First Race

Triathlon season got kicked off this past Sunday in Buffalo. After the wicked storm passed on Saturday afternoon, the sun shone brightly and made for an amazing day.

This is my fourth year doing triathlons and this race was by far the best, not due to my race times (4th in my age group) or my efforts but because I got to share the day with friends. Some of those friends were doing triathlons for their first time and other experienced pros were gunning for whatever their bodies had in store for them that very day.

Here they are:

This is Courtney. I love Courtney, she plays so coy and then just busts it out of the park. She is an amazing marathon runner (Boston bound mind you), 1/2 iron competitor, friend and mother.

Say Hi to Nathan. This was Nathan’s first tri with two more cued up for the summer. Considering he hadn’t been in the lake for more than a total of 10 minutes the day before the race and he had some seriously locked up calf muscles he made his way through the race and finished strong with a smile on his face. Way to go Nate!

Meet Todd. He’s one of the girl’s in my running group but funny enough he won’t wear a skirt. He too was embarking on his virgin tri tour this past weekend and now he’s bit. His deck is stacked this summer with a marathon and olympic distance race and a 1/2 iron race while on vacation (yes, while on vacation). Excellent job T.

This is jMatt (or Fast Matt as I call him). I had to take a picture of him while he was standing still and suiting up becasue he is so unbelievably fast that my camera can’t ever catch a clear image of him. He is on his way to “take” many races this season as well as marching his way to Ironman Wisconsin in September. Catch him if you can. Nice work jMatt and good luck this season.

Thanks to all of you for making this day so great!

Job well done.

4 and alive to talk about it

Dear KP,

You made it. You made it to four years old.

There are many a time I wasn’t sure you would. Between stuffing so much food into your mouth at one time, to jumping off a playground structure that was three times your height, to roughing up your friends and strangers alike, to running anywhere, anytime, anyhow…I’m so happy you’ve made it. And I only partially jest.

Along with your extreme rough and tumble, very “boy” behavior, you are filled with so much love to share that you can’t even contain yourself. I’m not complaining mind you, you give so much love in one squeeze that it could fuel a love sick person up in just 30 seconds or maybe kill a baby rabbit.

You, my little boy, are fun love’n, free wheel’n, determined and just a complete nut job. You make my days crazy and lovely. You make me laugh and cry out in frustration. You make it challenging and absolutely and utterly rewarding to be a mother.

I love you more than you will ever know. Our days together feel so precious. You, my little boy, are growing so fast I feel like your childhood is like the string on a kite, spinning so quickly out of the spool that at any moment the string will be gone and the kite will fly away. And there I’ll be, standing on the ground, looking up toward the sky…feverishly grabbing after it.

Happy 4th Birthday!

I love you,

Mom

Happy Mother’s Day!

To my mother, my mother-in-law and all my lady friends. Life with children would not be as rewarding, enlightening and amazing without being able to share the past, present and future with each of you.

Enjoy this day.

What a weekend…

Friday:

Ears

Birthday dinner out with jewels from Erika.

Saturday:
First Communion #1

The Spring Sheering

First Communion #2

Sunday:

Half Marathon

PJ’s 6th Birthday Party

And then…and then I slept really well.  Only to be woken up by PJ’s new hamster in the middle of the night running and running and running on it’s little squeaky wheel FOR HOURS.

The story of the hamster to come later.

Happy May Day!

Boys, sticks and warm sun

Let the sun shineth in and warmeth the earth! Just a little glimpse of our sweet spring to come.

Inside

Inside the lilly

Originally uploaded by sellke

Off to a warmer climate for a few days.

Here’s to your inner Lilly, may you find what you need inside.

Happy New Year!

May you find happiness in the simple things this year.

Winter White

Winter White

Originally uploaded by sellke

Perfect timing!

Frosted

Running at 5:30 am in the winter, in Minnesota, is a little crazy.

But doesn’t it look at least a little fun? 

O.K. I agree, Jen (far left) does not look like she is having ANY fun at all.  We all know she’s  just in if for the coffee.