Provo River Half Marathon

Back in June, my friend Tiffany asked me if I wanted to run a half marathon with her and her sister. I have been wanting to do one for awhile but have had some serious doubts, 13.1 miles is a long way...

Well after some debates with myself, I decided I had to try, had to prove I could at least finish. I had until August 7th, so I pulled up a 10 week training schedule on the internet and read all the info I could. I also made a bet with some good friends to train, which helped too (Accountability!!) I read 2 things while researching that I kept in my head while training and racing: 1. Don't worry about the time on your 1st race, just simply finish. 2. "Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired." George S. Patton, U.S. Army General, 1912 Olympian.

To make a long story short: I didn't sleep the night before, I psyched myself out, froze my tail off while waiting for the race to start, did the mass start at the front of the pack (big mistake), ran too fast at the start (another big mistake) and eventually about Mile 8 started cramping in my side and it just wouldn't quit. I had to run until it killed, then walk until it was bearable, then run again, it was so ridiculous and I was so pissed (I never cramped while training). All of which didn't help either. Finally at Mile 12, I was so pissed off with the cramp situation, I was like screw this I am running and if I pass out so be it. I finished with an official chip time of 2:26:55. Not terrible, but not exactly what I was hoping for. I was passed by so many people who I never thought could or would pass me, old people, young people, heavy people, injured people, you get the picture. I was served a huge plate of Humble Pie.



My hope is to do another one and finish with a better time and be able to run the whole time with no cramping. I guess only time will tell...

Ist Days of School 2010

Let me just start by saying I have a love/hate relationship with year-round school. The short summer totally sucks, but I do love having all of December off (B-track rocks). With that said, Abby had her 1st day of 2nd grade on July 26th (uggh, I know), she had to start a new school and was lucky enough to have some cool buddies to show her the ropes. Thanks Brock and Parker!



Hadley's 1st day of preschool (year #2 of 3) started on August 3rd and I already know she adores her preschool and the teachers. It's them I worry about =p



I am so grateful that my kids have the opportunity to go to the good schools they do and that they are so willing to go and learn.

Happy School Days to you!!!

Abby is 7

Who knew when their kids were younger and you kept hearing "Enjoy them now, they grow up so fast" or "Don't wish time away, they'll be grown before you know it" that those people actually knew what they were talking about? I was like "uh-huh whatever" and here I stand with a 7 year old reminiscing about her being a baby and wondering where 7 years went. I sure wish I could have more than just a few re-do's.

I have decided 7 is the turning point, they are no longer little kids. It makes me sad. So, here you go folks, I present my 7 year old:



We celebrated Abby's birthday while we were in Oregon and she thought it was so cool to turn 7 in another state!


Here she is standing next to her "BIG" gift from Mom & Dad, her keyboard and bench. And piano lessons and books. Who asks for that kind of stuff for their birthday? Well, you're lookin' at her! She was so funny and kept saying "No way, no way. Mom, NOOOO WAY!" I don't think she liked it all....


And all she wanted to do was go to the aquarium for her birthday and so that is just what we did. It was very cool and she was so fascinated with all of the animals and their "FACTS". She is the queen of "did you know...." and "listen to this..." I'm just glad she had a great birthday. I sure love her, she is a great kid.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS ABBY!

So for now, I will be okay with her being 7, but I will admit they do grow up right before your eyes and you do in fact wonder where all the time went. All those parents before us, they do really know what they are talking about =)

Newport, Oregon July 2010

In July, we were able to visit Justun's Uncle Dave and Aunt Nancy in Newport for 9 days. It was so nice to see them and I immediately fell in LOVE with Newport. I seriously could live there, I wish I could live there. We drove because plane tickets were just too expensive, and I have to say the girls did SOOO good being in the car for 16 hours. Its hard as an adult to sit in the car for that long, let alone be a kid and sit that long. Our DVD player, their iPods, coloring books and watching for different state license plates kept us sane. We also got a nice surprise on Saturday morning when Jessica showed up on the front porch, driving all night from LA. It was awesome. Now the pics:


OK, so literally around the corner from Dave & Nancy's house is the Historic Bayfront. You walk out onto the boardwalk and this is what you see. In the second picture, I ran along the Bay road in front of those houses RIGHT along the ocean. I can't even begin to explain how beautiful it was and the air was so clean and crisp. I even picked out a house on my run that I pretend will be mine if we lived there.



So, here are a few of my favorite things along the Bayfront.
The smell of fish and salt in the air was so refreshing for me.
I LOVED this candy shoppe, they had all kinds of old-fashioned
candy that brought me back to when I was a kid. Justun had to
keep me under control.


This is me before my first fishing trip, I am not gonna lie, I got sick.
I was fine for awhile and then I started rocking right along with the boat.
I am proud to say I didn't blow chunks, but I would have if I didn't lay down.
It was FREEZING out on the ocean too, my muscles were sore the next day from shivering so hard. And surprise, surprise no fish for me. To be honest I didn't care...



Abby really wanted to see the lighthouse, and so Yaquina Bay Lighthouse here we come. We climbed all the stairs to the top (I can't remember how many stairs, but I'm sure Abby could tell you, and when it was built and anything else you would like to know about it, she is an expert now) and then made our way down to the tide pools below. The beach below had these really cool round rocks that were hard to walk on, almost like big ball bearings. It was actually really cool.


At the tide pools, we saw all colors of starfish, lots of sea urchin, mussels all over the rocks, sea slugs, hermit crabs and lots of sea plants. The girls were totally fascinated and didn't want to miss seeing a thing.




Our next stop was Nye Beach, it was so clean and beautiful.
We played in the sand and the FRIGID ocean and had alot of fun.
Justun, Jasun and the girls also found a jellyfish on their exploration of the beach, it looks gross to me, but they sure thought it was cool.


The real reason we went to Oregon was Dave and Nancy needed to add on to their existing deck and Justun & Jasun happen to have a little talent in that area. So the above pictures are before, during and after construction. Nancy was EXTREMELY happy about her new deck and 8 foot stairs, it did turn out really nice.


The whole gang on the finished deck.


We spent a day at Moonshine park while Jess was here, it was soooo cool. It had super nice picnic areas with lots of shade or sun depending on your preference. You could take a small walk down to the water where you could swim or tube or fish. There was a small waterfall by us and this awesome mossy tree that had a little hollow you could climb in. We had Aunt Nancy's fried chicken for lunch and Uncle Dave's sour dough cinnamon rolls for dessert, could we ask for anything more? I already miss Aunt Nancy's cooking, I am sure Justun does too!



Last but not least, on the way home we stopped at Multnomah Falls. I have been here before and thought it was beautiful and I just knew the girls would love it. I was right, Abby even had to get a pamphlet so she could learn all the facts about the falls. Yeah, I know she is kind of a nerd, but she couldn't be any other way for me =)

So there you have it. Newport, Oregon is a must visit for anyone who hasn't been there and I hope to visit (and run) there again really soon!

Where did the time go?

What have I not missed since Moab in May, hopefully I can remember everything while I play catch-up!


Goldilocks Ride: 30 Mile route
I finished and that's all I cared about!


Abby in her Dance Recital, look at her form.....


Why they put Hadley behind the big girl when she is the littlest I will NEVER understand, but she did really great!


Hadley's Preschool Graduation, such a cooperative child!
Year 1 of 3, maybe that means 2 more chances to get a better picture?


Abby @ Swim Lessons, do you think she had fun?


Hadley @ Swim Lessons, can you say FEARLESS?


My little Mutton Buster, AND she didn't cry!!!


Last Day of 1st Grade with Ms. Benson: we are really going to miss her!

So I think that takes us into July, where we had our Oregon trip (sooo beautiful) Abby's 7th birthday (she is getting TOO big) 1st days of school (why do we start in July again?) Boating (finally) and a Half Marathon. All of which requires other posts, sorry you'll have to stay tuned until next time. Same Bat time Same Bat Channel!

Moab 2010, Part 2

I bet you FEW readers didn't think I would come back huh?
Well, the next 2 days were filled with jeeping on the trails: Moab Rim
and Hell's Revenge. Nobody got stuck, rolled over or did any MAJOR
body damage = GOOD THING! We finished out our nights with dinner
and then to Main Street to watch the Car Show Drag. We saw some
very cool cars!!! All in all a pretty fun trip, I just wish Mother Nature
could have been a little more giving with her sunshine and warmth.



On the trails... pictures never do them justice!


Justun: always the funny guy...


The girls are REALLY scared, can you tell?


THE WHOLE JEEPIN' GANG

Doesn't Jeri take GREAT pictures? I am worthless.