The Wasatch Back

Okay, so this was my awesome team for the big Wasatch Back Race. Our team name was "Chasing Chocolate" and I'd say we were one of the more popular vans...passing out candy and cruising around with posters of chocolate pie on our car. Who wouldn't love us?


Melissa

Brittany and Mary (forgive me for that top)

Rose of Sharon

Patty

Kristi

It's hard to put into words how incredible this race was for me. First and foremost, I accomplished something I had no idea I was even capable of. I pretty much stink at running and had some moments where I felt like I could NOT go on...but guess what??! I DID. I did not walk a single time. I ran. And dangit, I may have been the absolute slowest person on the team, but who the heck cares? I ran it and therefore I am freaking awesome.

Second, I absolutely loved the dynamics of our fun little van (or suburban if you will). We couldn't have been six more different ladies and we had the greatest time. Not many of us knew eachother before this race and now I feel like I have several new friends. I guess this was just a bonding experience that I needed. Sometimes I forget how much I love meeting new people. Good times, amazing ladies.

Third, I got lots of praying in and I am telling you...running in the dark and having a moment to myself was incredible. It was a good thinking/meditating/praying time. I loved it.

Fourth, laughter and extreme fatigue is great for the soul every once in a while, especially combined. We were loopy and silly and dangit, those honeybuckets were hilarious. We were six grown women acting like giddy school girls, and probably obnoxious ones at that. It was wonderfully fun.

I am telling you, this is an experience everyone should have. If you enjoy running at all (or even if you don't), you should run the Wasatch Back. It will always be one of my favorite memories ever. I'm hooked!

And by the way, somebody should have let me know just how chubby and yucky I looked in my first running outfit. I realized the shirt was a bit snug, but those pictures...! If anyone else tags me in a facebook photo wearing my man shorts and teeny green shirt...friendship over.

Flashback Friday

Cheapskate

Guess how much all these groceries cost?



$8.52!!!

Yes, I have turned into a coupon clipping nut. I LOVE it. It is a triumphant feeling to find a good deal. A GREAT deal! I was just recently turned on to coupon/sale grocery shopping and find great enjoyment in it. I have been thoroughly enjoying weekly trips to the DI for several months now (talk about some fabulous finds!).

Finding awesome deals is my new favorite past-time :) Who'da thought?!

Torrential Downpour

So do any of you remember that torrential rainstorm that came out of nowhere the other night? Well, guess where two of my children were when it hit? Out on a bike ride :)



I let Isabelle and Jonah go exploring on their bikes, something I NEVER let them do because I am officially the world's most nervous and paranoid mother. Anyway, I gave Belle my cell phone and away they went. I talked to them about five minutes before the storm hit and all was well. I started vacuuming and was completely oblivious to the weather. The phone rang and it was Isabelle frantically yelling, "MOM!! YOU HAVE GOT TO COME PICK US UP!!" Then the line went dead. I was sure Jonah had gotten hit by a car or something awful.

At that point I heard a big boom of thunder and looked outside. HOLY CRAP! There was thunder and lightening and HAIL and wind like you wouldn't believe. Seriously, this storm came out of NOWHERE. I ran to the car and set out to find my children. The rain and hail were coming down so strongly that I couldn't even see out my windshield. I wasn't sure I would even be able to find the kids. But I did, about a half mile away. They were BAWLING and SOPPING WET. Between sobs, Jonah kept hollering, "I will NEVER go on a bike ride again!!!" His arms were bright red from being pelted with a million little hail balls :)



These pictures don't even do the situation justice. I could literally wring every article of their clothing out and get a substantial amount of water. I assured them that one day they would look back on this and LAUGH. It certainly made me laugh. So much for me trying to give my kids a little bit of freedom. See, it's not a good idea :)

Visit with MOM

How awesome was it to have my mother here for Mother's Day? Well, pretty dang awesome. It's been a while and I do love her dearly. We crammed what we could into her week long visit...a small birthday celebration (for my mom...the fuzzy dog slippers were a hit),a few baseball games, one dance recital, a Mother's Day afternoon with all of the fam...Call's and Whitings..., and let's not forget one day with the flu (we just love to share our viruses with visitors!), lovely pedicures for the girls, some girly shopping, and ice cream eating (of course!). I'm sure I missed something, but those were the highlights.

My mom had to laugh because LITERALLY every evening around 6:00ish this conversation went down in my home...

Me: We're having _________ (fill in the blank) for dinner!
Eli: I hate __________!
Me: Well, that's too bad. You have to eat it anyway.
Eli: I WON'T
Me: Oh, you will, or you'll go to bed!
Eli: I WON'T! And I won't go to bed either!

Followed by Eli doing handstands on his dinner chair and me nagging non-stop in my best stern mom-voice (which is obviously no longer threatening). After about an hour of that, we turn the timer on for five minutes and if he's not done he goes to bed. Which is usually about 50% of the time. My mom's advice? Record this conversation and play it each evening to save my breath. He is a consistent little bugger.

Clara was quite the Grandma's girl during this trip. She loved the jewels and pretty things and the cuddles and being held whenever she squealed just so. Grandma taught her lots of new words, the cutest being "purple".

Enjoy the pics!

Love this girl...

This is why I love being a mom...

Sweet Eli and Abram gathered this lovely bouquet of "flowers" for me, then Eli took this picture of me and Abram and my flowers :) He's a great shot, eh? Well, I loved it.