Little Mother

Rubie is becoming quite the little mother.  I catch her throughout the day reading to her dolls, feeding them, bathing them, diapering them, putting them down for a nap or to bed, driving them around, going to work, cooking, doing laundry, etc.  She tells me I'm the grandma and I need to be quite or that she is too busy to do something.  Hmm, I wonder where she hears that?

Here I caught her reading a favorite Friend article to Old Doll and New Doll.  She read it probably 5-6 times.

Eric Loves to Draw

Eric loves to draw and display his art work.  He loves drawing on the whiteboard and creating pictures from things that he sees or experiences.

Flashback--Hiking the Y

On April 16, Saturday during Spring Break, I decided the kids and I needed to do something fun and springy.  Since the weather was beautiful let's hike.  And let's hike the Y.  It's a mile or less so that is perfect for little kids.

Eric is ready for some hiking action.  He is checking the map, making sure we know where to go.  And of course Rubie is dressed for the hike as well.

They started off the hike enthusiastically enough.  But wanted to rest at every bench and each switchback.

It didn't take long before they decided they were done hiking.  They just knew they were tired and wanted to be done.  But I knew they could make it to the Y.  So I was very patient.  And though there was whining and crying, there was lots of begging and pleading on my part to keep them going. 

 Many other hikers were surprised that I was making such young kids go the whole way without being carried. 

Finally they made it and were so thrilled.  They said they were happy they went the whole way.

We spent a few minutes playing around and then they got a little cool.  So we headed down.

 Rubie had a few tantrums on the way down.  She jumped up and down and insisted that she was going no further.  On the benches she would lay down and say she was going to take a nap.  I would have her look below to the parking lot and identify our vehicle to show here we were getting so close, but I practically had to drag her down.  Maybe the hike was a little hard.  But as soon as we got to the car they were asleep and out for pretty much the rest of the night.  We will try something not as steep next time.

Flashback to May--Moab Camping

Back in May we joined the Jarvis' for a weekend in Moab.  Karl and Sarah participated in the Moab Triathlon Festival and we just came to play.  I didn't do very well at taking pictures.  But here are a few pictures from around the campground.

Rubie and Max were so happy to be reunited.  Max joined right in with Eric and Noah to gather silk worms.  Rubie just watched.

Rubie searched for other things.

This is Rubie after she and Max cleaned out some grills.

 

Salem Triathlon

Scott arrived home on Thursday night 2 June, two days later I had the Salem Triathlon.  This was a big deal for me because this was my first open water tri.  I got to try out my brand new wetsuit that I won in the Women of Steel race from Salt Lake Running Company.  I didn't even get a chance to try it out before the race.  I only picked it up the day before.  With the weather being so bad this spring I didn't get much of a chance to practice open water swimming.  While the Jarvis' were here I really wanted Sarah to get me out to Salem Pond and help me learn.  We got out there once, but all our friends that were going to come bailed on us, so she just had to watch and give me pointers from the beach as she kept an eye on the kids.  We got there one more time and were there at the same time as a handful of others participating in the Salem Tri.  I really was so nervous for this swim.  I had such a hard time in the water.  I couldn't breathe or relax.

When it came to race day I tried to stay calm, but I still had a hard time getting my face in the water and breathing.  I spent time on my back and then tried to stroke and then would go on my back again.  I got a pretty good rhythm down that way.  But the swim took way too long and was too exhausting.

The competitors for the Elite wave getting ready to start.  Sarah and the coaches convinced me it would be better to race in the elite wave than my age group.  I was so nervous about the swim.  Swimming behind these few exceptional athletes was better than swimming amidst all the other swimmers in the women's category.  But it was embarrassing because I spent so much time on my back.

I was so relieved to finally come out of the water.  I honestly didn't know if I would make it and it felt like it took me forever.  It actually took me 20 min.  Not bad for a first timer, but still not an elite waver swimmer time.

The transition area.

There I am in the back ground taking off on the bike.  Coach M and Marci are there cheering.

Finishing 1st loop of bike ride.

Out of transition to begin the run.

Rubie taking it all in.

Eric and Noah watching for Sarah.

High 5's to the first female finisher.  Way to go Sarah, you are an inspiration!

For me spinning involves a bike, for Rubie, this is Spinning.

Coming up with their own race.

Coming to the finish.

With Missy and Heath.

Receiving coaching and instructions from Heath.

Completed my first open water tri.  I have a lot to learn about open water swimming.  It is not the same as swimming in the pool.  I have a lot of practicing to do.  This was a good experience and lots of fun.

The race was 1/4 mile swim, 13.5 miles bike, 3.1 mile run.

I completed the race in 1:18:38.5.  I placed 9th overall.  Swim time 20:36, T1 1:14, Bike 34:49, T2 1:08, Run 20:54.

I have been working on improving all 4 events of the tri.  Yes 4, coaches have us working on getting our transition times down.  I have a row of beautiful bruises on the inside of my right leg from practicing flying squirrels onto the bike.  It's so bad that I have a hard time sitting on the bike seat.  I hope it helps me and that when it comes to race time I don't chicken out on actually doing it.

Scott and Eric's sand dog that they built.

B-day present from Mandy

While Scott was gone we went to stay with Mandy at the beginning of May.  As a great birthday surprise, Mandy gave me a photo session with her sister-in-law and our friend, Carrie Warner Elton.  She took the best pictures of Eric and Rubie.  She had a way of getting them to smile like no one else had.  They didn't even need Teddy Bear, Doggie, or Doll in their photo.  These pictures made great Mother's Day gifts for our grandmas too.

What beautiful children.  I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the opportunity to be their mother.  I only pray that I can lead them to have a love for Heavenly Father and help them to be the people He sees they can become.