relaxing!

Race Day finally arrived. Rudy, Ashley, Janine & I left around 10:00 for the Track to see if we could spot any Drivers at their Merchandise Trailers. Ashley got her coveted autograph from Brian Vickers and I got pictures of Brian Vickers, Robbie Gordon, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, AJ Almindinger, a couple others while they autographed for Fans.

Rudy and I found out seats early and got to see all of the Pre-Race Festivities.

The Race didn't end like I would have liked, but it did produce a Driver that has never won before at Daytona, # 12 Ryan Newman. He took the lead as he came out of turn three coming down the frontstretch, passing # 20 Tony Stewart because he had a great drafting push from his team-mate # 2 Kurt Busch. Jeff Gordon had some suspension issues and finished 39th.

On Monday after packing up and having some breakfast we went to the Daytona 500 Experience and got our commemorative dog-tag made (its a tradition) before heading home and dropping Cully off at the airport.

I think we all were going back to work to get some rest!!

Our next race is in Bristol, TN in a few more weeks, so keep an eye out for us on the Road!

February-

It's February and only 4 days until the DAYTONA 500 where you will find us camping for 4 days and 5 nights at the Crazy Horses Campground with friends from Tennessee, Indiana and some locals, too. We all are so ready for this Race Season to start. The Gator Duels on Thursday will be our first Race with the 500 to follow on Sunday!

Last weekend we were camping with our friends, Florida Outdoor Club. We took Elani with us. She loves to be outside playing and the peace and tranquility of the northern Florida woods is the best place for her to run, explore and just plain have some fun. It is always so relaxing up there and this past weekend was no different. Our once a month get away from the hustle and bustle of the weekly routine is always a pleasant and refreshing time.

We are leaving this evening for Daytona, so be watching for updates on our attendance at events at the Track!

Rolex Testing

Earlier this month Rudy and I took Elani and we went up to Daytona to the Rolex 24 "Roar Before the 24" Testing...... It was a really nice day and Elani was so excited to see the fast cars. She actually sat on the hairpin turn in the bleachers and watched the cars come around the corner. She wasn't afraid and the loud noises of the cars didn't bother as we thought they might. I tried to get her to get our of the stroller to go over and see Juan Pablo Montoya, but she didn't want to, so I guess there was a little intimidated factor there. On our way out after a couple of hours, we let her walk as we passed some of the garages on the back side and she strolled along there like she knew what she was doing, she even picked up a piece of windshield tear-off that she had to take home with her to show her Papa. We are training this one right, exposing her early on to Racing of all kinds. One thing she did keep asking me, "Where's Jeff?", "Where's Jeff's Car?" Cute!

On the 8th of January we were in Daytona again for the NASCAR SPRINT CUP Testing and Fan Fest. We arrived at the track at 6:15 a.m. and we were the 45th car in line to get a wristband to get JEFF GORDON's autograph and for the gates to open at 9:00 a.m. We met up with a friend, Patty and her sister, from Maine while waiting and we had a lot to chat about to make the time go by quicker.

We had a great time. I took over 400 pictures and got quite a few autographs from the drivers through the garage windows and saw friends from JEFF GORDON NETWORK, too! We couldn't have asked for a better day and the weather totally cooperated too! We even got home before 9:00 p.m. This is just the boost we needed to get ready for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on February 17th. I can hardly wait.

Hope we get to see you there!

January 2008 - Catch Up

WoW - I can't believe that I haven't updated this since before the new year. We've been so busy and things are finally starting to slow down a little for us (at least for a little while).

The weekend before Christmas we went to my mom's house for the weekend and took little Elani with us and we had a great time checking out the lights in Venice, seeing Mr. & Mrs. Santa Clause, at the beach, opening presents and just plain relaxing, too.

While in Chattanooga, on the days that our friends, GJ & Jan were at work, Rudy and I went to ROCK CITY for the Festival of Lights. It was absolutely gorgeous. We walked through the paths between the rock walls and stopped to take pictures on Lover's Leap. It was cold, but it was fun! We also did a little shopping and wandering in Chattanooga. Cully arrived on Friday and we took a trip up to Lookout Mountain again to Pointe Park for an afternoon stroll and more pictures of the mountainous scenery! I am anxious to see this country side in the spring or fall. One day we had breakfast at a neat little restaurant in downtown Chattanooga called MudPie. Excellent!!

We headed home on Sunday morning because I wasn't feeling well with the head cold and knew I would sleep better at home. Our New Year's Eve was quiet after going to dinner with Travis, Rosa & Elani and then the next couple of days we rested up to get ready for going back to work!