Camping May 2009

Pics. of our adventure camping...

Hyrum, mommy, and Rambo goin' for a morning ride

Erin and Rambo snoozin' away

Karate Danny

This is a cool lookin root system :)

Happy during the rain storm

Danny contemplating life

His lil' panda came camping too

Chillin' in bed

Hyrum's 1st jump :)

We had such a good time on our campout to Strawberry. We went so that we could scope out a place for the campout in June with our family ward. We loved the spot we found. It rained a lot and so we spent the evenings in the camper, reading out loud to each other and eating the massive amount of junk food that Erin brought with her... :) We had a great time! Here are some pics. of our adventures. Jenny and Mike Steffan came up for a few hours on Saturday to hang out with us...

Getting Hyrum to sleep is easy here....

Quad ride with momma

oh Silly Erin... I love this smile of his

Reading "The Host" together in the camper

Good friend Jenny with her lil' girl Abigail

Relief Society Keeps Me Where I Need To Be!

Todays Relief Society was so wonderful. One of the women I visit teach taught on the talk given by Pres. Uchtdorf called "We are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down". It reminded me of a few things. A major one being My priorities and the need for me to balance my life. The fact is that I easily get excited about things and I have a need to challenge myself continually. However, being a mom now is my number one priority. I am constantly reminding myself of that. Not because I don't love being a mom but because I was single and alone for so long. 28 years.... Danny and Hyrum are the best things that have ever happened to me and I am ready to keep them on the top of my priority list. That means: NO signing up for things like survivor! :) That doesn't mean I cannot have my fun and work out, etc... But I need to keep it close to home!! I will continue with my triathlons here and there and the cycling races, but anything beyond that if it doesn't involve my family needs to stop. :) Isn't family life great! There are so many things for me to get done at home, and in my ward family. I love to be busy and am grateful that I live in such a time that I can balance my life and do those things which are most important while also doing things that bring me some personal gratification. That means I can keep my long term goal a reality! IRONMAN here I come!!!! After I finish having the rest of my babies!!! :) hahaha!

Survivor is going to SAMOA!!!!

Wow! I wish I were going too! But seriously... Sariah has talked me into signing up for it. Crazy? Yes! And I have a million to one shot of getting in but I am going to go ahead with it. Why not? What could it hurt! I want to use my swimmers in my 3 minute video... Other than that I have no idea what to do!

I NEED IDEAS!! Help me get in and I will buy you dinner when I win! :) hahahaha! But seriously, I need help with this. Let me know what would help me stand out in 3 minutes or less. My train of thought is going towards: my religion, my job as a Swim Coach, being a mother, competing in triathlons and cycling, and the fact that I want to show this tv show what a true women's potential is since there has yet to be a really competetive women on this show when it comes to challenges etc... I would like to represent the tough mom's out there that have heart, morals, and mental toughness!

Don't laugh at me... I really do want to do this! Plus I want to go to Samoa :) hahahahaha!

Biggest Loser

Who thinks Helen looks a little aneorexic! I can't believe how much weight she lost! If you ask me she needs to stop dehydrating herself, and gain back 5lbs. :)

Plus, I am a little sad Tara did not win... she is a super stud!

GIRLZ ROCK TRI

Ok, So am I back? Am I competing again? These are good questions... and here is the only answer I have... YES!!!! I did a relay this last weekend with two new friends of mine in my home ward. We had a blast together, and though my time was the slowest it has been in a while I still got third overall and our relay placed second! Go Susie! Go Lindsay!! It was super fun, and the natural endorphines were awesome! Man! I have missed those! Ok, so I felt them a little with labor, but soooooo different. Not as painful. Labor did something to me, it made me realize that everything else is easy... hahahahhaha :)

I am planning out my next race and am SUPER excited about it. Fountain Mountain, here I come! My time was 15:49.00 for the 800 meters. Slow, but apparently not too slow :) Now all I need is to readjust my butt to my saddle and get a running trainer! LA Fitness here I come! Anybody want to join me?

I am starting a new blog for triathletes in Queen Creek. If you are interested in joining our club let me know, there are no fees except for the races we do. On my blog I will post everyones results, stories, pictures.... Plus I will have training tips, and info. on group rides, runs, and swims! Reply if you want to be added on to the site! and in the group!

I Love ya'll!!!!!! Remember, there is a little athlete in all of us just wanting to tear it's way out and be heard! I know you moms are leary, but better to take your energy and aggression out in training than on your kids! Plus kids love to see their parents compete, it's super fun!
Click on the Link - CALDERA to get info on the triathlon training or to post stories, pics. Etc...

Hyrum's photo shoot

PHOTO SHOOT -

here are the rest of his pictures taken at his 1st and probably only photo shoot:)

Hyrum's 1st Photo shoot

Crazy hair!!

Chillin' with the caterpillar

sweet lil' boy

This is my boy! I love this picture, his personality is all there!

Hyrum got professional pictures from Sandi Miller. She was amazing! I posted her info on my contact list....

Easter thoughts

HAPPY EASTER

Easter was great this year. Especially since I have a husband and baby to share it with. Conference was incredible! Elder Holland's talk stands out to me the most. He has a beautiful gift of expressing the love we feel towards our saviour. He strengthens the bond I feel with Christ and helps me to feel the love I should for Christ as my Redeemer. I love listening to him. I have a few talks that I read over and over again and three of them come from him, now four... I feel especially grateful this day for my Lord and Saviour. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost in my life, a gift given from Christ. His influence is what keeps me moving ahead. Last night I was reminded of the importance of being humble and teachable. As I chose to be humble last night I was blessed and had a great evening. Today, again I am being taught... I am proud and selfish most of the time. I am blessed to have such a patient teacher that never leaves me unless I turn away from him. I am of course also grateful for Hyrum, my little boy. He brings a special spirit into my life, and home that blesses me and reminds me of things sacred and precious.

Hyrum's Blessing

Blessing Day - Our circle of men

I am responsible? Are you sure??

I swear, he loves my kisses!!

Arms of trust!

Bathed in light

The blessing was beautiful. Almost the whole family was there, and the spirit was so sweet. Danny prepared himself well and I felt the spirit strongly as he spoke of Hyrum being an example to those around him. He counseled him to look to his ancestors and family for help and guidance. And he spoke to him about the men whose name he now has. It was wonderful! I love being a mom, and love the spirit that is now permanently in my life because of Hyrum!

Hyrum Patrick is getting blessed!!!

Did you know that I have a list of 100 things to do before I die..... maybe one day I will post that list, but probably not. Some things are personal! :) We will see. But on that list is seeing my husband bless our babies. This is finally coming up for me!

We are blessing Hyrum the 29th of March. This month! In our family ward! Let me know if you are interested in coming!

I will report shortly how it goes. I cannot wait! What a special moment this will be for our new family! And for our extended family that has gone through so many trials, each special moment like this brings more peace into our lives.

I added a few more pics...

BABY WILKINS

Hyrum Patrick Wilkins

Born Feb.23rd @5:58am

7lb. 4 oz.

1st Hospital Picture... Wait until you see under the cap! Strawberry Blonde Hair, and LOTS of it!

Chillin' for the 1st time in his swing.

His 1st Bath at home. He loved it! I was nervous cuz his daddy hates water, but Hyrum only cried when we took him out of the bath. He was so cute!

Just gettin' started in the tub

Aunt Jilly is great at burpin'. I love this shot of him! I can't stop staring at him... One second.... Oh, I was staring again :)

Hospital story: So I had my 1st contraction at 1230am Monday morning. I had eaten lots of pasta and thought I was just having cramps... I had another one 20 minutes later and then another 15 minutes later. I woke Danny up and told him I thought it was time. I had him go back to bed in case it wasn't anything. 10 minutes later I waking him again as a strong one hit and I had no doubt anymore. I called my sister Sariah (coach) and then my midwife. In those short conversations I had 3 contractions! We left the house, picked up Sariah and took off to the hospital. The contractions were 2 1/2 minutes apart by this time and I was already wanting to push. We got checked into the hospital and checked out. I was at a 6 and 100% effaced. I was doing this naturally and though they were SUPER intense and painful I was able to breathe through them. The hardest part was trying to stay focused when everyone was asking me questions and transferring me from one bed to another. I finally got from ER, Triag, then the Labor room. Danny and my sister did a great job but by this time I was asking for the epidural. It was so painful. It was only 3 hours into it and the nurse was saying I had hours ahead of me, I was on an IV for the Strep B and was emotional! I hated all the tests and the monitor on my killin' stomach! Right when I was giving in to the drugs my midwife showed up like an angel! She ordered the lights out, told me to get out of the bed (hallelujia) and then I labored with her for an hour. She was confident and authorative, and yet super supportive and I just felt better with her there. I mostly stood leaning against a table, and then actually sat on the toilet seat for the rest. It was the most comfortable for me. She had me come back to the bed after an hour, 5 minutes and 3 pushes later Hyrum was born! It was a miracle! FUEGO!!! PAINFUL!!!! And yet worth every pain! I got 3 degree tears inside, OUCH! He just came so fast I was not able to stretch enough. But he is so beautiful! I nursed him right away and the rest is a blur :) It was great though feeling so alert, and able to walk so shortly afterwards. I am home now, we are doing great. He is so sweet, I can't get enough of him! Thanks for all the calls and prayers!
Oh yea, and dad is doing great!


More bath time with a friend...

SO CUTE!!!!

OK.. enough mom! no more pics!

alright fine!... one more :)