Young and Awkward

If you are reading this consider yourself tagged! I am sure you all have pictures of your awkward stages of life. There are a very few people that never have to be humbled by these awful years. (my sister is one of them) The middle school id pictures show the difference a year and getting the braces off make.
The top picture is when my older brother came home from his church mission in Germany. I am the youngest girl with the pink shorts. Notice the lovely black shoes. I think that was my only pair because just about every picture I have of me I am wearing those. My little brother, Stephen, has the whitest legs I have ever seen, next to my dads.
Lets see your younger years!

This was AWESOME!

On Friday night I decided to have an 80s Halloween party on Saturday. My two Laura friends have this as a tradition, and since they live in two separate states I wasn't invited this time, so I had to do my own. I was a little amazed by how ratting my bangs all came back to me so quickly and naturally.

This was a couple donut eating game. Marshall got into it a little too much and scared the others, I think. He thought it was a kissing game, or at least wanted to make it that. We haven't seen much of each other lately. ;)

My brother, Allan, and his wife Jennifer trying to beat us.

Cardon couple - He was wearing his HS jersey, from the 80s of course.

Duby couple - Richard Simmons and Cindy Lauper, maybe?

Norton Couple - Patty had turquoise nail polish on, nice touch! She also provided the rad tunes.

Vaillancourt Couple - Had to drive 30 minutes for their babysitter, but grandma is worth it.

My big brother, Allan and his beautiful wife Jennifer. Our kids all played at my house and loved being together. Although the house looked like 9 kids had been there playing.

Ahh, still in love after 16 years!!

Pictures of the Patch

Messy pants, Samantha got so muddy and loved it!

Not really wanting to touch the dirty pigs.



Samantha and I went along for Emily's preschool field trip today. It was cloudy and cold, but dry. That is about all we could hope for. Samantha was a little nervous on the hay ride, but was tough and then didn't want to get off. I bought some corn on the cob, like I do every year, from the farm. It is always so delicious. I will go cook it now...

Last of Hawaii, ready for more.

"An eternal family begins when a young couple kneels at an altar in the holy temple of God and make covenants with each other and with God and receive His greatest promises. This sealing is preceded by each making and receiving covenants which, if they continue worthy, will bless them in this life as well as in the life to come.

The father and mother are equal partners with different roles in nurturing and teaching their family members on the journey to immortality and eternal life. To have full meaning, how can life be other than an eternal process?"
(President James E. Faust)

Home

We took a red eye flight Sunday night to get back while the kids were still sleeping Monday morning. I had to wake them up since I couldn't wait much longer to see them. It was a fun reunion and then I sent 3 of them off to school. What a great MIL and SIL I have.

Here are some pictures of the race. It was incredible.
Here I am on the wall waiting for the cannon to sound beginning the Ironman Comp.

Sea of bodies racing through the water.

After the swim there were ladies there with kitchen gloves ready to lather you up with sunscreen. Some also grabbed some new clothes and shoes for the biking. The pros have their shoes connected to their bikes and they stay in the same clothes.

The professionals getting to their $10,000 bikes. Notice the shoes hanging on the pedals. One poor woman ran to her bike rack and started to scream for help. Her bike was missing and she was acting like she was going to die. It sounded like she was the wicked witch of the west melting into nothing. One of the volunteers came over and found her bike two slots away from where she was looking. One minute sure means alot in this race.

From the 112 miles on the bike they went on to run a full marathon in the extreme heat and humidity. Most of the athletes that had done this world championship course in the past said it was the worst conditions because of the heat and wind. Marshall left me out on the street watching the marathoners run by. Since they went down the road 5 miles and then had to turn around about come back down the street I was able to see the front runners. I really just wanted to cheer on the female winner from last year, Chrissie Wellington from Australia. She won this time by more than 10 minutes! She won $110,000 cash and about $400,000 worth of stuff from the sponsors.

As soon as the top female came in at about 9 hours and 6 minutes into the race Marshall and I started our shift in the medical tent. We volunteered for 6 hours and it was eye opening. These poor athletes crossed the finish line and then collapsed or when into convulsions. I was a "runner" for 4 doctors including my Dr. Marshall Nickel. They gave the guys and girls IVs, chicken broth for the sodium through a straw, anti nausea medicine as some couldn't stop throwing up, blood tests and other things. I had to get supplies, make beds/cots/lounge chairs for the next patients to come in. I mostly loved sitting by the patients and hearing their great stories. They were all great and so appreciative to the docs and staff. I hope to get back there someday.

Kona

We are having a great time getting ready for the race on Saturday. This morning we rented a kayak and enjoyed the beauty of the island. The athletes continue to train and we can't wait for it. There is a tiny spot where 1800 racers will begin the swim at the sound of the cannon. They say it will get brutally physical as they scrap for a space in the water. It will be highly entertaining. There are about a hundred professional racers that will begin 15 minutes ahead of the rest...lucky them. These pics are taken with Marshall's cell phone. The digital camera will have to wait till we get home. My wonderful sister in law and mother in law are taking great care of my kids. I talked to Tyler today and after school he went to his piano lesson then Red Robin for dinner and on to Krispy Kreme to see how the donuts are made. Of course he ate one or two while he was there. After that Alexis (MIL) took Ty and Hannah to the bookstore where one of his favorite authors, Brandon Mull, was doing a book signing. Ty thinks he is in heaven, but misses us.

I got a little hula lesson on the street from this cute Hawaiian lady.

Here we are shopping at some fancy shops by where our friends are staying.

Iron Man

2.4 mile swim in the Pacific Ocean

112 bike ride

26.2 run

Are you serious? Yes they are!

I am currently in Kona, Hawaii for the Iron Man World Championships. It is amazing to see these super athletes train here. This morning I went out walking as Marshall is in class all morning at the iron man sports medicine conference. I sat at the start point of the competition as the swimmers continued to train. They jumped in the water and I sat amazed at their perfect form. On Saturday we will volunteer at one of the medical tents from 4-10 p.m. The competitors will be crossing the finish line during that time. I am Marshall's "runner". I guess that means I do what he tells me, this just makes it official and I get a t-shirt to wear. We are also planning on going out into the madness that morning to see the beginning of the race.

These athletes are so intense it is scary, or maybe I am just jealous.

For now I am enjoying the sun and my husband.

www.ironman.com - check it out