Nicollet Commons

On Thursdays, Burnsville hosts kids concerts at Nicollet Commons located off of Hwy 13 and Nicollet.  I have been doing my best to go each week with the kids because they have so much fun.  This area is relatively new in Burnsville and it is right by the Burnsville performing arts center where Avery has her dance recital each year.  It has stadium seating, a huge open area full of sprinklers that shoot up out of the ground and numerous waterfalls and streams that are all chlorinated for the kids to splish & splash in. 

Each week they have a different act performing at noon.  We have seen a magician, Bob the Beachcomber, The Splatter Sister's and the Alphabits.  Each show has been completely different and the kids have really had a blast playing in the water.

This past Thursday, we joined some of our old ECFE friends there.  My friend Gretchen and I just love the Mediterranean Cafe which is located adjacent to the splash area so we ordered a Maza Platter to share for lunch.  I think little Buddy Leo enjoyed it as much as Gretch and I.

Gotta love that smile!

Avery and Sophia had a great time in the water together.  They both love to pose each time I ask them to stop a bit and let me take a pic.  It was Avery's first time since every time we have gone she was at dance camp. 

Little posers!

My buddy Benny runs wild here.  I really have to keep an eye out for his skulls otherwise who knows where he may end up.  He never has trouble meeting other little friends to play with here and I adore watching the little boy interactions.  He is my giggle monster.

my attempt at an artsy photo...meh!

This little tootsie can be found chatting it up with random adults and sunbathing with other little cuties around her age.  She cracks me up.  I will look for her and see her standing with a hip jutting out, hands turned upwards, eyes rolling and head bopping as she tells some new friend a story.  Hilarious!

If you are ever looking for a fun and new place to try this summer you should definitely check it out.

all aboard!

This is how we have been spending all of our time! Wanna come with???

Breezy laying on the back of our new boat

My friend and TRI training buddy Kristi

Paige

Chadd and Uncle Andy

The 4 year old showing off his boating skills

Auntie B and me

Benny and his buddy Uncle Andy

Avery, posing as usual :)

Our neighbor Bret and his son Brennan

The guys

We have been having so much fun discovering the ins and outs of owning a boat.  We have tried quite a few different lakes and we agree that we love Lake Waconia the most.  Perhaps next year we will be singing a different tune. 

The kids swim in the water for hours while the adults relax and get to hang out.  There is something incredibly exhilarating about being out on the water.  Our family has found its favorite past time and look forward to years of memories that we will be making.

If its the weekend and you need us just call.  We are on a boat!!!

swim.bike.run

 My triathlon training this year has gone exceptionally well.  I feel stronger than ever and I know that I am ready for my TRI.  We have three weeks until the day of our event and the anticipation is already starting to creep in.  I love this event.  I have been to two tri's this season to cheer on friends and I swear I get just as excited for them as I do the day of my own event.  I am extremely passionate about tri's and if you ever participate in one I will be your biggest fan. 

My training and race buddy is my neighbor Kristi.  This will be her first time competing in a triathlon.  She has had five children; the youngest is 15 months old, she has run half marathons and she has the best attitude about trying new things.  She has been the best training partner I have ever had.  She is strong, confident and willing to try her hardest to accomplish this goal.  She is ready for this thing and I couldn't be more proud of her. 

Our training program is 12 weeks long.  Last week we had our long run goal of 45 minutes, 3 brick training's(two sports back to back) and a transition practice.  Yesterday, we drove to Lake Nokomis(where our event will be held)and trained all 3 sports.  We swam in the lake for 10 minutes, rode the entire 15.5 mile bike course and then ran all the way around the lake(3 miles).  The weather could not have been any better and we both are secretly wishing for a day like yesterday for our event.

Yesterday, we experimented with some energy supplements called GU chomps.  If any of you have ever tried plain old GU, the difference is that these are like fruit snacks instead of a thick viscous gel that I literally had to gag down.  I was very pleased with the chomps even though stuffing four of them into your mouth doesn't look that pretty.  I really feel like these energy chomps did the trick for us.  We have trained the bike/run plenty of times and never have I felt so good going from the bike to the run as I did yesterday.  We had very minimal "jelly legs", felt strong and competent through the whole course, and we did not feel wiped out at the end of the training.  I am not sure if it was the chomps or the fact that we have done virtually all of our training on VERY hilly terrain and the actual course is pretty flat, either way I am ecstatic about our success on the course.

I was able to borrow a bike for the race from a neighbor of mine who has done and Ironman triathlon.  Her bike is a beautiful blue TREK that is decked out with some of the best components along with aerobars to maintain a comfortable aerodynamic position.  Her bike is Ahhhhmazing and I am so excited to blow last years bike time out of the water.  There is a HUGE difference between a mountain bike and a road bike.  I will never be able to go back to a mountain bike after this tri so I had better start searching for a part time job that will help me afford a new bike for future races :) 

Seeing this ironman sticker on her bike every day has definitely inspired me to push myself further.  I have been seriously contemplating doing a full Ironman.  Most people tell me that I must be crazy to consider swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and then running a full marathon, but to me it is the ultimate test of fitness and ability and I would love to achieve that goal in my lifetime.  I know that I will do an International/Olympic distance next summer and hopefully a half ironman the following summer and possibly the Ironman the year after that.  I plan on doing a few half marathon's to pick up my running distance and continue to swim train as well.  We'll see.  Nothing is set in stone, but I would really love to do it.  I was given a book called "Hot sweaty Mama's."  The authors are two women from the twin cities who both have families and have both done multiple Ironman's.  What I have read so far is definitely inspiring and they talk about how to train for it while still being present for your kids and husband.  Training is very time consuming and I want it to have the least amount of negative impact on my family.  I know that being athletic is great for my kids to see but at the same time I cannot let it eat up all of my spare time so that I sacrifice time with them.  It is a tricky balance some days.

For now I am counting down the days until my race.  After that, I can continue to dream about the Ironman 2014 :)