Rockcliff camping

This was a triathlon I really wanted to do, but due to this "fun" trial I have right now that's not possible. Well they offered a free campsite if you brought a volunteer, so I decided to give back a little to the sport. I don't think I've ever volunteered at a traithlon before and it was fun. Nice not to pack all the gear and worry about being ready, just a chance to help athletes, calm new athletes fears, and watch everyone race. I was stationed at the transition area which is probably the place where all the questions come up. I got down there about 6:30am and was left down there till 11:30. This was half a mile from our campsite and they kind of forgot about me. I felt really bad leaving Jer and the kids for that long, so I tried to make it up to them the rest of the afternoon.

Anyway, backtracking. We got up there 7pm or so friday night and packed everything into our campsite. Rockcliff at Jordanelle is really cool. It's in a corner of the lake that has been set aside as a nature preserve. As such, you cannot park next to your campsite but rather in the small parking lot and pack your stuff in. Ours was pretty close, but still took Jer 3-4 trips, 5 minutes long each way to get everything over. We got the tent set up just as the rain started coming, and boy did it rain. It came down good until midnight I think. The night was cold but we all stayed fairly warm, most of the complaints coming from daddy. Miss Kaitlyn slept all night too which really surprised me. It was so cute to watch her when we first put her in the tent diving around onto all the sleeping bags, she thought it was pretty great!
We had lunch Saturday after the race, then made our way to the Nature Center there. What a great place! My tax dollars are doing good work there, you should check it out. Great educational displays, everything hands on for the kids. They even have a little 20 seat theatre there you can watch close to 30 nature movies in. We checked the displays out for a while (identifying different animals poop and the badger display complete with buttons to push being the kids favorites) then went geocaching. Every state park does geocaching where they give you a GPS to use and you go around and find 3-4 different coordinates to lead you finally to the destination which is a little tin box with Utah State Park prizes in them for the kids to take home. It led us ALL OVER on cement and boardwalk paths and it was hot out, but I think the kids enjoyed it.
After we got back to camp and packed up we headed over to the other side of Jordanelle for some beach time. My sister would probably laugh at me for calling this a "beach", but it was the best we could do that day. I got in and tried to swim (without kicking), but it just didn't work and I only got maybe 200 yards in. Just too much motion from my foot. Note the crutches getting out of the water (didn't have to use them getting in), the foot was really hurting by then. Getting the wetsuit off hurt a lot too. I really miss the water.

The kids had fun splashing around a little and Mckayla swam out with me a bit. She's such a water baby. It was nice to get out camping, especially in a new place that was fun and close to home. Oh yeah, there were a ton of mesquitos, so bring the bug spray, along with helpers or a wagon/stroller to haul your stuff, but Rockcliff is definately a great place to check out for the day or a camping trip if you haven't yet.

Funny!

Ok, random post, I know, but I saw this and it made me laugh. Enjoy!



Hey there Delilah, what’s it like at BYU? I’m just a quarter mile away, but feel so far away from you, But that will do, Cuz two years from now I’ll be with you, I know that’s true. Hey there Delilah, don’t you worry about the distance, Few more months and I can call you both on Mother’s D ay and Christmas. Close your eyes, Then just think of suits and ties, But not other guys. Cuz, you said you’d wait for me, O, you said you’d wait for me, O, I’m at the MTC, O, I’m at the MTC, at the MTC. Now have some patience and don’t think of dating Conner, Cuz two more years you may be done with school, But I’ll return with honor. I can’t wait, Just two more years till our next date, It will be great. O when you told me I was the love of your life, And I just held you close and kissed you just like I’ll kiss my wife. We can goodbye, And I gave you my favorite tie, There’s no need to cry. Cuz, you said you’d wait for me, O, you said you’d wait for me, O, I’m at the MTC, O, I’m at the MTC, at the MTC. There were RMs who made fun of me and said you’ll never wait for me, To them I say ‘oh ye, of little faith.’ Cuz we’ve been dating for two months and I think that that’s long enough, To know someone enough to feel this way. I carry your picture with me and talk about you constantly, I’m driving my companion insane, And you’re to blame. Woke up this morning, checked the mail right at dawn, And just believe me girl how shocked I was to read those words, “Dear John, I think we’re through, I meet a guy better than you, Go ahead and cry if you want to, Sincerely Delilah, missing you, P.S. we’re through.” O, you didn’t wait for me, O, you didn’t wait for me, O, you didn’t wait for me, O, and I’m only at the MTC, at the MTC…

Happy Father's Day!

We enjoyed a lovely breakfast of cinnamon rolls, bacon, omlets, and strawberries that only took me 2 hours to make (should've only taken an hour, but with the crutches.......). It was worth it luckily. The kids gave Daddy a bag of chocolate chips, and a package of his favorite cookies. Simple yes, but I really like it that way. We don't need more stuff, and it's more about the fact that we thought of him, in my opinion. The kids certainly don't care either way. When asking Mckayla to find me some wrapping paper she said "I've got it Mom!", and returned with 2 large sheets of posterboard and paints. So she and Talm made their own wrapping paper which I think was a great idea.

Jer's such a good dad. He loves to horse around and play with the kids. He loves to be outside and camp and hike, something all of us enjoy. He works long hours to build his buisness (he's a financial advisor, something he really enjoys and is good at, and something necessary in this time of economic crunch. Might as well make the most of what money you have, right?), supports me in all the racing and training I enjoy, and most importantly, is a wonderful spiritual leader and teacher for our family. We love you Dad!

I also want to wish my Dad a happy Father's Day. I love you Dad! Thanks for always being home for us growing up, for taking us fishing, for knowing how to do and fix everything, for being my scuba diving partner, and for riding your bike next to me in the dark under the stars so I could get a long run in before school. I have some wonderful memories from growing up, and now watching you as a Grandpa.

Happy Father's Day to Grandpa Wade too! Thanks for helping to produce such a great son and for enjoying your grandkids. Happy Father's Day!

And a pic of Kate scaling the couch just for fun :)

BAM!

Was supposed to be a great race yesterday, ended up as a "bam" to the foot. Fell off my bike, bike landed on top of me, got scraped and bloodied a little, and unfortunately it appears from the x-rays I have a 5th metatarsel fracture on my right foot. More details and pics of what happened are on my race blog

For now I'm on crutches with my foot and leg in a temporary/removable cast. To be cautious I'll use the crutches for probably a week, but there won't be any running for at least a month, and that's probably optimistic. There's a small chance the radiologist who will look at the films tomorrow could see that it is fractured enough to require surgical stabilization (ie pins), but that is worse case and I'm not planning on it showing up that way. I'll keep the blog updated though when we find out.

Life as a mom with crutches is difficult. I can't carry Kaitlyn, but Mckayla can. Unfortunately Kait kind of detests that. Mckayla is also a great nurse who loves to help me dress my wounds. The mental recovery of this is going to be very difficult for me as an athlete. I'll still swim and bike, although probably not bike till next week, but I love to run and am in great shape. I was trying to improve my race resume in hopes of getting a local bike shop to love me and give me a good discount on a tri bike this fall. I really am bumed out and upset right now, but I'm just trying to think toward the future. Getting this thing all healed up and then maybe getting a race or two in late August/September. The big goal is being totally good to go by December to train for Ironman St George May 1.