~RAGNAR~ Team Soul Asylum

I don't even know where to start...this race was awesome! It was a couple of weeks ago, so I have kinda forgot all the little details, but I will never forget how much fun it was and how TIRED I was!!!! Candace invited me to run the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay with her and some of her friends. I totally jumped at the opportunity and I am glad that it all worked out for me. The race started in Logan and ended in Park City...a total of 192 miles...wow!! Not only was the race fun, but it was so much fun getting to know all the other gals...and one guy...in my van! :) At the starting line...Kevin, Joey, Courtney, me, Candace, Katie

Our other 6 team members were childhood friends of Katie and Joey. We visited with them at one van exchange, but never met up with them to get a picture of all of us together.

My first leg was in the burning hot afternoon heat. It was my longest and hardest leg. If I remember right, I ran out through Hyrum. I was so glad when I had it over with...it was hot!!!!
This is a picture of all of us after we had finished our first legs. We just pulled up to the first van exchange which was in Snow Basin, and were going to change clothes and eat some real food. It was such a pretty area and so nice to relax here for a while.


My second leg was running through Mountain Green at around 1:30 a.m. or so. I loved this leg! It was an easy leg and I loved running in the dark. It reminded me of running in the winter months when it is still dark later in the mornings...so fun!





After we all finished our night runs, we headed to the Coalville high school and slept on the hard gym floor...so comfy!! I think we pulled in there about 5 a.m. and we got to sleep for about 2 1/2 hours and then we loaded up and head out for our next legs.

Me and Candace...still alive! :)

I got to run through Kamas for my third leg at about 11:00 a.m. I had never been to Kamas before. It was such a pretty place. Now I haven't only been there, but I have ran through there! :)

Ha ha...this picture is so funny but it is what we looked like. Everyone on our team was so supportive and encouraging. We would "leap-frog" our runners and every time we stopped we would get out and give them a drink and spray them with water. We had to carry bright orange flags anytime we were out of our vehicles. Kevin really, really, really liked the flags and was an excellent flag boy! :)

We did it!!!! We finished all our legs!! You can tell from the picture that we are all tired but had the BEST time. It wouldn't have been the same without Kevin!!! He was so much fun and kept all of us "ladies" (that's what he called us) going!

We went and showered at the Rec Center in Park City and then headed to the finish line to pick up our medals. We got one more group picture and Kevin got one more chance to wave his flags!

Thanks Candace for inviting me to run with you. I had the time of my life. Yes, I kinda did it just to get the sticker...ha ha...but also for the challenging experience. We had such a fun team! The only thing that really stunk about this relay race was my drive all the way home after we were done. I made it...with only one eye still open...and Todd and my boys were waiting for me at home. They were excited I ran the race and excited to have me home!

Mutton Bustin'

Ok, ok...so I know that I swore last year we would not sign our boys up for the big sheep ride again since they both were crying and chickened out. Well...when Pace's big dream in life is to be a cowboy and he begs and begs you to let him...how can you tell him no?! I finally called and signed him up but I wasn't to nice about it. I told Pace that if he started crying and wouldn't get on the sheep again that I was just going to throw him out there anyway (I know really mean). I wanted him to really think about it and be sure he wanted to. Jaygen never even asked to sign up this year. I think he realized after two years of chickening out, this just isn't his thing...which is totally fine with me.

Well, the big night finally came and we headed off to the rodeo with Pace decked out from head-to-toe ready for his big event. I didn't get a picture of him, but he had on his "cowboy clothes", chaps, and bull riders vest...he was ready!!!

When they called all the mutton bustin' riders over he willingly went, but I could tell how scared he was. Once we got down to the chutes he was all business and he was in total heaven being so close to all those "real cowboys".

Well, he rode the sheep. Not for long, but he rode it. I was so proud of him!!! In the picture you can see the blue circle...well that is his helmet. You can see the one sheep jumping over him and the other sheep with the little boy on it bumping in to his sheep as he was desperately trying to hold on. He totally got trampled!! When he hit the ground he hurried and stood up and looked at me to make sure he was ok. I was giving him thumbs up and telling him good job, but I could see his bloody nose and he had blood running down his face. I thought, oh great...here we go, but instead he came over to me with a big smile on his face and he was saying "Did you see that, did you see that?" He thought it was so awesome that he was covered in dirt and he was talking a hundred miles an hour telling me all about it!


That is all it took! I think he is totally hooked now! He loves cowboys and everything that comes with them. This just proved to him that he really is tough enough to be a cowboy. When the rodeo was over, he didn't want to go. And he asked me if he could go down and just touch the dirt. I think he was savoring every moment of his big night. Good job Pace! You are the roughest, toughest, cowboy I know!!!

Pace's Preschool Graduation!

Our little Pacer Mac was in a cute little preschool class this last year. I did the Mother Goose program again with six others moms. It is never fun when it is my turn to teach, but Pace had a great time and loved every minute of it! They went on a lot of fun little field trips and did fun activities. Good job to Pace and he looked so handsome at his little graduation program!

Luke, Meg, Pace, Madilyn, Cale, McKinley, Logan

Pace was soooo excited to hold the flag for the pledge of alligiance:)

The songs they sang for the program all had little actions. All the kids looked so cute up there.

Now next year Pace gets to go to preschool at the "big" school...he can't wait!!