Cookies by Cambrie

Sunday afternoon the girls were feeling bored and I was feeling like cookies, so I asked Cambrie if she felt like making cookies all by herself.  She couldn't believe that she was so lucky.  Jeremy set up the ingredients for her, and I sat within hearing range just in case she had any questions.  Really the only thing I did was to take the pans in and out of the oven.  

Cambrie did so well!  The cookies looked and tasted like fabulous chocolate chip cookie creations.  She's already asking what she can make next!

Lake to Lake Sprint Tri

After missing out on the half ironman, I am feeling pretty determined to get as ready as I can before the next one.  The first step is to make sure my collar bone can handle any triathlon, so I signed up for the Loveland Lake to Lake Sprint Triathlon.  I went in with the mentality of it being a training race just to see how I feel and to have fun.  Having fun is exactly what I did.  Because I wasn't stressed about my performance I was just able to enjoy racing again.  My swim felt really strong.  I didn't wander too much and I only bumped into two people.  In retrospect, I probably could have gone faster, but my pace felt comfortable and strong so I kept with it (750 yards in 10:09).  I was slow in the first transition.  I dropped my fuel, couldn't find my fuel, got tangled with the other competitors on my rack being so close to me, but finally got out of there.  I was most surprised by my performance on the bike.  Only two people passed me and stayed ahead of me.  The rest I played leapfrog with for the 15 mile ride.  It was a perfect ride to use my aerobars, but I was still too nervous to actually use them.  The roads were clean, wide, and the hills were just rolling hills (15 mile ride in 44:32).  Before I knew it, I was already on to the run.  Last week I did one quick transition training session where I went straight from the bike to the run, and the memory of running on Jell-o legs was quick to return.  But even though my legs felt like Jell-o, I had to keep my pace under control because they wanted to go so fast.  The temperature was perfect and I didn't feel overheated, so I used the aid stations just for a quick sip before moving on.  It was a long run for a sprint tri, but I was still having fun.  Seeing my family surprise me at the finish line was even better (4.3 miles in 31:56).  Because Kelton has been sick, I wasn't sure if they were going to make it or not.  Once he saw me, Kelton didn't want to leave my arms.  

As they posted the results, I was shocked to learn that not only did I take first in my age group with a final time of 1:30:34, but I also took third overall in the female category.  Wahoo!  That's how I like to roll :)  We had to wait nearly two hours before the awards ceremony, and it was a little anti-climatic to learn that the awards were itty-bitty medals for the age group, and nothing at all for the overall award.  Oh well, it's not about the hardware it's about the fun right?  I can't wait to get going on our next race, Boulder Sunset.

Family Fun Day

At one of the Comfort Dental golf tournaments, Jeremy won a free night's stay at the Grand Hyatt down in Denver.  Well, we completely forgot about it and needed to use it before it expired at the end of the month.  We had considered making it a romantic get away for the two of us, but because it ended up being so last minute we ended up taking all the kids with us too.  The kids love any kind of hotel stay so they had a blast.  It complicated things a little bit that this was a nice hotel.  I didn't want the kids running around too crazily or being too loud and disturbing the other guests.  They couldn't help running to the elevators, jumping on the beds, and having a general good time.  When it came time for breakfast, we had access to their exclusive club upstairs.  I felt a little guilty hauling our family in, but the food was fabulous and free so I couldn't complain.  It reminded me a lot of our China hotel stay with Bruce's perks.  

We had all day after our stay to hang out downtown.  The girls and I went on a morning walk to the state capital.  On our way we walked down 16th Street Mall and the girls played on every piano we passed (about six of them).  Cambrie played "Firefly" and McKenzie played "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" with a little help.  Some of the folks on the street already were playing too and it made for a really fun atmosphere.

After our walk we decided to go to Cherry Creek Reservoir.  Since we don't have immediate access to an ocean beach, we hoped that the kids would like this just as much.  The sand was awesome....but the water was green.  Not a pretty, clear, refreshing green...but pond scum green.  I wasn't too disappointed that the kids were happy playing on the sand and didn't spend much time in the water.  

I really liked Jeremy's version of a beach side babysitter for Kelton.  I can't tell what that expression on Kelton's face is exactly.

Of course they had to build a sand castle.  

After McKenzie and I built the complex, she laid down to take a nap...

...while Cambrie and Jeremy added the moat, waterfall and nearby lake.  

Then it was Kelton's turn to add his special touch, destruction!  He thought smashing those towers was awesome.  

It's a good thing McKenzie wasn't awake to see the final product.  

Father's Day Fruit Ninja

Father's Day came super quickly since Jeremy had been back at work that week.  But we managed to find time to get him some fun Father's Day gifts.  New pants...I know, thrilling!  But because he has lost so much weight we needed to get some that showed off how awesome he looks!  A new bike jersey straight from Boise.  He had been eyeing it before the race but didn't feel like he had earned it quite yet.  Now he can wear it with pride.  And the most fun gift...drumroll please...a machete!  It may not be the most practical of gifts, but it is definitely the coolest.  

He took it out in the backyard to play fruit ninja.  He sliced those apples up very well.  I was a little jealous that he was the own wielding the sword.

I am just so proud to call this handsome man my husband and father to my kids.  

He is a great role model for them and puts up with all their squeals, crayons, wrestling requests, and sneak attacks very well.  Happy Father's Day hun!

Lagoon: It's What Fun is!

For my birthday present this year I requested a family fun day at Lagoon.  As an added bonus we convince my family in Utah to join us as well.  I don't think I've been to Lagoon since senior day 10 years ago.  Some of the rides have changed, but most all brought back a flood of memories.  It was a little strange being on the responsible adult end of the trip, like making sure there was enough food for everyone.  We hauled in a cooler and duffel bag full of snacks to keep our tummies happy all day.  I was a little skeptical about the cooler, but when we set up camp at the pavilion I laughed out loud.  Only in Utah would there be a sea of coolers as far as the eye could see left completely unattended while families enjoyed themselves on the rides. 

We were lucky that Faye and Alan could join us.  Even though Faye is as tall as McKenzie she is a year and a half younger so her ride preferences are different.  We started out in the kiddie section to get everyone warmed up.  Even the adults had a good time on those rides.  Somehow we chose a wet ride for our first ride of the day, but the kids managed to come out pretty dry.  Faye was super excited that she was able to ride in a shark.

We moved onto the tea cups, and as long as I kept looking through my camera lens I didn't get too dizzy.  The girls could not get it spinning fast enough for their taste.  

I was a little jealous that Alan and my Mom had a much calmer ride.

Onto the ladybug drop there were smiles all around.  

For some of the rides the adults were just too big and we let the girls go by themselves.  Faye squeezed herself between her cousins and we just hoped that nobody decided to make a break for it during the ride.  

They have definitely amped up the kiddie section.  The Dragonfly was one of the new rides I hadn't seen before.  It is similar to the adult swings, but each section spins by itself as it spins around the center support.  It was a lot of fun actually.  

While Jeremy and I decided to get a quick grown-up ride in on the Samurai, the rest of the crew rode the Ferris Wheel. We were able to see them waving to us from up above while we waited in line.  

Camille joined us after one of her Days of '47 engagement and she was just the extra boost we needed in the heat of the day.  (Truthfully it was the perfect temperature).  

While the bigger kids rode the swings, Faye and McKenzie went to splash in the fountains.  McKenzie was staying perfectly dry until Uncle Alan decided it would be great fun to teach her how to stand on the water jets.  Needless to say she was more than a little damp when they were done frolicking.  

Since some of us were already wet we made our way over to Rattlesnake Rapids.  The line was a little long and while Faye was cuddling up with Camille we realized that she had had enough fun for the day.  We said goodbye to our sweet cousin and continued waiting for our turn to get wet.  As we watched raft after raft go under the waterfall we realized that we were going to get more than just a little wet.  My goal was to not sacrifice my kids to the waterfall to save myself like I saw most parents doing ;)  Luckily Grandma had brought her waterproof jacket and both the girls could fit in well enough to protect them from the chaotic splashing water.  

As soon as we sat down McKenzie huddled down to brace herself for the worse.  I didn't see her face the entire time, even when we told her it was safe.  When we reached the waterfall everyone was hoping the raft would turn enough to save them from a direct hit.  The girls were kept safe under their jacket, and even I missed a direct hit.  

Camille and Jeremy weren't as lucky and each were drenched by the waterfall.  

As crazy as it seemed, time was starting to run out on our fun day.  We needed to squeeze in as many wild rides as possible before it was time to go.  In the kiddie section we found a wild roller coaster that was perfect for both girls, Bombora.  It whipped, and spun, and zoomed along the track while blaring "Surfin' Safari" over its speakers.  There was absolutely no line so we rode it three times in a row.  One on of the passes McKenzie found out that she was going to get the car with the pink dolphin.  She pumped both arms and yelled, "Yes!"  She was so excited!  

On the bumper cars, Cambrie was a super big sister and helped McKenzie get all buckled up before finding her own car, but that meant all the other cars were gone and Cambrie had to wait through McKenzie's round before getting a turn.  Watching McKenzie drive that bumper car was hilarious!  She kept cranking the wheel too far in each direction and it resulted in her spinning in circles alone and untouched by any other cars.  Towards the end she was able to straighten it out enough to bump into others, but it really was the most entertaining thing I had seen all day.  

Cambrie was a little bit better and after a short learning curve she figured out the best way to bump and bump.  

As my Mom, Camille, Cambrie and Jeremy hit up the Collosus, McKenzie and I rode the Music Express.  She giggled the entire ride.  My neck was actually kinked from watching her smile and laugh as we spun around.  Conquerors of the Colossus!  

When Cambrie found out she was tall enough for Wicked she jumped up and down and screamed "Yes!"  We found out too late that because Cambrie falls withing a specific height range we could have used a preferential line and skipped the 45 min wait.  Jeremy was able to take advantage of it though.  Then as they moved onto the white roller coaster and the Spider, we rode the carousel again.  McKenzie and Faye probably could have ridden the carousel all day and been perfectly happy.  

By now it was getting dark and we all tried to squeeze in one more ride.  Jeremy, Camille and I rode the Rocket, and the big meanies made me extend my arms out straight the entire ride.  For whatever reason I was terrified and they got a kick out of my screams.  We also wanted to smuggle McKenzie onto the Bat.  She was short by 1/4 inch the first time we waited in line, but we wanted to give it another shot.  While the ride attendant was directing Jeremy and my Mom what to do with their bags, I shoved McKenzie through the turn style and we patiently waited our turn.  She looked so little in the harness.  I began to wonder if that 1/4 in would actually make a difference.  After the ride I asked her what she thought and she asked if we could do that ride "all the time."  I asked her if it was scary and she said she was just scared the lady would look at her.  By now everyone was exhausted and it was all we could do to carry the kids, the coolers, and ourselves back to the cars.  Cambrie fell asleep mid-sentence as she was explaining to me to put Ducky into bed with her when we got home.  What an awesome day and a great birthday present!

Hyrum Dam

My parents needed to take out the boat for the first time this season and needed a crew to fill it.  We were more than happy to fulfill that request.  We kept the outing simple and just went tubing, but we had such a fun time.  Kelton didn't know what to make of the wind in his hair, but I have to say that the style is pretty awesome.  

Cheesy grin with grandma.

Cambrie kept wanting to go faster and faster...that is until she hit a bump and caught some air, then she was content with just mostly fast.  

McKenzie was so little that she kept sliding down into the center of the tube.  With her little bum all the way down she couldn't reach the handles and held on to my arm instead.  We liked nice quiet rides.  

At one point we decided to squeeze all four girls onto the tube.  Needless to say we sat a little low in the water and the two little faces that were lowest were pretty splashed. 

 The girls were also super excited to each have a turn driving the boat.  Being boat captain is one of my favorite memories when we were on the water.  I felt so grown up and I could tell my girls were really having a good time.  Look at my handsome dad overlooking his captain proteges!  

And look at my girls' pretty aunt.  She is so great playing with my kids and always been so much fun to be around.  

Sun bathing...well, actually just trying to get warm!

What a great little day trip!