MIA

Has it really been a week since I last had anything fun/important/deep/insightful/hilarious (ok, that may be a stretch) to say? This can't be so. Well it is so, but it doesn't mean that nothing fun/important/deep/insightful/hilarious is happening in our lives. Quite the opposite. I have pictures to prove it but my smart/crazy husband built a new computer (yes, built) and so my usual downloading pictures from my cameras on the laptop while watching tv at night process isn't quite the same and I haven't had the time to download them on the new computer (upstairs, not in front of the tv) as he has requested.
What has happened in the last week? Well, as the post below shows, one of my best friends had her second child, I drove down to Des Moines for a weekend spent with great friends and to attend a (very fun) bachelorette party (pictures coming eventually), I prepped the house and refrigerator for weekend guests (only two trips to the store), I celebrated the 25th birthday of my fabulous friend, Erin, with a movie, dinner and good conversation, oh, and the main reason that I have been MIA this past week is b/c I've been last minute training for the St. Paul Triathlon this Sunday morning at 7:30 am. This will be my second year doing the race and also my last year. *smile. At this very moment, I am thinking..."what am I doing to myself?" but I remember crossing the finish line last year and just loving the feeling of having accomplished such a feat so I'm excited at the same time. Here are some pictures from last year...
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I was so thankful to be done with that swim! The water freaked me out and I ended up doing the entire 1/2 mile with my head above water. My shoulders and neck were sore for days. And yes, that's a spandex trisuit. Don't be jealous. I borrowed it from a friend and it was awesome!

Don't let the "smile" fool you. I was clueless as to how tiring the upcoming 45 minute, 12 mile bike portion was going to be. I don't think I caught my breath until mile 6.

Almost done with the 3.1 mile run, Sarah! Pick those knees up! (I seriously thought I was sprinting. It appears, however, to be more of a fast walk...)

The three on the left did the triathlon as a team - Dan, Laura (great childhood friend) and Rachel. Me and my friend, Erin, (far right) did the entire thing individually. It was quite the experience and one I'll never forget (but will soon be reminded of in 2 days...)

This is a picture of me not being able to stand up after finishing the race. I was on top of the world upon crossing the finish line and then BAM! "ohhhh, I don't feel so well. I think I will just sit down for a little while." Tom said he got emotional watching me (during the race, not during the picture below), which just blesses my heart. He was so proud of me. Love him.

I think we really surprised ourselves! After a long summer of training, Erin and I actually completed a sprint triathlon. We had talked and talked and talked about it and finally made up our minds to sign up and do it. She was and is a great motivator, encourager and inspiration to me.

I think I can...I think I can...