February,27,2017

I started reading Preach My Gospel for Religion class in Home school. 

these are pictures of  the tulips Abbey gave to us. 

these are pictures of us at the zoo

We went with Abbey, Carson, Scout, and Weston

Monday,February 13, 2017

By: Jackson

We went to the zoo for a home school class about animal misfits. It was really fun and these are pictures of what we saw and did.   

The tiger finally got out of his cave. 

                                                    The kids were looking at the bear sleeping.                                                    

                                               First selfie was terrible.

 We were going to go to archery practice after Chic-fila but we were early.                                            
                                               We got to go to the park at Ballpark road.

Rock N Rollman Sprint Triathlon

Friday night’s sleep was absolutely horrible. Norah and Maizeigh shared a hotel bed and MZ is a very fitful sleeper, she was all over Norah and Norah kept waking up every 30 minutes or so whining because Maizeigh had a leg on her or her arm over Norah’s face. So I felt like I didn’t get any sleep come 5:00am. My race start time wasn’t too early, but Dad’s was 7:00 and we had about 20 minutes to drive from our hotel to the Sandy Beach area. We got ready and headed out of the hotel. I wasn’t nervous. I don’t think I ever really got nervous this race. The go horn sounded like Dory on Finding Nemo trying to do her whale talking. It was hilarious and very gloomy sounding.  It was a mass female start. Christi and I hugged and  I picked a spot on the outside. When the dying horn went off, I was ready. My plan, like always is to swing a little wide to get out of the craziness. I got kicked in the chest/shoulder once and skimmed some girl’s VERY prickly legs. For the first little while of a open water swim, you have to totally disregard all the practice you’ve worked on with your form and go into survival mode. And keep an eye on the buoy so you stay on course. Once the group thins out a little, its easier to swim: several strokes before you glance up for the buoy. Our buoys were big and green. The first time I looked up I couldn’t see it. Then again and again. I was starting to get worried, where was my green buoy. Then the next time I looked up, I caught a glimpse of it, BEHIND the sun. The sun was shining so bright and beautiful right in front of my first buoy. My goal was to get to the sun. Keep swimming, keep fighting, just get to the SON. In life isn’t that our goal, to get to the Son?  Every time you get close to the goal, it gets a little congested. There’s so much going on in life, so many people around you trying to get you off course, but you stay focused, you stay on course. I’m almost done, I’ve almost made it to the finish and my course actually crosses over the course of the mini triathlon ( they’re swimming parallel to the shore and I’m swimming vertical, straight to it). I’ve never experienced this. But it made me think: when we’re close to the shore and have endured our race, Satan will throw his darts at us from all sides, trying to get us to cave in. This is where I swallowed water and started coughing really bad, but tried my best to keep my stroke going so that I could finish.

I got out of the water, feeling really good. I ran up that HUGE hill to transition and tried to go as quickly as I could. I was not ready for the hills of this course. I’m not a very good cyclist and add hills and then I’m really not good. My goal was to stay about 13 mph the whole time. Unfortunately, that first hill had me to 6 mph. It was rough.  At the top of the hill, we turned a corner, thank goodness a little break. NOPE, it went up more. I struggled, the first 5 miles to catch my breath. I finally had to tell myself “breath in and breath out”, I knew that if I kept my hyperventilating style breathing then there was no way I’d succeed. At around 10 miles, I had had enough. I thought “ Heavenly Father, please let it finish now, these hills are too much, just change the course, let me be finished already” But then I heard in my mind “I wouldn’t have registered you for THE race if I didn’t think you could finish it. It may be hard but I know you can do it” This past week has been one of the hardest weeks I’ve ever had in my life. And I have prayed for guidance on how to handle the situations I’ve had. This was Heavenly Father’s way of answering those prayers. Yes, this life is hard, but He knows we can do it. He has faith in US.  We just need to put our faith in Him to be able to endure through it all. The hills kept coming, one after another and then there would be a tiny little dip, only to be followed by another hill. In life, sometimes, we have trial after trial and it seems so hard to keep going but then Heavenly Father gives a little light at the end of the tunnel (or a little dip down in the course) to remind us that we can handle it. “It’s not over yet Mary Beth, here is a little break but there will be more hills, you have to keep going” About this time, I had thought to myself, you’re doing good, you’re trying hard and then I hear “I’ll see you in a few minutes”. It was Christi, she had caught me on the bike and was telling me she’d see me at the end. She passed by and I realized I still had some fight left in me. So I kicked it up a notch and stay with her for the last 5 miles. We pushed each other, like you’ve never seen.  As we’re rounding the last corner, uphill, less than a mile, Christi says “I hope they have their cameras ready”. They didn’t, they weren’t ready for us together! It was fun to see the surprise on their faces.  We hopped off our bikes, onto jello legs and ran our bikes in. I got my race belt (a belt that holds your running number) and took off. At least I thought I was going to, but I had a cramp in each calf. It was torture.  I managed to save my stride and stretch out my calves a little while I ran. The run was straight up until half way, then it was straight down.  I felt like I had a decent run. 29:14, not terrible for after a 750 meter swim and a 15 mile bike.

I placed 4^th in my age group. All the age group results aren’t up yet, but I think there were 13 people in my age group. My goal is to always place at least in the top half.  Before the race started Kevin whispered to me “remember you do this for fun” Yes I swim, ride my bike and run for fun!

Last weekend/week

Last week was pretty hectic.

It started out like this...

Norah NEVER sleeps through being picked up out of the car and being sat down somewhere. She slept the entire time I was at Wal-Mart and even slept through me putting her back in the car. I thought she was getting sick, but she never did. Maybe this huge nap was her fighting it off.

I let her watch Dora with Porter. Porter thought it was great. Look at him sitting up alone using the boppy.

Friday night, my oldest nephew was in the 8th grade performance of Mulan. He did a great job. I loved his positioning because every time he came out on stage I could see him perfectly.

Saturday Porter started getting a fever and fell asleep 2 times sitting straight up. Again, this never happens, so I knew he wasn't doing too well.

Saturday night, he was acting better. I went to the 7th grade performance of Mulan where my 2nd oldest nephew was performing. He did an amazing job. I loved seeing his humor in his parts too. Hunter played with Porter a lot of the night and then Porter repayed him by spitting up all over him.

Here's my sweet Peyton. He was a Hun solider.

Sunday Maizeigh had a fever so we stayed home from church (good call since she ended up having Strep). She looks real sick doesn't she!?!

While Maizeigh and Porter were napping I worked on crafts that I had been putting off for a while. This is a Christmas Decoration that Lauralan Campbell made for my family when I was a little girl. My mom gave it to me and I changed it a little :)

These were blocks from our Souper Saturday at church craft day. They were supposed to be scrapbook paper covered, but you know me....

We went BACK to the doctor because Porter was still sick. And still nothing was wrong with him. Blood tests and all came back fine. Just allergies and teething all in one. Yuck!

Mid November and this is what it was outside...

My mom bought Maizeigh some "footie jammies" and the girls thought it was hilarious that they both had the same type of jammies.

I had to take a picture of my little man SITTING all by himself - seriously less than a week since the boppy pillow picture. (Jackson was at soccer practice, that's why he's not featured in this jammie photo shoot)

Little sick man sleeping through getting poked at the doctor.

My big girl! She was such a helper while everyone was sick.

Then he starts doing this...army crawling across the floor, pulling himself up the the tray and sitting like this. WHY IS HE GROWING UP?

 COOL GIRL

Young Women in Excellence 2013

I work with the Young Women (girls 12-18) at church. We have a program called Young Women in Excellence where they get to display good works they've done throughout the year and talk about their accomplishments. It's so much fun to honor them and make them feel special and important for this night.

Our theme was Stand in Holy Places. We wanted them to know that when they strive to stand in holy places, they are working their way toward getting married in the temple. Where, we believe, you can be SEALED to your spouse, for Time and ALL eternity, not just "till death do you part".

I love these girls and I want nothing more than to see them succeed in life, standing in holy places and be able to enter the temple.

 

My two very greatest friends, Jessica and Rachel. They worked REALLY hard on making the cupcakes and designing them into the dress cake you saw above. The presentation was gorgeous and it tasted just as good.

Rachel sneaking food out of the fridge while we were supposed to be working. :) We all did it.

My favorite babysitter, Caroline. The kids always cheer when they know Caroline is coming to babysit.

 My dress was one of the dresses that was on display. It's almost been 10 years since I wore this dress. I can NOT believe it.

Some of our gorgeous young women! I sure do love these girls.

Florida Ironman 2013

Back tracking on my pictures here. Trying to make sure I get everything posted.
We left the last week of October to travel to Florida for my dad to compete in the Florida Ironman. We enjoyed several days there. Friday morning I got to run with my dad 2 miles.

Saturday morning we all made it out to the beach to give good lucks to dad. When we made it out of the water from the first loop we heard us cheering for him and acknowledged. That always feels good. Christi got a high five. When he came out of the water the second time and got ready for the bike he heard us screaming. So we saw him off on the bike and then headed to our usual IHOP for breakfast. They were too crowded so we went to Chick Fil A (my preference anyways)

 

 We traveled around Panama City to get to see dad on the bike. We saw him lots of times. This was one of the times we were in the car driving beside him. We must look crazy to everyone around us. Hanging out the windows screaming, ringing cow bells!

The run is probably my favorite because we get to see him the most and have the best interaction with him. He always makes sure to get high fives. The kids get so excited.

Dad finished strong and we were so proud of him. Ironman x4 . I love that guy!!!!
We will gladly go cheer for you again next year!