Park City Redrock Relay

This past weekend I had a blast running the redrock relay in Park city with some great ladies!!  My friend Dawn, who is in our ward, has a twin sister, Kimberly, and they ran this relay last year.  I was supposed to but because of my leg fracture, I wasn't able to and Kimberly took my spot.  So I was so excited to finally get the chance to run in this year.  Kimberly was our team captain and our team included Dawn, Me, Rachel Youngberg, Cindy Nordgran, and Kenzie Mexican.  Our team name was Tutu Fast.  It was so much fun.  We had met a few weeks prior for dinner at Zupa's to do some planning and we could tell it was going to be a fun weekend!  We met at my house at 4:00 on Friday afternoon to pack up the van and get ready to go.  We made it to the Homestead and got checked in and then headed to Dairy Keen for dinner.  Then we got the van decorated in its own tutu before heading to bed.  

We got up super early (like 4:45 AM) and got all packed up and ready for the start of the relay race.  I had the first leg.  It was actually the same as my Ragnar 3rd leg I did last year, but backwards.  I finished at the homestead during Ragnar and this time it started at the Homestead.  It was kind of cool!!  My first run was 4.04 miles and I ran it in 35:09.  It was great!  

 I passed the bracelet (our baton) to Kimberly.  Then each of us had a turn running a leg before starting our 2nd legs.  After Kimberly it was Cindy, then Rachel, then Kenzie and then finally Dawn.

 One thing about this race that made it amazing was the weather and the beautiful scenery.  I couldn't get over how pretty everything was.  With the changing leaves, ponds, rivers, mountains, and trees it was just breathtaking.  We did stop for 30 seconds during the race and took a picture before Dawn's first leg.

 I did most of the driving and then when I was running and right after I ran, Rachel would drive.  I love my van and it worked perfect for the race.

I started my 2nd leg of the race at the top of a look out point over Jordanelle Reservoir.  It was a beautiful view.  My 2nd leg was 6.22 miles and I ran it in 57:16.  The first 2 miles was ALL up a hill and most of the people around me walked, but I was able to run the whole thing and past at least 5 people on my way.  I got a sideache during mile 4 to 5 but it went away and I was feeling pretty good even though I was tired.  I was so worried that my legs would bother me, but they did great and I never had any pain in my knees.

 Kimberly had one of the hardest legs.  It was over 10 miles of trail and very hard terrain.  She ran it in just under 2 1/2 hours and we were so proud of her.  She was amazing!!!  It was so awesome to see Dawn give her a big hug when she finished.  Dawn ran it last year (that was supposed to be my leg before my injury) and so she knew how hard it was.

We had lunch at subway, got fuel, and enjoyed the afternoon while Kimberly was running.  Everyone else had a great 2nd leg run and we got back to the Homestead and waited for Dawn to finish the last leg before all running to the finish line together!

We finished at 6:09 that night.  We were SOOOO proud of ourselves and for how fast we finished.  I loved every minute of it and it was such a fun weekend of making great memories.  I consider these girls some great friends and I really enjoyed getting to know them all better.  I hope that I get the chance to do something like this again.

Photography at Mueller Park

We had a busy day.  Kaylee finally went to school today and felt great.  Alivia went to preschool so Preston I headed home, washed the van on the way, got in a work out, showered, did dishes, and got ready for Livy to get home.  We vacuumed the van before Nick got home from work early.  We took Livy to Choir and made a quick trip to costco and the glass shop to get Nick's rear view mirror glued back on his front window.  Alivia broke it when she hung from it yesterday.  Great, huh!?  We picked up Livy and got home and greeted the older kids after they rode their scooters home.  Nick took them to choir while I made and packed sandwiches for dinner.  Nick picked me up and we picked up the kids from choir and headed up to Mueller park for an evening of a picnic and some photography.  Carson wants to do a photo for the reflections contest so we thought the canyon would be the perfect place for him to get some good pictures.  The kids LOVED it.  Kaylee even said at one point, "We need to thank God for this beautiful earth, huh?!"  It was so cute.  It got a little chilly in the shade so we didn't stay super long.  We made it home and worked on homework and got the kids into bed early.  It was a good day!

Talking Time, Homework, and PTA Meeting

It is so hard having sick kids, but it makes it even harder when you still have healthy ones that need to be places and do things.  Monday I still taught piano, Tuesday Alivia had Talking Time, so Nick came home from work early to watch the sick kids, since I couldn't have a friend watch them.  Since I knew the I had a PTA meeting today, Nick came home early again to watch the kids.  I don't know what would do if he wasn't able to come home.  

 Alivia was so cute at Talking time yesterday and is making great progress with her ending sounds.  She is always so happy and cute with the teachers.  She gets so proud of herself when she would do good.

 It was so good to see Preston act more like himself today.  I went on a run today and pushed him in the stroller, which he loved.  The weather was perfect for it.  He climbed on my to watch tv while I was stretching.  Such a cute kid, huh?

 Alivia came home with some cute elephant ears and couldn't wait to show me how they looked on her.  Kaylee was also feeling better and did some work on homework.  She is such a good student and it is so fun to see her figure out her math and writing so fast.  She is really quite bright!

We had a great PTA meeting today.  Even though it is a lot of work, it is fun to be involved in all the events and things the PTA does for the kids' school.  I really enjoy getting know these ladies I serve with and working with the teachers.  Again, I couldn't do it though without the great support Nick gives me.  He is great!

Conference Cakes of Course!

Despite having sick kids, we tried to have a normal General Conference weekend, which of course includes conference cakes!  I felt bad that Kaylee had requested these on Saturday and I told her we had to wait until Sunday, and then on Sunday she was so sick she couldn't have any.  I may have to make more again soon to make it up for her.  We enjoyed listening to conference and then enjoyed some yummy grilled chicken and baked potatoes for dinner.  Since we had sick kids, no one came over and we didn't go anywhere.  So hopefully next time our conference will be full of healthy kids and conference cakes!  

Sick Day(s)

Our weekend started off fun with our Date Night, but I wish I could say the rest of the weekend was just as fun.  Saturday morning I went for a run, Nick worked, and by that afternoon we were both so tired we both felt icky.  I got in a nap between conference sessions and that helped.  I had Nick pick up some Panda Express for dinner and he skipped the priesthood session so he could help me by running to walmart for some more groceries and with the kids since Kaylee and Preston both threw up that evening.   Both kids spent the rest of the night, all day Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday sick.  It was coming out of both ends and poor kids couldn't eat a thing.  They finally both started doing better Tuesday afternoon but since Kaylee hadn't eaten for days, she was so weak so I kept her home from school today as well.  By dinner she was doing much better.  And even though she still isn't eating like normal, she was still doing so much better so I am hoping to send to her to school tomorrow.   I am so sad she has missed school, piano lessons, and tumbling, but I am happy she is doing better!  

Preston was kind of cute while he was sick.  He would just want me to hold him and cuddle him, which is not normal, so I did enjoy some snuggle time with him.  He also watched about a billion episodes of Aqua Bats, which is hilarious since that show is soooo weird!  Funny kid!

Frightmare Date Night!

Friday, Nick and I enjoyed a yummy dinner at Smokin' Bones BBQ, where we ran into some friends, Julie & Mark Garaycochea (our neighbors brother & sis in law).  We enjoyed an impromptu double date before heading to Lagoon for the rest of the evening.  We rode all of the BIG rides and by the time we were done, we were both so nauseous.  I think we are getting old.  We stopped at walmart on the way home for a few groceries and to return a toy that Preston got for his birthday.  He already had a car hauler toy, so we were able to return it and get a fun digger and monster truck.  He loved them!!!  

First week of October

It is hard to believe we are already into October!  Wow!  We had a busy start to our week with Preston's Two Year checkup.  He looks good according to Dr. Reese.  Alivia got to play at Abby's house while we went and had a blast.  When we got home, my visiting teachers came and we had a good visit while all the kids played.  Jan Pace watches a few kids and had them with her so it worked out great as entertainment for my kids.  A trip to the school for some pta stuff, piano lessons and homework consumed the rest of our day.  We did have a short FHE lesson that Kaylee taught on tithing before we headed to bed.  

This was us girls having a crazy moment right before we headed to bed on Monday.  Sometimes it feels so good to let your hair down after having it pulled up or braided all day long.

Tuesday, I got all the kids ready for school and took this picture while they waited for their ride (Dave).  I didn't have a van that day because we took it into a shop to have a new dvd screen put in (ours stopped working, but it WAS 6 years old) and also back up camera.  I am SOOO happy to have a back up camera in our van.  We had been looking for a new van but couldn't find one we liked so we decided since we are keeping ours for a few years we would make the upgrades we wanted.  So since I didn't have a van, Dave was great and took carpool for me.

I did have to take Nick's truck to take Alivia to Talking Time on Tuesday since my van wasn't done yet.  She loves talking time and will ask to go to it even on days she doesn't have it.

Tuesday, when Carson got home from school he said he didn't feel good and laid on the couch while I taught piano and Kaylee went to her piano lessons.  He ended up not going to his piano lesson and rested until dinner time.  He felt a bit better for dinner and ate great, but by midnight that night I was awakened by Kaylee telling me Carson had thrown up.  Shortly after we got him taken care of, Alivia was up several times needing to go to the bathroom, and then also ended up throwing up too.  I was at least aware it was coming since she had the same symptoms of Carson and put a towel on her bed which made clean up a lot easier.  Preston woke up in the morning and also threw up, but since he had an empty stomach, it was mostly a dry heave.  Since it was such a long night, Nick stayed home from work and was able to help watch the kids while I went on a run and did some errands, including stopping at the school during lunch to see the kids who sold at least 4 boxes of candy bars have their pizza party.  Kaylee was one of them and I took a plate of pizza home for Carson, who had stayed home that day.  He felt pretty good most of the day, but I wanted him symptom free for at least 24 hours before sending him back to school.  Alivia also missed school that day.

The kids were all well enough to make it to school on Thursday, and the older kids went to choir and then we had a free night for dinner.  That helps get all the leftovers in the fridge eaten up!  Today, I got the older kids off to school, got in my work out, cleaned the bathrooms and then took the little kids on a walk.  On our way home we stopped and asked Gentry to play with Alivia.  They played barbies and then we had a dance party!  Preston is now asleep and the rest of the kids are playing outside.  The weather today is beautiful with temps in the high 60's.

Kaylee got another 100% on her spelling test and Carson just finished a math page of homework, and when I checked it he hadn't missed one problem.  I love it when he can figure something out and do such a good job!  We are planning on a date night tonight.  Probably dinner and then an evening at Lagoon with just Nick and myself.  Can't wait!