It doesn't hurt to TRI

One week ago today, I completed my very first triathalon!  I'm still amazed I crossed the finish line on my own and didn't need to be carried off on a stretcher.  Quite the opposite, I had so much fun and enjoyed the company of the 12 other ladies on my team so much!  We are already planning on doing the Gold Nugget again next year.  Who would have ever thought it?  Go Valley Rookies!

It was so sweet to hear the girls shouting from the sidelines, "Go mom!"  Better yet was Ella's hand slipping in mine right after I crossed the finish line.  

what a difference a year makes!

Owen wore the same shirt on his birthday that Thomas did just one year ago...the day Owen was born!  Wow. ..Sometimes I think the boys look alike, but not so much in these pics.

new grad

Aimee graduated last week.  So proud of you, girl!  

Owen is one

He's one.  I can hardly believe it! 

zip!

We used some of Claire's birthday money to buy a zipline.  Wow, has that thing been a hit!  We've all taken turns zipping on it and it really is FUN! You jump out of the kids' treefort and zip on a cable about 60 feet through the woods.  I think the kids will be buff by the end of the summer as it's  great for abs and arms!  I'm thankful we don't have video of me doing it the first time as I wasn't very graceful!!

claire is seven

Claire is 7!  We celebrated her birthday with good friends and a scavenger hunt at our house.  

Here are just a few of the things we love about Claire...

*That she likes to play outside (Ella)

*That she always tries her best (Mom)

* She asks questions when she doesn't understand (Dad)

*Her snuggles and  hugs (Mom)

*"Play with Claire Bear" (Thomas)

boating 09

We went on our first family boating adventure of the year this past weekend.  The weather was beyond beautiful...glassy seas = rosy cheeks.  Owen loved the taste of the seaweed on the beach!
Owen's view at breakfast!


Icebergs make me nervous to say the least.  I can confidently say, I did NOT lay on the floor as we drove by all the bergs this time.  (Yes, sometimes I lay on the floor because I can't even handle looking at them!!)  I think I was distracted by the need to shoot photos.
Owen's first shrimp!
Biggest starfish we've ever seen on a shrimp pot...or likely anywhere!



The kids spent hours exploring the tidepools at this beach.  Tom and I happily sat on the beach, soaked up the sun, and chatted.  Ah...it feels so good to be in Prince William Sound again.

50 years

How many Fischer Price toys do you have at your house?  Grandma Sheryl added to our collection recently with this barn for Owen's birthday.  They are selling a 50th anniversary model of the barn, but after researching it, Gr'ma decided it didn't cut it.  So, she found this classic on Ebay &  both boys LOVE it!  Tom played with this barn as a little guy...I had the house and treefort myself:) What FP toy do you have memories of?

legos

Thanks for the shirts Gr'ma JoAnne!