Yogurt Stop

Well we finally figured out the problem to this whole potty training thing.  On Saturday, Bryan was changing Jonah’s diaper and said something about him needing to go potty on the potty chair.  Jonah’s reply was, “I can't, my penis is out of batteries”.  No wonder!!!

Much to everyone’s surprise on Sunday morning Jonah decided he needed to go potty, sat on it and went!!!!!  It was very exciting, lots of singing and dancing and an embarrassed smile from Jonah.  Of course it happened on a Sunday so the promised trip to Yogurt Stop had to wait until Monday night.  Once there we realized that all he wanted was the m&m’s.

Good times

I am not a very good blogger. No, I will change that to "i don't blog as much as some people do". I don't think about it unless I have something cool to tell or pictures to show.

This week has been busy, but in a different way. I actually didn't have anything set up for the week. No appointments or places to be.....other than the boys usual stuff after school. It was a good week to be needed by my sister with 6 children, the youngest being 7 month old twins. She hurt her back and couldn't lift or carry one baby let alone two! It is great being the aunt of twins. They are super fun and cute and then I come home and sleep through the night. It was a good week to go support our Relief Society temple day and have a mechanical problem while there which resulted in a 3 hour plus visit at the temple. It was a good week to say "No" to Jazz tickets because of a busy night and then an hour later say "Yes" to Jazz tickets 20 minutes before the game started and rush out for the night and watch a great win because Brandon's scouts changed and really who can say no to 9th row tickets (sorry Casey and Cindy, I tried to keep it a secret. It WAS NOT because James and Kristin's tickets are better, it just worked out that way). It was a good week to watch my BFF's boys and take care of a bathroom accident which resulted in laundry and giving an extra little boy a bath.

It is even a better week to go on a short girls trip for the weekend.

Uh Huh

Last Saturday I took Brandon and Jacob to the Jazz game.  We had a fantastic time, of course.  I had bought tickets that were up really high and then we snuck down to the 21st row.  Pretty typical of me.  Anyways at halftime they had the group of ladies aged 51-97 that dance together, I can’t remember their name.  A whole bunch of them.  I turned to Brandon and said, “Are you going to be embarrassed when I am 75 and doing that?”  He looked at me and said, “I will lock you up in your room so you can NEVER do that”.  I don’t know, that may be my time to shine.

While driving past the ESA (energy solutions arena) the other day Jonah said, “There is the Jazz game, the freaking Jazz game”.  I started laughing and said, “Why did you say the freaking Jazz game?”  His reply, “because they lost the freaking game.”  Apparently he picks up on what his momma and brothers are saying!

Last night I FINALLY saw my friend Melinda in “Hairspray”.  It was my first time seeing this show, ever.  I loved it.  She was AMAZING.  She is so fun to watch, she is crazy, I love it!  Me and My Foster almost missed the show, we made it in with about 5 seconds to spare.  Definitely a good time.

 

On the charts!

Today I took Jonah to ANOTHER appointment at the Neonatal Follow Up program.  I don’t know how many times we have been, lots.  Anyways I am sure I have talked about it before.  It is a program through the state which follows premature babies and other babies who had issues at birth until Kindergarten.  We meet with 7-8 different specialist and they all analyze every aspect of Jonah.  He always does well at these appointments.  Today one of the doctors just kept going on and on about how well he is doing.  Because I live with him every day I sometimes forget the miracle that he is.

Anyways the big news today was that he is finally on the growth charts!  He hit the height chart about a year ago and there was a question as to whether he would ever hit the weight.  Today was the day.  He is in the 3rd percentile for weight and 5th for height.  I know, he is just huge!  I would still be willing to give him 5-10 extra pounds from myself.  And I believe that I deserve to be able to.

The Ophthalmologist kept saying he looked like he had just woken up.  I think it was more the fact that he was ready to go to sleep.  Worn out after a big day of proving what a normal and miraculous baby he is!

Ragnar Del Sol

I have been delaying this post for two reasons.  #1 I couldn’t find my camera while at the race (I found it yesterday in my purse which was not with me) so I only have a few pictures.  I am waiting for one of our team members to email me tons of pictures.  #2 How can I put in words exactly how I felt?

I better just get something down.  We left Wednesday late morning and drove and drove and drove to Gilbert, AZ.  Bryan, the boys and my brother Chris.  The drive actually wasn’t too bad, just the part when my dear friend texted me pictures of the delicious food she was eating.  We arrived that night and slept!  Thursday we hung out in the Arizona sun and I went and visited my childhood friend Emily, always so great to see her.

Thursday evening it was time to meet up with the team.  We ate at The Cheesecake Factory and tried to eat what would do us right the next morning.  We all were in a 15 passenger van which was so fun.  13 adults riding along for fun.  We dropped van 2 off at their hotel and those of us in van 1 made the hour drive to Wickenburg.  We stayed at this cute little Best Western hotel.  The girls room looked like someone’s house.  It cracked me up, I don’t know why, it just did.

4:45 a.m. Friday, up and getting ready for the next 30 plus hours.  We got ready and headed to the starting line for our safety meeting and 6:30 start time.  It was FREEZING!!!! 

Harrison, our 15 year old loud speaker party child started us out.  Steve, our driver and comedian next.  Spencer, serious runner, team photographer, and the person you would always want on your team because he is so helpful was next.  Chris, my brother and first time Ragnar racer next.  Me and then Kristi, also first timer.  Jenny, the one who brought us all together and trained so hard got influenza a week before the race and did not run, but joined our fun (actually she did run with a few people at night and brought the whole team in at the end).

(Chris starting his first run and Harrison’s head)

My first run was listed as 7 miles pretty much all down hill.  Reality is was rolling hills on a slight incline.  I enjoyed the whole run and finished with an average 9:48 minute mile, much faster than I usually run.  It was nice and warm, perfect running weather.

After our van finished all of our first legs we hung out at Surprise High School, in Surprise!  This is when you are supposed to rest, but at 3:00 in the afternoon I was not tired at all.  I dozed for a few minutes and just enjoyed the feel of the sun on me.

My second run was listed as 7 miles all uphill, and it was.  My dream came true and my 1:00 a.m. start time got moved to about 11:00 p.m.  This was the best run of the whole event.  Pitch dark, except for my  headlamp and tail light, running  in the desert.  I seriously passed a pack of coyote.  I didn’t see them, just heard them barking and howling.  Creepy for a second and then just fun.  Ragnar does a great job at keeping people safe, so don’t worry I wasn’t in danger.  I averaged 10:30, which going uphill was really good for me.

At 2:00 a.m. we got to our “sleeping” spot for the night.  I was so antsy to hurry and get my sleeping bag down on the ground.  We were on a dirt parking lot, great sleeping location.  We got nestled in our beds thinking we had until 5:30 to sleep.  I tossed and turned and was so cold I don’t think I slept much.  We got surprised at 4:45 with a wake up call from our other van saying time to get ready!

Last run was listed as 5 miles with 2 hills.  Reality 5 miles going up and up again and then up again.  When I saw my 3rd hill I wanted to cry.  I started to think, I don’t want to do one of these ever again.  By the time I exchanged and had a drink I was ready to sign up for more!  Again I average 10:30 which was very good considering my exhausted state!

Next it was time to enjoy.  No more running so I could eat whatever was in the van, salty snacks.  We got to the finish line with 3 hours to wait for the other van.  I had a massage, drank muscle milk, visited my 80th porta potty and relaxed in the sun.  It is such a party atmosphere and makes you feel like you have accomplished the greatest thing ever.  Our last runner rolled in at 4:00 and we all joined together crossing the finish line.  It took us 33 1/2 hours----2 hours ahead of our projected finish.

(The whole team)

I can’t explain the feeling to anyone.  It is an exhausting race, but you have so much adrenaline you don’t even feel tired.  As I walked out of the finish line area I said, I feel like an Olympian at the closing ceremonies.  So much fun, such a great time.  I loved it and can’t wait for the next!!!

(As soon as I get more pictures I will add them)

Sledding

I love to go sledding, why do I not do it very often?????  The answer is the COLD scares me. 

I realized yesterday that we hadn’t been all season and we better go while we have lots of snow.  Brandon, Jonah and I (Jacob thought it would be more fun to play with Eli) hurried and got ready and headed to the Jr. High for some fun.  It helped that it was 40 degrees outside with the sun shining brightly.  We had a great time.  After me face planting it on one run down I figured I better stop before I injured myself.  Jonah did not want to go down until the end when I gave him no choice and put him on the sled with me.  He loved it. 

Thanks to the giant Sunday snow storm, which cancelled our church (that is what happens when your church is in the canyon and the snow plows haven’t plowed early), we had lots of fresh powder.  I have decided that I like February.  I know winter is coming to an end and the days are a little bit warmer.  I am very tired of running in the cold though and am looking forward to some warm running this weekend!

The boys happily spent Sunday shoveling our house and the church.

Off I go tomorrow.  Leaving behind others to make sure Literacy night at the elementary school and the Relief Society activity I am responsible for on Thursday night happen.  Boy will I be glad when they are over and I can’t do anything about it anymore!

A bunch of whatever

(My brother Michael used to always do this, cracks me up)

How is it Thursday already???  Every week it is Monday morning and then the next thing I know it is Thursday and the week is over.  I don’t mind this in the winter, but as soon as Spring hits the time better SSSSLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWW down!

I haven’t had any great ideas of things to blog about so this may just be a bunch of random things.  In fact I am sure it will be.

-My body is tired which means my race must be soon.  Next Wednesday we head to the Phoenix valley for Ragnar Del Sol.  I am super excited for another Ragnar.  I am running with some of the same people as last time and my brother Chris is also joining me.  My middle run is scheduled for about 1 a.m. and is 7 miles….all up hill.  I am not looking forward to that one.  The rest will be nice.  Bryan and the boys will hang out with family while I am running.  The boys are very excited to go see their cousins.

-On the same note is my lack of eating correctly.  I really need someone to teach me how to eat as an athlete, because we all know I am one!  I keep thinking I should be eating more protein or complex carbs or something to help me perform better, but I haven’t figured that out yet.  Yesterday I decided no treats until the race.  Well that lasted until about 5 p.m. when I was at the Foster’s…..enough said.

-Speaking of the Foster’s.  Darling Stephen left on his mission yesterday.  I am going to miss him.  He has been a constant in my life for a very long time.   I was his nursery leader when he was 3 years old and he stole my heart right then and there.  He is going to be an incredible missionary in Mexico.  His Mom is going to be an awesome missionary mother, as soon as the sting has worn off a little!

-Jonah just did a P90X workout with me.  He was Tony and I was Drea.  He did whatever Tony did and got mad at me if I was taking longer than Drea to get my reps done.  What a great trainer he is!

-It was my sister in laws birthday on Sunday.  All she wanted was to come have dinner at my house and play dance central.  We ate and danced and had a great time.  This is not a great picture, but I love it!  No one can get enough.