Just catching up

Since my parents live in New Zealand, I though I'd start this blog as a way to keep them better involved in our lives.  An added benefit has been keeping in touch with other family members and friends, both near and far.  I've also found that blogging makes me keep a journal of sorts - something I have not been good at lately.  In that vain, I have a lot of pictures and activities I want to journal, so bear with me (or skip to the next blog):

If you thought that your kids would stop playing with boxes as they get older, think again.  This large box (and another identical one) kept my 9 and 11 year old busy for days.  I can't even imagine what the neighbors were thinking as they ran up and down the sidewalk inside these things for hours upon end.  The fun only ended when the 11 year old ran into a tree and knocked herself out.  To make matters worse, I had no idea and was outside taking pictures of her lying on the ground inside the box.  In my defense, I didn't see her hit the tree.  She wasn't too happy and I am not allowed to post those pictures.  So, here is a picture of the fun times in the box:

My kids love to cook - cookies, brownies, cake, toffee, etc.  Notice, nothing on the list is healthy.  I think this summer I will have to require one healthy recipe for every unhealthy one they want to bake.  This passion for cooking is very helpful as it seems like we have to take desserts everywhere we go.  I can announce I need cookies or whatever, and the kids do the rest.  Here is Princess making cinnamon rolls (with a little help).  They were yummy!

Finally, after 10 years, we will have a wonderful harvest of berries from our yard.  They look like blackberries, but are another type, I just don't know which.  These vines have been torn out several times during different construction projects ( removal of a shed, building of a fence, etc.)  The kids are very excited and keep eating them off the vine.  I debated making them wait, so we could save them up and make jam, but I changed my mind.  I think the fun of eating them off the vine as they ripen is an experience well worth it.  

Banana was able to go to Washington D.C. with her eighth grade class.  It was a great trip that she absolutely loved.  Our neighbor was the administrator in charge of the trip which made me feel much better.  The trip company told the kids that they were one of the most well-behaved groups they have ever had.  It's great that she has a good group of kids to grow up with.  Here she is with some of her friends in Arlington Cemetery:
And, something I'd like to forget, the LA Marathon.  Ken and I ran it with some friends from the Stake.  Well, "run" may not be the correct word for me.  Some better words may be "limped," "hobbled," "walked," or even "cried."  But, we all finished.  And, LA put on a great race.  The support along the race was incredible.  Many residents stood along the course with oranges, bananas, juice, pretzels, candy, and water that they personally provided.  Those offerings saved me.  All of us finished over an hour slower than our last marathons, but we did our best that day.   

Here's Big in his latest 5k.  He lives for those things.  Since I had just run the Marathon, instead of running in the 5K and missing his finish, I was able to watch from the finish line.  It was great to see him sprint to the end.  After the 5k, there was a "kids fun run" which was basically one lap around the grass field.  Big decided the lap wasn't really a real race and just decided to watch.  You should have seen his face as they handed big huge medals to all of the kids who ran in the fun run.  No medal for a 5K but a medal for one measly lap around the field?  Oh, the unfairness of life to a 9 year old boy!

Easily best school project we have ever done - Big's lego Mission Project.  He built the mission all by himself.  It only cost $10 for a few extra legos we needed.  He never once complained about working on this homework project.  If only all school projects could be this easy!

Wildflower

     A week or so ago, Ken and I competed in our third Wildflower triathlon (6th overall).  Every year as we are driving to the event, I ask myself "Why are we doing this?"  Every year as I am standing at the edge of the water, in my very uncomfortable wetsuit, I again ask myself, "Why am I doing this?"  And every year, in the middle of the swim, as I am getting hammered by hands and feet around me, I swear (yes, swear) that I will never, ever do this again.  Yet, within minutes of the race being done, I join in the conversations about how we can do better next year.  Somebody, please, stop this insanity.  

This year we went with my brother, Nate, and his wife, Bethany for their first ever triathlon.  Wildflower is the place to start - there are three different distances, the races are pretty challenging (the most challenging according to "Competitor" magazine), it is set in beautiful Lake San Antonio (central, coastal California), and professionals from all over come to compete in the half-ironman distance.   Of all the races we have done, it is definitely the most fun.  

This year I learned a few new things about triathlons:

1.  You cannot race without training.  I tried this year to get by with only running beforehand.  I was running hills, so shouldn't that count?  Evidently not.  I was a full 15 minutes slower than last time (two years ago).  Bummer, but what could I expect?  

2.  The swim never gets easier - at least here at Wildflower.  I have swam distances four times as long as the swim at Wildflower, yet the Wildflower swim is the hardest I have ever done.  For some reason (maybe the cold or the crowds), I can never catch my breath.  It is truly one of the scariest physical things I have ever done (so why do I keep doing it ???).

3.  You need to really make sure the bikes are tied down tight on the trip up.  Or, one might bounce off and get hit by a semi-truck.  And, shatter into a hundred pieces across the freeway and neighboring farm.  On the way TO the triathlon.  

Obviously my brother has a great personality.  You can see him here smiling as he clears the wreckage from the freeway.  Smiling, regardless of the fact that now he had to pay to rent a bike for his wife and buy a new bike for their friends (it was a borrowed bike).  I know it's overdone, but I have to do it:   bike rental - $100, new bike for friend - $300, racing your first triathlon - PRICELESS.   Here's one more look at the bike:

4.  If you keep your eyes and ears open, you can watch some of the greats race:  Andy Potts, Sindballe, Chris Lieto, etc.  It is incredible watching these elite athletes perform.   This year I met one of my favorite triathletes - Julie Moss.  She has been "MCing" the event for many years, but I never realized who she was until this year when she shared part of her first Ironman story.    Here we are with Julie:

 If you don't know Julie's story - take a look at this video of her first triathlon (keep in mind, she was an unknown, non-triathlete, who had decided to race the Ironman since she was writing a dissertation about it).  Her race helped catapult triathlon racing into the public eye.  Below is a short video of her race in 1982.  

Anyway - thanks(or no thanks)  to a friend (Denise - you know who you are), we are now addicted to triathlons.  Does anyone want to join us?