Learning to Swim

I keep thinking that I am finding which way is up and then waves chaos flattens that thought.  We are learning quickly to prioritize, simplify, pray more specifically and I am learning for the first time in my life to say "good enough".  Jared comes and goes at random intervals.  Many nights we only see him for dinner and then its off to church.    He left for Washington DC again this morning, he is starting one week rotations between CR and DC.  They said it's short term, but last time short term turned into three months.  Don't get me wrong, its been a good experience, just a change of pace.  The marathon has started, there are days I feel the cadence and others I feel like I tripped in the first 20 feet and am being trampled :) 

And I am learning to swim, literally.  Somehow this months visiting teaching spiritual moment included signing up for a sprint triathlon August 11.  Its a 300 yard swim (in a pool, because we all know I don't put my face, or really any part of my body for that matter, in open water), 15 mile bike and 5K run.  It's one of those things that sounded like a really good idea at the time and then you wake up the next morning and think, crap. But I've paid my $50, therefore I may die, but at least I'll get my t-shirt. 

J left for DC today and we had a great day!  I taught my last after school gardening class at Erin's school which was a blast.  Erin and I swam laps at the Y, I officially made it 300 yards, in 15 minutes mind you.  I am now confident that they won't require me to wear a life preserver at the triathlon.  We played at the park and after a day of the kids getting along Eliza walked into her bedroom missing her bangs....yes that crucial part of your hair that screams when missing "nerd"!  Its so bad, I about died laughing.  Its off to my hair gal tomorrow to see if she can work miracles.

I found some photos from the spring on my phone....

  Last month we went to the Children's Museum in Iowa City.  Rockwell Collins sponsored an  avionics day and it was a blast.  They had several of these pedal plans and Ike fell madly in love.  I was impressed with the museum, chalk up another mark for Iowa.

 One of the coolest parts of living here is we are in the Nauvoo Temple district. Its a two-hour drive...traffic free, which does not require a quick road-rage repentance session as you run in the doors :) I love it, we walk in and I am home.  Jared and I took a trip to Nauvoo a few days before he was called as bishop and it was a wonderful weekend back where it all started eight years ago. 

 We've climbed trees....

 And did monster Easter Egg hunts...

 Our hideous looking dandelion-filled yard welcomed hundreds of butterflies this spring, the kids spent hours each day catching them.  Ike just liked whacking Eliza with his net, he got really good looking innocent and saying "I missed" :)

And Good Friday our community garden opened.  We are plot C-9 (so if your going to scavenge, scavenge elsewhere)  So far we have onions, lettuce, carrots, potatoes and peas planted.  Ike really had to go to the bathroom one day when working out there.  He figured out how to stand up.  Now every time we go out to work he feels it's his duty to mark his territory, boys....