Random June

We went to the library after a splash pad. I'm glad our kids love to read. 

Steven rescued this snake from Jamie's yard. 

     

Lego Mania

Last Saturday we took the kids to a Lego convention in Orem. They didn't want to go at first, because they have to say no to all our ideas, but were ecstatic once we got there. Adam and Steven's eyes got wide and they said, "This is Amazing!" There was a big Lego pit in the middle of the room the kids played in for most of the time. The things people can create with Legos are pretty amazing.

Happy Birthday Kevin

On Kevin's birthday, June 16th, we met Steve, Lynette, Andy, Aimee along with his cousin Stephanie and her kids at his grave to set off fireworks and eat cupcakes.

After the funeral we hiked to the Rocky Mouth waterfall. The kids and I hiked it a few years back with the Smiths but this was Mike's first time up. Since our first time up it seems like the trail has eroded quite a bit. It isn't a long hike, but has some rocky spots that can be challenging.

Sarah recreating an old picture

Ragnar Wasatch Back

I wish I hadn't slacked off and taken so long to post this. (I'll back date it, but it's 12/3. Now it's 3/14/17. I stink at this. Now it's 11/20/17. The joys of trying to compile pictures from a dozen people) We got our new foster girl the day after Zion Ragnar and life got busy. Rachel Jolley and I really wanted the double medal for running both the Utah Ragnars this year, so we started looking for a team. My friend Matt had one spot on his team, but I wanted Rachel on my team. She found us two spots on a team with people neither of us had ever met. Two days, stuck in a truck with strangers. Sounds like fun, right? It was a blast! I don't know what it is about being in close quarters running that brings this bond, but we seriously all left as friends and keep in touch.

The six people in our van were Josh Johnson, his wife Leslie, Dennis, Molly, Rachel and myself. Our team name was I Be Pro Fun. (get it?) Here is a picture of us ladies before. Since Rachel and I were strangers on the team we didn't even meet the other van runners until exchange 12. (I think)

Rachel killing it like always

 Finding my friend Matt would be like looking for a needle in a haystack since there were thousands of runners, but I saw him after my midnight run and met his boyfriend Mark. Our teams kept pace with each other fairly well so we saw each other a couple more times.

The random Ragnar Unicorn 

Random dude running in a Speedo. Why not?!

Here is our van after the race: Josh, Leslie, Me, Molly and Dennis. Rachel had to take off right after, so she missed some of the finish line festivities. Evidence of how close teams get: While Leslie was running Josh told us that he's pretty sure she's pregnant, but they hadn't confirmed it yet. We were the first ones they told. She was in fact pregnant and had a little girl.

The coveted "Promised Land" medal. Totally worth all the lack of sleep. 

Visiting Great Grandpa

Every time I create a new photo book I find pictures I hadn't blogged that should always be a part of the book. We don't get out to see Grandpa Starley as much as we should, and we don't always take a picture, but we did this time. I don't know if I've ever blogged about him before, but Mike's grandpa is one of the sweetest people I've ever met. Ever since I became a Starley he has treated me as one of his own. I always get birthday, mother's day and Christmas cards and they mean a lot to me. 

I like that in one picture Adam is look and in the other Steven is looking but heaven forbid they look at the same time. ;)

Half Marathon #2

I've wanted to run a half marathon since moving back from Mississippi. There are a lot of great courses in Utah and I'd heard the Utah Valley Marathon course was a great one. My knees still hurt from the Zion Ragnar, so training was hard. When I went to do a long run my knees wouldn't let me go over seven, so that's the longest I ran in preparation. All I wanted was to beat my previous time of 1:55, but I was a little slower. I started off good but my knees started to ache at mile 8. I still finished in under 2 hours, but I signed up for it again in 2017 in hopes that I can train better. (I'm also doing the Zion Ragnar again so my knees will probably be shot again. Why do I run?!) ;) My friend Rachel is a speed demon. She said she was "hoping" to have a 9 min pace but of course ran it sub 8 min pace and took first in her age division. (Like always) My next door neighbor Adam and his friend also ran the half and my friend Danielle ran the 10k so we got to meet up at the end for a picture. 

Adam's Kindergarten Graduation

A couple weeks ago Adam graduated from kindergarten at Providence Hall. He had Mrs. Cooley this year and she was amazing! I'm always impressed with people that can control a room full of 25 5-6 year olds. His class also had a great TA named Miss Stephanie. They made a great team. His best friends from class were Daxton, Bodi and Jacob.

Miss Stephanie

Mrs. Cooley

Here is his school picture. I thought I had posted all the kids pictures earlier in the year, but I looked back and hadn't.