Grandpa Bob

My Grandpa Bob passed away yesterday morning. He had been suffering quite sometime, and we all realize what a blessing it is that he is finally in a better place. I feel so lucky to have been his granddaughter, and I have so many great memories of growing up close to him. I love telling people who knew him that I am his granddaughter because they always have a story to tell about him. We will all miss him so much.

Ranting and the Nutcracker 5k

Alright, that's it! I will no longer invite people to run races with me! First I take Caleb to the Human Race, and he beats me, then I invite my best friend April to go to the Nutcracker 5k with me, and she places 3rd in her age group, AND SHE WAS WALKING!!! From now on, I'm doing them alone!

Other than that I had a great time at the race. Since it was the Nutcracker 5k, tutus were recommended, so I stayed up late making them for us. It was my first attempt, but they turned out o.k. and I got pictures this time!

This is me and April warming up before the race:

Here is April WALKING the race to finish 3rd in her age group......

So anyway, if any one cares how I did, I finished in 28:23 and missed 3rd place in my age group by 1 stinking minute!


Okay, this is a really funny story. So while we were walking into the building to get registered for the Nutcracker race, we started talking with some other people who were also going to the race. We were teasing them because they didn't have tutu's. So we convinced (and believe me it wasn't hard) this guy "Ballerina Dude" aka Brandon to put on April's tutu so we could take a picture. He was a great sport! Well, unfortunately his picture didn't make the cut for my blog :), or I was just too busy ranting about not placing, but a couple days later I recieved a comment from his girlfriend wondering where the picture was. She had found the link to my blog through her cousin's blog who it turns out is also my cousin! So I think we are second cousins? I don't know but I think it's awesome! It's such a small world!

Thanksgiving Day Human Race 5k

For the second year I ran the Human Race 5k in Draper. This year I talked Caleb into running with me. I don't know why I do this because I run all year, and he comes along, hasn't run since JUNE and beats me. Whatever!

Anyway, we didn't get any pictures, but Caleb's time was 26:34 and mine was 28:26. It was a nice flat course, and a cold rainy morning. There were almost 1900 runners and all the entry fees are donated to the Utah Food Bank. They raised almost $30,000! It's a great way to give back to the community, and burn some calories for that extra slice of pie later.....!

4-wheeling!

Since today was so beautiful, we decided to take the 4-wheelers out for the first time this year! So, we loaded everything up, minus one child who doesn't think hanging out with is parents is cool anymore, and headed up Diamond Fork. Since Clark spends so much time up there, he knows all the good 4 wheeling trails. We had a really good ride, and it makes me mad that we went all summer without taking them out!

Happy Birthday Honey!

Yep, it's true, my poor husband's birthday is on Halloween. I think it is almost as bad as having a birthday on Christmas! Every one is busy with trick or treating, and dressing up. But he's a good sport about it! I told him tonight that he never dresses up for Halloween, and Aryn came to me later and says Dad does too dress up! He dresses up like a birthday boy! I thought it was pretty cute.

So in honor of his birthday, here are some pictures of his favorite things:

Every one who knows Clark knows he LOVES steam engines. Working for the railroad runs pretty far back in his family, and Clark worked for Union Pacific railroad for a few years before we were married, and then he engineered the steam engine at the Heber Valley Railroad for a couple of years. He has a room dedicated to his trains, and sometimes, if we have been really good, me and the kids get to go in and see it!

Clark also loves the outdoors. He loves to go anywhere and camp. We have spent many weekends camping and fishing at Payson lake. But his favorite camping spots are Durango Colorado, and Chama New Mexico.

4 wheeling is also another love of Clark's. Although we have 4-wheelers, we don't get out on them nearly enough.

Clark is happiest when surrounded by his family.

So happy birthday sweetie! We love you! Oh, and enjoy your last year before you head over the other side of the hill!

Vegas Baby!

So, I got to go to Vegas for work this last week. Surprisingly, it was only the second time I have been there. We flew in (I officially HATE flying). I got sick on the plane ride, and they lost my bag! What a great start to a trip, right? Well it definitately got better after that. We stayed at the Las Vegas Hilton which has really nice rooms. And I had my own room which was nice. Our convention was next door at the Las Vegas Convention Center so we could just walk over. I went with my boss Chris, and our I.T. guy John. They really knew their way around so we had a good time. Here are some pictures I took while we were there:


Me at the Venetian
Me and John at the Bellagio

John waited so patiently while we shopped...

Sorry Chris, this is the only picture I have of you! Linda- don't tell her I made it bigger :)

(please don't fire me again!)

Fiddler on the Roof

So, these past few weeks, Caleb had his first experience of being in a play. He didn't even try out, he was asked to be in the play, probably because he is a member of the Master Singers, (don't ask I know all of you who have heard me sing are saying What the!?!) Anyway, he played a papa and a Russian. We were very impressed with his dancing skills! It is very hard to get pictures because they move around so fast. We saw the play twice, and I asked him the second time if he could just freeze every once in awhile so I could get some pictures ( I don't think that's too much to ask) but no, I think he moved even faster! I did, however, finally get a close up of him with his makeup on! Oh yea, can you say bribery pictures? He actually looks good in guy liner (as he calls it). Anyway, Springville Jr High did a great job, and we are really proud of Caleb's new accomplishment! Here are some pictures, a couple of them are kind of blurry, so thank him next time you see him! But those of you who knew me in Jr High will recognize my mad makeup skills!!

Caleb playing a really mean Russian (he's on the left in the dark blue):
Another mean Russian scene (on the right hand side standing in front):

Happy Birthday Caleb!!

Well, it's official, Caleb's 15 and I'm getting old! I'm sure when I woke up this morning there were a few more grey hairs, and alot more wrinkles than yesterday!

I'll try not to get too mushy, but I just have to say that Caleb has grown up into an awesome person. He is an honor roll student, with his goals set to graduate high school with his associates degree. He is already 2 years ahead of his class in math, he's in honors english, and biology, and he's taking chinese. He's also in the play Fiddler on the Roof, and he's in master singers. He also wrote a short story last year, that his English teacher is trying to get published! We aren't sure where all this talent has come from (we are pretty sure he was switched in the hospital, but we aren't giving him back!).

So here are some pictures of Caleb over the years:

I was induced with Caleb the morning after this picture was taken

Just after he got out of the hospital
about 3 months old
Caleb & Dad on Christmas morning
Caleb & Aryn Halloween
Caleb & Aryn in Colorado Caleb & his best friend Jake at the Kindergarten Cafe
Caleb at Sizzler, kiwi and chicken wings, yummy!


Caleb the dinosaur

Caleb took our cat Ed to 3rd grade bring your
pet to school day, Ed didn't like it much
Caleb & Aryn
Caleb loves fishing

ATTENTION ALL UTAH DRIVERS!!!!

Take a good look at this picture:

This kid can get his learners permit in 7 days! He has not had much experience behind the wheel, but I was just informed from a reliable source that all he needs is to read a book and take a written test. He happens to be really good at taking written tests. It looks like it is up to Clark and I to teach him all of our driving skills! So you can look for him running over curbs, and experience the road rage first hand!

Good luck to all, and drive safe!

Spanish Fork Half Marathon

So I can finally say I have 2 half marathons under my belt, with a full marathon floating around in my mind, I really need to lay off the diet coke, I think it's making me crazy....

Anyway, this was the first time I have run the Spansh Fork Half, and it was a very beautiful course. We ran through the riverbottems, into Salem, then looped around back to the river bottems. The first 11 miles felt fantastic, even with hills lasting miles 6 through mile 8. The last two miles were a bit harder. Usually when I'm running, I think I could definately run one more mile. This time I was thinking I definately hope I can run one more mile!

But I finished with a time of 2:12:39, which beats last years time by 31 minutes, so I'm thrilled!

This picture is right before I cross the finish line, and it doesn't even look like I am running, but I swear I am!

Utah Valley Marathon, here I come!!??

What do you do when your boss and your husband don't get along????

So, as some of you may know, Clark and I work at the same place. Well 2 years ago when I first started working here, I kind of, on accident (giggle giggle) let an old 90's photo of Clark slip, and it ended up on the yearly O&M meeting program for all the district employees to see. I think he looks cute, and I really like mullets!!!!! So for the last 2 years there have been pranks played between the 2 of them (with no involvement on my part of course).

So my boss is the most wonderful, understanding, caring boss in the whole world. Here is a picture of her

This isn't even Halloween, she just really is an angel. Clark's a really nice guy to, but you can only push him so far

So while on vacation, a certain photo floated to the surface again, and upon returning it showed up OUTSIDE his cubicle wall (with a conference room right across the hall that apparently held many meetings in the days this photo was displayed). It measured about 5 feet long by 3 feet wide. Here it is:

In case you can't quite read the inscription, it says:

I am out of the office but will return soon.
In the mean time you may bask in the glow of my mullet.

So now, the war is on. I don't really know how many of the rumors are true, because I, of course, am just an innocent bystander. But I have heard talk of a munchkin poster (from Clark to Chris, because she is slightly vertically challenged), and something about a Alka Seltzering of Clark's office from Chris. I'm sure in the coming days there will be more and more retaliation, and all I can hope for is to work hard, as always, and keep my record clean.


So wish me luck!

Vacation Photos.....finally!

We got back from vacation a couple of weeks ago, but I am finally getting my blog updated! We go to Colorado every year in August. We don't have friends or family there, we just love the area! We have so much fun, and this year was no exception. We stayed in Ouray Colorado for 2 nights, Silverton Colorado for 2 nights, then on to our favorite, Durango Colorado for 5 nights. We have a fifth wheel, which is our home away from home! We love it, and we were all sad to come back to the real world! Anyway, here you go......

This is at the KOA in Ouray they had BBQ and live bands, and I was really excited some one offered to take our picture because we have so few of our whole family together!

Here are the 3 most important people in my life, and look the kids aren't even fighting!

We always seem to end up with some theme to our vacations. Last year all the pictures are of my family pointing at signs, and scenic things with a straight face (no smiles), they say that is how all the pictures in the old days were taken. So this year our theme turned out to be hats! I have a bizillion pictures of them in hats. We never plan this, it just seems to happen!

So.....here is one of Caleb's hat pictures. He was a good sport, even if he is a teenager!

And here is Aryn, she is appropriately wearing a bear hat, which is her nickname. You would understand if you ever had to wake her up for school!

And Clark, the go with the flow dad, even if "what the..." is coming out of his mouth! Good times!

I call this one "mom witnesses yet another blonde moment!" Really she is probably rolling her eyes at something I just said, but I like it better my way! By the way, we are on the Durango and Silverton train waiting to leave. This is the town of Silverton. It is really neat, it still has all the old buildings from the railroading days, and only a couple of the roads are actually paved.

Here is the picture of the Silverton train that Clark took. It is a gorgeous ride, and we have done it every August for the past 12 years!

This is the last one I will post, and it is actually from last years ride on the Cumbres and Toltec in Chama New Mexico, but I love the looks on Clark and Aryn's faces. They are so much alike, and they just don't get each other!