Hoops

Jake really wanted to play basketball this year, and Kyle didn't. So, we signed Jake up. He's really enjoyed it and is definitely getting better with each game. He even made his first basket. I got it on video - but it's short at the beginning. It was definitely Jake that made the shot!

Flag Football

The boys both played flag football this year. They LOVE it. Jake had a super great coach, and Kyle had a coach who started out the year by sending an email that said, "If your kid is going to win the superbowl, then you may want to find another team." Needless to say his coach didn't teach him anything, but Kyle is the type of kid who is just happy to play. He did well, caught a few passes, and scored a few times. Jake's coach loved every second. Taught them a ton of information. Jake is more timid on the playing field. He did great, and enjoyed it! Kyle's sad because after this season, he is too old for flag, but he has no desire to play tackle. I guess we will see what happens next year with him.

BYU FOOTBALL

Every fall BYU football is a big part of our life! I really enjoyed games this year because they were on Friday nights. It helped me still do my photoshoots, Kyle able to play soccer games, and didn't take up our entire Saturday. I hope they do this every year. Because of the conference changes, the first game was the BYU v UTAH game. The boys wanted to cut their hair in true BYU fan fashion and have their faces painted. They look sweet! Unfortunately, the game was awful. BYU lost horribly. We got 4 tickets this year, and my grandma got 2. We used her extra 2 tickets a few times during the year - this meant the girls got to attend a few games and the boys got to invite friends, even Troy invited a friend. We went to a game on my birthday, which I didn't love so much. I loved having a car full of kids - and it was great. Haley and Makenna went to a game together and had a blast. They decided that BYU could only have won since they were cheering. I also learned the rules more and actually enjoyed it - only a little teeny tiny bit. I was definitely ready for the season to be over - but we had fun while it lasted! Can't wait for next year! (really, I can)

Soccer

Kyle started soccer again. He has taken a few years off, but a few of his friends were on the team, and he was anxious to try it again. I'm glad he did. He hustles and is a pretty good player. He loves his coach and team members. I love soccer - but especially for what great exercise it is for him! Haley is dying to play - so maybe we will sign her up next year! I love the photo of the boys posing for the camera when they should be paying attention to the coach...sorry Jeff.

Spudman Olympic Triathlon

This was my second year doing the Burley, Idaho Spudman - which is an olympic triathlon. This year was so much different. I wasn't worried or stressed at all. I have been consistently working out for the past year - and thought my body would for sure be ready. I didn't really 'train' for this triathlon - which I regret. I did a few bike rides, and ran a bit - but I didn't swim at all. I just took for granted my body being prepared to run this race. I talked my dad and Troy into running it with me this year. It was both of their first triathlons. Troy thought he was going to drown in the water - and my dad is looking into a road bike - instead of his bike - that made him take a lot longer on the ride than it should have. My goal was to beat my time last year - and I did it - by 12 minutes! I actually beat my time in every category - by a few minutes. The bike route was backwards from what it was last year - and was so hard for me - I chalk that up to my non-training. I should have gone on more bike rides! Even with it being so hard - I beat last years time by a minute or so! The race was not as spread out as last year - and on the bike, I was really worried - with the hordes of bikers - that I was going to wreck. I didn't, which was a relief! The run was hard for me again - but it was my stupid shin splints! I could barely walk when I got off the bike - and if you've ever had shin splints - they hurt so bad! Sometimes I don't think people believe me - but they totally do! To make myself run - I would sprint between telephones - it worked, and I made it to the finish line 12 minutes sooner than I did last year! I am so proud of that! I am proud of Troy and my dad for doing this also! It is a big accomplishment. I don't think I want to do it next year. The cost to do it adds up - and I am happy to just work out around home...we will see who can urge me to do it again! We will see...

Family Outing

We went to a BYU Men's Volleyball game one night on a date with Kenny and Cherice. We noticed that your whole family could go for $15 so we decided to take both our families to the next game. It was great. The kids had a blast, and it was enjoyable for everyone...well, Kinlee had a hard time adjusting to the crowd. The kids favorite thing is Cosmo. Why, I have no idea! Jake was pestering Cosmo, and if you watch the video below, you will find out just what Cosmo did to Jake. (He left Cosmo alone afterwards!) It was a fun night, and I think we are going to go back in a few weeks. BYU has a few home games left.



no This video below of Daxton is hilarious. If you know Daxton, you know it's his dream in life to become a mascot. Seriously. One day in the car, I was asking my boys if they wanted to play soccer, or baseball, and Daxton told me how nice I was that I let them pick what they want to do. He preceded to tell me how awful his parents are and how they "MAKE me play sports, and all I want to be is a mascot!". So...Daxton...here's to one day being a mascot!

Basketball Season

Jake played his second year of basketball this year. He loved it. It took a few games for him to really get agressive, but he turned out to be a great defender! He was on a team with 2 of his friends, Daniel and Ryan. The best part of the games is always giving high-fives and the snack! They don't keep score in Jake's age group but he did great and scored 1 basket!

The Spudman - Triathlon

I'm a triathlete. I finished the Burley, Idaho Spudman Triathlon on Saturday. The Spudman is an Olympic Triathlon. This consists of a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride, and a 10K (6.2 miles) run - in that order. In February, Cherice, Kenny, and I (and a bunch of their neighbors) signed up for this. We have been training ever since. I got a road bike. Troy has been training with me since May, and wished he would have signed up as well. We got to Burley on Friday night, in time to pick up my packet - which included my racing chip(as seen around my left ankle) along with a t-shirt (that was so big, it is now Troy's), and a potato. We dropped off my bike and everything I would need after the swim. I wouldn't see my bike again until after I swam. We had to make a last minute stop at a gas station to fill up my water bottles that are on my bike. I left everything there, and was confident I didn't forget anything. It was so crazy checking in, getting my packet, taking my bike to a different location, that I told Troy, I don't care about the $90 it cost to sign up, I'm done. I have no desire to do this. That night I barely slept, and as Kenny, Cherice, and I headed to the starting point that morning, I was still trying to decided why I had signed up for this! My start time was at 7:30am. 30 minutes after the first wave had gone. My wave consisted of 30-39 year old women. I have been told that the swim was a piece of cake - that since it is done in the Snake River, that there is this great current. Well, I took off, swimming with all of my might, and I looked up after what felt like a few minutes, and felt like I had swam in place! I thought, where is this current everyone is talking about? So, I swam further out into the river, hoping to 'catch the current'. I never felt like I caught the current. But, after what seemed like an eternity (really, only 28 minutes) I was out of the water. I ran to my bike, put my helmet and gloves on, and put on shoes and socks, and I was off. My bike computer (mph, mileage, etc) wasn't working, and it sounded like I had a card in my spokes. I pulled over and tried to fix it. It still wouldn't work, other than telling me the actual time, but it stopped making noise. (In hindsite, I should have checked the bike computer after the long drive to Idaho, before I started the race.) I didn't see Cherice after I got out of the water, and assumed everyone was ahead of me. So, I set off. Not knowing how far I had gone, or how fast I was pedaling. People kept passing me. They really were so nice, telling me good job, commenting on my pink road bike. So, I thought it was really awesome when I passed someone up. I decided to keep count, and keep my mind busy. I stopped counting at 30. I really was proud that I could pass anyone. After I had ridden for 54 minutes, I finally decided to ask a fellow biker how many miles we were at. He shouted..17! WHAT????????? 17 miles? In 54 minutes?? I only had 8 miles left?! I had thought it would take me 2 hours on the bike! I had been averaging at least 17 mph! It gave me the umph to finish up the last little bit. I finished the bike ride in 1 hour 25 minutes. As I drove into the bike drop off, I took my helmet off, put on some shorts over my biker shorts and guzzled some gatorade. This next part was the run. The part I had been DREADING! Last week my foot had started hurting again (like it had done when I ran the half marathon) and so I didn't run all week. Before that was girls camp - where I hadn't run...so I knew I was weak. I also knew my legs were like jello. Literally. Right before I set off for the run, Cherice pulled her bike up, and we started the run together. I knew there was no way for me to keep up with her, so I sent her on her way, and took my time. I walked a lot. But the thing was, I didn't care. I was so proud of what I had accomplished, that I listened to my body (mainly my foot) and did what I could. I was actually really shocked at the amount of people who did walk during the 10k. As I got to the end, I sprinted it out. I have done that for every race I have run, and it's a great feeling. No looking at the camera for me, I needed to get to the finish line. Here are photos from the race. The time clock in the final one shows the time as 4:08:something....I started 30 minutes after the first wave, which is why it's not my correct time. I LOVED running this race. (Well, I refuse to call it a race) I don't get competitive. I will definitely do more tri's. That says a lot, 10 seconds after I finished the half marathon, I vowed to NEVER do it again. The tri took me a lot longer, time wise, but wasn't nearly as boring. Way more fun. I'm not sore at all either! I have a few 'chaffing' issues - as results of doing so many different things soaking wet. In odd places: armpits, butt cheeks(sorry, tmi), legs. That's the only weird thing. You don't dry off much during the bike ride, and during the run, you're so hot, people spray you with hoses...you really are wet the whole time! Anyways...sorry you were all bored with this long post, but I wrote it for me!
Cherice came in first (out of Kenny, Cherice and me). She did so awesome! It has been fun training with her - the few chances we got to train together.
This is Cameon. She finished after Cherice and right before me. We talked a bit as she passed me on the run. She's an awesome friend, and used to be Kristin and Jake's preschool teacher.
Here I am! FINALLY! Crossing the finish! I know, I hesitated posting these photos. They are definitely not flattering...but I am what I am! Here comes Paige, Cameon's husband! He's nice enough to look and wave to the camera. I was too busy sprinting...next time I'm gonna practice a flattering 'run in pose'. HERE'S KENNY!!!!!!!!!! Kenny did the biking on a mountain bike - which is a HUGE difference. He's awesome...and nobody saw any junk. (sorry, inside joke)So, these are the goods I got when I was finished...2 water bottles, a medal, and chaffing! WAHOO! For any of you who think I'm photogenic...I beg to differ... Cherice and I did it! Here is the big group of neighbors. I only know 2 or 3 couples other than Kenny and Cherice, but they are all super nice and were very supportive. I will be glad to be in another photo with them next year! I couldn't have done this without Troy. He got up early with me, pushed me, rode on HORRIBLE bicycles so I could get training runs in...watched kids while I raced...took pictures at the end...I could not have done this without him, and I don't know what I would have done if him and the kids weren't at the finish line. I don't know how to describe it, but having people cheer you on is the greatest feeling. When I was at mile 4 on the run, I started getting teary, thinking I was almost done, and that my family would be there to cheer me in. They were...I am so grateful for them!
Until my next crazy race...or sporting event...