in training...

As many (but not all) of you know, for the past 4 months I have been training for something the likes of which, my "29 year-old, birthed 5 babies in 8 years and never lost much of the weight" body has never before seen.

a Reverse Sprint Triathlon

Prior to 4 months ago, I wouldn't have even known what those three words together in that order meant. However, now they hold more meaning than ever before, and I can sum it up in an equal three words:

COMPLETE SHEER TERROR

Yeah, that about covers it.

The triathlon is in Anthem, AZ (which might as well be Phoenix)

and it's in two weeks at 5:00 PM.

Three words come to mind yet again:

HEAT STROKE EXHAUSTION

Today, we (me and a couple of friends who I agreed to do it with in some slip of lucidity 4 months ago)

did our second triple combination run-through.

(essentially that means that we did exactly what we'll have to do on the day of the race, at the same time that we'll do it then)

The only problem is, we're still in monsoon season and it cooled off this afternoon, just after we started to about 89 degrees.

We drove through Anthem last Friday at 6:00 PM and it was still 108.

Hence, my new goal is to finish anywhere else but the back of an ambulance.

We DID finish just fine tonight, though. So theoritically is IS possible. The heat though...that's going to complicate things.

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, we're all praying for a SIGNIFICANT

Phoenix Cooling Trend.

It's a DRY heat...

...and THANK GOODNESS for that.

Thank you, dry heat, for drying my jeans for me. It would take probably 2 hours and a good $15 in kilowats or whatever, to dry all FOURTEEN pairs in the REAL dryer.

If I didn't think they'd blow all over TARNATION in the Prescott Valley wind, I'd attempt to dry the rest of my clothing out there on the deck.

A Classic...

As long as I'm still posting reunion pics, here's a great one.

I especially LOVE Carter's expression. (front, far left)

It's the classic (that we ALL always try, thinking this time it will work, and then it usually never does) "let's see if we can get 13 children ages 9 and under to all be agreeable at the same time." I don't know that I've ever actually seen an un-edited positive result to this experiment. This is clearly not one either.

In other news:

we had a 16 x 24 copy of this one printed on canvas matboard and framed then shipped to our mama yesterday. She loves it. mPix rocks! If you're looking for a great deal on EXCELLENT prints and exceptional options with photos, I'm officially referring to them now. Check them out.

AND - the other Burch's have left the county. It was surreal seeing their house to empty today as I helped clean the carpets and stuff. We will miss them, but wish them lots of luck in Mesa at ASU. We love you.

GQ Doug

I was on hold with Qwest, looking for a picture to blog about today,

when I stumbled upon this little gem:

I'm going to just leave it at that and not provide much else in the way of comments.

Gotta love ya, Doug.

ker

wishin' we were swimmin'

It's been SO HOT lately, I had to post some

swimmin' pictures to cool me off.

These were taken over a month ago, down in Phoenix

at Grandma and Grandpa Burch's pool.

It still feels like summer, even though

we're full-fledged "back to school"ers now.

Ahhhhhh, livin' in Arizona.

a lot-a Lehnhofs

We managed (somehow) to get this cool family picture

at our reunion last month.

I just finally got done Photoshopping various

(and I'm not telling whose) faces.

Family Roster: (left to right)

(TOP): Lance, Matt, Bobbie Jo, Brian, Cody, Doug

(MIDDLE): Steven, Jenny, Mary, Grandma Albiston, MOM, Erin, Kerri, Bret

(FRONT): Luke, Addison, Sadie, Lydia, Garrett, Ethan, Carter, Whitney, Kyle, Abby, Tate

Whew.

Shoeless Lexi

As long as I'm featuring people. This is Lexi. (and her dad)

It's also one of my favorite TREK pictures.

She and her family, along with the Craner family, participated

in the TREK as the "shoe-less, just crossed the Platte River and now we have

frostbite" family. They did an AWESOME job.

The kids took off their shoes and walked without them (for a bit)

so their family could have shoes. It was great.

Lexi happens to be eight years old, and is hosting a "High School Musical 2"

party this VERY weekend. How cool is Lexi?

how does your garden grow?

she's actually NOTHING like the dictionary describes "contr(air)ry." She's just Mary. And she's my other (as phread would say) "seester." And this is the newest most adorable picture I took of her (and her 3 yr. old Ethan) at our family reunion.

She's constantly amazing me with her distinguishable traits

and how she comes up with the most interesting

things to keep busy with.

While teaching her children how to be the outstanding, joyful people.

She:
1. grows her own herbs and eats them on homemade wheat bread

2. makes up her own patterns for hair accessories

for self and daughter

3. creates programs for people to educate themselves and enrich their lives

4. has labels for everything

5. has been to Paris

6. revels in the 'finer' 'dashing' things in life

7. has 3 genius-type children. (her 3 year-old practically can recite pi to the 30th digit. You know... 3.14, etc. and I'm not kiddin')

8. keeps track of friends from 2nd grade and knows

their shoe sizes and stuff

9. irons clothing regularly

10. keeps me (and others) striving toward her level of "with-it-ness"

i HEART you, muff.

oh yeah...

11. still puts up with some of us calling her 'muffinstuff'

who else wants a spotlight? This is fun.

Windbigler Wonderful...

My sister Erin is a genius. Have I ever mentioned that? Well, she is. I sometimes think I dabble in design, until I ask Erin to do something for me, and in about 3 minutes she comes up with stuff like THIS:

That was the original design that we had printed on T-shirts. Then... about 4 days before we left, she came up with a second one, that we used on a gift for our mom. I loved it, so I had another set of shirts made with it on it. We're officially the LEHNHOF REPRESENTs now.

My kids love wearing their Lehnhof Dudds. I guess we're big-time reunioners now that we have paraphenalia, and all. I DID write an article on planning reunions once, you know. (which is ironic, since I had NOTHING to do with planning this one) It's amusing, actually...I once googled myself, and that was the top result. I guess it will forever be my claim to fame until I do something that trumps it. I'll work on that. It's really nothing to be known for.

ANYWAY - Until our next reunion, I'll continue aspiring to be as cool as Erin.


oh, and muff...lest you think I won't feature you....WRONG! You're on tap for tomorrow's spotlight.

Introducing...the Photoshop Hair Studio

So, back about a month ago, before my life got a lil' crazy, I wanted (and needed) a haircut. So, I decided to peruse through some fashion magazines (online) and find a new do. When I couldn't QUITE picture what I would look like with the new styles, I decided to put my photoshop skills into practice. I took a picture of myself, and photoshopped my face into the hairstyles. Here's what I came up with.

It's pretty hilarious (and CREEPY at the same time):

Later in the day, after I got done FREAKING out my husband, children and various friends with the above photos, I decided to get it cut.

I think we'll all agree, this one's the best of the three.

A perfect compromise, if I do say so myself.

If you're interested in getting a WILD & DRASTIC haircut, just photoshop your face into something HORRIBLE, and it won't seem so bad when you actually do it.

When I told the "stylist" what I had done with the photoshop thing, she wanted me to come set up my computer in her booth and do it for others, as a service. I found that rather amusing.

The Deceiving Nature of Looks...

Abby looks real charming, sweet and innocent, right?

Well... cliches are effective, mostly because they're SO TRUE.

Today, she:

1. Decided to pot a plastic plant with real dirt hauled in who knows what through the house from the backyard.

2. Ate an entire box of Fruit Snacks sitting on the floor of the pantry with the door closed.

3. Unbuckled her carseat approximately 15 times mid-travel.

4. Changed seats while eating dinner only three times. (an improvement)

She DID, however, insist on giving me a 'kissnhug' before I could leave her room at bedtime. Awwwwww.

I guess #5 makes up for the previous 4. (or does it?)

Let's pretend.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

And that's all I've got to say about that!

on brain melting...

No, TREK did not kill me. I am very well and good.

The aftermath DID cause me severe anxiety though.

The TREK was great, pics to come, or go here and view a sampling of the over 2000 pics Kim and I collectively took. (password: carryon)

The week immediately following TREK was consumed (EVERY HOUR) with editing pics and eventually constructing the 1 hour 10 minute stake video. I'd upload it, but it took SEVEN hours to render, I don't think Google's going to host it. If you want one, I can get you one. Cost plus shipping only. My favorite line from one of my children during the craziness of that week: Bret said "Mom, I had a dream last night - that you finished the video!" Well, we DID finish it, with about 10 hours to spare before the fireside. whew.

THEN, on literally 3 hours of sleep from the previous 4 days, we left at 3:00 AM the morning after the fireside for PHX to fly with our gaggle to UT and drive to ID for a family reunion. We had a great time in Island Park, Yellowstone, SLC, etc. We returned this afternoon, and I think I will now sleep for 3 weeks.

The kids start school on Monday (FOUR of them). 3 Elem, 1 P.S., and then I'll start putting my brain and life back together.

PICS to come, I promise. Gotta find the camera, amidst the wrinkled piles of clothing and electronics on my bed.