Epic run

He wears these pajamas a lot! I think I will have to buy another set.



Seriously it was epic. We started at Red Butte Gardens on the Shore Line trail to 11th ave, to the captial and then to my house. It was right under ten miles, so we had to run around the block. I felt pretty good until about mile eight, then I got really tired.
Last Saturday I was still recovering so I only ran six. By Monday I was back I did five miles. Tuesday was five miles and Wednesday was six miles with hill repeats. Thursday I did nothing. Friday I ran four miles, did walking push ups and star crunches.
Right now I need a nap but my boys don't so I am going to hang with them. They have colds so I think we will all sleep well tonight.

workouts and kids

Tuesday and Wednesday I ran about 6 miles. Tuesday I felt pretty good but yesterday I was tired. This morning I woke up with a weird virus. My throat is sore and I am achy and tired. I am hoping the runs have been hard because this virus was coming. I am also hoping I feel better by Saturday so I can do my long run.
Elijah will be four in one month and Isaac will be two in four months. I love their ages. Elijah is getting to be so independent. He washes his own hands, gets his own snacks, and is starting to get his own cereal. He is so creative and imaginative. I love listening to him play. He often plays a combination of cars, superheroes, and dinosaurs. He is also into coloring a lot more. Isaac is such a smart toddler. He looks at himself in the mirror and says "me, Bean". (his nickname is Bean). He loves to sit on the couch and read books. He has the most amazing vocabulary. He also loves to copy anything his brother does! They are to the point they play together but I think it is more Elijah playing and bossing Isaac around. They really do amaze me.

Best anniversary ever!

Yesterday was our four year anniversary. We started out the morning with family pictures. We did them outside so it was good that it had snowed the night before. We had blue skies! It was cold and the boys got a little irritated with the cold. I think the pictures are going to be really cute. I will post them when we get them back.
We went home to get warm, eat some breakfast and take little naps. After my parents came over to watch the boys, Sam and I went for a couples massage. It was much needed! That massage therapist hurt me. He worked out all the knots in my neck, back and legs from running. We then went for tea and hot chocolate at the Coffee Garden. It is one of my favorite places for coffee but I don't go there very often, it is a small space and my kids are very loud.
We had dinner at The Bayou. Their beer menu is huge. It took Sam at least ten minutes to pick out a beer. We had a good dinner, good beer and good conversation.
It really was a good day. Sam started school today so it was nice to spend a day just us.

Saturday I ran 12.50 miles. We had to run in Heber because of the air quality in Salt Lake. It was suppose to be a ten mile run but I got us lost. I am not sure everyone listened to me, I don't know Heber!
Today I went for a 5 mile run and it hurt. It was a very hard run. I am not sure if it was Saturday run or the massage that did me in. I think I will be skipping my speed workout for the week.

Snowshoe Date

Beautiful Big Cottonwood Canyon

Yesterday my brother Lucas was nice enough to offer to babysit so Sam and I could go on a date. We decided to snowshoe to Lake Blanche. It was a perfect snowy winter day. The hike is hard in the summer and even harder in the winter with snowshoes. We were out there almost all alone, we did see a few backcountry skiers and even a few fat birds.
I traded in the hike for a running day and I needed it.
Sunday I ran eight miles,
Tuesday I did a tempo workout,
Wednesday I snowshoed
and tonight I am going to do the 550 rep workout. I feel pretty good, my hamstrings are tight from the hike but nothing a good stretch won't help.

the beginning of 2010


the end of 2010



Getting ready to go for a ride on super dog.

Isaac and Elijah have changed so much over the last year! Elijah is full on boy, no baby left. He likes to ride his bike, watch cartoons, he likes superheroes, powerrangers, and pokemon's. He likes to read comic books. He is very particular about his clothes. Isaac is toddler. He speaks so well. He likes to watch Barney and Toy Story. He loves cars and Buzz light year. It is amazing watching them grow. Sometimes I look at them and my heart breaks a little, they are getting so big and independent.
2010 has been an amazing year!

Christmas

why wouldn't you wear a t-shirt with snow boots? Why wouldn't you climb onto the kitchen counter and drink your moms cold coffee?






the coolest pajamas ever!


present opening is serious business to these boys


We gave eachother blazers!!


the birds nest that Elijah pick for me.

As a parent christmas is exhausting! The shopping, the gift wrapping, the planning, and staying up until the kids go to sleep to put the presents out. Oh and the clean up is crazy. I enjoy christmas more now that Elijah knows what is going on and Isaac is just excited because there are toys for him.
We had a good christmas holiday. We saw christmas lights at Temple Square, rode the Polar Express in Heber, and had a lot of quality family time.
Christmas eve morning Sarah and Kelvin took the boys to breakfast and a movie. Sam and I were able to get presents wrapped and the house cleaned while they were gone. Christmas eve night we had our traditional taco dinner. Christmas morning was awesome! Isaac is still too little but Elijah was so excited. He stumbled out of bed his eyes barely open, yelling for us to turn the lights on so he could see what santa brought. My parents and Sam's mom and Kelvin came over to see the boys open their presents. We spent the morning with Sarah and Kelvin and did brunch. We then went to my sister's house for christmas dinner and even more presents. It was a busy day but so much fun.
I swear yesterday the boys had a christmas hang over. They kept acting out and they both were exhausted all day.
Sam is on break until January 10th. We are going to enjoy him being gone three days a week.
I am planning on posting more about my workouts. I tend to feel really good or I feel as if I am running with heavy legs and I can barely move. I want to be able to see my trends and maybe figure out why I am periodically struggling.

I have been attempting this workout. I can do all the exercises but not all the reps. I do not want to be as buff as this lady but I want to be as bad ass. Really I am hoping if I add this to running four days a week I will get a good overall work out for the week. I think running six miles is easier than this and I haven't even thought about timing myself I take too many breaks.

my boys sleep in awkward positions

This last weekend I tried to paint my living room. I got no where with two small kids causing trouble. So my parents, Eric and Juanita came over and painted for me! I have such an amazing family. I love my living room. Next is the family room. I hope my family isn't busy.


This is the living room before, without furniture.


Our living room now. So pretty!

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. I say it every year but I really love Thanksgiving.


We wake up early to go run a crazy cold race.


We hang out in the afternoon, eating a little bit and watching some Hulu.



We then go to dinner at Laura and Larry's.


We eat the same food every year and we love it.



We hang out, talk and maybe drink a little. We take pictures. We eat my Aunt Marilyn's pie's and pumpkin bread. Like I said it is awesome.

Elijah's gymnastics meet

he is really good at the bars

being a little tired and bored

he was so proud
Elijah's first gymnastics meet was on Saturday. It was so cute! They broke the kids up into four groups and had them go through their routines one at a time. The coaches were there to help every child remember how do everything. Elijah loved it. A lot of our family came to support him. At the end every child got to go up one at a time to receive a reward and a medal.
I almost cried every time it was Elijah's turn. I am so proud of him.

Okay so no more feeling badly for myself. A friend pointed out what a great support system I have here and she is right! I have so much to be thankful for. I have a hard working husband, who loves us so much. I have two beautiful boys. I have a good relationship with my parents. I know they are always here for me. I have a wonderful family that keeps me going and babysits anytime I need it. I have friends who are smart and beautiful and make my life better. I have a cute little house. I have running. I have two funny looking dogs. My brother lives with me and makes my life a little easier. I get to work a little bit and stay home with my boys.
Thank you Lauren simple words I needed to hear.

It has been so long since I posted! So much has happened it is almost impossible to write everything down.
My boys are getting so big. They make me laugh everyday.
Elijah is swearing a lot. I keep telling him it isn't nice and I have even threatened to wash his mouth out with soap. The thing is, if he hears a word one time he knows how to use it. If he gets a reaction he is going to keep using the word. It is hard not to react when your three year old calls his little brother a stinky bitch. He is so smart. He is so funny. He is so stubborn. He is so loud.
Isaac is no longer a baby (sad). He is a toddler. He has tantrums and he talks in three or four word sentences! He is so cute. He loves to give kisses and hugs. He can keep himself entertained for a whole 20 minutes. He loves his bike and books. He is starting to copy everything Elijah does, especially if I react to something Elijah has done.
Being their mom is the best thing in my world. I get bummed out sometimes because Sam is so busy and I am lonely. I know this situation won't last forever and then it will be my turn to go to school. I know Sam is doing all this hard work for us, so we can have a better life. I have to remind myself of that so I don't have too many freak outs. I love winter but it is easier to be a stay at home mom in the summer. We are so busy playing outside I don't realize how lonely I am. This is my last winter with Sam in school though and then he will only have to work. He really will have no reason to EVER go back to school considering he will have a Doctorate.
Oh Isaac had is 18 months well baby check up. He weighs 25.6 lbs, and is 30 inches tall. His head has not grown at all in the last three months! The doctor said he is developmentally ahead.
Elijah has his first gymnastics meet on Saturday. It isn't anything serious. All the kids get a medal and I think he will be excited.
Like I said Sam is way busy! He is going 7 days a week. He has one and a half semesters left and then he is done! He is working on a research project, doing clincals, school and work. So he has a lot to juggle. I know he misses his bike and spending time with his family but like I already mentioned this is all worth it.
My running is going really well. I did a half marathon in October. I was under-trained for but I felt good doing it and I did it faster than my first one! I was able to sing songs to my dad at about mile nine and pick up the pace at mile 12. I want to do another half in the spring and do some sprint work plus some longer runs. My boys get tired of being in the jogger all the time but running is the one thing I do for me. I think it makes me a better person and mom.
I am going to blog more often so be prepared for some cheesey emotional stuff.

Dance off

Elijah has added flips and other crazy moves to his dancing routine. He has watched a lot of Michael Jackson and Legion of Extraordinary Dancers.
There are no sheets on my bed because we were in the middle of changing out sheets when the show started!

Mama time

chunk


my beautiful wild boys

Sam is such a good man. I had a lot of me time this week and he really encouraged me to go out and enjoy myself.
On Tuesday I worked from 3:00 to 7:00, the easiest shift ever! I worked with people I really enjoy being around and had a lot of grown up conversation. On Wednesday I went out with some of my girls for drinks and dinner. It was amazing to sit, eat and have good conversation for two hours. I even got all dressed up to go. Yesterday I went for a mountain bike ride with another girlfriend. I haven't been mountain biking since before I had Elijah so this was a lot of work. I really am not good at biking. I have the cardio but I do not have the muscles for biking three miles uphill. I had to walk my bike up part of the mountain. I did make it to the top though and had a ton of fun getting back down the mountain.
I missed all three of my boys but it was so nice to do things that didn't center on being a mama. I am refreshed and ready to get back to my mama duties.

Man job

Sam finished his break by replacing the trim and blinds in our bedroom. A year ago we got new windows, well the new windows took up a lot more space than the old 1970 single pane windows did. Our old blinds didn't fit in the windows, for a quick fix we hung the old blinds above the windows. We left if there for a long time. The only way to fix the problem was to replace the trim. Sam did just that! It looks so much better, the trim he used has a lot more character and fits our house. It was his first time doing something like this. Good job doing a man job Sam.


Old blinds. Because they were not hung properly they fell off the wall a lot. Ghetto!!


Our new trim and blinds so much better.