MY AMAZING FAMILY AND FRIENDS

***********Our camera ran out of batteries right before the race! Of course! I have been waiting to post about the race till people send me pictures but I had to steal these off of facebook and Hopefully this is enough ammunition to get you people fired up to send me pics...... Jennifer.... So what if you have Strep Throat! Off the couch and get to those pics! (Love you, mean it!)

I started the previous post about my race and it turned more into writing down every last detail of the race so I wouldn't forget.

This post is more about the amazing family and friends I have. I was so blessed with an entourage of friends and family cheering me on for the race and it was such a wonderful feeling!

From the many phone calls, emails, facebook message from friends near and far to the MANY people that came to the race. It truly was overwhelming!

My friend Kelly sent me a bouquet that was entitled "Make Lemonade" the card she wrote was so sweet, mentioning that the road to this race was not always great but I have always been her friend that makes Lemonade out of my lemons and she was so proud of me!

My mom, Bridget and Jennifer came for the entire weekend. It as always is so awesome having them here. My wonderful neighbors the Auton's came to the race. I am pretty sure we have convinced Rod to race next year. (Simon may have to commit to doing it but Rod says he is in).

Awesome camp friends Debi, Leslie and Devon surprised me at the finish line!!!!! Such huge sneaks! Apparently they contacted Simon awhile ago making plans to come to the race. So amazing to see them. Debi from NEW JERSEY was my camp roommate from many years ago, I caught up with Devon a few months ago when I was in Chicago and Leslie flew all the way from CALIFORNIA! These girls are awesome, made their own t-shirts in support and everything! They woke up at 4am drove from Chicago and miraculously made it to my race. Apparently Devon only printed directions to Michigan and they thought they would wing it the rest of the way! I think we have officially scared them off of suburbia, children, and all things midwest. But I hope they got a full taste of life in Michigan!

We planned a huge cookout with neighbors and friends for Saturday night and ended up having it inside due to the horrible weather. So there was about 20 people in our house for dinner on Saturday night. A couple of my neighbors gave me a bottle of champagne and a 1 hour massage for a congratulatory gift and I am SO looking forward to using that!

I really was just so touched by all the love and support I received from friends near and far! It was a bit overwhelming.

I promise that this is not the end of my career. I really am looking at doing an Olympic Distance race next summer! I have alot of people inspired to compete in the race I just did too! I am so excited to do this again and most importantly have something I really enjoy!

Triathlon

What an aweseome weekend. I seriously could not have even dreamt of a more totally amazing time!

It started off with receiving flowers of well wishes from my sister on Friday afternoon! So sweet! Then my mom, Bridget and Jennifer arrived on Friday night late. Friday night I slept pretty good when I did sleep. I woke up with my alarm at 6am. My neighbor called shortly thereafter to wish me luck!

Simon and I drove down the event (about 45-hour away, I was getting nervous but for the most part excited). I checked in and got number 25! So thrilled as it was a great location in the transition but most importantly it had a 5 in it and 5 has ALWAYS been my athletic number. When I envisioned this race I always hoped for 5 or 55 but 25 was just as great!

Just as everyone was getting ready to go to the swim start I saw the girls at the start of the race with their "Team Bisson" shirts, handmade signs and smiles and I started to tear up.

We all went out into the middle of the lake and (Froze) waited for the gunshot. When the gun went off the best way to describe it was like parana's. I am a pretty good swimmer but nothing could prepare me for that feeling of "oh my god, what have I done?" or better yet.... "I am going to die out here". Luckily that feeling only lasted for about 1-2 mins. I got it together sorted myself out and waited until the kicking, shoving, pushing, stopped and I just went along with my business.

I felt good coming out of the swimming, I fumbled around trying to get my biking gloves on (a brand new gift for good luck from Simon) but for the most part I was happy with my first transition. Started out great on the bike, really passing people and feeling energized. About mile 2, I started to worry, "oh my, I still have to run (walk) 3 miles" I better conserve some of my energy. So I think overall I gave the bike par 80% of my efforts. Still great, but I know I could have pushed it harded.

Transition 2 was harder as I had to get off bike at the EXACT spot where my horrible wipeout 3 weeks previous occured. So I took it rather slow. Then I had to change shoes and chage socks since my socks were socking wet. That is not something that is easy when your adrenaline is pumping.

Got out of the transition and started running. Ran for a short while then caught up with Simon's assistant Nancy and we speed walked the rest of the run. Due to injury from previous wipeout. I was really nervous about running. So decided a very fast paced power walk was just the ticket.

I was so happy and so thrilled with my time, effort and all out attitude about the whole thing! I am SO, SO, SO, SO going to do another one, and probably a longer one! I really think that this is something I am going to focus on doing.

For the time being. I am taking it really slow. I am not really excercising, biking or running. I want all things to heal and then I am going to focus on my weight training with my trainer Abby on Monday's then I am going to really work on my running and swimming. And who knows, maybe Santa will bring me a new road bike and come spring I can work on that too!

I am so excited to really have something I love doing!

Rain, Rain Go Away

Yes as luck would have it, my race is tomorrow and it has been raining non stop. Freezing and the temperature looks to be 59* for the start of the race. Of course you swim first in frigid lake water, then bike, then run. My plan is ride my bike really fast to dry off!

Best Vacation Ever!

We had such a great time. Lots of naps, relaxing, quality time with friends and family.



Lots to post, But some key info about this movie.



**Took most, to all of my pics to make this video.



**Lots of beach time, and naps and hanging out.



**Taylor Swift may have well sponsored this vacation. I now know most of her songs, thus, the song choice (made by the girls for this video).



**Lulu was not interested in having her picture taken at all this week. I did the best I could.

Alligator Farm

We went with some friends to the alligator farm. I did not know what to expect from this adventure. We had heard it was alot of fun and seeing as Ruthie has a love for all things slimey I figured this was right up her alley!

Lulu was all in as well. She really enjoyed seeing the animals in the tanks and even let them put the reptile on her lap when we first got there. Ruthie was surprisingly afraid. I think that she was overwhelmed.

We fed turtles

When we went outside to the alligator farm, the owner was extremely animated and had a large personality. Which immediately freaked Lulu out. She withdrew and wanted me to hold her the entire time. At one point the man says to her.....You and I aren't getting along you don't like me very much do you?..... She doesn't say anything..... Then he says......Is it because I am ugly?... Her reply..."Yes"....... I nearly died!

The owner had the kids hold a baby alligator. So Ruthie did it, and then when I tried to get Lulu to do it, she froze. So he says "Here watch your mom" OK. I DON'T TOUCH REPTILES. Well then he gets on my case that how can I make my kids do it if I won't. Totally makes me do it. So freaking scary. Yes, totally crying.

Ruthie held the alligator and then touched his teeth. (while the mouth was rubber-banded closed)

Then we got to feed HUGE alligators.

SO MUCH FUN. Except the holding them part.

Dairy Farm

We went to visit another Dairy Farm with our friends. We love cows and hearing all about the daily working of a farm. Monica our host was so lovely and extremely informative.

saying hello to the cows

This calf was born while we were there.

Checking out the milking room.

Thanks for making the bed....

I swear Simon wonders what I do all day.... Well here it is. He makes the bed every morning before he leaves for work. (He also vacuums every night when he comes home from work - but that is another post for another day). He really likes to have things all nice and tidy. Well, no sooner had he made the bed and left for work, that the girls were in our room jumping on the bed and taking the sheets off.

So.... Ultimately, I make it look like a tornado (aka, Ruthie and Lulu) hasn't struck our house every day. But it most certainly has hit EVERY DAY!

So of course I emailed these pictures to him at work and said..... "Thanks for making the bed"

Ruthie loves her frogs

She will never get sick of playing with Frogs.

Dinosaurs at the Zoo

While we were in Cleveland we visited the zoo with Gammy. During the summer months they usually have the dinosaurs that move and make noise on exhibit. The girls LOVED them. I thought for sure they would be scared. Not my troopers!

When I asked the girls the best part of being in Cleveland. It was the trip to the zoo with Gammy!

My Friend KP

I got a call from my friend KP today who was upset about not being mentioned in the midwest tour.



A highlight of the Indianapolis - Columbus - Cleveland trip was seeing my friend KP 3 times!!!! She was vivisting her parents in Cleveland at the same time I was there since she resides in NC.



That is HUGE! We talk very regularly. She is hystrerical (seriously a modern day Bridget Jones). Wonderful teacher, friend, craft person extraordinaire... ( I would love to post something that she has made for my kids but..... Oh wait they outgrew them) HINT. HINT.HINT.


Love ya KP, hope to see you at Christmas!