Than is a Half Iron Man!

Hooray for Than!  He finished his 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride and 13.2 mile run in just over 7 hours!  It was in Napa Valley which was beautiful but a really difficult course.  The whole thing was hills....a few really big climbs on the bike and the run was steadily up and down the whole time but he did great.  We have to figure out his nutrition on these things because he said that he had plenty of energy but his legs cramped for the last 3 miles of the run.  I'm so proud of him doing this but I never, ever want him to do a real iron man!  He had two different people that he knew doing iron mans that same day he did his race and I cannot imagine how you can find time to train for those!  Don't get any ideas, Than!

Than had our good friend, Rob, come out and race with him.  The Isaak's live in Iowa now but our paths crossed in Michigan and we've both moved from there but have stayed in pretty good contact.  They are just awesome and I really think that they need to move to california.  I think pretty much all the people I love need to move to California.

So Than and Rob drove out early and we followed behind them.  I tried to get there by 8:00 to see Than get in the water, but it's hard getting everyone out the door by 6:15am!  We were on the road at 6:30 but then Camry got a little carsick so we had to pull over for a few minutes.  But the drive was beautiful!  The race was at Lake Berryessa.  This was our view while we waited.

The kids had a nice place to play and plenty to do.  We brought lots of treats for everyone and it was just an enjoyable day.  Walt, Becky, and Scotty came to watch too.  I needed the extra hands for my kids and it was fun to sit and chat all day.

See if you can find Than. :)

Than really dominates the swim.  If he could bike like he swims, he'd be in the money. :)  He high-fived all the kids and was off to the bike. 

We waited for Rob.  Now Rob, he dominates the bike....the swim not so much.  But he wasn't last and he said he's been swimming a total of like 10 times.  TEN times and then you decide to do a half iron man.  Crazy!  But he survived and we were proud. 

The master plan was that Than would do well on the swim and then Rob would catch him on the bike so that they could run together.  And that is pretty much what happened. 

In came Than.....

And Rob came in just a few minutes behind him. 

 

And they did their little transition....

...and off they were. 

Now while they were gone we did a lot of sitting around and playing.  Here's the photographic evidence.  

The spot we staked out.  We took up waaaayyyy more room than anyone else but it was perfect for us.  

Playing at the dock waiting for the swim.  

Playing games.  

All Gentry wanted to do was drink soda and carried the bottle right up to us.  Without speaking this little girl knows how to get a lot. :)

I like taking pictures of Becky as she's telling me a story.  Then I get looks like this.  Walt is reading his Bill O'Reilly book.  No surprise there. 

 We did a lot of baby holding. 

Sometimes you have to hold two babies at the same time.  That's just the way life is and it's glorious as long as Claira doesn't throw a gigantic fit.

This is gentry just looking a hot mess.  She has a huge rash on the side of her face, two little cuts, lots of messy food and crazy hair.  But she sure is adorable.  

More baby holding.....

 Watching people coming in....

 After they left on the run, we came down to the lake and played "Hit the flip flop with a rock."  It's hours of fun.  

 I think Pacen or Walt just hit the flip flop.  It never gets old! 

Rob's son, Samuel, was there too.  It's been a few years since we've seen him and he's so funny and smart.  They are just a great family with great kids and great parents.  We pick good friends. :)

 Gentry was dying to jump in. 

 Than came in first. 

Woohoo!  He finished! 

 And then Rob came in.  Rob pushed it like crazy on the bike and was a little spent on the run.  He came in just a few minutes after Than and Samuel helped him on the last part.  

We needed this picture because together, they make a whole iron man. :)  I really like this picture.  

 Such a fun day!  We ended it with a babysitter and a trip to Thai food and avoided any stairs possible to save those poor legs!  I'm really glad Than is into races even though it's hard to find the time to train properly.  It gives him an outlet that is not work or church related and keeps him healthy.  I'm proud of you babe! 

Stranded.

This is how my day started.  I had loaded up all the kids in the car to get them to school, then opened the garaged to see Than's car.  No biggie, he's on the road on his way to Reno but I'll just grab his keys and move it.  But where are they?!?!  Shoot, we have to leave...I'll call him.  What???  What's that you say????  Your keys are in your pocket?!!!!?!?  Oh man, this could be interesting!  

Luckily I have good people around me and I didn't have too many places to go so we were fine.  Megan took the kids to school and she will do all my carpooling tomorrow.  I just think that it's hilarious because it's so something that both Than or I could do at any time.  It was actually kind of fun because it made me just stay home and we walked to the school to get Cam which we rarely do, we played, we cleaned, we built a fort, we jumped on the tramp.  It was a great day.  

Claira was just looking so cute today I made take some pictures.  Isn't she beautiful???  She kills me sometimes with her personality.  She has the cutest little voice and says some of the cutest things.  She still demands hot ovaltine every morning and loves to swim but hates to get a little wet, like if she needs my help and I'm doing the dishes she makes me completely dry my hands and freaks out if I touch her while they're wet.  She sings all day and knows all the words to most songs.  She recently learned how to snap and is very proud of it.  

She has a little confusion about her middle name.  She knows it's Ruth but for some reason she thinks of herself as the "Big Ruth" and Gentry is the "Little Ruth".  I've tried to explain how middle names work but she just doesn't get it. 

This is what Gentry was doing while I took these pics of Claira.  I swear I dress her....occasionally. :)  Just kidding...it was early. 

Then we painted.  It was Gentry's first time really painting and she was sooooo proud.  

I went to do the dishes (I know...I'm not that smart) and this is what I came back to.  I love that look.....What....my paper was full......

I have to say, when I don't do Gentry's hair she totally reminds me of Animal from the muppets.  Don't you see it????  And she smiles that big open mouth smile all the time and with those crazy bangs all I can see is Animal.  

 

We had some craziness after lunch.  It's not everyday you see a giant semi in your front yard.  We are redoing our yard (another giant post in the making) and they were bringing in some dirt.  

The kids were fascinated.  

It was time for baseball practice, so we all hopped in the stroller for our second trip to the school by foot.  I actually loved it and the kids liked it too.

 We play at the school while Pacen has his practice.  And look!  Camry did the monkey bars all the way across!  She's been working on that for a while. 

 

 Proud mama and Camry!

Claira tried her hand at the monkey bars too.  Gentry just runs around like a crazy girl all over the place.   She's pretty brave at the park.  

 

An end of the day when Than is out of town usually ends with pancakes for dinner and kids in my bed.   Right now only Claira is in my bed because I woke her up while I was folding a giant mound of laundry but I'm confident that by the time I wake up, it will be full of kiddos.  And tomorrow will be glorious because I will not be going anywhere again!  All my carpools are taken care of and I just get to hang out.  And I can't wait!  Than needs to leave me stranded more often.  :)