Lazy Summer

...the blog that is, not so much me. I always have the thought and intention to post at least a photo from most of our days, and then...well, there are just more interesting things to do than blog.




We really have been enjoying a beautiful, relatively happy summer. Oh sure, Abram is potty training and often misses the toilet (both #1 and #2.) And Rosemary seems to have a sixth sense for ink, and uses it to decorate everything she sees fit, including her face, over and over and over again. And, it has now been steadily in the 90's for a while and when it hits 90 I cannot be responsible for my disposition or my behavior, but the mornings are fine and my yard is in full bloom. As my husband said, it looks like fireworks exploded in front of our house.














It is not an easy task to garden at Traverse Mountain, we live on the side of a windy mountain (don't get me started.) I put in a fair amount of hard work last year and this spring and it feels wonderful to be able to enjoy some of the fruits of that labor.

Don't ask me about the back yard. All in good time, all in good time.







Some interesting developments so far this summer:



Norah and Lulu have sort of developed somewhat of a friendship. Yay.




I color coded my books and my shelves finally look cohesive. Yay.



There aren't nearly as many golf carts driving around the Thanksgiving Point gardens this summer as there were this spring, which means I don't have to get all confrontational like I thought I was going to have to be. Yay.

I'm growing my hideous bangs out. Not so much of a Yay.



I know my dad likes to be kept apprised of what is going on with my hair.

Pretty In Pink

While exiting the chapel after I had been called as the YW president, I ran into a girl named Amber who I had briefly met at a child birthday party. At the time I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed with responsibility, but I tried to not let on as I chatted with her for a few seconds. As I climbed into my car, holding a paper with names that were highlighted as "suggestions" for a presidency, I felt a soft sweep of calm whisper to me "You need Amber". So I got Amber.

Amber was awesome. She was not only someone who could counsel me, she was an incredible friend. She listened, she covered for me as I tried to come up to speed with the YW program. She was empathetic when I was overwhelmed and she was someone I could trust.

A few months ago, Amber sent me a text that she was pregnant with twins. My heart sank. I was of course, happy for her, but I knew too well what that would mean: no more Amber as my right hand. And, she was shortly released after.



Amber is now almost 37 weeks and I threw her a shower in my home last week, I miss her.



She is having two girls and my house is still a vision in pink.

Antelope Island

On Memorial Day we took a little trip to Antelope Island and met up with my sister, brother and their families. I was pretty excited since the "island" has escaped my travels until that morning. Upon approaching the gate to enter the island, we encountered a flashing neon sign reading "the bugs are bad, biting nats". OK.

To make a long story short, we hiked, saw some buffalo, a coyote, antelope, ate some food, and Rosemary came off the island looking like she had broken out with the pox.

Marlboros and The Old Testament

Intensly studying the gospel art book during sacrament meeting last Sunday, Lulu turns to me and whispers: Mom these two guys are at war.

Glancing down at the sketch of David and Goliath, I say: That's right.

Lulu says: Do you know who wins?

I say: Who?

Lulu: The little guy.

After some careful studying of how little the "little guy" is she asks: Why does the little guy win?

Me: Because he does what Heavenly Father askes him to do, he is obedient.

Lulu: The big guy is naughty?

Me: He doesn't follow Heavenly Father's commandments.

Lulu: He smokes huh?

If Goliath only knew...

Tuesday Night Movie Star

Two days ago I hosted Movie Star Karaoke for the YM and YW at my house. We included the ward we split from last October because our youth group tends to be lean these days.

I decided to avoid any and all skank and try to class it up a bit (I try.)

My secretary, Katie, is a hairdresser and one of her secretarial duties is to fix my hair for such activities. She spent some time ratting, but discovered I have heavy hair, yeah, shocker. So, a ball was placed under the hair in order to achieve the effect. And I walked around with this hair all day, cleaning, driving, digging in the dirt, waving at the passing cars. I'm the neighborhood crazy.



I was Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. I don't think anybody got it. Maybe no one has seen My Fair Lady. Have you?




















Oh well, at least I still (kind of) fit into my wedding dress.


Good times. Tuesdays leave me exhausted and exhilarated all at once.

Ogden Marathon

The week leading up to the marathon was hard. My neck and shoulders hurt, I felt as if a cold/virus was stalking me, and it was difficult to sleep. In fact, I told a few people that if this is how I could expect to feel right before every marathon, I wouldn't be running any more, I do have a life to live outside of running.


(me in the car, feeling pretty stressed a few days before the marathon)

The truth is, I was sitting on the couch 6 months ago. I was busy and did yoga occasionally, but I really, seriously hadn't really "run" in about 18 years. And the truth really is that as much as I wanted to train hard, my lack of a baseline, and the responsibilities I have on my plate right now wouldn't quite allow it. I kept getting injuries and just felt exhausted. So my training was limited to 2-3 times running every week. Which is fine, but it made me nervous.

Friday, I drove to Ogden in the afternoon with one of my partners, Suzanne. We, of course, got caught in traffic. We finally reached the Expo in downtown Ogden at about 6, and met up with Carina (my other partner) and another friend.



We picked up our packets, walked a few blocks, met my sister, and ate dinner.



We then planned to meet in the Lobby of the Ben Lomond at 4:40 the next morning (the buses picked the runners up at 4:45 outside of the hotel.) I checked into Ben Lomond all by my lonesome (first time) and went to bed. No ghost stories to report, although it is a very old hotel.

I didn't need to be woken by an alarm because sounds of showers woke me at 3:45. So, up I was. I met the girls downstairs, hopped on the bus, and took the long ride up to the start.

By the time we reached the start, it was light, there was frost on the grass and a few thousand people excitedly standing around in a beautiful field billowing with frozen breath. Before I knew it, it was time to strip down to tank tops and skirts and freeze in a huddle at the starting line. With little warning, the gun went off, with barely any detectable movement. As the pack started to thin, I found my pace and settled in. It was chilly, but it was so lovely up on that mountain.

The first 20 miles were pretty effortless and fun. Men flirted with me (no joke), the weather was perfect, and I felt good. I stopped for 3-5 seconds at each aid station, it was my first marathon after all. I felt like a well oiled machine climbing the big hill at mile 14, and smiled for the spectators and photographers that I passed. Once we started to head into the city, it got hot, and I became sick. GU sucks. I had to stop at the bathroom at mile 21, and when I started running again my IT band locked up, but it was OK. Around mile 23, my brother Tim jumped in and pulled me along for the last 3.2 miles. My family was waiting for me right around there and those last 3 miles were the longest of my life but I finished in 3:43! My first marathon after only 6 months of training and I qualified for Boston. Yea, for me!



I'm pretty happy. I'm so grateful for my training partners, they listened to a lot of complaining and saw me through. Life isn't bad when you have the support of great friends, a good husband, and children who think you've won.

Count Down

The Ogden marathon is on Saturday. And if it wasn't enough that I'm already freaked out by all of the "professional"advice that says no, you cannot train for a marathon and not get hurt without some sort of baseline(I truly was sitting on the couch 6 months ago), my secretary just informed me that the hotel I am staying at the night before the marathon (The Ben Lomond) is haunted.



Now, I'm really not afraid of much. I love snakes, I can catch them and cradle them in my arms. I am Friends with spiders, we happily cohabitate. I've been known to rescue mice from a cat's paw (I am aware that I am a super freak.) And I am fairly assertive and unfortunately, sometimes confrontational.

But I am very afraid of cohabitating with dead people.

Of course I googled the hotel and found out, yes, it is haunted. In fact, ghost hunters regularly check into one of the "haunted" rooms. Great. Just what I need the night before 26.2 miles. Hope they have a mini bar. Just kidding, maybe.

Anyway, it should be a party. Actually I'm excited along with being nervous. I have run 23 miles, and although it was a long way to run, I felt pretty good and was able to finish in under 3 and a half hours. And the course of the marathon is quite pretty.

While training, I usually don't listen to music. It's nice to talk to the girls and enjoy a clear head. But I will probably need some music to get me up the hill at mile 14 and through the finish. So, I've been searching online play lists and have had a startling revelation: I am old. And boring.

So I made an Ogden play list from scratch. Here is a portion in case you too are old, boring and afraid of ghosts.

1. Bold as Love (Jimi Hendrix) The guitar is awesome. Plus, some kid skated to it in the Olympics and it makes me feel like a winner:)

2. Celebrity Skin (Hole) The chorus kicks my butt.

3. December, 1963 (The Four Seasons) Yeah, this is a total grandma song, but it makes me happy. I may need some happy at mile 24.

4. Extreme Ways (Moby) I like to pretend I'm being chased by the CIA, it's crazy fun.

5. Feelin' Satisfied (Boston) The lyrics at the beginning are so so lame, but something about the Chorus makes we want to dance up the hill at mile 14.

6. Funk #49 (Joe Walsh) Just cool.

7. It's My Life (Bon Jovi) I used to hate this song, then my dad made it grow on me.

8. Love Hangover (Diana Ross) Don't be fooled by the beginning, it will make you move.

9. Paradise City (G n'R) I did run during the 80's, it's embedded.

10. Sabotage (beastie boys) It does have a bad word, it isn't bad if no one hears that I hear it right?

11. September (Earth, Wind & Fire) Again, happy and free.

12. Slow Ride (Fool in the City) I don't know, I just like it.

13. Your Love (The Outfield) Super lame message, but it reminds me of running cross-country and track and those were good days.

14. Don't Stop Believin' (Journey) Let's face it, I am that small town girl and I intend to be pressing repeat on this a few times during that last mile. Let's hope it's only once, if you know what I mean.



In other news, Lulu had a school program today and was awesome. She has made so much progress this year. I am so grateful for the resources we have and all the people who help teach her.