2016 Tour de Cure

The 2016 Tour de Cure was a lovely ride all they way until the last 3 miles when it poured rain.  But we made it and felt mighty proud! Well, I did at least.

Mark, my sister Loni and my Dad rode with me this year.  Dad and Loni decided to ride 100 miles this year, because they are rock stars, so they left early for an early start time.  Before they left, they wrote a chalk note that means so much to me on Tour de Cure days and every other day for that matter.  It's the one day where I take the cheers and soak it all in.  I'm so grateful to have supportive friends and family!

I'm also grateful for all the other riders that support the cause, so I like to wear my thank you sign when I ride. 

Mark is one of my best, kindest and most understanding supporters.  He gets that I'm independent and don't like to be babysat, he trusts me with my self-care, but listens when I have my little, or big, pity parties, encourages me to acquire any equipment or supplies that might help me, asks questions to help me think through my care and holds me when my blood sugar is low.  I'm going to go ahead and walk down memory lane a little right here.  When I was dating Mark, a new fast-acting insulin was introduced to the market and I asked my Doctor if I could try it out (even though he had never heard of it, he agreed).  When I told Mark about it, he offered to stay with me for most of the first day of trying it, to make sure I would be ok with the adjustments.  The fact that he was even open to being with a diabetic is something, but while I felt strongly about being with Mark before that point, after that day together, I knew he would help me be proactive in my care, which put to rest a huge concern of mine regarding a future spouse.  You never REALLY know someone when you marry them, but that day proved to be a good predictor regarding the support Mark has offered and continues to offer me.  I have thankd my Father in Heaven daily for Mark, in this way and in many others.

I had four other new supportive participants this year: Spencer, DJ, James and my Mom.  They ran/walked the 5K!

When they were done, they posed for pictures!

I posed for a picture at one of our favorite stops sponsored by BadAss Coffee.  They have these blow up chairs that are like fluffy clouds to our sore rear ends.  Plus, at this point in the ride, I get to have 2-3 red vines without even giving insulin.  There's a cause for celebration!

The last three miles brought a down pour! We had to stop under an awning of a Kingdom Hall to protect ourselves for five minutes.  When it lightened a little, we headed for the finish line with wonderful Mark telling me "you can do it!" all they way to the end. Here is the whole soggy crew, and me with a carnation in my mouth and it's leaf up my nose!

Loni and Dad came rolling in, completing their 100 miles!  I'm so proud of them!  We drove back a little to make sure they were alright, and they were pedaling right along while we cheered for them. 

We were shivering and shaking at the end because the rain made it so cold, but we were warmed with some curry bowls and car heaters (in June!) and headed home (except for Loni who took a shower at a truck stop and was picked up by her family later - she's even more of a rock star than I thought).

The whole 2016 Tour de Cure crew.  I love you all!

More Boy Antics and Accolades

This is a long one because I'm trying to make up for the last 8 months. AHH!

For DJ's science class in 8th grade, he got a choice between doing a science project or participating in the Science Olympiad, which is a competition of skill and knowledge.  He chose the Olympiad.  One of the areas of competition was making a contraption that would shoot a ping pong ball using gravitational potential energy. 

This is Mark and D.J. working on a catapult that didn't have much to do with gravitational potential energy.  In fact, after constructing a catapult, D.J. took it to his science teacher for review and he said, "Huh, this doesn't have much to do with gravitational potential energy. Start over."

I didn't take a picture of Mark's face after hearing this news.

D.J. also visited Westminster College to take tests in anatomy/physiology and "disease detectives" and received three medals for his scores. Hooray for D.J.!

In the realm of science, D.J. also had to make a vehicle for his class at the end of the year.  He worked on this with three of his friends, Kyle, Brock and Conner.  After three of four meetings, this is what they came up with.  Fishing line is wrapped around the axel at one end and attached to the mouse traps at the other. When the fishing line is wound around the axel and the mouse traps are let go, the line rotates the axel and wheels.  They had to get the car up a hill and then down again.  They received third place.

Spencer used his skills to make a chap stick carrier, so he would never lose the tube of lip reliever again.  While he felt very ingenious for making the contraption, I don't think he went so far as to wear it to school.

We really love Roxy, but sometimes we just want to pinch her little head!

Wassup.

James got to dress as Seth from the book Fablehaven, which mostly meant that we died his hair red. What do you think?

D.J. and his friend Brock and another friend from school were selected to participate in the solo and ensemble competition. DJ played the trombone in the one above and accompanied his friend Brock in the song below.

James decided to go with a buzz cut for the summer, so Mark cut his hair outside.

But before we chopped it all off we had to try out a mohawk.

Spencer decided to take the plunge and get his driver's learning permit.  He's taken Driver's Ed and passed and now needs to amass 40 hours of driving practice before he can get behind the wheel by himself.

Every year James's school does a 5K fundraiser around St. Patrick's Day.  Since the boys have run a lot for wrestling, they were all in shape to take on the 5K.  Since I only walk the 5K and finish almost last, I decided to walk 1K this year and take pictures of runners.

James and Tyson Morley kept a good pace together.

During James's 5th grade year, the teacher assigned them to compete in the history fair.  Lexi Hulse and Sammy Clinger decided that they needed a boy in their group to play the man in the project.  They were set on performing the story of Ruby Bridges, one of the first black girls to attend an all white school.  James played the role of Ruby's father, as well as one of the U.S. Marshalls that escorted her to school, Ruby's psychologist, and in the last scene played one of Ruby's playmates at school.

James's group did so well at the school history fair (among three 5th and three 6th grade classes) that they competed at the district level at the Davis County School District offices.

They did so well at the district competition that they went to Weber State University to compete at the Region level.

They did so well at Region that they received first place!  Good job James, Lexi and Sammy!

D.J. decided to run in track this year instead of doing discus or shot put (much the the dismay of Grandpa Wheeler who went to college with a track scholarship for discus).  He ran the 200, 400 and 800 Medley.

I admired his motivation, dedication and the fulfillment he felt with his own progress.  He did well and we enjoyed watching him!

James needs his beauty sleep.

James's class created a box city that was displayed for an evening at the Salt Lake City Library.  They learned about architecture from one of the fathers in the class who is an actual architect.  After collecting all sorts of boxes from home, they put together a great city!

Then this happened and Spencer has never looked back. . . or up again.  Of course we had to get a level out to be sure.

James decided to run for Student Body Council for his 6th grade year.  He was so good at quoting Donald Trump's rant about building a wall that he decided to dress as the presidential candidate and change a few of the lines so that it would apply to school, but in an inclusive way.

For some reason I cannot find a picture of him all dressed up in a suit with a yellow wig, but you get the drift with the white fluff above.

Sometimes I get insane ideas.  One of those insane ideas was to host an end-of-school party for all of James's class, marking the end of fifth grade.  We went to a park and played capture the flag and kick ball with a very competitive group of kids.  We also lined the kids up on either side of the sidewalk while one kid ran down the middle being pelted with marshmellow blow guns (pvc pipe). 

Every one had a great time!