COACH

Tadaaaaaaa! I did it! We did it!
The troop (Autumn, Bruce, Dryan, & Isaac) and I have accepted the job as head track & field coach at Coconino High School!
It has been quite a journey and because it is kosher in blog land to share the details I will gladly start from the beginning...
When I was a sophomore in high school I was mindin' my own cowgirl business when this short stout man approached me and spoke to me in a foreign language. "Miss McWorthy I hear you are a rodeo girl you should run track, you could be competing in the pole vault, long jump, and triple jump, doesn't that sound exciting?" I am sure I had a confused look on face for I had never even heard of long or triple jump, let alone pole vault, but I agreed I would come out and give it a try.
That year I was anything but committed. I had rodeo's every weekend so I could not make it to one meet. I did however compete in the regional meet, which we won. This same COACH approached me and encouraged me pursue the pole vault more by attending a week long camp in Flagstaff. COACH not only paid for the entire camp but he drove me up and back. The camp was alot of fun but I felt a little out of my element. Some of the athletes had been doing track since the 4th grade. After that summer I ran cross country and track, then played soccer in the winter because of the encouragement of COACH. I am not sure how I balanced running and rodeoing but somehow it all came together.
COACH really took me under his wing and became a mentor for me. We would drive a van to the track meets with the pole vault poles. I would sit in the front seat with the pole vaulters in the back, while COACH drove. Those van rides seemed at first to be so long. COACH would ask me question after question about my life and then proceed to share all the million and one things he had a done in his life. After, getting out of the van I was so caught up in all the life lessons that COACH had talked about that I was never nervous for my events because they seemed so trivial compared to all the things that COACH had been teaching me. By the end of my Jr. year I could not wait to ride in the van with COACH. He was full of wisdom and his life was so neat.
COACH and I became great friends. He would visit my family and even once recruited a bunch of boys in white shirts and ties to help my mom finish our metal roof. That same year I started dating a bullfighter kid that COACH did not much like. He would ask about him often but would counsel and persuade me to date other people. I thought it quite odd that he was so intrested in my dating life but then no one else had really said much to me about it, so it seemed nice that he cared. Him and his wife contiued to be so kind and invested in my future that they invited me to join them to go to a play in Mesa. There was quite a few youth that went who were from our team that I had never really noticed before. The kids were so nice. I enjoyed their company. They were so fun and entertaining yet clean and pure in their words and actions. They were such a happy bunch of kids with ideas of college and careers. I was so amazed at about these kids that I mingled with everyday but never knew. The play ended up being the Easter Pageant. I was mesmerized. I did not grow up reading the Bible or going to church so Easter beyond Easter eggs was foreign to me.
I went home that evening FILLED. I had such good feelings. The next year I got to be better friends with the track group and it was amazing. They invited me to their church and to activities like 'toliet papering houses' with hearts and cookies. They were so different from any friends I had ever had. COACH continued to coach me and befriend me. It then finally occurred to me YOU are like THEM and THEY are like YOU, WHAT ARE YOU ALL? Mormon's!?!? What is a Mormon? Later, I learned that I had gone to school with over 75% of my school being Mormon and I had no idea what that was.
My senior year COACH and I had the most amazing experiences; we won state as a team and in my individual events. COACH had LOTS of connections and I was offered a full ride scholarship to NAU to run track & field. AND while that was exciting and life changing the week after state I asked coach if he would baptize me and though he about fell over dead, COACH accepted and it became our greatest achievement EVER!
I coach now because my life was changed for the BETTER because of the example of my COACH. Being part of a team of GREAT kids was remarkable and priceless. Then later when I got my partratical blessing it talked about the influence I would have through my athletic abilities.
Now I don't want to scare any parents or student athletes who are not MORMON into thinking that is what my mission is, to convert them to becoming a member of the church, but it is my mission to be example of light and good in these young athletes life.

10K Bucket List

In analyzing my life with a friend and mentor of mine I have come to the conclusion that I am not a natural analyzer. If that is to say I don't think, then so it is. Now this can be a very unstressful trait because then you can fly by the seat of your pants most of the time with no consequence. On the other hand it can be a very desirable trait that you would want to embrace because think about all the stuff you would get done, IN YOUR HEAD. Anyhow, in thinking about my nonanalyzation, I realized that I have never made a bucket list. I have never sat down and thought ok I am going to do a triathlon or ride in a hot air balloon. Thankfully my non-analyzing self takes on any challenge with gusto. So when my sister law asked me to do a triathlon I did it and when my friend asked me to get up at 4:45am three times a week to run three-four miles I do it. It is so bad that when my running partner asked me to run a 10K or 6 miles I did it. After completing the run I was thrilled with myself and wondered why I had never thought I would do something like that. It felt amazing! Now I am thinking the possibilities are endless! My running buddy is thinking of running a half marathon, something again I have never even thought of doing, but then again I guess all I need is an invitation.

Can'it Sister

If you have been wondering what I have been thinking, doing, stressing, making, or working on, it would be:

CANNING

Lots of Canning!
This year we did over a hundred jars of salsa, peaches, pears, apple pie filling, applesauce, peach jelly, zucchini relish, diced tomatoes, and strawberry freezer jam.
Canning has become a new hobby for me and each year I get a littler more efficient and faster.
We tried zucchini relish for the first time and boy is it good! Funny thing is, we now have a three years supply of GoOd ZuCcHiNi ReLiSh!
I also did 25lbs of dehydrated apples and pears and this might become my new hobby. I love dried fruit right off the cooker.
The season is coming to end and after all that work I am glad for it to be OVER. In July when all the fruits of our labor are diminishing and our garden is getting ready to produce I will start looking forward to it again. BUT until then adios canner and glass jars may you rest in peace.

Professor Isaac

About a three years ago Isaac was one of 20 electricians from Flagstaff that started a program to earn their Journeymen Electrical Certificate. Isaac spent three years studying each night after work and then attending lecture classes one night a week and lab classes a couple times a month. He learned theory and application for low and high voltage electricity. Isaac did very well in his classes by receiving A's on most assignments and tests. He felt like he gained a great deal of knowledge and know how after graduating.
Well, two weeks ago he started his own electrical class for guys at his work that have chosen not to take the program, but could use the instruction. He has a curriculum set out for the next couple of months and will reevaluate once he gets the workers understanding basic principles. I'm so proud of him for going out of his way to teach others without pay or praise. I'm so grateful for his natural teaching abilities and how it has already benefited his coworkers. What a great example he is setting at his company in showing that 'knowledge is power.' I love that he is taking something he loves and understands and is sharing it with others.
GREAT JOB ISAAC! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

Birthday Boy

We celebrated Dryan's 1st birthday last week and boy if time speeds up any faster, the next thing we know we will be taking him to the MTC to serve a mission. It seems like yesterday we brought the long brown haired, blue eyed boy home.

This boy is full of it! This picture of him with his birthday cake is his classic mischief face, which by the way should be his middle name, with daredevil being the first.

• 

Life of Dryan:

• He loves balls and actually has a real talent for throwing a ball. He will be fussing and you point out a ball he is ready to play. He can aim and throw it right to you.
  
• In loving balls and throwing, he throws other things, far and hard, like food, cups, toys, shoes, or books. It makes for quite a mess where ever he is.
  
• Dryan loves to wrestle. Anyone caught lying on the floor is immediately mauled and given the famous "dangerous head mash."
• Dryan loves watermelon and will eat a slice (and 10 more if you let him) to the core.
• Dryan has had 8, yes 8, hair cuts and not just a trim, like buzz the head since he was born. The boy has some serious VOLUME.
• Dryan loves to be outside. Anytime he hears the door open he beelines it for the door to try to make an escape.
• He is the best gardening buddy because he loves dirt not just the feel but the taste. He can sit forever just taste testing dirt. YUCK.
• Dryan has incredible balance! He does not walk yet but he will stand up on the couch, stools, the table, the trampoline, the bed, a laying body (when wrestling) without holding on. He has been caught climbing into the bathtub and trying to get down from his changing table 3ft in the air.
• He is also Crazy about his daddy. When the kids hear dad truck pulling up the drive from work, Dryan does a little squeal and crocodile crawls as fast as he can to the door. When daddy is home he wants no part of mom feeding him or holding him.
• Lastly, he is curious, oh so curious. NO cabinet, dresser, door, drawer, cubby hole, shelf, or box is safe from his little hands.
  

Here is Dryan's new room decor for his birthday! Thank you so much Jamie for portraying our little boy so well. I sure hope he likes sports into his teenage years since the only decorating skills I have, I watched Jamie do.

Letter of Recommendation

Dear Blog Readers,

This letter is to recommend a Sprint Triathlon to any mom looking for a great way to get in shape and gain a sense of fulfillment. Sprint Triathlons are amazing to train for. If one day you sleep in and do not get to your 10 mile bike ride you can instead bike the kids to preschool then back and then run with stroller to pick them up. If one day you were to swim 500 yds but your husband wants to take you on vacation you can just ride your bike 13 miles out of town and have him pick you up on the way. If one day you dislocate your 1st and 2nd rib by loading wood into the dump trailer you can just do the famous J.M. solider swim for the actual competition. AND if by chance one day you are sore from running a 5k you can just do a family bike ride.

Sprint Triathlons are also fun to do in the heat of a Phoenix summer. First clue is to only train in Northern Arizona and then compete in Northeastern Arizona, stay away from the Phoenix heat. Here in Northern Arizona it is about 75 during the day and 65 on race day.

I recommend using bicycle shorts over your swim suit for the swim portion of the race. It really cuts down on your transition time and makes you feel a ton more comfortable standing in line for 20 minutes to get in the pool.

Sprint Triathlons are great for sprinters. If you are the type that would never run a marathon then this is the event for you. Just when you are sick of swimming or in my case scared to death of the water, then you go ride your bike. Then just when your bum is tired from bike riding you jump off the bike and run. It's the perfect balance of 'body confusion' or cross training.

I also recommend training and competing with your sister in law. She will be an awesome motivation to never quite. Just when you think you are too busy to train you can just think of her 6 kids and that you only have 3 or her 3 kids in school and 0 of your kids in school. Also, when you think 13 miles is a long way to ride you can check on facebook to see that she rode 18 miles. Then on race day you can stand in line and be nervous TOGETHER. Finally, when it is all over and everyone wants to talk about parades or boats you can still continue to talk about how awesome the race was.

It would be a pleasure if you would like to know more information about training or competing for a triathlon, please 'comment me' on the blog.

Sincerely,

Triathlon Finisher

P.S. I also recommend not 'smiling for the camera' when you are running, looks like you are not trying very hard.

"I'll talk your ear right off."

Bruce has been saying the funniest things these days!

The other day our friend was over for dinner and mentioned how Bruce sure could talk. Bruce piped up "I'll talk your ear right off."

Lately, he responds to questions with anywhere, anyone, anyhow!

EXAMPLES:

Me: "Bruce, where is your shoes?"
Bruce: "ANYWHERE!"

Me: "Bruce, did you hear which baby is awake?"
Bruce: "ANYONE!"

Me: Bruce, what do you want for lunch?"
Bruce: "ANYTHING?"

Me: Bruce, who made a mess out of the dog food?"
Bruce: "ANYONE!"

Me: "What are you doing in there Bruce?"
Bruce: "ANYTHING!"

Me: Bruce, where did you put mama's car keys?"
Bruce: "ANYWHERE!"

Me: "Bruce, what did you do to your brother?"
Bruce: "ANYTHING!"

Well, I better go now because Bruce could be getting into ANYTHING, with ANYONE, ANYWHERE!

Climb to Conquer Cancer

This past weekend Autumn and I got the most awesome opportunity! We did the Snowbowl Climb to Conquer Caner. The best part was climbing with all my family and friends.
Just two years ago I had never known anyone personally that had cancer. Then one day after visiting my sister and her family my niece had been feeling yucky. They were not sure what the cause of her aches were and the very next day Halli went in and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 9. Then Isaac's uncle, aunt and grandma got cancer that same year.
The walk became even more meaningful when we found out on Friday that Isaac's grandmother passed away. I felt like it was an actual closure or a proper saying good bye to her because as we walked up the mountain, surrounded by all of Heavenly Father's marvelous creations, I felt that she was at peace up in heaven. On the climb was the first time I had told Autumn about grandma Diana's passing and it was so remarkable to bare my testimony about where grandma Diana went.
It was also amazing to talk with my niece and sister about their journey with cancer. It was remarkable to hear the strength their family had to have and continues to show. Their faith has grown so much that it is almost contagious. If a little girl of 9 can be so close to leaving earth but have tremendous faith that the Lord is watching her and that she is in His hands, than I can believe in great plan of salvation.

Every mile was a stepping stone to accomplishing our goal! We climbed 6 1/2 miles straight up Snowbowl road. Autumn walked about 2 miles herself. It was so fun to make little goals for her to reach. The whole time we would remind ourselves of why we were doing the climb. We said to ourselves, "We are exhausted for this brief moment, but just think of what the people with cancer have to endure each day."I am so grateful for this spiritual and physical building experience.

Birthday

I love birthday's! I love making other people's birthday's awesome and memorable!

This year everyone, I mean everyone, family and friends, my made my birthday awesome and memorable!
Thank You, THANK YOU, ThAnK yOu, thank you, ThanK YoU, tHANk yOu!

List of awesomeness:

. Family

. Friends

. Smelly candles

. Canoeing on the lake

. Surprise party

. Thai Coconut Chicken

. Game night till 11:00pm

. Earrings, dangly and beautiful

. Gift card to Maurice's

. Slip N Sliding

. High Jump Practice

. Grilled Pizza

. Ice cream

. "Better than you know what" cake

. Phone calls

. Birthday cards

. Money

. Balloons

. Bike Ride

. Bike shoes, the real deal for extreme triathlon racing

. New to me road bike

A Face Only a Mother Can Love

The kids and I went to the Hashknife Pony Express Horseman's Camp on Friday and boy did we enjoy the DIRT!

Triathlon Progress

I am excited to say that I have been able to do some type of training each day, except for Sunday's, for my triathlon. I really feel healthy and that my efforts will sustain me through a 250yd swim, 13 mile bike, and 3 mile run. However, I think I will have to settle for an average race because the triathlon has become a family affair.

Now don't get me wrong I am enjoying every minute of our family workouts, but as far as pushing my aerobic endurance, not so much. The picture above is a very good example of how my bike rides or runs go. And though I don't have a picture of the dog tied to the stroller, Autumn riding her bike, Bruce trotting along the road, the other dog under my feet, and Dryan enjoying the ride in the stroller, it is quite a circus non the less.

Bruce has impressed me beyond measure. The first two weeks he would beg me to get out of the stroller and run with me, but I would bribe him with a Popsicle or try to distract him. Last week he insisted on running, so I let him loose. The kid actually ran or trotted 1 mile, a whole mile, all the way to our friends house four streets down. It WAS AMAZING! He would just shuffle shuffle down the road. Now if I run he runs. At a mile he usually hops in, but I love having a running buddy.

Autumn has also done a terrific job of bike training. Each day I take her on a little longer ride and yesterday she rode about 5 miles all on her own. We don't speed down the road, but we enjoy our ride. Autumn usually is chattering away about rocks or horses. It is sooooo fun!

So here is a cheer for my little ones who could have been pioneer children, singing as they walked and walked and walked!

Out of the Wood Works

This past weekend we went to Pleasant Grove, Utah for the Larsen Family Reunion. This is my third time going since we have been married and I love meeting all of Isaac's family. The thrill partly comes from the sure sight of hundreds of people meeting up in one location and for the most part getting along and enjoying each others company. I think is simply incredible that Grandma and Grandpa's posterity includes 9 children, 40 grandchildren, and 102 great grandchildren!

I think it is especially awesome since I did not grow up even knowing what a cousin was. Many times I would use cousin-brother for a member that we did not quite know how he belonged, but other than that I knew of my mom, dad, grandma, aunt, uncle, brother, and sister. Occasionally, I would go to my mom's home town and my grandma would explain my relation to joe smoe. "This is your 3rd cousin, twice removed, married to so so who we have not seen in years, brother of your long lost grandfather."

To illustrate the fact even more clearly that a cousin was something of a very distant relative I will share a childhood memory. My family moved to Queen Creek when I was 8. I immediately became good friends with a neighbour girl who was my same age. We went to school and rode horses together. For over 2 years we were inseparable. One evening we were having a BBQ and my mom was mentioning a relative to Amber's mom. Come to find out we were related, 2nd cousins no less.
Then, on Thursday I get a call from Indiana, it is my aunt who I have not seen in 23 years. She hands me a file folder full of family history, with pictures and names including dates and places (guess what I have been doing for the past couple of days, familysearch.org). My aunt said "Well, after all these years I thought you might like to know some of your family history, especially being apart of that Mormon church and all. But boy you don't need my help you got kids comin out of the wood works."
Ha Ha just you wait auntie!

So, long story short, I love that I have a new big family that actually likes to see each other more than every 23 years or so.

Grandpa and the kids!

Grandma telling the tall tale of 'Two Eyes' to the great grand kids.

Dryan & Pop wrestling in grass.

"Lovley weather for tire swing with you."

The hit of the reunion: acrobatics, upside down flips, and screaming. That is actually Autumn! I was thinking if I would have seen this in slow motion I would have thought twice about her doing it.

Pop & Dryan showing off the sky blue eyes.

The cousins getting ready to sing and sign 'The Family is of God' in the talent show.

Smilin' Dryan!

Parachute fun with the cousins!

Mommy and Dryan chillin in the shade!

Homemade, kidmade rockets; now that was fun!

More treats, sweets and love than you can imagine and they could not get enough.

Water balloon Mania!

Bruce enjoyed the endless supply of balls and boys to throw with.

Bruce and one of his cousins would pose for each release of the football.

Bye Bye Training Wheels

I am so so so proud! I love watching my kids learn new skills. Autumn had been asking me for a couple of days to take the training wheels off and when I finally did she literally took off.

The Family is of God

I am sending this video clip to my sister-in-laws through my blog because it is to big for email. We are preforming "The Family is of God" in sign language for our Larsen Family Reunion!

Swimming Lessons

I did it, or should I say, we did it! Isaac and I went on a date to do swim lessons. When I first jumped in he said "Let me see what you got!" I splashed and kicked and moved my arms forward and backward trying to do my best Micheal Phelphs impression. When I came back he said nothing but "Humm, I see." Great I thought to myself, I did not think I was that bad.

The first drill he directed me to do was to float on my back. In my mind I am thinking he is totally not getting my whole purpose in coming to the LAP POOL. I want to swim, FAST, from here to there. Well, I did as directed trying to be a good student. As I am preparing to float on top of the water I am thinking to myself, ya how do you float on the water. For the next 10 minutes I heard how to do it, but could not actually make my body do it. Isaac would say "Come on, dead bodies float, so can you. RELAX. Push out your chest. Relax. Fill your lungs. RELAX." At the end of 10 minutes I was pretty frustrated and he could tell. So he we moved on, thankfully, I was ready for some action!

The next drill was again not what I had in mind. He said "You need to relax and get comfortable in the water. " He directed me to sit on the bottom of the pool and breath out my nose. "Okay" I say! Again, what does this have to do with SPEED, Trophy's, Medals, VICTORY! So I try to sink and now all I can do is float. I try to force my head, then my arms, NO USE. After 4 minutes of fighting it and Isaac quietly laughing inside he says "DO NOTHING! RELAX." And would you believe it, in the next moment I was on the bottom of the pool, only for a moment though, as I shot back up, freaked out by the echoing of the pool below.

By the end he finally let me go down and back across the pool. It was work! Later he told our friends that were watching the kids, "She is like a cat in the water." So I am trying to forget that comment and focus on the one he made as I got out of the pool "Your not such a bad swimmer."

It was the best date night ever. Isaac is a really good teacher. He gave me a great perspective from being the athlete instead of the coach. Often times I will not let my athletes do C before they have mastered A and B. I now realize that even though it takes your body time to do what your mind has internalized it is rewarding to put all the moves in motion. I also am going to be very aware of my positive feedback. Athletes need the encouragement and then the critique so that they are excited to come back and try it again.

Triathalon Challange

My sister-in-law, Rachel, who I admire, has challenged me to do my first triathlon with her.

I pretty much said yes because first I like a challenge and second if I am to ever become as awesome as she is I have do hard things, like swim when I have never even been in a lap pool. I actually did not even know how far a lap was or the difference between breast stroke and freestyle. Basically the only thing I know about swimming is from Micheal Phelps.

Rachel is the kind of person who you immediately identify with. She is very easy to talk to. As a mother of 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl, it's as if she has been there done that. She can relate to just about any stage I am at in my parenting of three.

I have taken many parenting techniques from her like rhyming around the dinner table, lining up to go out the door, sounding off kids names every hour or so to check their whereabouts, making the kids eat what I or some one else cooks (no matter what), asking the big kids to help with the little kids, and timing clean ups.

So as I am sitting her writing this Isaac says "Wow so she pretty much walks on water."

I am laughing inside because from the time I met Isaac he as always talked about how awesome his sister was. He showed me how to brush my hair from watching his sister do it over the years. Rachel was said to have talked for Isaac as they were growing up like "Mom, Isaac's thirsty." Isaac was also many times a partner in crime. If mom and dad said that if Isaac went then Rachel was aloud to go.

So I started my training as any good athlete would do, ya know 2 months before the event.

First day-I run down the road with a stroller that has semi flat tires with 2 kids and a run a way dog

Second day- I ride my bike with bike trailer with flat tires on the bike and the trailer with a runaway dog, that is trying to attack every dog along the way.

Is this really meant to be?

Well, like Dora on Nemo says "Just keep swimming, swimming" (oh wait I don't know how yet)!

Need For Speed

I started my first track club that is affiliated with USA Track &Field this summer, we are calling Need For Speed!
Our first event is a Speed Training Camp!
It has been amazing to work with such a special group of hard working young athletes! It is awesome to work with 11 year olds who will be the future of our program.
Our staff is amazing! We are working with Coach John Adams who specializes in Speed Training!
The weather has been great and the facility is state of the art!
I am really encourged to get a year long program started for our Track kids in Flagstaff!