Grammy and Grandpa's Cabin

Last fall my parents broke ground on a new cabin.  My Dad had been dreaming of a modified A-frame cabin ever since I can remember.  It has been really fun to see them make a dream into a reality. 

We went up to "help" work.  With three kids- one of which is a very curious one year old- I don't think I did much helping at all.  Good thing I brought my handy husband!  We did a little bit of work mixed with a little bit of play, and as always, we loved every minute in my favorite place on earth.

After what must be a hundred visits to Yellowstone, we got to do something new!  We were in the right place at the right time, and we got to climb to the very top of Old Faithful Inn.  We explored the Crow's Nest, went to the roof and even lowered the American flag and the Wyoming state flag. It was a once in a lifetime experience, and it was so fun to share it with my kids and parents.  We couldn't wipe the grins off our faces for the rest of the trip!

 

No {Stuffed Toy} Left Behind

Some days it takes Annie hours to make her bed.  Not because I keep having to get after her to do it, but because she lovingly places all of her favorite stuffed animals at the head.  How many favorites does she have?  Well, that would be ALL OF THEM.  There is no stuffed toy that is forgotten in Annie's eyes.  Although it makes putting Annie in her bed at night a bit of a chore, I love this about her.  I will never limit the amount of stuffed animals that she can have on her bed.  What if one of them felt left out?  We can't be having any of that!

And she's off!!!

I was prepared.  For falls.  For skinned knees.  For tears of pain and frustration!  Know what I got?  Smooth sailing!  I put Annie on a pedal bike without training wheels, and off she went.  Although she was nervous and scared about falling over, she did so well.  I couldn't believe that she just got it!  We are so excited for her and so glad that she can now keep up with the big kids.

Sisters

“Sister. She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.”
--Barbara Alpert

Jesus

I've spent my Sundays over the last couple of months in the foyer. Paige is much more busy than my other babies were, and getting her to sit through an entire Sacrament meeting is an impossibility. And you can just forget Sunday School. 

As we walk the halls I point to the pictures of Jesus and say His name.  We walk, and I wonder why I'm there in the first place. What is the point? 

Last Sunday Paige and I were shut in the Relief Society room at my in-law's ward. Paige was getting tired, climbing and falling off chairs, and I finally pulled her into my lap. She lay in my arms and her tiny finger points to something behind me. 

"Jesus," she says, in her immature language. 

I turn around. 

There He is, arms outstretched in a painting behind me. "Yes, Paigey. Jesus."

We walk the halls through nap time and suffer through tantrums during Sunday School because they are already learning. On Sunday, you go to church- not when it's easy, not when it's convenient with your schedule, but every week- because that is how they learn that it is the most important place they will be all week. 

They comprehend more than we think they do. 

How do you spell "Happy Fourth of July?"

I don't know how you spell it, but we spell it with:
Parades
Badminton
Hula Hoops
Hiking 
and WINGS.

Most importantly, you cannot spell it without the letters F-A-M-I-L-Y.  In that order.

Run Mom, Run!

So many times I sit with my computer open, trying to write what I am feeling about the last run, the last race, the last training exercise that made me want to leap for joy and cry for pain at the same time.  I have felt so many emotions this spring while I have been training and racing.
Defeat.
Fear.
Victory.
Complacency.
Stretch.
Pain.
Joy.
Confidence.
Strength.
In the past 6 weeks I have run 2 full marathons, and the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay. 

The first was Ogden.  Training was rough!  I got ITBS in the middle of my training, and I doubted whether or not I would even be able to make it to the start.  This was nothing new.  I pushed forward.  My Aunt Kathy passed away a week and a half before the race.  I was overcome with grief- I would rather cry than run.  My heart had moved from my goals, to much more important things.  Come race day, as I was riding up on the bus I was so humbled as I thought about the task that was before me.  I was going to run a full marathon!  One day, I wouldn't be able to do this anymore- that wasn't that day.  No matter my goal time, I was happy and humbled to finish.  I ran a 3:38:52, 4 minutes off my goal time.  I ran into the finish with Annie, and I wouldn't have changed a single moment of the race.

While I didn't regret my time at Ogden, I knew I could hit my goal if I just had one more chance.  Our plane was delayed for our flight to Seattle, so I did what any normal person would do- I registered to run the Utah Valley Marathon last minute.  I was so nervous for this race.  I didn't tell anyone about it- it was all me.  Personal.  I had sweaty hands and feet the entire day before the race!  As we started, I kept it positive.  I even told myself that the wind was just "air conditioning."  I wouldn't let the mental part of racing get in the way of what I knew I could do.  I ended up running 3:32:51.  6 minutes faster than Ogden only 4 weeks before, and I qualified to run the Boston Marathon.  I was so proud of myself!  I knew I could do it!

Then last weekend I ran the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back.  This is my favorite race, and marks the 4 year anniversary of my first race EVER.  Crazy!  I was runner 11 this year.  I ran 7.6 miles up Old Snow Basin Road, 5.5 miles around Rockport Reservoir, and 9.8 miles up over Guardsman and down to Park City High.  It was brutal!  I was more sore after this leg than I was after either of my marathons.  My team was awesome- chuck full of inspiring mothers and great friends.  We ended up placing 3rd in the Women's Open Division by running the race in 31 hrs 10 min.  I still can't believe it!

Van 2 Runners!  Jenn Robinson, Jenn Jackman, Emily Rodriguez, Cathy Kendall, me, Sara Edwards

Stoked on Socks!  Back: Rheana Bigham, Breona Carter, Katie Nelson, Sara Edwards, Cathy Kendall, Jenn Jackman, Emily Rodriguez, Front Row: Marcae Rosenval, Mindy Kohler, me, Jenn Robinson

I. LOVE. THIS. SPORT.