Piggies in Mud

This past Saturday we were signed up for the Dirty Dash.

It's a mud race.

And it was SO much fun.

Evan, Rachel, myself, and Jeramie.

6.2 miles

It was some of the most fun we've had in awhile.

There were SO many people there.  We were signed up for the 9am wave.

The first of the day.

And it was COLD when we got there.

Like literally I made Jeramie stand with his arms around me to keep me warm.

But once we got running it was fine.  

The beginning of the race is straight up a muddy hill.  I do believe Jeramie was the first to slip.

Then it bottle necked just past the top.  Once we got through this bottleneck it spaced all the runners/walkers out pretty well.  I think we did pretty good.  We jogged a good amount of the course.

I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.

Rachel and I paced each other pretty well together.

Unless she was running slow to match me I think we'd be good race partners.

My mum made us tutu's to wear and they were PERFECT.

Jeramie and Evan were decked out in their modified DI best.

We snapped a quick few photos before the race.

 Prior to the mud I thought we looked pretty cute!

Then .. there was

mud

swamps

cement mud tunnels

walls to climb over

walls to climb under

hay bales to climb over

balance beams to walk over

rope spider webs to climb up and over

ropes to swing on

slip and slides

and lots of mud pools of water to wade through

Here we are coming to the finish.

 Sucking it up for the camera.

 Our happy group of muddy piggies.

 Then we repeated the last bit again for more pictures.

 Rachel and I enjoying some delicious peaches at the finish.

Yeah we didn't have any fun at all!

Like I said I don't think I've laughed that hard in a long time.

It was awesome and I know without a doubt we shall be doing it again next year.

6.2 miles felt like NOTHING.

Even if you aren't a runner this is still a super fun event and lots of people walk it.

Who wants to come next year??

Respect the Hyphen

Today Jackson came out of school frustrated.  Keep in mind we're just finishing up the 3rd week of Kindergarten.  The last two weeks work of homework have required that he write his first name 18 times per night, EVERY single night.  It has been SUCH a battle.  I think because it is so monotonous and boring.  He hates it.  This week I resorted to bribing him with a new wrestler.  Anyway, he came out of school this morning frustrated.  He has been told that his last name begins with the letter K.  But he says that's not true, his last name really begins with the letter H.  Why is this such an uphill battle?  We encountered the same thing at preschool too.  Is it that people don't know what the hyphen means?  So what, they assume Howard is his middle name and they can just drop it off?  When Jackson graduated from Preschool and they announced his name to come up and get his "diploma" they called him "Jackson Kramer".  That ISN'T his name people!!

When we went in for kindergarten testing I had to fill out an informational paper for the teacher.  At the bottom of this paper it asked if there were any additional things I would like her to know.  I took that opportunity to tell her that his last name is hyphenated and that I would like to be sure that he is referred to correctly at school.  So it's not even like I haven't told her this already.  But yet today, he comes out of school being told that his last name begins with the letter K.  Which basically means when he tells them that it begins with the letter H, that he is being told he is wrong.  And he isn't.

Why is it that people think that they can just change his name, or drop part of it off because it's more convenient??  Especially teachers.  It's so frustrating.  So I've written an email to his teacher.  I'm sure I'll be extra popular now.

Respect the Hyphen People!!

Just Because ...

Sometimes kindergartners put their coats on upside down.

And I think it's freaking adorable.

P.S.  He told me his eyes had to be closed because the sun was so bright.

Love this kid.

Bath time with boys.

Right now Jackson and Wyland always take baths together.

I can remember when baths become that much more fun because Wyland was big enough to join Jackson.

They could play in there for hours.

Like sometimes they're in there for so long that I don't even bother washing them.

After over an hour soaking in that water I'm sure the dirt is gone.

I know .. I know ..I still do their hair.  DUH!

 Oliver was okay just hanging out in the bathroom.

 Then he realized there was some fun going on in the tub.

 Then he thought he wanted to join in the fun.

Those big boys are a little crazy to be dropping a little 9 month old in there too.

But I know before I can blink an eye there will be 3 naughty boys in that bath tub.

Then how much MORE water will I be mopping up after they're done??

Racing Cane 5K

Race day had arrived again.

I was originally planning to run the 10K.

But when my friend Rebecca decided to take up running as well this was the ideal first race for her.

I could still have run the 10K but I really wanted to be there when she finished so 5K it was.

My goal today was to come in under 30 minutes.

We ran another Run13 race back in July.

They give medals to the top 3 finishers in each age group.

So I checked my stats from our last race and figured if I finished under 30 minutes

I could possibly win a medal.

My first two official 5K's I had finished in 34 minutes.

I really wanted to hit a PR today as well.  So I was looking at shaving a solid 4 minutes from my time.

I have been much better about my training than I was for the Hobbler.

I've been running pain free for quite awhile now.

We shipped Jackson and Wyland off to Grandma Robie's for the night.

We were up and out of the house by 7am this morning.

Baylee was also very excited because she was signed up to run a 1K.

 

The race was in Orem and with the big rivalry football game today I knew I had to represent.

Me and Rebecca before the race.  She was NERVOUS.

Not me .. I was just excited.  For me and her.

Jeramie makes fun of all my running "gear".

So what I tell him.  I need the two knee straps to run pain free.

I need my iPod to keep me moving.

I need my Garmin to manage my pace.

And I love my socks because they make me feel SASSY!!

Oh and I need my arm warmers to keep me .. well .. warm.

That last half mile was harder than I expected.  But for the most part I felt so good the entire time.

I was passing many people and very few were passing me.  I really felt like I was running strong.

I occasionally found myself running in the low 9's and was afraid I was going out too fast.

I used my Garmin to manage my pace as best as I could.

I knew if I could just keep myself in the mid 9's then I was running my best race.

After I crossed the finish line I said hello to Jeramie and then walked back out onto the course.

I wanted to catch Rebecca and let her know she was almost there.  She was doing awesome

and running at a sub 12mm pace.  I ran the rest of the way with her and then slid off the 

track as she crossed the finish line. I was so happy for her.  Completing that first race is such a great feeling.

I was so excited to see the first results posted.  I knew I was really close to my goal.

When they posted I saw I finished officially at 30:13 (so close to 30 minutes)

And I couldn't believe it when I saw I finished number THREE in my age group!

I got a medal!

I was a winner!!!!

Baylee did awesome too!

She ran with a younger age group.  At first she didn't want to run.

When I told her I wouldn't sign her up again if she didn't she changed her mind.

Then Uncle Evan and Papa came out to run with her and she felt her usual special self.

 They were so nice too.  When she crossed the finish line they announced her name

and gave her a high five.  Seriously these people were awesome!

Oliver got to come with us as well.

Thanks to Evan, Rachel, and my parents for all coming down to cheer us on.

I don't think they realize how much it means to a runner to have people on the sidelines cheering them on.

It is so motivating to have your family there.

Rachel made Baylee a poster as well.

When they announced Baylee Howard as a first place winner we were shocked.

Because she didn't get first place.  She didn't even run in her correct age group.

But the Run13 guys were awesome.  I think another parent was quick to point out their mistake.

When she came up to collect they asked her what place she came in.

She said first.  And there you have it, they laughed and gave her a first place medal.

I have to be honest I'm very impressed with this race series.

The people are awesome and the events are organized, and very family friendly.

Me kissing my medal. Okay .. so perhaps a little bit shallow.

But I accomplished my goal and I was so excited.

They had face painting for the kids.

This is one of my new favorite pictures of Baylee and I.

All in all it was such an awesome morning.

I hit my goal.

Got a medal.

Baylee did awesome.

My BFF Rebecca ran her first ever race and kicked but.

And I was so happy my family came out to watch.

I killed it today and it was the BEST!

So what's next you ask?

Well next Saturday Evan, Rachel, Jeramie and I are running the Dirty Dash.

It's a 10K.  I think it's gonna be hard. I can run 6 miles but that's my max right now.

Running 6 miles in mud .. well .. I guess we shall see.

That's my last race this season.

Unless I can talk my friend Rebecca into doing the Las Vegas Half Marathon in December.

If not her .. maybe Jeramie?

Otherwise it's on to 2012.

I'm so excited to continue on this running adventure.

If you are even remotely interested in taking up running .. DO IT!!

Or tell me you want to and we'll DO IT together!

Happy 14th Birthday Baylee!

I cannot believe that Baylee turns 14 years old today.

She's grown into quite the young lady.

She is our only daughter and it suits her just fine.

For a long time it was just she and I.

So .. let's see, 14 things you may or may not know about Baylee.

1.  She loves her family more than anything else in the world.

 2.  She is an awesome friend .. so watch out.

 3.  She loves ice cream.

  4.  She has the memory of an elephant.  Forgets NOTHING.

 5.  She loves iCarly and Justin Beiber most right now.

 6.  She sleeps with 2 lights on every night.

7.  She loves long strolls in the neighborhood.

 8.  She loves to ride on Papa's boat.

9.  She loves to swim, but NOT off of Papa's boat.

10.  She loves all holidays.

 11.  She loves her hair and quite enjoys all the compliments she gets.

12.  She loves to text people and email.

13.  She loves to sing.

 14.  She's pretty much loves ALL people.

She continues to be a beautiful, smart, wonderful young lady.

We are so lucky that she is in our lives.

She teaches us all very valuable lessons every single day.