Summer Happenings

This is what we've been up to this past month or so.....

Trips to the wading pool downtown

BBQ's with our besties :)

I think Jax & Nolan had more cake on them then in their bellies
Lots of playtime in the sprinkler and pool
(Nolan prefers the sprinkler, Norah the pool)

A trip to Grandma and Grandpas for a family reunion

Check out that air

Norah with Isabella (Casey's cousin's daughter)
They are only a couple months apart and clicked from the 1st time they met.
Isabella lives in CA so, they are going to become pen pals, so cute!

We sure love the rope swing at G&G's house

We took a trip to Chuck E Cheese, the kids of course loved it!

My future little gamers!
Notice Nolan's boots, it was 75 degrees out today and he just had to wear them.
Gotta love a 2 yo's sense of style!
We also took a trip to the movies to see Despicable Me, pretty good.
Just give Nolie a bucket of popcorn and we're set for a good 2 hours!
Here's how me and the kids ended our fun day, too bad Daddy wasn't there to share it with us!
He's off on an adventure with Kory climbing Mt. Stuart. Can't wait to hear the details when he gets back, I wish I was there too!
We've been keeping really busy, and I haven't been working a lot thanks to not very many sick babies! I'm getting used to it and so are the kids, it's gonna be a hard adjustment when I have to get back to the real world and actually work my scheduled FTE(#of hours per pay period). I'm just not gonna think about that now :) Coming up in the next month or so we've got a birthday camping weekend, a rematch with Mt. Adams and a half marathon to train for, yikes! It's gonna get even busier, but I love every minute of it(well most of them).

Take 2

Seafair
Benaroya Research Institute
Sprint distance triathlon
Completed by me this morning!

This is just after the start of my wave (purple swim caps).

Coming out of the water with a big smile, glad to be onto the bike!

Almost finished with the bike here,
just a few more minutes until the start of the run.

In the transition area just about to start my run, the last task!

Coming across the finish line feels so incredibly good!

I had the best prize waiting for me at the finish line, my babies!

Here is my finishers medal and bib # :)

*****
The morning started bright at early at 430am, I washed my face ate a quick bowl of oatmeal and half a banana and was heading out to load up the car! My wonderful hubby accompanied me to my event today even though he too had to get up at the crack of dawn!

Upon arrival to the race we walked about a 1/2 mile to the start where I set my bike up in the transition area and managed to loose Casey. Then I waited in line for 20 minute to go pee and by the time I was done the announcer was calling for everyone to clear the transition area and head to the water. I found Casey, he wished me luck and got a quick kiss and made my way down to the water.

My wave started 25 minutes after the 1st wave, and it was chilly! It should not be this cold in July!!!! My wave started and I battled 84 other swimmers to get into a position and into a good rhythm. After a few good kicks to the face and shoulders and someone smacking my feet with their hands several times I found my place, and pace and was feeling great!

Once out of the water it was to the transition area to get my clothes, shoes and bike. I started the bike feeling amazing and was doing great until getting on the I-90 bridge! It was WINDY. I completed this same tri last summer and there wasn't one little tiny bit of wind to worry about, I was not prepared for that! I made my way through it and waiting for me at the end of the bike with Casey was my sis and the kids! Yay, they made it!!! It was so nice to see them and just the inspiration I needed to tackle the run and finish the race!

I remembered it from last year but still didn't anticipate how wobbly and tired my legs would feel after getting off the bike and starting the run! It took about a 1/2 mile to work through it but then I once again was feeling great! I came across the finish line to my family cheering me on, how great! Crossing the finish line really does feel amazing! Thanks to my sis who stayed the night at my house and brought the kids up to the race! Norah is going to try it next year, it's gonna be super cute :)

The Numbers
In case anyone is interested....

My official race time : 1:31:35 (4 min better than last year)
My place: 31 out of 85 for my age group
Overall place: 586 out of 1104

1/2 mile swim: 17:21
12 mile bike: 41:20
5K run: 28:58

I am happy

5 is Fun!

3 days before Norah's birthday we celebrated her big day at our house, with lots of friends and family! She decided on a Tinkerbell theme and I made a cake and cupcakes and put up a few decorations, nothing fancy. I purchased lots of backyard games, had the 2 swing sets up, a wadding pool full of water toys and a bounce house for jumping. It was a hot afternoon and a few of the kiddos ended up inside watching TV to cool off, but most endured the heat, or played in the shade and had a great time. A big thanks to everyone who came to help celebrate my baby girls birthday, she had a fabulous time!!!

Here are some pictures from her party......

Norah and Nolan starting the party off with a dip in the kiddie pool

Even birthday princess has gotta have her squirt gun!

Norah and her bestie Alissa having some food in the shade

There was swinging!
My cute nephew Dylan

And there was bubble making and tiara wearing :)
Little Miss Avery knows every girls gotta have their tiara too!

Norah's Auntie/babysitter since she was 3 mo old!
We ♥ our Alesia!

♥ Family ♥
My 2 cousins and there 3 daughters,
& our dog Abby snuck in the pic too.

More family
Norah's Auntie Shelly, having a snack on the swing!
She's 22 weeks prego and expecting a baby girl, exciting!

And still more family, this is Zoe, Casey's niece!
It was our very first time meeting her.
She and Norah share the same exact birthday, 2 years apart!

Next there was gift opening, she truly was spoiled.
Now I have to make room for all her new toys :)

Mommy & Daddy got her a bigger bike!
I have a feeling she won't be needing those training wheels for long.

Here is the cake and cupcakes I made.

Tink and all her fairy friends were the spotlight of the cake!

Make a wish baby girl, I hope it comes true!

My Birthday Girl

Happy 5th Birthday to my very sweet little Norah! 5 years ago today you changed mommy and daddy's lives like nothing else could! You have made us better people because you are in our lives, and we LOVE you for it ♥

You are full of energy, and love being outside every chance you get! Your most favorite thing to do right now is the monkey bars, and you're pretty dang good at them. Mommy loves watching you play outside with brother and showing him cool new things. He looks up to you SO much and wants to do and say everything his big sissy does! YOU are a fabulous big sister and mommy and daddy couldn't have hand picked a better one!

You are stating kindergarten in the fall and I cannot believe it! You are excited beyond words! You are growing into quite the little girl and I love seeing the changes in you that each day, week and month bring us. I hope you get everything you want on your special day and in this life. Mommy and Daddy love our 1st born SO much and hope you have the best day :)

Our 4th

We had another great 4th of July at the Martindale's House! I was scheduled to work from 7pm-7am but got lucky and was able to have my first 4 hours off, thank goodness for low census days! Here's a look at our day.....

The kids got to be dressed in red, white and blue from top to bottom!
I know I won't be able to do this for long so,
I'm enjoying dressing them while I still can ;)

We smelled (and accidentally picked) Holly's pretty red roses

Had great desserts!
I made these cute little cupcakes for the festivities

Casey entertained us with some Jack Johnson on the guitar

the kids played with pop-its

There was a baseball game played by most

Nolan got in a good wrestling session with some of the older boys that were there

Him and Carson gave good hugs :)

and all the little girls were in and out of dress up clothes most of the night!

The camera got put away when fireworks came out so we could watch the kids. Norah and Nolan both enjoyed sparklers and other kid safe fireworks. We enjoyed a show put on by all the daddies too. They took turns lighting off all the big stuff in front of the house. It was a nice nice night. I got to cuddle with Nolan for about an hour while watching the fireworks before I had to leave, I loved that probably most of all. There isn't much cuddle time lately with him, he's busy!

Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday!