Triathlon

After the race

Just before the finish line

Phil got my better side at the time clock

Phil and I did the army triathlon in August. It has been a few years so we thought we should do it again. We were ill prepared, but I beat my time by 12 minutes and Phil his by about an hour (it helps when you don't have a torn ACL and a missing pedal on your bike.) My swim was slower and I wasn't sure if I could run during the transitions because when I got out of the water no one was running to get to the bikes. I used Amanda's nice bike that we picked up the day before. Amanda told me not to change out of the higher gears so I had a great bike, but I didn't really know how to use it. I need to get a better bike to ride around for training, but they are crazy expensive. There were two ladies that came out of the water way after me and passed me at about mile 11 on the bikes. I wanted to keep up with them and I almost changed the middle gear, but was afraid I couldn't get back to those gears. I passed them on the run and managed to do the 3 mile run with a 6:50/mile pace. Really I just didn't want a guy from our ward, Andy Wilson, to pass me up so I really pushed the run. Plus when you can't feel your legs after the bike you get and the transition you get a funky pace going anyway. No pictures of Phil during the race because he finished way before me. It was fun though and we are trying to talk friends into do it with us next year. Everyone is afraid of the swim, but I inform them that I always do the sidestroke and would be happy to teach them because it is so cool. One guy I was swimming by stopped and asked me if I was okay because he didn't know what I was doing.

Movie in the Park

While we were in Portland we found a park that was playing a movie in the park and sold popcorn and treats. If was a great time and I wished we could pull something like this off in our neighborhood.

Concert with Kids

We took the kids to Oregon in August for a final trip before school started. It was a super hot week there and we had a great time swimming and doing outdoor things in the evening once Phil was done with work. They have an outdoor mall just across the street from our hotel that had a concert one of the nights. The band wasn't great, but the kids liked watching from the play structure and they loved eating treats from the candy store.

Camping

Camped at Nisqually and then spent the next day clearing a trail to the river. The kids loved sleeping in the tent and breakfast the next morning. Phil and I decided if we were going to camp we needed to get something to sleep on so we aren't on the hard ground. I am too young to feel so old after sleeping on the ground. We walked the rope bridge and the kids thought it was super fun to bounce on while I was screaming for them to stop. I am such a big baby and hate when I feel I am up in the air (even when it is about 6 inches over water less than 4 feet deep. Phil tried throwing the machete back over the little pond and didn't quite make it so he had to fish it out. He tried with a golf club from the car and then just jumped in and got wet.

Summer Nights

Playing kickball at Nisqually before building a fire for a cook-out with friends. Nothing like kicking up dirt, throwing a ball and laughing with friends. The summer is always so busy with people vacationing so we didn't get to spend very much time with the Elsworths and Paces, but it was fun when we got together.