Funnest Race EVER!

So, after all the races I've done over the years, this was totally the FUNNEST RACE EVER! I don't know if it was because of the fact that (A) Clay and I hadn't had more than 3 hours without our children in years, or (B) that I had such cool friends doing it with me, or (C) that we got to have quazi-adult conversation with Jess and Dan on the trip, or (D) that I actually didn't want to puke the entire time but actually was relaxed and enjoyed the race that made it so fun. All I know is that I totally want to recruit the rest of our ward to head to Burley, ID next year to have as much fun as we did! This was my first Olympic length race, if I can actually count it since the swim was down-stream...AWESOME! I got in the Snake river water in my full-body wetsuit and could have floated down on my back if I wanted. 18 minutes later (1 mile swim) I got out on my bike and headed out to the fields for a 25 mile bike ride. Average 22 mph later, I hopped off, stuck on my running shoes and hat and headed out for a 6-mile run. I was excited to pull off an 8-minute mile. My time was a respectable 2 hours, 22 minutes. I think most of us said after the fact that we could have kept going. It was great weather, great friends, and it was so fun to have Clay there for the first time. Although, I just can't take him anywhere. He bumped into I swear a dozen people he hasn't seen in ages. That's my redhead for ya...once you know Clay, you don't forget him. Me, on the other hand, am utterly forgetable, which I'm okay with. I'm all for blending into the woodwork. (Jeana, I might add, is the same way...bumping into old friends everytime I'm with her!) To the right is Liz Ward and Jeana Kennon and me. We're the 5-foot-10 club.

Way to go to the rest of us...Jess, Suzanne, and Nannette! Spudman '09 here we come! Maybe some of our husbands will suck it up and join us by then!

Sparklers ARE dangerous!

Happy Fourth of July, ya'll!

I always thought sparklers were "safe", but that is TOTALLY wrong. Not only were we lame parents to give our 21-month-old, Nate, a sparkler, which he did fine with until he touched the burned-out end with his finger... (Ever seen a sparkler burn twice, Dad?)

But, when Will decided he wanted to stick the sparkler in the grass instead of getting burned by the continual fire spraying off the stupid thing...All I know is that I was glad for my quick thinkin' neighbor who came running across the street and stomped out the raging fire before the rest of our pathetic lawn, let alone our house, burned to the ground.

Anyone want any left-over sparklers? (By the way, Clay's fixing the sprinklers today, too. No need for anymore brush fires in our front yard!)

We decided it would be best to leave the fireworks up to the professionals...so we invaded the party at the Tayler's, where they had 10-year-old Oscar and 12-year-old Matt White setting them off. That's the way I like to watch fireworks...a little bit of danger and a lot of fun! I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again...We've got the coolest neighborhood!

Climbing in Maple Canyon

Another adventure with the Watson's. We went climbing up in Maple Canyon and had a good time with everyone. A big thanks to Bryce and Dallin for belaying my kids, and another thanks to Liz and Corrie for keeping my kids from knocking everyone out by throwing rocks down the canyon! They are becoming quite the little climbers.

I was white knuckled as I tried my first climb in three years, thanks to encouragement and belaying prowess from Liz. It was only a 5-8, but man, I got an arm-pump. It was actually fun, and (don't tell Clay), but I just might try it again before another three years passes! ROCK ON!

Here's Clay climbing on a 5.13 climb...and yes that is a cast boot on his right leg, and no, he wasn't able to flash it, or red-point it, or on-sight it, or whatever it is you climbing nerds call it. Thanks goodness for that, because then he'd REALLY be a freak and he would have to get some climbing sponsors and quit his day job.