Countdown to My FIRST Triathlon

I've said it a million times and each time everyone nods their head agreeably, but just for fun, can I say it one more time? I think I'm crazy!!!

Somehow I've gotten it in my head that I can do a triathlon....in just nine days. No, it won't take me nine days to finish the triathlon, I have just nine days to prepare for the triathlon. I guess I unofficially started getting ready about a week ago, but today I got serious. I biked the whole 12 miles for the first time. I only almost got hit by a truck once and I only walked up a steep (maybe it wasn't that steep) hill three times. Not the same hill. Three different hills. Just parts of them too. That sounds like a lot now that I'm typing it, but really it was just a itsy bitsy bit of walking. It's just that I was pedaling my heart out when I realized I was going nowhere and I could just get off the bike and push it up the hill faster than I was pedaling. Boy was it easier! Does that still count for biking 12 miles if you get off and walk for a smidgen of the time? I hope so.

What's really killing me though is thinking about finishing the 12 mile ride, then hopping off and running the 5k. What am I thinking? Wait. I know what I'm thinking. I've been thinking that I have been wanting to do a triathlon for...well forever! I remember watching one on television several years back. I was engrossed, enthralled, maybe even a little teary-eyed. I didn't want to leave the room for fear of missing something. I was cheering the contestants on from my livingroom. I was wishing I was right there with them.

About a year back I was tempted to register for a triathlon in Monterey, CA. Then I realized I'd have to buy a plane ticket to get out there, figure out what to do with my kiddos and actually train like a mad woman to make the most of it. I eventually threw the flier in the recycling bin. So, when I read in our city newsletter that we would be having our very own triathlon in our small town, my heart leapt with joy. Then it sank just a bit when I realized it was only a few weeks away. Could I do it? Am I crazy I hear myself wondering aloud? Why do I feel like I'm still 18 and can do anything? Heck, the way I figure is if I can go through hours of labor (five times) and live to tell about it, I can endure a 2 hour triathlon.

So, what is a good time goal for a triathlon anyways? Should I be researching these things? As I biked the route today I found myself vocally cheering me along. You know, speaking in the third person. I was glad no one was along beside me to hear the silly positive encouragement coming from my mouth. I felt a tad like Coach. It really helped though. But then I got to thinking that on race day I will have people alongside me....I hope. Or are they all going to be whizzing down the road, picking up speed and putting miles between us before I have a chance to even get started? Will they be wearing fancy spandex pants and shirts with pockets for their energy packets of goo? Will they have amazinly light bikes, streamlined helmets and rearview mirrors? Will I stick out like a sore thumb? Who cares. As long as I have my husband at the top of the hill, 3.3 miles into the race cheering me on, then I can do it. Maybe if he's at the top of the hill at mile seven also that would be extra nice.

You know I'm not too worried about the 12 laps in the pool. It should be pretty easy for me. I hope it's a piece of cake. The bike ride will be mostly adrenaline the first half and lots of positive talk the second half. I guess it's the getting off the bike and immediately running for 30 more minutes that has got me wondering if it's possible. Can I really finish the race? Will I be dead last? Hey, somebody has to be. Will I be prepared? Somewhere in this crazy mind of mine I keep hearing, "Yes you can! You can do it!"

Anyone want to come cheer me on? I'll give you a mile marker and a list of phrases I would love to hear from you. It'll be just like a birthing plan.

Are you sick of the word triathlon yet?

Hot Peppers!

If you can recall our incident with Kate eating Auntie Di's yummy blueberries, then you can imagine my horror when the girls came in complaining that their eyes were burning from hot peppers just last week. Needless to say, I didn't call poison control....just nurse on call who then dialed up poison control while I was on the phone and I got to chat with my favorite guy again! I guess his name is really Karl with a "K", not Al, but he kinda mumbles when speaking his name.

Claire wrote a nice piece for school and I just had to share it with you. One side note....in her rough draft it did not say "she got really worried" after "I told my mom." It actually read "She started to freak out!" Claire kindly crossed it out and actually didn't think I'd be able to read through the scribbles, when I was editing it, but moms always know....we always know. She also chose to leave out the fact that I was on the phone with the nurse while she was laying on the counter with the water 'pelting' her eyes and then through most of her shower.

To read the story from Claire's viewpoint, click on the paper below...it'll gets really big!

And yes, I was freaking out. Claire was screaming and crying and drooling all over the kitchen floor. I seriously thought maybe she was having a seizure. It got to the point that I was trying to yell over her cries to find out if she was really alright. Oh, and I forgot to mention that Jane came in 20 seconds after Claire complaining of her eye burning too! Once we got the water flowing over their eyes in the sink, things calmed down. I'm pretty sure at one point Claire even said to me, "I don't think this is really the time to be yelling at me." Sorry Claire, I'll try to stay calm next time....because we all know there will be a next time. It's just that I was having flashbacks to my last poison control call and once again my hubby just happened to be out of town!

How many times have you called poison control and what were the circumstnances?

Spontaneous Day of Fun

"If I say THREE then I will turn this car around and we will NOT go tonight. Hello? Did you hear me? THREEEEEEE!" I hit the gas as I crank the wheel and pull into the driveway while listening to Claire sob that it really is Jane's turn to buckle up her sister and why does she have to do it every time. Then I listen as Jane sighs and visibly rolls her eyes and says, " Fine, I'll do it. You don't have to be such a baby about it."

Please tell me, why did I take them anyway? Wait, don't answer that. I know exactly why I took them....it's the one night our city has a "Safe Halloween", we were already dressed up and in the car, I knew we would get lots of candy (I LOVE candy) and I knew I was lying as the words passed my lips....it was only a threat. Ughhhh! Grrrrr!

I know I'm not the only mom with children who misbehave at times, but doesn't it just get old? Who really wants to listen to bickering and fighting every time you get in the car? Why can't we just gleefully take turns and be happy we have the chance to serve our family members? I know I'm being ridiculous.

Today, I decided that instead of sitting on the couch bossing my kids around I would much rather prefer taking them to the Farm/Park and have a fun Octobery/Fall day out of doors. Yesterday was freezing so when the weather forecast predicted mid 60's we just went for it. On a whim I packed the kids in the van, threw in a bunch of bananas in case hunger struck, picked Claire up from a birthday party and drove the 15 short miles to an awesome Farm that up until today only existed on paper for us.

We got to play in the barn,



Jump in the hay,



Go on a Hayride,


Pick out a Pumpkin,


Milk a Cow,



and just enjoy being outside in the sunshine.

On the drive home I fed everyone a healthy banana and then swung into Little Ceasers where I grabbed two Hot 'n Ready pizzas which we gobbled up pretty quickly....okay there were a few pieces left....I think I'll go grab one right now actually. Mmmmmm.

As I neared my home I saw a garage sale I just couldn't pass up. We all piled out and perused through the junk and found a few treasures. As I was forking over four whole dollars for a few homeschool finds the lady asked if we would be attending the trick or treat at the Rec Center. When she said it started at 5:30 I was so glad I had just fed my kiddos dinner. We had just enough time to get dressed up and head out the door after a quick nursing.

We made it home with a few buckets full of candy and somehow, miraculously all the sweet children got their pajamas on, I changed costumes...and makeup, put Walter down for the night and told the babysitter good luck as I headed out the door for a fun Halloween Party with friends. Too bad I had to take a Waldo doll as my date....if you can't tell I dressed up as Wenda.

So, counting our trip to the zoo we have already trick-or-treated twice and it's not even the 31st yet.

How many nights do you celebrate Halloween? Do you eat your child's candy when they are not looking? Do you offer to buy them a toy if they give you all their candy? Tell me all your secrets... I'm always looking for new ideas.