Rush TRI

So my friend Kiera asked me if I wanted to do a triathalon. I was a bit hesitant at first because I recently had Brook, was carrying 30 extra pounds, totally out of shape, and I had no bike. Regardless of these obstacles I agreed and signed up. I found a bike on craigslist and it fit me perfectly. I found a training schedule online and got to work. I worked out 5 days a week in the mornings. I had my 1st bike accident a few weeks in which resulted in 8 stiches to my chin and some yucky road rash on the right side of my body. Once healed from that I was back to grind. The training was really fun!! By race day I had lost the 30 lbs and felt great! I had 10 weeks to train. The race went ok, I thought for sure my best event would be swimming, but it's very different in a open water swim than in a pool in your own lane. The bike by far was my best event thanks to the group of guys who bike in my area!! I joined them for a handful a bike rides. The run could of been better but I was not prepared for uphill and offroad!! It was wonderful to have Joe and the kids there to cheer me on. I look forward to next year and the Half Ironman with Lety and about 4 to 5 other races I want to do!!!

Happy Birthday Abby!!

So everyone should know I totally procrastinate! I knew Abby would want a party, but I kept putting it off and a week before realized I had one week til her birthday and yet I still put off doing anything. So the day before my conscience would no longer leave me alone and I called my girlfriends to invite Abby's girlfriends to her party. They all came through for me, thank goodness!!! I'm so grateful to all of my friends. Abby was so surprised because she didn't think we were going to do anything on her actual bday. She LOVES watching iCarly so I made Sam's remote from the show as her cake and the girls made clay sculptures like Carly's brother Spencer and we topped the evening off with Spencer's signature dinner, Spaghetti Tacos! I was surprised the kids liked the tacos. Kind of weird but the kids ate them. After being creative, eating, and gifts the girls went outside for some jump roping. It was fun watching them. It took me back to when I was a little girl.

Happy Birthday my sweet Abby!!

Brooklyn's Baby Blessing

Brooklyn was blessed on Sunday May 2, 2010. Joe's parents were with us for the blessing. We are so happy to have Brooklyn with us. She is a wonderful baby!

Happy Birthday Doug

This year for Doug's bday we went to Texas Roadhouse with Gramps and Grandma. Joe told our server that it was Doug's bday and so they brought the saddle over after we were done eating dinner. Doug was so surprised and embarressed! It was so great!! :) I also talked Doug into money instead of a party. I feel so bad, but I really couldn't handle a big party. Anywho, he chose a ripboard and he is so good at riding it.

Old Penitentiary

We love taking drives around the Treasure Valley. We really never plan on going to a specific place. One sunday we were just driving around and found the state penitentiary and drove around and took a small hike. We thought it would be fun to come back with Gramps and Grandma when they came to Boise. So we took them and the kids enjoyed looking in the old prison and realized that it probably wasn't a good idea to screw up! After we walked around the prison we hiked up to Table Rock. It was a 3 mile round trip hike. At first the kids were super excited and then they just got down right whiney! But being the mean parents we are, we made them hike the whole thing. It felt really good when we finally got to the top, but then we realized we could of driven! Oh well, great exercise :)

Let's Go To The Movies

We don't normally go to the movies with all the kids. I usually take one at a time or we go to the dollar movie. Lety was brave enough to take Doug, Ken, Abby, and Sam to see How to Train a Dragon in 3D. They were sooooo excited. They did have to wait a while cuz the first showing was sold out, but it was a real treat! Thanks Aunt Lety!!!

Happy Easter

We really live in a great neighborhood! We had a neighborhood Easter egg hunt for all the kids. Boy was I extremely thankful. My kids were so excited to go get some candy! I really get sad on holidays because we don't have family around, so this was really nice. A bonus this year was my lil' sister Lety coming for a stay and she was here with us on Easter! I've been so lucky to have 2 of my sisters come and my mom. I don't know how I would of made it the last few months!

Cheyenne turns 11

This year for Cheyenne's birthday I tried to convince of her to take money instead of a party. I had just had Brooklyn and had no desire whatsoever to have a party, but Cheyenne so lovingly reminded me that her Grandma would be more than capable of running the show. Cheyenne likes Hannah Montana so we had the girls play Disney singit on the XBOX and my mom put hair tinsel in all the girls hair. They also made some body glitter out of aloe vera and very fine glitter. She had a blast with her friends from Meridian and Boise. I was also happy to know that she is old enough to babysit! Whoo hoo!!!

To Infinity And Beyond!

Sam loves Toy Story and was really excited about his birthday party! Now when I say Sam was excited about his "birtday pawrty" what he was really excited about was his cake! This boy is a sugar monster!!! Just like his daddy! We had a fun family party and he loved his cake!!

Miss Brooklyn

Brooklyn was born March 5, 2010 at 1:05a.m. at The Baby Place in Meridian. Brooklyn was my second delivery with a midwife and no meds. This last pregnancy was the hardest out of the 6. I was very sick my first tri and it didn't really seem to get better as time went on. Despite feeling sick, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being pregnant. It is so amazing to know that there is a tiny person growing inside of your body. The little kicks, hiccups, and turning around are just fascinating. The evening I went into labor we were finishing dinner, my sister and her family were getting ready for their long drive back to Texas and Joe had just gotten home from work. Contractions started to get pretty strong, but I just kept doing my usual thinking this would just be another false alarm. I finally couldn't take it anymore and called my midwife and she asked me to come in. Teresa and Jason lovingly postponed their departure and stayed to watch our kids. Joe and I left and I kept thinking "as soon as we get there they're going to say it was false labor and send me home". To my surprise the midwife said I was at an 8! She told Joe to go ahead and bring the bags in. My friend, Summer, came to video the birth. Joe took at nap while Summer looked after me. Now for me having no meds is a huge mental game. I had to constantly tell myself that I was strong and to not be a whiner. I did really great until it was time to push. I no longer wanted anything to do with natural childbirth, but it was too late and Brooklyn was crowning. The birth was so amazing! I was able to cut the cord and finally hold her tiny body in my arms. Our bodies can accomplish amazing miracles. I'm so blessed to have been able to have 6 healthy children. I'm thankful for the opportunity of Motherhood and the chance I had at having 2 natural childbirths.