Some Pictures!

All right, here are some pictures from last year that I never got posted, so here they are finally!

We went up the canyon the day before James started school to celebrate his last day of freedom. It was so much fun! We had a picnic, the kids played in the water, then on the way home we got some Corn on the Cob from a farmer (james REALLY wanted to) it was delicious.

December, we went to see the lights at Temple square. I was absolutely in love with the place and actually surprisingly touched by its beauty, even though I have seen many many times. I was once again reminded of the Sacred birth of our Savior. James however, was very grumpy the entire time...that was not so much fun. Oh well, what can you do?

First time I ever got Sophie's hair into pigtails. So super cute!

And some random pictures of Sophie and I. I love to sit and Take pictures of her. She is just os beautiful. I don't want to miss any of it.

I am sorry her face is cropped off in this one because it is so darn cute!

Wow, we are hot! Seriously, we look good. but we should. We were on our way to Ben's 10 yr reunion. We had the greatest time catching up with all our old HS friends. I love that we both went to Provo High, so that we both know the same people at our reunions.

um, yes I DO have the beautiful daughter in the whole wide world. Not going to deny that.

Oh, here is another of pigtail day. I love putting her hair up...she doesn't like it so much, but too bad. Look at those beautiful eyes. And of course She and James, best buds.

A not so happy Sophie all dressed up in her Halloween Costume. She really didn't mind it but she got mad when we took the picture. funny girl.

And here we all are dressed in our Halloween costumes. I thought we all looked pretty good this year. Ben had a hockey mask and knife as well, but wasn't wearing them in this pic.

A Good Day

Today was nice. No stress, kids were good, besides the fact that they still are NOT asleep....

So yeah, I was up with Sophie last night, she had the runs all night, poor baby. But ben got James ready for school so I could get a little more sleep and that was so nice! Then I got on up, had breakfast with Harrison and Sophie, did my morning chores. Played with the kids for a bit, then I did a really quick, but very good workout. Then it was time for lunch.

James' cousin is off-track right now and so we went over to her house once James got home from school. He knew that we couldn't go until his homework was done, so he came home, homework in hand excited to tell me that it was already done because he had done it on the bus. Which, he had. Smart kid.

Anyways, we had fun, the kids played really well together there, Sophie wasn't too happy probably because her bum hurt. :( But really, it was just a nice relaxing afternoon. Then I took the boys to Target got some stuff for a "picnic" and went on over to the Oquirrh Temple (my sister lives out there) and enjoyed a picnic in the car. Sophie enjoyed the goldfish crackers especially. The boys and I talked all about the Temple and I was happy to see how much they actually knew. I love spending time like this with my kids. Just talking to them, seeing what they think about things. James told me after we die, the Dinosaurs will come back with the Volcanoes and rule the earth again. Yeah, he is into dinosaurs these days, a lot. Harrison talked about the open house and remembered going to it.

Oh and then I asked Harrison who Jesus Loved. He started telling me all the names of everyone he knew and then I asked him who else loved him he said "mom, dad, James, Sophie" and then I asked him who he loved. He said, "I love Rachel, she is nice to me. I love Ruth, she is nice. And I love Aubrey, she is nice to me. But Jonathon is naughty to me" Those are all his other cousins he plays with, and even Jonathon is a year younger than Harrison he can certainly take harrison down. It is pretty funny.

We also made a stop at Hobby Lobby where I bought some material for some baby gifts to friends and then there was this material for a little dress that was so cute I got the stuff for it and I can't wait to sew it for little Sophie. So darling. When I finish it I will post of picture of her in it.

You know what, I really do love being a mom. There is nothing else I would rather be right now. I know kids can be the biggest pain in the butt there ever was, trust me, I know. But really, I am glad that I know that, and not some babysitter somewhere. I love seeing my kids grow and develop and learn, and I love seeing them try to be good. James has the biggest heart there ever was and I just love his desire to learn and to be good. He truly wants to be good. I love that. I love my three little ones. They are my life. And I've gotta say, I've got a pretty good life.

Funny Baby

Sophie has decided that she does not really like to sleep all night. That getting up at 3, 4, and 5 am is much more fun...especially when you do it all at once. Little Butt. Anyways, so I have bene up with her a lot lately. And I know, you are supposed to just let them cry, I know this. This is kid #3. But, she will scream and scream and scream....all night long. Hours long. It sucks. Or I can just go throw a bottle her way or give her a pacifier and she will go right back to sleep. I never know what to do. Anyways, so I haven't been giving her the bottle lately, because I really don't like to encourage that. So last night I got up with her and gave her her pacifier which she threw right out of her bed, when I gave it her again, she threw it again. Letting me know that that just wasn't going to cut it. Too bad for her I'm the boss, and well, If I don't want her to have a bottle, she won't get it.

So, she finally gave in took the pacifier and went back to sleep. Then another night she woke up, I picked her up and told her that she needed to stay in her bed, and go to sleep, and stop crying. She looked at me and pointed to her door. I said no, and pointed to her bed. She pointed to her door again. I pointed to her bed again. then I gave her a little love, tucked her in, told her that it was sleeping time and that she wasn't to wake up again until the sun was shining. She was good that time and obeyed. It is funny, no matter how many times I get up with that little thing, or how many times she starts to cry I can never be cross with her. i see her cute little face, her chubby cheeks with little tears streaming down and I can never get over how much I love the little thing and how happy she makes me. So I cave, I cave and I hold her and I rock her and then I tuck her back in bed. Sigh. One day, I am going to have to be tough with that one.

Oh, and she can climb right up the stairs now..al the way up. We figured this out when we heard her fall down the stairs the other evening. fortunately she caught herself part way down and was just a little scared. Not scared enough to not do that again though, I have followed her up the stairs a few times now. Time to keep the gate shut! How is she already this big?

Family Date

Every Saturday we have a babysitter, so that we can go out on a date together. Well this Saturday didn't work out for her, and I was really excited to go out with Ben, so I told him we were still going to go out, just take the kids with us. So that is what we did. We were planning on going to Mimi's, and we took the kids with us. We had so much fun with them. They were really good the entire time and we really did just enjoy having them there with us. Harrison was being a little gross when he took his straw and sucked up the leftover ketchup from his plate, and then put his straw back in his cup and finished his drink. But as gross as that was, it made us all laugh so much it was good entertainment.

then we went over to Barnes and Noble and looked at books for a while. The kids LOVE the kid section of that store and pointed to just about every books saying that that was the book they wanted. And Ben showed me the new Nook there, that thing is pretty cool, but I don't know if it is $250 cool. Then of course I found my way over to the running books and got stuck in a book about some training tips. I just can't help myself. But we really did have a fun time, no stress at all, just fun together. I love it when family things, turn out to be fun family things. Cause they don't always turn out to be super fun.

Training

So, anyone that knows me, knows I am beyond obsessed with running. And yes it is an obsession of mine. I'm crazy about it. And I have always dreamed about running really fast, and placing in a race or qualifying for the Boston marathon. Last year I had a baby though, and so of course with the pregnancy I was not working on speed at all, just getting a few miles in here or there, very slow ones at that. And then came my beautiful little girl and I was back up and running, but once again I was up nights with a newborn and trying to catch up on getting in shape and all that.

So now, this year, is my year. It is. I am going to do those things. I am going to place in a race and I am going to Qualify for Boston or die trying. one of the two. I went to go sign up for my most favorite race, the Ogden Marathon. This is, in my opinion, the best Marathon out there. Seriously, the organization is great, the course is a very gentle downhill the entire way. You run through some of the most beautiful country ever. THe post race food and such is amazing. You get an awesome medal even if you are just doing the half. It isn't very expensive, and I have run it before so I KNOW the course perfectly.

So yeah I really bummed when I saw that the race was full. WHAT! full! Crap! That was supposed to be MY race, where I get some screaming awesome fast time! THat was the race I was specifically training for! And it was on my B-day, what more could I want? And now, grrr!!! However, you COULD run it, IF you paid the VIP fees...of $200. Um, yes I absolutely did pay those fees. And I only spent a day thinking about it.

Okay so now that I have paid way too much for it, I HAVE to run it well, and very well. My goal time is 1:35:00. So that is 13.1 miles, holding about a 7:30 min mile. I am so positive that I can do this, and I am so excited to run it. I am eager to train, to get faster, to power up the one hill, and then fly on down the rest of the canyon. I have been reading and finding as much information as I can on speed work and training tips. I started training this last week. I didn't do a ton of miles, but I worked my legs and cardio good. I did hills one day. And it was a great workout for my legs, They felt like jelly by the end.

Saturday I did a "test run" My friend and I went for our usual Sat run. We only did 10 miles so nothing very huge. But I wanted to hold an 8 min mile, and then pick up the pace for the last 3 miles to a 7 min mile. I was so surprised at how easy it was to hold those paces, and how well I was able to run, even though it was only 16 degrees outside. I kept a decent pace throughout, and then the last 4 miles I held about a 7 min mile. It felt so good just to fly through those last miles and push myself just a hair more to keep it up. After that run I was so confident that I can get the time that I want from this race and possibly even better. I am excited to continue training and improving. And I can't wait for race day to kick some serious trash. This is my year, I'm going to do it.

Kid Update

So yeah, I haven't blogged in forever and then some. But seriously, who has time to sit and blog when they are chasing around 3 kids, trying to keep a house clean (trying...NOT succeeding), taking kids to school, get some exercise in there somewhere, oh wait and dinner sometime. I seriously do NOT know how people get everything done all the time. Anyways, currently Sophie is sound asleep in her bed (she is all sorts of croupy today...sad) James and Harrison are banished to their room until it is clean or bedtime happens, either way I have a moment to myself and I think I need to update my blog a little bit.

James is in school, Kindergarten, and is actually doing pretty well. He finally just passed off all of his letters (upper case and lower) and all their sounds. He has gotten most of them for a while now but G as giving him trouble, so I am glad he finally got that one nailed down. I was really proud of him though. So he is reading now, and I love watching and listening to him try and sound things out and as we drive places trying to read what is on the billboards. It is so fun. It is also fun to see him hop on and off the bus stop every day. He seems so grown up. He continues to be obsesed with Sophie. Those two sure do love each other. He gets her out of bed, plays with her, tries to teach her to walk, scares her all the time but then she just laughs her head off at him. She thinks he is the funniest thing ever. James even feeds her her bottles when we are in the car. It is nice. It is nice to have James be so dependable. He will help keep on eye on Harrison at the store or outside or wherever we are, it is very nice. He is a good kid. He says the cutest prayers too. He always prays that we will have good feelings, and that we will have the gospel and that we will be happy. He says the most thoughtful and sweet things.

He was int he primary program a couple months ago and said his part perfectly. He had memorized it and I was so proud of him for doing such a great job. This last friday he had a christmas program at school and he sang the songs loud and clear. I love seeing him grow and develop. He is also in gymnastics and is doing so great. He is one of the youngest in his class and is often the strongest one there. He can get the farthest up the rope and almost always wins the "hanging" contest. A few weeks ago he was on the rings and did a back flip on the them and then he landed it!!! I was so proud of him!It is so fun to see him learn new things and excel. I love it.

Harrison is still, if not even more than ever, the tease in our family. He is always teasing and never stops. I don't think he is ever serious about anything, or ever takes us seriously. On the one hand, he sure does make us laugh a lot, but on the other...he never obeys!!!! He just laughs and thinks he can get away with whatever. He doesn't mind sitting in time out, if you spake his bum he just says "that didn't even hurt" what a terd. But he is very sweet too. When he is playing with all his friends outside and wants a snack he will always get one for everyone. He is very good about thinking about his friends. Once when he and James were playing outside, James fell and got hurt and little Harrison ran on home and got me. He was so worried about James, it was so sweet. He is the policeman to Sophie though. James just gives Sophie whatever she wants, Harrison definitely will tell her what she can and cannot do. It makes me laugh.

And of course Harrison is still obsessed with all sports. He loves to watch games on TV with Ben. In fact, james got two basketball tickets at school and brought them home and gave them to Harrison and Ben. I thought that was so sweet of him. Harrison is also turning into quite the artist. okay, he just draws the same thing over and over, can you guess? bowling pins, basketballs, baseballs, footballs, and basketball hoops. Oh and an "H". I love seeing his little drawings...unless they are covering the wall. Oh and yes he is still a squirrel and hides his food. I was cleaning his room and got down the lego box, opened it to find about 10 oranges peeled and half eaten in there. What a stinker.

And then there is Sophie. She is so grown up I can hardly believe it. Her hair is getting so long, I don't even realize how much hair she has until I see other babies her age and notice that she has 10 times as much hair as the other kids. I can do ponytails and pigtails, but if I put a bow in there, she will pull it out in about two seconds. And yes I am still absolutely head over heels in love with my little baby girl. She is just so beautiful. I get lost in those eyes of hers. They are just big and beautiful. And there is her little personality. She is a fireball and I am sure once she can talk she will give me all sorts of grief, but right now it is funny. Let's just say, she can hold her own and that is for sure. For instance, the other night we were driving home and somehow she ended up with the bumblebee transformer, James took it and she was not happy about that. She got so mad at him, no crying involved, just nonsense baby yelling. It was hilarious. james thought it was funny too and let her have the toy back. But that is how she is. She seems all sweet and innocent and like you could walk all over her, but no, if you cross a line she will definitely let you know.

She started crawling at about 6 months, maybe just after that, but she is very good at it, and now stands and climbs things as well. Now she is working on walking along the furniture. I can't believe she is already big enough for that. It is so cute to go get her in the morning and she is just standing in her crib waiting for you to come get her. she seems too little to do that. She still is my little baby. She won't let me rock her anymore, so sometimes after she has fallen asleep i go steal her and rock her for a while and just stare in amazement. I love babies. Can you tell? She has stolen all our hearts, we sure do love that little thing. She makes us laugh all the time, and we love to see her crawling around the house and climbing up my leg while I am making dinner. She is very content to just sit in one spot and just play. I like that. She is also a mama's girl. Well, okay, when I have been gone all day she will come right to me and just want me to hold her. When Ben gets home from work each day her eyes light up and she gets really happy to see him, and play for a moment, but then she wants mom back. I love that. I love holding my sweetheart baby girl.

Ben and I are pretty much the same as ever, I continue to run, not as many miles but I am trying to switch things up a bit with swimming biking, stair stepping, weights and all that jazz. But I haven't has near the time I usually do lately with the Hoidays and I just got called to the Relief Society Presidency. I absolutely love it. I love working with the sisters in the ward and getting to know everyone and just loving them. It is so wonderful, just very very busy. I feel like I am gone a lot, but am glad that I have Ben to hold the fort down while I am gone and to help me make things for the sisters. He is a great support to me. We have fun together. I am happy to say that we now have a permanent babysitter for SAT nights and I Love that. I love going out with him each week, it is so nice. We went bowling last night and got stocking stuffers for the kids. It was fun, and I almost beat him in bowling. HA! Anyways, that is our life right now. We are happy, our house is typically messy, I am usually behind on this that and everything else, but we are happy and yeah, we still like each other for some reason I can't quite figure out. ;) well now it is dark and time to go for a drive and look at lights. Merry Christmas all!

Top of Utah Marathon 2009

Yay! We did it! Last Sat, Sept 19th my two brothers, Jay and Jeremy, and my sister, Amy, and I all ran the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan. It was SO much fun! I know you are thinking "what the world? how can running 26.2 miles be fun?" Trust me, it is. Now the last few miles are never very fun and you typically want to pass out and die at that point. BUT the fact hat you don't and you just keep running along is what makes the whole marathon thing amazing!

I won't give all the gory details and all that, but I was REALLY proud of my time 4 hours 4 min. especially since the last 8 miles were generally uphill and, wow, I so was not expecting that. I ran with my sister, Amy, for the first 10 miles or so and then we split. I met Ben at mile 15 got a good luck kiss and went on my way. I held a great pace the first 18 miles, under a 9 min at least then often under an 8 min mile. However, mile 18 came along and that is where the uphill climbs started and it was all I could do to keep about a 9 min mile. I was expecting to crash burn and die at mile 23, but I didn't and I was glad of that.

But one mile later....24...I was ready to be done. I felt like I was breathing through a straw and my entire body was telling me to stop running already. So that last 2.2 miles was a battle between my mind and body "keep going, don't you dare stop now, keep going, i don't care how much it hurts don't you stop running!!!" and then my body..."What in the world are you doing to me???? Why are you still running? You can't even breathe right anymore, your legs are completely broken can't you feel all that pain??? Look there is a curb over there, just pull over and die already okay?!!" Seriously, even when I got to mile marker 26 I wanted to just cry because I truly did not want to run another second, let alone .2 miles. So I was REALLY proud of myself for NOT stopping and running on through the finish line with a great finish time. I was so happy to see my sweet husband, Ben at the finish cheering me on and see all the rest of my family. It was so great to have that support there and it meant so much to see them all there cheering me on. Thank you family!!!! So here, are some pictures of the event. Enjoy.

Oh, and yes I will continue to do marathons, probably my entire life. I love running. And my next goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon. hopefully next year, but if not, another year. I will get there.

My brother, Jay, and I. He came in at 3:45 awesome huh?

And of course, Sophie and I. Isn't she beautiful? Even just in her Jammies.

Yeah, you know this is a cute picture

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Here we all are! Jeremy, Jay, Amy and I. I was SO proud of all of us for running it. Amy did awesome, it was her first and she came in at 4:15 AWESOME!!! Thanks Amy for talking me into doing this marathon, I loved it!

Here I am coming through the finish

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Giving everyone a little cheer as I went though

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Two thumbs up baby

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Okay check this out. A picture of Ben and I and neither of us are making faces!!! That never happens. I think I will frame this one. Oh and just FYI, BEn is amazing. He 100% supports me in all my running, babysits kids, takes care of the house while my legs are recovering, comes to all my races and cheers me on. He is amazing and I am so lucky to have him. LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU BEN!!!

okay so yeah, after I finished and we were just chillin it, I died. I just wanted to lay down so that is what I did and I have to say that it felt amazing and I was 100% absolutely comfortable. I didn't want to get up. I probably could have stayed right there the rest of the day and been just fine with that.

My sister, Amy and I. Aren't we cute? Thank you Amy for all the fun running together. We did several of our training runs together and it was so much fun! I am so glad we ran this one together. Can't wait for another marathon, and yes there will be more. As I once read somewhere, 26.2 miles of the pain that you love. Yep. that pretty much describes a marathon.