Echo Triathalon

On July 11th, Gordon and his sister Cherly did the Echo Triathalon. They both competed in the Olympic category (1 mile swim, 24 mile bike, and 6 mile run). I was a little worried about Taeya and I hanging out in between events, but she did great. They had a little kids table with crafts, so Taeya made Gordon a little sign (with my help), to cheer Gordon on.

Taeya and Gordon getting ready to start the swim.

Coming out of the swim and heading to the transition area to get his bike.

I missed a picture of him coming in on his bike, he was faster than I thought so we weren't paying very close attention. By the time we saw him it was too late to get a shot. So this was at the end of the run, he was so happy to be done! The run is the hardest part for Gordon, his goal this tri was to run the whole thing, and he did. He said he didn't even stop to drink water, he drank on the run!

The end! After I took the above photo, Gordon grabbed Taeya and ran with her across the finish line. He got a lot of cheers!

When Cheryl came running in, Gordon ran the rest of the way with her!

Taeya was so tired from waking up early, that while we were waiting for the awards, she fell asleep. Thank goodness it was an overcast day, and not too hot. (I know I am huge already!)

Gordon and Cheryl

Gordon took second place in his category.

And Cheryl took first place in her category.

Way to go guys! Maybe I will join them next year. (Probably not, but you never know!)

Yakima Reunion

Lake Powell was cut a few days short so we could go to Yakima, Washington for a family reunion for Gordon's mom's family. We left lake powell Thursday afternoon, got home around 9:00 pm, unpacked then packed again. Woke up at 5:00 am, to catch a 7:30 am flight to Seattle. Rented a car in Seattle, then drove 4 hours to the reunion. It was outside of Yakima at a camp called Camp Zarahemla. It is church owned camp (in case you couldn't tell by the name!).

We got there just as they were finishing lunch. After we ate what was left of lunch we went down to the lake, visited with cousins, and went on a canoe ride. Taeya wanted to go swimming, so we put her suit on, but as soon as she felt the temperature of the water, she decided to just put her feet in. It was COLD, and compared to lake powell's 80 degree water, it was freezing.

After a canoe ride and some ice cream, we took a drive around the camp, had dinner and a talent show, visited some more with cousins, and went to bed. We were so tired after all of our traveling that we crashed!

In the morning it was breakfast, then cleaning up the cabin/lodge before heading to Yakima. In Yakima we drove around town, swam in the pool at the motel, visited the farm, had dinner then went to see the fireworks. (We had to do something that was related to Independence Day)!

Sunday morning we got up, ate some breakfast, them drove back to Seattle, and headed home. It was a quick weekend, but we were glad that we were able to go and enjoy family!

Gordon and Taeya

Ashley and Sadi Batchelor

Joseph, Paul, Matthew, Adam, Rachel, Samuel, and Emily Roberts

Taeya and Gordon watching the fireworks.

Rachel, Sam, and Sadi watching the fireworks too!

Lake Powell

We had another fantastic year at Lake Powell. This year we went with my whole family, minus 1 brother-in-law. My sister, Chantel, has a house boat and this year they invited all of us to go with them. It was a little chaotic at times with 30 people, but we really did enjoy our time on the lake. What's not to love about Lake Powell? At least that is how I feel. We left on Saturday June 27th, and stayed until Thursday July 2nd. My family stayed until the 4th but we had to go to a family reunion in Washington so we had to leave a few days early. The only positive thing about that was we didn't have to help clean up, and load up! Here are many pictures of our fun days.

The whole gang around the corner from rainbow bridge.

One of Taeya's many naps. (She needed them since she was usually the last one to go to sleep!)

Gordon sailing around the Lake. Doesn't he look like he needs to be on some tropical island?

Me tubing with the girls, Kierra and Taeya. They had a blast on the tube, they would talk and sing and laugh. (Don't mind Taeya picking her nose!)

Collin, Kenzly, and Asilia

Kent, Kimball, and Kimberly

Gordon taking Kierra and Taeya on a little ride.

Kelly, Garrick, and Jayne

Taeya, Dad, Kierra, Skyler, Mom, Karsten, and Asilia

Daylen getting all ready to try skiing for the first time.

He got right up! He made it look so easy.

Zachary, Cael, and Cameron playing with their trucks.

Cute Skyler!

Cute Taeya!

Mariel and Kelly watching the kiddos play in the water.

Daylen, Cameron, Kierra, Taeya, Asilia, Zachary, and Kimball

Gordon and Taeya

Skyler, Mariel, Gordon, Zachary, Kierra, Taeya, and Me

Cynthia, Kenzly, Kimball, and Collin

Our little family at Rainbow Bridge .

Sleeping girls on the drive home from the bridge.

Taeya getting ready to try skiing.

Ready to go in the water. The first attempt the timing was a little off between the wave runner and Ryan helping Taeya off the back of the boat. The second attempt, the wave runner pulled her up and over and she got water in her nose, which she was really upset about. Due to the water in her nose we couldn't get her to try again. Maybe next year!

Brandalyn, Gordon, and Taeya - still sad about getting water in her nose!

Big Girl Bed

We finally got Taeya a "big girl" bed at the end of June. She had been able to climb out of her crib for a long time, but she wasn't really that interested in sleeping in a big bed. We would give her a choice between sleeping in her crib or sleeping on an air mattress and 90% of the time she would choose the crib.

Gordon really wanted to make her a daybed, but I found this one I loved from Downeast, so he gave in! She loves it and was so happy to finally have it. She gets out of it every once in a while, but for the most part she stays and goes to sleep on her own.

Nice and Dry!

Taeya was insistent that I put her in the dryer the other day! I remember playing in there a time or two growing up. I of course wouldn't close the front for her, but she still had fun playing for a good 10 minutes of so.