I will Tri

A month or so ago, I committed to a triathlon.  Swim. Bike. Run.
My friend convinced me to take on this challenge.
And I'm so thankful.
I think.

This is our "pre triathlon photo"

But seriously, at the beginning of the summer I realized that my baby was 1 and the baby fat from two pregnancies was not melting off the way that I thought it should (or was told it would).

Additionally, I had one week where I was especially caught off guard by my advancing years.  Firstly, I attended an aerobics class at the YMCA that I mistook for a Silver Sneakers (seriously, I felt like we'd all enjoy a nice round of bingo after the workout), and it was hard, so I thought that certainly I needed to up the ante. Later that day I went shopping for a new bra. I ended up with one marked as an "age defying" bra (from what I gather, this is really a push up bra for women who have most likely nursed babies). So my point is that when I think about the years I may have been at my fittest level, they are behind me. Becoming quite distant, actually. I've actually contemplated attempting a triathlon before, and certainly now is the time. I can't imagine it being any easier as I approach my 40s. (Which, by the way, is now the recommendation for a mammogram, another milestone I can't believe is just around the corner for me!)

I have a few books. I have a friend with experience. I have a training calendar. And I have a race date.
So I will try a triathlon.
1/4 mile swim. 16 mile bike ride. 3 mile run.
And so far, I'm having my fittest summer of the last 10 years.
It feels good.

A Summer afternoon

George had a free afternoon and we got just a taste of what awaits us when his residency program is finished. Vacation!  Beaches! Sun! and Summer fun!

Our impromptu trip took us through scenic country side. The rest of Wisconsin is truly just beautiful, and sometimes, when we don't leave Madison for months on end, we forget! We even enjoyed a quick car ferry ride to get up to Devil's Lake (who knew that the Merrimac ferry is FREE and only 7 minutes to cross Lake Wisconsin!).  On our return trip we stopped for supper at a local diner, where the boys stocked up on fried food.  

Grant really likes to get into nature.

The boys had a LOT of fun swimming in the lake

14 months and climbing

Look who is proficient at scaling the furniture!

From Rhythm & Booms weekend!

This is the end, my friend.

The beginning of the end is here! George's "graduation" was on Saturday, June 25th. As the program director reminded everyone, this will most likely be the last ceremony marking the end of study for most people in the room. They are booting the residents from the nest and the real doctors will really be ready to be real doctors!

George has a few more weeks because he took a paternity leave when Grant was born, but we are counting down the days!  Woo hoo!  Congrats, George, on all the hard work for the past 3 years!

On a side note, I learned in the last weeks of his residency that George has been diagnosed with a very special gift:
Apparently, George has an ability that his fellow faculty and staff call "mind scrambling". Short story version: George is so thorough in his explanations, and goes into such depth, that people often leave even more confused by the knowledge of all the newly learned details.  I am confident that he has refined this technique and will only use his powers for good in the future, but I'm sure the boys will love to experience this during their school years. Personally, it sounds vaguely familiar as I recall a math homework session with my dad that left me even more confused after the explanation turned to multiplication when all that was necessary was simple addition.