Before Disaster Strikes . . .

Two excited Troxells ready for a night with dad. 

We had a fun and busy week this past week. Really nothing out of the ordinary sticks out except a LOT of tag teaming with the awesome kids.

After the soreness of Choo had worn off this past fall and the realization that Jason had signed up for another Ironman set in, we evaluated our options for the coming year. We broke out the triathlon budget, and knowing that while we'd like to pretend we're independently wealthy, we're not. We're still just two hard-working parents of three small children trying to keep the lights on, feed the children, and fuel our endurance-sport addiction. Last year we both employed a qualified, smart trainer who also happens to be our friend to coach us. We're lucky that way.

This year, we've decided to go rogue. Sort of.

We'll both work from a loose training plan, but we also want to work on our weaknesses. Jason has an arguably difficult swim ahead of him in CD in June, so he decided to employ the help of a swim teacher. He's seen some notable improvement and definitely has more confidence in the water than I've ever seen him have.

So here's a lesson for the week: work on your weaknesses, and when you don't know how to do that, find someone who can help.

Lesson two of the week: use the time you have for whatever you have when you have it. You do not know what will happen tomorrow or later in the day even it seems.

This last weekend particular we found our groove in training and family life by talking and taking turns. Team work, baby. That's how we roll. The past few days went like this:

Friday: Jason watches the 2 and 4-year-old while Nikki works in the morning. He spins for an hour-ish while the minions keep him company playing in the basement. Nikki watches kids while Jason swims at noon. Jason plays with kids while Nikki helps out in the 6-year-old's classroom. The whole family hangs out for the night.

Saturday: Jason wakes up early and hops on the bike for a two-hour spin. Nikki feeds the kids and gets them ready for the day, convincing the 6-year-old to "babysit" her siblings for a small fee while she spins the second half of Jason's workout with him. Two guys with bikes show up and make their way down to the basement shortly after Nikki starts spinning with Jason. A smelly and sweaty spin session ensues while the uber-great kids play. Nikki cleans up while Jason talks shop with his now very smelly biking buddies. Family eats lunch. Nikki and the big kids go check out a local high school gymnastics tournament. Jason takes a nap with the two-year-old. Nikki and big kids come home. Family eats supper. Jason takes the big kids to a hockey game, and Nikki hangs with the two-year-old at home, getting some r&r.

The picture does not do this injury justice

Sunday works much like Saturday. (Quite frankly, I'm getting a little bored typing this, so you all have to be bored reading it). The end point is, we took the opportunities we had when we had them. Sunday consisted of taking turns running and then a family movie night (Star Wars!!!!) and games. Basically, we had a great weekend.

I do not miss the fact that this life we live requires some sacrifice. If you stop by and visit our place, do not look in the corners. Dust bunnies abound because of our fun weekend. But I'm not worried. They'll find their way into the vacuum soon.

I'm elated that we took the opportunities that we had. Because Sunday afternoon, shortly before his run, Jason had a run-in with a kitchen stool. The results? Verdict is still out, but his foot does NOT look pretty. More on that next week . . .