Morgan Valley Half Marathon

YAY!!! 

This deserves an entire blog post. Because a lot of training went into this. I am not a runner. I hate running. I hate having to breathe when you feel like you can't breathe, I hate trying to push myself, because I am not at all competitive in running, and it's one way of working out that I have never enjoyed. But I tried it out. I've been going to the gym--but I haven't been able to do a lot of my favorite classes since having Russ. I think my ribs expanded and my muscles pulled apart and it has ben SLOW getting back in shape. I feel like I FINALLY got there with lots of hard work and perseverance...and now I'm going to put my body through it all again, haha. But training and running for this has actually been...dare I say it...kind of exhilarating. My body felt strong and I felt like I was doing awesome as I slowly worked down to 9 and even 8 minute mile times--which felt like a big deal when you are doing 5 miles or so at a time! It definitely got harder with morning sickness, coming to Utah, before that I couldn't take my kids to the gym for a while because they had been sick...so my time was not my hoped for. But my goal had been 2 hours and I ended up doing it in 2 hours and 22 minutes. For a pregnant person, I'm calling it a win! Thank you to my awesome family for running it with me and keeping me motivated! Maybe we'll do it again a year after I have this baby girl!!

This is Bridget and I getting ready to cross the finish line. I thought I had saved some reserve to be able to put more out there at the end...but I guess after 13 miles my body was like, uh, no.  

Me stuffing my face with chocolate and a nasty energy gel they handed me at mile 9.

My sister Megan, my little brother Ethan, my niece Danica, and my sister-in-law Bridget ran with me!

 I did it. I have officially ran a half marathon.

Freezing like crazy before the race in 38 degree weather!!!! UTAH I CANNOT HANDLE THIS! MY BLOOD WAS FROZEN!

After running all morning, we headed to the Roy pool where I sat. And my kids went down the slides 5 billion times thanks to Lynnaea and Hazel being amazingly kind to take them, and then jumping off the high dive 5 billion times. This is Ruthie.

Will.

Grandma Cindy's!

After being in Utah for almost two weeks, we finally caught our breaths enough to drive to Grandma Cindy's for dinner and we got to meet cousin baby Claire for the first time. She is soooooooooooo gorgeous!

We also met Claire's dad Reagan, and Marlowe's girlfriend Rachel for the first time!

I was still running and training for a half marathon---so I got to enjoy all the gorgeous mountain views in the morning!

I had to take a picture. Choke cherry jelly is heaven on earth.

Three carts full of food for the reunion! And that was not even close to all of it by the end! I am so glad that is over and I am not in charge for a LOOOOOONG time haha!

These kids have spent quite a few summer afternoons with the sprinkler under the tramp. It was on their summer bucket list---and I think it's been a winner!

Most babies hate vacuums---Russ LOVES them and follows them around when you're vacuuming. I Love it.

Cousins+Garden+Temple+SnoCones+Lost Tooth

The very first weekend we were in Utah (back about six weeks ago) we spent a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Megan's house for a bbq! These cousins are the best! Clover, Will, Devaney, Ruth, Annabel, Harriet, Molly.

This was mom's beautiful garden. It's cool to see it now, because everything is taller than six feet and towering over our heads now! And the Wellsvilles are certainly not that green anymore.

I love that my kids have been able to spend their summer mornings trotting down to the garden and helping grandma weed and pick raspberries :)

The Ogden temple and the bluest sky.

I always love love love seeing that American flag waving!

I was able to go through the temple with my nephew Myles. Can you believe I have pictures of my little ten year old self holding him?!?! I actually got to skip school to go to the hospital to see him when he was born--I was so proud my mom let me do that!

My awesome friend Chantelle (who used to babysit a tiny baby Ruth and even tinier baby Will when I worked in Utah before med school and Florida) watched my kids while I went to the temple. She is a child-whisperer and I wish I knew her ways!!!

The cutest kids alive!!! So excited for a horse back ride from Grandpa!

Will lost his very first tooth at Aunt Kami's in Wyoming when we were 36 hours into our 40 hours of driving to Utah. He lost his second just two days later---and then two more. Within a week and a half his four bottom teeth were all gone and he had the cutest lisp!

The tooth fairy comes even to grandma's house!