Coming home to this!

I feel so stressed out lately!  Most likely because I miss running.  A lot.  I've been uptight and unsettled. I had just gotten home from grocery shopping to find THIS football action going on in the backyard. Dream. come. true. It was so very relaxing watching them from the deck soaking on the shade and laughter and Brad calling the shots!

A fun little track and field meet!

Hey look!

There's me! 

Running a half marathon! 

With a stress fracture. 

Hyrum and Paul's fastest run yet!

Hyrum and Paul just ran 4 miles along the trail! It was super windy and they did super awesome! Both are very excited about their 5 mile race coming up! It was Paul's first 4 miler ever and Hyrum's first this year.  Überawesome. What more is there to say?!

Utah Valley Half Marathon!

What an amazing and anticipated day it has been! Over a year ago I set a goal to run this half marathon.  I was determined to not let any injury keep me from doing the things I love.  I set a goal to run it in under 2 hours.  I trained my butt off all winter in preparation.  My sister Jess had signed up as well, and a couple months ago had decided to sell her entry.  To my surprise, Carolyn bought it!  Carolyn was training with her husband for his first half, a very worth while endeavor!  I decided to reevaluate my goal, I would rather run with Carolyn and have fun and finish. Running in under two hours could wait for the Bryce canyon half. Another surprise- last week I injured my foot.  Big time.  I had been taping up my feet to prevent the horrible blisters I have struggled with for months.  But I was taping them too tight, and either gave myself a stress fracture or pinched nerve between my metatarcials. It has really been causing me a lot of pain. Debilitating really.  I realized Carolyn might have to be waiting for me.
 Friday we went and stayed with Carolyn. Loren made a yummy spaghetti dinner and we were off to bed! We had to wake up at about 3am to catch our bus up to the starting line. My nerves got the best of me the whole bus ride. I was so nervous that my foot wouldn't hold out for over 13 miles.  We tried to warm up and my foot felt OK.

Carolyn said her hip was bothering her as well. I can't explain the happiness I felt as the race began!  I reflected to the feelings I has over a year ago when I thought this would never be possible. And the week before when I texted Carolyn to tell her that Loren might have to run this race for me because I hurt my darn foot. And there I was running the race with my best friend,

in one of the most beautiful places in the world! By mile three, I couldn't imagine running 10 more miles on my foot.  It was a sering pain and I couldn't find a way to run that didn't hurt.  I felt blisters already forming on my toe. I had to just overcome it.  I wouldn't give myself any other option.  So that's just what I did.

Carolyn and I cruised through mile after mile making incredible time staying with the 2 hour pacer. I realized that something I more wished for, could become our reality.  But also the reality was that Carolyn hadn't trained at anything near the pace we were keeping. Her pain tried so hard to over take her. But we kept at it!  Persevered!  I am still awestruck over her ability to run at such a pace with the serious amount of pain she was coping with.  I had it easy, I told my pain to shut up, and for the most part, it did. 

I am so happy about our time!  I didn't think there was even a possibility of getting close to a two hour half!

Not only am I happy about the time we got, I am so happy we started and finished!  I would have been super easy to not do either! We both got a PR in this race!

I am so grateful for our families who supported us so much today!  Brad stayed near us from start to finish incase we had problems we couldn't conquer. Loren watched the kids and made us tasty food. Carolyn put up with my motivational and emotional ramblings. I just feel so blessed. 

The boys ran a 1k afterwards and had a ton of fun!  They got t-shirts and finisher metals and lots of treats afterwards! 

Thankfully, Brad ran with Bryan. My foot kind of pooped out after the race. 

It was beautiful seeing the Provo Temple under construction!

Then we went and saw my grandma Wilson!

It was really nice to see her and her beautiful art work.  My boys just have a love for my grandma.  It really makes me sad that we don't see her more. 

By this point, we were all pretty tired and just wanted to go home and go to bed. So we did!  What a great day! 

And oh my gosh!  I never thought anything like this would feel SO GOOD! 

We run!  And we ran.  Today I tested my boys on their one mile at the track and here are their times.  I can't wait to see their progress by the end of the summer.  Hopefully my foot will let me run with them again soon!

When The Thunder Rolls

We had such a fun beautiful night! We chatted away with friends and neighbors till the storm clouds got so close and the rain started pelting us.  Hyrum had already gone in to make us cookie dough, so it was waiting for us when we got inside.  And so was this amazing double rainbow {shown above}! Lightening started just as I was taking pictures.  The thunder was loud and rumbly. The lightening bolted across the sky.  The boys all ran up for their pillows and blankets and we snuggled all together as a family in front of the sliding glass doors that overlook a stretch of valley. Two hours we lay watching and listening amazed at the power of nature. I loved the comments and expressions of the boys!  Jared was always so worried about missing lightening bolts and flashes and if he looked away, he always asked, very concerned, "Did I miss one?!" I love my family so much.  I am so grateful for days and nights of spontaneous fun!

Here's another shot from today!  I buzzed my boys hair for the first time ever!

These boys are just perfect for me. ♡♡♡♡

Also!  Hyrum and Paul both ran three miles today! They are awesome!  Bryan ran 2 miles twice last week, he is so incredible!

And my flowers bloomed!  Finally!

 Bryan stuck his face in a flower and shouted, "Ahhhhh! I'm being pollinated!"