When Mom is Gone

My sisters and I try to go to a Tuachan play every year.  It doesn't always happen but this year the stars aligned and most of us were able to go.  We got to go see Mary Poppins, which was amazing.  I wouldn't expect anything else though from Tuachan.  It was fun to get out with the girls and go out to dinner and do a little shopping.  It has been a long time since we had a day out. 

While I was gone though Dad took really good care of the kids.  It looks like they had a great time, which they usually do with Dad.  Apparently, he is going to be the fun parent. I think we all knew that before though, hahaha.  

Double Trouble

These two keep us on our toes at all times.  We finally started getting some amazing vine ripened tomatoes and when we brought them in Jaylee was so excited.  That is until she took a bite of one of them.  Yep she is like her mom.  She didn't like it but cook them and yum. 

Sawyer was hungry so he grabbed the canister of oatmeal.  We told him you have to cook it first but he didn't care, he just dove right in.  Which then lead to Jaylee trying some.  Which then turned into oatmeal all over the floor.  The life of having two kids.  

Eugene To Utah

Julie came home from her mission, August 13.  My half marathon was the weekend before so we went down to help Katie get things ready for her return.  Well let me rephrase that, Travis helped while I slept in Tammy's cool basement with Jaylee, Hey, I was tired Jack. 

Julie was able to fly into Cedar City so we didn't have to drive up to Salt Lake, and fortunately she flew in at a decent time since she was state-side unlike Krista who flew in at like midnight.  It was fun having Julie on a mission in my old stomping grounds out in Northern California and Southern Oregon.  She even ran into some people we knew. 

We went to the Sizzler afterwards to eat, apparently it is tradition. It was fun there were quite a few people that came to the air port and out to eat.  Life was hectic before she got home  since school started like two weeks after but we are all glad she is back. 

The Outlaw Half Marathon

Back in June when we ran the Ragnar our team mates, Mickell and Crystal, told us they were in charge of the Beaver Outlaw Half Marathon and we should do it.  I thought yeah right.  Nod your head and smile right.  After doing the Bryce Canyon Half I decided why not.  I just did one Half I can do another I am in great shape.  I convinced Krista to run it with me but she got called out on Fire two days before, bummer but a girl has to make money right?  

I was a little nervous about the course because I have driven the road it is on a million times and it ain't going to be an easy breezy down hill canyon run.  No sir, this course has a lot of ups and downs.  Nothing too extreme just ups and downs. 

The night before the race we headed over to Mariah's house to settle in and relax, hahahaha, with 5 kids running around yeah right.  Mariah took me up to pick up my packet-which were full of great swag.  We learned there were going to be just over 30 in the race.  Again my nerves got going again thinking, I am going to be all by myself the whole race- not that I would get lost just nobody to focus on to try to catch or stay ahead of.  I am a big fan of running with a LOT of people.  I feel like the adreline from everybody else helps me along. 

The starting line was great.  People were so friendly and it was fun since I knew lots of people. The volunteers were awesome.  I think the race had more volunteers than runners, which made it amazing.  They were really helpful.  We all lined and were off.  The first part was really weird.  We did not have a rabbit of sorts to lead the way for everybody.  I just kept with my pace and soon I was leading the race.  I started to get nervous because at the starting line there were lots of fit men, retired marines, and other military men, where were they.  I wasn't even going that fast just an 8 min mile.  I lead the race for about the first 2 miles then I twisted my ankle.  At the time I didn't think too much of it. A couple of people passed me but I was still doing well.  It wasn't until about mile 7 that I started to really slow down.  Apparently, I wasn't in as good as shape as I thought I was in, or maybe it was the two huge hills I just climbed. The race directors did a great job of having and aid station every 2 miles.  That was awesome. Around mile 8 or 9 Travis came around with the kids.  They had finally woke up.  They were both excited to see them and I was excited to see my little family.  Around mile 10 my ankle and calf was really starting to bother me, so again I kept going as fast as my body would let but it was pretty slow.  I ran with a new running friend, Shelly.  She was hurting too so we just kept up with each other and talked for 1.5 miles.  It was around this time that I ran into the best aid station with Karma and Amy.  They cheered for me, did tricks for me, and rehydrated me.  They were just what I needed.  

I finished the half in 2 hours and 5 min.  A lot slower than I thought.  It leaves room for improvement next year though.  I would highly recommend this race to anybody, not just because it is in Beaver, but the course is gorgeous, the people were great, the swag was fun, it was just a great race. 

County Fair Time

The Piute County Fair starts out the same for us pretty much every year, well every year that I am not pregnant or just had a baby, we run the annual 5k.  The 5K started out as the Brayden Blackwell Memorial Scholarship race and since Brayden was a big part of our lives we all like to try to run the race.  This year there were not many of us who could run the race but those who were able to went out with a bang! Miss Krista won the whole race, I guess hiking on fires is a great way to cross train. Jordan ran really well too.  I came in 3rd  for the females and PR'ed on the course.  I was pretty happy with myself.  I scoped out the bathroom situation before the race started just in case I had to stop like I have in years past- that is another story for another time though. The race had some amazing prizes this year and a great raffle.  It was very well done. After the adult race there is a kids race.  The little kids just have to run a 200 M dash.  Sawyer ran this year to get his own medal.  He keeps telling me he wants to do a marathon like I do to get medals like mine but we think he should probably start a little smaller.  Sawyer wanted me to run the 200M with him.  He took about 5 steps and turfed it.  We still crossed the finish line though and got his medal.  He was really excited.

The parade is after the races.  We took home tons of candy.  I was super excited.  Sawyer was a little shy at first but once he got the hang of it he got a little competitive.  Jaylee even got in on the action. The park with the games and blow up slides would have been a lot of fun if my kids were a little older.  We played a few games but had to wait in line forever which really made Sawyer antsy which in turn made for one hot and bothered mommy.  We played our games and got our prizes though.  

In the afternoon we took naps and recuperated.  We played with the new toys we got at the park.  Travis hitched the kite up to the fishing pole to make it easier to us for the little ones.  We started flying at Grandma's but the power lines kept getting in the way so we headed up to the elementary school.  We got the kite really flying high there.  It almost lifted Jaylee off the ground.  We sure do love our engineer for a dad.   

After the kids went to bed we indulged in our favorite activity of the the fair the dance with a live band.  I think the band has been coming for the last ten years or so.  It is so much fun, a little crazy with a lot of people who may or may not be violating the Word of Wisdom but it makes for some good times.  Krista got cornered by some silly guy whom we then had to avoid the rest of the evening.  Travis and I tried to do our country swinging but eventually there were too many people.  It is fun to dance though. We had lots of laughs and lots of fun. 

These two on a Sunday afternoon lounging at Grandmas.  I am glad they like each other now and I hope they continue to want to be close as they grow up. ..... We can all hope right. 

Someone gave me an ice cream cone, now who wants a kiss?  Daddy???

Lebaron Lake

Travis and I were fixin to go to Piute for the County Fair, which is quite possibly the coolest county fair I have ever been to, and we thought why not go have a good old fashioned "weinie roast" on the mountain.  We invited my grandparents to join in the festivities of the evening.  I love the Beaver (Tushar) Mountains.  They are so beautiful and peaceful.  We used to spend a lot of time on them growing up.  My dad loved taking us on "wild goose chases" my mom called them.  

We found an excellent spot that Travis and I actually constructed during out days with the Forest Service.  We set up camp and ate our dinner.  After dinner Travis and Grandpa wanted to try their hand at a little fishing.  Grandma and I cleaned up camp and met the boys down by the lake.  I got a little restless so I decided to hike around the lake with Miss Jaylee.  She is a great companion,  always good for a laugh, listens to everything I have to say, and doesn't say too much.  She did get a little tired on the ride and fell asleep.  I guess she got tired of me talking. 

It was a great evening.  We didn't catch any fish though.  During my travels around the lake nobody had had much luck with the fish though.  We packed up and headed home to get ready for the Fair the next day.