Blaine and Tirsa Family: September 2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Denver Oyster Race

What is the Denver Oyster Adventure Race, you wonder? It is a super fun, totally exhausting, crazy Saturday morning with 2 good friends where we went back and forth between running and biking around Denver while figuring out clues and completing challenges. It is similar to the reality show, the Amazing Race, which is a show I have always fantasized about doing. This particular race took myself, Cindy, and Michelle 4.5 hours in which we ran a total of 9.5 miles and biked a total of 24.5 miles. I'm not going to lie...most of the race I saw this view...Cindy's backside as Michelle and I tried our best to keep her pace. But, in our defense, Cindy was a nationally ranked snowboarder and is a total FEARLESS kick-butt athlete.

Here are Michelle and Cindy figuring out a clue and how to get to our next destination.

One of our challenges was paddling across a lake.

This race was the second time I had road-biked in...oh about... my entire life!

Sinking a ping pong into red solo cups of water is a lot more challenging than one might think!

And here I am literally taking one for the team...eating a Rocky Mountain Oyster. But, that was a small price to pay for the end result of finishing the race in 3rd place in the women's division!

What a surprise to come in 3rd place! We were just out to have a fun, challenging day and about half way through the race, I started to realize that it appeared that we might actually be front-runners in the whole thing. I tell you what...I might have been even more tired doing this than I was after running my marathon! Because, not only was this a whole lot of running and biking, but it also required thinking and completing other obstacles, the biggest of which was keeping up with my teammate, Cindy! It was fun and exhausting and I just might finally be over my obsession with wanting to run the Amazing Race now! The whole morning as I pushed my mental and physical abilities to the point of total exhaustion, I kept thinking to myself, "I will NEVER do this again!" And here I am writing this thinking to myself, "Tirsa...never say never..."

Busy little monkeys...

My 3 little monkeys have been busy with the start of school and new schedules.

Miss Bella has started 2nd grade! She has a great new teacher and although her best friends are in other classes, she is doing her best to adjust. She got glasses over the summer and I have been amazed at how responsible she has been with wearing them and taking care of them. And as you can see from the picture below, Bella is quite the trend setter. After she got her prescription glasses, two of her best friends went to Claire's and got "glasses", too. So very cute!!!

Bella is growing up way too fast but I so appreciate her goodness, sweetness, and how she tries to be such a big helper. I am so proud of the choices she makes and how she tries to be a good friend. Bella is so special to me. I miss her when she is gone at school and off at gymnastics and friends houses. It seems like my time with her keeps shrinking, but I guess that is part of growing up.

Luckily, I still get a lot of time with these other little monkeys. Of course, they spend a lot of time playing at home while I do my chores, but on occasion we take walks and bike rides to the library or park or other places.

Ez has started his 2nd year of pre-school. I am doing the mother's co-op again so I get to take turns teaching his class. It is time-consuming when it is my turn but I love being involved in his pre-school education. It really is a lot of fun being his teacher.

And Cali has started going to a rotating playgroup with some other little friends since she doesn't get to do pre-school this year. And she has started going to gymnastics, which she loves. Plus, she looks completely adorable in a leotard!

Blaine keeps busy with his long work days at the hospital and he manages to fit in some mountain biking when he can. And me? Well, I'm busy cleaning house, cooking meals, paying bills, running the kids here and there and everywhere, scheduling all of the doctors visits, fulfilling my calling in the cubscouts, and keeping the social calendar full. I try to build into my days some runs and work outs at the rec center to keep myself sane. My days are busy but my life is blessed!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Summer Adventures...

This summer was full of adventures, for sure! Blaine and I were able to enjoy a day together ziplining in the mountains. That was a lot of fun and sure beats the traditional dinner and a movie kind of date.

We also got our 80's groove on to celebrate Sarah's 30th birthday. Yep, that's eyeliner on my punk rocker husband! And his jeans were just too good to pass up. It's great what you can find at thrift stores! I'm rocking a look that I stole from my hard hitting research while watching "Pretty in Pink". After using so much hairspray in my hair, I am really glad that more recent decades have settled on a more natural look.

One of my favorite summer adventures with Blaine was celebrating our 11th anniversary together, Warrior Dash style! We decided to dress the part, complete with a wedding veil, garter, and "tux". The obstacle course was at Copper Mountain ski resort and consisted of things such as running up a rocky mountain, scaling walls, army crawling through tunnels, running through tires, leaping over fire, and ending with swimming through a pool of mud. Just like in life, Blaine was right by my side and we helped each other through all of the hurdles. It was a lot of fun!

We were joined by 5 other couples on this adventure.

We all started out looking like this...

And we ended up looking like this...

I can't think of a better way to spend our anniversary! Love you, Babe! Thanks for an amazing 11 years together. I look forward to many, many more adventures with you.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Happy 3rd birthday Princess Calista!

Oh, little Miss Cali…how I love you so! You have such spunk and personality. Yes, you are also very stubborn and very resolved to do whatever it is that you want to do…and although that creates a few power struggles, I absolutely love your determination. You are such a bossy boss girl but somehow you make it cute. I also love your imagination. One of the best parts of each day is watching you play and hearing you talk to your baby dolls and even your imaginary friends. Right now, your favorite imaginary friend is Alicia.

I love how you are a caretaker. You are the first to run and get a band-aid for a sibling or friend in need and if anyone messes with someone you love, you are not afraid to put that person in their place. Sometimes your stubbornness scares me, but I hope and pray that you will channel it towards something productive and that you will always be determined to be a good, happy person who takes the bull by the horns and does something GREAT with her life. I know you will. And even though you are one tough cookie, I also love how you still need and want your mama. More often than not, I find you in bed with me in the middle of the night. I know I’d get better sleep if you weren’t there, but I don’t care. I love snuggling with you. And this mommy has learned over the years that you don't stay itty bitty for very long. So, I'm going to let you be little while you are and enjoy your hugs, laugh at the things you say, and snuggle you as much as I can.

I love you, baby doll. You are a perfect combination of sweet and salty. Your big brown eyes melt mine and daddy's hearts and sometimes our resolve to not give in to you. You are daddy's "Buttercup" and my Baby-doll". I am so happy that Heavenly Father sent you to us.