Moto GP

Chet started following Moto GP about 5 years ago. Outside of the fact that Chet is a motor sports enthusiast I am not sure how Moto GP came to be on his radar. I have been keeping up with Moto GP for the last 4 years (give or take a few months). I somehow got suckered into watching a documentary about the sport called Faster. What is Moto GP you say? "Moto GP is the world’s premier motorcycling championship, with a season of 18 Grands Prix in 14 countries bringing together the world’s top motorcycle manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, Kawasaki, Aprilia and KTM - plus an elite crop of riders from every corner of the globe. " according the official website http://www.motogp.com/. Faster introduced me to many of the main characters from the sport (in almost a reality show format) I got all sucked into the fun charismatic personalities of the riders. There are only 20 full time “rides” in Moto GP so it's not hard to keep up with who is who. Valentino Rossi (an Italian who has won 5 of the last 7 Championships.) is one of the three highest paid athletes in the world (over 30 million a year!!) and arguably the best racer in the history of the sport (who by the way is only 29.)

Chet was able to fulfill a dream of his and attend the Red Bull US Grand Prix at the Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca, CA. Chet flew into Oakland, CA and stayed at his Sister Laura’s house for a few days and was able to get his fill of motorcycles. Chet and Paul (Laura’s husband) set out for a good old fashion boy’s weekend at the track where they were able to get up close with some of our favorite riders like, The Doctor (Valentino Rossi), The Tornado (Colin Edwards) and The Kentucky Kid (Nicky Hayden). Nicky has always been our favorite but since we moved to Texas we have felt an obligation to root for the Texas native Colin Edwards (Texans stick together). Paul and Chet had the good fortune to witness what is being touted as one of the best races in motorcycle history. The top two riders in the series (Rossi and Casey Stoner) battled for first position, pushing each other, trading paint, and dirt-tracking at 150 mph over the first 16 laps (it is recapped very well in this clip).
Chet came back home with life long memories and some awesome gear for Carson Chet has been trying to train Carson and steer him to Yamaha but Carson has decided to roll with Team Green (his fav color) Kawasaki.

We have let that slide because a young American John Hopkins (Carson knows him as Hopper) rides for the Kawasaki Moto GP Team. Daddy showed up with some great posters that have spurred the new theme for Carson’s room (pictures of the finished room to come.) Now I get Wife of the Year for being so knowledgeable and supportive of my Husbands love for motorcycles!!!!!

Time Still Flying By (can’t….seem…to… catch-up)

The 5th of July we really needed to sleep-in but it was not an option (miss a swim meet, never, not while I run this show). It was to be our last swim meet and we even had Grandparents to cheer us on. The girls did great and I even got to show off my skills in the parent coach relay.

Chet and I got to have a free date night, thank you Grandma and Grandpa. We have the best movie theater here. Alamo Draft House is a restaurant and movie theater all in one. Not sure if anyone else feels like it can take forever to eat dinner at a sit-down restaurant and then go to the movie. We can’t seem to get the timing down we have to be out eating by 5 to see a movie at 7 which means I have to start preparing at 4. What usually happens is we get out late and then by the time we are done eating none of the movies start until 10 (I can’t stay awake in a movie that starts that late). Any way that was a long way to say that I love going to Alamo Draft House because we can eat dinner and watch a movie all at the same time and be done by 9:30 (man I am getting old, got to be home by 10).

The last day of G-ma and G-pa’s stay we were going to do some shopping and go for a river float. Things didn’t work out as planned but we still had fun. We found one of the many lakes that surround us and walked across the dam. The picture of our family gives a good impression of what the Texas hill country looks like. We kissed the Grandparents goodbye and sent them on their way.

The day after the Rowles left Amy and Carli got all packed and ready for their first airplane ride by them selves. They are off to Vegas for a good long visit with both sets of grandparents. When planning this trip it sounded fun for the girls and like it might be nice for me to have a little break. As we got closer to them leaving I started to feel a little reluctant (I was going to miss my kids). I am such a martyr all the time it takes these little breaks from my kids to remind me that I am doing exactly what I want to be doing and I don’t like being away from my kids. I was really missing them.

Event number 6: My aunt passed away this last week (see my sister’s blog for the details. She keeps up with her blogging much better then me.) So my girls left Tues. and I flu to Salt Lake City on Sun. My dilemma of missing my girls was quailed because my mom brought them with her to SLC. The funeral was good as funerals go. It was truly heart breaking to watch my cousins say good bye to their Mother. One of the good things that come out of funerals is the gathering of family. My family is spread all over the country so we don’t see each other very often. I have a really fun and funny family it was nice to be with them and for my girls to be able to see so much of my family. I kissed my girls and sent them back to Las Vegas to finish their trip and I was off to Texas to have Chet pass the baton (Carson) and Chet is off to CA to watch Moto GP (I will explain what that is later, the cliffhanger to make you come back. Moto GP will get its own post.)

So here I sit just me and my little boy. I should be reveling in all my free time to do what ever I want. But I miss my family! Don’t cry for me when they all show up here next week I am sure I will be back to my old self crying about laundry and dishes. Until then I guess I can get caught up with my blogging and get my house all put together and keep it that way for a few days. I even finished the Host (that I have been working on for like 2 months. The beginning was crazy slow and I didn’t read it for two weeks. As everyone said the end was good and it only took me 3 days to read the last 350 pages). Now on to my next book on the always growing to-read list of books. I have at least two other posts to make so stay tuned.

Life Flies By!

Last you heard from us we were swimming and hanging out with Uncle Jeremy. If we didn’t already feel like we had a full schedule things were about to get tricky. Grandma and Grandpa Rowles came for a visit over the 4th so I guess I will just start there.


The 4th of July! Anyone who knows Chet well knows that the 4th has to be his favorite holiday of all. When we lived in PCB, FL the atmosphere could not have been better. A full day of the beach only to return when it got dark for the best amateur firework show over the ocean you have seen. That may have been one of the only reasons Chet was as sad as I was to leave the beach. But never fear the 4th in Texas has yet to disappoint. I am not sure what is going on in the west but the only place to buy decent fireworks is on the Indian reservations. Chet only had a short drive down the road to get his fill. We have had very little rain this year and we live in a place with lots of trees and other greenery. This year fireworks were banned in Round Rock and supposedly they are banned in our neighborhood as well. I was hopping to get a financial break this year and have our family just go watch a free professional firework display. As luck would have it even though fireworks were banned they were still being sold. At the last minute Chet got his way and we hit up the fireworks stand. The only other person that I have met that seems to be more excitement about fireworks then Chet is his brother Jeremy. I am afraid of the 4th that they are finally able to get together. Jeremy has a bigger reputation then Chet (Chet is working hard to change that). Chet is very proud of the amount of fireworks he gets and first thing he does is set everything out for inventory and then he takes a picture. As you can see he has the girls all fired up as well. Carson has yet to take after his father in his love of loud exploding fire Carson’s pants are proof. You can see where he spent most of his night (with people who felt the same way he did) inside in his safe corner of the couch watching a movie. I will say this was the first year that he stayed around to see some of his father’s handy work he even held a sparkler for the first time. We had a great time with a few families in our ward and the rest of our street, the party went way too late for the little people who had to be up super early for their last swim meet of the season. I would like to push back on the whole fireworks thing but when you watch Chet get all worked up like a little kid, there is just no stopping him. Thanks for the great show my little (or should I say big) Pyro;)