Magnificent May

May began with a trip to St George, UT for Ironman. Mike worked hard for this race. He began training for this race last October and has swam, biked and ran his heart out preparing. We visited St George three times for him to get on this brutal course and be ready for his big race. We arrived in St George on Wednesday and checked the course. Thursday we checked Mike in and went to the Manti Temple grounds. Friday we took it easy and helped mike with last minute preperations. The kids participated in the Ironman kids fun run. The kids got to run on the same course as dad and got to finish at the finish line that would be crossing. The kids were so fun to watch. Britt and Cami held hands all the way through the one mile run. After a sleepless night we took Mike to buses at 4am. Mom then went back and got the kids and Grandpa and headed to the buses to go out to the swim start at Sand Hallow Resivor. We met up with Aunt Robin and Uncle Kenny. It was chilly morning. Many swimmers had on their neoprene caps and wetsuits to keep warm. The participants were all lined up and some in the water prepared to start the race of their lives. Just as the sun rose over the mountain, the start gun went off. Mike did amazing in the water getting out right at his goal time and quickly transitioned to his bike. It was so much fun to see him take off, we then got back on the bus and went to see him on the bike with Grady, Meredith and family and Bryan and Kelly and family. It was really great to have them all their to help cheer mike on and share this special day with us. We saw mike on his bike and then went to finish line to see him transition to his run. After we saw him take off on the fun we tried to find some great places to see him on the run. The night before we took a drive around the running course and got to write on the course to cheer dad on. Dad also shared with us "our mile". Mike decided that the last miles of the run would be dedicated to each of us by taking one mile and thinking of us individually as he ran "our mile". We were excited to be able to see dad a few times on the run and then we headed to the finish line anticipating his finish. As Mike crossed the finish line, we all gave him big hugs and knew this would be a day that we would never forget. We are so grateful to all those who came and all those how cheered us on from far away. We felt your prayers and you support.

Mike Whitesides you are and IRONMAN!!!

Amazing April

We had a great April filled with lots of amazing adventures. We started this April off a great easter weekend. We had fun looking for eggs and eating easter dinner with Grandpa Whitesides.

We made trip to Los Angeles to see Aunt Laura and Uncle Joe get married. We had a great time visiting with family and we loved celebrating with Laura and Joe. It was wonderful to see them so happy and ready to conquor the world together. This weekend was actually filled with many other activities that the kids were suppose to participate in, after awhile it began to be a joke and we just had to laugh. Kayla had a ballroom recital, an EFY area activity, a piano recital and piano festival. Nathan had a piano festival and recital. Brittany, Cami, and Emily all had a Gymnastic "Olympics". It was a hard weekend for them all to break away and give up some of the things they were excited to do and had worked hard at but they were all so great about giving up these activities to be with family and celebrate with Aunt Laura and Uncle Joe.

We pulled out our summer clothes from the storage room and left for LA on Wednesday. we picked up Mike who went down for one last practice before the Ironman in St George. We got into LA and stayed with one of Laura's friends, Trina, our new adopted aunt. She was amazing and we were so grateful to her and her roommates for allowing us to stay in their condo in the amazingly beautiful Rancho Del Ray, CA. We stopped off at temple and got to see Aunt Holly, Grandpa and Grandma Kelly who were staying at some apartments at the LA Temple. We then proceeded to Trina's apartment for some much needed sleep. The next day we met up with all of mom's family at the Santa Monica Pier for some fun on the beach. We had a great time playing the beach and just being together. Afterwards, the girls said goodbye and went to bachlorette party for Aunt Laura. Waking up the next day we got ready for the wedding and headed to the Temple. It was wonderful to be with family, the people the mean the most to us on such a special day. It was a beautiful day and laura and Joe looked amazing, but more importantly they were so happy that I swear they glowed and couldn't stop smiling.

At the reception we had a great dinner and then had fun celebrating and dancing with our family. Brittany caught the bridal bouquet and held it all the way home. We had so much fun in LA and being with family.

Derek Redmond, Dad Help Son to finish the race (complete)

Easter 2010

This year Easter 2010 was filled with snow, spring break, LDS General Conference, Easter egg hunt, and yummy Easter Day food and fun. The kids, Kayla, 14, Nathan, 10, Britt, 7, Cami 4,a nd Emily 2, were excited for Easter. I think Kayla was even abit excited. The Easter Bunny hid their eggs the ones we decorated and their certain color, Kayla-purple, Nathan, Green, Brittany, blue, Cami, Pink, and Emily orange. The Easter Bunny left 5 clues for the kids to find thier Easter present, a trampoloine. The sad part was, is that it has been snowing for about 5 days straight!!! The kids are so sad that they can't put up the tramp and play on it. The rest of the day was filled with General Conference and playing with family. We made Easter cupcakes and we all enjoyed frosting and decorating the cupcakes, especially Emily who probably frosted and decorated over half of them and loved every minute of it! Saturday night everyone took a part of the Easter Day Meals and made it for us. Britt had Breakfast and made her favorite-Baked French Toast. Nathan made our 7 layer salad and Kayla made rolls. Cami helped make strawberry short cake desert and fruit salsa for snack on Sunday. It was a fun time in the kitchen and we enjoyed our Easter Sunday with all the yummy food and fun time together.

March Madness Continued

So more on our March Madness...

I have started a preschool, the Learning Express. I have always wanted to do this, and Cami and Emily are at the perfect age to participate and I don't have to pay for preschool. We started in February and I along the way we have added two kids. My original plan was to go Monday thru Thursday allowing for one day where only Pre-K kids would come. I did this for alittle while but I didn't get more kids and only had one pre-k'r so I just switched over to three days, Mon-Wed. This is really nice I feel like I can keep up alittle more on things that I need to do as a mom as well. We have been learning all kinds of fun things, even I have been enjoying them. I have loved the time to focus in on the kids. I love the feel of satisfaction when Emily comes and tells me her shapes or starts counting, or Cami starts telling me about the Artic or is so excited because she can write her letters. I have a feeling I will be doing this for awhile since both my girls have preschool coming up, so I look forward to this fun time with them.

Along with preschool, I have started reconstructive surgery. I felt it was time and I look forward to finishing completely my recovery from breast cancer. It has not been an easy process, I really didn't know what to expect but I guess any time you are trying to expand skin it probably will be a little painful. Mike has been great about it and tries to help where he can. I had an expander put in and the doctor will fill the expander a little at at time to expand the area until the desired size, I am thinking DD's-ha ha! My doctor is in Idaho Falls and I go down once a week. When the process is done the doctor will put in the implant and fix the other side to match. It is hard to know how long the process will take because we are moving very slowly since I have radiated skin, we are taking our time to make sure the skin has time to heal in between fillings. I do hope that I can wear a swim suit this year that looks symmetrical.

As you can see our March is really madness, but we are muddling through and having a great time anticipating spring and hopefully some warm sunshine soon.

Our Own March Madness

So it's not basketball but it's still madness:) We have been busy, with Mike's training, my preschool, the kids activities and starting my reconstructive surgery.

Mike is about ready for his Ironman in St George on May 1st. It is great to see him training so hard for something so big, he is amazing!! With only about 6 weeks away, we are gearing up for a great weekend. Mike has now swam for over an hour straight, biked 130mi. and ran 20mi. He will have one more big push before the big event and then he will start tapering his training about two weeks out. Amazing, he has really fought the elements and been determined in being prepared for this. Mike has been great about trying to plan his practicing around the time when the kids aren't home. He gets up at 5a to swim and then runs during lunch. He bike's his long rides on Friday's while the kids are at school. During the next big push we are going to get the kids a little bit more involved. I really want them to see dad pushing and working his way to his goal. Mike does these triathlons for himself, but also so the kids can see dad reaching and accomplishing his goals. I think I will wake them up at 5a some morning when Mike goes for a swim and then we will go ride our bikes with dad the last few miles of this big bike ride and go meet him on his next big run. Mike participates in these crazy races not just for himself but we are hoping it will inspire them someday to work for their dreams and achieve great things.

Along with Mike's training, the kids have had a great winter inside. They have been involved in a number of fun actvities. Emily is a monkey by nature, she is always climbing and wants to be cuddled. We get to participate in a mom & me class at our local gym and she LOVES it she is doing front rolls and handstands, flips on the couch and "table tops". She loves the tramp and yesturday in gym was trying to do a tornado turn on the tramp and the coach and I just started laughing. This turn is where you put your arms up in the air looking kinda like a rocket and then you are suppose to jump and turn all the way around at the same time. Emily actually did it- especially with her head!! When ever she tried to do it she would turn her head in circles hoping her body would follow, it was so cute and so hilarious but it worked and she did her little tornado jumps all the way down the tramp head turning and everything. Cami is also in this class and is loving all the jumping and climbing and swinging. She loves being active and loves the creativity. Brittany is in her element in gym. She loves the mix of dance and tumbling. It is fun to watch her progress and feel good about her efforts. Nathan has been in karate, he has always wanted to take karate lessons, but for some reason I had always been a little weary of it. He has loved every minute and is trying to figure out how to fit it in the schedule between soccer and swim team and pay for it himself by mowing lawns and snow removal. Nathan is still taking piano and has really gotten into playing some classical pieces, he started trumpet this year and loves the friends and music he is making in band. Kayla has been dancing her heart out in ballroom this year and has started swim team again. She has missed swim and is looking forward to getting back in the water. We finally found a piano teacher for Kayla who is just perfect for her, Kayla is really loving the music and her time on the piano, she sounds AMAZING!

As you can tell, we have tried to stay active this winter and stay warm inside having fun.

The heart of the shamrock

Today I did a first.

This month is muscular dystrophy month and Albertsons is selling shamrocks in "support" of the cause. I have NEVER bought any such thing before, to me is seemed like such a waste of money. I always thought why should I, the money just goes to peoples "corporate non-profit" wallets and hardly goes to the people. Today while I was at the store I was overcome with emotion as I read about 2 boys with a type of muscular dystrophy who were fighting the disease here our area. All of a sudden I wanted to buy every single one the shamrocks, it hit me like a ton a bricks, these shamrocks are not just for the money to help the disease, but to show them that people care and support them in their fight. I bought two and put my kids names on them that are their same age. I tried to tell Cami about her shamrock, I think she understood a little bit, and I plan on telling Nathan about his tonight at dinner. I hope that my kids will understand not only the importance of thinking about someone with a serious disease, but the action of showing support to someone who probably has fought and will fight for awhile.