I Tri....

So...my first triathlon was March 27th, the Showdown at Sundown.  

Unfortunately the weather was so bad they had to cancel the swim portion.  So I rode and ran and finished strong.  Being I completed an "almost" triathlon and not an actual triathlon, I immediately signed up for Rage in the Sage which was 3 weeks later on April 16th.

Showdown at Sundown

 Rage in the Sage

Easter Weekend

We had a super packed, fun-filled weekend. 

Saturday began with an Easter egg hunt for the homeowners association down at the club house.  After, I took the girls out to our friends ranch to see their horses.  Kady and I saddled up for a ride and a good hour was spent  just feeding all the horses carrots.  It was such a treat.  She did great...no fear. 

Sunday we had an Easter egg hunt when we woke up, went through all the fun loot in our baskets then off to church.  Following nap time we headed over to a friends house for an Easter Bbq.

 Easter Puppies

GREAT Strides Walk 2011

Another super successful year!!!  We actually raised close to $500.  Team Ethan Washington and Team Ethan Hawaii are still going strong and raising money for their walks.  I could never say thank you enough to everyone who helped support this cause.  I may sound like a broken record saying this, but it truly means the world to me.  I get goose bumps and teary eyed every time I think about it.  Much love to you all -- xo

 Team Ethan 

April 9, 2011

 Even our 4 legged friends joined us this year.

 Waiting for balloon animals

 The kids sporting their Team Ethan gear

Zoe actually started walking this day.  That afternoon when we got home it was over.  She's been upright and cruising ever since.

So much for having the time to update the blog....

Here's a quick review of the past months happenings:
Our business, Sunset Racing Events finally sold to Lifetime Fitness.  WooHoo!!  With that Dominic and his business partner became full time employee's with Lifetime Fitness.  Basically they are doing the same job as before, running triathlons, Mtn. bike races etc. but without the headache and stress of paying the bills, getting the sponsorship and so on.

The lawsuit with Lake Las Vegas and World Triathlon Corporation has also come to an end.  Both parties settled with Sunset Racing out of court for an undisclosed amount.  Another headache we are glad to be rid of.

I am currently working on the biggest event of my life so far (other than raising babies).  I don't want to say too much  in fear it doesn't happen so details will come later.  However, be on the lookout for "Ethan's Angels for Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament" this September at Angel Park golf course.  I have a BIG meeting today with a possible title sponsor.   Fingers and toes crossed...with out it, the golf tournament most likely won't happen.

I've also, been neck deep in Diamond Kids as the charity director, which is coming up in June.  I completed two triathlons in the last month and am currently training for Tough Mudder which is  Memorial Day weekend in Snow Valley, CA.  I'll be doing it with a group of girlfriends and we are all dressing up as Wonder Woman.  I'm looking forward to it :)

Dom has been getting settled in with his new job.  He's busy as usual prepping for LeadMan, Asbury Park  and Lake Cascade Triathlons all coming up in the next 8 weeks then it's off to the East coast for 9 days to visit family.  Looking forward to a real vacation this year and some beach time.

Kady is  FINALLY in track to being potty trained. I think I'm days away from saying goodbye to diapers for her. With that the awkward potty training poop talk has begun. Ha!  What are you going to do?  Looking to get her into swimming lessons this summer if we can find somewhere to fit it in.  Zoe is an upright, walking machine who FINALLY sprouted her first two teeth.  Her favorite word is "daddy"...go figure!

It's been almost a month since I've blogged.  Life has been SUPER chaotic.  So much going on.  My goal is to spend the next week bringing you all up to date...pictures, stories, happenings and such.  

Happy Spring Everyone!! 

Soccer Studs

Oh yes....We play Pee Wee Soccer and LOVE it!!

 Kaitlyn, MacKenzie, Kadence

and a picture with the coach....

September will start soccer season again and we are looking forward to it.

GREAT STRIDES walk for 

Cystic Fibrosis 2011

 

That time of year again.  I've been so busy I've been a total slacker on raising money or getting involved this year.  I do have something much more exciting in the works though for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation but I'm not spilling the beans just yet.

Click below to join the team, donate, spread awareness....whatever you wish.

Much love always from my family and I!

 GREAT Strides walk Team Ethan, Las Vegas

 GREAT Strides walk 2009

GREAT Strides walk 2010

Let's make 2011 even better!!

Another DATE

This date, all  "the" dates have power over me still...DAMN IT!!!!!!

I don't really know why year #2 has been more difficult in dealing with Ethan's death...but it has.  January was difficult.  Always a representation in my mind of the beginning of the end.  February came and went so fast and was the month he was medi-vaced from Spokane to Seattle leading up to the day we lost him, March 13, 2009.  And then there's March...Ugh...March!!  How I loathe this time of year.  I sense that April will be equally as difficult being his funeral was on the 5th.  I guess it's not my place to wonder why it's been more difficult this year.  I just know that it has.  Maybe sharing and writing about it will be some sort of therapy for me.  Which brings me to this post.  It's worth a try I guess.

March 13th 2009....A day in which will FOREVER be scorned in my memory.  Oh how I wish I didn't have to live through this day 2 years ago.  I'm so thankful though I was able to be there in Seattle....to say goodbye, to be with my family.  I finally feel comfortable enough to share these pictures with you, only 2 years later.  The images may be less than beautiful to you but there is something so touching and loving about them that make them glorious to me. You will find these images are filled with insurmountable sadness and grief but they are also filled with so much love and support.  These pictures represent my last moments with him.  The last time I held him, the last time I saw him, the last time I kissed him, HIS last everything.  How fortunate I am to have made it in time.

What made this day exceptionally hard for those that don't know, was having to decide weather or not to take him off life support.  I wish that decisions like that never had to be made and I pray that no one who I come across in my life time EVER has to make that decision.  It's just TOO hard and it's SO wrong on SO many levels....to carry the burden of one's life on your shoulders.  I don't really have words to describe the feeling and I wasn't the one making that decision.  Incredibly tough....indescribable!!!!!!!  And to know that family still carries that burden second guessing that decision to this day.....dear God.  I can't even imagine.


Here is a trip through the worst day of my life thus far.

My dad took this picture and sent it to me before I actually arrived.  What I walked into less than 24hrs later was similar to this but worse if you could even imagine.  I swear it was like walking into an episode of Greys Anatomy.  It was just too much. There were 27 machines keeping him alive...  TWENTY SEVEN for such a tiny human....heartbreaking.  The rest of the pictures were all taken after the decision to pull him off life support was made and we were able to hold him and say our final goodbyes.

 pictures by soulumination

I thought at first how weird to be taking pictures of a person dieing.  If I hadn't been so consumed with the emotions of what was really happening that day at that moment, I probably would have been uncomfortable with it.  Truth is, I barely noticed the photographers were there with us.  I realize now that this to although a bit disturbing was part of  Ethan's journey.  A part of  the memories I have of my nephew.  One thing my brother and sister-in-law did right was document EVERY breathe of his life EVERY day right up until the very last hour, HIS VERY LAST BREATHE.  For that I am grateful.

One last kiss goodbye

Ethan lived for 7months or 224 days to be exact.  My family and a few close friends blew up 224 balloons the day of his memorial.  One balloon to represent each day of his life.  We used them to decorate the church and at the end of the service, every one who attended grabbed a balloon and we all went outside to release them into the sky.  It was really neat.

This poem is for you sweet baby boy.  For your wonderful parents who loved you more than you know and for your brother who asks about you and prays for you to come home every night......

Balloons

I wonder what color my balloons will be,
but as an Aunt it doesn't matter to me.
  They can be many colors but for you black and red 

to signify our love and the struggles you lead

I will let that red one go into the sky
and up it will fly ever so high.

Until it reaches heaven for that special boy
and his heart is filled with love and joy.

The other balloon I will keep for his brother

So they can feel comfort from one another.

Ethan didn't live very long and so
his mother and father had to let him go.
 
He will forever and always be in my heart,
even though we are worlds apart.
So anytime I see a balloon float by,
I'll think of that someone, my angel in the sky.

Until we meet again...
224 

My promise to myself, to Ethan in front of all who will read this is to let this be the LAST time the date has power over me.  From now on I will give it my all to make these dates positive and happy remembering the good times for there was so much in Ethan's short stay on earth to be thankful for.  Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all....and boy oh boy was he LOVED  <3

the big ONE!

Zoe Moonstar turns 1!

We had baby girls 1st birthday at Gymboree this past Sunday.  It's a kids gym and a TON of fun.  My mom flew down for the festivities so we had a week full of spoiling and fun.

Dad's always there to help get his girls out of a jam.

 

Bubbles are always a BIG hit.

I was so nervous she was going to actually reach the flame. 
Can you tell by the look on my face.  
Cute picture anyways.

 

Niether Kadence or Zoe smashed their birthday cakes as I had hoped.  Both just curiously picked at them.  They certainly aren't that neat and tidy at home.  What gives?

 











Last but not least, a pic of the big sister....

Gettin' Busy

Spring is in the air (in Las Vegas at least) and the Guinto house is about to get chaotic.


Me
Let's see...I am competing in a couple different events all of which are fast approaching.

3/26- Showdown at Sundown Triathlon
4/9- Havasu Half Marathon
5/29- Tough Mudder SoCal (super stoked about this)

The Cystic Fibrosis Virtual run is March 20th of which I'm trying to assemble a group run, the Great Strides walk for Cystic Fibrosis is also in April and Diamond Kids is back, June 18th.  I've been asked again this year to run the charity portion of this event.  As I type this out I'm already noticing scheduling conflicts.  Oy! 

Dominic
Spring also starts the beginning of RACING season for Dominic and Sunset Racing.  They are taking on a few additional events as well for Lifetime Fitness so it should be a big year for them.  He'll most likely be traveling a bit more for work this year.  He also is looking into competing in a 12hr Mtn. Bike Race in Temecula, CA the first weekend in June.   Fine with me...any excuse to sit in wine country and sip wine.

Kadence
Kady is currently taking ballet and pee wee soccer.  We are looking into piano lessons for her and at the end of this summer she'll start preschool.  Oh my lord. That just sounds insane to me. 

Zoe Joe
Zoe will be busy in tow with me, cutting teeth and learning to walk then run I'm sure.


It's hard to believe I have a 1yr old and a 3yr old.  Makes me feel old although most days I don't feel old enough to be a mom. 

Stay tuned for pics to come...

I'm gonna miss this...

My youngest (and most likely last) baby turns the big ONE today.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't sad.  Kids can make things crazy, hectic and stressful.  However, I'm pretty sure that these are some of the BEST days of my life.....

I'm gonna miss this. 

I'm gonna want this back.

I'm gonna wish these days
hadn't gone by this fast.

these are some good times.
so I'll take a look around.

I may not know it now

but I'm gonna miss this.

Happy Birthday Zoe Joelyn! 

Love

My lovely Valentine's

Dominic and I don't  celebrate Valentine's Day.  Never have, not sure we ever will and for no particular reason.  He brought home flowers just the other day and it meant just as much to me or more than if I would have received flowers on Valentine's.  That being said...I completely forgot about the holiday.  It helps when your not out shopping much to be reminded.  Kadence and Zoe however will always be my two little Valentine's and for them I think it's fun to get them cute, fun Valentine stuff.   So here I am, Sunday February 13th, driving I can't remember where with the girls and out of no where Kady says "mom, am I going to get Balentine presents?  Tomorrow is Balentine, will you be my Balentine?"  Ahh...isn't she ADORABLE?!  Dominc, who also forgot about the holiday, was instructed to pick up whatever he could carry home with him on the Harley for the girls.  Needless to say it was "a good day" in Kady's words.               
              XOXOXOXO