Just Had To Post This One...

My boy is not much of a high adventure kid, at least I thought he wasn't.  He has been telling me all about his future trips to these places in the States and the World to do these High (risky) Adventures.  I listen carefully and I tell him that he can do anything he wants to do as long as he sets out to do it.  Then he goes and shows me videos on YouTube of these risky things he wants to do.  Oh My!  I'm beginning to worry and stress out already. 
Rob gets him all excited by finding even more adventurous videos of these risky stuff.  For example, "Hang-Gliding," I totally wanted to do it when I was in UT and encouraged James to do it someday, until he showed me this video...

What is a mother to say about this?  I am laughing right now...but will I be laughing the day he calls me to tell me he is actually doing these risky adventurous things? 
For his birthday he asked for a season pass to Mt Baker to go snowboarding this Winter.  I totally hesitated and felt completely scared-  I totally dislike the snow and it terrifies me.  Especially when this video was shown to me before the pass was purchased...Sorry about the music.  Just hit mute.

Seriously Crazy!!!
He also shows me videos of "Man vs Wild" and tells me he wants to do that too.  He has always loved the outdoors, but I had no clue he loved this other stuff as much too.
http://youtu.be/ZFa9VSFVDLw
This last weekend (Saturday) he and a few friends decided to go on a High Adventure Bike Trail ride.  I questioned the idea that they had checked the weather- which I was told later that they did.  They still chose to go with the cold temperatures ahead and rain.  Well, as a result they couldn't even make it home and had to stop at a friend's house and get a ride back home.  James said that he felt he was pretty close to experiencing Hypothermia.  He said he was soaked and freezing, yea- he was wearing SHORTS!  He could hardly feel his hands to ride (he had no gloves).  He still expressed that he had a great time, regardless...that's my boy!  I just hugged him and SMILED! 

Park City Half Marathon...

What an incredible experience this race was?!  After I had signed up for it in May, I kept thinking "what had I done?"  I was going to be in UT for three weeks and thought "why not?"  But I didn't think about the fact that the elevation might affect my running and that I would be arriving only a week prior to the race. Which would leave me with very little time to adjust to the elevation.  I ran three times before the race, the first two times, I just about died.  Seriously I struggled to get passed one mile on day one and then get passed 3 miles on the second run.  My legs felt like led and I couldn't breath easily enough.  I was really starting to worry.
On the third run I decided that I would do better at listening to my body and take my time.  I changed my tempo, my breathing and slowed down my pace.  I told myself that all I wanted to do was to finish the race, have fun and not get injured.  On the day of the race I had the privilege of dragging my Sister Frandi, Weston and my kids along.  They woke up at 4:30am and drove me to Park City where the race would start at 6:45am.  That is TRUE LOVE. 
I had prayed for help and comfort the night before and felt a great deal of ease and peace that morning.  I felt great and felt so happy to be there.  I guess it helps to have seen the sun coming up and then it was so beautiful all around me.  I couldn't help but SMILE.  Having my Sister and Weston with my kiddos there meant a lot, as well.  Although I did miss Rob a ton more than I thought I would.  I just felt so much love and joy, so much support and encouragement from my family.  I also knew that prayers were being said on my behalf.  I KNOW that I never run a race without the Lord's help...He is the one that always helps me finish! 
As the race started I had a little anxiety come over me.  I watched a ton of runners go by me.  I felt like I should catch up, but knew that it would be a mistake if I did.  I ALWAYS have to start slow to warm up and not wear myself out on the first 3 miles of the race.  So, for fun I decided to challenge myself with a silly goal.  I would pass 100 runners by the time I would finish the race.  There were over 700 runners participating in the Half- Marathon and over 100 had already passed me.  So, I figured it was motivational enough.
The course was absolutely GORGEOUS!  It was about 90% through trails, some hills which were manageable and it was about 60-65 degrees...It was absolutely breath taking.  The sunrise made it even more gloriously beautiful.  The mountains, flowers, grass, crispy fresh air, the smells of nature, the smiles on the volunteers, the cheering and encouragement, seeing my family shouting for me and giving me high fives, the cows, and horses, the birds...I felt like I was on a cloud.  I felt HAPPY and at ease.  I felt inspired and motivated!  I didn't struggle at all with my breathing or with my running...I'm still in AWE over this whole race.  I felt a natural HIGH!
I know that the Lord had a hand in all that I felt and saw.  He knew exactly what I needed to feel the peace and comfort I had prayed for.  I felt focused and in tune with my body and the spirit.  I listened carefully and had a great experience because of it.  I passed 98 runners.  I set a new personal record (finished in 2hrs: 36min: 49sec.) and had no injuries or aches at all.  I felt no pain or even felt exhausted.  It was my best race ever!   I had much to be thankful for. 
If I get the chance to run it again, I will!  I'm sure I will never have the same experience I just had, but it is sure a happy place for me now.  Thank you Frandi, Weston and the kids for being there to support me.  Thank you Rob for training with me and for being so selfless and willing to do so.
P.S  Thank you Frandi for taking so many wonderful pictures and capturing my wonderful experience!

A Beautiful Hail Storm...

The other day we enjoyed the most gorgeous Hail Storm I had ever witnessed.  The sun was out, there was some blue skies and then one section had a cloud which brought down the hail.  But the sunshine and the blue shy was just gorgeous with it.  It is so hard to describe it.
Anyhow, my girls went outside and by the time I got out with the camera I saw them running around and screaming because the hail coming down actually hurt, really bad.  I got a good laugh!  I caught the girls in action and captured them being natural, and just having a grand ol' silly time.  Sophia even starting singing with an umbrella to the "I'm singing in the Rain" song, but changed the lyrics a bit..."I'm singing in the hail, Just singing in the hail, what a glorious feelin', I'm hurting, and its OK, because I'm singing in the hail".   Very cute!  She is so darn cute! 

The best faces were made by Eliza...oh my goodness she was making the most funniest body gestures and faces.  She had me laughing.  I took some videos of them and a ton of pictures.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! 
Juliette actually wore her bike helmet to protect her head...very funny!

My Boy is 14!!!!



He too, wore the Santa Suit!!!

Where does time go?  I cannot believe I am the mother of a 14 year old boy!  I will probably be saying this the rest of my life.  It's incredibly amazing how I can just think back of the day I brought him home from the hospital and then look at our life now...there are 4 miracles that I thank the Lord for every day.  It is a miracle to have all the children I have been blessed with, but James was my first...Thanks to him, my dream of becoming a Mom came true!  It was not easy getting him...and all that I had to go thru was sooooo worth it.  He is my one and only BOY!  He is my Joy!
I know he had a great birthday.  He got a season pass to Mt Baker for snowboarding this year.  Then he got some nice gifts from friends and family, lunch at his favorite Restaurant "Panda Express", but the best gift ever, I believe...was Rob's.  He gave him this cute homemade coupon that said "this coupon is good for 1/2 hour of free driving.  Lessons in church parking lot.  Exp 12-12-11".  He ate that up!!!!
He is such a great kid.  He truly is!  He has been a blessing and a source of happiness in our lives.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for him.  We love you my Boy!!!  You're the best!  You never cease to amaze me.  Hope you had a great birthday!
P.S  I found a ton of fun pictures of him.  I just couldn't resist not blogging them.  It was so much fun having him first.  He was such a good natured little guy...he put up with us dressing him up and doing all sorts of crazy dumb things that first time parents do...Amazingly enough, he survived it all!