Solstice Triathalon

Last weekend Andy participated in the local Exterra Triathalon. Exterra is a series of Triathalons that occur all across the US, and we are fortunate enough to get one right here in our back door at Morgan Lake.
It was a 1 mile swim, 22 mile bike ride and a 6 mile run. I am amazed at how hard Andy worked to get ready for each event. The struggle with a Triathalon is that there are 3 events to train for, 3 very different events to transition into while doing the event, and a ton of different muscle groups that are involved in so many different ways to work over the event!
There were 119 participants in the Solstice Triathalon. It was a bit chilly here that day and that makes the mucky Morgan Lake even less pleasureable with the cold water. But they all sported their wetsuits and got in ready for the start signal!!!

The swim was Andys most recent endeavor, therefore the weakest of the 3. But he did sooo well. He came in about middle of the pack! Then it was time to head in, transition out of the wet clothes and into bike clothes, and then out for the bike ride.

Andy swimming in to shore.

The hardest part of the day... Changing from the wetsuit!

Off onto the long bike ride!! The terrain for the ride was extremely rocky and steep! Andy had rode part of it before, but it had rained the night before and was muddy and slick to add to the tricky terrain. The woman who organizes the event locally each year fell in the first part of the ride and ended up breaking her collar bone. That speaks for how tough the ride was...

Andy is in the background taking off on the bike while there are still swimmers in the lake. Chad is in the pontoon. He got to be one of the people who made sure the swimmers didn't drown!! We didn't get to try out his CPR abilities though thankfully! Everyone made it out of the water safely and Chad made it back in first place for pontoon rowers!!!! Good job Chad!!!

The transition area.

Andy coming in from the ride. He was behind two riders when they came into view. But as I transitioned where I was so I could take his picture coming through the finish line, he passed both of them. I was so bummed that I missed it! Andy ended up being the 6th one in from the bike ride. He really does great on the bike! While he was transitioning into his running shoes he was in such a hurry that he didn't notice there were only a few other bikes that had come back so far! He got on his shoes and off for the really hard trail run!

Andy coming in from the run! Morgan Lake was a beautiful area for this fun event! It was just gorgeous up there during this time of year!



Andy came in 21st place overall! Amazingly well for first time Triathlete and in such a difficult terrain! It was so much fun watching him do so well!!!

I Am Back!!!

Wow! It's been a while huh? I guess I had lost my something!!! But I am back! And wow am I back! I am so excited to start logging our life here again and share my thoughts and feelings about life! Right now it is busy as ever with soccer starting already and having 3 teams. Aladdin is this weekend and Kyndall has a small part, but its been so fun for her to be a part of it! If you live in the area and don't have tickets, this is a show to go to! They do a great job and it's something fun and different to do in the valley! Elgin Opera House.... its only 20 miles and so worth the drive! Day camp for Cub Scouts this week and thats been fun for the boys! SPencer is there as a helper and Wyatts last year doing day camp! Fun that they could do it together!

So I have lots to share and pictures galore.... but have to run right now! Enjoy the sun and smile big! It's a beautiful day to be happy and to shine:)

SOCCER CAMP

The kids had so much fun at Soccer Camp this year! We LOVE BYU soccer camp! There are so many fun kids there! The kids are coached by the BYU soccer players... and they are COOL! They usually have a coach that is getting ready to leave on a mission or just got back! They look up to their coaches so much! The weather last year was over 100 degrees everyday... This year it was nice 2 of the 5 days... Rained the rest! But they still loved it! Loved what they learned! Loved being in Utah... it must be a genetic thing they inherited from me! I love Utah! Especially Utah County! Special people and memories there! The kids didn't even complain about having to get up at 6:00 every morning to get up and drive to Provo from South Jordan!

Getting ready in the Morning!! Oh it is EARLY!!!



A look at the field while they play! There are so many kids there! It is amazing to them coming from a town of 12,000 population! I loved looking at the mountains while I sat and watched them! BEAUTIFUL!! (even with snow in June!)



Last Day! Gotta have one with the Y in the background! GO COUGARS!!! Then we were off to Pizza at Brick Oven! YUM! I love traditions!!!:)

UTAH TRIP

In the spirit of catching up I am going back to the last week of school! Being the educationally prioritizing parent that I am we ended up pulling the kids out of school for the final week of school this week! I know... bad parent! We missed student led conferences with the kids' portfolios, field day, talent show, 5th grade graduation, and the most important... Dilly Bars on the last day... but we had a blast! I was in such need of a break from school and the kids' soccer camp fell that week! It was such a great trip! I had a fun time with my Mom and Dad, got to do some shopping by myself!, ate at great restaurants (Cafe Rio, Brick Oven, Maglebys Breakfast.... I love you all!), I even got to attend the temple 2 times... first for a long time! I got some excellent sister time:) and the kids had the most incredible cousin/ friend time ever (just missed seeing Brett and Corina:))... Had to add a few fun shots that we got! I got a TON... but only wanted to post a few or this could be super long!!

Grandma and Dallin! A common sight now!


Girl Power!! Kyndall loves spending time with her GIRL cousins... too much boy power at home:) I didn't get a good shot of the boys together... they move too much:) The girls just sat and talked and giggled and talked and giggled! Good for everyone!!


My Little Sis and I! That was fun to sit and visit! My mom, Barbie and I got to attend the temple one night together... that was so special! So grateful that Dad watched ALL the kids so we could go!


Kyndall and my parents next door neighbor... they are the best of friends and have so much fun together! We love friends like that, that you can just be together and be happy! Kyndall doesn't get that alot here, so we love her Utah time!

CHILD LABOR

This is the best summer ever as far as child labor! Spencer is finally big enough to be able to mow the lawn on the riding lawn mower! It has saved Andy so much time to not have to mow... We are doing a project filling in the hole down by the tree... so Andy works down in the hole and Spencer mows! He feels like the ultimate multi tasker! Each and every little thing that we get to let Spencer do... the better it is! Who ever knew when we had 3 kids under 2 that there would be a benifit to having kids other than loving the heck out of them!!! Love it!! Thanks Spencer for being such a great helper!! And always doing such a good job:)

DANCE RECITAL

The girls had their two end of the year dance recitals... They were both such good shows! We only had the camera at the first one... but got some Great shots!!! Kyndall is an absolute natural at dance. I really love to watch her and envy her ability. Grace is just starting, but loves it! She got to be the "Queen Bee" for their Bee dance and loved the spotlight, and her one on one stage time with Miss Patty! As much as we love to watch the girls and they enjoy dancing... I AM SO GLAD IT IS SUMMER!!!! I am going to enjoy our Lazy Days of not running kids in the evenings for 3 months!!!!

Fathers and Sons

The boys had such a great time at the fathers sons activity. The campfire at night was fun, especially the Smores... The camping was cold... And the playing the next day was even better.

Andy and the Boys!

Uncle Jeff with boys!

The kids and their friends...