This Saturday was the Women of Steel Triathlon.  I had a lot of fun.  It didn't start until 8 am so we didn't have to leave until 6:30 which is a much more reasonable time to get up for a race.  It usually seems like races always involve getting up at the crack of dawn.  But this is us in our scummy sweats over our suits in the freezing cold.  I kept that sweatshirt on until the last moment.  Those girls running around in the sporty bikinis were just nuts.  Felt good about the tri and realized that my biking speed is my biggest problem.  When I compare my times to the top paces in my age group, I am with them on the swim/run but am 4 to 9 minutes slower on the bike.   I came in 63 out of 134 for my age group.  It was a good course with two really good hills in the run and bike.  But I got one of my fastest times ever on the run part so I was stoked a bit about that.  Not really sore today, just feel like I could use a nap.  I have been thinking about chocolate cake all week so made one Friday and told myself I was carbing up.  I am sure that is why I had a smile on my face the whole time.  That plus I have really amazing friends who stay positive and cheer me on the whole time.  My friend Brenda who wasn't racing, came and stood at all the hard parts throughout the race to cheer us on.  I learned a lot and realized that I have to work a bit before the August Tri.  This one was 300 m swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run.  In August its a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6 mile run.  Freaking out just a little bit...

And speaking of freaking out, my kids get out of school this week.  Robyn graduates on Wednesday and then everyone else gets out on Friday.  So we are having all the last minute parties and school assignments.  I am very excited to have my kids home while just a little panic is in the back of my mind that I am not ready yet.  My girls are literally counting the days:
That's right, we are off to my parents in just a few days.  Robyn has never been to my parents house and we are all excited for the long visit.  Robyn is having a good life lately:
Hanging out with Dad after his church day is over
Robyn and Luke spend as much time together as they can.  Luke donated his frogs to our pond so they check on them every day.
I taught my last art lesson to kindergarten and we made a door decoration for the teacher.  Robyn of course made two robins for the door and made sure that one of the eggs is colored blue.

And of course when she has driven us to pulling out hair with her inability to fall asleep she makes sure we catch her doing something that makes us forgive all:

Spencer continues to grow and managed to grow another shoe size.  Jeremy says we should call him Sasquatch from now on.  All I can think of are all the size 12 shoes we just bought him that no longer fit him.  There needs to be a shoe lending program for this age.  But seriously size 13!

I made a bunch of strawberry jam this week and we are working to deplete the supply as quickly as possible.  Lots of little things of birthday parties, Robyn's last soccer game, Allison's first softball game, cleaning the church, Jeremy's photo shoots, service project all seem to fill the week and keep kids busy and happy.  Jeremy has been scheduling more photo shoots lately and has been enjoying the challenge.  Last night we went up to the reception of his cousin once removed up in North Ogden.  I am amazed at how many memories I have of my grandparents and Ogden considering that I grew up in California.  And then we stopped at my college roommate Jennifer's house to eat some delicious home made ice cream and to visit.  It really doesn't seem like that much time has gone by until we see each others kids.

And as for kids, I realize how much I focus on their faults and what they have left to learn.  Sometimes it seems like they have so much left to learn and I am miserably failing at teaching them. Spencer made burritos for us this week and I felt like the little nag on his shoulder.  But on Saturday afternoon as we were leaving to clean the office, our van refused to start.  It is 11 months old.  So we had to have it towed.  Our kids all focused on how good it was that the van broke then instead of a week later on our trip and how lucky our family was.  Good reminder to me to look on the bright side.  And then our van just fixed itself  a few hours later.  Best guess was that we flooded it which should be impossible to do but the mechanic couldn't think of anything else.  It didn't work for him but then a few hours later it did.  So last night the kids suffered driving up to Ogden in the truck with only a few murmurs.  Spoiled kids, I tell you.

love, Heather