Steelhead 70.3 & Snyder visit

This past weekend we headed up to Michigan for a fun filled weekend.  It was dual purpose.  One to get in our yearly visit with the Snyders and secondly for Nathan's 70.3 race 20 minutes from our friends home.  

We left Thurs at noon and made it in a record time of 8 hours (on the way home 7hrs 15 min!) so the trip went extremely well both ways.  The kids were perfect.  We rented some redbox, Gram packed a treat bag for them and we took off.

We arrived around 10p Michigan time and the boys (Max & Monty) flew out of their rooms to greet us.  The kids were fast friends.  Friday we hit the beach (our favorite thing to do when visiting the Snyders!).  Saturday we lazed around, went and played in their lake and then went to packet pick up for Nathan's race. 

We had been keeping an eye on the water condition of Lake Michigan (where Nate was going to swim) all weekend.  When we went on Friday it was a yellow flag which means rip tides & high waves.  Sunday morning I drive Nathan over to the race to drop him off, then come back to the house to get ready and get the kids.  As I'm driving home Nathan texts me telling me the swim was cancelled.  This was Nathan's second attempt at his 70.3 and both swims have been cancelled.  We were bummed but also knew that we wouldn't have wanted him out in the water with those waves.  They had reached 8ft by Sat. night.  And the looks of them on Sunday was not good.  There is no way a kayak could have gotten out there as lifeguards.  

Nathan had a great duathlon (56 mile bike & 13.1 mile run).  I'm very proud of him.  With calm waters he would have had no problem completing his 70.3. 

We had an amazingly fun weekend with our friends- Chris, Tonya, Max & Monty.  Many, many laughs & memories made.  Thank you so much for being such fantastic hosts.  Love you guys!

Jackson & Max lovin' the splash park!

beach!  Addison, Max & Monty are mostly under the water!  Nathan would watch Addison being drug by the waves thinking she would come up crying but instead having a huge smile on her face.

SILLY boy.  We laughed all weekend just watching this kid.  Seriously one of the funniest kids I know!

LOVE this!

Perfect day.

Perfect friend.  Except the fact we only see each other once per year.  But NEVER have problems picking up exactly where we left off!

He dug a whole till he hit water!  Then buried himself.

 Monty lovin' that ice cream.

that's ice cream.  not paint :)

Here comes Daddy!! We were so nervous we had missed him.

One of our many spots that day

Off the bike feeling jelly in his legs but looking SO strong!

This is right at the finish line!

And these waves & wind are the reason the swim was cancelled.

Best cheerleaders EVER!

SO proud of you Nathan!  Love you!

Mighty Max Kids Tri

This is Jackson's 2nd year doing Mighty Max & Addison's 1st year!  It's one of the best kids triathlon's I have ever seen.  They get to go down the water slide to begin the triathlon and they don't hold anything back just because these are kids.  They have the huge finish line, they bring the pro athletes to talk to the kids, the real transition, etc...   The kids had a blast and I think the parents have even more fun watching. It's fantastic!

Jackson with his big arm pulls!

Jackson about to pass Addison

Addi running out of the water.

Nate helping Addison with transition.  Jackson's a pro!

Parker coming into transition full speed!

One of my favorite shots!

speeding into the finish line.  poor buddy ran too far- not sure if the volunteers thought he was older and needed to go farther or what?

Finishers!!

GO Snappers!

This year we signed all the kids (I talk about the Fig boys as they are my own...) up for swim team.  I was a little nervous about Addison (since she is only 4) but knew she could swim.  We have been doing swim lessons for a month each year and are always impressed at how much they progress.  Until this year... one week of swim TEAM and they improved more than a whole summer of swim lessons!  It was amazing!  Their coaches this year were Mizzou swimmers!  The kids LOVED them!

We had our ups & downs of crying and refusing to participate (except Jackson- there was only a day or two when he was hesitant but it was mostly because the others were breaking down!).  Overall, it was a fantastic experience & the kids had a lot of fun!  

Every Wed night they had a swim meet with other pools.  Three of the nights we were at "home" (beach club) and three nights we went to other clubs.  It was SO much fun!  One meet there was a parent/snapper relay so of course Heather, Nathan & I suited up!  And friday was FUN day!

These pictures are all random and in no order!

This is friday fun day- the kids are huddling around to push their teachers in.

Poor Courtney got most of the pushing in!  But she knew how to give it back too!

Happy Swimmer!

All smiles from Ashton!

Addi & teacher Courtney jumping off together.

Friday fun day- the only day they let you go down in a 30 person train!!

This is the parent/snapper relay- we've got our team together ready to roll!

I'm in position!  Loved diving off the platform to begin!

Heather & her snappers!

Go Snappers!  Next year we'll really be on our game!

My Addi swimmer!!

Jackson with his breaststroke.  He is such a powerful swimmer!

Ashton waiting for his race.

I think this was Jackson's butterfly race he did at the end of the season! It was awesome!!

Addison in streamline position!

Theres parker swimmin' his little heart out!