You Don't See That Every Day

The weather people were predicting gale force winds and pouring/ dumping rains. The bicycle tire and brakes weren't working right. No one was in bed at 10:30 pm. That was Friday night. On Saturday morning, three of us got up at 6 am to head out for a triathlon. The Mr and The Girl who Swims would compete - I would spectate. The other children would sleep in and later clean house or something (more like the something of watch movies). We had a downpour as we left home but then a few miles down the road it was clear and sunny skies. There was a breeze ... ok, a wind ... but it wasn't blowing us off the road. The competitors had nearly perfect weather for this triathlon. My sister and I got to see both of my people swim - it was a bit of exercise for us too as we hurried from one pool to the other pool in a separate building, to see them in time; we managed to see our friends bike and run also. The weather held; all of our people finished the race without collapsing (alway...

A few years ago, like maybe five or so, the Girl Who Swims did some kids triathlons. And she loved it. Fast forward-- now in high school, she runs, she swims, she runs some more. This weekend she and the Mr. did a sprint triathlon together with a number of guys from the church. It was a beautiful day although it started a little early for a Saturday! We were up at the crack of sunlight to get to the lake in time. Thankfully we could go in two shifts so the non-participants slept in a few minutes more and didn't rush quite as much. The Mr has been training for this for just over a month. He runs regularly, and has been swimming ever since he started rehab on his shoulder. But putting the bicycling part into the rotation made the difference. The pants that were getting tight are now loose! And he had a great time just doing the course. He was pretty nervous about the swim section, since he isn't a swimmer. He did just fine, staying at the back of the men's heat, and ge...

August 2016-- family campout. We made it to Diamond Lake this year for our camping experience. It has now become one of our favorites. Even though it was quite a long drive, with many "how much farther?" questions from the 6 year old, there was plenty to see, and plenty of time to talk. We did see a car accident that must have happened within the half hour; that was pretty sobering. We got there in time for the kids to set up the tent with Dad while I got dinner together with some helpers. The yellow jackets decided they liked our taco salad, so we had to move our supper time inside the tent. Once we were done the visitors left and we came out in time to go down to the lake for a beautiful sunset. A campfire, with s'mores and a game helped end the day.   Brrr - the nighttime is cold there! Even though we weren't all feeling rested the next morning we went on bike rides. Little K. is now pretty much a pro on her bike without training wheels. That was an ...

June is almost over and I still have so much to say about the month of May! The month brought a lot of projects for the older two kids at away-school. The Girl has to make a Rube-Goldberg like contraption for her science class, utilizing different tools. She did a great job, all on her own, to make the marble(s) roll through the different parts without stopping. Mother's Day. It seems like a long time ago. It was a great day of relaxing and doing nothing! It seems like we are always on the GO, so a day without any responsibility or place to be is a perfect day for me.  The Mr. and the kids also finished the drainage project in May. I hauled a couple of loads of gravel, and they filled in the hole. Now we can get back to some basketball.  And we helped out Grandpa with some of the planting at the farm. Of course, by now this scene looks different (I'll have to get an updated photo when we go out this week), but the little fingers in our household helped put in some o...

Back in the nicer days of fall (before the rain!), I took a bike ride with some of my girls, my sisters, niece, and brother-in-law. Since I was hauling an extra 30+ pounds on my bicycle (Little K is at leas t 35 lbs) I was in the back most of the time. So I gave the 4 yr old the camera, with instructions on how not to drop it. Seems like she understood that one fine. After the ride I checked out her photography skills. My girl was pretty good at taking selfies:

(I had hoped to have this up earlier in the day ... but my truck broke down, and that threw a wrench in everything. Forced to stay at home, I turned to projects that really needed taking care of - like curtains for my girls' bedroom. One down, one to go.) We had two meets in one weekend this time around. Or rather, She did: Saturday morning was her swim team's first meet of this year; not sure when the next one will be, but she was pretty excited to finally be using her skills that she has been practicing twice weekly for eons. On Sunday we drove to another town for her (and ours) first ever triathlon. into the pool - the one in the red cap It was so much fun! I would have joined her if I could swim. And by the time it was over, the other girls were clamoring to do a tri also!  The course was not too long, just right for a 12 year old. She swam 100 meters, biked 2 and half miles, and then ran half a mile. Since swimming is her strongest point - and her favorite ...

We've been doing a few other things besides schoolwork around here. I mean, we have been doing school! The first 3 days went very well. But last Friday it was (already) time for a field trip. We girls packed the Boy off to school, and the Husband off to work, and then packed the bicycles in the back of the pickup and took off. We headed up to my brother and sister-in-law's place, way out in the boonies. After much discussion, and viewing of the new chicken coop they had made, we headed off for a bike ride. There is trail that runs near their place, we drove to the trailhead this time, since it was about 90 degrees out and all uphill from their home. After a picnic lunch we got the bikes set up and ready to go. And then I realize my brakes are not working. If it was just me - no big deal, but I had the little K in the babyseat on the back of my bike. So we spent some time fiddling and fixing and getting the brakes set.  Finally we were off. It was beautiful along ...

 We've been busy around here. Trying to be cool, by trying on Dad's aviator sunglasses. Oh we all had to get in on it. I mean who else is going to set the styles for the next generation?   But of course, Dad pulls it off the best. Very cool ...    and then they flipped the lenses - and we all laughed! I however, have been on a different quest - trying to get the bicycle seat onto the right bicycle. Today we finally got in our first "double rider" bicycle ride! K. was so excited to be back out there - she chattered the entire time I was getting ready.   We took a spin around the neighborhood until the chain fell off! And we walked home; but it was a nice taste of what's to come for us this summer. And oh, man, do my legs hurt! (and yes, someone was holding her while I snapped the photos)