Merry Christmas!

I have been the worst blogger these days and really there is no excuse other than when I find time to do it something happens w/ my internet connection and it takes forever and I quit. The other day I found my girls looking at our blog like a photo book and it dawned on me that they love to look at the pics and remember all we have did. I think it is time to turn over a new leaf....come the new year I will be a better blogger......I think.

May you all have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy time with your family, that's where it really counts!!

Earlier this spring

I started this post months ago because that's when this event happened...MONTHS ago but better late than never so here it goes. This is my gorgeous cousin Sarah and she got married in the SLC temple earlier this year. It was a beautiful day! and we were happy to be a part of it!

We enjoyed a great program, especially the song by Daniel's relatives...

Ate a delicious dinner...
Enjoyed all the cousins....
and my family.....

(aunt Carol and my mom)

And loved spending time w/ this girl, my youngest cousin who is about 5 inches taller than me who squatted down for this picture just to make me feel a little better. Why did I get ripped off in the height department???? I could use a few inches. :)

It's Official...

(photograph by Jenae Blanchard)

He can drive!!! Bryton celebrated his sixteenth birthday last week. It is crazy to think this sweet little boy I met 11 years ago is now driving and dating. If there is anything to be learned from this, it is TIME GOES BY WAY TOO FAST! I mean, just 5 years ago he was this little boy who loved to be cross-eyed in almost every pic I took of him.....

and was just learning to do this.....

and could not let an opportunity slip by to do this.........

Now he is a full blown teenager!! He has been such a great example for all his sisters to follow and really is a great help when he is here. After all he does a little of this...

and that....

and ALOT of this.....

Despite all the teasing, he is such a great big brother! He is kind, respectful, handsome and full of adventure!! We can't wait to see how this next chapter in his life turns out...dating, driving, um did I say dating???? Oh boy. He should know exactly how to treat a girl, after all he does have SEVEN sisters!!! We love you Bryton and miss you like crazy!!!!

The First Day.....

The girls were so excited to start school this year especially since they will get to go together. They are both growing up, but this day was particularly difficult for me to let Kennedy go. It was bittersweet. I have always had the two little girls home w/ me at least part of the day for 5 years now. I found that it was really heartbreaking for me to send Kennedy to school all day. I am used to having them both home as my buddies. I know it is an adjustment and from what I have heard I will get used to it in no time, but for now my heart aches for my girls to just stay little.


Her supermodel pose...soo pretty if i do say so myself!



Man, I wish I knew how to pose like this girl does....

The "carpool" :

Oh the places we go...

Last month we took the kids to Sand Hollow to boat w/ my family for a few days. It was HOT...burning HOT, thank goodness we could jump in the lake if the heat was to much to bear.

The scenery is beautiful...reminded me of Lake Powell. There are little rock islands for the kids to jump off of and makes for a perfect place to eat lunch.

Mom and Dad

I like to call this picture Whiteeeeee and Browneeee.....gheesh..could anyone be more white than me? A few days on the lake was what I needed to get somewhat of a summer tan.

All the kids, cousin courtney, and hezzie.

"Grandpa, is it time for a break?".....Kennedy and Syd really enjoyed "break time" which consisted of swimming and jumping off the back of the boat.

Recovering from a day of this....

And not leaving the lake without learning to do this....

Mykee made it up on the wakeboard and was loving it!!!

Run. Eat. Sleep?? Repeat.

Carter and I completed the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back race this past weekend. For those of you who don't know how it works here is RAGNAR 101:

It is a 188 mile relay race from LOGAN to PARK CITY. Each team consists of 12 members. Each team provides two support vehicles (Van 1 & Van 2) each holding 6 team members. Each team member runs 3 Legs each ranging from 3-8 miles and varying in difficulty. Runners maintain the same order throughout the relay thus running every 12th leg. The relay runs at least 24 hours and doesn't stop for nightfall.

This is Van 1 Carter, Me, Jason, Robyn, Brittany and Jeff. This is who we spent over 29 hours with and boy was it ever fun!!!

We met up w/ the Pecks and Meilings to do some Carb loading at Mimi's Cafe and then we headed up to Logan to spend the night in order to make the 7:20 am start time on Friday. Brit was our first runner and started the race off w/ a bang!!

The first exchange, and glimpes of the first six legs we ran.......

Go Robyn, Go Robyn GO!!!!!!!!

Carter's first run of the day...my first run and handing off to Jeff to run 7 miles up hill!

Second Legs of the day Legs 13-18


Brit was a rockstar running up and down hills for 7 miles!!! Woot! Woot!

It was really starting to get hot in our second legs. Here is Robyn handing off to Carter.


Carter's route meandered through some neighborhoods where the were eager kids ready to give water and squirt water on the runners. It felt so good because it was sooo hot!!

We would stop every 2 miles and wait to see if our runner needed water. While we were waiting for Carter we found this adorable house and thought it would make for some good "family" shots. :)

Carter handing off to me to start my 5 mile run in the heat. This leg was my least favorite. :)

Jeff waiting for the exchange to start his second leg of the race.

Jeff handing off to Jason and Jason geared up for nightfall because his run would not end until it was dark. It was over 8 miles and up hill most of the way!! He totally rocked it b/c he ran it with blisters on his feet. He was on his "tippy toes" most of that run! OuCH!

This is half way through our 3rd and final legs of the race. Brittany's leg began around 3:15 am..I have no pics b/c I asked if she wanted me to get out of the nice warm car to take some pics of her at the exchange and her response was "no pics"....who am i to argue? I snuggled up to the pillow and tried to get some shut eye in before I was to run.....mmmm but that really didn't happen. Here is Carter gearing up in all the reflective wear. His run began sometime in the 4 am hour (it is all now a blur) and he ran almost 8 miles up hill!!! I was sooo proud!!

The exchange...Robyn is handing off to Carter...my fave person in this pic though is Jason (off to the left) I am sure he is doing his chang "Go Carter, Go Carter , Go!" He really was the best cheerleader on the team!!

Carter's run.....

Before my run...it was nearing 6 am and I was thankful I didn't have to put on all the reflective gear.This pic said it all....he's done!!!
My run down into Heber Valley....look how pretty!!! The runs were so picturesque.Second to our Van's last exchange...we are almost done!!!

Jeff to Jason....

And Jason finishing the last exchange...we made a really big deal because this is really the first exchange that we actually saw him pass to our 7th team member. We were always held up in previous legs so we tried to make it up to him...

I think he was pretty happy.... :)

We all wait for our 12th runner to come close to crossing the finish line and we all run w/ him. It was seriously the best feeling!

We are glad we are done!!!

Our team..Perpetual Motion

Special thanks to my mom and dad who came up to see us finish in the pouring rain. It was so cold and wet but it made it all the more sweet to know they were there to see us finish!! Love you guys!

Last but not least a BIG THANKS to this guy...my number 1! When we were forming the team earlier this year I asked if he would run it w/ me he said he didn't want to do it (at the time he could barely run a mile)...weeks later, he had a change of heart and started training w/ me. It was his first race ever and he rocked it!!! He had a blast and we are officially running it again next year! Love ya babe, it wouldn't have been the same w/out you!