Back in Knittin' Mode

With less training this week - or none at all - I was able to pick up the knittin' needles a bit more! I'm working on the Baby Bolero from One Skein and decided to throw caution to the wind and not do a gauge swatch. So far, the front right side is on track, but the back is a bit wider than it should be. Since it knits up so quickly and easily (so far anyway) I'm hoping to keep going and that it'll all come together and still fit Baby B. once he/she makes his worldly debut!

P.S. My friend Jen who is getting the sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts called me today to say she's having a girl! Time for some pink yarn shopping! I can't wait to make Anouck from Knitty! I've been waiting for someone to have a girl!

Race day victory!

The victorious Danskiners; Julie, Rebecca, me, Lindsay (my sister) and Carrie! We rock!


After months and months and countless hours of running, biking and swimming, it all came down to yesterday: the Danskin Sprint Triathalon! My first ever triathalon! I gave myself the goal of finishing in under 3 hours. Not only did I make that goal, but I was completely shocked and amazed at my time! My official Danskin time: 2 hours, 1 minute and 36 seconds! I did the swim in just 21 minutes!That's four minutes faster than my lap pool time and 10 minutes faster than my best open water swim! Talk about kickin' it into gear on race day! The best part about the race, with over 5-thousand women of all shapes and sizes on the course, I was able to spot several of my friends along the way for support! Plus my mom and dad came in from Boise to watch my sister, Lindsay and I do the race together! Enjoy the pictures & thanks for your support!
Lindsay crosses the finish line minutes after me!

A little race day prep fun with Lindsay, me and her friend Angela who came in from Boise for the race too!

There were a lot of bikes out there!

2 days and counting...

The Danskin Sprint Tri is just 2 days away! I'm getting a bit nervous but this last week of easy training went really well! Tomorrow is registration and I'm sure seeing all the people there will freak me out even more! For now, I'm just thinking calming thoughts: a nice, relaxing swim; a smooth, quick bike ride and a dead heat sprint to the finish line!

Countdown continues

We're only four (gasp!) days away from the Danskin Sprint Tri. I'm beginning to get a little nervous. A bit of a tightening in my chest, increased heart rate and an even more urgent need for chocolate chip cookies (the ultimate comfort food in my mind). I know I'll complete the course, it's just all of those other people out there on the course too...that makes me nervous! I've been calming my nerves with the baby bolero! It's so cute and I'm totally loving the yarn! I'll have a picture of it soon!

My First Sweater!

It's finally done! I finally did it! I finished my first sweater! Granted, it is a baby sweater, but a sweater none the less! It's for my friend Jen's baby who's due to arrive in late January. (Editor's note: for those that know my slow knitting pace, this is why I started the sweater 3 days after she told me she was pregnant!) Plus, I still have a skien and a half of yarn left which means yarn for a matching hat and booties! Now I'm ready to cast on for the One Skien Baby Bolero for baby number 2 - my friend Kelli's baby! Lots o'baby knitting to do!

P.S. The Danskin is only 6 days away! Still feeling good....I think...

One week

The Danskin Sprint Triathalon is one week away. I have been training since April for this race. I have never done anything like this before - ever, ever. Never even imagined doing something like this. But I love the training. I see the results. I can see my improvements. I am ready for this. I'm excited to be on the course, with all of these other amazing women. I just hope they don't crowd me too much in the swim - a little nervous about that! But overall, looking forward to doing the race - and a bit more free time from training and more time to knit!

Knitting and training

It's been a busy week as we head into the home stretch of training for the Danskin Sprint Tri! Long bike rides have led to less knitting time, although my excitement for Rebecca's finally, almost finished purple sweater is spurring me on to finish my first sweater - Jen's baby sweater! I'm at the ragland decreases just below the yoke! It's so exciting! I'm going to try and finish it this weekend! Pictures to come soon! Stay tuned!

There's always a third...

I knew this would happen and I love being right! A month after finding out one of my dear friends Jen is pregnant and two weeks after my best friend Kelli told me she was pregnant, one of my closest friends - the friend who introduced me to my future husband - just told me she was pregnant! I am so happy for all my little mommies-to-be! This means no more stalling on the baby knitting! I've already finished a quick little strawberry hat for Kelli, Jen's sweater is halfway done, now it's Shannon's turn! Not to mention that Matt's sister is pregnant with their second baby! Starting December babies will be popping out every month for three months (Kelli and Shannon are due 6 days apart)! Oh...how exciting! I'm off to the knitting store and then some serious knitting time!

I joined the Navy (for the day)

The U.S.S. Chung-Hoon at port in Seattle.

Yesterday I had the unique opportunity to tour and ride on a naval destroyer. Not your normal middle-of-the-week activity. It was part of Seafair here in Seattle. Matt's family came to town and his parents had applied for, and won, a chance to get tickets for the event. We were on the U.S.S. Chung-Hoon based in Hawaii. We reported to the ship bright and early. Once we left port, we were broken up into small groups to take tours of the working vessel. 300 sailors are aboard the ship and it's able to launch up to 40 missiles a minute to a target about 100 miles away. It's used primarily as an air defense ship to air craft carriers in the fleet. We also participated in the Parade of Ships later that afternoon. There were 2 other Naval vessels and 3 Canadian ships in the parade. The sailors all wore their dress whites and stood at attention as our ship passed the grand stand along the pier in downtown Seattle. The Blue Angels started off the parade with a few fly overs! It was a fun day! Here are some pics of my time in the Navy.

The sailors in their dress whites during the Parade of Ships.

I thought this image of Matt and his Mom sitting on the missile launch

pad was funny. The red sign to the left reads: Warning Stand Clear of the

Launcher Area.

I also learned that sailors don't have a lot of space for their personal belongings so I wouldn't be good for the navy simply for the fact that you'd have to decided between underwear or yarn to keep in your footlocker. That is a choice I don't want to ever have to make.