Girl's Camp

I was the girls camp director for my ward this year.  Camp was at Heber Valley so I was gone for an entire week (with no cell phone service).  I had just run Ragnar the weekend before so Matt had the kids for 7 days by himself.  My mom and his mom both happened to be out of town that week so we were very grateful for the help of Cammie, Amber, and Annie!  He tried to do lots of little things to keep them entertained.  The picture is a night they went to Macey's for icecream.  

I had a lot of fun at camp.  We were the smallest ward there -- we had 9 girls and 4 leaders.  I work with some amazing ladies and it was a great experience to be up there with them for a whole week.  I loved girls camp as a youth so it was really fun to be there as a leader too.  I took the older girls on the over night hike and we had a blast!  They are some amazing young women.  Even though it was really stressful to leave my young kids for a week I felt really blessed for going and I am excited to do it again sometime.

Ragnar #3

This was my 3rd year running Ragnar with the same team.  It started out as a Cafe Rio team but most of the original people have now left Cafe Rio and we've all become great friends.  I do not function well at all without sleep so for me to do this for 3 years in a row is saying A LOT!  These awesome people sponsored me to go to Boston and I LOVE running with them every year.  It is something I look forward to and I think the world of them.  We had a great year as usual!  My friend Jamie ran in the other van so it was fun to have her there too!  I was runner #1 and picked up part of an extra leg for someone who was hurt.  I think I ended up with about 24 miles.  My legs were long and hilly.  I averaged about 7:15 through the whole thing but I was sore for WEEKS after.  My first leg was up 14th north to the Bonneville Trail and then down past first day and through the island.  I picked up a portion of a leg coming down the dirt road out of Avon (brutal brutal down hill)!  This one was average sub 6:30 pace.  Super fast for me.  My second leg was coming down the hill from Snow Basin, 8 miles.  I had to stop and go to the bathroom... terrible with so many people around!  I still managed to average 7:17 even with my pit stop.  My last leg was 5 pretty flat miles into Kamas.  All I know is I was tired!  I left for girls camp the next day so Matt had the kids pretty much by himself for 7 days.  I love the memories and friendships I have with this team!  We are onto year 4 next year... so excited!

Me, Jane, and Mickell at the starting 

3 years - at the starting line

1st Leg

Michael, me, Jane, Cyrus, and Tyler waiting for Mickell on the last leg of Van 1.  (Jane and I needed diet coke after being up all night :))

Girls at the finish line

Team at the finish

Karen's Retirement

My mother in law retired this year from being a school nurse.  We planned a surprise dinner for her and invited all our family and close friends to our house for a barbecue.  She was very surprised and it turned out great!  After, our immediate family went on a 4-wheeler ride up Prov.  We used to go all the time when we were first married but I haven't been up that way for years.  The kids loved it!  It is nice to be close and be able to just jump on and go.

Running Buddies

The kids have really enjoyed running with me outside this summer.  Brooke is finally old enough to ride her bike while I run and she is a trooper!  She rode several times from our house to my moms (7 miles) and love every minute of it.  Next year Cole will be big enough to ride and I'll be down to a single stroller!  They ask almost everyday if we can go outside to run.  So much fun, I love that they enjoy what I do!

Spring Pictures

The wonderful Melissa Wrigley took these for us.  She is amazing!

Twin Caves

Matt and I took the kids up to the twin caves in Providence one Saturday.  They rode in the strollers but got out to go up to the caves.  It was really steep and they were terrified there was a bear in the cave so there were lots of tears.  We also saw a little lizard.  We need to take them hiking more, they love being outside.

Attendance Award

Brooke came home from school one day excited to show me her medal.  She got an award for having 100% attendance at school this year.  I was so proud!