Women of Steel Triathlon

A few months back, my friend Michelle asked me if I wanted to try a triathlon. Me? Triathlons? Not in my wildest dreams! But once I signed up for it, I got really excited.

In March I took swimming lessons at the AF Rec Center with my friends Alison and Jen. It was amazing how the first day I could swim no more than half a lap without feeling like I was suffocating and eight lessons later, I swam ten laps in a row. My Arizona summer swim team days came back to me and it was a matter of endurance rather than technique.

We dropped the boys off on race day and Brian and I headed over. Alison, Emily and I waited in line forever to get started with the swim. Lots of women were in the wrong time slot and thought they swam faster than they really did. That made it hard when I was trying to pass them and they were walking or using the walls to crawl along. Lesson learned for next time...put myself up in the time zones and just say I swim faster than I do. Then I will be exactly in the right spot...


The bike portion was super fun - I think it's my new favorite sport! Not that I'm super speedy, but it's a total rush biking down hills at high speeds. The run was my weakest - I felt like I was crawling. I'll work on that...

As I crossed the finish line, I felt proud and strong. I am SO glad that I did it and know for sure I will do it again. A perfect first race to get me TRI-ing!

Washington, D.C.

Part 2 began on Monday as we were dropped off by Desmond and the Bolt Bus at Union Station.
We worked the crowded rush hour metro madness and made it to Mark's house by 6:00pm Monday night. Mark Willis is my mom's cousin and he generously allowed seven (now Mother was with us) girls to invade his luxurious bachelor pad. He was so kind and made us feel so at home. Staying there was half the fun.

We woke up the next day and again started our walking adventures. Saw the National Archives, American History Museum, and then headed towards the monuments.
Lost Lincoln's head - but this is my fav.
Walked all the way to Georgetown. Of all the cupcakes we tasted, these were THE best. They had one gluten free chocolate lava cupcake just for me. My pants are getting tighter by the minute.
That evening Mark drove us around in his car to see the National Cathedral and the Temple grounds. The cathedral was incredible. We were too late to go inside.




They don't do tours in this one:
On to the Jefferson Memorial.

Wednesday was Mount Vernon. It was a beautiful day!
Arlington. Incredible for so many reasons.

Brittney makes her exit back to AZ.

The next day we head back to the cathedral to take a look inside. My directions only get us lost a few times before we make it.

Susan and I spent the day together at the National Art Galleries while the other girls did the Holocaust Museum. Brian and I did that last time - so I'm covered for a few years. We waited for them outside the Washington monument eating lemon icees and visiting. Then the (not so) funny part - as we walked to our parked mini-van, I yelled, "Susan, they're towing our car!!" Can you see five screaming girls running down the street trying to stop the tow truck? He only took the car a couple of blocks away, but that was a $100 mistake. We had parked in a spot that started towing at 4:00pm. It was 4:30. Oops. And it was pretty much my fault. I'm the one who paid the parking meter and did not read the sign. Just another adventure!

Mark made us a delicious chicken chili dinner that we ate outside. Fun, fun. A perfect ending.

DC was super fun. Relaxing, insightful, new museums, new family ties. Thanks to Mother, Mark, and the girls for making it happen. I'm so glad I was able to be there.

Jaime and I woke up and were on the road to Baltimore by 5:00am the next morning. I arrived home on Friday around 11:00am and was ready to spend the day with my boys. Brian never fails to deliver. The house is always spotless. I think he's sending me a message. :) Flowers, handprints, notes, and Michael Buble's Home playing on repeat on my computer.
Who wouldn't want to come home to that?

New York, NY

When this trip was in the works, I wasn't sure that we were going to be able to pull it off. Nine days all by myself? What would become of the children? And my husband? Brian is actually the one who told me to go for it - and go for it we did. I sometimes forget the preparation involved for me to leave home. After all, I am the CEO of this operation. The fridge was full of information pages and postits taped everywhere. Notes to Brian, instructions for babysitters, coupons for eating out, etc. etc. Thanks a million to Brian, Grandma & Grandpa, Karen, Jenny, and Valerie for making it possible for me to have a minute. (Or many minutes.)

My cousin Jaime and I flew together from SLC to Laguardia. Bad, yucky flight. We met up with Jourdan and a green Susan, later to be joined by Brittney and Becky, who all flew in from AZ. Two aunts and four cousins taking NYC by storm. Mother wasn't up for this portion of the trip.

The five of them stayed in a small hotel room while I stayed with Britton and Lane. Being around them is always fun, especially since I don't see them very often. And when I do see them, I'm chasing around kids and hardly have time for a real conversation. We went to bed between 12 and 2 am each day. So unlike me, but well worth being tired.

Some highlights:

Spongebob made $1 for this picture. I don't even like Spongebob, but I knew that Gavin would recognize him and smile.
Brittney, Becky, and I on the Brooklyn Bridge.
My bro Brit and I. He is the tour guide extraordinaire. So nice to spend time with us telling info and answering our many questions.
Central Park. Natalie, Jaime, Brittney, Susan, Becky, and Jourdan. This was early in the trip, when posing for pictures was still fun.
A view from the top of Rockafeller Center. Who knew cathedrals were built in the shape of a cross? Makes sense... The trip to the top was a definite highlight.
Finally saw a Broadway show. Mary Poppins turned out to be cute. Wicked was my first choice, but no such luck.
Lunch in Central Park. The weather was beautiful the entire time we were there. As is typical for New Yorkers, we walked our legs off and counted those calories towards our bakery visits.
A visit to the Met. The folks behind us are talking all serious about old architecture while Jourdan and I keep it real.
But I really like to see the Van Gogh's and Monet's up close.
Mostly I enjoyed spending some quality time with many family members that I love. These girls are cheaper than therapy and helped me come to a few realizations of my own during our travels.

Next up...DC!

Easter

A fun day with our little boys. The easter bunny brought super hero shirts, some treats, and the rest of the basket was filled with stuff from G&G Woolf. (Thanks for supplying the basket, mom! Don't worry - the bunny didn't get credit for your gifts.)

Gavin has this new stinky face. Kills me.


Ready for church. They look cute, but didn't quite act the same on this day...

At G&G Robinson's.

The hunt.



My super boys. Love them.

Thirteen Month McKay

Thirteen months is my new favorite. I don't know what happened to this kid (well, actually, I think I do) but it seems that overnight he has changed personalities completely. And it is a welcomed, happy change.

We went from this - whiny, clingy, needing to be held 24/7...
To this - exploring, crawling (for real!), cruising furniture, pulling himself up to doors and windows. Now just to get back down...


Talking to dada.
His favorites are chairs and the garbage can. I forgot about garbage cans on the table until recently.
It's just a whole new world. I know that it'll be more busy for me, but I'll take that happy face ANY. DAY. The past five days have been the best of his little life. He is truly PLEASANT. I've never once called him that. He doesn't freak out when Brian is holding him and I'm right there. He wakes up talking and babbling and standing up in his crib. I'm hoping this is a sign of things to come.

I've been on McKay's team the whole time. Always sticking up for him. "He just needs a hug." Well, who have I been kidding. Let it be known loud and clear that McKay has been *a bit* of a cry baby. Of course, it's easier to admit now!

We've been waiting for this disposition. Thank you, thank you, thank you little boy! Keep it up!