our happenings lately

i haven't had a chance to blog in a while... and i still don't feel like i have much time, but i wanted to share what has been keeping us busy and even upload some (unedited) pictures. when is the last time i did that? and since it's such a pain to try to move pictures around on here they really aren't in order.

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first things first. i've debated whether or not i wanted to blog about this, but i think it's fun and it's always nice to get a little support/encouragement. when i was down in utah i found out that my brother and sister were going to do the Bear Lake Sprint Triathlon. i didn't want to be left out so that is now what i've been doing. the training is way more work than i thought, but also much more rewarding. i'm exhausted from waking up so early every day, but energized at the same time. weird, i know. the bummer part is that i just found out today that i have tendinitis in my knee. it's really been painful to bike and run. the good news though, if i can take it easy, ice it, stretch, and get the swelling down I'll probably be just fine. so here's to hoping it doesn't get much worse. the race is the end of august so only 6 or 7 more weeks... some of my favorite things in training so far are riding the trail in the morning and seeing bald eagles flying above. i love swimming, it brings back so many memories of my dad and brother bart. the smells and sounds make me happy in a strange way. it's so relaxing to me. i know that swimming in the open water will be very different, but i'm loving the training. running isn't going so well, but when i can go with someone it definitely helps. that's going to be the hardest for me especially being at the end of the race and now with my knee. also, i get to eat a little more, and who doesn't love that! ok, enough of that i'm sure you'll all hear plenty by the end.

and, i know i don't look like this lady and probably never will, but there are always hopes!

i haven't downloaded any pictures since june so this one is from my friend, monica. we spent the fourth of july with old friends and made new friends. we had a great time (even though it was raining). this little lake is right outside their house. cool, huh?!?

back in the beginning of june my sister, rebekka, and her family stayed with us for a week. it was awesome and we got to have a vacation at the same time. they even cooked all the meals! we all had city passes and did lots of things i have never done here in seattle. it was great.

can you see that tiny building to the left of jack's head with the white smoke stacks sticking up? that's where matt works, right on lake union. awesome!

then we went to utah and i already posted about the wonderful wedding and i always have way too many pictures so i'll just post a couple. matt and i took jack up to the park city/alpine slides for a little outing. we got to leave sophie at home. it was so much fun to just be with him. it doesn't happen very often and we need to make more of an effort for one on one time.

on our way home we stopped in ogden to visit matt's grandparents. it was so nice to see them and of course grandma bea hooked the kids up with lots of treats!

our most recent adventure took us to cannon beach. so beautiful and of course i don't have pictures yet (but i will get them up here sooner than later). we went with some friends and sara has some fun photos on her blog. i think we should go camping there every year... even if the raccoons do come in our tent and eat the banana bread!!!