St. George Half Marathon 2010

So I decided I better get in at least one half-marathon this year and the more prego I get, the harder it is going to be. So, since Tom's family was coming down for this one, I figured I better go for it.
It was a super cold rainy week. It seriously rained Sunday through Saturday, basically non-stop. Luckily, I got in a 10-miler on Saturday before the storms rolled in. That was my longest run in a long while and it wasn't easy (even though I am not that pregnant-18 weeks makes a difference though). So I didn't really run even once the rest of the week. I intended to, but the rain and my moodiness prevented it. I attempted the treadmill on Thursday before the race, but kids, interruptions, grumpiness and lack of motivation helped me run a whopping 2 miles over an hour.

The rain continued to fall and actually turned into snow Friday night. I was not really looking forward to the race, but I had paid my 35 bucks and would do it. Tom's parent's, sister and family, and Tom's brother and family came to run and cheer. We had 10 Dansies in the 5k and half-marathon and a cheering section and they were all troopers.

Luckily for us all, the moisture subsided by the start of the race and just left chilly air in its wake--nothing layers couldn't combat.

I had plans to run the half in under 2 hours and I made my goal. I finished in 1:54. I only wish they had a prego division. Tom rocked the course, as always, in 1:28.

I love this picture, because I seriously have the most bizarre running form in the world, and this showcases it beautifully.

Here are some of the finishers: Brother Dan, nephew sam (who smoked his first half-marathon in 1:32), niece, Sophie, bother-in-law, Tom, and of course, my Tom.

Post race, we enjoyed In n Out and relaxing with the family on Grandpa's hats. It was a great race as always, and I look forward to the next one.

2010

I guess it is time to publicly declare my resolutions for the year, so that maybe I will be motivated to achieve them. I have being thinking there is a lot I want to do this year and I am hoping that by doing these things I will become a better person: spiritually, motherly, physically, intellectually, etc.

1. Read the Book of Mormon. Last summer, I challenged the young women in our ward to do it with me. And for some bizarre reason, I was just a few chapters from the end when the deadline and ice cream party came rolling around. I got my ice cream sundae minus a cherry and whipped cream (because of the missing chapters), and promptly forgot to finish the Book. How horrible is that? So this year, we'll start again, but I will finish it. I want to read it with companion text to help me get more out of it. Seminary manual? Gospel Doctrine manual? Any other ideas?
2. Keep a clean house. I want my house to a place where the Spirit can dwell for freely. Tom is the nicest person and never criticizes what I do (or don't do) all day, but every once in a while hints that he would like to come home to a cleaner house. I need to be more specific about how to keep my house clean. But here are a few ideas I have: make sure the front room and kitchen are clean when Tom gets home from work. Mop my floors once a week. Make my bed every day. Do some laundry almost every day and fold 1-2 baskets of clothes twice a week (I am hoping that will help me stay on top of it, without it being an all day, horrible, over whelming task).
3. Spend time with each kid individually. I would like to do this weekly. Tom has started doing outings with each kid once a month. I don't need to do an outing, but sit a read a book with them, or paint nails, or drive trains around. Just something simple and fun.
4. Run a marathon and do a triathlon post baby. My sister is doing her first marathon this year and I thought it would be so fun to be able to run with her. So I plan to do the St. George Marathon just a little over 3 months post baby. I signed up for the Kokopelli triathlon because it was cheaper than it ever has been and anyone who knows me, knows I can't pass up a good deal. I signed up for the Olympic distance but reserve the right to drop down to the sprint if I want to since the race is less than 3 months after babe is due.
5. Have a healthy babe. I know I dodn't have complete control over this one, but I plan to do all I can to ensure the healthy arrival of the babe in June. This doesn't mean I can't downhill ski or eat a little bit of junk and drink an occassional Dr. Pepper. But I need to not overdue my indulgences and listen to my body.
6. Don't yell at my kids so much. I don't know what I need to specifically do to accomplish this one, but life is too short, especially childhood, to yell at them over silly things.
7. Go to the temple once a month. We made this goal last year, and failed so we'll try again. There is so much to be gained by going there, and I have zero excuse for not.

So here's to a fun and uplifting year!

Happy Birthday Tom!

Tom turned 33 today!

He is by far the most awesome person in the world: the best husband, the greatest father, and there isn't anyone I would rather spend eternity with.


Here are a few, of the countless, reasons I love him:

• He is the most selfless person in the world.
• He is super hot on a road bike.
• 
• He has a great, albeit bizarre, sense of humor.
  
• He is an awesome marathoner. (7 or 8 marathons to his name)
• He has great work ethic.
• He cleans the house.
• He makes a mean alfredo and hollandaise sauce.
• He is so kind to his parents (and mine).
• He is patient.
• He always puts his family first.
• He honors his priesthood and strives to be like the Savior.
• He lets me sleep in every morning and gets the kids going.
• He watches enough sports to be manly, but not too much that it's annoying.
• He watches chick flicks with me.
  
• And he looks great in a mullet.

Basically, there are too many awesome qualities that this man possesses, so I won't bore you with them all.

But I just wanted to shout out a Happy Day to my rad guy.

It's a . . .

. . .I have no idea, but we are super excited to be welcomimg a new one into our family sometime in June. This ultrasound was taken a month ago, when the babe was merely the size of a lime. He/she is now the whopping size of an orange.

We are all excited and can't wait for the new one to join (and proabably complete) our family.

PS: I finally got my pictures from the past 3 moths uploaded and will hopefully post some of the highlights of our life in the coming weeks.