Kate climbing tree's, Jence playing in leaves

 These pictures were taken while we were up at Bear Lake.  Jence just had a ball playing in the leaves.  Yes Kate is climbing the tree with her cast on.  Believe it or not she didn't get hurt at all climbing trees, but ends up breaking her other arm just a week later from walking down our driveway!  Granted our driveway is a little steep, but seriously two broken bones in just one month.  People are going to start assuming that we are abusive or neglectful parents.  It's sad because Kate is our most cautious child, and she has unfortunately has had more than her share of accidents.  I'll get into more detail about her second brake in another post.  For now enjoy her sweet smiles in these two pictures.  She's had a tough weekend but she's going to be okay.

Bear Lake in the fall

We went to Bear lake over UEA.  It was so much fun to have a couple of days off.  It's nice to be away and really enjoy being together with no distractions.  The Fall colors were on full display and looked stunning.  Really this is my very favorite time of year.  The gorgeous golds, reds, oranges, and browns.  The kids had fun running around on the property.  They played basketball, rolled int eh leaves, climbed trees, and rode bikes.  We also made a trip to the ice caves in Paris Idaho.  It isn't a very far drive and we enjoyed the gorgeous scenery.  The cave was pretty cool.  Dan had always wanted to go and see inside it.  Unfortunately Dan hid his head pretty hard on part of the low ceiling inside of the cave.  That put a damper in our fun for sure.  His head felt a lot better once he had a shower, and some Advil.

 

Jence is a big three year old!

Jence turned three on October 11th.  Jence absolutely loves Curious George.  He loves to watch it everyday.  I decided to do a George cake theme this year.  I always let the kids go onto the computer and pick out the type or style of cake they want.  Usually the kids love doing this and get very excited about their brithdays.  This year Jence was very adamant about having balloons on his cake.  We went to the party store and walked around for half an hour until we came a crossed them.  The happy birthday banner on top was my idea.  I have decided that's the way to go.  I just got sticker's and it was way easier than spelling it out in frosting.  I think it turned out really adorable. He loved his cake.  Besides having some oven issues, and the cake sinking a little in the middle I think it turned out really great.  For Jences birthday this year he got a fisher price airplane, some cars and an imaginex fire station and police station.  He loves anything that has to do with cars, planes, and trains.  Jence is such a sweet cute little guy.  He is always saying the funniest things.  We love you so much Jence!  The past three years have flown by.  October has such great memories of having Jence in the fall.  I can remember putting this little sweet bundle in Halloween PJ's.  Now he's a little boy full of personality and spunk!

Finished!

 

The morning of the Marathon came slowly.  I couldn't really sleep the night before.  Whenever I have to be up for something important like a flight, or a race I always worry about sleeping through the alarm.  I ended up waking up about every couple of hours looking at the clock, calculating in my half asleep mind how much time I had left before the bus picked up.  Finally at 4:30 I was up.  I got dressed, and Dan drove me to the bus which picked up around 5:00 am.  There were so many runners.  I looked around and noticed everyone was so different.  Different ages, body shapes and sizes.  It was cool that so many different people were about to accomplish the same goal.  Finishing!  Finishing, finishing, finishing was all that I could keep telling myself.  I didn't want to set myself up for failure by having some impossible goal for a time.  I just wanted to jog the whole way and enjoy the run.  I told myself no matter what if I just kept a modest pace and held back a little bit in the beginning it would make my life so much easier at the end when it gets tough.  As we reached to top of the race there were runners everywhere.  Imagine 6,000 runners feeling nervous, chilly, and excited.  The race was incredibly organized.  I don't have many races under my belt, but the few I've done paled in comparison to the organization of this race.  Apparently it's one of the older marathon's in the state, therefore it makes sense that they have this process down pat.  I started to talk to a lady who was waiting in line to use the bathroom.  She was an amazing runner who actually had a metal rod in her leg.  She always is in pain from it, but she pushes through because it's one thing that she can do with her son.  Wow talk about an amazing loving mom.  Mom's are the best, when it comes to the love that they have for their kids.  As I got into line for the start they were delayed in getting started.  It was still dark, and a little frigid so I left on my long sleeve shirt that I had layered over my tank top. The wait to start was probably the worst part (aside from the pain, and almost peeing my pants).  I stood there waiting and thinking about what I was about to try to do.  I thought about how much my knee's would hurt, how tired my muscles would feel, and most of all how it feels like when your legs just give out and refuse to go any further.  I knew it would be painful.  I new that it was going to be hard, I knew that I'd want to quit.  I started to reflect on how this feeling must have been similar to the pre-existence.  We lived in Heaven with God before our journey on this Earth.  We had never experienced real pain, or sorrow.  We were in a perfect realm with God.  We had never been tempted or tired.  We were told that Earth life would be painful, hard, and at times really sad.  But we were also told that in order to progress it was something we needed to experience.  We were told that if we just kept persevering we'd make it to the finish line and return with God again. .  I thought about all the faithful souls who had the faith and determination to follow God's plan. We weren't sure how hard Earth life would be but we followed God and Jesus Christ's plan and stepped up the starting line of Mortality.   It gives me strength to know that if I had the faith to start this mortal journey, then certainly somewhere deep inside I've got the faith to stay the course and finish my race, and return home to God.

 

It was a gorgeous day and I felt really good running.  At the beginning your adrenaline is really going so I tried to hold back, let myself warm up, and not push it at all.  I had a lot of people pass, but after the first  several miles you pretty much fall into the pack of runners who run with you the rest of the way.  I'm not very technical and failed to download my music to my new phone.  I thought it just automatically downloaded through the cloud or what ever it's called.  I soon found out that that's not the case.  I only had one album downloaded.  I love imagine dragons, but I just don't think I can bring myself to listen to their music anymore.  Let's just say by mile thirteen I was pretty tired of Radioactive song.  I knew I needed to find someone to talk to just to get my mind off of the millage.  I noticed three ladies talking, and their pace was good so I decided to run alongside and listen to them.  Sure enough I was able to jump in on the conversation without being to annoying..... I hope.  I ran with this group for awhile slowly one ran up ahead, and another fell back.  Me and Robin ended up running together all the way through.  She was so nice, and we made a pact to stick it out together if we possibly could. She was really well trained and kept me on pace.  I hope I helped her to stay determined too.  When we'd approach a hill we would just tell each other to just keep going no matter what. We talked about everything from friends, husbands, kids, temples, sports and training.  You name it we probably talked about it.  It was great it really helped pass the time and before I new it we were on mile eighteen.  As we approach mile twenty I saw some bathrooms.  I thought to myself I can't believe that I don't need to use it by now.  I usually need to stop to go( that should have been a red flag that I should stop and try to go, I'm a little dense I guess)  I passed it by thinking I was fine, but I would soon find out I was very wrong.   I was feeling great, my legs still had a lot of mileage left in them.  I was on cloud nine.  Dan and the kids were cheering me on at the mile twenty mark, and I couldn't have been feeling better.  That soon changed fast, by mile twenty-three I needed to go to the bathroom BAD.   I decided to try to push hard ahead to see if I could find one.  That was a bad idea.  I never came to a bathroom, and it made me need to go all the more, plus because I pushed it I had just killed my legs.  I started walking and a few minutes latter Robin passed me.  I think she was a little mad I went ahead.  I don't know if she understood my problem.  Well I had to walk quite a bit at the end just because I didn't want to pee my pants.  When I finally made it to the finish line Robin was right there waiting for me to finish.  She had finished five minutes before myself.  I was so touched that she cared enough to be there for me at the finish line.  We took pictures, and hugged.  I was really happy for her.  Dan, the kids, and Dan's parents were all there too.  I couldn't have dreamed of more support.  They were there cheering me on at two different places along the race, and at the finish line.  I don't know how they did it.  The course was very crowded and it was hard to find parking, especially with four little kids in tow.  I have the best family in the world.  I also have the most amazing supportive husband.  He is a great guy, how did I ever get so lucky to have him?  I was totally elated about my experience.  It took me four and a half hours.  That was actually a pretty good time for me.  I'm not a fast runner and I have always been around a ten minute pace.  I told my self if I could finish around a ten minute per mile pace I totally delighted!  I had done it, I had finished, I hadn't stopped.   It was truly an experience of a lifetime.  I'm so glad I did it, but I am also so glad that it's over.  I wonder if that's the way we will feel when we finish our journey on earth and are reunited with God.

 

  There are so many parallels between marathons and life.  I started to reflect on my running friend.  I had met her during the race.  Robin was with me almost the entire way.  We had helped each other and pulled each other along.  We didn't however, finish at the same time together.  And so it is with life.  We have loved ones, family and friends. We run our life's marathon's with each other.  We pull each other along helping and lifting each other.  None of us finish at the same time.  Some of us have short races, and others are left behind to finish alone.  But we will be reunited at the finish line of heaven.  I know and testify that God has a plan for us.  Our plan is to have the faith to stay the course and finish the race.  What a grand and glorious finish line there will be in heaven.  I don't think our mortal minds can really wrap our brains around the joy and peace we will feel when we are reunited with our Creator.  Last thought.  On my medal it says "St. George Marathon Finisher " that is my new motto for life.  I'm going to be a finisher and make it back to God.  It doesn't matter the pace, it doesn't matter the style.  All receive the same reward for finishing the journey.

Marathons are for crazy people! Day of my St. George Marathon

This weekend went by so fast it almost feels like a dream.  It has been a dream of mine to someday run the St. George Marathon.  A very crazy elusive dream, but some where deep down I always wanted to do this.  I can't explain why anyone would want to torture themselves in this manner.  The pounding on your knees, the endless hours of training, and the hot summer days.  At times the training did seem ludicrous.  Planting bananas and water bottles around town to refuel on is a bit odd.  Marathoners also have to get special lubricant to reduce chaffing, seriously what is that all about.  I think the reason I never thought I'd run this race is that It is a lottery.  You just have to be lucky enough to get picked to race in it.  It is a popular Marathon becaseu you can qualify for boston.  It is a a lower elevation so runners who train in a high elevation come to St. George and do really well.  Plus the course is fantastic, and is really organized.  I've registered for this race three times, and whay they say is true the third time is a charm.  I tried to get into the Marathon five years ago before I had Jence, when I didn't get in I went for the Ogden Marathon.  Sure enough baby number four appeared in the picture right in the middle of my training.  I ran Ogden Pregnant, but lets just say it always left me feeling a little bit unsatisfied since I had an extra bundle to carry along the way which did weigh me down a bit.  Then I went for it last year 2013 after I had Jence.  I didn't get in I wasn't too disappointed, I felt like maybe it would never happen.  So spring of 2014 came around and I really honestly wasn't expecting to get in.  I registered knowing it would be this year or never because we would be starting to try for our last child soon. I knew I wouldn't want to try to get back into Marathon condition from scratch after having a baby all over again.  Fate smiled on me and I actually got in!  One thing I've realized is that it was super hard to train for a marathon pregnant, but it's supper hard to train for a marathon period.  Some how in my mind I told myself "it won't be so bad this time, your not battling morning sickness, your not creating a life inside your womb.  This will be way easier".  Reality check it was just as hard.  No I didn't feel sick all of the time, but it was crazy trying to figure out how to work in long 3-4 hour runs with our busy four kids running a million different places.  Summer is hot therefore you can either run super early in the morning before the sun is up or in the evening just before it goes down.  Both of those times of days are not convenient for a mom who is exhausted at night, and not a morning person.  Somehow I did it.  I think it interfered with the family life a little bit.  I'm writing this down so that if I ever get it in my head to do this again Dan can simply sit me down and tell me to read this.  LISA DON'T DO IT.   You will regret all the many many hours you invested in pounding the pavement instead of snuggling on the couch watching a movie with your husband.  Now that that's been said I'm really glad I did run this race, I can check it off my life's bucket list.  It was an amazing experience but let's just say I'm relieved that it's over. 

 We drove to St. George on Thursday night.  We got in around 1:00 in the morning.  Dan was awesome and drove all night long.  He was so supportive to me through this whole thing.  The next day we went and picked up my packet, and bib number.  I was so nervous.  I didn't know what to expect.  I didn't feel totally confidant in my training.  I did train don't get me wrong.  I just felt like I could have trained more.  Then afterwards we headed back to the house and went swimming.  Dan's parents joined up with us at the pool and we enjoyed what was probably our last swim of the year.  The we ordered out dinner and Dan like a champ ventured into the over crowded Olive Garden to get our meals.  There were 6,000 runners all looking to load up on carbs for the night.  Dan ended up waiting an hour and a half. That was after calling in our order an hour before.  He was boiling inside but he said he was still trying to be nice.  He said the lady helping him looked really stressed out. Then it was time for bed.  I really didn't sleep too well.  I'll post the actual day of the race on the next post. 

Sticks and stones may break my bones

 Kate broke her arm last Friday.  She was playing out side on our climbing dome.  She has been learning to spin upside down and land on the ground.  She told Kirk she was going to try to do it as fast as she could.  It looks like it was pretty fast because when she landed it was right on her hand.  When she came in I could tell her arm was seriously hurt.  We ran her into the InstaCare, and they x-rayed it and put her in a splint.  The type of fracture is a subtle Buckle fracture to her distal radius. We went into a sports medicine doctor a yesterday and he put a cast on it.  Luckily it will only take three weeks to heal.  The downside is that it is her right arm and she is also right handed.  She's been a good sport and is keeping up with her work at school.  Her handwriting on her left side isn't too bad actually.  Here are some glamour shots of her with her cast.  Kate has gotten quite good a posing over the years of photo shoots we've done.  At least the casts come in cool colors!  She will even get the cast off before Halloween!

 

I thought I'd write about my little buddy Jence.  Now that the older kids are back into school in the afternoon it's just me and him.  It's been really fun to have some one on one time with him.  I thought I'd write about some cute things he's said over past few weeks.  The other day I was upstairs and Jence came up and said. " Mom come see what I build"  I asked him if he built a castle.  He said "no it's a temple".  Temples have really made an impression on him and he thinks any large building that is lit up at night is a temple.  A few months ago we were driving home from SLC when Jence pointed to the refinery and said "Navoo temple".  Jence also loves dressing up.  He was pretending to be a froggy in his towel below.  Jence helped me set up some of the Halloween decorations.  He's been so excited about them.  He Kept saying "they look so cute", or "decorations look so good".  He would move the little figurines around on my bench in a million different ways.  If I tried to help he would very forcibly say, "no the cat goes here".  He loves plugging in the Halloween lights on the front porch.