Swim-Bike-Run-Share

So back in May our friends Sally and Tyron told us about this triathlon called the Share A Smile Triathlon, and it's a great fundraiser that focuses on helping those in our community who are less fortunate, and they put on a Triathlon every year as a big way to raise alot of their money. I was really excited, and I remember trying to get Jeff excited, and I remember him distinctly saying, "There's no way I am running a triathlon." So I signed up, trained for about a month, and then got really scared and chickened out. So, Jeff not wanting to waste the money, very kindly told me not to worry about it and that he'd run it. What a nice guy! It turns out, my friend Sally basically did the same thing I did, and decided she didn't want to do the whole thing, and so we last minute decided to do a relay, with me on the swim leg, Sally on the running leg, and one of her family members on the bike.

We competed this Saturday, and it was really a ton of fun. Jeff did a GREAT job of training and preparing, and I did a last minute job of preparing for the swim part. But, as usual, looking back i wish that I had done the whole thing. There's always next year, right? It was a 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 5k run. And after I was done with the swim I was pretty pumped and felt like I could have done more.

They haven't posted our exact times, but Jeff did his in about 1 hour and 20 minutes, and our relay was 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Anyways, Jeff had a really good time, and thinks he might even do another one!

But if anyone needs a really laid back, fairly easy course for a triathlon that supports a really good cause, the Share a Smile is the right triathlon for you!

Pre race picture

Right before the run

I'm not that good with the camera, but these two are proof Jeff did the whole thing...

and was feeling good enough at the end of 1.5 hours of strenuous exercise to give me a smile and thumbs up!

These are our friends Sally and Tyron, the ones who got us interested in the triathlon. It was alot of fun.

Congratulations Natalie!

This weekend my twin sister Natalie got married in the Nauvoo Temple. Jeff and I were able to fly out for the weekend, and we are so glad that we did. It really was wonderful. There were no major setbacks, and we were glad to be there for their special day. Natalie, as you can see in the pictures below, looked very beautiful! It was a fun day, and my first time going through an endowment in the Nauvoo temple. What a beautiful temple with such a neat spirit there. It's a funny thing, growing up as a twin. We have always been very close, which makes it difficult as we grow up and as things change. Now I think I understand a little bit of what it was like for her to watch me get married last year. I am so happy for her, and at the same time have had a hard time feeling like something was being taken from me. But this weekend, it was easy to see that Michael and Natalie were meant to be together, and I just feel nothing but happiness for her.
Today is also our birthday, which is a fun day that we get to share together. This is the first birthday that we won't celebrate it together, so I just want to say "Congratulations Natalie and Happy Birthday!!"

The classic kissing picture
(I've finally mastered the sideways pictures!)
This was at the reception in Chicago


The beautiful Bride
The not-so-look-a-like twins
(Natalie dyes her hair, but even still, I think we both have a different look)

The Clark Side (minus Amy and Michael)

Everyone in the picture is now not a Clark (except for Mom and Dad, obviously).

Melissa and Alan Dennis, Nichole and Jeff Blair, Natalie and Michael Hess, Mom and Dad Clark

Right after Natalie's endowment. It was such a neat evening.
And the weather was just about perfect! Still a happy couple, after 1 year and 4 months (and counting)!

Our family after the endowment.

Sometimes don't you wish you could take your own pictures?

Here they are cutting the cake

Here they are eating the cake. It was good cake!

It was a crazy weekend full of driving. We flew to Des Moines Iowa, where we stayed in a hotel, Thursday night. We woke up and drove 3 hours to Nauvoo. Then attended Natalie's endowment Friday night. Saturday morning they were married, and then we took lots of pictures and had a great luncheon at the 1850's Guesthouse just outside Nauvoo. Then we drove 5 hours to Chicago just in time for the Chicago reception. Then we went to the hotel and watched Michael Phelps win his 8th gold medal, and Usain Bolt crush the world record for the 100 meter dash. Then we woke up at a very early hour of 5 o clock to drive 7 hours to Des Moines to catch our plane ride back. But it was worth it.