I did it!

 Last year at our annual friend sleepover me and Annette decided that we would do the Duchesne triathlon next August.  We thought it would be a great goal to get in better shape.  I hate doing anything cardio.  I love to lift weights, but hate running.  The first time I went to swim, I could only do 2 laps freestyle and then had to switch to my side or back.  I thought I would never be able to swim a 1/2 mile freestyle.  I am nothing but determined and finally after 3 months I was able to swim 1/2 mile freestyle

 without stopping.  Soon I was swimming a mile without a problem.  Once on a really good day, I swam two miles.  That has never happened again, but on occasion I will do 1 1/2 miles.  Now I had to work on being able to run a 5k.  Me and Steve would park the ranger at Tom's cabin and then run to our cabin.  It is such a hard run for me.  It is only 4 1/2 miles, but one mile is all up hill and at the altitude it gets your heart and lungs going.  Biking is pretty easy and so enjoyable.  They opened up the Murdock

 Canal trail and I've loved going on bike rides.  The hard part is getting off your bike and making your legs work to then run.  My legs were always so weak and wobbly for the first mile.  I was training and feeling pretty confident that I could do the race when I did something to my right leg in July after a run.  For 2 weeks it hurt to walk and at the cabin after jumping from seeing a snake, I had to crawl for an hour because I couldn't walk on it.  I was worried and went into the Dr. and he could find nothing wrong and said

 play it by ear.  So I wasn't able to run all of July and August.  I didn't know if my leg would work the day of the race.  I just figured I would walk and complete the race.  Greg decided he wanted to do the race with us and after a vacation in California getting home at 11:30 and up by 5:30 started the race out exhausted.  The swim was terrible, I couldn't get my breathing on and I had a panic attack and backstroked the whole way.  I truly thought I was going to drown.  The bike ride was a tough one on dirt, sand and

gravel, but me and Annette just talked and enjoyed our ride.  Miracle of miracles when I got off the bike, my legs were not wobbly and I was able to run the whole way.  I still can't believe at 49 I did my first triathlon.  I'm proud that I set a goal and accomplished it.  I think I want to try again next year and see if I can do the swim without the panic.   Thanks Annette and Greg for helping do this. 

Lake Powell

 We finally made it back to Lake Powell.  Heather, Taryn & Bret, and Taylor & Youngsun were able to join us.  We left early Wednesday morning and we got on the lake around 2:00.  We launched at Wahweap and just played around Lone Rock that day.  The lake is down 46 feet so the cut through is gone and we didn't want to waste an hour going through the main channel.  The water felt amazing, it is so nice to jump in and not have that initial shock. 

 

 

 Taryn and Bret wanted to see if they both could get up on the skim-skate at the same time.  It didn't work.

 

 

The next day we launched at Antelope point and headed down the main channel.  It 

 was a great day, a bit overcast which was nice. 

 

 

 

 

 Taylor and Youngsun made it out Thursday night.  Taylor had a final that morning. 

 

 Another great day playing around on the lake. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Taylor was the only one brave enough or crazy enough to jump off a cliff. 

 

 

 Then the tubes came out.  I have no desire to tube and it was fun for me and Steve to watch them. 

 

 

 We were having such a good time playing that we didn't notice the storm building up.  We took off and kept debating whether to wait the storm out or get off.  Heading to the main channel we spotted a boat being towed by a wave runner.  We stopped and found out he had run out of gas, so we hooked him up and headed out.  We couldn't get the boat to plane so we found him a sandy beach to anchor down and his friend on the wave runner headed out to get some gas.  It was scary on the main channel.  The storm was picking up and it even hailed on us for a few minutes.  When we got to the ramp I started to run up it and luckily a family gave me a ride up to the truck.  The lake is so low that the ramps are way down.  The lightening was horrible and I was thankful to get the boat on the trailer and

 

 everyone safe inside the truck. 

 

 

Our cameras battery was low so this is the only picture we got of the flash flood.  To get back to the hotel we have to cross a bridge that goes over Antelope wash.  It is a famous hike.  The flash flood filled up the wash which is 40-50 feet deep and spread out.  It was crazy watching this wall of mud roaring down the wash.  You could smell the mud.  We got to the hotel and the wash ran behind it.  They haven't had a flood like this for 8 years.  It even ran out on the main highway and they had to shut it down. We were lucky we left when we did and got back to the hotel before they shut everything down.  We played the next day until 3:00 then headed home.  It was a great trip and fun to spend that much time with our children. 

 

 

Zip Line

 A couple of years ago our children told us that for our birthday's they would give us a zipline for the cabin.  What a great gift, but then their lives got busy and it ended up me and Steve giving ourselves a zipline for our birthdays.  Steve went across the river and cut down dead trees for the poles.  We got them buried in the ground last year.  The Roberts were holding the reunion up at our cabin on the 4th of July so we got busy and finished it.

 Steve tore boards off the old sheep corral to use for the platforms and we just guessed on the height for it.  Taryn went with me to buy the cable and her and Steve built the bungee brake.  Greg got the trolley and they both brought their harness.  We need to buy some cable to support the top beam, but other then that we did a great job. 

 Greg was crazy enough to be the first one to test it out.  The bottom platform was the perfect height.  The bungee brake had to be tweaked but we got it working great.  It helps to have someone on the bottom platform in case you come in to fast. 

 Grandma Roberts even tried it out.  It is 330 yards long and just a fun ride.  It will be perfect for the grandchildren.  Everyone had a blast riding it.   

It's a plane, it's a bird, it's crazy Taylor.  I'm sure the tricks will just get better and better. 

Taryn and Bret, May 29th

 On May 29th, this beautiful girl married her best friend in the Manti temple.  His parents and grandparents were married in the Manti temple and I think they were happy when we found out the Timpangoos Temple was closed that week for cleaning.  The Manti temple is gorgeous and it was fun to get to walk around inside it.  I held up and didn't cry until my three other kids stood up inside the sealing room to give her a hug.  It is a a mother's dream to be inside the temple with all of her children and husband.  Taryn looked so pretty and happy.  They are a darling couple. 

 They are so goofy when they get together, but they really do love and respect each other and would do anything for each other. 

 Steve found this stump and carved it for a cake stand.  It now resides up at the cabin. 

 These little girls are so cute, they have had fun playing during the receptions. 

 They had to start telling each other jokes so they wouldn't cry during the Dad-daughter dance.  Miles was pretty good during it all. 

Congratulations Taryn and we are so excited to have Bret in our family.