HTC 2010

Okay....so about a year ago a friend asked if I was interested in running Hood to Coast, my reply "no way!". I came up with several reasons why I wouldn't/couldn't do it. 5 months later, the friend came to me seeing if my reply would be the same....I was wishy washy and after my husband heard me...his comment was "you'll come up with any excuse in the book, won't you?" Well, I couldn't take that...and knew I had my husband's support ;-)

So here I am with my "Speedy Runners: OnDemand" team. I can't believe I actually completed all three of my assigned legs! It was a great opportunity and I'm thankful for the experience...though I'm not sure I'd ever do it again! Note to self: NEVER do leg 20 again (terrible...horrific experience! I'll just say hills, gravel, dust and more hills, gravel, dust combined....and not excluding an animal attack)...Uggg! I do plan to keep up with the running or jogging as my husband would say :) I agree, I'm slow!


I had fun getting the jitters, days before the run while watching the tents go up for the finish line "party".


There were 2 vans, I was in van 2. Very mello van, with lots of team support. Our Mascot, Speedy Gonzales.



Khara, thanks for putting the team together, reserving my spot and being a great friend!


AND...thanks to my family and friends, who encouraged all along this journey. You're support, prayers and encouragement got me through this! THANK YOU!!!

Family Beach Trip 2010

This is beach trip #3 for Jeremy's side of the family. We all had a lot of fun and are grateful Grandpa and Grandma allowed us the opportunity to be together. We had a great beach house with lots of fun things to do (hot tub, nice patio for bbq, fuse ball, air hocky, tv's everywhere and some games...including "fact or crap"...mom's favorite :) There are a few in the fam who were not able to make it (Becky, Leif and Lairen...we missed all of you and your families). You better make it next time!

We had a great time meeting one of the new additions, Jade (Kierstin and Wes's newest little bundle). Love the little tongue!


The cousins had a blast playing together....


We thoroughly enjoyed our time together (beach fun, games, paintin' toes, girls first sunset, finding crabs and other sea things)....


And being together as a family...



Thanks for the GREAT time!

Bull Riding 2010

Great Grandpa was able to attend our 13th year at the CC Fair Bull Riding Championship. The bulls were incredible, especially the first! We all loved it!


Queen Taylor, Kaitlyn's tutor from last year, rode during the opening ceremonies for the Muttin Bustin and the Bull Riding. She did a wonderful job! We were thrilled we got to the fair just in time to snap a great photo of the two together. Isn't Kaitlyn an adorable cowgirl?! She got all dressed up herself, early in the morning, for the fair outting :-) The girls favorite part???....the horses of course!

Daddy's 34!

Daddy birthday was yesterday. He is officially 34 and hates aging. He does love the attention and extra little things we do to celebrate his special day.

Who would have thought the thing that meant the most is....giving his favorite dog a bath so she could be in a a couple hours. Yes, Jeremy loves Daisy....I agree that she is pretty sweet and was actually easy to bathe. Other favoites: the fact that we had a relaxing evening at home with no visitors (no offense friends and family), the mini cakes the girls made with their easy bake oven and the steak dinner with german chocolate cake for dessert. WE LOVE YOU JER!!!

A thought unrelated to Jeremy's birthday: Every time I make a german chocolate cake (frosting imparticular), I think about my maternal Grandpa. I remember years ago, baking him a german chocolate cake for his birthday and hearing his reaction. He commented how good it must be, because I got the frosting to attach to the sides of a double layer cake. Each time I frost this type of cake, I think of this. Unfortunately, today I didn't have the time to get the sides frosted...but we still think it was yummy...grandma's coconut pecan frosting is the best :)

Kamie's Visit

Kamie came to visit last Wednesday. I miss her being so close. We've been friends since we were 9. I'm so grateful for her friendship and the fact that we've remained close through the years. Her daughter Katelynn, turned 12 on Sunday. Jake is 8, 9 in September. We also got to meet the new addition, Jane! She is adorable and such a good baby! Congrats you guys and thanks for the visit!

Baby Charlie's 1st Cone

I had the opportunity to travel to the Seattle area and visit my friend Natalie and her family. Charlie, her little guy who's 1, was given his first DQ cone. This one's for you Nat. Enjoy! He's SO cute and it was a joy to hang out and finally spend a good amount of time together.

Heading Home

We said our goodbyes to Porters extended family after the parade. Porter and Jen followed us over to Ezra Taft Benson's graveside. He was the 13th President of our church. I'm told that he is 1 of 2 prophets (latter day) buried outside of Salt Lake City, UT. President Benson was from the town of Whitney, just outside of Preston.

We said goodbyes to Porter and Jen there at the cemetery.
Thanks for the GREAT trip you guys!


We left at 8:30 (their time), just in time to see the sunset and catch sight of a rainbow. Jeremy drive through the night and allowed his girls to sleep. I slept all I could, but unfortunately wole up everytime the road changed texture. I kept thinking it was Jeremy going off the road :-( I only had to drive for an hour, the girls slept from 10pm on and I'm thankful the drive flew by.

Day 5 - Temple & Parade

Day 5, Porter and Jen needed to attend a baptism for their neice, so we headed for the girls trip to Utah (they were very excited for). Utah is 20 minutes away...I asked the girls what they thought as we crossed the border, Ally's comment "huh, it's not much different than Idaho".


We were happy to see the temple and take turns with the camera. We finally got the family pic for the calendar dad puts together :) Jeremy got a couple by setting the timer...he did pretty good!


The parade is a big deal in Preston. There are 3 straight nights of parades and rodeos. Many attend the parades each night; lots of horses, princesses from each small town (Kaitlyn's favorite) and of course CANDY and other surprises (yoyos, water bottles, chocolate/strawberry milk and otter pops).


Jeremy liked the Orange County "Patriot Chopper". I liked the huge tractor and watching the kiddos.

Day 4 - Fun around the House

Day 4, we stayed around the house and let the kids play. They had fun on the trampoline Riley got for her birthday, playing with the kittens, swinging and of course playing barbies, horsed or whatever else their imaginations stirred up....like those baggies with a straw, they used to blow air in and out (weird).


Late in the afternoon, we headed down to the pond for a yummy dutch oven dinner and just hang out....it was so peaceful! Neither of our phones got reception...do you know what a rarity it is to not have a single phone call...ahh SO nice!

Have I mentioned Jen and Porter have a new addition? Last November they had Easton...what a cutie!!! Each time you turn around to look at him, he makes an immediate smile with those adorable cheeks and bottom teeth showing.

You see a pic of Ally with a bloody nose??? Yeah, that was her second. It came outta no where, while the kids were playing near the sprinkler. The first came the night the boys set up the trampoline. The kids were playing a game, Ally had her eyes shut trying to find one of the others, then hit the pole. There was so much blood we couldn't believe it! I need to research bloody noses at such a high elevation...we were around 5000 feet, I think that has alot to do with it.