you filthy animal

Yesterday was Avery's last day of preschool!! It has been a good year, but I am so ready for the summer!!
...unfortunately Idaho is not.
It was about 40 degrees out yesterday when we all packed up and went to the zoo with Avery's class. We were supposed to have a picnic in the park afterward, but we all headed back to the school and ate lunch on the floor of the gym instead.
Here are a few pictures of me freezing my bum off.
Of course we had to visit the monkeys. Those guys are awesome.

K loves getting candid shots of me. How do I like it?

Not so much.

whiz palace

Is it weird that I want summer to go by quickly so I can get back to these two?

know ya boo

Is it weird that I miss my little sister even more now that she lives down in Las Vegas instead of ONE BAZILLION miles away in England!?Yeah, you're right.
It is weird.
It's just, like, now it feels like we are finally close enough to hang.
But we are not.
I should be glad that I got to see her last month in Vegas.
And last weekend here in Idaho.
But I'm not.
Because today I would really like to watch Troop Beverly Hills with her and Do the Freddy.
Or What About Bob, then eat a meal and only say MMmm and Oohh the entire time.
Or Strictly Ballroom, because I feel the rhythm. And I'm not scared.
Or BAPs, so that if I see L. L. two more times, it's on!

...yeah. We're nerds.

apps and zerts

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mean ben

You guys, I need help.

I am pretty much obsessed with Parks and Recreation.
It is sort of taking over my life.
I joined Hulu.
And have been watching it.
Non-stop.
And I have to tell you one more thing.
I love Ben Wyatt.
A lot.
And Ron Swanson.
And Tom Haverford.
And Andy Dwyer.
...okay, I'll stop now.
But if you love waffles, tiny horses, nerds, libertarians, or if you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about, you need to check this out.

the party don't start til i walk in

Avery's Fourth Birthday Party.
Wow.
It could not have been more of a success. I also could not be more beat right now. I think I'll let the pictures do the talking for me. We had a face painter, tons of sweets, excellent food, a huge red ball of death and fun and insanity, a pinata, presents, sunshine. I could not have asked for a better day.
I love my baby girl so very much! She is so special and perfect and wonderful, and she had a great day. I can't wait to show you my plans for Carter's first birthday party next month, too!! I am so blessed to be these girls' mom. So here it is, a fourth birthday party in pictures...

Pooped.
That's what this picture is titled.
Just thought you should know.

days go by

Hey y'all! Man it has been a while! Beginning a new semester, having left my camera in Las Vegas and planning the Birthday Party of the Century (coming up in two days!!) have all caused me to ditch my blog. And that's no fun. Nor is it healthy, I believe. I hope that posting a little something (instead of paying rapt attention to my math professor) will help me make it through the next few crazy days.
My little sister sent me just a few (TEASE!) pictures from our family photo shoot in Vegas and I thought I would share my favorite. I love this one because we all look just a little bit kooky, which is an exact portrayal of my little fam if you ask me! My camera is returning to me along with the arrival of my parents, Mallory and Giles tonight! I promise to let you all in on the birthday bash and do a bit better at getting onto the blog and writing to you.


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i guess i'll just begin again

Sorry to keep going ON and ON about my race.
I mean, I'm not THAT sorry.
It WAS pretty amazing.
Here are the rest of the pictures I have from the event.
I can't wait for my next race!! I'm officially hooked.

Here's my walking with my awesome bike and all of my transition gear before the race begins. I love Las Vegas!

Gearing up! I was soooo nervous!! Can you tell? I borrowed the wet suit from my friend Camie. Sexy, right?

Here the nervousness almost crossed the threshold from "Butterflies" to "I think I'm going to puke." I look fly in my swim cap, though, so that's a plus!
The swim was the leg of the race that I thought I would complete the most-easily. I mean, I'm a good swimmer. What's so hard about 750 meters in a lake?
But at 7am with 1000 other racers around me as I looked out at the dark, deep lake, I had second thoughts. Then, when I got in and it was SUPER chilly, I kinda started to freak.
The swim ended up being my WORST leg. By far. Not that it took me longer than the bike or run, but I am pretty sure I was hyperventilating and breast-stroking with my head above water (instead of the freestyle I spent hours in the pool practicing!!) 90% of the swim. Not cool. But at least my next race I can't do much worse on the swim!

Next was twelve miles on my bike. K got a picture of me on my beautiful bike, but it's hideous (me, not the bike), so you don't get to see that one. The course was crazy hilly and for the first few minutes I was really struggling mentally, but I just sang "Ready to Start" by Arcade Fire to myself to keep my legs peddling and after a while frustration and fear turned to pure bliss. I don't know how else to describe it. Pretty much all I can remember is how amazing it felt once I hit the half-way peak and got to turn around and whiz down the huge hill that I had just crested on my way back to transition. I was smiling ear to ear. And singing out loud at times. But only when no one else was around. Mostly.
My bike is the best ever and I love it and we had a really great day together, me and my bike. Which I love. A lot.

The last leg is the run; 3.1 miles. The first mile of the course was desert and rocks and holes and insanity! I couldn't believe it. They definitely didn't include that little tidbit in the race info! I have never run on sand before and I'm pretty sure I thought I was going to eat it big time. But I was able to keep that blissful feeling going from my ride and stuck out the run, which turned out to be a piece of cake. I have been training on the indoor track at BYUI and doing three miles of around and around and around felt like a big accomplishment. Out in the desert it kind of just felt cathartic. That's a weird thing to say, but it's true. I sang "How Firm a Foundation" in my head on this leg (though my foundation at the moment was anything but firm. stupid rocks.) and felt so blessed to have my body and the ability to do the race and friends and family who love me and were cheering for me. If I almost had a mental breakdown on the swim then I just about had an emotional one on the run. But in a good way.

Before I shut up about this stupid race forever I just want to say thank you to all of my bloggy friends who were rooting for me. I thought about you when I was feeling discouraged or tired or fat or whatever. You helped me do this. And I'll be forever grateful. I love you guys!