Happy Big 5 Birthday Nora!

Our sweet Nora-girl turned 5 on December 18th.  We had a cousins sleepover and had pizza, cake and ice cream.  We also played games and had a lot of fun with the family.  Nora is loving being in the "high 5 club" as we call it.  Her favorite things are polly pockets, unicorns, arts and crafts, puzzles, reading books, helping Mommy, and playing with her friends and cousins.  Her favorite color is yellow and her favorite foods are pickles, pasta, fish, pretzels, Nutella, and popcorn.  When we measured her on our family growth chart on her Birthday, she had grown almost 6 inches since last year at this time.  She really is looking grown up, and her hair is so long and pretty, almost down to her waist.  We sure love you little Coconut!

Turning into a young lady.

We invited all of Nora's cousins over (that could come) for a fun party.  She sure loves these kids.

Nora showing she is in the "High 5 Club now!"

Enjoying her gifts.

Grandma Black got her a sewing machine.  Now she can sew just like Mommy!

The kids loved this balloon pop game.  Only 2 of the balloons had a secret ticket inside for a prize.

Daddy took the kids up snowshoeing for a Daddy-kid date.  They had so much fun.  Nora got a white Birthday and a white Christmas this year.

We haven't died! What we've been up to.

I know, I know... It's been a while since I last posted.  We've been crazy busy all summer and fall.  But my new years resolution is to stay current on this Blog, since it's pretty much taken the place of my journal.  So in my efforts to keep it updated, I'm starting my resolution early.  Here is what we've been up to the last few months (ok, half year).

Summer 2012:

In June Orem does a fun Carnival each year called Orem Fest.  The kids had a ball riding the rides and eating  carnival food.

Take the Wheel Strat!

Her first attempt at "NO Hands!"!

Carnival Corn Dogs... Can't get any more greasy, but Stratton sure dug it!

My two handsome boys enjoying a beautiful summer morning.

California Trip:  This summer we also took a trip to San Diego for the Whitworth reunion.  The kids had so much fun at Sea World, the Zoo and the beach.   They also enjoyed playing with all their cousins and Grandpa and Grandma Whitworth of course.

Whitworth cousins waiting to get into the San Diego Zoo.

Three Generations at San Diego Zoo.  Dave, Grandpa Clynn and Stratton.

I think she's getting her Beach workout?  --At San Clemente Beach State Park.

More Beach Fun!  We spent the whole day there.

Enjoying the Beach with all the cousins.

Enjoying the pretty fish at the Aquarium

Watching the dolphins up close at Sea World.  Strat got to touch one and Nora got to throw a fish to another.  Very Fun!

Strat with is favorite uncle Josiah watching the Shamu show.

Nora could have spent hours at the Sea Star exhibit.

Strat could have spent hours getting beat up by girls in the kid pit.

Fall 2012:  

I did my share of canning this season.  It felt like it would never end!  If I can remember everything, this year I preserved: apple pie filling, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, stewed tomatoes, canned peaches, canned green chilies, pumpkin puree, fruit leather, dried strawberries, smoothie packs, frozen spinach.... probably more I'm forgetting, but I blocked it out. 

In Grandma Black's pumpkin patch.

In October, Dave did the Tough Mudder race in Tooele.  It's a 13 mile race with 24 military-style obstacles.  It took them about 4 hours to finish and he was so dirty and sore afterward.  Here he is with his team before the race.

The picture says it all!  He's already talking about doing it next year.

Grandpa and Grandma Whitworth came up in October to visit and they took the kids fishing.  They didn't get anything but it sure made for a cute picture.

And yes, potty training at its finest!

Halloween 2012:

Super Hero Day at school.  Nora with her Pierce cousins (living with us temporarily) Jocelyn, Jenica and Maisy being super girl heroes!

At the Ward Halloween Party.

 

Chomp Chomp!  Suited him well!

 WINTER 2012:

In November we took the kids to the train show in Sandy, UT.  Nora rode her first train and wasn't very impressed.  Strat said it was too scary so he sat back and watched (we didn't mind, it saved us $4 bucks!)

Dave got the kids snow shoes.  Mostly they spent a lot of time falling down and getting back up again but they did enjoy it.

Such a cute picture, which I could have been in it.

I learned how to make authentic Tamales.  A super pain to make but oh so good!

Strat is becoming quite the Baker. He loves to help Mommy cook or do anything in the kitchen (just like his sister).  Here he is making rolls for our "post Thanksgiving feast" with Josiah.

That's my Boy!  I love his flour smudge on his face.  His apron says:  "Baker in Training"

We went up to Idaho for Thanksgiving this year and to visit Grandma Leona.  The highlight of the trip was going up the mountains and cutting down a Christmas tree.  Nora had so much fun picking the perfect one out and then "helped" Daddy cut it down.

Finally, a complete Family Pic.  We need to work on getting more of these!

One of my favorite things to do is put up the Christmas Decorations.  I love this time of year... minus the cold weather!

Summer of Races 2012

Geez, has it really been a full summer without me posting anything?  Maybe the time did fly more than I thought.  I plan to put our Summer fun pics up as well, but one thing at a time.....I had a full summer of racing that I should probably document.  For those of you who know me, you know I love to race.  It brings out the competitive side of me which I always like, plus the training keeps me sane as a mom and a wife... so here is my summer of racing, or at least what pics I could find of them.

 WOMAN OF STEEL TRIATHLON (May)
My first Woman of Steel experience and I loved it!  I plan to do this race for years to come.  It's a great opener race for the season and had very tough competition with over 1100 participants.  Any many of those women really were "women of steel" ...  That's my kind of race.

Me, Susie Hannig and Kenzie Smith before the race trying to feel tough.  Love those girls!

One of my favorite sights at a Triathon -- and the fact that they were all women competitors made it even cooler!

  I loved the course and the atmosphere despite falling over on my bike trying to mount while still clipped in, no big deal right?  Made for a good laugh afterward.

 SALEM SPRINT TRIATHLON (June)
Another great Sprint race down in Salem Utah.  This was my first "open water" race of the season and it went well.  I have been working really hard on my swimming trying to get faster and more comfortable in the water.  I used to hate swimming, but now I'm actually enjoying the sport and can see now why people love it.

Another great race with my Tri-buddy Susie.  Getting all set up before the race.

Yeah, in this pic we actually do look tough!

  
RAGNAR (June)
Yup, I did Ragnar again this year.  My 3rd and probably last Ragnar I'll do.  This race is so brutal!  With ton's of driving van time (2 days worth), lot's of running (21 miles was my leg this year) and very little sleep (maybe 5 hours total in 2 days).  Ragnar always takes the longest to recover from, but it sure was a blast.

Why am I always flexing? -- Probably to show off my 48 hour tattoo?  I need to get a different pose.  This is at one of our many transition stations, where we switch runners and then all load back in the van and drive to the next destination.  It sounds lame, but the company, atmosphere and food was awesome!

Our van and our team name this year.

Me and my awesome sister Lisa waiting at the finish line for the last runner to come in and finish it up for us.

Oh yeah! We did it!  All 12 of us in front of the finish line after 192 miles of running!  I did our T-shirt designs this year which was "We Ragnar Utah!"

GREEN RIVER RAMPAGE TRIATHLON (June)
This was my first ever full Olympic distance Triathlon.  The course was great, especially the swim portion as it was down current!  That's right, fastest ever timed mile.  We were driving home from our vacation in San Diego and detoured over to Green River for the race.  Dave and the kids came to the race and even did their own mini Triathlon that morning.  Very fun!

Unfortunately this is the only picture Dave took of the entire race!....Sigh.  This was on the last mile of the 6 mile run and I saw my cute family on the side lines.  I was so tired but had to run over to them.

FREEDOM FESTIVAL 10k (July 4th)
What made this race so fun for me is that my dear friend Brandy Taylor did the 5k race as her first race ever.  I was so proud of her for her training and her accomplishment.

Me at the finish line looking for anyone I knew.

Me and Brandy all done.  She did awesome!

TIMP HALF MARATHON (July)

Me and my niece Josie with our finisher medals and happy feelings of being done!

 This was an awesome Half Marathon which I got a personal best time in.  I ran most of the race down AF canyon with my speedy fast niece Josie in about 7 minute/mile pace, but then I just couldn't stay with her any more the last 4 miles.  But I still got a PR (personal record) time of 1:34 which I have never ran before (even pre-married life and pre-babies).  I was very excited to clock that time for 13 miles.  This was only my 2nd Half Marathon of the year for me which is unusual... I'm much more into Triathlons now I guess.



HERRIMAN BLACKRIDGE TRIATHLON (August)
I did this Tri with my friends the Hannigs and the Smiths.  We loaded up my Subaru with 4 bikes.  We looked pretty cool driving down the road I'd say.   Dave was awesome and stayed home with the kids so I could go play/race.

I love a good race start!  I believe this was my age division (women 30-34) wave.

"Almost done, finish strong, don't fall, don't hurl!"  --- my usual self talk at the end of a race.

The 3 of us girls did the whole Sprint race and the boys did a relay together.

Got 2nd in my Age Division

BEAR LAKE 7 MILE OPEN WATER SWIM (August)
Ok, I didn't personally swim this race (though I wish I could say I did).  I was actually the kayaker for my awesome friend and swim coach Sam Hill.  He worked and trained very hard all summer to prepare for this race, which is the equivalent of a marathon in the swim world.  The race was across the whole width of Bear Lake.  Sam did amazing and it was so fun to be his Kayak support.

So I had never kayaked before, but it wasn't that hard once I got the hang of it.  Good thing Sam trusted me.  This is at the race start getting ready for the swim marathon.  It was a much different atmosphere than at a running or triathlon race, but still very fun!

Before the gun went off at the race start, they had all the kayakers get out in the water first and then we had to spot our swimmer after they started swimming (good thing I knew Sam's swim form).  In the distance you can barely see the hills, which is where the finish line was.  Crazy!

This was pretty much what I did for almost 4 hours.  When Sam needed fuel or hydration, I got it ready and then would throw it out to him in the water and then reel it back in with my rope.  Dave took this pic the last 1/4 mile of the race.

7 miles and 3 hours and 45 minutes later....What a team!  It was such a blast!  Sam didn't even seem tired, he's such a Stud!

YUBA LAKE TRIATHLON (August)
 This was my final Triathlon of the season which was a bitter sweet thing.  It was an Olympic Tri (1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6 mile run) which is always a challenging distance.  Last year I did the Sprint distance so I felt it was good to step it up this time.  What made it so fun this year was the company.  Susie was there of course but we also recruited our friends Bart and Brandy Taylor and my swim coach Sam Hill to do a relay together.  It was a blast!   Plus we got lots of pics this time.

Ok, still flexing ... before the race to try to feel tough.

Getting ready for the grueling 1 mile swim portion of the race (which ended up being 1.5 miles), though we are in good spirits.

And we're off!  Pretty cool sight I'd say!

This is me coming out of the lake extremely tired.  When I looked down at my watch I couldn't believe my slow swim time.  But after the race it all made sense ... during the swim, one the buoey's lost it's anchor and drifted making us all swim an extra half mile or so.  This made the swim about 1.5 miles total.  Ouch!

Getting ready to mount my bike after Transition 1.  I knew I had a lot of time to make up from the slow swim.

Finally done with the run.   It was brutal and very nice to get over with.  I may look pleasant in this pic but I honestly felt like I was going to hurl right there.

What a great way to finish off the season ... On the Podium!  Susie and I placing 1st and 2nd in our age Division.

Not real gold and silver, but we'll take it!  Love that girl!!!  She got me into this sport and now she's stuck with me!

Here is the fearless relay team -- Sam (swim), Brandy (run) and Bart (bike).  They did awesome and had a very fast time placing first in the relay division.

The girls!

We love our Brooks Pure Flow running shoes.

That's a good lookin' group!  Thanks guys for such a fun race ... and 2012 season!!!