Craters of the Moon!

I was not sure what to expect from Craters of the Moon, but it is a really neat place and everyone should go and check it out. Luckily the weather cleared up while we were there. The best part was going into the caves. We could only go into 2 out of the 5. The others still had snow in them. 4 out of the 5 you have to have flashlights or you can't see. I can't wait to go back and explore the other 3 caves. It is pretty cool to see the where the lava flowed and it is a little strange that this is out in Idaho! Sorry there are a million pictures, I just couldn't decide which ones too use.

Here is Gracie climbing a HUGE hill that over looked the whole park!
Everyone at the top!
Jeff's family heading back down..such a beautiful place!

Josh and Payton Running down the hill!

Josh and Payton after running down the hill!
The family at the top of one of the Volcano's!This a Dewdrop cave..not a very big cave, but tricky to get down into it. This is us at the top of dewdrop cave.
This is Indian cave/tunnel. It is by far the coolest. You actually start at one end and make you way through it climbing over rocks to make it to the end. I think the kids really enjoyed this one. Heading up a huge pile of rocks.

We also had to slide down snow to get to the other side.

Josh and Payton at the end of the tunnel!
Look at how hot we are!
Jeff coming out at the end of the tunnel. I actually got a good shot of him..he normally makes awful faces.
We ended the trip with fighting lizards!!! Go figure!

Memorial Day Weekend!!

I was lucky enough to go to Jeff and Jana's house for Memorial day weekend. On Saturday Jeff and Jana had to go to a funeral so I had the kids most of the day. We had a fun day. First we went to the school to play on the toys. Payton and I decided to roller blade. By the way I haven't done that in years, but just happen to have them in my trunk. I did bite it pretty hard, it was stinkin hilarious. Then we went out to eat at Ike's Pizza...at a gas station! Of course we ate there. Then on the way home each kid took a turn sitting on my lap and driving my car. I am pretty sure I am the coolest aunt ever. I do not have any pictures because my camera's batteries were dead! DARN IT!

Then later that night Jeff and Jana came home with hot dogs and smore stuff. So we had a fire in the back and roasted hot dogs and made smores. It was a blast. I think Josh ate 100 marshmallows. Payton is now a pyro..that is all he wanted to do all weekend was have a fire. It was a lot of fun. We all stunk, so immediate showers when we went inside! Fun Time Fun Times!!



I will tell you about Craters of the Moon in my next blog..your so lucky!!

Another day Another Mullet...

So my cousin Sarah sends me this email to me with pictures of us back in the day. All I have to say is that my MULLET lives!! I seriously think that I had a fatty mullet through all my childhood days...Every picture I have has one and they are all different. The permed mullet is every ones favorite, the growing out the perm mullet and now pictured below the feathered mullet. I was HOT! Seriously did I not have a mirror at my house! Sarah which kid are you holding...Karen..she is so blond! Whats up with my face..I think Sarah ripped one..ha ha! First off excuse my face, apparently I am not photogenic either. This was on Halloween and I have no idea what I am dressed up as. I can't even begin to tell you. I kind of look like a clowned up Raggedy Ann Doll. I am pretty sure I put together my own ensemble. I think I like the random costumes..keeps you guessing! I think Sarah is a Nun a flying Nun!
Thanks Sarah for a good laugh and a walk down memory lane. I think everyone should post an ugly childhood picture of themselves. Obviously I have no shame...Go ahead and Post em!! I can't wait to see them. By the way mine will always be worse than yours!!

I tag EVERYONE!

My two buddies....

For those of you who don't know I live with my cousins Scott and Erin and their kids Kate and Dylan. The other night Kate decided to do my hair. She spent an hour doing it. She kept saying to me Don't Move and Perfect...sounds just like her mother. Don't worry the straightener wasn't on. Every time I went to take a picture she would move and I just couldn't get a great one..these will have to do. Thanks Kate for doing my hair. It has never looked better!


Yes little Miss Kate is bringing the come over back...Good Work!

I was packing to go on a trip and when I returned to my room this is what I found! Apparently Dylan thought he was coming with me..he is so goofy sometimes...I know where is gets it from!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME....

This is what I woke up to this morning. I can't believe it, today is May day and there is snow. Last time I checked May day was supposed to be happy and sunny, instead it is Crappy and Snowy!This day is ruined forever!! (I need a drink..non alcoholic of course) If you can't tell I am totally irritated. I hope all of your May Day is much better than mine!!





PS...I took these while driving in my car...tried to stay out of it as much as possible!!

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?