Triathlon take two!

Saturday, Melanie Iverson and I did our second triathlon.  I am counting this as my first triathlon since the first one was so poorly run.  We drove down to Roswell, New Mexico Friday evening and checked in to our hotel.  This triathlon we went just us girls.  It was SO Fun!  Earlier in the week, I hurt my leg.  I am unsure if I have a pulled muscle or a hairline fracture in my ankle.  Either way, I was so pumped to do this triathlon.  The triathlon had been around for 34 years and was very well run.

After we checked in to our hotel, we went to eat at Applebee's.  It was right by the hotel.  Both of us laughed because we couldn't remember the last we had eaten at an Applebee's.  We had semi good food, then wet back to the hotel and fell right to sleep.

It was bliss!  No kids to put in bed! No brushing kids teeth.  No reading books. Just me.  So odd, but so relaxing.
Saturday morning, we woke up early and drove down to Dexter.  We set up our transition area then put on our wet suits.  I am so glad we bought wet suits.  The water wasn't too cold, but the wet suits provided just enough buoyancy that we felt safe.
The swim started in waves, luckily.  We did have to start with men (and that was not fun).  We got in the water and did our bobs and a practice swim.  I thought I was so ready.  The gun went off and we started.  I started great.  My goggles were on great, my suit felt great, and I got out in front of  a lot of people.  Then things started to go wrong.  My goggles fogged up and I couldn't see.  I couldn't site the buoys.  Then I slowed down.  Then I couldn't breathe.  Then lots of men were around me.  Then I felt trapped.  Then... then... then! I had to remind myself that the swim was only 10 minutes of the entire triathlon and it would be over soon. I rounded the buoy and just thought, "make it to land and be done with this."  I kept being boxed in between four men who could not swim straight.  Or maybe it was me. I couldn't swim straight.  I had to do breast stroke just to find a way around the four men blocking me.

I finally reached land and stood up.  I was exhausted.  I took off the top of my wet suit that felt like it was chocking me then I took off my goggles and cap.  I ran up to my bike, took off my wet suit, then I put on my bike gear.  I was so excited to be out on the bike.  The bike was a bit tougher than I thought it would be.  I had swallowed a lot of air while swimming so I think this caused me to cramp a bit on the bike.  It was uphill in a headwind for 6 miles.  I had set my watch this time, so I knew how far  I had to go before I could turn around and fly down the hill.  I started to get really thirsty.  I thought about grabbing the water bottle at the turn around but then changed my mind because I am not the best at handling my bike with one hand.  HA!

I flew downhill back to the transition area and only thought about getting a drink of water.  My legs were burning from climbing hills but I felt rested after going downhill for 6 miles.  Once I got back into transition, I put on my running shoes and grabbed my water.  I drank two drinks then headed out for the run.

By this time of day, it was hot.  Like 90 degrees hot.  I could feel the heat radiating from the concrete.  I am so glad I grabbed my hat.  All I wished for was chap stick.  That was not a good sign.  I knew I was feeling dehydrated.  I got to the first aid station and grabbed a cup of water. I just splashed it on my lips and face then dropped the cup.  I made it to a mile and a half then started to think I really wasn't going to make it.  I needed chap stick and a huge drink of water.  I saw the mile two aid station and grabbed another glass of water and splashed in on my lips again.  I usually never grab water on a run, but I knew I wasn't going to make it with sticky chapped lips.  I finally saw the finish line! I was passing people left and right, but then I slowed down because my leg really started hurting.  I let two women pass me! ARG! Truthfully, I had nothing left.  I just wanted to make it across the finish line with out barfing.

Once I crossed the finish line, I grabbed a huge bottle of water then headed back to the race to find Melanie.  I knew she wasn't too far behind me because I saw her in transition.  I think she was going through some of the same emotions I was going through.  She has been the best training partner.  She has made huge sacrifices to train with me.  She has paid babysitters, woke up early, and probably skipped other important activities.  I am so lucky she signed up to do this with me.  Training with someone for a specific race is so fun.

The next triathlon I do, I will have to do it without her.  I am so sad she is moving.  My kids are so sad they are moving.  They will truly be missed.

After the race, Melanie and I sat on the grass for a few minutes and rested.  My stomach was pretty upset so I couldn't even think about eating.  We jumped in the shower then packed up our gear so we could make it back to Albuquerque to watch our kids compete in a swim meet.

Edward and Nolen did great in the swim meet.  They mostly liked playing with their friends while they waited for their race.  After the swim meet, Melanie and I met up for an adult night at the Ninja Gym.

Such a great evening! When we finished up at the Ninja gym we went to get a much deserved dessert then I headed home.  As soon as I pulled in my sweet cousin arrived with her fun five kids.  We had a crazy night playing with them outside until 11 PM.
All in all, a great weekend!

Memorial Day fun

Can we count this as the first day of summer? Nah.  This is a holiday.  Even if the boys still had school they would have school off today.  

Today, I started my day with Melanie Iverson on the bike.  We biked up Paseo then went north on Tramway then went flying down the Tramway hill.  It was a blast! It took us a long time to bike up the Paseo hill up to Tramway, but we made it.  23.5 miles on the bike!  Great way to start Memorial Day.  We saw a deer and a man running carrying two flags, one folded and one waving behind him.  Very cool start to our day.

After the bike ride, I came home and at breakfast then grabbed two blankets to try to warm up.  I feel asleep until the boys came down stairs around 8 AM.  We ate a nice little breakfast then went to track practice. We ran a nice 3 mile run at Alameda open space.  We usually run at a different location on the Bosque.  It was such a gorgeous day.

After track practice we headed over to a friends house for a Memorial Day BBQ.  It was delicious.  We played a new game that used my lacking vocabulary skills.  My boys had the best time playing out side and in the basement of their home.  Every time we leave, my boys beg to move to a house with a basement. 

Once we got home, I immediately feel asleep again! HA! Two naps in one day is hard to beat.  Once I woke up, I promised the boys they could pick something from our "one fun thing" list.  Today they picked a scavenger hunt.  It was so funny to put it together.  I kept their best interests in mind. 

I made chicken noodle soup for dinner and they love it!  All in all, this was a great start to summer!

School's out! Let's party!

School's out! It was finally the last day of school!  This school year has been great, but has not been with out great challenges.  I love summer.  I live for summer.  I always forget how depressed I get during the winter months.  I know my kids love summer, as well; however, mostly because they get to stay home and just be kids.  This thought always makes me think twice about actually sending them to school.  They would be fun to home school.  I know it would be challenging, no doubt.  

We started a tradition a few years ago for the last day of school.  We have a huge water balloon fight and jump on the trampoline.  We invited our friends over to the "epic" water fight.  I love that the word epic is huge right now.  Every time we did something the kids shouted out, "This is gonna be epic!"  I loved it!

This last week of school, the boys got to dress up each day.  They had crazy sock day, inside out day, water day, and a talent show.  I am so glad the last week of school was filled with fun events.  Those are the things I remember about school.  One day, when I was in school in Maricopa, Arizona, we had a "snow day".  The school paid for someone to bring in a snow machine so we could play in the snow.  That was such a fun day!  Most of the kids had never seen snow before.  

I missed all of the events this week as I was working an event as a photographer.  I worked from 7:30-5:00 every day.  As I was missing these events, I was just reminded that I truly made the right choice nine years ago to be a stay at home mom.  In my early twenties, I made the comment that I would never be a stay at home mom and that I "didn't like children".  That was all a bold face lie.  I secretly yearned to be a mother and stay home with my children.  I love watching my boys grow and change.  I love being a part of their every day life.  I love that my husband is willing to sacrifice his time and work six days a week so that I can stay home.  I am truly so blessed.  I don't want to miss and single moment of my boys lives.  I take a million photos and videos just so I can have a return ticket back to those special moments in time.  

Friday, I got off work early and was able to be home for their epic water balloon fight.  Such a fun occasion and, of course, I took a million photos.

Happy first day of summer!

I am so glad my parents were here to help with my boys this last week.  There is absolutely no way I could have been at a conference all day and still been a Mom.  These boys have too much going on and staying on top of everything is a full time job.  While my parents were here, they took the boys to track, swim team, and school.  My dad fixed all my sprinklers, planted tomatoes and strawberries, dug a pond, and helped fixed the garage!  They were able to attend the temple twice while the boys were at school.  My mom did all the cooking and cleaning.  There were never dishes in the sink!  My mom even helped me clean the entire downstairs of the house on Saturday.  She also played for Melanie and I to sing in church on Sunday.  This truly was a full week of fun!  I just love my parents so much!

A Spring Recital

Wednesday, I had my piano students recital.  

I didn't get a photo of all my students together.  Rats! 

The boys played wonderfully.  Edward is getting better and better at reading music and playing the cello.  We had bahama's bucks after the recital then I stayed and helped with cub scouts.  Every single day in May has been a long day.  I am really looking forward to June when we can just relax.  I am envious of last summer. I have a few books I want to finish while the boys swim at the pool.  One more week until summer break!