i'm a TRIATHLETE!

so my first triathlon is scheduled for sunday, august 2nd...
in order to prepare myself for it, my girlfriend, noelle and i decided it would be a good thing if we signed up for the local triathlon that happened on july 4th!
we wanted to see how well we'd do when it comes time for the "real" one... we wanted to test ourselves and see how well trained we are up to this point, get some nerves out and ....

well, my friends...there is nothing unreal about this tri we did on saturday... it was a 1/2 mile swim, 15 mile bike and 5K...same as the one we signed up for this coming august.

...AND WE FINISHED IT!

it was no easy task and in fact i stumbled and panicked in the beginning while in the water. i am used to training in a light and warm pool...so going into a dark lake is a little different. my nerves got the best of me but my friend noelle calmed me and waited for me (aaahhh!) and we did the bike and run portion just fine. we are champs and we completed it!

God is Good!!! :)

here are some pics from the race...



my beautiful transition area all set up! yikes!


first real glimpse of me getting out of the lake... disappointed with my performance but moving on.


out of the water (finally) and with my biggest fan who was encouraging me to continue - my dad!


finished the swim, noelle patiently waiting for me, and getting ready for the bike portion


Noelle and me mounting our bike to get ready to roll...


about 1.5 miles left of the bike portion..


jer's parents and my boys - part of the cheering section


my sweet joy and erik cheering me on. love them!


on bike, coming up to transitional area...getting ready to start running!


dad and logan - part of the cheering section


running our little hearts out as we near the finish line


crossing the finish line with my partner in crime! we made it! what a victory!


mission completion! all smiles here and tired!


noelle and her hubby brian and one of her 3 children - the eldest, lauren


sweet reward at end of the race

nothin' like family

so...this week was just crazy. it was fun and i am tired! with monique and jason having little sophie...all sorts of family came into town. aunt courtney stopped in with her bestie, jamel, for a visit and to meet her newest niece AND my sister and her family all came in, coincidentally, to have a vaca here with our family and of course got the chance to meet sophie. topped off with a little triathalon for myself at the end of the week...but i'll post about that later...
here are some pics from the fabulous week we had!



With the ever spunky courtney. we went out for mexican with the whole fam...


getting to hold little sophie after a week of not seeing her...i missed her!


zach seeing sophie for the first time. he LOVED her...smiled really big and gave her several kisses!


My sister and her family came for the week and we just had a really great time. We just got the chance to hang out alot together and the children all had fun playing and being together... a luxury we don't get often. precious time, precious family!



logan and papa just chillin' and watching what is going on around him...


me and lee - shannon's husband.


logan on daddy's shoulder...


shannon and georgia after she came down the slide...isn't she adorable. a mini version of my sister!


my hubby with shannon's eldest daughter, madison. she is growing up so quickly!


lee and my dear nephew braden just chillin' in our backyard while the young ones play


stealing a moment by the pool with my sweet ones


the young ones loved playing ring around the rosy...priceless to watch z interact with everybody


shannon stealing zach for a hug. love this picture


jerry, me and all the cousins. love them!!!


reagan, shannon's 4 year old and my boy z... sneaking off for a private moment together


me and my girls...reagan and madison


all kids together...


logan and georgia taking a drink break...aren't they adorable?


me and my most beautiful sister shannon. i love you!


shannon's kids on tree playin'...

it was fun and fast and fabulous!

ta da!!!!

here are the pics of our sweet sophie girl.
she was born june 25th, 2009 and was 7 lbs and 9 oz. 19 1/2 inches long.
she is adorable and actually seems to be a cross between both my boys... we'll see!
love her so much!


the proud daddy and his little sophia lynne!


our sweet sophie. isn't she adorable?!


uncle jerry and his 4th little niece!


we love our little niece!


i just couldn't be prouder! love her!

SOPHIA is here!

my new little tiny niece is here! Praise God!!!
she is 7lb 9oz

pics to come...

for all the dads out there...

For the Dads in my life...

i love my dad. he is the best dad in the whole wide world. he makes me laugh, is great to both me and my sister, loves my mom and i just enjoy being with him.
love you dad. happy fathers day!







i love my dad in law. he is really great and i love how he is interacting with my boys. thanks for that! he's also a hard worker!
happy fathers day!





i love my husband. he is the best dad to our boys. he is exactly how a man after God's own heart should be and loves my boys, plays with them, kisses them and hugs them and all the while loving me! i love you babe. happy fathers day!

BIG changes in a little boy...

my oh my!
my little Z is just growing up so quickly!



he has so many challenges ahead of him but i see God continually holding his and our hands as we wait and HOPE and see what the Lord will do! He does not fail us!
we already have mighty prayers being answered!
z's school meeting went very well and we have so many wonderful services lined up for him this summer AND it will continue on into and throughout the school year ahead.
summer school in july. check.
extra hours of behavioral sessions in august. check.
being integrated into the preschool program with "typical" children with his very own shadow. check.
extra pt, ot, behavioral and speech therapies added on top, making him have 4 full days and one half day of school. check.
[whew]
thank you to all who prayed over zach and with us for zach and this meeting... God answers prayers!

oh, and did i mention we put him in his new big boy bed this past weekend AND he was Soooooo excited. no problems. no transition time. my little man was ready and we were so proud of him for being so brave!



and one last thing... my sweet boy finally started going pee pee on the potty. this is a huge work in progress as he approaches 4, but at least once a day and today he accomplished it twice... he is "getting the idea"... i am so thankful for his progress and feel this summer he will finally and HOPEfully be potty trained! :)



could God be any cooler or any more awesome! praise Him with me, won't you?

To God be the Glory!!!

the loganator

my little L is getting so big. he is officially 18 months old. he is a doll. he is sweet and funny and cccrrraaaazzzyyyy!
love him!