Snips and Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails

Here are my sweet, wild, messy, crazy, wiggling, mischievous, happy, active, silly, adventure-seeking boys.  Because boys will be boys.

Climbing in the tub fully clothed?  They don't see a problem with that.

Eating ALL THE TIME?  Yup, and that's not going to be better any time soon.

Flashing grins at mom to not arouse suspicion to whatever they were doing before.

Bike riding in the rain.

Cruising at insane top speeds for little boys.

Playing with rocks, dirt, and water...

Even when pictures were scheduled to be taken...

Building seven-foot-tall snowmen with Daddy.

Playing soccer in the back yard.

Getting along or getting into mischief?  Sometimes it's hard to tell.

Trying to fly.

Getting ahold of the camera and taking random pictures.  The poor boys live in the car.

Messes to masterpieces.

Lovin' their mom and me lovin' their smiles.

I give up

I have accepted the fact that with four kids my house will never be perfect.  My house isn't a disaster, but there is always something going on.  Today however...sigh...oh my...I think I need to change my definition of losing my mind.  We drove back from St. George late last night, which means today I need to unpack and get some general organizational things done.  I decided to start by checking my email for those lists of important dates I'm receiving from school for end-of-year activities.  I was feeling pretty good about combing through those emails and then I found my living room looking like some strange destroyed lost boys fort. At least the boys were keeping each other entertained...most of the time.  I still had to calm down a screaming, pouting Daxton during my time on the computer.  

Laundry is also high on my Monday, post-trip to-do list.  Instead of being laundry helpers, the boys are literally throwing the clothes onto the floor, behind the bed, and burrowing under my sheets.  I'm so glad I made my bed today...what a waste.  I gave up folding laundry and thought I'd take care of it when I didn't have any extra "help."

Lunch time!  Finally!  After lunch I can put Daxton down for a nap and actually get some things done.  Lunch is done and I'm doing dishes when I hear a crash.  The kids' craft cupboard exploded onto the floor, with quite a bit of help from Daxton.  Well...at least the dishes were clean.  

By now I'm pretty tired of a toddler who is screaming, whining, clinging, and making messes every time I turn around.  I'm simply trying to put out fires here, so I decide it's nap time.  I take him upstairs and discover that I can't even walk across the floor.  There's nothing to do at this point besides shut the door and walk away.  Please oh please let tomorrow not be like today.

St. George 70.3

To say that's it's been a wild lead up to St. George would be an understatement.  We've been sick, in Puerto Vallarta, hosting birthday parties, attending graduations, and driving down to St. George.  Look who we ran into at a potty break at a gas station in Cedar City, Nycole!  Completely random huh?

It has been absolutely insane but we hoped that we had done enough to prepare for race day.  The day before the race when we should have been scoping out the course, resting, and mentally getting ready, instead we were visiting the Kings who were in town so the boys could play.  They had a sleepover and while it was a little rough at the beginning with an overly exhausted Kelton, they had a blast.  I felt bad that Alysha had to experience the whole peanut allergy thing first-hand.  That definitely gets the blood moving!

 

We also visited my best friend growing up, Ed.  We were best buds through all of those awkward junior high years and somehow made it through all right.  She moved away before ninth grade and we lost touch through the early marriage and grad school years.  Well she and her husband moved their family to St. George about two years ago and it was a great excuse to go visit a long-lost friend.  

While we chatted the kids played in the pool, doing flips, sliding off the slides, and enjoying their time out of the car.  It was so great getting to see her again.  

Race morning dawned bright and early and Jeremy and I were pooped from all our traveling.  

My goal was to be first out of the water and I was getting some pretty intense butterflies leading up to the race.  I had some fast girls in my age group and it brought back a flood of memories from my swim team days trying to chase them down.  I had my best Ironman swim yet, but I didn't know until results were posted if I took that Roka award or not.  Unfortunately I took second in my age group by about a minute.  Ugh!  I had also made a goal to really push on the bike.  I was nervous about what that was going to do to my run, but I also knew that the only way I'm going to get better is by being uncomfortable.  As I pushed along-fairly speedily for me-I kept checking for when Jeremy was going to catch up to me.  I was surprised that I didn't see him until mile 29 or so.  He had a fantastic swim and was looking so great (like usual) on his bike.  I wasn't as scared for Snow Canyon this year as my first year.  The view is spectacular so I tried to enjoy it as I was panting up that 1000 foot climb.  There wasn't time to relax up at the top however, I really had to focus on the fast ride down because the wind has started blowing pretty hard.  I was just glad to have the bike over and done with no accidents.  I was also really looking forward to seeing my family at T2.  I later learned that they had seen me on the bike, but I had missed them.  Seeing our cheering squad was the boost I needed to get ready for the run.  Camille really had to chase me down to get this picture.  

The run was hot and miserable like last time.  My legs were completely dead.  I don't know if it was the heat, the hills, or too much traveling but I had nothing.  Every time I saw Jeremy he was smiling and having a great time.  Apparently he was in as much pain as I was but had a little better race.  It was the first time since Boston that I just wanted to walk and get the race over with.  It was really a struggle to not walk and keep going.  My run split was probably the worst half marathon I have ever run, but that's racing.  

Jeremy final time (5:16:31), swim (34:27), T1 (2:53), bike (2:38:46), T2 (1:44-not bad for trying to steal the wrong runner's gear), run (1:58:41).  Annette final time (5:52:10), swim (29:18), T1 (2:46), bike (3:03:03), T2 (1:29), run (2:15:34).  

At the finish line I was so dead.  I curled up into a little ball under a medical blanket and just wanted my bed.  Ultimately I did go back to the hotel and it looks like everyone else had a blast while I was resting.  We had a great support crew down there.  My mom, Camille, Scott (old friend of Camille's), Alysha, Brody, Dantley, and the kids.  Thanks everyone for cheering us on in our misery!

A Ute in the family

So proud of this brother of mine.  Alan graduated from the U!  (I know, I had a hard time too to see him wearing red.)  It has not been an easy road for him earning that degree and I am so proud of him for all of his hard work and sticking it out even when it seemed dismal.  Way to go Alan!

Puerto Vallarta

Here's a pretty perfect progression from morning to afternoon-from spring snow storms, 

to palm trees waving.  

Jeremy came home from a work meeting a couple of months ago in disbelief that he was chosen to go on the annual Risas top doc trip.  He had earned the wildcard spot on this trip for his improvement over the past year, and I for one am hoping that we can make it on this trip every year.  "What?  You'd like us to spend four days here at this all inclusive resort for free?  I suppose we can help you out."  

It was beautiful.  That first night we wandered around the Inspirato resort enjoying the sand, the sunset, and the beauty of Puerto de Mito.  

Everything on this vacation was catered to reward the seven docs and their wives for everything they do for the company.  Our meals were catered by a personal chef who cooked and served us in our penthouse!  Our penthouse was one of three suites shared by the docs and it was larger than my entire house.  I should have taken more pictures of the luxury where we were staying.  This is the view from our private deck and infinity pool.  Gorgeous!  

I've always wanted to push this button!

We also hit the jackpot by meeting Dave Ryan and his wife, Jill.  Dave has been the top producer in the company for a couple years now, but he works in Arizona and Jeremy's never had a chance to meet him.  He and his wife were staying in our suite with us and we hit it off.  By the time we left four days later, I really felt like we found new marriage friends.  I think that had we met in dental school they would have been as good of friends as the Farnsworths-and that's saying something.  There was hardly anything on the agenda the whole weekend, except to enjoy ourselves.  

The first day Jeff rented a catamaran and we went on a cruise of the bay.  We rode out to the southern point of the bay and went snorkeling.  On the way we topped off with chips, guacamole, and as many pina coladas and specialty drinks as we wanted.  

(Kristy & Collin, Jill & Dave, Sara & Caleb, Ben, Rustin & Wade, Margaret & Whitney, Katie & Jason)

While snorkeling through caves and tunnels we saw jellyfish, rays, sharks, and dozens of other fish I can't identify.  We also went paddleboarding  off the back of the boat.  I'm a much better paddleboarder when I'm not pregnant.  Can you believe it?  This is the first tropical vacation I've been on as an adult where I haven't been pregnant!  It was glorious! 

 On the trip back the captain unfurled the sails and it was a beautiful view.  The waves were a bit choppy by this point and more than one of us were suffering from seasickness.  Not Jeremy though!  

Nausea or not, I needed a picture with my handsome husband.  

The next day Jeremy and I started our day by a run on the beach.  The sand was absolutely perfect running sand and I found myself thinking that even though I grew up in the mountains, I think I want to spend our retired years on the beach.  Jeff also gave each of the couples a day at the spa.  Ha!  Ok!  I can't think of much that beats a run on the beach, but a massage and various other spa-type pools just might.  Our couples massage room even had a fish tank in the floor!  Since St. George was coming up we asked the masseuses to get out all the knots they could find.  We made them sweat!  Both Jeremy and I woke up the next day like we had been beaten up, in a good way.  After our massages we ate lunch on the beach with our chilled coconuts and ceviche.  I don't remember ever eating ceviche before, but each of the seven ceviche dishes while we were down there were amazing!  

That afternoon we had planned on driving into Puerto Vallarta to do some shopping and see some sights.  It was a bit of a rush after our relaxing afternoon at the spa but that was fine.  On the way there was some type of incident that closed the main road so Whitney had to drive through some side neighborhoods.  It was a really poor area.  Jill was sighing and reminiscing because it reminded her so much of her mission in Argentina.  We weren't back on the main road long before we get pulled over by the cops.  Uh...shoot.  Luckily Whitney speaks Spanish and can talk his way out of almost anything.  The policemen came to his window and while I couldn't hear (or understand) what they were saying, later we found out that the cops were telling Whitney he needed to appear before a judge and schedule a hearing.  They asked him to step out of the car and at this point we are all pulling out our wallets wondering how much cash we had between us to pay off the cops.  Sure enough Whit stepped back to their patrol car and there was some kind of transaction.  He came back to the car $55 poorer, which really could have been worse.  Jeff was pulled over the next day and it cost him a cool $200.  

We were still giggling about the experience when Whitney started driving our huge van through the narrow, winding, steep streets of Puerto Vallarta.  We were almost hit by two jeeps, backed up into a parked car, went the wrong way down a wrong way street, and barely made it down a steep incline.  Who knew the adventures we could have in a 15 person van?  We spent a little time walking downtown before our dinner reservation.  There were some fun interactive sculptures on the beachfront that we took pictures with.  Jeremy had just been trying to block some other tourists behind me, but somehow I ended up with a seahorse on my head.  

One reason I liked hanging out with the Ryan's was that when we make obscure children character references about how this statue looks like Owelette from behind, they totally get it.  

This church's bells were chiming while we strolled.  I really like seeing all the little church's scattered throughout the town.  

When we arrived at the restaurant we were all a little skeptical.  It didn't look like much from the outside and we didn't know why we had driven all the way into town.  But after we knocked the secret knock and they let us in I could see why.  There was a beautiful courtyard with statues, candles, fountains, and architectural details.  

It was even better after we walked up the stairs to where the restaurant was located.  Look at that view!  We were able to watch the sunset as we ate our delicious dinner.  Even having one of the worst seats on our table so that the sun set directly into my eyes wasn't enough to ruin the experience.  Dinner was so tasty.  Can I please have someone make all my meals all the time?  

It was so sad that we only had half a day left.  Jeremy and I walked on the beach some more and tried to squeeze in one more swim to work out our sore massaged muscles.  We didn't have time for all of that though and suddenly it was time to go.  We couldn't leave without saying goodbye, and we ended up talking longer than we should have.  Out of the corner of our eye we saw the rest of our van leaving the beach to go load up for the airport.  Well we were still in our swimming suits, hadn't showered, and hadn't packed.  We ran off the beach to chants of, "Come on Rogers!" and dashed inside to furiously pack.  It's hard leaving paradise!  Maybe next time it will be our turn to ride on the private jet!  We are so lucky to work for such a great company.  Thank you Risas!