Dan's First Triathlon

So, we had so much fun last fall doing the relay team triathlon at Lake George that I decided I really wanted to do one by myself. As is usually the case, I didn't want to just stick my toe in the proverbial water but rather jump in headfirst. No sprints, not even Olympic distance - the one I aimed for was the Tupper Lake Tinman, a half-Ironman race on June 25. I actually started training for this back in November of last year, so yesterday was a highly anticipated event for the whole family.

The weather could have been better - rain poured down for much of the morning, but let up right before the first wave of swimmers took off. My wave was second, and had to have been close to 200 people. The first quarter of the swim was absolute CHAOS. I couldn't pull more than two or three strokes

before hitting someone, being hit by someone, or being bumped aside. I'm not the strongest swimmer, so this really threw me off. It wasn't until the last half of the swim that I truly caught my breath and started pulling even strokes, and I never did figure out how to swim in a straight line. All that said, I finished the 1.2 miles in 40 minutes, exactly what I thought I could do.

I was counting on the bike to be my strong leg, and it was, even though I started getting some cramps in some thigh muscles I didn't know I was using. I still got a pretty decent time (56 miles in 2:38:36, 21.2 mph if you're checking), but I know that I could have done better. The rain picked up again while I was riding, so I was soaked by the time I got back.

There are no pictures of the bike leg, since Meridith and the kids stayed back at the transition area waiting for me and watching all the other athletes go by. This is an example of how the kids spent their time while I was toiling away.

Hannah and Isaac also got to hand out water and Gatorade to the runners as they exited the transition area, and they took their jobs very seriously. For their efforts, they each received volunteer t-shirts, which they proudly wore for the rest of the day.

It took me a good mile and a half before my legs figured out they weren't cycling anymore and I started getting a stride. Unfortunately, I also started getting stomach cramps every time I tried to drink water. I didn't figure out until about mile 7 that I needed some real food - no gels, no energy bars, but a half of a banana brought me back to life and I was able to finish the run with relative strength, coming in at 1:47:36, averaging 8:13 miles. All in all, I finished the race in 5:16:08, better than my goal time. I am pleased, I had a great time, it was a fun race, I learned a lot, and in the back of my head, I know I can do better. Next year, I will. For the time being, I am happy to be able to walk up the stairs.

Gwen's Stick Guitar

Gwen really likes to play air guitar and I managed to sneak up and get some of her awesomeness in action. Enjoy.

Gwen's Got Your Ear!

Gwen has a thing for ears.  When she is comfy and sucking her fingers, she likes to hold an ear.  I've seen her hold her own on a rare occasion, but she much prefers to hold someone else's.  

Times Square

Hanging out and watching TV

Even the other kids let her do it.

She also likes to have a "coldie" hand on her forehead.  I usually win with that one because I definitely have the coldest hands.  

Ian's Broken Arm

On Easter Sunday, Ian had the not so fun adventure of breaking his arm on the trampoline.  If you look at the first x-ray, you can see that he broke all the way through his humerus.  Surgery was required and the local hospital wanted him to go somewhere that treats this type of injury more often.  Ian got to ride in an ambulance all the way to Albany Med for surgery.  

     

Three pins later, everything was all lined up again and Monday evening he was able to come home.
He was such a trooper; the doctor and all the nurses commented on what a good patient he was.  He was very calm and cooperative for everything.  He is one tough kid.

Two weeks ago, he got his pins removed and last Thursday (a little early due to a dip in a lake) he had his cast removed for good.

Can you tell how happy he is to see his "skinny" arm.
Today he got an x-ray showing that the break is almost completely healed just in time for summer swimming.

Washington DC: Part the Third and Last

Thursday took us to the Mall one last time. The kids and I had been learning about artists and artworks in the National Gallery and we had to go. It was fun for the kids to find paintings that we had learned about, but it didn't last long. I could have spent the whole day there, but the kids were hungry and their attention was waining. We ate some street food and then trekked to the Lincoln Memorial.

Hannah really really loves Ely and giant pretzels.

If Abe stood up right now, he would be 23ft. tall. That's pretty impressive.

They were doing some sort of project on the reflecting pool.

To say that a picture that has all four kids looking at the camera AND smiling is rare, would be a gross understatement. I'm gonna say that this means they had a good time.

Before we even left, the kids were asking when we could come visit Ely again.

Washington DC: Part the Second

One thing Dan and I really wanted to do while we were in the Virginia area was to visit Polyface Farm.  If you've seen Food, Inc. or read The Omnivore's Dilemma, it's that farm.  They do a tour twice a month in the summer, though you are welcome to come and explore on your own anytime.  Sadly, it was too wet to do the hayride, so we had to walk. 

The pigs get rotated to a different area every few days so they have fresh food and don't stay long enough to completely destroy the plants.

Mostly, the pigs and the kids were just cute.

The kids got a little bored with all the talking and ended up playing with rocks and the mud.  The car didn't smell so great on the way home.  Mud on a farm is not just mud. Ew.

Gwen collected flowers.  Doesn't she just belong in a field of flowers?

Joel Salatin took us on the tour and explained a lot of what they do there and how it all works together.  There were quite a few people especially considering the rain and the out of the way location.  Believe it or not, this guy is kind of a farming celebrity.

Dan and Joel had a nice chat about farming as we walked back to the farmhouse.  We got some fresh eggs and sausage to have for breakfast the next day.  It was a pretty tasty way to start our morning.  Gwen once again conned us into carrying her for most of the tour.  

Now, where to buy some land for our farm.....

Washington DC: Part the First

Since my wonderful sister lives in DC and has a great place to stay, we visit as often as we can.  The DVD player decided to not work on the way there (9 hour trip), but the kids did remarkably well.  We arrived in time to have dinner and go to sleep on Saturday.

 Sunday we went to church where the Branch we attended was bigger than our Ward in Queensbury.  After that we went to the DC temple visitors center and walked around the temple grounds.

Monday was the first of two trips to the National Mall.  We always seem to find a parking space right in front of the Washington Monument, so we always end up with a few pictures.  It didn't take long for Gwen to decided she was, "tired of walking."  I'm glad she still fits in the sling.  A little while later she decided the sun was too bright.  I lent her my sunglasses.  When you live in NY the sunshine in DC seems very bright.  I've always claimed that I would never spoil my youngest child.  I am such a liar.

We stopped by our Congressman's (Chris Gibson) office to get a pass to see the floor of the house.  He wasn't there and his staff let us play in his office.  Gwen is the only one who would sit at the desk for a picture.

We toured the Capitol, but didn't end up going to the see the floor because the kids were getting too tired and we were worried about finding a big expensive ticket on our car for exceeding our parking time limit.  

It seems that when we visit Ely there are two things that we always do.  We go to the Mall and always find something new to see there.  The other is the Lego Store that just happens to be at a shopping mall on the way home from the National Mall.  That is usually the highlight of the trip for the kids. 

Girlie Hair

I wish Gwen's hair was just a little bit longer so I could get the braids to cross more. Wearing her daily leotard and this hairdo, she was making smiles everywhere we went. This was library day and a lot of people there were asking if we were coming or going to ballet class. Neither, she just likes to dress this way.



Hannah looks like she should be hanging out with the Von Trapp children.