Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Triathlon #3...the last one of the year!

Why did I sign up for three triathlons this summer?  Well, I was hoping it would encourage me to go to the gym and stay in shape during the summer months.  Ok, so it didn't work, I actually gained 10 pounds over the summer!  Maybe next year I'll be more committed to going to the gym.  But, I did finish three triathlons this summer and that's nothing to sneeze at:)

My triathlon buddy Cynthia and I right before the swim.  I still remember thinking as I got into the water...what am I doing this for...again?

Hyrum got a great shot of me coming in from the bike ride...love the face:)

And coming in at the finish line, so happy to be done!

Just for my records:
Swim 1/4 mile: 10 minutes 31 seconds (last June 12:6)
Bike 9 miles: 33 minutes 43 seconds (last June 36:24)
Run 1 1/2 miles: 18 minutes 30 seconds (last June 16:30)

So overall I'm super proud of myself because I beat my time in both the swim and the bike...still need to work on the run I guess but I'm still pretty happy with the overall experience.

Oma was kind enough to watch the boys for us so Hyrum and I could go up to Seattle without the kids...always a nice treat.  It was great walking around downtown Seattle and hanging out with my Hyrum for a few days.  We even got to see a World Premier of the musical "Second Hand Lions" (which was fabulous by the way, go see it if you get the chance)

I love walking around Pike Place market, especially without the kids.  You can just take your time walking around and looking at all the fun stalls.

I got a Nutella crepe with bananas...yummy:)

Seattle Center.  

When you don't have kids with you you can lay down on the grass, in the shade, close your eyes and take a little nap for a while:)

The lighting was just perfect for photos that evening

This really was a fun show with lots of songs that were catchy and great acting as well.  So much fun to be just Hyrum and I for a weekend:)

A fun hike with the Family

Oma drove back to Portland with us from Utah and stayed for a few weeks.  We took a Saturday to go for a fun hike with her and the Doxeys.  It was a beautiful day and all the kids did really well for the most part.  Julian made daddy carry him in the backpack for part of the hike and boy is he getting TOO big to be carried!

Heading out on the trail.  The boys love to be with their cousin Cooper.  He has so much patience with their craziness and they really do look up to him.  He is a good sport to be such a great cousin:)

What?  This boy is way too big for the backpack!  But, it sure beats carrying him on your shoulders when he gets tired.

Julian and Oma taking a little lunch break

The pretty waterfall we hiked to

The Doxeys dog "Luna" was in heaven being off leash and roaming around the trails and the forest.

The whole group, minus Hyrum who took the photo:)
Katrina, Rachelle, Julian, Sam, Steve, Oma, Cooper, Taylor, Townsend and Emerson

First Day of School!

My twins started 4th grade this year.  Townsend has the same teacher he had last year (which is fine) and Emerson has a teacher that taught 6th grade last year.  They were nervous about the first day of school but were so ready for more structure in their day after a whole summer of vacation.  For the record, if year round school were ever offered I would jump at the chance to have my boys enrolled!


Emerson with Mrs. Portinga.  She seems super nice and I think Emerson will have a fantastic year with her!

Townsend with Ms. Marshall after his first day of 4th grade.  Ms. Marshall and Townsend get along just fine and I think he will also have a great year.  I brought the boys a Schultuete again this year.  Maybe I'll stop the tradition once they are done with elementary school:)

Julian is back at Calvary Lutheran Preschool with his teacher Miss Christy.  He LOVES school.  I wish  it wasn't just 3 days a week!

And another school year has begun.  The first few weeks have gone great.  The boys are getting back into their routine of homework and I'm getting back into the routine of making lunches every night!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Big Trip to Utah

We didn't really get to travel much this summer.  The boys were kept busy with scout camp, PE camp, swim lessons, basketball camp and taking little weekend trips camping.  The one trip we had planned was to Utah and we did this the last 2 weeks of August.  We got the chance to stay in Oma's new house which was super fancy.  On the first day the boys broke one of her lights, on the second day they kicked her garage door and dented it...I won't go on but needless to say Oma may not invite us to her house next summer:)

I drove by myself with the boys.  We stopped at the Bonneville Dam and fish hatchery, about 2 hours from home and got some wiggles out.

Julian saying hello to a fish that was swimming up the fish ladder by the dam

At about the halfway point to Utah we stopped and stayed with the Knorpp's for a few nights.  It was great to break up the trip and not have to drive the whole 12 hours in one shot.  Julian and Ollie had fun dressing up.

We put the slide into the kiddie pool and the kids spent the afternoon cooling off from the hot Idaho sun

Marly even had a few archery sets that the boys had lots of fun playing with.

Julian loved checking for eggs in the Knorpp's chicken house

We made it to Utah and got to hang out with our Porter cousins for a few hours.  Kristen was visiting Orem for her kids orthodontics appointments and it worked out for us to have lunch together and play at the park for a while before they headed back to Idaho.

Mmmm...Hawaiin shave ice.  Emerson, Jeremy, Townsend and Joanna.

One of the days we went to the new Provo rec center.  They had an amazing indoor pool.  The boys loved jumping off this diving platform and going down the many slides.

One day we went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point.  Emerson and Townsend were fascinated by this scientist actually working on dinosaur fossils.  

Julian and the dinosaur

I forgot to bring the boys scooters from home so I went out and bought them new scooters.  You can see they had lots of fun scooting around Oma's neighborhood.

We always go to BYU and walk around.  I like to walk around and see the old places I used to hang out as a student.  I also think it's cool for the boys to see where their parents went to school (and met, I guess I should say)  The boys are trying to figure out how to climb onto this statue by the Art Museum.

Y mountain.  I loved my years at BYU.
You can't go to BYU and not stop at the creamery for an ice-cream treat:)

One day we took the train to Salt Lake.  Julian was so happy

I like this picture of Oma on the train

The planetarium with all it's fun science exhibits

Townsend by the "cloud maker"

Townsend walking on the moon

The boys played in the splash fountain at the Gateway mall in SLC

And enjoyed some more shave ice:)

We went to temple square and Julian wanted his picture taken with Jesus

Townsend and Julian at the SLC temple

One morning Hyrum let me sleep in and took all three boys for a hike with Oma.  I guess they were super excited:)

Julian on the hike.  He walked almost all the way and only had to be carried the last little bit

Emerson by the waterfall they hiked to

The whole group of hikers by the waterfall.  There is one thing to say about Utah, it sure has some beautiful scenery and great hikes.

One evening we took a picnic dinner up to Bridal Veil Falls.

Julian hiking around Bridal Veil.

I hadn't been up to Bridal Veil for a few years.  They now have a little fish pond by the base of the falls.  The twins spent about half an hour trying to hand catch a fish.  There was an old guy there who was able to reach in and snatch a fish out and the boys were determined to do it...unfortunately the fish were too fast for them.  Maybe next year.

On our last day in Utah we went to the jump zone.  Here is Townsend, mid-flip

They love climbing the rock wall and then falling into the foam pit

Julian getting buried by the foam blocks.

I had to add this one last photo.  Oma bought a wii gaming system for the boys.  Can you believe how spoiled they are?  They spent a good part of every day in front of the t.v. playing Mario Cart.  Lucky boys!