"...I'm Kind Of A Big Deal..."

I think I might like this video too much. (Not enough to buy a mini van though.)

BaBY STePS...

We were at a friends birthday party tonight and Cici decided to be our entertainment and took her first steps. I was elated! We were just across the street but I didn't want to stop her to grab the camera so these are from after the party when we got home. I will post more pictures later. Enjoy!!!

"There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather, Just Soft People." ~Bill Bowerman

I signed up to run a 1/2 marathon a few months ago. It was my first 1/2 marathon so I was really excited about it but kinda put it on the back burner and thought it was too far away to really worry about it. Well, the months passed and I still hadn't followed a training program. I run a couple days a week with my friend and was told that if I could run 10 miles then I could run a 1/2 marathon. So, I thought that I would be in good shape. I ran 10 miles twice before the race and felt pretty good about it. But, I am a "fair weather runner" and prefer to run when the sun is shining...I am "soft."
The 1/2 marathon was called "Run the Rockies." It was up in Frisco, Colorado. Probably one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
We went up there the day before (with our friends Scott and Tami) and spent some time at the lake and let Kai do what boys do...(throw rocks and sticks.)
We tried to get a cute family photo in front of the beautiful lake. I don't think we will ever be able to get a picture with everyone looking at the camera ever again...

On our drive up to Frisco, we passed a hail storm but when we got to Frisco it was breathtaking and the weather was ideal. I was hoping it would stay that way. (Little did I know.)
Poor Cici, all the boys were playing in the water and she wanted to get down so bad. She is quite a handful to hold onto when she wants down. I can't wait for her to start walking just so that she can play.
B-E-A-utiful!!!
...still wanting to get down...
Kai...LOVING all the boys to play with.

We stayed at a hotel the night before the race. (It was the kids first time staying in a hotel.) We had so much fun. We went to dinner and had pasta then went hot tubing before bed. I was tired, but worried that I was going to sleep through my alarm and miss the race. So, what happened??? Yup, I woke up every. single. hour. throughout the night. Not sure how much I slept really. I was so glad when I opened my eyes and saw daylight...SUNLIGHT! The weather was predicted to be 58 and rainy. But, what do they know?! I started to get ready for the race and put on my running skirt and tank top...opting to leave my gloves, ear warmers, and sweater behind b/c I was SURE that is was going to be nice weather.

When the bus dropped us off near the start, you could see these horrific grey clouds approaching and they looked as if they carried snow with them. I was in a bad spot, but kept telling myself that I would be fine once we got going...

Comical now that I think about it.

It felt really great to run. When we started the race there was a surge of adrenalin. I loved it. So many people together all for the same purpose. I saw so many different people, some hardcore, some CRAZY, and some that I just couldn't put my finger on. I don't know where I fit in...I was just happy to be there and wanted to be able to finish with my head held high.

The race was beautiful. It was a paved trail (back country) run. I love people watching and the race was no exception. This is a different kind of "people watching" though. I have never stared at so many people's butts in my life. Since I didn't finish first in the race, I was behind people the entire run...so, I was staring at their butt. There were so many funny things that happened. I didn't see any port-a-potties during the race and several people had to "go." They would just run over to the side of the trail and drop their pants. I got "mooned" several times while people were going to the bathroom. (It was interesting to me that none of these people had any tan lines. They must have known what they were going to show complete strangers.)

I felt really good during the race. I didn't start to feel real fatigue until mile 11. That was my least favorite mile. I hated life during mile 11.

The end of the race had several hills and whenever we would go downhill I could feel my quads were spent. I was cold, it was raining, and the wind was biting. There were several times I thought about how nice it would have been to have my gloves. Every time I would grab a water, I struggled releasing my cup to put it in the trash can. Couldn't feel my fingers to let go of the cup. I literally had to use both hands to release the cup.

Ben had been such a sweetheart and helped me compile a new play list for my ipod. Best play list ever. I loved my soundtrack...it made my run go so much quicker. I estimated how long the play list needed to be and was only one song short. (Not too shabby.)

When I came around the corner and saw the finish line, I was ready to be done. It seemed like a never ending race. I just wanted to feel warm again. (B/c obviously I was the only one who didn't get the memo that it was still WINTER.) When I saw the blue finish line, I started to pick up my pace. I couldn't feel my legs...heck, I couldn't feel much at this point. I sprinted in and was able to pass the green shorts girl who passed me earlier. When I crossed the finish line, I was exhausted. My eyes were scanning the crown for Ben. I felt the lump in my throat and my eyes start to fill with water. ("Oh no...don't cry here...not NOW. What is wrong with you?") I was so tired, I have never run that far and was totally drained. I just wanted a familiar face...someone to put there arms around me. Boy am I glad that Ben wasn't there right away, I am pretty sure I would have lost it. Not sure why...maybe I just wanted to be taken care of???

Instead I got some water (composed myself) and then noticed Kai running through the crowd with a big smile on his face to greet me. I was still tired, but not emotional anymore.

Here are my stats...

Event: 1/2 marathon

Time: 2:10:33

Overall Place/Total: 163/281

Pace: 9:58

Sexplace/Sextotal: 89/176

Divplace/Divtotal: 67:125

These pictures are out of focus...but I'm kinda glad they are. (Can't imagine what my face looks like after running that long.)




I had so much fun this last weekend and now understand why people run these races. They are addicting. I am already thinking about signing up for another. (I plan to actually train for the next one though.)

"...thEsE ArE A fEw Of my fAvOrItE thIngs..."

Oh how I love sunny days...so glad that my kids do too!



Spring means GARAGE SALES! Yay!!! I bought Kai this bike a few weeks ago for $4. He is in love with it. This is Kai's favorite thing to do now...he would ride this bike all day long if I let him.
I am totally biased, but I think my kids always look adorable for church. (These pictures were taken after church and waaaaayyy past bedtime.) Cici was done for the day and wouldn't even look at the camera, but you can still see her cute, cute dress. I was really nervous about having a girl b/c I am not super "girly," but have learned that girl stuff is so fun.
I just love these two kiddos. I am so blessed.

Yup. We have two garden snakes in the yard again this year. I am not a fan of snakes but love having garden snakes around b/c they eat spiders and I HATE spiders. I know that everything has a purpose but really do spiders have to be so creepy looking?

My peony's are blooming! I love almost every flower but these are one of my favs.

I love this shot. Hate that the crickets eat my flowers up...obviously all those creep spiders aren't doing their job. I love the purple salvia in my yard though. This year they are HUGE.
This is the first year that my clematis have really taken off. ...it makes me want to plant more. :)
Love my little fountain. I sit by this at least once a day.
My mini rose garden is already blooming.
My bleeding heart. (Another one of my favs.)

I have several columbines in my yard but I didn't plant this one. It is my biggest one and it is all volunteer.

All of my day lilies are bushy and waiting to bloom.
I love foxglove...(even if they are poisonous.)

...and last but not least, my roses...

Our Memorable Memorial Weekend

We took a road trip over Memorial Weekend to meet our dear friends the Coles out in Midway, UT. We had a BLAST and have missed hanging out with them.
The first night we got there Kristal made a delicious ice cream cake so we could celebrate all the kiddos birthdays. Cic just turned one, Alexa turns two next month, and Kai turns three in September. I love how we celebrate birthdays with them each time we get together. Great tradition!
I LOVE these pictures. You can totally see the different personalities in all the kids.



We opened presents after cake and it was a hit! New toys are always a necessity on a vacation and everyone loved what they got.
Cic got a talking tea set that she likes and Kai absolutely LOVES it. He has been bringing me "tea" everyday now.

Kai got an alphabet magnetic board and dry erase board. We have been working on how to pronounce each letter of the alphabet since he is still struggling with his speech, so this gift was perfect.

Thanks for spoiling our kids Kristal and Christian!

We gave Alexa a highchair/swing for her dolls.

A Day out With Thomas and Friends

Yup, Kai STILL loves trains. Obsessed actually. So when the Coles found out that Thomas was going to be in Heber, they suggested we take the kids. It was a great idea.

Just to explain Kai's face in most of the pictures below... Kai gets kinda "star stuck" when he is really excited. I know, you would think that I would have gotten a bunch of smiles and there would have been laughter at the Thomas event, but no... There was only this "star struck" face. Maybe he thought he was dreaming. "Is this really happening?"

Kai and Ben getting stamps and coloring pictures of Thomas.

Alexa and Christian checking out Sir Tompam Hatt.
It was really hot in Colorado before we left so I only packed warm clothes for the kids. (But did throw in some sweaters for them just in case we went out at night.) SOOOO glad I did. Utah was cold. Kristal even let us barrow some tights and socks for Cic to wear b/c I only packed shorts and sandals for her. Note to self...Utah is COLD!

Getting his Thomas tattoo.
Cici got a Percy tattoo. I wasn't sure if she would let the girl hold her hand and do it but Cic was so curious and loved her tattoo.
The kids even got balloon animals. Cic got an elephant and Kai got a monkey.
Kai's monkey only lasted 2 minutes before it started to come apart you couldn't tell what it was anymore. He was so confused by his transforming monkey.
Here he is holding his train ticket to ride Thomas.

Waiting for the train to get going...
The Coles and Alexa's balloon animal. (I think it popped soon after this picture. It was tragic.)
Our little family.
Finally a smile!

...still smiling...

...Until the conductor came by and then, we were "star struck" again.
They even had a mini golf course which Ben took full advantage of to show Kai a few tricks.

Heber really is beautiful! Look at those mountains. This is the train that we were able to ride. Kai was in heaven.






Ben took these pictures of Kai staring down Thomas. I love them!!!

We also made time to hit up Cascade Springs while we were there. Kai loved being able to run around on the trail and explore.
Yes, I still put Cic in a sling when we are out and about. I didn't want to pack a stroller in the car b/c Ben brought his golf clubs. A sling is so much easier to pack.
Funny story...

Most people would look at these springs and think how beautiful they are. Ben looks at these springs and gets thirsty. He dumped out his water bottle and filled it up with spring water. I couldn't believe it...I still can't. He drank out of that bottle and kept telling me how pure spring water is. I would rather have my chlorinated/treated water. So glad that Ben didn't get sick from drinking his "pure" water. Gotta love my "mountain man."





I love these shots of Cici that Ben captured.




I love this shot of Ben and Cic...
Kai exploring...

B-E-A-utiful!
Had to have a self portrait...

The Coles...

Oh how I miss them already.
This was the house we stayed in. It was AWESOME. The views were breathtaking. This shot was taken from the hotspring. It was up on a hill so we had amazing views from the front and back of the house.
These are the hotsprings that Ben and I have both been to when we were in college. Funny story...

We went to the hotsprings together, but not "together." We were friends, on dates with other people. It was so fun to talk about how stupid we (and when I say "we", I mean "I") were/was. When Ben and I used to come to the hotsprings, there was a bathtub and there were always weird people in the spring. Though we didn't see a bathtub this time, we did see TONS of people...weird people. I swear hotsprings are a magnet for nudists. Yup, middle of the day and a naked man walking around like he was the last man on earth. Thank you for that picture that I still can't get out of my head.

Thanks for an unforgettable weekend Christian and Kristal. Can't wait to start planning our next adventure with you guys.