Salt Lake Track Winter Series

Last year I ran the 5k and 10k races of the SL Track Winter Series that's held at Saltair in Magna. I got a PR for the 5k and about matched my 10k PR. I skipped the 15k because I got pregnant and chose to be really conservative with my exercising. I signed up this year as a means to motivate me to start running again. It worked. Kind of. ;)

I'd run enough for the 5k and although I was tired, managed a 27:48 which is an 8:52 mile average.  Mike and the kids came to support me. (The kids actually didn't have a choice. Adam had a Jr Jazz game before and we didn't have time to drop them off)

Mike and Audrey were really tired from the exertion, so they took a nap. ;)

Two weeks later was the 10k. I hadn't ran more than four miles, but it's not terribly difficult to add a couple extra miles. I went in with zero expectations. I finished with a time of 58:40 which is a 9:25 pace. It was really cold! My knee problems kicked in around mile 5. I'd been doing my PT, but not all the exercises, and not as frequently as I'm supposed to. We let the big kids stay home from this one.

Two weeks after the 10k I had the dreaded 15k. I hadn't come close to this distance, so I knew I couldn't run the whole thing. I planned on doing a run/walk method. I ran a mile and then walked 30-60 seconds. This worked until about mile 6 and then I was just really tired. We'd had an earthquake we could feel in the morning and I didn't get much sleep. That's probably just an excuse for me not being prepared. My time was 1:33 for a pace of 9:57. I was just glad to have it over. This was the first 15k I've ever raced, so this is technically a PR. I plan on doing this again next year, so I'll have some definite goals. :)

My sweet boy

Yesterday after school Adam had forgotten his homework for the second day, so I let him know he wouldn't get any electronic time. He wasn't grounded, but electronics are a privilege in our house that have to be earned. He was upset. Really upset. He told me I should have reminded him. I told him I had reminded him the previous day when he'd forgotten the sheet the first time. He told me I should have reminded him in the morning before school.We went back and forth a little and then he said something snarky with a "Duh!" mixed in. I was upset. I told him it was unacceptable for him to talk to me that way. I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I called him a brat. I occasionally tell me kids they're acting a certain way, but we try and always avoid calling names. I felt bad. He felt bad. He retreated upstairs an I went downstairs to run a couple miles on the treadmill since I'd procrastinated it all day. (Audrey is a slight time suck. Adorable and amazing, but I have to time my day perfectly to get a workout in)

After my run I came upstairs and Adam gave me this note. It pretty much melted my heart. I try and teach Adam to not be as reactive and to stop and think before he speaks, but sometimes I see so much of myself in him. The parts I wish he'd inherited from him more mellow father. We hugged and the world was again a better place. He still didn't get electronics, but he was okay with it. I love my tender hearted little guy. He may get upset, but he's always quick to apologize after. <3

Isabel's Birthday and Baptism bash

Audrey took her first long road trip to see her cousin Isabel turn 8 years old and get baptized. We were expecting the worst from the drive, so were happy when she only added 45 min or so. Not too terrible. (Sarah added almost three hours, so we keep that as the expectation so we aren't disappointed) ;)

The first big event was her party on Saturday morning. I wasn't on my picture game, but imagine a dozen kids running around in a big house with lots of toys. They made a gazillion pizzas and had a pinata. There was a slight hiccup when a little girl threw up right before the pinata fun began, but Ash and Dave enjoyed scrubbing it up. ;)

Not long after the party, everyone got dressed in their Sunday best and hurried to the church for her baptism. It was a really sweet service. My mom gave a talk on Baptism and Mike gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. I didn't get to listen to Mike's talk, because Audrey insisted on eating, but everyone said it was amazing and made them cry. Good job babe! Isabel was then baptized by her dad Dave.

The highlight of the day was of course the amazing cookies I made for the occasion. Almost too pretty to eat. Almost. (The Mexican food they had catered was good as well.)

The birthday/baptism girl with Audrey

Dad getting Audrey to nap in a loud house filled with people. 

Audrey getting her first piggy back ride from Adam

Dad and Audrey doing what they do best. 

Sarah tries on my dress from time to time. It's getting closer to fitting her. :(

Sarah in my dress in May of 2014

 Again in December 2016

We all love our trips to Colorado and getting in good cousin time.

Adam cuts his own hair, again. :)

I told Adam it was time for him to get a hair cut, so he decided to do it himself. He's done it before, and wanted to do it again. I didn't let him buzz it short, but it was much shorter than when he started. He even said he missed it afterwards. :) Good thing my boys hair grows fast. We have pictures coming up in April so it has time to grow back. Steven got a trim on the sides but kept it long on top.

After his haircut he needed a bath. He asked if Audrey could take a bath, so I said sure, if he got some underwear on. He thought it was fun to help out since Sarah usually gets to bath her.

School Pictures

I figured I'd better post these before they all get lost. We've made some pretty cute kiddos if I do say so myself. Sarah is in 7th, Steven 5th and Adam is in 3rd.

This picture captures Adam's current personality quite well. :)

Midway ice castles

Every year we say we're going to the Ice Castles, and every year they close before we shell out the fee to get in. ;) This year we found a coupon code and decided it was time. I'm glad I took Mike's advice to layer, because it was COLD! Audrey was bundled up tight so she didn't mid the cold. Sarah had gotten her concussion a few days earlier, and wasn't in the mood to move a lot, so the girls spent time just hanging out while the boys went down the numerous ice slides. It was certainly worth a visit, and very pretty. It's incredibly what people can construct with water. Most of the ice shots were taken by Sarah.