To Tri or not to Tri

Brian and I are contemplating signing up for a triathlon this summer. Brian has done a couple and we did one together in Vernal that my friend Jacque coerced us into. It was fun - but I swore I wouldn't do one again because the swim was so nasty! The water is so COLD! But the biggest issue I had was that the water is so disgustingly murky that you can't see where you're going. You put your face in the water and 1) you can't breathe because it is so COLD and 2) you can't see so you're basically breast stroking/dog paddeling to try to keep on course.

This was the year I was going to run a marathon, but that plan came to a screeching halt when I injured my leg last fall. My leg is better, but I don't think distance running is going to happen. I took 12 weeks off, and it is slow going trying to get back into it. To stay in shape I've really taken to cycling (indoors). So I figure why not use that new found obsession and put it to good use. Now I just need to get over my fear of biking on a road with cars and swimming in a gross lake and I'm in.

Christmas 2009

Santa came!

Grandma M. and Kaia

Santa brought Brian some bike shoe covers.

Berkeley got a Snuggie!

Chocolate waffles!

Eric and Kaia

Aunt Karen and Kaia

Max

Grandpa Child and Kaia

December

Yea! Tree's up!

Trax ride!

Temple Square

Don't open that present! No, Kaia did not understand the concept of waiting until Christmas to open presents. She opened two presents - both of which I simply taped back up instead of re-wrapping because I was so sick of wrapping! The few people I told that story to suggested I wait until Christmas to put out wrapped presents - hello! It's part of the Christmas decor!

Kaia and Max. Kaia felt very maternal around Max, trying to help by giving him her lamb, blankey, and of course, helping him with his binkie. She knows how important that is!

Kaia's lamby! She decided that he needed a diaper on. My friend Becca Batt gave her this lamb, and she loves it more than anything else. She must sleep with it every night and begs to take it with her everywhere she goes. It washes up very nicely, thank goodness.

Christmas Eve

Yes, this is what Kaia's meals usually consist of. Nothing can be mixed together (no potato casserole, no pomegranate salad), no meat unless it's plain chicken (not even chicken nuggets).

Prime rib! Let the holiday eating begin!

Tanner, Caden, Kaia and Gage broke out in a spontaneous performance of Jingle Bells during Christmas Even dinner. Kaia can be quite the performer. Large groups are ok. One on one with strangers - not ok.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Kaia loves to lick the whip cream beater!

Kaia and Caden

The Zoo. One of Brian's co-workers told him that their family goes to the zoo on the day after Thanksgiving every year. We thought that was a great idea since we're not much for Black Friday shopping. It was a great day - not too cold, and not too crowded!

Bowling. Kaia loves bowling - she loves cheering for everyone and had a great time carrying her own ball.

But she loved the nachos most of all.

Family Photos 2009

Halloween

We decided to go all out this year, so we dressed up! I even went trick-or-treating looking like this. It was hilarious to see our neighbor's reactions. Most didn't even recognize me. Others were like, "Wow, you really went all out!" But it was a ton of fun. We had some family over and partied! Kaia loved trick or treating. She just followed her cousin's leads and caught on really quickly that if you go up to the door you get candy! She was so tired by the time we circled the neighborhood, but when we came home she cried because she wanted to keep trick-or-treating!

Our cuddly dalmatian!

50's couple (Jana & Gary), Batman (Tanner) and Cowboy (Gage) - sorry, not a great photo.

The Chef (Chris), The Witch (Becca) and Bumble Bee (Caden)

Wayne's World - Wayne (Sarah) and Garth (Jeremy)

50's girl (Mom) and "Scary" - as Kaia would say (Dad)

Kitty (Peggy), Dan and Doctor (Theresa)

Partied a little too hard.