On your marks...get set...GO!

After weeks of training, and weeks of fearing the unknown of running my first race, I can finally say I did it! This past weekend I headed out with Trent and Amy up to run in the Bear lake races. I really don't think I could have gone with anyone better then Amy (the amazing fight-through-the pain-and-still-manage-to-kick-A "quail" runner) And Trent (the Elite...nuff said).

Our times

Trent finished the marathon in 1st place with an outstanding time of 2:54:29...amazing, right?

Amy finished in 4th for the women's 10K (23rd overall) with an incredible time of 52:23 AND managed to do this with an injured knee AND foot...also amazing!

My stats aren't as impressive, but I finished 16th for the women's 10K (38th overall) with a time of 55:17.

Kissing my first metal...and it certainly won't be my last.

Lake Mead

This past weekend we got to spend some time away with some great friends down in Logandale, NV.

Our first day consisted of playing on the beaches of Lake Mead (Oliver's first time), Learning how to wake surf, Taking naps, Jet Skiing, and enjoying the 100+ degree temperatures.

Oliver was falling asleep while we were playing with the squirt guns. Either that was really boring or he was exhausted. He ended up taking an extra long nap that day on the beach...over 2 hours.

Sadly, we didn't take too many pictures because my batteries died. But we sure enjoyed the long day at the lake. The next day, we stayed at the house, played games, and swam. Most of us were sunburned and still tired from the day before. It was perfect to stay in doors when the temperatures outside were reading in at 106.

Later that night the adults got a couple of babysitters to watch all 10 kids and we headed to Las Vegas for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. It was so much fun to sit at our round table (a highlight from dinner) and pretty much laugh the whole time. After a great meal and some delicious cheesecake, we headed back.

This vacation exceeded all of our expectations. We couldn't have asked for a better group to spend the weekend with. The adults, the kids, the weather...everything was perfect. Bret and Tiffani were so kind to invite us. It's certainly a vacation we wont be forgetting any time soon.

St. George...again.

When people hear that we have been or are going to St. George they usually ask "So what do you do down there?" Sadly, we don't get much of an exciting reaction when our reply is "Absolutely nothing and we love it!".

Okay so I wouldn't say absolutely nothing. Perhaps a lot of relaxing and doing whatever comes to mind at the moment is more like it.

We sat on the back patio and read.

We played at a couple of water parks.

We spent some time with Grandma Wiggles.

Celebrated Luke's 28th Birthday.

Played with cousins.

And laid out in the fabulous sun every single day with Amy.

As always, a good time was had by all. Soon enough, we'll be back doing it all over again.

Tinkerbell's Cupcake

Once upon a time in a far away land, there lived a happy little fairy. The thing that she loved most was sprinkling her magic little pixie dust all over happy people who believed in her and her powers of making them fly. She got her powers from only eating her magical sweet pumpkin cupcakes.

But there was this mischievous little boy that wanted nothing more then to find this collection of cupcakes and eat them all for himself. His mom told him not to eat any because they weren't made for him and that he would get a tummy ache. The little boy didn't listen to his mom and secretly ate a cupcake while no one was looking.

He couldn't believe that he didn't get caught and that he was in the clear, that is, until he needed a diaper changing.

And then his mom found out.

A closer look

After cleaning up and having a sweet little chat with the mischievous boy about not eating other peoples food, he was fine.

And they all lived happily ever after.

The End

The Birrfday

My birthday was last week. On the 4th to be exact. Here are a few of my thoughts and confessions.

Confession #1... I am 27 years old. I never knew that I would actually ever hit this age. Did I think it would jump from 25, the appropriate and much antisipated car renting age, to 30, the highly dreaded I'm-getting-so-old-age without having to hit 26, 27, 28, and 29?? Just get me to 30 already.

Confession #2...I didn't want a birthday party. I don't want to sound like a Debbie Downer, but whatev. I really didn't want to throw myself a party and then make everyone feel like they had to come. I also didn't want to have to make my own birthday cake, buy one, or ask anyone to make one for me. AND I didn't want to have to host anything where I would spend a week prepping my house and then a week cleaning it up. I am that lame.

Confession #3...I am a spoiled, yet very blessed brat. You know how when people ask you what you want for your Birthday or Christmas or any other gift giving holiday and you politely say "Oh I don't know..." but you know exactly what you want? Well, I sure knew and I told anyone who asked exactly what I wanted...and I got it.

Confession #4...I secretly love it when the Bakers scream out Happy Birthday to ME. Now forcing my face into birthday cake and getting frosting shoved up into depths of my nose is something I don't love.

Confession #5...This year I received the most Birthday wishes through letters, phone calls, texts, visits, emails, comments on my blog and FB, and in person then any other birthday I can remember. That alone made me feel pretty dang good and made my day.

Confession #6...I love my families. Both in laws and out laws and the ones in between. They are the ones that know what to say and do to make me feel at my best. Thank you!

Confession #7...I like getting older and hope that I am never ashamed to share my age.

Confession #8...I can't wait to see what adventures this year will bring and what new life lessons and knowledge I'll capture on my way to age 28.

Look A {lot} Likes

Last week while I was up at the Jensen's, I decided that for quiet time I would watch The Princess and the Frog. Minutes into the movie I saw something that I couldn't believe. The moment I saw it, I busted out laughing, and then sat staring at the screen with my mouth wide open. What was it you may wonder? OLIVER! AS A LITTLE ANIMATED GIRL!



Little Charlotte La Bouff {AKA Lottie}




I tried to find a good picture of her and this one is perfect, except I couldn't get it any bigger. You may just have to watch the show to see what I really mean.

Happy Birthday Kimmy!!!!

Oliver and I love you!