Snow Run

Our first 5K pf the season. Notice the snow, not so ideal runner weather for us. The race started at 8:00. When we got up at 7:00 it was still snowing and we decided we weren't going. Then about 7:30, the sun came out and things started looking a little better. By 7:40, we decided to go for it. and everyone scrambled to get ready.

Brena stayed with a friend of ours at the start/finish line, while everyone else ran. It was cold, we ran an unfamiliar route along the canal road which we normally avoid, and snow kept blowing off the trees into our faces, but we survived, and figured our times and positive experiences can only get better from here.

Mom, thinking that my lungs burn and I hoping this is the last time I have to run in the snow this year.

And Lindz and Em with their traditional hand-holding across the finish line. I do have to say, the best part about this 5K was seeing some family friends of ours finish their first 5K. That was the best part.

State Debate

Meet our Jordan District Debate Duo - Allie and Kayla. Today they went on to the State Debate Meet and won 2 of their 3 debates. I know that I am biased as the mother of one of the girls, but I just have to say that these are two amazing 11-year olds. They are kind, generous, beautiful, and present themselves with poise and dignity. Our family has been very blessed to get to know Allie's family better and we are confident that these two young women will go on to do great things.

Easter

Easter is a special day for us.  It's one of our favorite days of the year that is full of meaning and tradition.  We feel great joy and happiness in finding yummy candy and treats in our eggs on Saturday and feel even greater joy and happiness as we think about our empty eggs, and the Saviors Empty Tomb, on Sunday. 
Our favorite part of Easter is going to a cemetery to talk about the Resurrection.  We do the 'Melissa and the Bird Story' and just take some time to wander through the graves.  It's a good day to remember ALL that the Lord has blessed us with.

Thirty-Six

My best friend and eternal companion is 36 today!  Happy Birthday Bub!  He made it home from Scout Camp in time for us to take him out for Salt Lake City's  "Best Fish Tacos".  And he was not disappointed,  at least for north of the border.
It was soooo good to just be all together as a family and celebrate Robert and the amazing and awesome Husband and Dad that he is.  We love you Babe!  Welcome to the 36's - wish I were staying here with you for while, but 37 is calling my name soon. 

Mini Egg Hunt

Today we had a mini egg hunt with our cousins.  Robert is at Scout Camp with the boys from our ward, so we decided to just have a small family hunt this year.  It was a balmy 38 degrees Saturday morning, and Brenna was clad in a gymnastics outfit, flip-flops, and a coat. 

Katie, Emi, and Megan hunting on the grass, while Aubrey checks in the playhouse.  It didn't take me nearly as long to hide the eggs this year, but it probably took a lot longer to find them, as we only had 9 hunters versus the 65-70 we are used to.

And we even went with pillow cases this year instead of baskets. Am I cross contaminating Easter with Halloween?  Who knows?  I'm pretty much just doing the best I can. 

BYU Bowling

Orson, Barb, and the kids are here to pick up Nathan from BYU.  I can't believe he's already finished his freshman year.  It went so fast!  While they were here we did a little bowling at the Wilki.  Look as those cute cousins.

Brenna liked her ball guider and bumper lane.  She and Megan were great bowlers.

Emi was happy with life, as usual.

The sickies.  Mom, who had been sick the past few days with a bad cold, and AJ & KJ who didn't know it yet, but were about to be taken down by that same cold bug.

Emi Program

More pics of Emi presenting and singing at her 2nd grade program.

She is such a fun girl!

Jimmer Nails

Jimmer Mania is still alive and well in our house. Aubrey has become an expert at the 'I Love Jimmer' nail set. Here Kayla is the lucky recipient of Aubrey's talent. We love Jimmer at our house!

Homemade Rolls

Making rolls from scratch can be frustrating and time consuming, atleast for me.  But Aubrey decided to make some for dinner tonight. 

She had lots of fun kneading the dough.

Viola!  Delicious homemade rolls.  Gracias Aubs!

Haristyles

Here's a few of Brenna's outdoor hairstyles.

More Painting

Man, the playhouse looks good with the new paint, but now it makes the shed look even worse. I'm thinking we've got some more painting to do in the near future. Blah. I think it's actually all the 'prep work' that I dread - more than the actual painting. It's not at the top of my proiority list, but we'll see if we get to it.

1st BBQ

It wasn't exactly 'ideal' BBQ weather, but it was close, so we fired it up and grilled up some turkey burgers.

The girls love to eat outside.  Let's hope it warms up soon so we can!

A turkey burger with guac and fruit salad. That's my kind of BBQ.

Race Finish

This is the finish line he loves, running through the cheering crowds at the Gateway. And he especially loves finding us amoungst that cheering crowd.

Our finisher. #3301. Finishing in 1:53 and feeling tired.

Robert and his biggest fans.

The entire NEC team. So happy and proud of our Dad!

The Race Journey

I love the excitement of race day, regardless of whether I am running or not.  And today was a great day.  Robert ran the Salt Lake Half Marathon for the 3rd time.  He likes the race, the route, and especially the layout of the finish line.  Here we had found him (more on that miracle below) about 6 1/2 miles in.

We gave him some high-5's and serious cowbell........

and then sent him on his way.

                                                     

Now to the the miracle.  The morning of the race I decided we wanted to surprise Robert somewhere along the route.  As we left, I quickly grabbed my SLM shirt, which had the race route on the back,  from when I had run the Salt Lake Half 2 years ago. I tossed it to Aubrey in the back seat and off we went.  She was our navigator and we decided to try to catch him around mile 6 near Liberty Park. 

As we got closer, the road blocks started to appear (both literally and figuratively).  We were turned away and turned around many times, but we were determined.  We offered up prayers that we would be able to see Robert and encourage him.  We had one police officer let us through a barricade and we quickly parked and started running (yes literally) towards the stream of runners on the next block.  As we approached the signal at the intersection we had parked by, we saw Robert in his green NEC shirt,  leaving a water station that was located just before the intersection.  It was a miracle, and we know that to be true.  We no longer knew where we were on the course, we no longer knew what mile markers we were near, we didn't even know what street we had parked our car on, but we had found our Dad. 

 The girls were shaking the cow bells like crazy and I shot the 3 pictures posted above.  He said he was 'struggling - not having a great run' and we told him we loved him and would see him at the finish line.  Our family has witnessed  many miracles and been the recipients of many tender mercies granted to us directly  from our Father in Heaven.  For this we will be forever grateful, and on this day we spent a few extra minutes on our knees in gratitude for finding our Dad. 

Emi's Dance

We had to waltz with our grandparents after the program...but my grandparents were not there so I got to waltz with my dad.He twirled me every time we finished doing a box.It was awesome.

                                         

My mom took pictures of me and my dad.I forced her to take a picture of me curtsying. I said that I looked beautiful. And to tell you the truth I did look beautiful...except for my shoes were a little loose.
 THE END.