CAMPING

Our first camping trip with both of the boys at Malibu State Park. I wanted to stay somewhere close for the first time just in case of a disaster. Actually, everything went great and the weather was perfect.We tried out our new 6 man tent and all of us slept through the night. The hint is: bring your air mattress. Since I have married Chris we always bring our air mattress camping. I guess growing up with 7 kids you have to rough it a lot. Well, my parents had a tent trailer. Maybe someday our family will upgrade, but for right now what we have works.

Xander waiting patiently to go hikING. Lucky for him he gets to ride and lucky for me I have a strong husband who will be carrying him on his back.

Keaton and Madeleine Rands getting down and dirty. Eating hotdogs on the ground and loving everything about camping.

Triathlons

This is the gear I used for my 1st triathlon I did 2 years ago. I need new gear. I am doing the same triathlon this year and I am working towards getting in shape for it. It is hard as a mother of 2 to try to find time to exercise. Atleast a few times a week in the mornings I load them up into the double stroller and we go for a walk. I try to jog, but I don't have a jogging stroller and sometimes pushing that stroller I feel I am working my arms more than my legs. Atleast I am getting out to do any kind of exercise.

I am trying to recruit anyone I know to do the triathlon with me. So far some people from church will be joining me. I am a pretty competitive person so I really want to come in 1st place amongts all those that I know. I better get off my lazy behind and start working out more. I do try to swim atleast once a week, but swimming is my strong point, thank goodness. So I am trying to emphasize more on the running and biking. Which brings me to another point, I now don't have a bike, well I guess that isn't all true. I borrowed my brothers Patrick mountain bike 2 years ago and just got it back to train for this triathlon. Unfortunately, when I went to use if for the 1st time I got about a mile in a half and the derailer broke on me. Yeah, it stinks! Luckily, Chris was at home and I was smart enough to bring my cell phone with me. So Chris picked me up. Otherwise I would have had to drag the bike all the way back to my car. I guess it wouldn't have been that bad. I am just glad I didn't have to do it.

Since the derailer broke and as I am training for this triathlon, I have come to realize that I like doing this. So Chris suggested that I invest in a good bike. I have been researching road bikes this week and REI is having a sale, so hopefully I will get one soon. Now I just need to learn about bikes because the guys at the bike shop were talking a foreign language, but hopefully I will pick up on the bike lingo soon.

I am just really excited that I have found something I really like and the plus side is, that it will help keep me in shape and I always need the work because I love to eat, but that is another story.

BIBS

I have never been a bib fan. I sometimes wonder why someone would buy their child a cute outfit and then proceed to put a bib over it, covering the whole outfit. I guess everyone does as they please. Well, I use bibs for my kids when they eat, but then it is off after the meal. However, Xander is a little different story, this kid is a droole monster. His shirt can be completely soaked of saliva in less than 5 min. So here is a picture of Xander wearing a bib so he isn't always wearing a wet shirt. Notice the shiny chin, that is drool. I do however take the bib off when in public.