Saturday

I am finally being to accept the fact that this will never be updated.

...SO....

I was dreading today as Ryan is at the hospital for 24 hrs. and the kids both have soccer games right after each other and on opposite ends of the city. BUT it has ended up to be a great day...so far! The kids were excited to go to soccer this morning (which has never happened this season) everyone was pleasant (even bigger surprise) and half way through Maddie's game they issued a tornado warning and it was cancelled as was Jackson's. After gathering up our things we left and headed down the street to Krispie Kreme's! After our doughnuts we made our way home through the flooding rains and now we are having some hot chocolate and listening to the rain pour down while watching a movie.... not bad! I should really be doing all my charting for work but I guess it will wait yet another day. I hope we survive these electric storms though, it's crazy. This is by far the worst thunder and lightening I have ever witnessed and that tornado warning well, lets just keep it just that - a warning!

And.... how 'bout those Rangers!!! Headed to the World Series! We are pretty excited!

Forever...

I am forever behind...I think that is the overall theme of this blog and well actually, my life. It is now October and I still haven't posted about my Utah trip, the end of summer, Madison starting kindergarten, the boy's birthday's, our anniversary, the start of a new soccer season......and so much more! Wow...I am so not motivated to play catch up but I know I need to do it because it bugs me too much to leave any details (as small or unimportant as they may be) out. I am not sure what has happened to my love of blogging but it died somewhere around mid summer so sorry to you all or any of you that may still check this. I hope not everyone gave up on us. We are here and busy as ever. Sometime in the last few months my life went from simple to crazy. I really wish I could go back to those "simple" days of being at home with my three kids doing nothing but playing dress-ups, cars, and polly pockets and having no kind of schedule or agenda. Why is it that I always appreciate what I had when it is no longer available? Enough said...here is a little update with some holiday pictures as we celebrated in Utah!

Happy 24th....let's see how good my memory is. The celebration started on the 22nd, where we joined Grandma and Grandpa Wade's ward parade and carnival. The kids got to have their faces painted but were pretty much to shy for anything else but loved just being with G and G. Then on the 23rd, I got to spend the afternoon with some of the family who were able to get together for a fun lunch without the struggle of kids.




We were then able to spend the evening celebrating some family birthday's and watching the traditional firework display in my parents backyard. We all had a great time and the kids LOVED being with their cousins all day. It was a late night and an even earlier morning. Up before 5 to head out to meet some of my sisters for another race. Ryan's sweet family came to watch me in the 10K on the 24th so we all stayed to enjoy the parade and some of my fam. joined in as well. It was great, I don't remember watching the Salt Lake Parade as a kid I am sure I did but I guess I just don't remember. After we headed back to my Mom's for the traditional holiday brunch and some naps. Good times... the 24th is one of my favorite holidays and it doesn't get much better than being able to share it with family. It would have been perfect if Ryan could have joined us....:( missed ya!




We spend the rest of the holiday weekend hanging out with family. Mike and Kara showed us some good times in their awesome backyard where we enjoyed a yummy barbecue and roasting smores over their own fire pit. The rest of the month was spent celebrating more birthdays and spending lots of time with my sisters...thanks for always coming out and for having us over!

Races...

Had one day in Utah to unpack and get the kids settled in a bit. Friday morning I took the kids to Ryan's parents and headed down to Bryce canyon for the big race and our girls weekend (with Dad included...of course). After being trapped in a vehicle with the three little ones I was so ready for a break but for some reason I always have the hardest time leaving them. But I must admit it is nice to know they were in perfect hands and I know loving every minute they got to spend with their grandparents. Thanks again Wade's you guys are great! So here's the details of the race...

After we picked up our packets we were off to find something to eat. Pre race dinner - pasta....right? We found spaghetti but it certainly wasn't worth it's price, oh well we had a lot of laughs!



We wanted to get to bed early but we were on vacation so of course that didn't happen and who can sleep before a race anyway. We got a few hours sleep and were up around 4:30. Being my first race I had no idea what to expect at this point I was just wishing I would have started out with like a 5K or even a 10K. When we got to the top of the canyon and we were amongst all the runners eating our power bars with music blaring in the back ground I think the excitement hit me and I could officially say that I think I may be addicted to running.



Here we are in all our glory approaching the finish line of the half or the 1K as my dad referred to it. :)




All the family participants. KC and Kara we missed you, but your in for next year...right. :)

We decided early in the race to all stick together and so that is just what we did and it was so much fun. I am still amazed how fast the time flew by, I was shocked when someone said we were approaching mile 9. It was such a great race the scenery was awesome the company even better and we even made a pretty decent time. Oh and for bragging purposes my Mom did the 5K and finished first in her group...way to go Mom!

The rest of the weekend was filled with laughs and unforgettable memories! We had a great time eating, swimming, shopping, watching movies, and most of all laughing. We talked my Dad into coming and like usual he was such a trooper to hang around all us girls!

Dad even caught a few rays...





Good times!


The next weekend Megan talked me into running a 10K with her, so we talked a few of the others into it as well. We ran on the 24th and then stayed to watch the parade (more to come on that) it was a lot of fun but there was no way I ran with Megan. We were late getting to the race so we had to be dropped off at the bottom of this hill at the U of U and since we were late he booked it up to the top. By the time we got there I was already tired and the dumb race hadn't even started. I tried to run with Megan I think I made it to mile three where I told her to just go she was killing me. But I finished not to far behind her and was very happy with my time I finished the six miles in 50 minutes but I do have to admit for some reason it was only half the distance of the race the prior week but a hundred times harder. Overall, I am happy to report I survived the races and actually enjoyed them...some what. :)



Here we are I guess we didn't know what camera to look at.

Ok so I posted this and then read it, I am sure most of you are wondering why I posted about this. I am not a huge fan of blog bragging (unless it is about my kids of course) but for all of you who "really" know me know I am not a runner. In fact as of a year ago I couldn't run 1/10th of a mile without stopping so if you think I am bragging about my accomplishments, well I am. The fact that I ran both of these races and didn't even have to stop is HUGE for me...so there you have it consider this my brag post!

Here we go...

I have been dying to get this post started but since we've been back life has been crazy busy and it seems I can barely keep my head above water. We had a great three weeks in Utah, like usual we wish we would have had more time and been able to see more people but one thing we have learned in our years being away is that you can only do what you can do. Mid July my sweet Mom flew in to help me get my crew back home she was only here for a few days so we did a lot of packing and she watched the kids so I could finish up some work for the week and wrap up some of my other responsibilities. Then Monday evening after I got back from work and Ryan finished some last minute touch ups on the car we loaded up and headed to Utah. The first night we stayed in Amarillo meaning we didn't get to far, but in our defense we didn't leave our house until after 5 P.M. and I don't see to well after dark and we stopped a few times for dinner and treats :). Ryan had booked us a hotel on hotwire and so non of us knew what to expect. We pulled in around 1 in the morning at let's just say we were glad we didn't have to spend anymore time there than we did. We slept in our clothes and I was constantly telling the kids not to move or touch anything. Ok so maybe it wasn't THAT bad but it was pretty sick the whole hotel thing kinda grosses me out anyway. Day #2 we left pretty early and made great time got into Denver in time to eat, shop a little for forgotten items, and even swim. *Hotel #2....much better.*

On our way to the pool...



Madison got to benefit from a few of Grandma's fancy hair do's.




Peaches in the bathtub...does traveling get any better?



After our complimentary breakfast....Utah here we come.



Day #3....LONG but worth it! Thanks Mom for the help, never would have braved it without you.

Utah...

We are here and the time is flying by WAY too fast! Thanks to my sweet Mom the ride out wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. I think it may have helped that we ended up doing it in three days instead of two. It was actually quite nice having all that time in the car to just talk with my Mom. Last weekend we headed down to run the half marathon in Bryce...it was AWESOME and I think I just may have to admit that I like running. It was so fun to be with my sisters and my Dad and Mom. Thanks to Ryan's parents for watching the kids for the weekend. After the race we headed down to St. George for a few days of shopping, swimming, and laughing so hard my head still hurts. Good times! I'll post more when I am back home but for know I am just enjoying some time with the fam. :)


**Miss ya Ry! **

After the fact...

Here we go again....more catching up. We were able to celebrate Ryan's birthday the end of June, it happened to fall on a Sunday this week and he even had the weekend off. Saturday we spent at some vacation recruitment thing Ryan signed us up for. It actually worked out well because we got to take the kids.(We usually avoid these things but since it was kid friendly we thought why not?) We had a great time anticipating the next cheesy line that would be used to get us to buy into their packaged deal. Some of them can be really convincing. I guess it would be a great deal for those you actually have time off work to vacation, maybe in a few years. But I am proud to stay we get a free "staycation" at a resort around here and 100.00 gas card plus our money back so it was a pretty good deal but a long two hours. Back to Ryan's birthday....after we headed to the mall to get Ryan a gift but ended up getting Madison's ears pierced.

She had been begging us for the past few days to get it done but we would try to talk her out of it thinking she is just to little. Usually when Ryan would tell her how bad it was going to hurt she would quickly change her mind but this time was different, she was persistant about getting "holes" in her ears. I am surprised we let her do it but after we showed her someone getting their ears pierced via youtube and then showed her the gun at the mall and she still didn't hesitant we caved. There is some perks to having a doctor for a dad he was able to bring home some topical lidocaine and numb her ears so I don't think she felt much.

You can tell she is starting to get nervous...



Wanting me to hold her...I think I was more nervous by this time.



They did both ears at the same time which was perfect. We didn't get a right after picture but she did great...no tears but a little shocked.




After the mall we headed to...of course...Red Robin. As long as I have known Ryan we have never celebrated at any other restaurant.



Presents... luckily I had a little something since our trip to the mall was unproductive for Ryan.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ryan! We love you and hope you had a great day. Thanks for the amazing husband and father that you are. Oh and I hear your a pretty good doctor as well. :)



On to the 4th!



It has been years since I have been to a parade, now I know why. I don't even think the kids were too thrilled. Bryton was more into his umbrella then anything else.



Then I had to go see a few patients so Ryan took the kids to a birthday party for one of Jackson's friends. He even got pictures...what a catch!





My favorite part of the weekend....



Minus the sign....next year we will make sure to avoid road signs with potential to block great views.



Monday after I got home from work we finished up sugar cookies and fed the missionaries. What a weekend, I am exhausted just trying to put it in order. Hope you all ejoyed celebrating the 4th! Thanks to all those who serve and sacrifice so much so that we can enjoy our freedom! Happy 4th!

Yikes!!!

Only a few more weeks until the big race...ahhhh! I am totally wondering what I got myself into. And to make matters worse my good friend that I run with every morning is gone on vacation and won't be home until after I leave for Utah. Even worse is she is moving while I am gone....:( Looks like I will be running solo from now on and I am totally sad about that. My max is 10 miles so far and I only have two more Saturdays, sure hope I make the 13 and a half. Isn't a true half marathon 13.1 miles? Why did they have to tack on any more? What I won't do to spend some time with the family. The good news is that I will be in Utah in just a few weeks!

And this is how I feel about the big event....