DID IT

I had talked about doing a 1/2 marathon before (with Cameron), but never got serious until after Levi was born. I don't know if it was the post-baby body that motivated me, or that I was 30, or both, but a little more than 12 weeks ago I started training (I found the program online...looked good to me!), and now I can say that I DID IT!...I ran 13.2 miles in 2 hours, 13 min., 34 sec., and here's the proof...

Our pre-race dinner at Macaroni Grill

My spaghetti was so good I had to take some home...

London's Run

Saturday, January 30, 2010

I wasn't expecting to run together, but right before the race started Jared spotted Cameron and Jenny and I am glad we stuck together. We took it nice and slow throughout...in fact, Jenny and I talked the entire time. I never even once put my earphones in to listen to my music! Right before we rounded the corner to the finish I told Cameron and Jenny that I was going to sprint to the finish line. Upon hearing this, and not wanting to be beat by his sister, Cameron yelled, "I can't let you beat me!", and started running as fast as he could. It felt like I was running so fast, and we later joked that we were probably going really slow, but we had a good time goofing around and giving it our all at the finish. Cameron ended up beating me by a few seconds!

The finish! Can you spot me on the left?

WHEW!

I have to say, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I was comfortable the entire time and never once "hit a wall." I know a lot of that had to do with the fact that we set a great pace from the beginning. My knees and feet were aching towards the end, but I still felt good. Who knows...maybe I'll get brave and try a marathon sometime?! But right now I am getting ready for THIS. Anybody want to join me?

RIDIN'

Sometimes when Levi is asleep I'll sit out on my driveway and let the boys ride their bikes up and down the sidewalk. Wyatt is speedy. Luke tries to keep up. I laugh at Luke when he lifts his legs up and coasts, and then he gets a little off balance and has to catch himself. They love their bikes. I love them. We're all happy.

"IT WOULD BE AWESOME"

Oh, how I love my Lukey boy! He certainly is "one-of-a-kind." Tonight after getting him dressed in his pj's he told me he wanted to wear his, "Nite's." I told him he didn't need to put shoes on because he was just going to bed. His reply, "It would be awesome." So, we put his Nike's on...and it was awesome. He loves his Nike's...and his "hiting boots." Luke likes shoes, period. Luke is a silly little guy. He loves to laugh and make others laugh. He likes babies, bikes, fruit snacks, copying Wyatt, dancing, jumping off high things, running really fast, and cuddling. He has quite the little opinion, from what he will wear to bed, to what cologne he wants to wear for church. He is a stubborn little fella...very strong willed. Once he asked for gum in the car, and when I told him no he cried for 5 min. straight. He will bug me and whine for what feels like eternity when he wants something. He also gets away with a lot because he's just too cute. He is pretty quiet most of the time (for the first year and a half of his life), but has been trying so hard to make conversation. He says really good prayers and can repeat most anything. Luke is a really good sleeper...in fact, he has been known to sleep in until after 9 am! All the little girls love "baby Luke." Everyone thinks Luke is so cute, and that he has great hair. Luke is very shy and doesn't particularly like big crowds, even if it's family. He will stay right by me until the crowd dies down, and then he'll let loose. When he does take a nap during the day (rarely) he wakes up in a really bad mood and has to be held for at least 10 min. before he will stop crying. Luke likes to eat....especially sweets. Once when we asked him what his favorite food was he replied, "rocks." But he really likes cereal and chips. He calls Levi, "Uvi", and calls himself, "Ute." Jared noticed this and decided to help him with his K's. So now he says his name very clearly and really gives you the K. It's great. He wants to be independent and do things himself ("self!"). If we are running late and I pick him up to put him in his seat he will cry until I get him out and let him crawl up into the car seat. He doesn't care at all about not being potty trained. He likes to wear his underwear...over his diaper. Luke has a great big smile! Whenever I take his picture he wants to look at it right away. Once we get home he wants to take his clothes off immediately. He is very athletic and can throw! Loves the color blue. He loves his brothers and gives the best hugs and kisses.

For his 2nd birthday we got him this bike (no pedals) so he could learn to balance and never have training wheels. Even with the seat at it's lowest he couldn't reach until just recently(he prefers sitting on the bar because he gets better balance). He is really good at it now!

Showing off his fort with "stockings."

Christmas 2009

Playing Big Buck Hunter ("tocking" the gun).

LEVI JOHN

If Wyatt or Luke hears Levi waking up from a nap, or in the morning, they rush into his room, dump out all of his toys in the crib, and join him for some fun! Levi loves the company! Levi is growing up waaay too fast. At 7 months he sits, stands (pulls himself up to standing), eats anything off the floor, has a temper (when a toy gets taken away, or when he gets hurt), is extremely happy, has had a double ear infection (I didn't know because he was still happy), eats, eats, eats (but is still only in the 10th percentile), impatient when hungry, sleeps beautifully, takes 3 naps, and just got his 2 bottom teeth. I am in-love. What would I do without my little Levi John?!

BIG BOYS

One of the boys' Christmas presents this year was a bunk bed! Luke (he'll be 3 in June) has still been sleeping in a crib, and the room is so small with the crib and Wyatt's bed, that we thought we'd save a little space and get a bunk bed! Luke loves his "big boy" bed and hasn't had any problems yet. He is such a heavy sleeper, so even though he's fallen off several times, he stays asleep until I move him! Wyatt was a little nervous at first (he's on the top), but he has become more comfortable with the whole height issue. They love their new bed!

MERRY MERRY

We had a lovely Christmas this year. Full of food, family, music, laughter, parties, and surprises.

~CHRISTMAS EVE~

I tried really hard to get everything done in time so that Jared and I could relax Christmas Eve, but it just didn't happen! Once again I was finishing up a sewing project, and once again I was saved by my mother-in-law! Lucky for us Jared's parents dropped in on us offering to help get everything ready for the morning. We didn't get into bed until well after midnight.

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to open one present ( pajamas). I have to really play it up because I know the boys are disappointed when they see what it is. Oh well, it's tradition! We ran out of time to bake Christmas cookies this year, so Wyatt and Luke gathered together a plate full of candy we had around. Notice Jared/Santa in the background...Once we had everything set Luke decided to take a sip of the eggnog! ~CHRISTMAS MORNING~

This year we decided to put the boys' stockings on their beds so they would see them in the morning. We woke up (around 7ish) to Wyatt's excited voice telling Luke to wake up and dumping his stocking out in his bed. Once the presents were all opened we started to get ready for our traditional brunch with my family. I can't believe I didn't get any pictures, well actually I can...our house was a beautiful, chaotic mess! Plus we were all stuffing ourselves on the eggs, bacon, cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate, orange juice, and fresh fruit to even care about pictures! We certainly missed Carrie and Dan, who were in Utah this year. Our day wasn't done yet....after my family left we then joined some of Jared's family over at Ladd and Janet's house...but wait, not done yet! Finally, we ended up over at Jared's parents house for more food and a movie. Whew! Christmas day is always a busy one and I wouldn't want it any other way! Levi had a good time playing with all of the wrapping paper.Who knew that a big bucket of dollar store items would be such a "hit" this year?! Thanks Aunt Carrie and Uncle Dan (I should start taking my own advice)!

Love, Santa and Mrs. Clause

RUN RUDOLPH, RUN!

The second race of my career--5K Reindeer Fun Run in Tempe. I saw this online and thought it sounded fun. Santa, Mrs. Clause, and Rudolph were there! Christmas music was playing...so why weren't my kids happy? Well, it was a little early (we stayed up really late the night before for the Williams party--once again, no pictures!) and a little bit cold. Jared headed back to the car to change a diaper and missed me crossing the finish line. Oh well. I knew I could handle a 3.2 mile run, but wasn't prepared for the uphills (I finished in 31 min)! Thankfully the boys cheered up a little once we spotted Rudolph.