We had a musical chairs Masquerade!
Our front yard is a playland of sorts for the kids. Thought this picture looked peaceful and look close, you can see Brooks' head. He must have been chillin on the patio.
Summer 2011 in Utah was among the most breathtaking in my opinion.
And let's not forget last Spring when the Spanish Fork river flooded over a lot of it's banks.
I thought I would take a moment and recap summer. I don't know that I have access to any pictures right now, but I will at least write down some memorable things.
June -Arts festival for my kiddos. Lot's of pool time. The 3 oldest went to swimming lessons at the Spanish Fork pool. Maile learned to swim on her own. Gavin officially does not need anymore swim lessons. He knows how to swim and swim well. Dallin may need one more summer of a couple of sessions to get stronger.
July- Lake Powell with our Wheatfill family. Oh my we had fun! It's always good to meet up with our Grandpa, Aunts Uncles and cousins in Page, AZ for some fun in the sun. However, this year it seems like we did a lot of driving around the first 2 days instead of beaching and swimming. I eat so much when we go. I came back like 6 lbs heavier (most of which was water weight but still). Our kids looks forward to it all year long. Our family also took many adventurous trips out on Utah Lake all summer long as well. We bought a wake board and our boys took turns learning to master it. They did well!
Shawn was unemployed all summer long. While we had plenty of money to live off of, it was still a rather scary experience trying to find new employment. We had no health insurance all summer clear until Sept. 30th. Scary! We did all those boating and capital reef national park trips without medical insurance.Living on the edge! We faired well though. Nothing happened to anyone. I think we had to take Brooks to the Dr. for an infection and that was it. I can spare 90$ out of pocket for that. One morning in August Shawn took our older boys fishing, and while at the dock he had a feeling to check his email and he did. He found a link to a new export manager job posting in Springville. -Just 5 minutes from our home. He was a little shocked! He texted me here at our house and asked me to jump on our desk top and email his resume. He then sent it from his phone right there at the Utah Lake fishing dock. About 3 loooong weeks later they finally interviewed him twice. And 1 1/2 weeks after that he was selected as the best candidate for the job. I believe they interviewed several hundred people and Shawn was the only one who was fully qualified. Simultaneously he had also interviewed at a semi-conductor Corporation in San Francisco, CA. Where he was also offered the position at that company. However, going off what his gut instinct told him, Shawn took the job near our home. I know the thought of moving to an extremely expensive area of the country weighed heavily in the decision. Also the fact that we live in a wonderful neighborhood and our kids are rooted here with friends and in school. We have a big beautiful yard and space for our kids to play. The homes in the CA area don't have much land. . I am grateful that my husband listens to promptings. He is better at it than I am sometimes. All is well now. It all worked out in the end almost perfectly. I can't forget that he was also able to keep his side business plugging along as well, that was something we were able to rely on too.
In August we took our kids to Capital Reef national park in Eastern Utah. Oh my, what a beautiful spot of land created so amazingly perfect. if you haven't been there, you must go. We took our kids on 2 hikes. One was a mini one, the other was about a mile and a half each way. There was a pioneer registry wall where some pioneer men in the area came through and scratched their names on the rock cliffs. There were also Indian hieroglyphs on the walls in another area. It was so cool to see. Our family had a great time together. We created some wonderful memories.
I ran all summer long, but after battling a nasty injury earlier in the Winter, it took me a great while to find my speed and my groove. I ran great times in my June and July races, but nothing spectacular. It wasn't until the end of July and August that I felt like I was back to my old self. I ran the Hobble Creek half marathon on August 20th. This is one of the biggest half marathons in Utah. It is stunningly beautiful running down this canyon! Words cannot describe the scenery and the feeling for me that day. I knew I was in top shape that week leading up to it. I was ready that morning as the race gun was fired in the canyon. I ran smart. I took it a tiny bit slower the first 7 miles. At mile 8, I downed a 5 hr energy and picked it up. I ran the rest of the distance in negative splits. All mile splits hovered near a 6:40 avg. My fastest mile being the last mile (13) A course volunteer rode by on a bike around mile 12 and shouted to me to keep it up! -That there was a female close on my tail. I didn't try to turn around or anything to look. I remember feeling so tired. I looked down at my Brooks shoes I was wearing, on the laces it says: DIG DEEP. I knew in that moment I wanted to dig deeper and race it to the very end. So I did. I found a 6:13 mile split and held my 6th female (of over 600) position. My best race of the summer! I ran a new half marathon record for me that day 1:25:04!
School started and my kiddos looked so cute! Maile started kindergarten and loves, loves, LOVES it! I am so proud of my kids and how well they all seem to do in school!
Brooks started preschool and he loves his teacher so much. He is doing so well and enjoys getting out of the house twice a week for school.
September- Shawn started his new job. There was a bit of an adjustment but he has settled in and we are grateful for his employment. Heavenly Father has truly watched over us during this year. It was very hard but we've grown closer and learned some things.
Oct. 1 -our family traveled down to St. George where I ran the 2011 St. George Marathon. This marathon is HUGE! 7000 runners! I was well prepared and so excited to have my parents and Sister and Brother in law there to cheer me on. Of course I was excited to see my own little family, as well as my friends who all got into it this year. I ended up running a 3:09 again. I was the 41st overall female of 2600 females. And 266th person overall of nearly 6000. I did fall into the top 5% of all combined marathon runners that day. It was amazing to me. The tremendous roar of the crowds in St. George truly made it an unforgettable experience. Can you imagine being loudly cheered for the last 4 miles to the finish line in a marathon? It was truly awe inspiring! Our racing bibs had our first names printed on them and so people were shouting my name as we raced into the heart of the city of St. George. Truly it buoyed me up in that time because I had become sick. I love running marathons now. There is nothing like it! The feeling of finding the courage and strength to keep running when you hurt, and the ultimate sense of accomplishment is unreal. I have learned so much about myself while running (everyday training) ....in ways I don't think I could have otherwise.
I've got to get my blog updated with past things from this summer. But for now, here's a cute picture of Maile and her friend Annie. Annie lives a few houses down from us. They are cute little friends. They play almost everyday!
Brooks is obsessed with doing things like his big brothers. Gavin just closed his season in football this year, he played awesome! Brooks wanted to be suited up in the pads all the time. Gavin would take him out in the yard and play pass with him and tackle him in the pads. It was pretty funny!
My 2nd 26.2 marathon is in the bag. I ran the St, George marathon on Saturday Oct. 1st. I ran a 3:09:18 and was sick the last 3 miles before the finish. Before that I was well on my way to a 3:04 or 3:05. Dang! Oh well, I don't care about a race. I can run and I love and enjoy it no matter what. Now let's all repeat it: I CAN DO HARD THINGS! Yeah!
For 2 weeks in June, I had my kids registered for a class each in the S.F. arts festival. Wow! I was so impressed with what was offered as well as the actual classes they ended up taking.
Gavin and Dallin took a break dancing class and Maile and Brooks did a kinder art class. I was never able to get Brooks to go and stay, but Miss Maile totally flourished in the class because art is totally her element. She made really cute things and painted cute little pictures.
Gavin and Dallin enjoyed their break dancing each day. Gavin especially seemed to really advance in it. I am not surprised, he is advanced in almost anything he does. I often wonder if he realizes the gifts he has been given in this life? He never ceases to amaze me with his intelligence and abilities.
It was so good to see them perform the dances they learned at the end of the two weeks. It was so awesome! And seeing Maile's paintings and crafts were a treat to see. She really loves that aspect of life and we can tell!
I'm so glad I got my kids in the Art fest this year. I love this city!
I have lot's of friends in my life that I just adore. I grew up in Orem until I was 15, then moved to Spanish Fork 3 months before my Sophmore year of high school. I've had many jobs, and met many people. I think I am a people person. Long ago through the example of my own Mom, I learned to make and keep friends. I am kind of a shy girl by nature, but I don't think I've ever had a problem with making friends. I consider it a notable attribute of mine. In my patriarchal blessing I was given as a 16 yr old, I was told that I would have many friends, and they will long to be in my presence because of my happiness. Well, I don't know how true that is, but I do make an effort to be happy and warm to everyone.
I am thankful for all my friends. I love you all. And espcially today for these two gals. They mean the world to me. My life just would not be the same without them. Heaven help us the day we don't live as close to each other. My world just won't be the same.
Is it silly to dedicate a song to them? I dunno but I'm gonna.
Maile graduate from preschool the last week in May. It was so cute! The kids sang songs, counted to twenty in spanish, repeated the national anthem, sang the months of the year songs, the days of the week song. Ms. Heather handed out awards to all the children and touched on something they were good at. Maile was the first one to receive one. She was awarded the 'perfect pitch, great singer' award. Ha! We weren't surprised. Ms. Heather talked for a minute about Maile and how if they were off pitch in class singing, Maile would always be the one singing the correct tune. She talked about how Maile has a beautiful singing voice and is the next Maile Cyrus, but better! ha ha! We know this is true. I've worked with her since she was a tiny toddler at singing. I sit down at the piano with her weekly and try to teach her songs. (see a post from a month or two ago below). She does sing rather beautiful for a 5 yr old.
Anyway, Maile cried when we helped her realize that preschool is over for her. She doesn't quite get it and wants to return next year. Hard to explain that bigger and better and perhaps more fun things await her in Kindergarten at Riverview Elementary School. And she'll get to see her two big brothers there. I think she's starting to like the idea!
I had to take her back into the Dr. to get one last kindergarten shot requirement. They accidentally skipped over it at her 5 yr well child check in December. When I told her we had to go back, she immediately started to cry like a little princess. It broke my heart. She was so brave tho and was rewarded with a strawberry milkshake after wards. Fun little girl of ours....
I ran my 4th 5k of 2011 today and shaved 43 seconds off my 5k time from exactly 7 days ago. My goal again this year is 5k under 20 minutes. I did a 20:03 today. I barely missed it, but it brought me so much joy as this means my FITNESS IS IMPROVING! I can't wait for more summer racing and training. I LOVE RUNNING!
This is the usual year end spectacular that Air Time does. I got Brooks in this year and he was so cute. Maile has blossomed in her class this year! She nailed more things this year than the precious 2 years. Shawn and I had a good laugh sitting and watching them. 
