Pumpkin Run 2008

The "Run for the Pumpkin" has been happening in Lethbridge for over 20 years. It is a cross-country run. It's a lot of fun and caters to kids. At the end of the run you get to pick out a pumpkin. This was Nali's first year as well as her cousin Hailey's first year. My brother and I ran the 2 km race with the girls, then we did the 5 km race.
Nali took a little bit of encouragment about 1/2 in. She was SO excited during the beginning and just ran with it. As she'd start to struggle I'd point out people along the course that were cheering her on.
She'd get SO excited when she'd see them.
It was a lot of fun running it with her! I can't wait to do it next year!
Finishing strong. My little runner. 17 minutes for 2 km's!

Busy end of the summer!

So usually I don't have many pictures of me or Sam and I together on this blog since I'm usually the one taking the pictures. So here's a post with some of Sam and I. At the end of August, Sam and I went to Waterton for a few days without the girls to do the things we can't do when we have the girls with us.
This is is Alderson Lake...about 15 Km's into our hike.
Sam and I golfing in Waterton.
Biking in Waterton.
This was my second Triathlon of the summer. It went well.
My family at the finish line. I finished 43 out of 117 and 23rd out of 83 women. I swim like a brick, 107 out of 117 but for the bike I was 22nd out of 117 and run 27th out of 117.

Hiking in Waterton.

What a view. 8600 Feet.
I love this picture!
Golfing again.
Biking with Sam.

Nali's First Day of French Immersion Kindergarten!

So my baby started Kindergarten!! I CAN'T believe it to say the least! She was SO excited to say the least. The night before she started she woke up at 2:00 AM and yelled "I'M SO EXCITED FOR KINDERGARTEN TOMORROW!!!!" Seriously it was hilarious! It was so crazy she woke up and got ready in the morning. It was the first time she looked old enough to go to kindergarten. She's almost a full year older then some of the kids there since she turns six at the end of November. Here the cut off is December 31. We decided to wait and are so glad we did.
She goes M-T in the mornings and is in French Immersion. She goes to the same Elementary school that I attended. It's about 8 blocks from our house. The first morning Sam and I walked her there.
Outside of the school with Dad.
Me and my baby!
Nali and her teacher Madame Cormier. She is so incredibly nice. I feel totally at peace at putting Nali in French Immersion. At first it's a little scary thinking that for the first 3 years they only speak to these kids in French. This teacher explained that once the kids feel safe she'll start speaking to them more and more in French. Some kids were crying...of course not Nali! Never been one to have seperation anxiety which has been nice. But this teacher seems quite remarkable. It was cool the first morning we all sang O' Canada in French. I got teary eyed to say the least.

The Hungry Hippo Meltdown!

So Nali decided to play Hungry hippo the other day. This is a great idea other than the fact that Ella's way and Nali's way of playing the game vary DRASTICLY, Ella likes to play with the game where as Nali likes to play the game. Since Nali pulled out the game I let her play it her way. Ella is a pretty smart cookie and listens well. After a couple of no's she gave up trying to pull the game away but had a little meltdown. The following pictures capture the proceeding 10 minutes or so.



I love this one....the look...

New Piano

We entered our names in a draw for an old piano that our stake was getting rid of. SUPRISINGLY we won!! I've enjoyed sitting down and playing every now and then and the girls are enjoying it as well!

Ella giving me her best "cheese" face!
Sisters having fun together!
How cute are they???

Family Reunion

Below are some pictures from the Sam's family reunion.
Wow...don't they look stoic?
Zoomed in....
How far they really were!
Me and my girls on the bridge over the falls.
Ella dreaming big.

I love this shot.
And this one....
And this one...
We ran into a fawn on the hiking trail.
Nali playing in the pools at Lost Horse Creek.

Some of Sam's siblings, sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews etc.
Ella and Nali at Cousin Camp.




She's a doll.

We could push through most nap times but you knew she was tired. She'd get the sucky and bunny and roll in her towel.
Don't you love those thighs.
Sisters.
Nali horseback riding in Waterton one morning.

My FIRST Triathlon

So it has been a goal of mine for years to compete in a triathlon. The biggest thing holding me up from reaching this goal is I DON'T SWIM!!! So in January I decided to do something about that. I took a beginner swimming class at the university. At the beginning of the class I was unable to swim the width of the pool. Slowly I improved. After 10 weeks of the beginner class I was okay swimming 25 metres. I signed up for the intermediate swim class and did that for 10 weeks. Slowly my confidence in the water has increased. I'm still a little unsure in the water but I can do it.
SO my first triathlon was July 19th! It was a 700 metre open water swim, 27.5 km bike ride and a 5 km run.
Here's my gear layed out waiting to be put into my transition station bags. Tri's are so different then just running. A lot more gear involved.
Nali putting a little good luck on my swim cap!
Me and my friend Crystal. She was the only other person I knew doing it. It was FREEZING that morning. When we first arrived at the lake to set up our bike transition there were white caps on the lake.
My ready to swim...or at least I thought I was ready to swim. About 25 metres in the swim I had a panic attack...seriously I thought I was going to die. It is SUCH a different feeling swimming in open water then in a pool. You can't see the bottom, there's no edge...pretty much no bottom and there's waves crashing over your head PLUS people kicking you in the face...I stopped at 25 meters and looked at the shore and thought "I CAN'T DO THIS" as I thought this I saw 2 people get in the boat and quit...I thought "YOU HAVE TO DO THIS" so I paddled on....I was unable to put my water in the rest of the swim...I really lost everything I had learned in my lessons BUT I DID IT!!!!
Here's me SO happy that I didn't drowned and that I did it! Sam, Nali and Ella were there cheering me on as I got on the bike. I need to mention I was the THIRD last person getting out of the water...am I proud of that YES! I'm proud of that because I was brave enough to get into the water.
How beautiful is this! I loved the bike section...I was able to pass about 12 people on the bike.

Me telling my little family I love them.
The run went well...so cool to see that finish. I kept thinking as I was doing all this how lucky I am to be able to do all this. That I have a supportive husband and family. That I have a healthy body. It was really incredible to complete one of my long time goals.
I DID IT!
My good luck charms. Sam, the girls and my mom and dad were there at the finish! I was SO HAPPY!!! I'm TOTALLY sold on TRI's. I can't wait for my next one next month!!!