The Big One

For the last few weeks, many of our thoughts and efforts have been geared toward Jared's big marathon. His first as a professional runner, with the purse being bigger than any race he's ever run, and a field of only American runners! We were totally thrilled that Jared got us tickets. Jared's dad even got Paul a buddy pass of sorts and so he joined us for a mere $30 (miracle!) In Minnesota, Jared was supposed to have another runner sharing their hotel room, as is customary so the Race Director doesn't have to fork out as much money to room each elite athlete. BUT :) Jared's roomie never showed up SO :) we got to go stay with him after a long day. Which long day consisted of flying with the kids and their car-seats, finding the tram then the shuttle, and renting a car to drive us to the hotel. Two cheers for the new Sit'n'Stand stroller that made that day 10x easier.

The morning of the race, Jared got out of there around 6:00. We woke up at 8:30 and watched the first hour on usatf.tv. They were following the first big pack of a dozen runners which included Jared.  We were loving watching in our pjs on a comfy bed. I didn't consider how long it would take me to bundle up the kids, so we had to run most of the mile up to the State Capitol and finish area. I heard them announce the winner, but I never heard them announce Jared! I couldn't find the finish line and in my hurry to get out of the room I had forgotten my VIP pass to get into the elite tent. Marianne text me enthusiastically cheering on Jared, so I called her. She told me he had taken second! Commence trying not to cry or yell/scream in excitement. I needed to get to Jared! I went to a group of volunteers at a table. "Ummmm my husband just took second but I forgot my pass. I'd just really really like to go see him! ...?" This nice man said he had a medical pass so he could tell anyone "Someone might die unless..." which would get us anywhere. So he took me to the elite tent where we waited and waited for Jared. It was SUPER warm in there. Probably 80 degrees. And they had food and drinks and massages (but not for us I guess..). I almost knocked Jared over when he came in because of my hug/tackle. He looked great! Smiling ear to ear. I was so happy!!

We ended up having to wait a while for him to complete drug testing (go figure, he was a little dehydrated). Like two hours actually. Whilst he sat in a tent and drank 150 oz of water. There were awards (which he took Paul to) and nice people congratulating us. The weather was beautiful. The people in the elite tent were SO nice and loved Paul and Ellie. After we were free to go, Jared said he would probably rather walk the mile with our new stroller than try to get everything in the shuttle back to the hotel. My favorite part after a race is getting to hear all the ins and outs of the race from Jared's perspective: Jared wondering if he should shed his $30 special heated hat knowing it would be gone if he came back to look for it (and trying to throw it in a tree so he could find it but missing so it landed on the ground), reading people's funny signs along the route, talking to other runners a little bit in the race, seeing his time about 15 seconds before finishing and sprinting trying to get sub 2:14, etc. all while running 5:07 mile pace.

We moved to our new hotel room and watching the rest of conference with warm chocolate chip cookies (Jared LOOOOVES the double tree for this reason). It was so nice to know that no matter what place or time he got, we were going to be together as a family on our little vacation. And that is really all that matters.

Paul was so excited to go swimming in the hotel pool the next morning. Ellie fell asleep on me IN the pool. It was nice to swim a few laps- Exercising feels so good sometimes! After naps and more cookies we went to The Mall of America. The only ride Paul wanted to go on was the 25 cent mini horse carousel. Twice. The rest he said were too scary. We got to play with legos and buy some adorable kids clothes before literally running to the car trying to catch our flight.

A car rental return, shuttle to airport, can't get boarding tickets, not too helpful Delta lady who told us to leave our checked car seat on a random utility cart in the middle of nowhere, and 2.5 hour flight later.... we arrived back in Salt Lake City Utah! as paul always says. And found out that our checked car seat had not left Minnesota. So if you ever wondered what would happen ... we got a loaner car seat from them and they will deliver ours whenever it arrives.

Poor Jared has to complete two projects today from what he missed while traveling. And lucky us get to spend a day with our families in Kaysville. Which enabled a second blog post within the same year! Give myself a pat on the back.

 Running up to the finish

 Laughing :) Doesn't he look good!!?

 Enjoying the hospitality in the Elite Tent.

 Photographer: "Get that boy back up here for the official photo, he's cute!" With Tyler Penell first and Scott Smith third.

 After awards before drug testing.

 I need help with selfies. St Paul skyline.

 Unposed

 Mississippi River

Bad focus but too cute

Updated Ward Records

My family is my life. So when people ask how things are going or what I've been up to... its so easy to downplay myself. Oh... uh... I just stay at home. Sometimes I ride my bike. I do dishes and laundry and pretend play!! Jared really does the real work that brings in money and acknowledgement. But I should be more clear, being a mother is so much more than that. and I know that. and I love that. Go moms!

Even though I have already eaten a lot of gummy bears today... (darn it that 10 lb bag was on SUCH a good sale!) I also ate fruits and veggies. I get excited when I realize I have a lot of nasty stuff to put in my compost because that means I have been eating produce. And if there is one thing that all nutritionists can agree on, it is EAT MORE VEGETABLES. Which makes me grateful for the zucchini that have still been growing despite all the millions and billions of squash bugs (for once I need to thank the spiders.. even if I can't go in the garden anymore because they're so scary.. for eating some squash devil bugs) and for the thousand tomatoes even if we can't eat them all.

I have fun with my family up in Kaysville. You can't beat having the whole family together. Its been a strange realization that in the next 5-10 years my little family will become our "whole family" and my parents and siblings will be renamed the extended family. It makes me kind of ache for the past! When we were always together and lived and fought and played and ran together in our home. I hope I can make that for my kids. True happiness right there.

Okay, Alexis. Since you will be taking your family away to San Diego and elsewhere in your Naval duties, this is my attempt to keep my blog updated. love and hugs, Erica


Paul - will be two and a half in two days. loves to sword fight, be Rafael, wear his running shoes constantly (like I have to pry them from his feet at naptime and nighttime), is fully potty trained-whoo!  (stories to fill multiple blog posts), still gives me hugs and kisses and says I love you, hates mosquito bites and itches them into scabs, every time he has access to water he puts it on his hair and says now he's ready to run, now can hold up two fingers on one hand to show how old he is (instead of one on each hand :) ), takes a daily nap after reading books, is super creative with story telling and pretending, and I love him.

Ellie - 5 months old today, really good sitting 90% of the time but gets excited and shoots back or forward still, cuuute smile but she's getting more picky about who she smiles at (ALWAYS at Paul), coo-ing and talking and laughing lots and lots, 17 lbs and chunky thighs, loves grabbing her toes and any food near her, slobbery little thing that may have a few teeth in by next month, loving our hand-me-downs from Marianne/Cleo especially her little yellow jeans!, smells soooo good like a little baby should.

oh yeah Jared - running professionally (whoo!) with his first pro marathon October 5th that we will all be there for, serving in our ward, doing research on marathon stuff, and starting his last year of Masters in Statistics. Looking even better than usual with his CLEAN SHAVEN FACE  IIIII LOOOOVE IT! no more mustache.

Erica ME!!! - I sleep, wake up with the kids, feed them and myself, have fun, sometimes shower and get ready, garden a bit, clean the house, and create things on occasion like cute wooden blocks for Jared that say Dad and have pictures of our family. We have liked having Anna, Caleb, and Kate &Brad in Provo and seeing them all in our neck of the woods, I have tried to bike more and am doing a race on Saturday if I don't wuss out. TourdeDonut in American Fork. 21 miles. You have to eat donuts if you want to win. :)

and a bunch of pictures from my phone.

 

Happy 56 Dad! you're the greatest in the wuuuurrrllddd!!

 Hank lost a belt and so our engine overheated (plus I guess he can't go 80 on the freeway, whoops!) But he will be in good repair soon.

 This is acro-yoga. Mar and Chris are taking a class and spreading the joy!!

 Mar MAY have been venting to me about her crappy day at work.. but look how beautiful she is. Its natural.

 cute girly cousins

 Get Air in Kaysville, Paul's first time.

Sorry for the nakie Paul, but cute kiddos played so nice with each other today. Cousins, we are so glad we have you!

Vids

Clark playing Newsies

Questions

General Conference is here! I love that. I've been trying to think of questions to have in my mind because I know that conference will answer them.

But really, my life seems to be so good right now... I'm not sure what I want to ask about! Because questions that bring answers will probably bring change! So hopefully I'll be ready for some changing.

BE IT KNOWN    that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is the most true book on the earth. I have been blessed by the Lord to have a loving, hard-working husband and a loving, happy, beautiful, healthy son. They are my most beloved possessions.

There are so many things to be grateful for!

Crying in the night

^title reminds me of the song AND SOMETIMES I WAKE UP CRYING AT NIGHT. SOMETIMES I SCREAM OUT YOUR NAME!!

but really, Paul screams in the middle of the night for some reason. We are really curious what the reason is. Its so sad. He is still asleep. It might be his ears (he's had 4 or 5 ear infections in both ears already) or his tummy hurting. Or is it nightmares? Do babies have nightmares?

most likely he is having a nightmare about the time (yesterday) when I put him in the high chair. He started to cry and I tried to reassure him that we were going to have FOOD!! yay!! but then he really started to cry hard and Jared saw a BEE. It had already stung his leg four times before we got Paul out. It was so so freaking sad and I HATE that bee. My mom got mad and killed him, hard. We put a lavender oil on it and Paul settled down. The swelling went down quickly and he hasn't been bothered by them since.

But I still really hate that bee.

Paul turned one

Yesterday March 25 2013 was filled with "exactly one year ago we were..."'s. Like we were going to the hospital, holding our baby thinking he looks like a cute little Mexican, wondering if we were certain he was a Paul...  The last one, as we layed in bed was "you know, a true year is 365 and a quarter days so that'd be 6 hours earlier so I was just holding Paul on me as he slept. I'm going to tell my kids stuff like that and they're going to roll their eyes, but I'm going to think its really cool." -Jared

And that's one reason I love that man. Because I think its cool too.

truth

I was fortunate enough to be invited by my mother-in-law to go to a performance of Lamb of God this afternoon. Its written by Rob Gardner. I felt like we went to heaven for an hour and then came back. At the end, we all stood clapping for a long long time but it wasn't long enough. I was able to feel reassured in my beliefs, like I didn't need anyone else to believe because its true. and even if I'm the only one who believes it, it will still be true. And its wonderful.

Tonight, Jared and I were searching for our Stake Center (in our new ward) for the adult session of stake conference. TENTH church was the charm. Nine other churches tonight were not having stake conference. One was having a cool young women luau that we thought about going to instead.... but! Our meeting (the last 1/2 hour of it) was so worth it. And I was happy we still looked-even when we wanted to give up.


:)