Showing posts with label Jeff and Rebecca Anderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeff and Rebecca Anderson. Show all posts
Friday, December 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Happy Birthday Kiddos!
Happy #2 Birthday to Brynnie-Bobbalini! (11/04/10)
Happy #10 Birthday to Brookie! (11/05/10)
Happy #11 Birthday to Alex! (11/09/10)
Happy #10 Birthday to Brookie! (11/05/10)
Happy #11 Birthday to Alex! (11/09/10)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Idaho Trip - Day 8 & 9
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Stella was crying "I'm going to miss Idaho!" for quite some time the night before we left. She and Elliot gave the beautiful view of the Snake River one last look before we headed into town for the Fiddle Parade.
Here's my niece Ashley, the lone picalo player right in the front of the marching band.
Cordell is playing the trombone back there with the sunglasses on (he must take after his father).
The whole story will come when I actually finish writing my 1999 history, but the Fiddle Festival in Weiser, Idaho was the first time I ever brought Elliot home to meet my family. He LOVED everything about it! This was one of the reasons we chose this particular week to visit. He's so happy, especially because there was so much candy at this parade.
Every float, and I'm pretty sure it was EVERY float, had candy throwers. The kids had a giant grocery bag to fit all of their loot. Jayden spies another candy-thrower!
You can't have a Fiddle Festival Parade without a stage coach, some tractors, goats, . . .
. . . motoring Shriners . . .
. . . rodeo Princesses . . .
. . . and a little girl who loves it ALL!
That guitar player is Mark Geslison (he has made several acoustic church CD's). His daughter is on the second half of yesterday's fiddling video.
What we could have done without were these ladies. I'm not quite sure what their point was, but they have a show and if their singing on this float was any indication of their performance, steer clear my friends. Steer clear.
Jayden paused from gathering piles of candy momentarily to pose for my picture.
Wouldn't you hate it if that was your name?
Washington Adams County Substance Abuse Coalition (WACSAC). I'm not positive, but did they just build a floating crack house?
Stella was pretty happy about the load of candy she claimed! Good thing she never gets sick in the car.
We shed some tears as we said our goodbyes to the family, . . .
. . . and to Adele Tay, my first Cabbage Patch Kid. I learned how to french braid on that lovely mane of yarn . . .
. . . and to Laura, my first fake CPK. I've had Laura since 1st Grade (Stella's age). Jaimie Simpson had lots of real CPK's and knew mine was fake. She'd always walk by when I had Laura at school and tear off her shoes because she just had round feet instead of sewed on toes like the real CPK's. Jaimie and I weren't friends in 1st Grade.
I just became nostalgic while I was at home in Weiser. Usually I go through my mother's things and try to see what I can take to help her organize, but this time I just wandered and remembered. These toys have been incredibly well-played with.
I'm so, so grateful that Elliot, Stella and I were able to visit my parents (though somehow I just noticed I only got 2 pictures of my Mom) during this week. It was so relaxing and exactly what our family needed to calm down and see each other without the phone or meetings or work or pressing engagements. We cannot wait to come back. In fact, we'd like to visit in the Winter so we can remember why we don't live there already.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
We made it to Bill and Marci's in Kaysville, Utah just in time for dessert and bedtime. We tried to hurry to bed to get an early start back to Arizona.
We kept Stella occupied with mapping our progress through all of the states because this girl DOESN'T SLEEP! She didn't sleep at all on the way to Idaho and only slept for 45 minutes on our way out of Kaysville because it was so early in the morning. She was wide awake the rest of the 11 hours! I had to sit in the back with her and we played many, many games of Old Maid and Go Fish, colored lots of How To Train Your Dragon pages, ate lots of sugary treats (I was hoping for a sugar coma), and listened occasionally to the dumbest book on CD. Stella was so tired of it that she kept saying, "No more of that voice!" I can't even count it on my book list because I was in and out of consciousness during the whole thing.
I can't say we were happy to be home because it was so incredibly hot and we had 17 messages. But we were VERY happy to be out of the stinky car.
I love vacations. I love Weiser. I love my family. Yeey end.
Stella was crying "I'm going to miss Idaho!" for quite some time the night before we left. She and Elliot gave the beautiful view of the Snake River one last look before we headed into town for the Fiddle Parade.
Here's my niece Ashley, the lone picalo player right in the front of the marching band.
Cordell is playing the trombone back there with the sunglasses on (he must take after his father).
The whole story will come when I actually finish writing my 1999 history, but the Fiddle Festival in Weiser, Idaho was the first time I ever brought Elliot home to meet my family. He LOVED everything about it! This was one of the reasons we chose this particular week to visit. He's so happy, especially because there was so much candy at this parade.
Every float, and I'm pretty sure it was EVERY float, had candy throwers. The kids had a giant grocery bag to fit all of their loot. Jayden spies another candy-thrower!
You can't have a Fiddle Festival Parade without a stage coach, some tractors, goats, . . .
. . . motoring Shriners . . .
. . . rodeo Princesses . . .
. . . and a little girl who loves it ALL!
That guitar player is Mark Geslison (he has made several acoustic church CD's). His daughter is on the second half of yesterday's fiddling video.
What we could have done without were these ladies. I'm not quite sure what their point was, but they have a show and if their singing on this float was any indication of their performance, steer clear my friends. Steer clear.
Jayden paused from gathering piles of candy momentarily to pose for my picture.
Wouldn't you hate it if that was your name?
Washington Adams County Substance Abuse Coalition (WACSAC). I'm not positive, but did they just build a floating crack house?
Stella was pretty happy about the load of candy she claimed! Good thing she never gets sick in the car.We shed some tears as we said our goodbyes to the family, . . .
. . . and to Adele Tay, my first Cabbage Patch Kid. I learned how to french braid on that lovely mane of yarn . . .
. . . and to Laura, my first fake CPK. I've had Laura since 1st Grade (Stella's age). Jaimie Simpson had lots of real CPK's and knew mine was fake. She'd always walk by when I had Laura at school and tear off her shoes because she just had round feet instead of sewed on toes like the real CPK's. Jaimie and I weren't friends in 1st Grade.
I just became nostalgic while I was at home in Weiser. Usually I go through my mother's things and try to see what I can take to help her organize, but this time I just wandered and remembered. These toys have been incredibly well-played with.I'm so, so grateful that Elliot, Stella and I were able to visit my parents (though somehow I just noticed I only got 2 pictures of my Mom) during this week. It was so relaxing and exactly what our family needed to calm down and see each other without the phone or meetings or work or pressing engagements. We cannot wait to come back. In fact, we'd like to visit in the Winter so we can remember why we don't live there already.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
We made it to Bill and Marci's in Kaysville, Utah just in time for dessert and bedtime. We tried to hurry to bed to get an early start back to Arizona.
We kept Stella occupied with mapping our progress through all of the states because this girl DOESN'T SLEEP! She didn't sleep at all on the way to Idaho and only slept for 45 minutes on our way out of Kaysville because it was so early in the morning. She was wide awake the rest of the 11 hours! I had to sit in the back with her and we played many, many games of Old Maid and Go Fish, colored lots of How To Train Your Dragon pages, ate lots of sugary treats (I was hoping for a sugar coma), and listened occasionally to the dumbest book on CD. Stella was so tired of it that she kept saying, "No more of that voice!" I can't even count it on my book list because I was in and out of consciousness during the whole thing.I can't say we were happy to be home because it was so incredibly hot and we had 17 messages. But we were VERY happy to be out of the stinky car.
I love vacations. I love Weiser. I love my family. Yeey end.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)