Heber Valley Girls Camp

We went up to Heber Valley Girls Camp last Thursday for service work. We had a blast! The missionary workers had cut down huge aspen trees and we cut them down into smaller sections and loaded them up in a tractor and cleaned up lots of dead tree branches and things. JT used the chainsaw, a LOT! I prefer to just work and not have to operate any machinery. It was a long day, we worked from 9 am to about 3:30, but it was beautiful, the people were awesome, and it just felt good. I got sunburned pretty bad, and I had wood chips in my hair, my shirt, my shoes, my socks, everywhere, but it was unforgettable. We want to spend a weekend there next year, it would be so much fun!

Bear Lake and Top of Utah Marathon

Bear Lake!!

In the water, and then JT doing his best Uncle Rico!

What a weekend! We drove up to Logan on Friday for the marathon and I got to see Bear Lake for the first time, so beautiful! We had such a good time. We sat at Rendezvous Beach for a little while and then got shakes--I went for their well-known raspberry (so delish!) and JT got chocolate chip banana---I smelled it and it made me gag! At least he liked it...

Later that night JT got feeling sick with a sore throat and body aches (poor guy) and so we stayed in at the hotel and I got take-out Olive Garden for my carb load. Yum. And so affordable as take-out--less than $10, and didn't have to wait for an hour like everyone else. Fools! ;)

The race was awesome! We ran down Blacksmith Fork Canyon and into Logan. Let me just give a shout-out to any Logan locals that cheered along the way--you rock!!! My ipod ran out of juice at mile 7 (you could say I was a little unprepared for this race, forgot all kinds of stuff!) and I was pretty bummed about it. But as I took my ear phones out of my ears, I started hearing the neatest things--like the sound of the wind coming out of the canyon, people cheering me on, seriously, complete strangers specifically looking at me and cheering me on. They were the greatest! One guy yelled to me "don't you let this hill get the best of you, girl, you go!" It was just what I needed. And I couldn't believe how many people I was able to meet and talk to during the race. I even sang out loud (really loud, I'm afraid) parts of Eye of the Tiger with some people who had it playing in their front yard--we were singing and waving our hands up it was so REAL. So really, who needs an ipod, anyway? :) I got kinda teary-eyed around mile 20. I felt so blessed--I was thinking about all of the wonderful things in my life and how truly lucky I am. It was all about positivity. I missed you Beth, but I thought about you and "maintain contact"!

I was doing great until about mile 22/23, then I got tired, but I finished at 4:41, which was 9 minutes faster than the Ogden marathon, so I was happy. Next marathon I want to finish in less than 4:37. We'll see! Wish me luck!

JT saw me finish--he had to get my attention, I didn't even see him. He took a picture of me. It was horrible. My headband had slid back a few times during the race and I just moved it back up and my hair was everywhere!!! Can you tell? Eew...

After the race, poor JT was feeling so sick that he went to InstaCare, he thought he had strep. It was a virus though, so they couldn't do anything for him. We left Logan and I dropped JT off at Dean and Donna's and went into work. I couldn't get the night off, and I felt so good that I didn't need to call in sick. I felt great until about midnight and then I started feeling like a 105 yr. old woman, with a really bad right knee, and hip pain, foot pain, leg pain, you name it. And yesterday was brutal. But today I am walking like a 75 year old, so it's all good! I can't wait for the next marathon. JT and I are actually going to run the Salt Lake 1/2 marathon together in April. Should be a blast!!

Utah State Fair

On Thursday, JT and I got to see Landon again and we picked up Davis and took him to the Fair. We had so much fun! Davis loved petting the ponies, sheep, and goats. We really had a great time. Davis even made my day--you'll know what I am talking about when you watch the video :)

We shared a corndog (it was the best one ever!), onion rings, strawberry limeade, and I decided I needed my own huge scone. As Rachel Ray would say, it was YUM-O and soooo disgustingly unhealthy. But, when in Rome...

And as my friend Joel mentioned, "if you ever feel under-dressed at the fair, you know you have issues!" lol

Something neat that happened at the fair-- We went inside this building and saw hundreds of paintings by local artists. Everything was beautiful. JT and I each decided we would pick our favorite painting and then we would guess eachother's favorite. We have pretty different taste when it comes to some of the art inside of there. I like more modern, he likes more traditional. But, when it came time for JT to guess the painting that was my favorite, he totally guessed wrong. Even when I told him what section it was in. We realized that our favorites were in the same section. I guessed which one I thought was his fave, and I was wrong. My second guess of his favorite painting was right! And it was the same one I picked out as my favorite! I couldn't believe it! Of all the paintings there, we each chose this one small painting tucked in the back of the room as our favorite. It was of an up-close view of an aspen grove. Notice the picture.

As we left the fair, Davis said "good-bye balls (he saw some basketballs), good-bye fair". So adorable. That boy is CUTE! He fell asleep on the way home. What a good day!!!

Landon!!!

Melissa had Landon on Labor Day--how ironic! This little boy is so very cute and so precious! He weighed 8 lbs. and was 20 inches long when he came. He has the softest head of hair ever and doesn't seem to cry much (at least from our point of view). He looks a lot like Matt. Melissa looked so great in the hospital and she and Matt are such good parents! We are so happy for you!

Moving dirt

Okay, prepare yourself. This is kinda a long story. But it will be worth it.

A couple of weeks ago, JT went on his annual golf trip with Dayna to St. George for a few days. I decided I better keep myself super busy from missing him too much and started some projects. I did some painting in the house, but the main project was Tree Rings. What are tree rings? They are those super-heavy concrete rings that go around a tree, 2 for each tree.

So, I needed 8 sets, for 8 trees. Aspen trees in the back. I bought 4 sets at the nursery and somehow manages to load them into the back of my Forerunner. I came home and primed them. The next day I bought the other 4 sets. Holy cow are these things awkward to move. Just setting them on the garage floor from the car was a work-out. And I literally stubbed my two index fingers every single time I set one down.

Okay, so I primed all of them and painted them chocolate brown--easy enough, right? All I have to do is dig up a little bit of dirt around each tree and then put the rings in place, no sweat. Okay, yes sweat!! Again, just moving them from the garage to the backyard sucked. But, thanks to Beth, I had some help!!! (I still owe you for this.) I got a shovel and our trash can and started shoveling extra dirt into the trash can and setting the tree rings into place--it took hours, and it was hot!! I finally finished and then realized, ohmygosh!! The trash can is completely full of dirt! And let me tell you, that trash can was not budging. So...my little brain decided to get the other trash can we have and fill some of the dirt into it, which worked okay. But I only filled it 1/3 full. I moved it into the garage, barely, it was still so heavy, and I had to go uphill to get to the driveway. Which leaves this huge trashcan about 2/3 full of dirt in the backyard. I decided JT could contribute to this project when he got home so I left it in the backyard for him.

I was so happy to see JT when he got home! He was only gone for 3 nights, but it felt like forever! He loved the tree rings. But, we still had two trash cans with dirt... And we were afraid that they were too heavy for the trash truck. So....

JT came up with the brilliant (?) idea of hooking the trash can up to our bike rack and then attaching the bike rack to the back of the Forerunner and then driving just west of our house and dumping the dirt. When he told me what he was going to do, I told him "I don't want to have anything to do with that" and so he did this all on his own. So, somehow, he got the trash can to stay attached and was on his way. In the meantime I decided to mow the lawn but since there was nowhere to put the grass clippings, I decided to go to the store to buy some large trash bags. I decided to check on JT--I had this picture in my head that the trash can would fall over and that there would be piles of dirt on our street, and that we were shoveling it back into the trash can. But actually, that didn't happen. I found JT in front of the church with a puzled look on his face. The wheel had fallen off the trash can! Yikes. The dirt stayed inside, though. So, we left that trash can, went home, attached the lesser-filled trash can to the car and somehow managed to get it all the way where we could dump it. JT had to go to the dentist's office and I finished mowing the lawn. Then JT went back and the poor guy, he had to haul the now-empty trash can near the full trash can with a broken wheel and shovel the dirt from one can to the other and then hauled it away. Then he had to bring both cans back home. He was a trooper.

The funniest part of this story is that:
1. When JT initially drove to the dumping area, he missed a turn and had to drive all the way around our little part of our neighborhood going about 2 mph with the trash can behind the car! I like to think that he was proud to do this, so proud of his little invention.
2. When GD at work was hearing this story, he freaked out and called JT a genius!!! "You mean, you're telling me, that you found a way to haul your trash can behind your car?! You're a genious!!" So, of course, JT's head swelled and he has been telling everyone this story ever since!!
3. I think the whole having-trash-hauled-behind-your-car-going-2-mph-look is a little trashy. Okay, a lot trashy. So, I give JT a hard time about it. But, the truth is, the dirt is gone, he fixed the broken wheel, and the tree rings look awesome.

And don't worry, I am going to have JT re-create the whole look and take a picture of it for your viewing pleasure. You know, to get the whole effect. You will love it! :)

Top of Utah 1/2 Marathon

I love running! I registered for the Top of Utah half (and full!) marathon a couple of months ago. Who knew I would have 3 friends run it with me?! Beth, Darla, Sabina and I drove up to Logan together the night before the race. We had such a good time! We totally carb-loaded with Olive Garden's never-ending pasta bowl...and combined with lots of salad and 4 breadsticks later, I was one FULL chica! Dinner was awesome. We went back to our hotel (4 girls in one hotel room = lots of fun & laughing) and attempted to get to sleep before 10 pm, we actually did pretty good, though. It totally reminded me of dorm life--at one point all 4 of us were brushing our teeth at the same time using one sink. As we prepared for the race the next morning you could tell that we are girls---we had everything laid out, all ready to go, I even laid my clothes out in sequential order with what to put on first and all... I know, I am a planner. Can't help it.

We each set an alarm, you know, just in case! I actually woke up myself at about 3:15 am, so I think I got about 5 hours of sleep, which really isn't that bad--that's the norm for my Sat. am runs! We got all ready and waited for the bus to come pick us up at the hotel, which took us to the park where we got on another bus and drove up the canyon. It was kinda cold up the canyon, but I had a blanket I brought (all the other runners were so jealous, I swear!). We lined up for the race and met up with my friend from work, Todd, who was also running. This was truly the most beautiful race I have run, second favorite was the Homestead 1/2, and 3rd fave was the Ogden Marathon. I set a PR at 2:02 and was so glad to see my husband at the end of the race! I was just over two minutes quicker than last week's 1/2 at Hobble Creek. Thanks, babe, for driving all the way to Logan to see me finish!! (Luckily, he saw me finish. He didn't even see me finish the Ogden marathon!!! And he was there looking for me at the finish and everything--I like to think it was because I was running so fast with my kick at the end...)

After the race we drove to Kaysville, got some Arby's (curly fries = yum-E) and I showered at Dean and Donna's, took a short nap, and then went to work from 4 to midnight. I was kinda tired at work, but it wasn't too bad. I even went to church the next morning at 9am--now that's an accomplishment after being so sleep deprived.

My favorite things

Since I am a first-time blogger and new to all of this, I have decided to make a random post about all of my favorites. Here goes, people:

1. My husband, JT, of course--he is mi numero uno! He is so funny, witty, easy-going, fun-loving, smart, and most of all, he is the kindest man I know. Dean, you are the second kindest!
2. My family - they are the best. We always have such a good time when we get together, especially when all of my siblings can be together. I am also so very grateful for JT's family--they are wonderful, we feel so blessed.
3. I love our Kaysville Tuesdays! It's like a mini-family reunion each week, and Davis keeps us entertained and laughing all night.
4. I love bread, in fact, here is a confession...I ate 8 biscuits with my dinner last week. Yep, that's right, 8 biscuits, I even added a slice of butter on top of each one before I baked them. :) JT only had two!
5. Since I am on the subject of food, I soooo love Rosa's tortillas and queso from back home. Yum! In high school we would all go to Rosa's for lunch and order a dozen tortillas and a large queso--it is a complete meal--and it is pure perfection.
6. I love running, especially when I don't have to wake up at 5 am to do it, huh Beth?! ;) But seriously, running first thing in the morning is awesome. Just as long as I get at least 6 hours of sleep before...which never happens!
7. Sleeping in! I love love love to sleep in. I know, it's bad. But at least I don't sleep in until 11 am like Jake does when he is here! (I know, the room in the basement is dark, you can't help it, yeah, yeah...)
8. I love the sun! I can't imagine life without it.
9. I love living in Utah. It's kinda far from Texas, but I love the mountains, the views when running, the hiking, the lakes, etc. I just don't like the traffic and more importantly the poorly planned roads...
10. I should have mentioned my Grandma Martha earlier. She is a fave of mine! She is so kind, funny, witty, and very loving. She will be 96 this Christmas Eve and still lives by herself and she is such a strong, independant woman. She stays up until 2 0r 3 in the morning reading books, and I think that's cool. She has a great laugh.
11. I love the smell of fresh laundry, it makes everything feel clean!
12. And I love freshly laundered sheets on my bed--and I use lotsa fabric softener, too. I swear I get better quality sleep on the nights when I have fresh, clean sheets on my bed. Try it.
13. I love my job. It's so much fun to talk all day and contribute to safe skies as an air traffic controller. Plus, I get paid to be bossy - it's a win-win, everyone!
14. I love being Aunt Janny to my neices and nephews, and I love being Granny Janny to little Davis (you can thank JT for that nickname), and soon to be Landon--less than one month, Melissa!!
15. I love movies and movie popcorn! Last week JT and I saw The Proposal. We ate the entire large popcorn just minutes into the movie. When we left we got our free refill and ate it all in the car while we ran errands. He adds a LOT of butter...
16. Yoga and Pilates - mind, body, soul. What more could you ask for in a workout?! And I really like it when I get the substitute yoga teacher that says things like "Open your heart to the world, love everyone, accept everyone, embrace challenging situations, your heart has an emerald green beam that radiates to everyone around you, etc. etc." She is so into it, but I like it. I especially like doing impressions of her to JT. He kinda sorta doesn't like it as much as I do...
17. I love mountain biking, even though I suck at it. I have been named a downhill wus, and then I was named a downhill safety specialist. I just don't want to break any bones, people! I gotta run or I will get fat, especially if I keep eating 8 biscuits with dinner. And seriously, I was called a downhill wus after riding one of the hardest rides around, Wasatch Crest, so cut me some slack, hubby! :)
18. I love being a passenger and not having to drive when I am wih JT. It's so cool, I get to do so much--text friends, call my mom and Julie, balance my checkbook, clean out my purse, schedule dentist appts., everything, including closing my eyes a little bit.
19. Oh my gosh, I can't believe I forgot to mention my favorite colors--chocolate brown and avocado/celery/olive green shades!! Our house just happens to have them all over, at least my house will be less tan because of it...
20. I love my bff, Laura. We talk about everything--she has always been there for me, especially during the hard times. She is real. And so funny!
21. I love romantic movies, LOVE! I can't wait to see the Time Travelers Wife. With popcorn. Buttered. And a refill. :)
22. Mom, I love you. You are a favorite--these are in no particular order, you know, except for number one. You may think you are a retired social worker, but you are still the social worker of the family :) You crack me up. You make the best brownies with the yummiest candy bars melted right into them. You play the Black Hawk Waltz for me and Julie. And you give the best advice on beauty products, you should write a column or something. You will always be my Mama Joe! And, you are practically a celebrity, because you know Sheri Dew! -Wink- We will be you and Bobby's chauffeur any day! Come visit!
23. Donna, I love it how you tell me how stupid I was for just running 18 miles! It always makes me laugh when you say that. You are such a wonderful mom and mother in law, and you tell it like it is, I love it! JT and I love listening to you and Dean.
24. Ohmygosh! How could I forget to say how much I love the occasional Friday night after work when I order a large pepperoni deep dish form Pizza Hut. If I call right when I leave work it will be ready once I get to Draper. And then I get to eat it all the way home! Yum!
25. Okay, Beth--this one's for you. You are the best running partner--you are so encouraging, so funny, and you always have such great conversation starters, especially on the long runs. And you didn't hate me when I accidentally slept in a couple of mornings a while back. I am better at that, huh? And I love it that we talk about everything, happy stuff and sad stuff, exciting news, and things that freak us out. Like the white-out serial killer...
26. I love Morgan, Samantha, Hunter, and TJ's laughs---they all sounds the same, and when they laugh in unison, it is so awesome! Maybe I could learn how to laugh like you.. :)
27. I love my sister, Julie, the newly appointed 5K organizer!! You are such a giver---you are always doing something for someone else, and I love that about you. You are always up for lunch with me, and I love it. I love your taste in decorating, clothes, etc. I copy you a LOT! But you copy me too, right?!
28. I love Costco!!! Best products, best customer service, best return policies, yummiest bagged salads I have ever found, especially the Cherry Almond Bleu, everyone try it!! I never leave empty-handed. I went to two different Costco's today. Sandy and then Lehi, because the Sandy one was out of something I needed. And I even went to the Sandy Costco yesterday. Yikes! Addiction...
29. Dad and Linda. You are some serious dancers, it is so cool! I love it that you danced at the wedding as much as you did, it made me mucho happy! I love you both!
30. I love McCall, Mason and Rowan, they are so dang cute. Once they all came over and we were taking goofy pictures and Rowan really wanted to get into the bathtub, so all 3 kids got in the bathtub for a picture (fully clothed, and no water) and I told them "Everyone hug" and it was so cute---they all hugged themselves, not each other! Adorable.