Potty Training

Alexa has been potty training and it's going pretty good so far. Some days are really good and others we just don't stay on top of it. We have a sticker chart in each bathroom and each time she goes potty she gets to put a sticker on. In January she had about 50 stickers between the 2 charts! At the end of each month she gets a present for having lots of stickers on her charts.

January's present was soap paint for in the bathtub...she LOVES it!

Tummy Masterpiece

I even get in on the fun! Mom's back Masterpiece
Wall Masterpiece

Will have to start thinking of another fun gift for February....she has LOTS of stickers again this month!

Bitter Cold!

It is so cold!! I'm excited this weekend is supposed to get up to 35 here in DM!!

Anyway, not much going on as we can't get out and do much. We have started looking at resorts for our December trip to Mexico for our 5yr anniversary! I can't believe it was 5yrs ago we were planning our wedding trip! WOW....time flies!

Last weekend we headed up to MN for the annual QBP Frostbike show. On Sat. we headed in to the scratch and dent sale and found some really good bargains. Check out my other blog for the best find of all! I also found a pair of tri cycling shoes and Kyle found a couple things also.

The show was good, some interesting new products nutrition wise coming out and it was just neat to see everything again. It was good to have a weekend to ourselves as we hadn't had that for awhile.

Sunday as the big storm rolled in we took almost an extra 2 hours to get home. Alexa got stuck in Cedar Rapids at G'ma and G'pa's and didn't make it home until Tuesday afternoon and even then Tony and Kathy said the roads were still horrible! It took them almost an extra hour to get to our usual meeting spot. I was glad to have her home and I think she was too! She loves spending time with the G'ma and G'pa's, but it's always good to have Mom back!

Let's say our prayers for some warm weather soon!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

A day to remember all those that have touched your heart in one way or another.

Be thankful for all the LOVE you have in your life today!

Love, Kyle, Julie and Alexa

BRR

Not too bad today, but factor in wind from going 12-15mph on your bike and it makes it a little chilly!
Yep, today was the annual BRR (bike ride to Rippey) ride. Julie G. picked me up about 8:30 and we headed over to Perry, picked up our packets, geared up and started the ride.

We took it nice and easy, good 13mph pace, not too hard, but still passing people. About halfway to Rippey we turned into the wind...I HATE wind! Slowed to about 10mph and pushed our way into Rippey. Once we got there we had a cookie and some coffee...now I remember why I don't drink straight coffee...YUCK! But it warmed me up a little and I chose decaf as I'm trying to stay away from caffeine as much as possible.

Heading back to Perry was a different story, wind at our backs we sailed along at about 16mph for a few miles. Then we had to make a turn and got a little of a side wind...once again...I HATE wind! Slowed down for a while and then the last turn we got to pick it back up again.

Once back in Perry we went to the Rec Center and enjoyed some good chili and played a couple of games for prizes. I won $5 in Perry bucks...not sure when I'll get back to Perry to use them. Maybe Mom and Dad can have them and stop for sodas on their way through when they visit us! I also won a handmade crocheted hat. Cute, it's tan and maroon. Doesn't offer much for wind protection, but cute to accesorize with.

Kyle, Taylor, Kurt and a few other guys also made the trip today. I think Kurt is hooked! Kyle and Taylor were going to do 2 laps, but only got in about 1 1/2. Once they met Julie and I on our way back they decided to turn around and head back into town with us.

Good day on the bike. I forgot my heart rate monitor so not sure on the logistics of that, but I could feel myself working and my legs got a good workout with the wind and hills!

Changing it up

I'm really into the Chocolate Brown with either pink or blue accents....so here it is, the new colors on our blog!

Surgery update

I just realized I never updated on how I'm doing since my surgery.

Things are going pretty good. I did start exercising the first of January. The first day I took it really easy and felt good. Well, the way my mind works...it felt good, let's go harder! That didn't work out so well, lots of pain the next day! So I took a couple of days off and started slow again.

Just this week I was able to run 1/2 mile!!! No pain the next day!!!
I'm going to have to say the surgery is working so far.
The next step is finding the right birth control that will suppress my menstrual cycle, but not wreak havoc on my system. I'm not too keen so far on what he put me on after my post-op appointment. BAD mood swings, plus other not so fun symptoms. Will try it for another couple of weeks and see if symptoms go away. If not, will talk to him about something different.

The suppression of the menstrual cycle will slow down any re-growth of the endometriosis. Crazy disease...see link in the sidebar to learn more.

Hope this plays for you!

Kind of dark, but cute....I hope the sound comes through....Alexa singing her ABC's.
E and N get run together. It's a little different each time she sings it. Sometimes you can hear them and sometimes not.
I still haven't figured out why it's kind of like a rap!

2008

New Year

2008 will hopefully bring a healthier lifestyle for me.

My friend Julie and I have started a workout/goals blog for the new year.
Wish us luck and track our progress!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

Christmas Fun

Do you know your Christmas Carols?

Have fun!

Lazy Saturday

Well...for Alexa and I it was a lazy day. We finally got going around 11:00 and headed to the mall for a little Christmas shopping. Got everything I was looking for today and was out by 12:30! Yoo Hoo...I even found some awesome deals...can't hardly beat 50% off on some things!

After that it was home for lunch, Alexa down for a nap and a little cleaning to be done. Nice relaxing stress free day!

This is how she looks after she wakes up!

Found it very funny how two different cats take a nap too!

This is how a normal cat sleeps...she woke up as I was moving in for a picture.

And this is how Bob sleeps! He also woke up as I was moving around.

Kyle actually went out and rode his bike at 9:00am! It was about 10 degrees for the Renegade Cross race at one of the parks here in DM. No rules, no fee, no catgories, just go out and race for 45 minutes.
Kyle was thinking the snow was going to be too much to ride through so he brought Alexa's bike to carry on his back and run the course. Come to find out when he got there, Rob had shoveled a path for the entire race. Jane brought her cross country skis and everyone else rode their bikes.

Sounds like he had a lot of fun and from Kyle's stories it was exactly what they had suspected with no rules!! Lots of pushing people off bikes, stealing others bikes to ride, and just plain ol' having fun!

Paul Varnum has some pics on his post....Kyle is in the green/orange overalls! Link to his page on the right!

Back Track to Jingle Cross

Jingle Cross was Sat/Sun Nov 24-25.
Kyle did very well, finishing 12th on Saturday and 30th on Sunday. After lap 2 on Sunday he decided his back had enough and just rode the rest of the race. Full results here. He rode in the Cat 3/4 races.
Saturday was his birthday and that night the girls of Punk Rock Cycling hosted a party at Donnely's Pub so we decided to attend. Thanks to our friends Rob and Donny; they got the whole bar to sing Happy Birthday! Great for a guy that doesn't like to celebrate birthdays.

Saturday, Mid-Air over the first set of barriers on lap one! Blue team kit.

Descending after a LONG climb!Sunday, rounding the corner for the climb up!

More images here...check under galleries...some great pics!

A slower December

I mentioned in an earlier post that December was going to slow down.
Well...on Friday Nov 30th I had laparoscopic surgery to remove endometriosis and hopefully relieve some of the pain I've been experiencing in my lower abdominal region. The doctor found a little endo and some nodules that he removed. So let's hope this helps!

I was diagnosed back in March of 2002 when I developed a cyst on my ovary. I had a lap surgery to remove the cyst and that is when they found the endo. I had another lap in January of 2004 as I had another cyst and Kyle and I wanted to start a family. This spring I started experiencing pain after rigorous exercise. I would also experience pain after eating certain foods. Shooting stabbing pains in the abdominal region. Another symptom of endo.

I've learned a lot the last few months about what foods aggravate endo and in talking to other women online about how much worse the disease really can get. I actually have it pretty easy compared to other women.

I'm recovering well and hope to be back to exercising by January, either walking on a treadmill or sitting on the recumbant. My goal is to do 2 sprint triathlons and actually participate in some bike races this summer of 2008!

Look Who's 2!

Life has been crazy! I feel like all I do is run around all day and night and then go to sleep, just to get up and do it again the next day. December will be slower...I'll get into that later. The big news of the day is Alexa turned 2!

Sat. Nov 17th was the big day and we had her party that night. She had a Curious George party and had lots of family and friends come over. Here are some pics of the terrible 2 year old...

She was all smiles as everyone sang Happy Birthday!

MMMM.....good cake and ice cream!

New Kitchen set from Grandma and Papa Sedore
Cousin Natalee did a good job helping her put all the food and dishes away.

Cousin Matt and Mindy showing her how to do her new sit and spin!
She does pretty good. A little slow still, but I'm sure it won't be long and she'll be as fast as ever!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Sunday Oct 21 we visited the Williamson Pumpkin patch just east of Ankeny.

I see one Mom and Dad!!

I like this one!

Yep, this is it!

Sunday Oct. 28 we visited Night Eyes at the Blank Park Zoo. They set up a path of stations from local businesses and organizations for the kids to trick-or-treat in. They also have a fun zone with bounce houses and a giant blow-up slide. We opted not to do the fun zone as there were A LOT of older kids. We enjoyed the path and received a free ice cream sandwich from Wells Blue Bunny.
It was a good run to see if her costume was warm enough for Beggar's night on the 30th.

Cool! I get another pumpkin!

We did a little bit of Beggar's night last night. We opted to stop at some of our friends houses instead of going to the neighborhood houses of people we didn't know. Alexa had fun and got plenty of candy for an almost 2yr old!
What is Beggar's Night you ask? Read below...
Here's an excerpt from Des Moines Register Reporter Mary Challender's story this morning on Des Moines unique tradition of Beggar's Night:

The credit for providing Des Moines children with the perfect outlet for their most groan-inducing jokes largely goes to one woman, Kathryn Krieg, director of recreation for the Des Moines Playground Commission (later the Parks and Recreation Department) for 43 years.

When Krieg assumed her post in 1931, kids on Beggars' Night were more likely to clamor "Soaps or Eats" than "Trick or Treat." Every year the newspaper ran a long list on Nov. 1 of youths arrested the previous evening for crimes ranging from soaping windows and sidelining streetcars to setting fires and throwing bricks through windows.

The flash point came on Halloween in 1938 when Des Moines police answered a record 550 calls concerning vandalism. Krieg, along with the Community Chest' group work council, began a campaign to encourage less violent forms of Halloween fun.

They set aside Oct. 30 as Beggars' Night and got the word out to the public that on that night - and only that night - children would be allowed to go from door to door and say the phrase "tricks for eats." The council urged that "eats should be given only if such a 'trick' as a song, a poem, a stunt or a musical number, either solo or in group participation, is presented."

The next year, the group work council again promoted the Beggars' Night concept, this time as a way to aid the war effort. An article published in The Des Moines Register on Oct. 29, 1942, carried the headline "Kids! -Don't Help the Axis on Halloween" and included this poem encouraging proper behavior:

"Soap and ticktacks are taboo,
Ringing doorbells? Not for you.
Thoughts of pranks, you must detour,
Lest you bet a saboteur."

The Beggars' Night program was so successful that by the mid-1940's, the number of Halloween police calls in Des Moines had been cut by more than half.

After the war, Krieg continued to issue annual bulletins in the Register laying still more Beggars' Night ground rules, including that children should stay in their own neighborhoods and that parents should turn on their porch lights for trick-or-treaters and accompany small children on their rounds.

Each year, she reiterated that children should not be given candy until they earned it "with a stunt, song, or riddle."

Now on Beggars' Night, a group of preteen girls will occasionally sing a song or a shy kindergartner opt for a cartwheel. For the most part, however, every trick-or-treater old enough to memorize one tells a joke.

Why did Dracula visit the blood bank?
He needed to make a withdrawal.

Krieg retired in 1974, a few years after the Register stopped running her yearly admonition to make children work for their candy. By then, the biggest Beggars' Night concern wasn't the danger trick-or-treaters might represent to the public but the danger some members of the public might represent to trick-or-treaters. Krieg died in March of 1999 at age 94.

The joke-telling ritual continues, as does its legacy: Reduced vandalism. Instead of tales of marauding youth, the only Halloween-related story to appear in the Register last year was about a gathering of local witches.

Newton CycloCross Championship Race

This past Sunday was the Newton CycloCross championships. Many images taken by Fryguy
I stole a couple for the blog. Kyle had fun and once again pushed himself hard. I don't think I can get him to do a write-up, but I can for sure tell you he would say...I had fun, about pooped when Thad went down in front of me, and finished the best I could.

Here is my pic...kind of far away, but you can see his barrier skills!

Here starts the pictures from FryGuy...the are good!
Start of the race...check out Marc's pre-Halloween face!
Round the tree we go!Chasing down Thad! Thad's the tall one that jumped over the fire at the 24hr race!

Alexa also had fun running around and playing with Kyle's parents. She slept good!!

One more race the weekend of Thanksgiving at the Jingle Cross Rock race! Maybe if Kyle wins the bike, then we can make me a cross bike for next year....hhmmmm....may be fun!

Past week recap

This last week consisted of bikes, football, and candles!

Last Saturday and Sunday Kyle had the Newton Cross out Crohn's cyclocross races. He did well and had fun. Results here.
Alexa and I made it to Sunday's race and she had a lot of fun playing with the Reese triplets and just being outside.

Kyle's seat broke on the first lap...here he is letting us all know.

Next photos taken by Julie G.
Jump those barriers!Pushing hard...Isn't she a little diva!

On Friday I headed up to Marcus to see my nephew Justin play Football. It is his senior year and up until a week ago he was quarterback. The Friday before last he fell on his hand and dislocated his thumb. A sports trainer popped it back in that night. On Tuesday he went for an MRI and he has a chipped bone at the base of his thumb. So no more quarterback for the rest of the season unless he can get his grip back in the next 3 games. He had some great plays on Friday night and did just as good as running back and defensive end. Yep small town IA, the boys play the entire game!

On Saturday my Mom had a candle party, I think I'm getting all her friends hooked on Gold Canyon...she had few guests, but a GREAT party!
Then we just bummed for the rest of the weekend. Alexa helped rake leaves and just had a ton of fun playing with her cousins.

Taking a break to watch Grandpa mow the yard...

Natalee, Alexa, and Elizabeth

Girl's night riding

Kristin and I headed out on the center trails tonight. It was a lot of fun and I really like my SS 29er Kyle found for me. I think I'm getting hooked!

We started with a little bit of time up on Hillside. Not too bad, I struggled a little in places, but for the most part I think my bike is geared OK for it.
After hillside we went down to Denman's. I really like it in there. Still need to get the courage to do some of the logs, but all in all I'm OK with most everything. Little Italy slows me down still too...those close trees at the top of the hill make me really nervous!
We finished out with what I guess is Squirrel's Nest and Rhythm (as Kyle tells me).

It was a fun ride and I hope to do it again soon! I'll try to remember my camera next time, and get a pic of my bike on here too.

Squirrel's Nest Time Trial

This Sunday was the Squirrel's nest time trial.
Alexa and I headed over to the race via bike and trailer as the race took place in the heart of Des Moines. It's great that we have this wonderful little trail system in the middle of the city!
Wow is she getting heavy! Not to mention she moves around a lot more and makes the bike jerk quite a bit. Good workout for me!
A good race turnout to raise money for CITA and the Price Vandelune Memorial Fund.
Kyle ended up with 6th place in the expert field and decided not to do single speed. He cranked so hard his lungs hurt!

Kyle coming around at the end of the lap. Notice the pain in the face.

Taylor towards the end of the first lap...check out that face!! Wife Beth off to the side doing what she does best...snapping a pic of the hubbs! Well second best...she's a darn good knitter, check it out here.

Jay Chesterman of Sioux City cranking on his single speed lap.
Taylor also decided to rock the single speed.
More pics here and here.

Walnut Creek Dolphins

The swimteam is another love of mine and enjoy it every time I go to work!

I have been coaching on and off since I was in college and I truly don't know when I will stop!! I'm kind of hoping some day that Alexa will be a swimmer like her Mom. I know...I know...I have to let her choose...but a Mom can dream can't she?!

Right now I work mainly with the 10 and under age group and the kids are just so darn cute. Last night at practice I was 20 questioned on my tattoo. One girl asked why I had a cross and I told her it was because I was a Christian. Her reply: "I'm a Christian too, and I don't have one!" I told her she was too young...this all coming from a 9 year old. She then proceeded to keep the questions coming...I think she was trying to get out of swimming!

Anyway...check out the link to the team site above and learn about my first love...swimming!

Yoo Hoo....

....Cyclones win!!!

check it out at: http://www.cyclones.com

yep still haven't figured out how to make the cool little underlined link thing....I need help!!

ISU vs Iowa.....

Who are you rooting for tomorrow?
After ISU's first 2 games it doesn't look good for us, but I have to say......GO CYCLONES!!!!

24-Hour...finally some pics

The 24-Hour race was Saturday and Sunday Labor day weekend. Kyle was one of the race directors and decided this was the year to totally relax! Him and Ron (another race director) decided to sign-up as a 2-man team so they could do a couple laps if they wanted. We had a ton of fun and can't wait for next year.

Here are Taylor and Kyle coming around for a lap. Taylor did the 12-hour portion solo and ended in 3rd place! Way to go Taylor!!

Taylor is first rider, Kyle following.

When 2 guys create a brotherly bond as these 2 have, they have no problem posing for unmentionable pictures! Beth (Taylor's wife) and I are really starting to worry about them!

Once again, we had the biggest fire in the camp. I even got video of Thad Neil jumping over the fire. I just don't have the cable to download it to the computer yet....sorry!!

For those of you that don't know Thad, he is the tallest guy I know in the cycling community and had no problem jumping over the fire. I just wish I would have taken a picture of Thad sitting in the Tot Spot chair....his knees were literally up to his shoulders! hee hee

MMMM.....chocolate chip cookies

Alexa helped me make chocolate chip cookies for the first time last night. Aunt Tracee would be proud that I actually made cookies and not just bought the dough!
The best part was when she dropped the mixing fork in the butter and sugar mixture....she didn't like the feel of the mixture and dripped batter all over the place!

here is a pic of her mixing the butter/sugar mix with the eggs!

Re-wind to the State Fair....

Just got this picture downloaded and thought the need to post it! We took Alexa to the State Fair on Mon. Aug 13th. She got to pet a lamb, calf, and a chicken. I attempted to talk to someone about letting her pet their horse, but they didn't even acknowledge that we were looking at their horse...SNOBS!!

Anyway, here is a pic of Alexa and Kyle with the calf.

Actual Results

Well....the results have been posted and I did better than I thought on my Triathlon!

I signed up for the Athena age group...yep, women over 150 lbs....ooph ooph!! There were 12 in the group and I got 7th out of 12!! My actual time was 1:46.40

Swim time of 10:21 - 3rd out of the water
transition time of 2:04 between swim and start of bike
Bike time of 55:23 - 6th off the bike
transition time of 1:03 between bike and run
Run time of 37:50 - 9th to finish in the run.

Overall the groups I was 297th out of 342! hee hee, that sounds really bad, but I know it's not!

It's done....My first Triathlon

WOW....that was an adventure!
It was fun, exciting and hard all at the same time! I'm not as good at re-capping as some of you out there, but here it goes!

We arrived and picked our spots for transition and got everything ready to go and set up. After I was all set up, I warmed up a little on the bike, went for a very short run, and then headed down to the water for a little swim. I thought I was ready!

Ready, set, start! The swim went really well, I swallowed a bunch of water, had to do some breastroke to get back on course, but I was in the front part of mid-pack when I finished....I think!

Biking also went well. It took a little bit to get my legs going, but once I got over that little hump I felt good. There were a couple of small hills that got me, as usual! I need more hill work. One was a combo of hill and wind...definitely not my cup of tea! Aside from the hills the biking went really well. I kept it in the big ring 95% of the time and had fun. Oh, and my back was killing me!

Oh the run! Definitely a sport I need to work on! The first mile was the hardest, I think I walked about 3/4 of it! Once I saw the 1 mile mark, I knew I needed to get it going. I started running again and didn't take a walk break until about 1/4 mile after I saw the 2 mile mark. I walked a little and got some encouragement from another racer and started to run again. Across the finish line I checked the clock and saw 1:46.???

I couldn't believe it! I had done it in under 2 hours! Deep down that was my goal, but after the week I had I didn't know if I could do it!

Thank You to Jane Riessen for giving me a ride up there and encouraging me during the race! Also thanks to Kyle for cheering me on and being there at the end to catch me! I was in pain and needed him! and to Tony and Kathy for coming and cheering me on and helping Kyle with Alexa, once I get some pictures from Tony I'll post a couple.

I plan on keeping up with the training and trying a couple of more next year. Maybe just the sprint ones again and participating in some of the bigger ones on a team. We'll see what happens!

finally...CA pictures

Some of my favorite pics from CA!!

My cousin Dan and his beautiful bride Suzie!

The Voetberg Clan!
Sis-in-law Courtney, Pete, brother Ben, me, sis Tracee, Mom June and Dad Marlo

The Etter and Voetberg Kids
Josef, Tracee, Krista, Dan, me, Kim and Ben

The view from the look-out point at the resort.

The big rock I found to climb before my run on the beach! I had to time it just right so the waves didn't get me all wet!

Baby elephant seals....they were so cute!

Just a pretty view at the beach.

Busy

Just a quick note...

Got back from CA on the 13th...it was wonderful! Highs of 70, down in the 50's at night!! Coast was beautiful, will post pictures later!

Traveled back to Marcus for a funeral. My best friend's nephew (14) passed away suddenly. Please keep them in your prayers as the grieve.

Triathlon is coming up fast! One more week! I don't know if I'm ready especially since the last week brought hardly any training! As long as I finish!!

More later....

Little Marilyn

Alexa doing her best Marilyn Monroe impression with the A/C vent!

Another week down

This week went a little better for training. Not as much as I wanted to do, but I'm OK with what I did.

Wednesday - went on the Irwin's ride while Paula watched Alexa. I got about 25 miles in and pushed myself to stay with the leader of the medium/fast group. I made it almost the whole way with them and then suffered a stomach cramp. Guess I pushed myself a little too hard!

Thursday - It was Kyle's 6:00 week, so I made it to the group training in time to get about a mile run in and then headed to Gray's Lake for a swim with the group.

Saturday - Met Julie G at Gray's lake for a brick workout. We only did the swim and the run as it rained while we were swimming and since we are both very comfortable on the bike we chose to run as we both need that! We practiced run-ins and outs and then swam the buoy line twice. Another Tri newbie was there also. Good Job Mary!

Sunday - Was going to ride my bike to the Walnut Creek Kids Y-Tri for my volunteer opportunities, but woke up to thunderstorms! I drove down and rode the trail to the turn-around and helped the kids on the bike portion. I got a little running in as we had a kid crash and I had to run down the trail to help him. Not a lot of riding, but running in biking shoes is definitely a workout!

This next week will be interesting to see what I get done as I am heading to CA for my cousins wedding! They say the trail down to the beach is a 400 yard hike down the cliff! I'm hoping to be able to head down, run the beach and then run back up! I might even try a little swim in the ocean! We'll see!