Rage Triathlon

Chad and I participated in Rage triathlon.  We both did a sprint triathlon which is 750 m (.47 miles) swim, 12.4 mile bike, 5k (3.1 miles) run.  Chad has done a couple before but this was my first one.  We didn't really train (like hardly trained at all) so I almost backed out but I'm glad I didn't.

We did it with Chad's brother and his wife, Josh & Trisha, and Chad's mom, Georganne.  It was fun to have a group of us doing it together.  The weather ended up being fantastic.  It was pretty hot towards the end but at least it wasn't windy! 

The swim went better than I thought.  I was worried it would be freezing but with the wetsuit it just felt slightly cool.  I thought I might panic with the open swim but I kept my cool and was able to swim freestyle the whole time.

I had one small mishap on the bike.  My chain popped off.  Luckily the night before Chad was inspired to teach me what to do when that happens because otherwise I don't think I would have been able to figure it out.  It cost me a few minutes, but it could have been worse.  I was able to complete the bike without having to walk my bike up the bigger hills.  Success!

By the time I got to the run I was pretty tired but I was determined not to walk no matter how slow I was jogging.  I think I set a record for the world's slowest jog but I didn't walk.  Success again!

I was so proud of myself for finishing.  I never got discouraged and just kept pressing forward.  Chad had to leave right after he finished to get to Vance's t-ball game so he didn't get to see me finish.  I understand, but I have to be honest - I was a little bummed that he wasn't there :(  I know he wanted to be in two places at once. 

Josh, Trisha, and I snapped a picture of us with our medals after the race. 

Chad and I both had a blast and I'm sure we'll be participating in another sprint triathlon.  Chad finished in 1:41:46 and I finish in 2:34:02

I'm grateful to have a husband who is always so supportive and believes in me 110%.  When we got in the car he had written the note below and taped it to a Gatorade bottle.  It gave me the confidence booster I needed before the race.

I got him one of his favorite treats - Double Stuf Oreos just to let him know how much I appreciate him.  The saying is a little corny.  I was really trying hard to think of a cute saying with Oreo in it but it's harder than you think.

Refuel

I have a ritual at night.  Pretty much every night before I go to bed, I go into my boys' room.  I lean down to Vance and give him a quick snuggle and kiss.  Sometimes I pick him up off the floor (or whatever crazy way he fell asleep) and put him back into bed.  Other times I pick him up out of bed and just hold my big boy for a minute.  Then I go to the crib.  I used to just have to look at Keller because he would wake up when I help him.  Now I am able to pick him up and rock my sleeping baby.  He NEVER falls asleep in my arms so this is quite a treat.  I just hold him for like a minute and then put him back down to sleep.

This is how I REFUEL. 

Throughout the day my mommy-resources are drained.  Each time I clean up Vance's spilled drink or listen to Keller cry as I attempt to get ready, my mommy gas tank gets a little emptier.  Each time I have to ask Vance to do something a thousand times before he listens or I pull my hair out of Keller's clenched fist, my mommy gas tank gets a little emptier.

I REFUEL as the day continues.  Each time Vance gets excited about something new he learned or Keller flashes me one of his adorable smiles, my mommy gas tank gets a little fuller.  Each time Vance asks to sit on my lap and read books or Keller starts blowing raspberries at me, my mommy gas tank gets a little fuller.

I used to feel like I ended the day with a pretty full tank.  Keller has changed things.  At the beginning my tank was still pretty full.  I expect newborns to be a challenge so I handled it well I think.  Keller has become quite a handful the last few months and isn't showing signs of getting any easier.  As much as I hate to admit it, at the end of the day my tank is now getting closer to empty.  I have always been able to handle a hard day here or there but hard days one after another take a toll on anyone.

I still have a quarter tank left at the end of the day but I am afraid.  I am afraid that if Keller doesn't get a little easier my tank might be empty by the end of the day.  I am afraid I won't be able to be the kind of mom I want to be.  I know that we will all survive.  I'm not worried about that.  I will always have enough in reserve to meet all of our needs.  However, I want to do more than just survive. 

Tonight I got Keller out of his crib with a tank running close to empty.  I turned the lights in the house down low so I wouldn't wake him up and went into the living room (I normally never take him out of his room during this nighttime ritual).  I sat in the rocking chair and just held my sleeping baby. 

Tonight I didn't hurry and take him back to his crib.  I sat and thought about how much I love my sweet boys.  I thought about how lucky I am to be their mom.  This is what I always think about when I hold my sleeping boys.  It's these thoughts that REFUEL my mommy gas tank. 

Tonight I also prayed as I rocked Keller.  I prayed to give thanks for the many blessings associated with motherhood.  However the rest of my prayer was asking for His help.  I prayed that I would have more patience and be more in tune with my sons' needs.  I prayed that my fears of running out of gas by the end of the day would not be realized.  I prayed for inspiration about how to handle Keller.  I prayed that Keller would be more content.  I prayed that I will have reassurance to know I am doing the best I possibly can and that I am a great (not just good) mom.  I have faith that somehow my prayers will be answered.

My tank will not run out of gas.

My tank will NOT run out of gas.

At Home

Keller is finally officially sitting! He has been kind of sitting for awhile but he would still topple over occassionally. Now he knows how to stop sitting and start crawling around. He has been a little happier and more content which is great!
Vance and Keller have started playing together a little more and it has been really cute to watch.

Vance's favorite thing to do together is family baths. He likes it best when all four of us shower together...we need a bigger shower.

Keller's favorite toy is a spoon. He LOVES spoons. Pretty much any time we leave the house I make sure to take a couple of spoons with me. Random.

Vance on the other hand still likes balls and anything with wheels.

He's so dang cute!

I picked up a free water table and it has been great. Vance loves to fill it up, dump it out, fill it up, dump it out, etc.

The Smith Center

Chad, David, and my dad bought Amy, my mom, and me season tickets to the Smith Center's inaugural season as Christmas gifts this year. We went together to see the first show of the season "The Color Purple" which was really amazing! The venue was beautiful. I am so excited to welcome a performing arts center to our city! The attention to detail in the desin throught the center was wonderful.

I have never read or seen the movie "The Color Purple" so the production was completely new to me. It was a great story, and I loved the songs. Usually when you see a musical there will be some good talent, but truly the entire cast were SO talented. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The current season ticket holders had the option to renew for the 2012-2013 season through the end of the month. After talking about it my mom, Amy, and I all decided to take the plunge and renew our subscriptions. It was a bit expensive but this will be entertainment for the entire next year. I love live theater and am so excited by the variety of the season the Smith Center has put together. Next season includes Wicked, Billy Elliott, Shrek the Musical, Beauty & the Beast, West Side Story, The Addams Family, Anything Goes, and Catch me if you can.

Thanks for spoiling me yet again Chad!

Easter Treats

I made a few Easter treats thanks to Pinterest.
These cupcakes were my favorite. I think they turned out so cute!

Our church is at 8:00 so I decided to have an Easter breakfast on Saturday. Vance helped me make pink bunny buttermilk pancakes. Thank you Katherine Dougall for the AMAZING recipe. I will be making them again for sure. I also made a buttermilk caramel syrup that was delicious.

We all decorated our bunny pancakes before we ate them.

I also made these yummy and simple treats. If you use pastel M&Ms I think they look pretty festive.

Sideburns

Since I had Keller I have this amazing thing happening - sideburns and forehead regrowth! I love looking like a man and having random patches of hair on my forehead.
Can you sense the sarcasm and hate?! These hairs are awful. I didn't have postpartum regrowth with Vance but it has been horrible this time. I am forced to have a middle part and usually have to wear my hair down. On the bright side these stupid patches of hair are getting more manageable now that they are a little longer. At first they stuck straight out and were completely untameable.

If you haven't experienced this wonderful phenomenon count yourself lucky and hope you never do!

Easter

We had a fun Easter. The Easter bunny spoiled our boys rotten. Vance got some baseball stuff, treats, and a new swimsuit. Keller got some new toys, treats, and a Hotwheels car.
I got a new church outfit. My parents used to give us a new church outfit every Easter and it's a tradition I plan to continue the rest of my life. Thanks Chad!

The family all came over for dinner and to celebrate Easter too. The kids were very excited to hunt for Easter eggs.

Keller showing off his new Easter onesie -

Keller loved the eggs. He would scoot as fast he could from egg to egg. He DID NOT like being on the grass though. The trampoline was much better.

We had SO many eggs, but I think the kids managed to find them all.

I love my mom and dad! Aren't they so cute?!

Afterwards the kids opened all their eggs!

We celebrated the April birthdays on Sunday too. Chad and I gave my mom an iPad as a birthday/Mother's Day/thank you for watching the kids all the time/HUGE thanks for letting us live with you. She was pretty excited...

We stopped by the Waldron's too. We were able to see Grandpa and Grandma Lebaron for a little bit. We visited outside and watched the kids play while enjoying the beautiful weather.

I gave a lesson on the Atonement and the true meaning of Easter with my family. It was short and sweet, but I really felt like the kids listened (which they don't always do). I shared a Mormon Message called "None were with him." If you have the chance you should watch it. You can find it on youtube.

Hope you had a great Easter too!

Swim Lessons

Vance started back at swim lessons over spring break. Water Wings had a swim clinic and it was such a good deal that I couldn't pass it up. Monday through Friday for 1 1/2 hours everyday. I was worried Vance might have forgotten a lot from when he quit swim lessons back in October, but he didn't. He picked up right where he left off and made QUICK progress.
Josh was his coach for the week and he did great with Vance. He pushed him, but not so far that Vance got scared.

Every lesson they worked on freestyle arms, legs, and breathing.

They used the kickboard to help get his kicks stronger and work on the side-breathing.

They also worked on backstroke and simply floating on your back.

One of my favorite things they practiced was throwing the kids into the water and then the kids have to swim to the side of the pool and climb out. This is probably the most important lesson I want Vance to remember. It could save his life one day!

They also practice diving in (which looks more like a belly flop for now) and getting diving rings. Vance gets so proud every time he gets one.

In one week Vance made so much progress. The first day he could swim freestyle but couldn't breathe at all. He could float on his back, but couldn't do the backstroke. He would jump in feet first when asked to dive.

By the end of the week he could dive in from the side of the pool and swim one pool length freestyle using the side-breathing technique. He could also do the backstroke one pool length. I am one PROUD MAMA! He was able to move up a level (now he is an otter) and received a ribbon for his accomplishments.

Watch these two videos to see my little man in action! One is freestyle and one is backstroke.

If you are looking to put your kid in swim lessons, Water Wings is THE place to go. Tell them Vance sent you :)