You bet your buns I ran it...

This weekend was quite eventful for me! I decided a couple months ago I would run/walk in the Salt Lake City 5k. My sister Angela ran the full Marathon, My brother Jeff, sister Kylee, Sister-n-law Lindsey all ran the Half Marathon, and My sister-n-law Jana, Nephews Josh and Payton and my mom all ran in the 5k and cute little grace was pushed in the stroller. This is all of us outside our Hotel at about 5:45 am, The marathoners caught the bus at the hotel and it took them to the start and the rest of us 5kers went to the gateway to catch our bus!! My Cousins Scott also ran the 5k and Erin ran the half. They were not at our hotel so they are not in the picture..darn it!

I will admit I was a little nervous to do it, I fully new I would not be able to physically run the whole thing! I was ok with that. I have been working out faithfully for the last two months and I have also been eating right..no more fast food for me unless its Subway! Of course the night before the race no one could sleep especially Angela..by 4:30 am we were all awake, I will tell you it wasn't an alarm clock that got us all out of bed..ask Angela about that!!

(This is me, Angela,and Kylee the day before at the expo..notice the turtle on my hat indicating that I am slow..ha ha!! I am!! )

I decided that time didn't matter, all that mattered was that I finished. I will admit I wanted to finish under an hour! First off my mom decided to do the 5k that day before..crazy, good for her!! The race starts and I take off running, doing pretty good..I am assuming that my mom is walking so I have passed her, but then I look over to the side and there she is running next to me and I decide there is noway I will be the first one to walk. Not sure when she stopped, but I kept on going!! I ran most of the first mile..pretty proud of myself, then I decide that I am going to get under 50 minutes. I am just a cruising along..so I think. Then at about the 1.5 mark I get a nasty side ache..hate them. I have slowed my walk way down. I really think I might die. I kind of hit a wall and thought i might not make it, so I start praying for my side ache to go away and that I might have enough energy to finish strong. Next thing I know a little hand grabs my hand and I look down and there is Payton..he looks at me and says ready to run and we start running. At this point I feel energized...by the way we held hands the whole way. We ran for about 4 blocks then we walked, I told him we were going to walk fast and he said ok and then asked if we were close to the finish line. This little six year old was quite a trooper and was just the positive energy boost I needed to finish the race!! I kept asking if he was doing ok and he would say are we almost finished, I kept saying we are getting close!! As we turned down the home stretch we started running and then I hear my cousin Scott screaming at me which gave me another good energy boost. When we saw the actual finish line I looked at Payton and said you ready to run real fast..he said yes then I told him we would sprint to the finish line. I said go and he let go of my hand and we took off, but he was too fast for me and I couldn't catch him. I just ran behind him yelling go Payton..you got it and the whole crowd cheered for him. I even heard a few of them saying he is so little! What a way to finish. Just in case you are wondering I finished in under 50 min. and cut two minutes off my mile time. My cousin Scott said I was hauling to the finish line..I believe I was!!

This is me after the race..still smiling!! (stole the pic from my cuz amber, thanks for taking it)

I know a 5k is not a big deal, but for me it was. I have been struggling so much for the last years especially with my weight and I have been working so hard to lose it, that it was good for me to actually do something that I thought I would never be able to do. I even told Jana that maybe in a year I could do a half marathon..can you even imagine!! I can......

PS...I am down 30lbs....million more to go, but I think I am more determined than ever!!

Disneyland

Here is a few pictures of us at Disneyland!! I haven't been since I was in the eighth grade..It is still the Happiest Place on Earth. I was able to go on the Indiana Jones ride, we took Josh and Payton..josh didn't like it, Payton liked it as long as his eyes were closed. I think that might be my new favorite ride. It was fun. We went on as many rides as we could...the lines get longer and longer as the day goes on. It was fun and can't wait to go back..maybe hit California Adventure next time!!

When we first got there we saw Mickey Mouse. Can you believe it! The kids were so excited! Payton gave Mickey a sea shell from the ocean and Mickey gave him a big hug (picture below) and Grace had a brochure from the hotel with a picture of Mickey on it, of course she showed him. Our day got off to a great start!!

I love this picture, they are checking out the map of Disneyland.
Buzz light year was a favorite, we all went on it at least 3 times.

Grace and I went on the Tea Cups..I had to run to get us a pink one! You know little girls these days..All about the pink. She just sat and giggled on the ride..it was cute!
Jungle ride..
Sucks to be them..
Pirates of the Caribbean. The kids didn't know much about it..each one got a little scared, but in the end they all liked it.

I totally took a picture of this when I was in the eighth grade, so I thought it fitting to take one now!!
Fun Fun times in Disneyland!! I am ready to go back!! Who is Game?

My Fun days in the Sun!!

I am back from Cali...I had a great time and sadly enough I am back in the cold. I never thought I might miss the warmth and congestion of California. You know what the traffic wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We definitely had some great moments and some serious laughs, you know the stupid laughs you get after being in a car for so long.

First off...Jeff was on the bus with all the band students and we were trying to catch them. Well we are just about to our first interstate change and Jana just wanted to follow the bus to our hotel..we spot a bus and we all start cheering (me, Jana and the three kiddies) as we get to the bus we realize it was a short bus and start laughing..a few moments later we see another bus..that must be it. Well we get behind it and our exit is approaching and Jana realizes it has a California license plate..of course we are dying..two buses come on, thank goodness she did notice it wasn't our bus because it was going a different way than us..that would have sucked if we would have followed it the wrong way. The third bus we spotted we decided to drive beside to make sure it was the right one. The Third time is a charm. We are such Geeks!!

We then went to Medieval Nights...probably my favorite part of the trip the kids loved it. Each section is given their own night to cheer for..there is a cute story line of course we were lucky enough to have the enemy night..he was not bad looking. He was in a lot of the show. They bring you dinner that you have to eat with your hands. He threw a flower to Grace and she caught it. She kept calling him her boy...it was awesome!!

There is our NIGHT!! He was awesome and very entertaining..Grace loved him!

The next day we hit Huntington beach...gotta love it! I think it might have been the hottest day when we were there!! I played a little in the ocean...then laid out!! Got a little sun, but I never got burned and that was the plan. The boys had a great time..Jeff never left the water, he stayed in there with his students for 2 hours or so...Payton and Josh loved the water and playing in the sand. Poor Grace was cold most of the time and Jana never made it to the ocean she slept the whole time..smart lady!

Jeff is the on off to the right body surfing..that is him with all his students.

After we went to the Beach Jeff's band had their competition. It was a lot of fun to see him direct his band..never seen him do it before. They did really well and took first for their division.

GOOD JOB WEST JEFFERSON!!

This post is forever long..I will post Disneyland pictures in a couple of days!! Lucky You!!

OH HAPPY DAY!!

I am off like a dirty shirt...I am on my way to California. I am so excited. I haven't been there in years. I have never in my life been so ampted for warm weather!! I am so sick of the cold..I am sure almost all of you are in the same boat as me. Hey maybe I will get in a boat while in LA. I am going with my brother Jeff and his family and the West Jefferson High Band. I believe I am a chaperon!! Don't worry I am not riding on the bus, I am going with my sister in law in the mini. Thank goodness for that. I am going to tear it up in Cali I am going to a medieval dinner with jousting can't go wrong there, the BEACH Yee Haw (a little idaho talk for you), and Disneyland the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH...I heard one of Jeff's band students said he wanted to tackle Mickey, not a very smart idea, but hilarious if he could pull it off and not get caught. Gotta go the warmth is calling me.

Another Calling....

I am sure it is not hard for you guess what my 2nd calling is.....STAKE ASSISTANT GIRLS CAMP DIRECTOR!! I think I might be a lifer when it comes to girls camp and that's OK...because I love it. I will admit I am a little nervous...new stake, new set of girls, whole new way of running things and new people to work with. I was so blessed for the last three years to work with great people...in three years not one disagreement...can you believe that with women (I am talking about the other stake directors I worked with). If there ever was anything in questions we would just vote...I usually lost!! Ha Ha! I can't help it if I am young and have fresh ideas..totally kidding about the young part. Well wish me luck with my new calling!!