A Good Tri

I'm not sure exactly how it came about but I got talked into training for and competing in my first Triathalon early in July. Starting in the late winter we stayed after our regular 5:30 a.m. workouts at the gym to start incorporating swimming and running on top of our regular workout routines. Cold swimming pools, boring treadmills and dark, early mornings took up the long winter and spring that never seemed to really get here. Then, one day we started to enjoy it. And we realized those workouts were getting easier. Next thing I know, I was registered and committed to the sprint triathalon--1/2 mile swim, 12 mile mountain bike and 5K race. Here we all are getting into the river. I have no idea where I am. We all look the same. This was definitely the most horrible part of the whole thing for me. The water current was very fast and the water temperature was unseasonably cold this year due to lots of moisture and a very late spring. I believe it was 57 degrees the day of the race. Although I had done okay during the practice swims, I totally panicked here and had to have a little direction from a rescue kayak to get me headed in the right direction. Not a great start but I got it done...
A couple of transition pictures. I made up a little time in the mountain bike portion.
Here I come! Not fast but not too slow; I was in the range I'd hope to finish in and boy did it feel great to accomplish that goal!
I couldn't ask for a better workout/training buddy than Lori! She is amazing and won 1st place in our age group! This was her idea and I am so glad she let me drag myself along; it was such a fun experience and I definitely would do it again!

10!

While we were in Washington, D.C., Megan had her 10th birthday! M & M pancakes were her breakfast request.Her reaction when she found out she was going to the newly opened American Girl doll store at Tyson's Corner!
She had a wonderful hair dresser for her doll. We all had a great time watching her do Charlotte's (her doll's name)hair. She was really great with Megan!




Later we went to dinner at Bob Evans (which she loved) and dessert was a Dairy Queen cake--mmmm!!
She's such a sweet girl and an important part of our family! We love her spunk, her hugs, her piano and soccer abilities, the fact that she is a true book worm and even her EXTREMELY picky eating habits--all part of the package! We love you Megan!

Washington, D.C.

We took an opportunity to spend a few days in Washington, D.C. on the way back from Outer Banks. We loved it there last year and wanted to take in a few more things we didn't get to last time. Arlington National Cemetary was amazing. Below is the eternal flame where the Kennedy graves are/memorial area.

The Tomb of the Uknown Soldier andchanging of the guard made a huge impression on us, especially Bradley who walked like a soldier for the rest of the day.


We also went to the National Cathedral and a couple more museums (Air and Space, Declaration of Independence) on the national mall.




The temple was definitely a highlight. There were deer everywhere on the drive to the temple and the grounds were beautiful.


Another wonderful visit and I hope we get to go back there too someday!

OBX!

We. Had. An. Amazing. Time. :)Earlier in the year Grandma and Grandpa found a beach house on line to rent in South Carolina and the next thing we knew we were planning another trip out to visit my sister and her family and also to discover what is now one of our favorite places ever! The area of Outer Banks we stayed is in the middle of about a 20-mile stretch of kind of an island off the coast of North Carolina. Specifically, the area we were in is called Nags Head. Lots of wide open beach and warm water to enjoy.


Sometimes there was enough of a breeze to get some great kite flying in.
After a very slow/cold start to the summer here we hadn't had a lot of sun prior to our arrival so our bodies needed a break from the sun and water after a couple of days. We decided on some mini-golf and go-kart cars to break things up a bit.



Nate and I took the kids to Jockey's Ridge State Park which is the largest natural sand dune on the east coast. They even have group hang gliding lessons but we chose to just run around and play in the sand.








We also went to Bodie Island to see one of the many picturesque lighthouses in the area.

We enjoyed boogie boarding and swimming, as the area we stayed at had a community pool (where I for some reason did not take pictures). We also came across something we were told were called moon jellys--kind of a jelly fish that doesn't sting or do much of anything. They were everywhere and the kids made piles of them, skipped them, stepped on them, threw them back in the ocean, whatever they could think to do with them.
Last day pictures in front of our house (which was GREAT). The kids are showing us how they feel about leaving.





I hope we get to go back sometime! Wonderful place!