Just hangin out with Jesus

Man! Can you tell these kids are cousins or What!

So we up and left to Florida at Christmas time this year. What a strange experience it was waking up in someone else's bed Christmas morning. The girls were so worried that santa may not find us, but we reassured them that Santa would be informed.

We started out at the Holy Land, its basically a Christian amusement park. There are shows that go on periodically with talented singers and actors. The shows range from spiritual to kidsie. There is also a mini model of old Jerusalem which was really cool to see. The strangest thing was walking around seeing Jesus all the time. I think it even confused the girls a bit. The kids got to go inside Jonah's whale, and even pretend to be Samson and Delilah.

On Christmas eve we went to the beach, it was quite chilly but the girls got in with the Hatchlings and Dads too.

Shauna has a fun tradition with the kids, a little elf visits them every day. They each have a small elf outfit (that acts as a stocking) and the elf comes each night to leave the kids a toy or treat. The foot prints are even left behind too.

Nicole soaking up the sun.

After Christmas we headed back up North toward Jenny and Jason's. It was so nice to see them, honestly the kids hardly know each other, but you'd never know it. They all hit it off right away. Kaden is such a charming gentleman and growing up so much. He is a spitting image of his dad. We found a game place where we all waisted lots of quarters and brain cells, buts its ok because we won tons of tokens for prizes.

Later we went back to the Womack residence where dads and kids played War with nurf guns in the dark. Jenny and I chit chatted and played speed with Uno cards. We are both still really good. It was more of a challenge than either of us expected. ha ha.

Ashlyn and Rory, What a pair.
Kianna, Felicity, Abigail, Ashlyn, and Rory all comfy on the Hotel bed.

What a fort.

The RunBug

Well I ran my first Half Marathon yesterday (13.5 miles) it was invigorating. I started training in January, I took a longer than normal training period so I could progress nice and slow. I think I have an ankle condition called posterior tibia tendonitis or something. Basically from exercising too much. But the doc said just take the training slower. It has been cool seeing my ankles develop their stamina for longer periods of runs. Weather may have a bit to do with how they feel too. I began my run a bit fast and it was on concrete which is what pushed them into pain in the beginning, but after we got onto the towpath which is just dirt they began to feel better. 

The morning was a bit cloudy but dry at least, and the run ended up so beautiful. All the fall colors are starting to come out here, I just love this time of year. I was a bit surprised at how people did not pace themselves, I noticed them slow down a lot near the end because their bodies were giving out. Keeping yourself at a slow steady pace was the biggest advice I had read or herd so I was surprised. 

I have really enjoyed going through this process of learning bout myself and body. I have always hated running with a passion which is why I decided to face that issue head on. I was determined to love running and now I think I at least like it. The actual activity itself is still rough but I love how I feel afterwards. My favorite is surprising myself with how long my run was.  There is something ritualistic about running a new rout and then driving around in my car watching the trip clock how many miles I ran. So in all I guess I am just surprised to find that at nearly thirty I have a new found love. Not to say I will become a serious runner, but I have definitely caught the run bug.

Homeward bound

Me and the girls went back to Pocatello last week, wow what a trip! We stayed with John and Elisha, they've been there for about a year, although now they are moving to Colorado. Janae and Tammy came to see us while were there and we all had so much fun. Monopoly was by far the funnest. We also developed a "Lee's coolest 80's movies" list. We also went down memory lane listening to Mannheim Steam roller and Yaz (Erasure). I am sure glad I took this opportunity to go down to visit them and do a bunch of other cool things like: 

Go to the D.I.

Go to the Cottage

Eat at Bamboo Gardens with Terry and Gail

See the long missed western sunrise with my girls

run through the sage brush

get spring water from scout mountain

pick pussy willows from the canal

hike up to the I

play in the rocks at Ross park

swing at ross park

visit my daddy's grave

Go to Tagen's reception

We also visited Mike and his family in Bicknell Utah, near Capitol Reef National Park (Kinda like Zion's). 

Rich and I went to Manti for Tagen's wedding which was so beautiful, Im so proud of her!

After settling in we took Rich out for a double date for his birthday, we ate amazing food at Cafe Diablo, mmm!

On Sunday we had a great time skipping church and driving around the mountains looking at amazing Rock formations. My favorite sites were the 1,000 year old petroglyphs on the base of some of the cliff walls. Natives etched pictures in the stone.

Running fetish update

So I am excited to say I have worked my body up to a solid 6 mile run and stretch to a 9 mile regularly. I am now running for a different half marathon in October and feel good about being ready. Rory got new tenni-shoes for school and wants to run with me everyday. She is on fire about getting tough. She wants big muscles and weight lifts too. I think they are just about ready for their own little race too. Her and City are in soccer which has also helped get them excited about being fit. I wish there were more hours in the day, now with school it is tricky getting time to exercise with them. 

The girls just developed and illustrated their own reward program and call it Star Kids. They decided on their chores and made cards for each. Then they painted the boards and nailed hooks to put them on for each day of the week. At the end of each day if they get all their chores done then I give them a fake dollar which they go shopping with at the end of the week (in my store.) Rory is saving up for the Hanna Montana dress-up outfit, and felicity can't seem to get her head wrapped around saving yet but getting there. I have to say this first week into the program has been a blast with them, they are really becoming responsible young ladies. Here are a few of their illustraions:

Summer's crazy cousin moments

Nuf said.

run fatboy run

So after seeing Run Fatboy Run the movie, I totally felt like I related. Although not as extreme. Collette got me into running late this winter and I have to say I really have developed a love for it. Its a strang contageous hobby. There's something about pushing yourself farther than you ever imagined that is almost like a high. If I can stay away from injurys my goal is to run the Akron half marathon (13.5 miles I think, YiKES!!) this september. I'm excited to say that I have worked up to about a 3-5 mile stamina, still a long way to go. I guess if I have to walk a bit that won't be so bad.

So The whirling wind of the Kirtland Play has finally sucked our family in this summer. Rich, Rory, and City, Janae, Aaron, Brianna, and as always Sunny and little Jeremy too. Its been fun hanging out and seeing it in motion, the directors Nate and Sunny sure do an amazing Job. Suppose to be different this year, more songs and new scene etc. Can't wait.

Accomplishments

Finally a minute to sit and reflect. I am ready to jump into the next phase of my life, Graduated finally and surrounded by amazing people. I couldn't have asked for a better life. My kids are angels, my hubby is supportive and, well, HOT. My mommy came out to visit me for two weeks. And my siblings want to come to Kirtland for our Family reuinion. Seriously I don't think life gets any better than this. I love you all. :o)