Lars epic year!

So we will start off by doing a little recap of Lars year!  He started off the year with biking to the top of the Haleakala, from sea level to 10,000 feet.  A ride that in the first 5 miles driving up as their support crew I was envious and wanted to be out there, but by mile 6 decided the car was the best place for me.
April 17 he did the Wenatchee Duathlon, ran 3.1 miles, biked 17 miles, and then finished with another 3.1.
May 15 he did his first ever bike race, this was a grueling event, Saturday morning a 9 miles TT, Saturday night and Hour Criterium, and Sunday morning for the finish a 60 mile road race!  He finished in the top 10!
May 23rd a 75 mile Alefest Ride!
May 29th the Mazama 10k fun run...I can't remember his time but it was crazy fast!
June he and Luke rocked the Moses Lake Family tri!
July he did the 1/2 Marathon in Chelan Man..it was high 80's he finished in 1hour 35 minutes, 2nd in his age group!

And now this 9/26 he did his first ever marathon, the Winthrop Marathon, finished in 3 hours 13 minutes, qualifying for the Boston Marathon.  He was surprised, but we knew he could do it!


Coming in for the finish



Great job Lars!

Pretty proud of these gals too!  Jenn ran her first marathon and Steph had a PR by over 25 minutes!

We felt like we ran to and had to stop at Cinnamon Twisp Bakery Yum!

September

lots and lots of this

a camp out in the backyard

looking cute at soccer

Bennett taking his 1st soccer game

we call these "moobs" but he doesn't know it

this may be Lo's biggest fan

Top 5

So I have been pondering my top 5 U.S. cities.  Thanks to United Airlines I was fortunate to see so many great (and some not so great) cities in the U.S. and abroad.  So I did a random favorites and this is how it went:
Chicago (spring-fall, and yes I like the hot humid summer there)
San Fransisco (anytime, but especially September)
San Diego
Honolulu (how could one not love a city that has a Palace right down town!)
And of course the one I made it to this year...that I can't believe I spent 32 years of my life without seeing....BOSTON!

I'd like to add a couple smaller honorable mentions:
Bend, Or
Boulder, CO
Kona, HI
Monterrey, Ca (this would also include Carmel, Ca)
Portland, Or

Working for United allowed me to see  many places and experience so many things I otherwise wouldn't have been able to.  I think of it like a Costco sample....now I have this insatiable appetite....for travel.  Only now I want to share that with my kids!

What a difference a year makes!

Here we are again, 1st day of school.  Luke 8th grade and Logan 3rd.  For whatever reason this year both kids and myself were ready for school to start.  I love both of the schools they go to, and the kids seem pretty happy with their teachers and their schedule.
Here's to a great 2010-2011 school year!

This year September 1, 2010.  Ages 8 and 13

Last year 2009

Ironkids Seattle

For the last 24 hours I have tried to put my thoughts into words about how proud I am of Luke. I've decided it's more of a feeling and words can't adequately describe it.  I love my little man!

This weekend Luke did his first solo triathlon and I was both amazed and in awe of what a cool 13 year old he is...in so many ways!

Way to go Luke, we are so very proud of you and love that you smiled the entire race!!!

9th overall in the 12-15 age group!

Apple Capital Triathlon

Now this is a fun one. Last weekend our club TriWenatchee hosted a sprint and Olympic distance triathlon. As a family we were out there Friday through Sunday afternoon doing various job to help out. My friends Jenn and Steph and I teamed it on Saturday (we won the overall team) so we could be help the rest of the time.
We are a small club, most members participated in the race. It was so fun to see the TriWenatchee race kits out there. This year there have been some new arrivals to Wenatchee and they showed up at the Tri meeting, what a great way to meet people with like interest!
This is such a positive enviroment. Everyone is so encouraging whether they are racing against you or not. There were teams of families with a runner as young as 9. Another team of siblings ages 12-18. A group of 3 sisters doing it individually, but this was there thing to do this summer, meet up and do a triathlon. And then there was a family, the son who is 16, his Dad, Grandma and Grandpa were racing....and Grandpa beat them by 10 minutes! Everyone is nervous in the beginning but you do it. When it's done you can't believe you did it, but the smiles on everyone faces is that of accomplishment.
When you look out and see all the racers you have no idea what has brought this unique group to this point. But I think we all race for our own reasons, some of which change from time to time as our lives evolve.
This race our TriWenatchee team dedicated to our friend Ted who recently passed. At one point in our lives each of us had a conversation with Ted that lead to encouragement and the "you can do it". We kept him close to our hearts as we raced last weekend.

Good friends, good times, even early in the morning

We called this guy "speedo guy" word is he lost a bet

Can I just say I love this girl, such a trooper and always willing to help

Cora and Margo getting everything in order

I am blessed to have friends like this

All weekend long they helped.  Thanks kiddos!

Offering moral support to Jenn as she enters the milfoil water

Back at it again Sunday morning in volunteer mode.  Who can complain when you get to hand with such fun people!

Again..bad blogging!

I'm embarrassed to call myself a blogger, I've have done so little of it this summer!   Two weeks ago we went to Wenatchee Valley Super Oval.  My parents were watching Cal so we all went.  All he said all night was "race cars" and then the occasion vroom vroom!

Cal with his signed race car picture!