One of the Best Experiences! Logan to Park City

This last weekend I ran the Wasatch Relay from Logan to Park City with an awesome group of people. A group of 12 ran 3 legs each ranging from 3-9 miles each leg totaling 12- 19 miles each person. We were the "Who's from Whoville". Our vans were all deck out as "Thing 1 vs Thing 2".


Our two vans all decorated.

We each were characters from a Dr. Suess book. We had :
Horton the Elephant

The Onceler

The Lorax

Sam I Am

The Grinch

Hop on Pop

Star-Bellied Sneetch (my pregnant friend looked so cute with a little star on her belly)

Cindy Lou Who

Gertrude McFuzz

Yertle the Turtle

The Cat in the Hat

And I was the Fox in Sox, I cut socks off and wrote on them "Fox" and "Sox", Etta now wears them.

My Van started around 8pm and ran through the night. Our first runner was my friend Angelica, who was 4 1/2 months pregnant. As she came running in to the exchange station another team tried to pass her. She would not have that happen and gave it everything she had. She got our team pumped up!

Angelica's amazing finish.

My first leg was around 10pm and straight up hill. Not the most fun but glad to get the hardest run out of the way. We all stopped at a park to eat and sleep for about 2 hours before we were to head off to our next exchange and run again.

*Getting support from Hatcher and my Andy!

The passing of the Slap Bracelet to get me running.

I ran right next to the beautiful reservoir, but it also made me really thirsty.

Must be doing pretty good if I can lift my arm to wave.

Almost to the end.

After that leg we headed to one of our teammates home in Kamas. We showered,ate and slept a bit more before our last leg. Showering was the best!
The last leg was extremely hot for my fellow teammates. But they kicked butt. I finished up by getting the slap bracelet exchange at Deer Valley and running through Park City to the finish line. My team met me about 100 yards from the finish line and ran in with me.

Waiting to start my last leg. Very nervous.

Sprinting to the finish line with my team.

The amazing people I ran with , AKA : The Who's from Whoville

My Van 2 "Thing 2" Group

What a great experience. I am for sure planning on doing it again next year!

*Plus a bonus, I had my husband there helping out our team by volunteering. He stayed the night and supplied me with a soft bed, pillow and blankets for my 1 hour and 45 minutes of sleep. Then he cheered me on my second leg of running. He stopped quite a bit to snap pictures, cheered for me and gave me water. He was also there at the finish line to tell me how proud he was of me. What a great husband. I loved the support and know he spent a lot of time driving around and waiting around at the finish line.

Thank you so much, I Love ya sweetie!

Fun Day at the Park

Yesterday we planned a fun little park activity with some friends. The city has a great lunch program going on during the summer at all the Salt Lake Parks. Free lunch for kids 18 and younger. We thought what a great idea to eat lunch at the park without having to pack up lunches.
I grabbed some tacos for me and we headed to the park. The kids played on the playground for a bit before lunch. Once lunch started we all sat down and enjoyed the nice warm day under a big tree.
I told Etta the night before that we were going to the park and she could run through the sprinklers. So after she ate her burrito, applesauce, carrots and chips she let me know she was ready to go run through the sprinklers.
Liberty Park is awesome. They have a large playground area with water sprinklers, slides, and swings. It does get a bit crowded but the kids still have some fun.
Etta didn't run all the way through them but liked the sprinkle here and there. She had fun playing just on the outside of the sprinklers and on her favorite little "Mr. Turtle".

Waiting for the sprinklers to get smaller and then running through the tunnel.


Trying to catch the water and drink it.


Etta and Mr. Turtle.

Gibby had a little fun at first and then when the sprinklers go bigger wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Having fun with little sprinkles, ready to leave now.


A few little standing pictures, but still not liking the big sprinklers.


Safely back in the stroller with his milk.

Our friends were getting ready to leave when I got a call from our good friend Angelica saying she was at liberty park and wanted to see if we could come over. I told her we were already there and where excited to come find them and play some more.

This time we went to the little streams and canyons area they have there. Etta and Layla loved seeing each other and played for about 2 more hours. Angelica and I chatted and dangled our feet while Gibby splashed a bit. Angelica's mom was there and took the girls on walks to the waterfalls, to chase some birds and run up and down the big hill. Etta had so much fun and when it was time to leave wanted to go home with Layla on the bus.
We snapped some pictures before they got there and forgot to get some of Layla and Etta together. We will just have to make another play date at the park or pool for some good little pictures.


Splashing with their feet.


Gibby loving the water.


Etta doing what she does best "Playing in the water".

Happy Father's Day Andy!

We had fun celebrating Father's day for him. When Etta woke up Sunday moring she kissed him on his nose to wake him up. Then gave him her present. Daddy got ping pong balls from her and Gibby and a case for his paddle from me.
We made him his favorite breakfast. French toast and bacon. Then it was off to the Dog park for an morning walk. We have so much fun at the Dog park. Etta gets to walk and run with Hatcher and other dogs, Hatcher gets to run around and we just enjoy the beautiful day.
After the dog park it was time to get ready for the afternoon bees game. We were going to get there early so Andy and Etta could go on the field and play catch but Etta isn't old enough yet and it wouldn't have been fun for either of them. So we got a picnic lunch and eat it at the ball park before the game.
It was hot and Etta and I spent most of the game riding the train and playing on the toys. We got daddy a Snowie and after singing "Take me out to the ball game" we left.

What a great Father my kids have. He plays with them, tickles them, throws them in the air and on the love sac (which they love). He is great at helping them learn and grow. Plus he makes sure they have everything they need. He is their hero, friend and Daddy.

Love ya Sweetheart, Thanks for being such a great Father to our kids!

A very hot weekend

Friday:

Last week I noticed Friday was going to be a very warm/hot day. We planned on going to the Murray outside pool. Etta was excited and told me her friend Anni was coming to swim with her. Friday morning I had us all packed and ready to go around 10am. As I was heading to the truck Etta stopped and looked at me funny. Then she said, "No, my backyard, Anni is coming to swim in my backyard." How cute she thought when I told her we were going swimming it was in her little pool. I then told her we were going to a BIG pool. She wasn't to mad just a little confused.
We got there and there was bout 5 other people there. We pretty much had the pool all to ourselves. I love this pool, with two children it works our perfect. It is shallow for so long Etta can play and play and play while Gibby and I play. I was only planning on staying for about an hour, but than our friends Sarah and Anni came and boy did those two have lots of fun.
I was great having a friend to talk to while cooling off in the pool. They did make us get out every hour for water check. But we eat snacks and reapplied sunscreen. Before we left Etta wanted to go down the big slide. So Sarah watched Gibson. Once I took Etta than Anni wanted to go. They both loved the big slide and we ended up going down a number of times.
We will be going back to this pool often.

Etta just loved the pool!

Gibby was happy at the pool too.

Saturday:

Saturday Andy and I had both signed up for the Millcreek "fill the ark" 5k. He got to push the kids in the chariot while I did some more training for my big run. I didn't do very good so I am not posting my time. Andy did great with pushing the added 50 pounds of kids and stroller.
We stayed and won some fun prizes and then headed back home to relax until the Bees game that night. When we got home Andy put Etta on the love sack because she was konked out. This was the only picture I took on Saturday but it was darling.

Sweet little Angel

We had a great time at the game. It was a double header but we manage to get there in enough time to sing "Take me out to the ball game" for the first game and then watched the second game with a win for the Bees. Fireworks were awesome. Etta now likes them and Gibson seemed to like them a little better. Lot's more fireworks to come!

Johns Family Reunion - Red Fish Lake

On Friday our little family headed out to Idaho destination Sun Valley and Red Fish Lake. We borrowed my Dad's little car it gets better gas millage than our truck and our truck has been having some issues. For a 6 plus hour drive in the middle of no where you need something a little more reliable. (Thanks Dad).
Leaving in the early afternoon we thought would be great. By the time we hit North Salt Lake both kids were asleep. A couple hours in we passed the Idaho boarder. Than Etta and Gibson wake up. I turned on Monster Inc for them to watch. Etta had never watched a movie in the car she did great on our Airplane trip. Well about 10 minutes into the show, she starts whinnying and crying and then Blah, she vomits all over her blanket, two dolls and shirt. As calmly as possible I told Andy to pull over and tried to comfort Etta.
At the side of the rode we wiped her down, stripped her clothes off, and had her pee in the weeds. Loaded back in the car Andy sets the cruise for 75 (the speed limit) and we are driving again. About 10 minutes later we see a Idaho policeman. Again we have the cruise set and we pass him. He immediately gets behind us and pulls us over. He asked Andy why he was in such a hurry. Andy told him he had it set at 75 and would not have past him going 76 knowing the Idaho speed limit law. Needless to say the policeman was a jerk, but he didn't give us a ticket. Finally 4 hours later we reach my sisters town say "hi" and then headed up the mountains to Red Fish Lake, a cabin and bed.
We are in a darling cabin and lots of fun family members everywhere. It is beautiful up there and we took many walks along the lake, dock and mountain trails. One day we spent at the Fish Hatchery fishing and learning about the different fishes. Then we played at Sun Valley Resort, I got my hair dyed darker and everyone swam in their heated pool.
We also rented a little boat and drove it across the lake. We played family games and ate a lot of food. On the last day the whole family was going to go on the lake in a pontoon boat but they had some engine problems so we bagged it. We eat lunch at a darling little bakery. Andy and I then headed home while the rest of the family drove to ghost towns and hot springs.
The drive back wasn't any better than the drive there. Both children slept a little and then were awake most of the time fussing. Etta didn't throw up again but around 20 miles to Utah she told us she needed to poop. We had just stopped no more than 1/2 hour earlier and peed and pooped. So I told her to hold it and be a big girl we would stop soon. Big mistake crossing the Utah boarder her little voice sadly says "I have diarrhea mommy". I look back and all over her car seat and shorts is none other than a thick version of diarrhea. No where to really clean this up we make are way to Tremonton. After scrubbing the car seat the best I can, taking my daughter into the bathroom and practically giving her a bath in the sink, and then putting a diaper on her we get back on the road and thankfully get home a little over 1 1/2 later.
Needless to say, We had fun and I will go to more family reunions but they can't be more than 3 hours of driving away. We loved being with everyone.

And of course I took a ton of pictures, way to many to choose from so I learned how to do a slide show. It is long but enjoy!

Just another busy Saturday

We headed down to Bridal Veil Falls bright and early 7:00am. They were having a 10k and I need all the training I can get. I know I can just go out and run 6.2 miles on my own but it is a lot more motivating to run in a race and work on your time.
We took off around 9:00am. The trail headed up and pass the falls and then looped back around. It was a beautiful fun and pretty run. Andy and the kids surprised me at the 2 1/2 mark by the water station. Andy does a great job of cheering you on to keep you going. I picked up my pace on the way back. I had a target girl in sight the whole run and had to pass her. I finished in 1 hour 4 secs. Felt great to run the whole time and get another training race under my belt.

There were a lot of runners!

And we are off!


Making it to the first water station 2 1/2 miles


On my way back down the trail 2 miles left...


and finally sprinting to the finish!

Happy to have finished we headed to Seven Peaks. We meet up with a bunch of our friends for a fun day in the sun. We all changed into swim wear then laid out our towels, chairs and had some yummy lunch from our cooler. We played in the wave pool for about 2 hours on and off. I took Etta down a really big slide. She liked it a little but told me she didn't want to go again. Gibson was getting tired so he and I stayed while everyone headed off to the lazy river. Gibby was fast asleep when they all came back. Etta told me the lazy river was stinky so I am glad I missed out.
We relaxed and laid out in the sun for a bit. Etta hit the wave pool one more time and then we packed up and headed home. Once we were out of the parking lot both kids were fast asleep.



Just doing what Etta does best, playing in the water.


Warming up and drying off.


Exhausted from the waves in the wave pool.


What a Great Daddy!


Sun tanning with the sunscreen.

Maybe next time there will be more action shots. What a beautiful day and great family time!

Last Music Class 'til Fall

We have had so much fun with our Music Class. With great friends to help out we all enjoy circle time, rhythm, marching, movement and parachute. When we started Gibby was sleeping in his chair and only about 3 months old. Now he shakes the shakers and hits the sticks and bounces to the music.
Etta has enjoyed it from the start but now can sing a lot of the songs on her own and has a great time with the rhythm of the music.


Gibby Shaking and hitting the sticks to the music.


Etta shaking to her favorite song "fruit salad salsa".


Marching around the alphabets.


Parachute time!


Saying "good-bye" and giving hugs.

We can't wait to do it again in the fall!