13.1 Miles.....Yeah, I did it!

HALLOWEEN HALF 

Yes I know this is a super braggy title but I figured with all the time and effort I spent training and working my tail end off, I deserve the right to brag a little! Before I started training, the longest I had ever ran was a 10k (6.2 miles) about 10 years ago. Most of my running usually entailed about 3 or 4 miles on the treadmill.  I decided to challenge myself and push myself harder than I have ever done before. I started really training about 2 1/2 months ago. Up until a week before the race I didn't know if I was going to do it because I had gotten really sick and hadn't been able to do my last long run. I decided I had worked too hard to give up and my goal was to just finish. I did better than finish, I actually placed in about the middle and averaged just a little over 10 min/mile. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes. The Halloween Half is the second largest race in the state (almost 2200 people in just the half). The race starts at Sundance Ski Resort and comes down Provo Canyon. The run was beautiful but very, very cold! About 26 degrees! My muscles kept wanting to tighten and my right knee started to really bother me for the first time ever. I had to stop about 4 or 5 times and walk because of it. I didn't want to hurt myself and cause more serious/permanent damage. I'm doing good though, and as soon as my knee starts feeling better I'll get back to running and maybe do another half marathon come spring. Is a full marathon in my future? I don't know, I never thought I'd run a half marathon so we will see!

Part of the race was dressing up in costume! I went as a black cat because it was easy and comfortable!

Darrell Ann Smart (Our Running Idol), My Sister Taylor, Her Fiance Chris, and I

THE SIS' TAS

Brandon looking good! He's lost over 20 pounds and I'm so proud of him! Swimsuits on the beach in Maui- here we come!

Red vs Blue Rivalry Run 5k

Zach with Aunt Michelle before heading out to the race! Curtis and Michelle were so nice to come with us to keep an on on The Little Terror! It's hard to tell but he is wearing his BYU warm-up outfit from Grandma Terri!  

Just Chillin in the sun with his sunglasses!

"Enough with the eye protection, I want something to play
with!"

Before the race started

Group Picture

And we're off! 

Brandon setting a good pace!

On the Provo River Trail

We Made it!

Our prizes from the raffle included a KSL letter opener and a rubber jar opener, a BYU Pez dispenser, and a BYU cup perfect for Brandon's office

Our cute family!

He was too distracted to smile for the camera!

Island Park 2012

Around our house, August means a few things:

1. College football will soon dominate the TV
2. Our electric bill will hit it's yearly peak.
3. We will take our annual trek to Island Park, ID

While not necessarily in that order, we have managed to accomplish all three of our August benchmarks, and even had a few days leftover to take it all in.  The downside:  after paying a sizable chunk to the electric company, we had to enjoy those last few days in darkness.

Just kidding, of course, but we did take the opportunity to shut off the AC and leave the state for a nice relaxing weekend in the mountains.  My family has been going to Island Park since I was Zach's age, so it was quite a feeling to be up there with my own boy.   Zach had his first boat ride, and was even adventurous enough to dip his feet in the lake.  Next year I think he'll be doing cannonballs!

On his very first ride!  He was holding on to Grandma Terri's arm pretty tightly :)

His first dip in the lake -- it took him a minute to decide he was ok with everything.

Round two was much better.  He seemed to actually enjoy it!

He didn't mind getting in a bit more.  If we would've had a swim diaper we would've let him sit down on the deck.

After an afternoon of boating, the sound of the engine was all it took to send him to sleep.

Kristen and I managed to sneak in some wakeboarding too:

Overall we had a great time.  It's always sad to have to leave, but that just makes us appreciate it more the next time we're there.

Zach 4 1/2- 5 1/2 Months

Our little man is growing so fast! 

Zach trying out the new Pack and Play 

Zach is learning how to roll and prop himself up. I call him My Little Rolly Polly becuase one minute he'll be on his blanket and the next he'll be over by the entry way! 

The never ending stream of drool! Still no teeth though!

He loves to do his "Super Man" move where he lifts both legs and arms in the air and acts like he is flying!

Getting In Shape and Feeling Great!

After having Zach earlier this year I've been determined to get back in shape. I started working out 4 days a weeks, with one of those being with a personal trainer. She pushes me harder than I would push myself and mixes up my routines so I see good results. I've also been keeping a food log and trying to hit a target amount of calories per day. Part of my workout has been running. I'm still nursing so lets just say a heavy duty sports bra is a must! A few weeks ago I ran in the Young Living Lavender 5k. Some of you will remember that I use to work for Young Lving when I was going to school. The Lavender fields down in Mona are beautiful and smell very good too! I hope to continue doing races through the end of summer and into the fall. Brandon and I will be running one in August.

Here I am after the race with my trainer Desiree! She's awesome!

A nice cheesy picture of me holding my lavender plant and finishing medal! The funny looking belt I have on is actually a water belt with bottles on the back.

A distant shot of some of the lavender.

Zach: A Few Days Old - 4 1/2 Months

     I realized the other day that my last post was nearly 3 months ago!!!  I'm sure most of you would agree that life gets busy! Besides taking care of the house/yard and going back to work, Zach is my life! He is a very happy boy and always has a smile for anyone he meets (except for Grandma Terri)! With his big blue eyes and feathery blondish hair he is developing into quite the lady's man. He measures in the top 95th percentile for his height and he is what the doctor calls "A tall, skinny guy!" He loves it when we sing "Wheels on the Bus, Old McDonald, and The Fish Song." "If Your Happy and You Know It" is also another one of his favorites. "Hush Little Baby" and his pacifier always seems to calm him when he is tired or upset. He has very stong legs and prefers to stand than sit. I joke with Brandon that he will be walking before he is able to sit on his own! One really funny thing he does when he is nursing is he puts his arm up over his eyes to block any lifght to help himself fall asleep. He will also swat any blanket that is too high around is neck or covering his arm. This makes it very hard to nurse him in public because he hates to have anything covering his arms and head.

Taken on his due date, February 19th!

So tiny and precious

Brandon is a great Dad, always willing to jump in and help!

Reading a book together

Didn't like it when we tried to pull his pacifier out for the picture!

Taken with my iPhone. Getting a few giggles and smiles out!

Always doing funny tricks! One morning we found him with his burp cloth over his head. He must of been playing peek a boo!

One day I had to jump up and get the phone while I was nursing. When I came back a minute later he had rolled off his bobby and fallen asleep! We've noticed he really likes to lay on his side.

Very curious and likes exploring the world. He enjoys storying time when he is not trying to pull the book and pages to his mouth!

Morning hang out in our PJs

Daddy's Rock Star!

Trying out his new sunglasses! We've heard if you start young they won't always want to pull them off.

Little Sweetie!

Little Cabana Boy