St. George Half Marathon!!

Wow...what a fun weekend and great race!!! For the last couple years we have made this race weekend a family trip. We had a BLAST! Who doesn't love the warm weather in St. George during the cold winter months!? We did a little shopping, ate at some yummy restaurants, went swimming, and just kinda camped out in our motel room with popcorn and a movie. The boys were having the time of their lives!

The next morning was the big race! My knee has been bugging me, so I was kinda nervous if I could even finish the race. The weather was perfect and it is always fun running with Tiff.

Tiff and me in action!!

I hadn't ran a race for a while so it actually felt so good to be back at it! I finished and even beat my last years time by 5 minutes...wahoo!! After I finished, Todd asked me if my legs were tired because he said his sure were! :) Todd and my boys are the best fans I could ever have. They tried to follow us as much as possible to cheer us on. Todd would just find us and get all the boys out of the car just in time to load them up and chase us some more. Thanks bald guy...you are the best!! :) (Inside joke)

Kim, Me, Tiff

(Why am I hugging Kim so tight?....another inside joke from the race)

My friend Kim was running too with her husband. Everyone finished with amazing times...good job guys!!!

After my big race it was my turn to cheer on Pace and Jaygen. They both ran some little kid races. It makes me laugh watching them because they do little stretches and things before they start that I know they have seen me do. Cute boys!!!

Pace

Jaygen

Jaygen did awesome! He finished 4th overall for the boys. When he finished he said that his belly hurt...I know the feeling! It kinda hurts when you are running your guts out :)

Pace said he was going to run as fast as Secretariat, and he did. He did awesome! Pace finished 7th overall for the boys...good job!

Finishers!!!!!

Briggs was feeling left out, so he got to show off moms metal. He actually deserved one of his own like Todd did, for following us around all day and cheering everyone on!

Me and my boys!

Now on to the next race! Me and some friends have the Moab half coming up and then it is the big Ogden full marathon. That makes me WAY nervous even saying it!!!!! I hope that my old body can hold up!

Our Annual Quartzsite Trip!

This time every year we can't wait to head down to Arizona to enjoy the warm weather. Well this year was a little different. We had to pack our winter snow clothes to wear just to stay warm while we were there...crazy!!! We still had a way fun time but I didn't get many pictures because I was inside trying to stay warm. Our family...plus our photographer, grandma Marshall...ha ha!


The real highlight of our trip this year was Jaygen learning to ride the little 4-wheeler by himself. He kinda wanted to last year, but was nervous, so he couldn't wait to get down there this year and have grandpa Marshall teach him.

I think that grandpa was just as excited as Jaygen was. Bright and early the first morning we were there, grandpa and Jaygen headed out in the cold to get started. I honestly can't believe that I have a kid old enough to be riding a 4-wheeler by himself. I still remember the day I learned like it was yesterday! After Jaygen got all his instructions from grandpa, he was pretty nervous to take off. So Todd hopped on the back and made a few laps around the yard with Jaygen. Well, that is all it took. Jaygen was totally loving it and doing a great job!!! Jaygen spent everyday we were down there going around and around and around the yard. :)

Pace riding with Jaygen

Jaygen got thinking he was pretty cool and kept trying to "peel-out" or "slide-out" as he called it. Every turn he went around he would look behind him to see if he made any dust...crazy boy!!!

Pace and Briggs

Besides watching Jaygen go around and around on the 4-wheeler, the boys played outside a bit and we went for a fun jeep ride, but mostly we just stayed in where it was warm.

The boys with grandma and grandpa Marshall

We did do one other thing while we were there...celebrate my 31st birthday!!! Holy Moly, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be in my 30's! Todd, my boys, and my parents made it a really special day for me, but I think we need to stop celebrating my birthday. I don't want to get any older!!!

We are never ready to come home (especially not ready for the LONG ride home) but the fun always has to come to an end. Jaygen was crying before we even left that he missed grandpa. I think he missed grandpa AND the 4-wheeler!!

Until next year in Quartzsite....