Zoo Day w/ Nana & Grandpa

Last week we went to the Zoo with Nana, Grandpa, and Elijah, & Gracie. We all had such a great time! We only stayed a couple hours before the heat got the best of us! About noon we headed to lunch, where Oscar joined us. It was a nice family day:)
Xia had a great time and was out of her stroller in no time holding Nana's hand and following the older kids! My Mom captured some great photos...

Elijah, Xia, Gracie

beautiful girl

follow me, you guys!

with Grandpa looking at the croc

Xia and me. I'm trying to get the Lory to climb on my hand

my dad with the Lories

checking out the elephants

sitting pretty:)

the lion cubs were too hot to sit on, so I had to help her on the big lion!

Sweet & Twisted Triathlon Lake Weekend

The weekend of August 20th, Oscar, Xia & I headed to Marble Falls, TX for my Sunday triathlon.  We stayed at our friends lake house - how convenient is that?! - and relaxed all weekend at the lake.

We arrived on Saturday early afternoon and headed to the lake. Xia had a marvelous time playing on the shore and in the water. I had a very relaxing time soaking up the sun. There was no one at the water, so we had our own private beach! Oscar brought his boom box, so we had tunes the whole time:)

Sunday morning, I woke up at 445am, ate breakfast, got dressed, sun-screened up, and left about 520am to do my triathlon. I left Oscar and Xia back at the lake house so they could sleep in. I knew they were there with me in spirit:)

I arrived at Camp Champions for the Sweet and Twisted Triathlon ready to go!

my transition area

ready to go!

I had a great experience and met up with some San Antonio friends. I finished the 500m swim (9:58), 14 mile bike ride (58.06/14.46 pace), and 2.5mile run (18:40/7:28 pace) in 1:29:44. I finished 6th in my age group (out of 20) and 62 overall (out of 170+).You can read more about my experience on my training blog, eighteen weeks.

out of breath, but happy to be FINISHED!!

faith, michelle, me, nina, and marley - my new tri friends!

Sunday, we relaxed again at the lake. It was so nice.

daddy and xia ... she loved this!

family fun time at the lake:)

sweet, sweet picture:)

We stopped on the way home at Beefy's for dinner...check out my little half pint ;)

Hardberger Park Playdate

too, too cute :)

Last week we did a park playdate with Vonna and her 3 kiddos, Grace, Zoey, and Kai. Xia had a great time. We stayed and played for about 2 hours! It was a little hot, but there was plenty of shade that we were able utilize!

Cowgirl!

Yeehaw!

Vonna's kiddos:)

10 Words and counting!

When we were at Xia's 18m appt, the Dr. asked about how many words is in Xia's vocabulary. Oscar told her about 10 words. So, after we left I begin counting...

1. Baba = Bath
2. Hi
3. Hello
4. Hot
5. Bubble
6. Da-ee = Daddy
7. Papa
8. Mom (fairly new!)
9. Xia
10. ees = Please (although she'd rather sign this word!)
11. Wow
12. Cheese
13. poo-poo (as she pats her soiled diaper!)
14. cheers! we cheer with water, apples, etc!!

She also mimics certain words, but won't repeat them or use them regularly ie, she said yellow one time when we were doing colors. 

my talking parrot!

1 yr Anniversary of (serious) Running

I've always run off and on to stay in shape. 
I ran in college with my running club, but not consistently. I ran a few 5ks and 10ks with my group and had a great time - it was social. 
I ran to lose weight in 2005 but only kept it up for about 6 months. In 2006 I became a gym rat. I would run- sometimes, but never consistently. I'd only keep it up for a few months, then slack, then a pick it back up, then stop again, and never long distances. 
After Xia was born I was without a gym pass and with a jogging stroller. Late July/early Aug of 2010, I started running. The last of the pregnancy finally fell off while my passion for running grew. I registered for the SA RNR half marathon in Nov.2010 and the rest is history!
So although I ran off and on before, this is the longest period of time I have run consistently, passionately, and challenge myself with new heights.

My running journey over the past year