True Grit Triathalon

I promised that I'd add to this blog every so often so here's the story of the True Grit Triathalon. A little more than a week ago Erica's mom, Mary Lynne, told Erica about this ward triathalon that the family was participating in. They needed a biker and so I was volunteered to ride the bike portion as a member of the family team. I swapped an old computer for an old mtn bike this spring with my coworker so I was labeled as "the biker." I wasn't about to ride a mtn bike on the 13 mile bike route and was really lucky that Rob Marsh let me use his roadie.

Here's the route:

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I only had time for two training rides before the event so I'm really quite impressed with how well I did. I finished the entire course in 50 mins 43 seconds with two stops, once because I noticed that I put the front wheel on backwards and once because the chain came off after some serious downshifting.

Pics on the bike:

Turns out that there were two Jones teams represented. The fable I heard is that Willy asked Evan to do the run. Evan refused, of course. There was some bantering about physical conditioning and age that resulted in Wil pledging to do the bike on his 15 year old Panasonic road bike. Yes folks, I said a Panasonic road bike, baby blue with yellow electrical tape handlebars, rear view mirror, kickstand and all. I kid you not.

Evan then ante'd up and committed to do the run. It's only 3 miles after all.... Team one was the Jones Boys with Clark on the Swim, Wilford on the bike and Evan on the run.

Team two was the son-in-laws, Stephanie in the pool (Matt was self conscious in a speedo I hear and wussed out, something about Phelpsy boy having nothin on him...), Kimball on the bike and Dan with the fleet feet.

It wouldn't be a Jones event without a few game time changes and I didn't know whether Matt or Stephanie would swim so my boss, Shawn, came and did the swim as well for Team In-Laws. Honorable mention goes to Laura who did the bike on her mtn bike "just for fun."

What Shawn looks like on early Saturday mornings...

All the participants... can you guess who is the "Official Timekeeper" of the True Grit Triathalon? And who are the chearleaders?

And the last shot is Benson getting into the act...

It was really well done for a ward function in it's 3rd year. Fmr. Sandy Mayor Steve Newton is responsible for putting it all together, and props go out to Steve and his slew of volunteers who painted the street corners, followed in cars, held clipboards and stopwatches and prepared bagels and gatorade. Thank you.

Of all the final thoughts I'll say that if there is a Wil, there's a way. Wil Jones & Laura get the most respect in my book for riding that in only 10 mins more than me with a Panasonic and a fat tire bike . Wow.

Edit: 9/27/08 Added pics

Thirty Years Young

There are moments when I can't believe that I'm thirty years old. Everyone warned me that it would be depressing and that I would feel sooo old. I was twenty-nine one day and the next I was thirty, and to be honest- I couldn't really feel a difference(: I really feel like I have lived a lot of life, and I still have a desire to make every moment count- at whatever age I am. I have loved my twenties and hope that it only gets better.

My birthday started with lots of contractions at three am. Randomly, and even more rarely, Benson woke up-wide awake. I went and got him out of his crib and he cuddled with me until five thirty am-just when my contractions stopped. Then, he was ready to go back to bed. I really can't remember that he has ever done that, but I really appreciated his company. In the afternnon I met up with my friend Emily and had lunch. It's always fun to get together with her. I think that we could talk all day long if we could. Later that evening, my sister-in-law did us a big favor and watched Benson so that Kimball and I could go out. We got Cafe Rio take out and Kimball took me to a look-out point at the end of Wasatch Blvd. It's a special place that he has taken me before for birthday dinners. He set up a candlelight dinner with a tablecloth and all. We enjoyed the beautiful view of the city at sunset. Later we got German chocolate cake at Gourmandise downtown. It was such a great evening full of laughter and fun. Kimball gave me something pink and a really great pair of shoes that I had been searching for but hadn't found. It was a really fun surprise. On Saturday, we celebrated my birthday with my family by going to the Italian Restaurant Fritolli's for dinner. I love getting together with family. It was a great birthday.

Mommy's little helper

Benson is really in the "monkey see- monkey do" stage. If he see's me do something, he is right there immitating me. He loves to follow us around the house and "be involved". He's our little shadow that we wouldn't trade for anything. He'll put on my oven mitt and try to pull down the oven all the time. Yesterday I was folding laundry on our bed just before bedtime. He kept handing me socks and wanting me to put them on. After he had multiple socks on his feet, he then wanted them on his hands. Check out the video- he shares a few of his tricks.

Millcreek Canyon

For the last three years, we have gotten together with the High family and visited Millcreek Canyon. It is so beautiful this time of year. We love to grill and have a campfire and enjoy each other's company. We had Kimball's grandparents from both sides with us, Mary Jane & Wil and Lorraine.

Double Whammy

Kimball and I are expecting a little boy by October 9th. We were also so excited to find out that Kimball's brother Nathan and his wife Andrea are expecting a little boy too on January 10th. Benson has a cousin that is just three months older than him and we are excited that this little guy will have a playmate built right in to the family. We took this picture when I was 35 weeks. It seems like time can't go fast enough when you are expecting.

Wheeler Farm, Liberty Park, & Thanksgiving Point

Kimball's sister, Emily is in town from Missouri with her three children. We are especially lucky that Kimball's granmother, Lorraine is also visiting from California at the same time. We have been trying to take advantage of this precious time that we get to spend with them. We've been quite busy with the kids going on wagon rides, playing on swings and in the water, and discovering animals and pony rides. It's been great for Benson to get to know Grandma Lorraine and his cousins Tanner, Lexi, and Collin better. We love having them visit!

My brother-in-law, Matt and my nephew drove all the way from Tucson to see the BYU game. Tyler and Blake got to sit with grandma and grandpa and get spoiled. They take the game so seriously but were so cute in their jerseys.

GO COUGARS!

Kimball and I took Benson to his first BYU football game on Saturday. We worried a little about the noise and whether he would stay on our laps. We were silly because he absolutely loved it. Kimball took him over to see the band and he started to lead them. He clapped and giggled and screamed. Kimball and I had such a great time for two reasons, we loved having Benson with us and we loved watching BYU give UCLA a game they haven't seen in 79 years- with a score of 59 to 0! We went crazy when BYU blocked a field goal to make it a shut out.

Capturing the Memories

I've had so many friends and family members ask, "Erica, when are you going to create a blog?" I've wondered the same thing. I'm finally making it happen. I think that it is such a great way to be in touch. I'm also thinking that it will be a fun and creative way to keep track of the memories of everyday life and the big events in life.