Swim / Bike / Run - Mommy Tri's

The main thing going on in our house this weekend was a triathlon I did this morning but I'll recap the entire weekend.

Friday night we had Family Pizza night and just hung out at home. Saturday, the boys & I did the Y and then at lunch Eli & I went to pick up my race packet. Cole took an early nap and Eli refused to nap at all - I did make him have an hour of quiet time in his room because he needed to chill out / calm down and I needed some quiet. Grandma C arrived late afternoon and everyone was happy to see her. After a yummy Outback take-out dinner (it has been forever since we've had Outback), we got Cole to bed and Grandma and Eli had some time together. Tim and I then walked next door where our neighbors and friends were having a big pig pickin' party to celebrate three of the guys turning 40 this year. We didn't stay too long since I was racing today but I hear the party lasted until well after 3am. These days, the only time I'll be up at 3am is with a sick kid!

Now today......my first post-two babies triathlon. I've only done four before this one in my life and they were all International distance or longer - endurance races. Today's was a sprint triathlon - 300 yard swim, 11.5 mile bike, 5k run. My dream goal was to do the entire race in 1 hr 30 minutes. I left the house about 6:30am and headed to the race site. Got my timing chip and body marking done and waited for my friend / co-worker Kathryn. I convinced her to do the race with me, it was her first triathlon. I was hopeful that Tim would make it to the site with the boys before the start and sure enough, they got there with a few minutes to spare. The swim was intense. It was the hardest I've ever swam in my life. It was a pool swim - 6 laps down and back. You had to report your 100 yard swim time in advance so they started you accordingly with 15 seconds in between swimmers. I was so worried that someone would come up on me and want / need to pass. No one passed me until the very last lane (which was large) and it was a guy several places back. Then ran out to the transition area. My swim to bike transition was slower than I would have liked. I don't know all my official split times yet but it could have gone smoother. I got to see Tim, my Mom and the boys as I left out on the bike. I was still huffing and puffing from the swim but took off on the bike. It took me a few minutes to catch my breath and get into a rhythm. I kept pushing myself because I knew it was only 11.5 miles. I passed several folks (including someone who started 5 minutes ahead of me!) and then towards the end, got passed by a few guys. Off the bike and onto the run. I got to see my crew again going out on the run. By that time, it was getting pretty hot. I have only run twice outside since I had my knee surgery (and only 1 mile inside on a treadmill) so that makes maybe 5 miles that I've run this year. I use the term "run" loosely, I kinda run / walk but keep moving forward. That was my strategy today. The run course seemed completely uphill on the way out and then, somehow, it didn't seem all downhill on the way back. The finish was downhill so that was great. When I crossed the finish line, I had to find Tim and crew. They weren't expecting me for a few more minutes so I caught them by surprise! I found the unofficial results and I finished in 1:28:06 - almost 2 minutes faster than my goal! Tim ended up taking Cole home and Mom, Eli and I waited to cheer for Kathryn. Kathryn beat her goal time as well. A great day for both of us!

This afternoon (I have a problem and can't seem to slow down), Tim & I went to look at a Mid-Century Modern Dining set that I found on Craigslist. I was hoping to complete my dining room by Christmas (it's a yearly goal), I had been working on a black furniture scheme. It wasn't working out well and this just kinda happened, like it was meant to be. We picked up half the pieces tonight and will pick up the others tomorrow or Tuesday. I'm very excited to get the dining room together. That also means I have a ton of stuff to get rid of and clean. Ok, finally pictures!

Edge of the pool mid way up - blue cap, that's me!

Swim to bike transition

While I was on the bike, Eli and Cole had fun on the playground.

Heading out on the run.

Just after finishing.

Tri-Mommy and her boys =)

Eli had so much fun riding my bike with Grandma's help.

Future cyclist. I'm glad the boys were able to see me race today.

Me and Kathryn - post race

Now who did the triathlon? Eli took a quick snooze (really like 5 minutes) on the way home.

Coloring session with Grandma. They made an amazing picture.

Grandma and Grouchy Eli - no nap 2 days in a row.

Cole, the Grandma magnet

See told you! Cole giving Grandma kisses. Thanks for coming to visit and help Grandma!

Tonight's bounty

Look what we got out of the garden tonight - YES, those are carrots!! Fresh salads for us tomorrow. =)

Sunday Fun-day

Lots of fun and the normal craziness at our house on Sunday. It started with Tim taking the boys for a walk and wagon ride while I went on a road bike ride. Then Carol & Ryan came over for some play time and to let us celebrate Ryan's birthday - we missed his party on Saturday because we were at Owen's party. The boys had a great time playing and Ryan even stayed with us for a bit while Carol ran home and showered - she had literally run over with Ryan and it was hot and muggy outside. The boys did great playing together. After some inside play, we got them suited up and went outside to play on the slip and slide. Tim threw the boys down the slide and Eli didn't like that too much. Instead, they opted to run around and push toys on the slide. Then Tim started spraying them with the water hose and the boys really liked that. After some swinging, we headed inside, had lunch and gave Ryan part of his birthday present. Things then started falling apart as Eli was getting tired so we called it a play-date.

Cole slept through most of the play-date so while Eli took a nap, Cole & I ran to Inside Out Sports to get me some new tri shorts for the triathlon this weekend. Yes, unbelievably, I'm doing a sprint triathlon Sunday morning. It will be my first triathlon post baby (and my old tri clothes don't really fit now!!). I'm not expecting much other than to get out there and enjoy doing it.

After nap we all headed to the pool for some water play. The boys always love the pool. Eli is getting more interested in the big pool these days. Dinner, bath, bed and we were on our way to the start of another week. I can not believe how weekends and then weeks just fly by!

Cole shoving in goldfish crackers - it's like he just woke up after a year and decided he likes to eat! He is eating very well these days. Only getting a bottle at bed time and no more baby food. Yay!

Eli & Ryan - suited up to go play. Ryan is wearing Eli's swim suit from last year.

Tim looks like he just bowled Eli down the slip-and-slide.

Ryan knew exactly what to do.

They really had fun running around on the slippery slide.

Eli running and pushing his mower as Tim sprayed him with the water hose.

at the pool - Cole with his faux mohawk.

I couldn't resist posting this picture from Monday's breakfast. My sweet boys!

Saturday - hanging with Mommy and a fire station party

We had a busy day planned for Saturday and it turned out to be a fun and exhausting day. On tap - Tim had a bike ride in Hillsborough and the boys and I planned to go to Owen's 3rd birthday party at the fire station.

Tim left about 6:30am for the ride and the boys and I started our day. We decided to go around the neighborhood - Eli on his tricycle and Cole in the wagon. Eli rode for a little while, then wanted to walk and then wanted to pull Cole in the wagon. We did make it to Owen's birthday party but it was iffy for a while. Eli was not on his best behavior and Cole missed his morning nap. We met the birthday boy and his family at a local park for some play time before heading to the fire station where Owen's aunt Myra is a fire fighter (Tim met us at the fire station). It was so cool to see the station, get a tour and get up close with the fire trucks. The kids loved it! Eli & Cole (and Mommy) were pooped when it was over and we all took naps when we got home. My friend Kara did an amazing job with her homemade goodies - wonderful cupcakes with firetrucks on them and decorated cookies that looked like fire trucks, dalmatians and fire hydrants. They were yummy!

Cole helping me do laundry.

Eli out for an early morning tricycle ride.

And then trying to pull Cole in the wagon.

Eli & Birthday Boy Owen playing at the park.

They climbed up the turf wall to the slide, completely ignoring the stairs that were there.

Fun sliding down.

Cole had fun playing peek-a-boo with me behind a tree.

Eli was amazing going across these obstacles - definitely a little monkey!

Cole had fun playing on the rocks while watching Eli.

Always in motion....Eli running on the bridge.

At the fire station, we got to see where they sleep and they simulated an alarm in the middle of the night - thus Eli holding his ears.

Myra then showed the kids how they get dressed - they only have one minute to do it!

Eli hanging in the vintage fire truck with Owen and his Grandpa.

Cole hanging on the fire truck.

Eli checking it out the front of the truck.

Eli was so excited to give Owen his birthday present - and Owen was excited to get it!

Stay tuned, hopefully will post Sunday fun tomorrow!

Our Superheroes - Spiderman and Walking Boy

Bet ya didn't know Spiderman is a construction worker by day.

I love this picture - it shows Eli's intensity. He just came charging at me over and over like a little linebacker.

And our little Walking Boy. Cole is all over the place!

Reading

Their new favorite place to hang

Staying busy

Oh my goodness, I have no idea how we filled all our time before we had kids! I think about how busy we are now and imagine we had a ton of free time that we must have wasted. Who knows?

This past week was just a regular week. Wake up, work / school, dinner, bath, sleep, repeat. On Tuesday, I got a call from school that they thought Cole had ringworm so I picked him up early and took him to the doctor. No ringworm and we got a note that said he could go back to school the next day. Then Wednesday morning, while I was watching him, Cole was walking around in our bedroom and fell on the nightstand, cutting his eyelid. You can see the damage in this picture.

Poor little fella - I felt so bad.

So here's Mr. Big Boy - he makes me laugh sometimes just being a boy.

Friday, I went to see my friend Kelly and meet her Baby Boy James. Oh, he was so cute and so yummy. I could have just eaten him up and given him kisses all day. While he was super cute and super sweet and yummy smelling, I'm very happy that I'm not back in that brand-new / 1st time Mother phase again. Kelly is doing amazing and has adapted to Motherhood WAY better than I did. She's such a natural and it is so obvious how much she loves Baby James and how great of a Mother she is. I enjoyed catching up with her as we have played phone tag for a while to get together.

Baby James - look at that precious nose. I love it!

Me and Baby James

The rest of Friday included a quick trip to the mall for me and then chores around the house. We did a quick trip to the pool to get some energy out of the little ones before bed. Bedtime went quite well but something got into the boys Saturday morning. They were up EARLY! Oh man, it was really early. Eli up before 6am and Cole not far behind. We can usually count on Cole to give us until 6:15 or 6:30 but not that day. After breakfast, we loaded the boys into the bike trailers and headed around our house for an hour ride. Then I took the boys to the Y for a Pilates class (for me not them!). After lunch, Grandma & Grandpa N arrived for an overnight visit. We love when Grandparents come visit. At nap time I ended up napping with Eli (he's so snuggly, I couldn't resist) while Tim & his Dad did some man stuff - repaired a weed eater. Saturday night we had a great family dinner. Everyone together at the dining room table.

Cole - pre ride. I pulled him.

Eli - pre ride. Tim pulled him.

Cole - post ride. Sweet thing took his morning nap on the ride.

Grandma N reading to Eli. Eli LOVES books of all kinds.

Grandpa N got a good laugh out of Cole's dancing.

He pushes the button on Thomas train to make the music start.

And then he puts it to his ear and starts bobbing around, dancing. It's so darn cute!

This morning, we thought we were in heaven as it seemed that the boys had slept until about 6:45am. When I went upstairs to get Cole, I found out that Eli was already up and had gotten into bed with Grandma & Grandpa. It was so cute - all three of them in the bed under the covers just chatting. After breakfast, I went to pre-ride the triathlon course I'll be racing on in two weeks with my friend Kathryn. Tim and his parents hung out and played with the boys while I was gone. Apparently, Ryan and his mom stopped by while I was gone and the boys played in the backyard, finding lots of fun mud. After I got back, we had lunch and Eli & Cole took naps. During that time, I baked round 2 of my experimental cupcakes - trying to figure out what recipe I want to use for Eli's birthday party, having a taste-off tomorrow to see which recipe wins. Then this afternoon, Noah and his Mom came over for a play date. It was fun for the boys but especially fun for me as Robin & I got a lot of time to catch up. It is always fun to see them. The boys were pretty tired tonight and, after baths, went to bed without too much fuss. Now it's time to get ready for another crazy busy work week.

Grandma & her boys. Eli was not too thrilled to take a picture - can you tell?!

More racing around the house. I tried to do some video but had an operator error - oops!

And then Cole's gear blew out - he lost a wheel! It was the funniest thing. Tim put it back on but we have another one on order because it's just not right now.

Cole has been on the move. Today he climbed to the top of the stairs - by himself!

Eli pushing Noah around in the back yard.

And Noah trying to return the favor. Eli is quite the brut so he's hard to push.

Look at these cute boys reading. They're so sweet!

And Cole's other big news - HE'S TAKING STEPS BY HIMSELF!! He is getting braver every day and I think we're close to having a full-fledged walker on our hands.