Happy #2 Birthday Miss Lyvi!

The Triathlon

This is a long one, not because I'm going to be my usual wordy, but because I had the PAPARAZZI as my cheerleading squad. I love them.

All year I had planned on participating in the Desert Grande Triathlon again, but was seriously lacking the training department. You'll remember my Pilates tantrum (which is still not over) which resulted in a gym hiatus and then I also had 2 miscarriages between May and October. I actually found out I was pregnant days after I decided to start training in September, so then I backed off again for a while. So really, I only gave myself 2 weeks to train for this triathlon.

(one of these days I'll stop carrying around my 6-year-old)

I still don't know how to swim, but since I remembered the swim being the least of my problems last year, I only practiced the swim once and surprisingly did it in a good time. This was not a good representative of how I would do in the triathlon.

Elliot, Stella, my parents AND all of my siblings, and my cousin Teener came to support me for my triathlon! They are the best! I'm not sure how happy they were about the early morning in Casa Grande, but they all made it and won the award for best cheerleading squad!

I was able to train a little bit with my friend Melinda and then met up with my friend Corissa. They were nervous about the swim, but ended up kicking my trash. There were also several other friends participating in the triathlon this year.

My family had to wait around for me to start the swim (I'm slow, so I had to wait at the back of the line), but it's OK because they had this guy standing in front of me for entertainment. As a side note, he also wore just his speedo and a shirt during the bicycle portion of the event, but I'll withhold the picture on that one. You're welcome.

So I did my stretches and little warm up and then, yes, I plugged my nose and jumped in. I'm telling you, I really don't know how to swim.

I'd like to say I have a nice backstroke that I did the entire time. But my Father finally put a name to whatever it is I do in the pool. It looks a little something like this . . .

. . . and it's called "the lazy man's swim." Thanks for identifying that one for me Dad.

My Squad. I could hear them cheering me (and others) on the entire time. They say I was smiling the entire time, but really it's because my teeth are too big for my mouth and I was laughing that I was going so slow.

Shhh. She doesn't know what it means and I don't think my Mom get's it either.

I cannot tell you how happy I was to finally be done swimming. It took much longer than I remembered it from last year, but it was really just 14 seconds longer. I finished the swim in 15 minutes 9 seconds.

It was very difficult to get out of the pool. My review of the event will include a suggestion for a pool stool. Not stool as in what is on the sign Stella is holding, but more of a step.

My transition time was very long. I should have hurried, but I also didn't want to barf.

My squad followed me right to the road with all of their signs and yelling and energy to send me off to my 10-mile bike ride. I was sure they were going to go out to brunch while I was gone. I'm glad they didn't though because I improved FANTASTICALLY during the bike portion.

I had a better bike, for one thing, but I also knew the course and made little goals for myself to sprint. Plus, I was passing people which also helped my head to be in the right place to work harder. I finished the bike in 55 minutes 41 seconds (really it was like 48 minutes, but my transition time was so slow), which is an 11 minute improvement from last year.

By this time, I realized how incredibly important it is to practice bricks (the transfer from swim to bike or bike to run). There was no way my legs were letting me run.

Good thing the paparrazzi was still around and I also had Teener to run with me for a minute and give me a good luck spank.

I had planned on running the entire 5K, but without that practice of transitions, my legs were just so tired and wouldn't continue running. I ran as often as I could though. According to this sign, they weren't sure I was going to make it either.

My squad was so spread out that I heard cheering for the whole last part of my run to the finish line.

Their cheers made me fun faster!

Stella and Adam even started chasing me in . . . they eventually passed me . . .

. . . but still I MADE IT TO THE FINISH LINE! I improved on the run this year as well, finishing in 38 minutes 30 seconds (3 minute improvement . . . every minute counts). So my total time for the whole triathlon was 1 hour 49 minutes and 20 seconds which was 40 seconds faster than my goal! :)

And I knew if I stopped running before I found Elliot, I'd just sit down on the ground. So I kept running.

I got loves all around from everyone on the BEST CHEERLEADING SQUAD EVER!

After swimming, biking, and running, it's my face that hurts from smiling.

I'm still amazed at how emotional I get after finishing. I remember last year just breaking down and crying because I had accomplished something I never in my life thought I'd ever do. But this year I think it was because of the overwhelming love and support I received from my lunatic family. And I use lunatic in the most loving way possible. I love them so much!

And they love me too.

I Love My Family

ALL of my brothers and sisters came to Arizona to support me in my triathlon in November. They are amazing and I love them so, so much! Plus, they're kind of funny.

Stella & Kaiah

Tempe Beach Splash Park

We went to Tempe Town Lake (aka - Big Stinking Mudhole) so I could take Adam & Jenny's family pictures and we had just enough time to play at the Splash Park before picking up the babysitter. After that, the adults went to Benihana's. Yum.

She wouldn't dare! . . . wait, what am I saying . . . of course she would.

Kimbal & Cereal Milk

He was very passionate about it.

Sugar Bowl with A&J

I kept Stella home from school one day while her cousins were here (sshhh, I know, I'm a bad mother). Adam and Jenny took all of the kids to the Phoenix Zoo. I think they got rained on, but at least that kind of weather is better than 100 degrees when the animals are hiding.

Then we met for lunch at the Sugar Bowl in Scottsdale. We love it here. And so did the kids.

Stella counting her ticket loot, even though there is a machine that can do it for her.

Sleepy Lyvi.

Awake and fed Lyvi!

You should have heard this boy giggling as he ate his ice cream. He was so happy!

Brennan nonchalantly looking over the menu to order his dessert . . . "I'd like 3 scoops of mint chocolate chip please."

His parents quickly caught on and lowered the scoop level. It was hilarious! Nice try Brennan!

BBQ at Teener's

I love this laugh.

But first, swimming . . .

. . . and Mart tossing all the kids.

And Lyvi being sad that she didn't get to swim.

Kimbal finally learned that he can't escape my camera.

And Lyvi's smile returned when Mart agreed to toss her too.

Thanks for the BBQ Teener!