I love you even though you're not a vampire...

My friend Janae recently lent me the Twilight series and I couldn't help but read them again even though I've already read them and I have so much to do. It is so fun to get completely LOST in books -- you get to journey to another world and live an alternate reality. A reality that doesn't include time to write new blogs...

So, the other night, as we were falling asleep, Dave said, "I love you" and I answered with "I love you too, even though you're not a vampire". He just laughed and went to bed. So, I started thinking about the similarities between my husband and Edward Cullen -- the vegetarian vampire. Here they go:

1) Dave will get very upset if anyone (kids included) says anything mean to me or about me. He's ultra protective.

2) No matter how much I work out, he is SO MUCH stronger than me.

3) Dave runs away at the sight of blood (not for the same reasons, but he still leaves the room)

4) He's a much better driver than I am.

5) Dave has the best smile and teeth ever.

6) If Dave gets hungry ---- WATCH OUT!!! :)

I went and bought "The Host" but I can't allow myself to read it until after we get back from our Exodus next week. (Dave and I are going on our Stake 'trek' as parents -- only it's the Exodus from the Old Testament). We have SO much to do to get ready for it!!!

I did it!!!!!

Well, the triathlon is over! And -- I finished it! Yeah! I was the slowest one in our group -- but not the last one of all -- close though. However, I felt strong throughout the whole thing -- and kept going, so that is what matters. Here are the fun details:

About a minute before our swim started, we were in the water, ready to head over to the 'starting line' and I tightened my goggles -- and broke them! OOPS. So, then, the horn blew, and I was off -- goggleless, but swimming. Hope I don't get some awful eye infection from the dirty water. After rounding the second buoy I just kept swimming -- with my eyes closed. Next thing I knew, I looked up and there was an ASU kayaker coming out to get me because I was so far off the course! So, there went a few minutes of hard-earned swimtime. But, once I got out of the water, and had my wet suit 'stripped' by the strippers, I was off. The rest of the race went exactly as planned - slow, grueling -- but without further incident.

The bike portion was hard and the longest part. The run was slow -- and steady. I was jogging so slow -- but I kept jogging. I probably ran 95% of the way. I ran the last 50 meters with the kids on either side.

I finished in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. I felt tired, but perfectly fine the whole race. I had wanted to enjoy the race DURING the race -- and I did. I must have told myself 20 times during the race -- THIS IS IT! You are actually doing it! I was smiling lots of the time. It was so fun to see all my friends at the finish line (the bonus for being the last one is you get all of them there to cheer you on). My family and friend Crystal came. It was great! Here is the whole group of us:

Liz Barrett, me, Janae Samuelson, Michelle Budge, Diana Waite, Kathy Skinner, Alison Wirthlin

I'm so proud of all of us! What a great way to celebrate Mother's Day.

How to make Orange Juice

Josh taught us all how to make orange juice, since, as he put it, "There are people in the world who do not know how to make orange juice."

1) Go to the store and buy some oranges.

2) Get out one of the seeds.

3) Plant that seed.

4) Wait until you have an orange tree.

5) Pick some oranges.

6) Juice them.

So, there you have it! Why simplify the process when you can do it over 5-10 years!