Much Ado in September

The first few weeks of September were CRAZY.  So crazy, in fact, that the stress got to me and put my back out two days before my triathlon.  But let's start with Labor Day.  We went to Bear Lake with some friends from our ward (which we are really enjoying).  Russell will crawl right into the water and Lydia won't even get her toe wet.  Funny how different my kids are already.

One thing that made me the saddest about leaving North Carolina was leaving the beach.  I LOVE the beach.  There isn't a better kind of vacation.  So I was thrilled when I remembered that Utah has its own little beach town--Bear Lake.  We've been twice this summer and it was heaven.  There's nothing better than playing on the beach with good company.  Even if my kids do get incredibly dirty.

Two days after Labor Day, it was Russell's birthday......But he got trumped by my sister's wedding.

It was a nice day and I thought Lydia looked gorgeous in her dress.  I did have to bribe her so that she would wear it.  Maybe not the best parenting tactic, but definitely affective.

My sister's wedding was on a Wednesday and so we had Thursday and Friday to get everything done before Saturday because Saturday was the triathlon and Russell's birthday.  What I mean by "get everything done" was a ton of things like a playdate, cake making, cleaning the house, but what it meant most of all, was finishing our kitchen remodel.  Talk about pressure.  I've can't remember the last time I felt so stressed about having too much to do.  And let's be honest, the triathlon was causing me quite a bit of anxiety.  So what happened?  As previously mentioned: my back started to hurt.  It's a pain that I've had on and off since Russell was born, but it is in large part triggered by stress.  And it is so debilitating that I can barely carry my kids or do laundry.  It hurts to stand, sit, walk.  And it usually lasts about a week.  So you can imagine the freakout I had knowing that my triathlon was only two days away.  It was literally the straw that broke my back.  I had a massage, I went to a chiropracter, I rested, I prayed and luckily by Saturday morning, I was at least functioning.  It did hurt to walk so I was definitely nervous about the run.  But there was no way I was missing the race.

Above on the left is me waiting to begin.  I realize that may not be the most flattering picture, but what's a girl to do.  Then you can see me coming up to the finish line in the other.  I really had fun doing this.  The biking is my favorite.  And the run really did hurt my back.  In fact, I think I could've run a lot faster if I weren't hurting.  But regardless, I came in at an hour and 18 minutes which is a lot better than my personal goal and I finished fourth in my age group.  Not bad.  I can't wait to do it next year.

Me after I finished.  I think this picture is fun for some reason.  Many thanks to Chad and the kids for watching the ENTIRE race.  Seeing them at every loop was the funnest part!

Me and the girls I trained with.  Too bad they're all faster than me!  Ha!

And last, but definitely not least, Russell and Chad's birthdays.  We celebrated Russell's on the eleventh since we were otherwise engaged on his actual birthday and we had a very quiet little to-do on Monday for Chad.  Of course, I took lots of pics at Russell's birthday, but they are mostly uninteresting so here are just a few.

Me and my baby in front of his dump truck cake which took way too long to do.  Why do I try to do fancy cakes again? 

And Russell eating his own little cake which did look like a tire before he dug in.  He was cute and timid at first until he got going a little.  But then people starting going outside and that is what he wanted to do so he started getting mad. "Mom, get me out!!"  That's what he is trying to say.  I think it is a funny picture though.

And the only picture I got of Chad's birthday because of camera issues.  Happy Birthday, hon!  And that sure was a yummy cheesecake.  We ate the whole thing in three days. 

Next post: the kitchen!  Man, what work!  We do finally have all the construction done.  Now it just needs decorated.  Anyone want to help with that?  I'm a little overwhelmed with it.  But I must say I love it and will post before and after pics soon.