ZEITGEIST HALF MARATHON!!

This weekend Andy and I got to get away for his 40th Birthday that is coming up on Tuesday! Part of the "getaway" was to participate in our first Half Marathon together! Wow! It was so much fun!!!
Those who know me know all too well how much anxiety I get over things that are unknown to me. So Friday was spent pretty much in knots. I was trying to decide what to expect, what I would need to wear, if I was prepared enough for this event. We had heard that the course was very hilly, and we hadn't ran too many hills here in La Grande, so I was concerned!
We did get to enjoy a nice quiet drive over to Boise together and that was so wonderful! It's nice to get to talk and not have to be interupted or not be able to hear each other! Then a wonderful pasta dinner at Olive Garden:) We had been looking forward to that part!
Saturday morning we woke to a BEAUTIFUL day!! The sun was shining and the colors of the trees were so incredible there! We got ready and went and ate and got to the event. Wow, the butterflies were amazing in my stomach. I have to learn how to get over that part. It isn't too helpful:) We found our friend who was running also and got ourselves ready and lined up. There were 1000 runners and the energy there was incredibly inspiring.


The music and the announcer was pumping everyone up and then he started the countdown... As I looked around I felt very unprepared. These other people were real runners... They knew what they were doing and I felt like such a fish out of water! Then we started off!! And guess what? I ran! I knew how to do it... One foot in front of the other, over and over and over again:) I kept on moving and a lot of people passed me, and we passed a lot of people, but we did it!!
Andy was so amazing! He stayed with me the whole time, even though it was an easy run for him at my pace, he kept me motivated and it was so fun to run together! The scenery was seriously the most inspiring thing! It was such a beautiful course! We ran the first 3 miles UPHILL... so yes, the course was hilly, but, it kept things interesting and my body got a chance to not get too bored doing the same thing over and over. It was such a relief when we finally got to the downhill after 3 miles of uphill. And then the flat seemed like a complete relief after the downhill:) Mile 6.5 to mile 8 were an intense uphill. I ran VERY slowly during part of it... in fact I think that a lady may have passed me walking her power walk, but, I RAN... In fact I was very happy with the fact that I was able to RUN the entire 13.1 miles! That was my goal. To not have to stop and walk, but run the entire time, and I did it!!! My speed was a slow speed overall, but considering the hills we climbed, I was actually surprised it was what it was!


The most inspiring part to me for the entire day was the amount of determination in one small space of the world. You figure there were 1000 people doing something that was out of their comfort zone. Even for those there who were marathoners who were there for a training run, 13.1 miles is no simple feat. I love these events, to see all of the different people in different places of life, completing a goal they set for themselves. There were people of all ages, and all sizes:) It was incredible how you end up with a group of people that you are all about the same speed and this is who you kind of "work" with to get to the end... I love organized events! I think everyone should experience an organized 'race' at some point in life. It's encouraging and uplifting!!!
So we finished:) And then got to EAT with some good friends!!!! We are all about consuming the calories after an event!!




I have to say, this was one of the best days of my life! It was so amazing to get to accomplish something that I set out to do. Something that for me, was not easy, but it was so worth all the training time and the pain from pushing "just a little harder". But most of all, it was so fun to accomplish this with Andy! He is a amazing to me! Always so patient and encouraging! He was so kind to remind me to eat my GOO!!! (ugh) and to stay hydrated and helped me to stay positive and not have any of my usual negative self talk!!! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband who supports me and encourages me to try harder! I love him so much and love that we were able to spend this day together!!! Thanks Andy, for being so incredible:)

BRAINS

So my favorite moment today is this... As I am curling my hair Grace is looking in the mirror and holds her hands around her head and says, "Mom, is this how big my brains are?" I look and say, "Yep, You have a lot of brains don't you?!" She smiles and turns to look at me and says..."Wow! What does it mean that your head is so big?" I smiled and say "Because I am older so I have more brains..." :) She just looks back at herself and says... "YOU MUST KNOW A LOT OF THINGS!!"
Do you think this logic will work when she is 16??? Hope so:) I so love this girl!!

TRIP TO LAGOON!!

We are finally home from our INSANELY crazy summer trip! We must have been crazy when we planned it, but it was sooooo much fun! It's just going to take the rest of the summer to recooperate I think!
So after arriving late on the 3rd, we woke up early to go and meet my brother and his amazing family at Lagoon. We had 7 kids and the 2 of us and headed back into the car. For us, coming from La Grande, we had already had a TON of driving.... but when in Utah, do as the Utahns do!!
We had so much fun at Lagoon. It had been years since we had been. In fact the last time we had been Spencer was 1. We took him on the Ferris Wheel and while at the top of the ginormous thing, Spencer decided to DROP his binkie! All we could do was watch as it fell making the "ting, ting..." sound as it hit every surface on the ferris wheel going down. So we were out to make some new and improved memories of the place of fun!!
The weather was wonderfully bareable and things were not crowded at all!

First shot of the day!! All excited, then the twins saw a ride out of the corner of their eye... So much bigger than what we get at the County Fair!!


Andy spending all his hard earned money to get us in!!!

We were quite the group running around the park together. My favorite thing about Utah is that you don't get stopped everywhere by people asking "Are these ALL your kids?" Really makes it nice!

My favorite part about this shot was the maintenance guy from Lagoon that jumped in the pic with us!! Dallin was VERY confused:)

Rattlesnake Rapids was a BIG hit with our group!!! The sign reads: "You will get wet, you may get soaked." Didn't read that part til the 2nd time on! It Should read..."You will get soaked, You may want to rethink!!!"




After getting soaked!!! Funny boy, he did NOT like being that wet!! Even though he laughed during the whole ride!!



These guys didn't mind getting soaked!!! In fact they jumped back on right after getting off.




Their SCARED faces!!!


The two BIG boys on the Colosus. Spencer is so not the one who rides the roller coasters, but the peer pressure to do so was great!! Then come to find out Talyon isn't either!! Great job boys, it was fun wasn't it!!
Love this shot, it so makes my stomach hurt!!!

The brothers figuring out what is next... Actually Dallin just loved looking at the map!

There is always something to climb on there. This was a neat big ball that rolled and had water coming off of it.

The bumper cars were a hit!! For everyone!








The two monkeys climbing... Does a normal mom tell the kids to get down from there? Or "Wait, I want a picture of that!"?



End of the day... Everyone was getting so tired! Legs were tired too!

The highlight of the day was this tender hearted little guy. We got into the car for the long ride home with a bunch of exausted kids wishing they had gotten ONE MORE RIDE... and Dallin pipes up..."Thank you Mom and Dad, for taking us to Lagoon." Melts my heart when the 3 year old is the one who is grateful and happy to do something fun!! Love that kid! What a fun fun day!

Aladdin

Kyndall just spent the month of June participating in a production of Aladdin in Elgin. She has really found her niche in performing and loves the opportunity to learn more about acting and performing! We have really enjoyed watching her work hard and putting on the shows. She did Annie in May and that was a lot of fun making new friends and learning the way of a performing family of practices every day and til midnight the week of the show:) But it's all way fun...

I had to catch a shot of her in her Harem Girl costume! It was way cute...

I love the way this picture turned out!!

Elmers 90th Birthday

Andys Grandpa Perry celebrated his 90th Birthday last week. We had a little party for him to celebrate and had a great time as a family. After we got home I had realized we have very few pictures of the kids and he and Helen. And what a rare oportunity to get some 4 generation shots with the kids. So we loaded up the car on a Sunday afternoon and got a few.

Three generations! These were fun to take... But it was getting dark quickly and the bugs were out. I think poor granddad got some bites.


All of the boys!



This one is of all of my kids and Great Grandpa Perry... I wished we had Grandma Perry out there, but I didn't feel good about taking her out into the bugs in the evening.


One of Great Grandma Perry! She still is such a beautiful woman, even at 88!!


Great Grandpa Perry at 90!! I feel so blessed to be able to have them as a part of our lives! They are truly amazing people.

And my favorite picture of the evening! I love how Elmer and Dallin are snuggling! It makes me smile!

Solstice Triathalon

Last weekend Andy participated in the local Exterra Triathalon. Exterra is a series of Triathalons that occur all across the US, and we are fortunate enough to get one right here in our back door at Morgan Lake.
It was a 1 mile swim, 22 mile bike ride and a 6 mile run. I am amazed at how hard Andy worked to get ready for each event. The struggle with a Triathalon is that there are 3 events to train for, 3 very different events to transition into while doing the event, and a ton of different muscle groups that are involved in so many different ways to work over the event!
There were 119 participants in the Solstice Triathalon. It was a bit chilly here that day and that makes the mucky Morgan Lake even less pleasureable with the cold water. But they all sported their wetsuits and got in ready for the start signal!!!

The swim was Andys most recent endeavor, therefore the weakest of the 3. But he did sooo well. He came in about middle of the pack! Then it was time to head in, transition out of the wet clothes and into bike clothes, and then out for the bike ride.

Andy swimming in to shore.

The hardest part of the day... Changing from the wetsuit!

Off onto the long bike ride!! The terrain for the ride was extremely rocky and steep! Andy had rode part of it before, but it had rained the night before and was muddy and slick to add to the tricky terrain. The woman who organizes the event locally each year fell in the first part of the ride and ended up breaking her collar bone. That speaks for how tough the ride was...

Andy is in the background taking off on the bike while there are still swimmers in the lake. Chad is in the pontoon. He got to be one of the people who made sure the swimmers didn't drown!! We didn't get to try out his CPR abilities though thankfully! Everyone made it out of the water safely and Chad made it back in first place for pontoon rowers!!!! Good job Chad!!!

The transition area.

Andy coming in from the ride. He was behind two riders when they came into view. But as I transitioned where I was so I could take his picture coming through the finish line, he passed both of them. I was so bummed that I missed it! Andy ended up being the 6th one in from the bike ride. He really does great on the bike! While he was transitioning into his running shoes he was in such a hurry that he didn't notice there were only a few other bikes that had come back so far! He got on his shoes and off for the really hard trail run!

Andy coming in from the run! Morgan Lake was a beautiful area for this fun event! It was just gorgeous up there during this time of year!



Andy came in 21st place overall! Amazingly well for first time Triathlete and in such a difficult terrain! It was so much fun watching him do so well!!!

I Am Back!!!

Wow! It's been a while huh? I guess I had lost my something!!! But I am back! And wow am I back! I am so excited to start logging our life here again and share my thoughts and feelings about life! Right now it is busy as ever with soccer starting already and having 3 teams. Aladdin is this weekend and Kyndall has a small part, but its been so fun for her to be a part of it! If you live in the area and don't have tickets, this is a show to go to! They do a great job and it's something fun and different to do in the valley! Elgin Opera House.... its only 20 miles and so worth the drive! Day camp for Cub Scouts this week and thats been fun for the boys! SPencer is there as a helper and Wyatts last year doing day camp! Fun that they could do it together!

So I have lots to share and pictures galore.... but have to run right now! Enjoy the sun and smile big! It's a beautiful day to be happy and to shine:)