A memory in the making

I was up a ton last night with Corrine (a theme to my life) and realized something. The older you get, the more patience it seems you have with your children, and life in general. With Michaela, I had much less patience and only bemoaned the lack of sleep I was experiencing when I got up with her in the night. Since then, however, I have realized just how fast babyhood goes, how little time your children are babies. Each child has given me more experience and a new perspective. One short year, and they don't fit in your arms as well. Too soon, and they are off on their own, and don't need you as much. So last night, in spite of how tired I was, every time I got up with her, I tried to sear the memory in my mind. To capture it with all my senses to last for when she is grown. She is almost 9 months old already, and it feels like I didn't have enough time to cuddle her. I may have been tired, but I held my precious baby like a life line. I appreciate that time with her because I know it won't last.

Triathalon fever

So I did what I have been wanting to do now for quite a while; I signed up to participate in a triathalon. It is just a sprint, not a full length. 700 yard swim, 13 mile bike and 3.5 mile run. You swim on Friday night, then bike and run Sat. morning. This is a good arrangment for me. I can swim, but am not a "swimmer" so that is really going to poop me out! I have a friend who is a swimmer and has been giving me some pointers on swimming, and even has me swimming with my face in the water! (Thanks Kim!) I am super excited to do this, and somewhat nervous. This is in just under a month! No doubt I will be the last to cross the finish line, probably half alive, but my only goal is to finish. Kim is also doing the same race. I told her that if I haven't crossed the finish line an hour after the last person, she can come drag me across! I also bought some tri shorts and a new jersey, and I tried them on and showed the kids. Ava says to me "Mommy, why are you wearing those funny clothes?"

I don't know what has possessed me, I have never been a competitive sport person, or really a sport person at all. I started running after Payden was born, and started thinking about doing races. The confidence to do one was never there, until I began talking to people who had done some. I realized that I don't have to have a perfect body or be in top form to do this. People of all shapes and fitness levels compete, so I am told. All I know is that I am super pumped to do this. In September, I am also registered to run in the Pocatello Marathon, a 10k.

Never in a million years did I ever think I could add triathelete to the list of things I am. But here I am, so excited about it that it is always on my mind. I got my bike tuned up, got my new duds, have been running, practicing swimming techniques, and picking my triathelete friends brain for everything to tips on what to eat before the race to what transitions are like. I have very few days left to train, so I have set a schedule to make sure I get in enough of everything to be ready.

Ready is relative, and just means that I won't die sometime during the race.

I feel so powerful doing this. I know that it is only the beginning, I can't wait to do a full one maybe next year!

Idaho State Championship!

We spent all night on Friday and part of the day on Saturday at the Stephens performing arts center for dance competetions. We were there from 4pm until almost 9pm on Friday, and a couple of hours on Saturday. This year Ava competed with her dance group. They got 1st place! (Dance teams and individuals don't compete against each other, only against themselves, so there can be lots of 1st's.)

I have to say that Jason took these pictures. I am the team mom for Ava's team, which means I stay with them backstage until they perform (no easy feat keeping these youngsters happy and in one place for almost an hour) walk them on stage and make sure they are positioned correctly, take them offstage, then get them back to their parents. So Jason took these pictures and the ones of the girls getting their trophies.

Ava's team was sooooo cute on stage. They did really good and had lots of fun.

Here is a picture of the girls with their teacher, LaChere, getting a team trophy for a team dance.

A picture of the trophies about to be awarded. They only give out 3 per division.


Since we are there so long, we packed dinner and ate in between performances.

Lunchables, chips, dried fruit, yogurt covered raisins, waters and red fish. Yum.

Here is the Michaela and Payden doing their baseball dance. It is to the song from High School Musical.



This is their solos. They both did so good this year; Michaela got two first places and one 2nd, and so did Payden.

This is how they do the solos: they line the kids up in rows, and four kids do the same dance at the same time. They exit, and the row behind goes, until all have had a chance. The result is you listen to the same portion of the same song over and over and over.....

These things are always crazy, but I am getting the hang of it. Costume changes, (the older girls have 3), getting to the right stage at the right time, finding their numbers and getting them on, knowing the difference between a show and a line solo, etc. This year was actually more fun, even with having Corrine with us. She actually fell asleep with all the earsplitting music and cheering going on! Darn, I should have gotten a pic of that. Oh, well. Next up, SpringFest in Taylorsville next month!

Ouch

This just looks uncomfortable.

She was so tired she just zonked.

You can even see her other hand is stuck in her crib. I did fix her after I took these pictures!

Dear Mom,

A note from Payden:

Dear Mom,

I love you! You are the best mom ever! I hope you have a good dinner- Big Foot pizza! I love you! You are so nice!
Love,
Payden

P.S. Our Christmas lights are still up!

Did you say yes?!

Ava has been asking me for a while to plant the seeds in this little pot kit she got from her aunt and uncle. It was broken, so Jason had to glue it first, plus it just seemed like she always asked at the wrong times. So yesterday, she asked me again. Jason had fixed it, and nothing else was going on, so I said sure. Her reaction made me feel guilty....maybe I should say yes more often.

Ava: Mom, can we plant my seeds from Uncle Paul and Aunt Jackie?

Me: Sure.

Ava: Well, its (she was starting to argue with me)....did you say yes?

Me: Uh huh.

Ava: Oh.

Our Sweet Corrine

Corrine sleeps in the cutest ways. She will hold her head, sleep on her tummy, or cover her eyes, like this. She also sometimes sleeps on her side with her arms above her head.

Corrine is babbeling and saying the most adorable sounds. She has Da-Da down, we are just trying to get her to say Ma-Ma!