My First Race

Well, here I am again blogging after a long break. I am still alive. In fact to prove it, I'm posting tonight about my very first 5K race that I ran this morning with my mother-in-law. She flew into town earlier this week and arranged for us to run this 5K together in Newark, DE. She's run several races in the past 6 months but this was my first. I had no idea what to expect and came out of it totally pumped for my next race. About a month and a half ago I was in the middle of training for a half marathon. I had to stop for a bit because I was having some pain in my left hip and both my knees. So, it felt good to be running again and now I'm excited for that half marathon one of these days. The course was actually quite difficult. It was a trail run which entailed steep hills with exposed roots and rocks. All in all I was proud of my time of 40:48. On the treadmill I can run a 5K in about a minute less so I was very happy about it. I must explain that I have NEVER been a runner. I was a good power athlete in high school back when I was buff and skinny (remember, skinny is relative! I was still bigger than many of my friends), but I never ran more than a mile without dying. Get me out on the volleyball court and I could slam the ball down your throat, but I didn't stand a chance with endurance. I've been slowly working up my endurance for the past 6 months. I ran 5 miles straight for the first time of my life on December 12th. I stopped the half marathon training at 6.5 miles. So, I obviously have a long way to go. But I have totally become hooked on running for the mere fact that it was something I never thought I could do. My favorite part of the race was passing a bunch of skinny people! Moral of the story: If a 200 lb amazon women can run a 5K so can you! I wish I looked cuter in the picture, but I guess you're not supposed to look cute when you're hot and sweaty without makeup. Wait a minute, what about all those other girls at the gym that start and end all decked out? Hmm.... Oh well, I guess I'll just have to settle for being cute when I hold perfectly still. You either have it or ya don't! I wonder if I'll be sore tomorrow...

Spring Break in Washington D.C.

We had a wonderful day in Washington D.C. this last week as Rob had his spring break. We enjoyed a morning at the temple where Rob did a session and I took the boys to the visitor's center and watched the Joseph Smith movie. We love the D.C. temple. It is such an amazing structure and as you can see from the picture. It's one of the largest temples I think. The boys love seeing the temple on the horizon as we approach D.C. It is becoming tradition for the boys to come into the visitor's center and sit in front of the Christus statue and listen to the message from the Savior. Then they like to climb on the statue much to our frustration at times. After the temple we took the boys to the Smithsonian Zoo. Washington D.C. is one of the greatest places to visit with your kids because so many amazing locations are free of charge and they are extremely high quality. All of the Smithsonian museums/locations are free of charge. The boy's favorite thing to see were the Panda bears and the Golden haired Tamarin monkeys. It was a pretty rainy day so we spent most of our time in the indoor attractions.

Calling All Mothers!

Being somewhat of an old fashioned girl at heart and being raised in a generation of days gone by, I have been pondering things that I had growing up that I want my kids to have. I received a forwarded email that put in a nutshell my thoughts and desires.

"We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better. I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would. I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen. It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep. I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him. When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her. I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely. On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom. If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one. I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head. I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like. May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend. I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle. May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays. I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand. These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life. Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you."

Although there are a few things in there that I don't really care to have my children experience, I do long for the good simple life. I want to be able to provide amazing memories for my children where they can learn the essentials to life. Memories that don't cost much, if anything at all, but will leave lasting imprints on the minds of my precious little boys. So, I ask you...all you amazing mothers out there, what do you do to create priceless (pun intended) memories for your little families. What little fun traditions have you started with your children that they love. What do you do to create special one-on-one experiences with each of your children. I know this isn't rocket science and we've done some fun things ourselves. But I would love to hear all of your ideas.

(Oh, and for the record. We are not disappointed about BYU at all. We truly are happy here. We just hope that someday we can be closer to grandparents. And we are planning to visit Indiana when Rob gets approved to come and do his written exams. Sometime this summer, I guess.)

News of the Week

Well, some of you know that Rob had applied to BYU Provo for a Voice Faculty position. We were hopeful so our kids could be closer to grandparents, but did not come out triumphant in the end. We found out today that he is no longer being considered for the position. We actually are relieved to know now where we will be for a few years. So, Delaware it is....at least for now. Rob is extremely happy at the University here and is well liked. We love the area, so we feel we will be really happy here longterm.