Phoenix Marathon, Marathon Number 4

We spend much, ALL of Winter training in cold, snow and rain for a very early Spring marathon.  I entered Jeramie and myself into an online contest for a free entry.  Ironically enough it was Jeramie's whose name was pulled.  So that pretty much sealed the deal for us and we because training immediately.  It wasn't until after the first of the year that I actually got my act together to officially register us.

I trained my butt off so hard for this race.  Not a single run was missed.  And I also did a ton of strength training.  My dad hooked us up with a nice room at the Hilton and so off we went for a weekend just the two of us (and 26.2 miles).  We arrived just in time to catch a beautiful sunset in the desert.  Ran through to pick our packets up and straight to our hotel to bed we went.

     Starting line. 

Our beloved Utes were playing Arizona that weekend so I represented with my Ute red.  I won't bore you with the race details.  Needless to say it wasn't my fastest.  I battled with my hip and knee the last 6 miles of the race.  But honestly I was happy with my effort.  Even though the race wasn't my fastest, I felt strong and enjoyed the course.  There was a little bit of downhill but not a ton.  Jerm and I ran together for over half the race before we split up.

     Finish line. 

After the race we made our way back to our hotel where I ate potato chips while Jeramie slept for several hours.  After awhile, we managed to pull our sore selves together to make our way upstairs for "happy hour".  One of the perks of traveling under my dad's frequent stayer points.  You get invited upstairs for snacks and free beer.  And I'm a Howard, I do not pass up on free beer.

After that we headed for dinner at a local English pub, which didn't disappoint.  I had bangers and mash.  Then we crawled our tired butts back to our hotel and went to bed.  Not the most exciting weekend away with no kids but that's what happens when you run a marathon!  haha.

January 2015 {From the Phone}

Apparently we didn't really do anything in January.  I have nothing off my camera, only pictures from  my phone.  So here's a quick January update.

I just loved this picture of Boston.

We had to deal with some icky snow pack runs.  The joys of training for Winter marathon.

My coffee drinking buddy, or hot chocolate maybe.

Some closet cleaning.

Handsome dinner dates.  I love Texas Roadhouse!

Sunday shopping.  NOT always very fun.

Walks down on Jordan River Parkway with the pup.  He LOVES it down there.

Fun with the fondu machine.

I baked a custom birthday cake for Zarley's birthday.  Chocolate cake, with pink frosting and black polka dots.

Wyland reading to Oliver in their tent.

More running!

Maisie came and joined us for some walks.  Gotta get our 10K steps in!

Oliver hanging out with his dinosaurs.

December 2014 {From the Phone}

Here are some of the small things that went on during the month of December.

For my birthday I got a small TV to hang next to my treadmill.  And Jeramie even hung it up in record time!  Alas, while it was good in theory, not so great in practice.  If I'm just walking it's good.  But once I'm running my treadmill is too loud and I can't hear the TV.

Loved on watching these two do their homework together.  Occasionally they didn't fight.

We officially registered for the race that we'd been training for!

Baylee made honor roll.  Which in a weird way is kind of condescending/insulting to get this in the mail.  Not really sure how to describe those feelings.  Not that anyone would understand anyway.

Present wrapping central. I had to take a couple days off work to get all my Christmas presents wrapped.  I hate the wrapping, but I do enjoy spending the day with my mum.

Lots of baking.

Secret Santa gift exchange at work.  I got movie tickets and a crap load of candy.  Which quickly became a joke since they all think I only eat healthy food.  (not true)

Wyland loves to get hugs from Boston.

Had some great chilly runs!

Oh yeah, that time just after Christmas when I had some weird heart flutter / heart racing thing and freaked me the hell out and had me driving myself to Instacare for fear of a damn heart attack.  EKG said I was good.  They suggested I follow up with a Cardiologist.  I haven't.  She said it's probably just anxiety attack of some sort.  I should probably do something about it since it still happens.

Super cold temps!

New Years Flop

We don't host parties at our house.  It's small cozy which doesn't lend to entertaining.  Our family of 6 (8 some weekends) has us bursting at the seams all on our own.  We almost always spend New Years with Jeramie's family.  Last year we were set to host but then when more people wanted to come they decided it would be better to host at their house.  But this year we stuck to the plan of hosting at our house.  

And then the day of when all the cleaning and prep work needed to take place Jeramie got called out.  So he spent his day working and I spent my day juggling the kids and cleaning and cooking.  I worked my ASS off.  Never sat down once.  Spent a ridiculous amount of money.  

The night before I bought a bunch of drinks.  It was too much to put in the fridge so I put it all out of the back deck.  The next morning it had all FROZEN!

All except the Vodka.  But then the dog took care of that and chewed the plastic bottle open!

So I had to go out and re-buy all the drinks.

       We baked for our favorite people. 

Bought a cute cupcake stand to display them on.

Jeramie got home with 30 minutes to spare.  The food was all laid out.

Holiday punch was made.  Sharpie set out next to the drink station so all our guests didn't get their cups mixed up.

Crock pots going.  Enough food to feed an army.

And then three people showed up.  THREE.

Moral of the story ... this is why I don't entertain.  It was so much time, energy and money wasted.  I ended up throwing away a ton of food.  We had fun playing games with the 3 people that came and I'm so grateful they did.  But I doubt I'll be offering to entertain a large group like that again anytime soon.  It's like when you plan for a handful then everyone brings a friend or two and you feel like you don't have enough.  You plan for an army and nobody shows up.  Can't win.

And my poor kids!  We'd been talking about our party all day.  Our 3 guests showed up and the kids kept asking when the party was going to start!

Christmas 2014

I am very sad to report that I have somehow managed to lose my Christmas pictures.  I have a handful but I'm very confident that I took many more pictures throughout the day and I have none of them.  NO CLUE where they disappeared to. We had a really great Christmas as always.  We had Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve followed by a sleep over at my parents like always.  For the first time (perhaps ever) the boys went to bed relatively early and stayed there!

                              Baylee's stash.  She got a new iPad.

       Jackson - An airsoft gun and the new Call of Duty.
       P.S.  He had never played with the gun, despite how bad he wanted it. 

       Wyland- Wii U (which he didn't ask for, it was kind of a combined gift with Oliver)
       And the big Lego Friends boat which he DID want. 

Oliver got a new Batman cave thing and a Superman thing that matched.  That's apparently where my pictures started their disappearing act.  Since I know for certain I took a picture of Oliver's pile.

                                      Our tree at home. 

On Christmas Eve the kids did some cookie decorating.

Christmas day included some game playing (not for the kids).

And snow.

After coming home from a VERY long day we were putting legos together until 2am.  Wyland learned that he WAS capable of putting together legos by himself.  So proud of him.