Sweet, Sweet Successes

*Warning: if you do not have some serious time on your hands, you may want to pencil this in and come back to it later. LOTS of pictures and LOTS of unnecessary details, I'm sure. But hey, it's my blog, right?! :) *

Sweet Success #1: Chelanman Triathlon

It went wonderfully! If you would have asked me how I thought things were going to go about two hours before the triathlon, however, you would have gotten a MUCH different story! We camped out the night before the big event. Max went to sleep perfectly, but then woke up about 1:45 a.m. ready to play and hang out with Mom and Dad in the tent. Ugh! We couldn't just let him cry it out because we were camping around other triathletes and I didn't want to keep them up all night. It was especially annoying because he was being so cute and it was hard to be very stern with him. We finally just laughed. We tried everything, but he finally fell asleep when he was good and ready at about 3:45 or 4:00 a.m.! Not only was it at that late hour, but he fell asleep right next to me and so I couldn't move for the next three hours of sleep that I did get. I woke up feeling so stiff and like I had slept for about 20-30 minutes. No way to feel before a triathlon. I just wanted to cry.

We got suited up, though, and headed over to Done Morse Park to start the race. I was really nervous since this was my first time doing any of these events without Ty. We did the last one together and we always exercised together. I was so amazed, though, at my own strength and willpower. It went really, really well! I couldn't help but get excited with all of the other participants. The triathlon environment is super fun and positive. I ended up beating my last triathlon time by about 5-10 minutes! (That's what we estimate since on this course the bike was 2 miles less than in Issaquah) Hooray for me! Ty did REALLY well. It's hard to compare his two events since on the last one he stuck by my (slow) side the whole time. I LOVE TRIATHLONS!!! We are thinking of doing another in September, as long as my doctor will clear it. We found one that is pretty short and shouldn't be too hard at that stage of pregnancy. We'll see. Here are some pictures from Chelan...

Not real hot...but real hard-core! :)

Finishing the bike portion

Transitioning from bike to run
Almost to the finish line...

and finished! (It doesn't look like I'm running my heart out, but I really was!)

The Fosters after the Finish Line!

I love my wonderful family!

Our bodacious babysitters, Christy and Amberlie Seader

Sweet Success #2: Girls Camp

On Monday I left my babe and my hubby for a week to go with the young women to Girl's Camp. All Sunday evening I was teary and when I was reading Max his story before bed, I cried through the whole thing. :) Tyler gave me a beautiful blessing that night and I felt immediate peace. That blessing sustained me throughout the week. I had a few pangs for my little dude (and Ty, too, of course!), but for most of the week I was able to focus on the girls and have a great time. It was also an awesome time for me to recharge and to strengthen my testimony and help the girls to strengthen theirs. I am SO glad that I went! The theme of the week was "Daughter of a King". I am so grateful to know that I am a Daughter of God who loves me. I love Him and I love taking the time to really reflect on that and to improve my relationship with Him. Another bonus was that I hardly felt any pregnancy nausea the entire week! I was hopeful that it was totally gone, but alas...on Friday evening it was back. My wonderful, amazing mother-in-law, Margaret flew in and spent the week with Max. They had a great time together and Max was so good for her! I loved to see how much he loves her and I love that they had this time together. Priceless.

Some of my girls...

Our cabin - Jana, Erika, Jordan, Jessica, Kelly, Karen (my co-cabin mom), ME and Lindsay
*I called Ty this particular night to check in and told him I had a cup in my hair and lipstick all over my face...I got silence, then "what?", then, with a chuckle, "It must be a Girls Camp thing"*

It was super fun to come home and see my boys! Max was so excited to see me and I was so glad about that. It was nice to be home and back with my family. I love seeing my mother-in-law! That night we went to see the Whaling Days fireworks show over the water of Dyes Inlet. Quite the production! The whole time, Max kept saying, "Wow, wow, wow, wow!" It was adorable.

Sweet Success #3: Whaling Days 4-mile Run

The next morning I met two of my friends, Karen and Tristalene, to run in the 4-mile Whaling Days race. I thought we would start and finish together, but I pulled ahead on the hill :) and then found out that they had seperated a bit as well. It was really fun to only do a run and I did pretty well as far as my time went. Not the greatest athlete in the world, but it felt good!

Three of the girls from our cabin showed up to cheer us on - We love you Jessie, Kelly and Jordan!

Afterward we stayed for part of the Whaling Days parade. Max liked it, but was already pretty tired and so we didn't last very long.

Yesterday after Church we took Margaret to a pretty beach on Bainbridge Island and spent some time there. Max loved it. He loves the water and the sand and the sticks and the rocks. Fun memories!

I took Margaret to the airport this morning and she should be back in Denver by now. I am SO, SO grateful to have the world's greatest mother-in-law and I love that she is also my friend. She always makes me feel like I am doing a great job as a mom and like I have the cutest house. I feel like I have life "together" when she is around. She is so complimentary. I am so glad that she and Max had this time to bond! I love you, Margaret! Thanks a million times!!!

Now it's back to life, back to reality. I am glad to have some down time. Next Friday, though, Max and I take off for Vegas for 6 days. We'll get to see the two new babies and attend my Granny's 80th birthday celebration. So many great things! I love life!