Brenden ROCKS!

Wednesday Aspen and I went to Sugarhouse Park in Salt Lake to watch Brenden run in his first ever state tournament for cross country.  He is only a sophomore, but still has come in 3rd from his team, behind 2 seniors, all year long.  He has continuously improved his time for his races all year.  At region in Ogden last Wednesday (October 15) he got a personal best time of 17:03 and placed 10th overall, receiving a medal for his efforts.

State was Wednesday, and I am not sure who was more nervous for the race:  Brenden or me.  He started off GREAT, and was in the second pack of runners a mile into it.  He finished with a personal best time of 16:58 and beat the kid from his high school that had placed before him all year.  WOW.  I am so excited for Brenden.  He is a great runner, and has loved this sport.  He is going to be a threat for placing in the next two years.

Aspen, Grandpa Frank and I got to watch him race.  It was a great afternoon.  The weather was cool and breezy.

NICE JOB BRENDEN!!!  Love you buddy

Aspen's THINGS

Aspen is going to be 16 months this week, and she has PERSONALITY:

Some of her THINGS she loves:

*The green ring on the STACK TOYS (she will put them all on, and keep the green one)

*CLIMBING.  She figured out this weekend how to get up to the table

*Being outside... in summer, and in snow

*Reading books!

*Playing with tv remotes and cell phones

*WALKING anywhere... no cart for her at walmart

*Hats... especially her snow hats

*emptying boxes and climbing inside (or laundry baskets)

*helping to put laundry in the machine

*the zoo (loves MONKEYS!!)

*sit on the heater in the morning with her dad

*her soft fuzzy dog/blanket she cuddles and sleeps with

*water... no matter how COLD

*SHOES!  Anyone's

*Dancing.  If the radio goes on in the car or the house, she starts bouncing and keeping with the beat

*the trampoline... but mostly if DAD will jump with her

*playing PATTY-CAKE and giving high-fives (taught to her by Misty, her sitter)

Things she HATES:

*getting in the carseat

*having her face cleaned

*being told NO

She is so much fun.  Lately, when she wants something, or should I say DEMANDS something, she says MAMA MAMA MAMA.  Drives her mama crazy, and we can't wait til she can vocalize her demands a little bit more.

First snowfall... for the season & for ASPEN

What is this STUFF?  Aspen came outside, and went right over to the snow... trying to figure out what was going on.

She LOVES IT!

She doesn't like to touch it, but just loves to walk around and make tracks.  When she would come to a part where she had already walked, she would turn and make new tracks.

I love how much she loves to be outside... regardless of rain, snow or shine.

She's definitely an OUTSIDE gal

October is here and I think we are in trouble.  Aspen is SUCH an outside person and now that it is getting cold occasionally, we're going to have our share of tantrums and power struggles.  During the summer Aspen has been the happiest when she is OUTSIDE.  If Hayden or I left the back door open, she'd be OUT and on the porch in less than 5 seconds.  If we shut the door before she was able to get out,  she'd show us her disapproval it in the form of a tantrum.

It's not like there is alot out there to entice her, but she is easily entertained.  From playing in Fred's water bowl to climbing on the chairs of the patio set, she could stay outside all day if we let her.  I love her so much and want her to stay little forever.  We're going to have to get her snow pants or something so she can go out and sit in the snow in a month or so.

VEGAS getaway

Sometimes I just need a BREAK.  Not from Hayden, Aspen or work ... but just from making dinner, cleaning, and the regular routine of life.  Hayden and I are very much the same when it comes to this kind of thing, so when I was brainstorming for ideas for his birthday this year, VEGAS seemed like a NO BRAINER.... more update of Vegas to come...

OK, so MAYBE I am a runner

When does running go from something that you "do" to something that you "ARE"?  A year ago if anyone had asked me, I would have said that running was something that I did, but that I would definitely not consider myself "a runner".  I think I graduated to the status of "A RUNNER" today.

I have done a few races this summer with a couple friends, but my running partner (who is A RUNNER) got injured in June with a stress fracture, so I have been on my own.  It is a lot more difficult that I imagined.  Especially when I know a race is coming up, and Hayden has to leave early for studying... which has me running at 4:50am.  INSANE!  Still... I was not "A RUNNER" 

When I signed up for the Schutzenfest 5k I was warned that it was a tough, uphill trail/road run and would give me a run for my money.  YEAH.. Whatever (or so I thought).  This 5k RUN could have been more aptly titled the 5k HIKE.  The trail was uphill. I don't mean gradual, I mean UPHILL, like "up the side of a mountain" hiking trail.  The only saving grace of the race was the downhill section the last portion of the race.  I got a better time on this race than I did on my first race of the summer, but I paid for it too.  It is the closest I have come in a race to throwing up during the race, or passing out afterwards.  It was BEAUTIFUL terrain.  A rain shower came through while we were running, and the leaves on the trail were amazing.

How did I do?  Well, lets just say that after my results today... I think, just maybe, I am officially a runner.  1st place in my age division... not too shabby for an old lady :D  And I have a beautiful beer mug to show off as my prize.

Random Stuff

Been a crazy week here, so a quick update:  Got my hair cut and I love it.  Brenden ran at Kiwanis Park last weekend, and between his time that day, and the previous run, he was selected as ATHLETE OF THE WEEK at Bear River High School.  My son is an animal!  I'm so proud of him.   Found a shirt at his cross country meet I just HAD to take a picture of.

I have a run tomorrow in Midway and it's quite UPHILL for a good portion, so I'm a bit nervous about it.  I love running! 

Aspen had her 15 month appointment this week.  She weighed in in the 58%-tile, height was 98%-tile, and head circumference in the 96%-tile.  We have a tall skinny chick. She had to get a shot, which Hayden didn't want to come watch because he is hoping that the pain associated with shots gets associated with me taking her to the doctor.  She is a MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO girl.  Everything from drinking out of a pop bottle, to making dinner is done when she sees me doing it.  Her version of dinner is to take a pot and a measuring cup and bang it. Her new love is her HATS.  She will put them on her head and then go in front of the mirror and POSE and coo at herself.  

We are excited to find her a halloween costume.  Hayden thinks she needs to go as a gargoyle...  over my dead body.  I have found a couple ideas, many of which I have had patterns for for the past 17 years (scary... I know).  I posted a couple of the cutest ones.

Parent teacher conferences for me are tomorrow and next Wednesday (since I will be absent for the official conferences on Thursday).  I am hijacking Hayden and taking him to Vegas for his birthday.  His mom has offered to watch Aspen... so we should get some good sleep and have some GREAT people watching opportunities.

A GREAT Weekend

What a great weekend.  Saturday started with an early bike ride, then breakfast at Einstein's, work at my school for awhile (Aspen LOVES running through the halls and bathrooms).  Hayden studied for awhile while I was working.  We met my parents for lunch at Pizza Factory (one of my favorites), and then home for a nap.  A trip for ice cream and a drive in the bronco (with the top off, of course) finished up the evening.  Sunday was another great day.  An early morning 4 miler, a shower and then headed to Salt Lake to visit Slick & Dave.  Aspen wasn't too sure about their 2 dogs... but she settled into her comfort level before too long.  Breakfast was bagels and fruit:  delicious!  We got to see Anna before she had to leave for work, and Aspen got to meet Anna's turtle. 

     

After breakfast, we went to the zoo with Slick & Dave.  Aspen loves the zoo, but this time she was able to WALK & RUN from one place to the other.  When she would come upon a new animal or something that she was curious about, she would crouch down and study it until it passed her test, and then move on to the next animal.

We slowly made our way from one place to another, until we took her on the carousel.  She has a new LOVE.  

After her carousel ride, we went to get a drink for her, and she would walk off toward the carousel clapping her hands and squealing with delight.  She is so fun to watch, and has a stubborn streak that can only come from her dad ( :D)  This we saw today when we tried to take her away from the carousel or away from the granite rolling water rock.  

She fell asleep while on the train.  What a fun day.  Thanks Slick & Dave for a great afternoon!  A walk around the neighborhood with Fred and Aspen finished off the night.  Tomorrow is the beginning of another week.  Life is good.

Aspen INSISTED on pushing the stroller with Slick, even though it was up a big hill!  Stubborn.

Change in the air...

I am not sure if it is fall that does it to me, or school starting, or what, but I'm feeling antsy for a new hairdo.  I have been browsing the internet to find some ideas, and  I found a picture of me from 10+ years ago, and kinda liked it.

And then I was watching tv, and the new Rihanna video came on... and as you can see from the pictures, it really isn't that much different from the hairdo of the past, except for a little longer on top.  I'm nervous about cutting it all off again, but that's the beauty of hair... it grows back.  RIGHT?

I get it cut Tuesday... wish me luck.

Time in a BOTTLE

Got a letter from my grandmother this past week.  She is in her 80's, and said in her letter how 10 years seems so far in the future, but a lifetime goes so quickly.  I started to cry.  Watching Aspen, Morgan, Brenden and Wade makes me see how this is SO true.  If I could bottle up time, I'd be rich... with memories.

Busy Girl

To say Aspen climbs everything would be an UNDERSTATEMENT.  Here are a few of her recent "finds"

the dryer... inside, of course, so she can hear herself echo

The desk at my school... and refuses to let anyone else help her down.  She can do it HERSELF!

The garden... the bucket... just about anything the is available to climb on, or in.

Crossroads... for both of us.

The day finally arrived.  TAKING MORGAN TO LOGAN for COLLEGE.

Morgan was SO ready to go, and we were excited to have her go.  Both because we knew how much fun she would have at college, and because teenagers do that to their parents (otherwise we wouldn't want them to leave).  We loaded up the car, and headed north.  

We moved her stuff in, got her bed set up, and while she was moving in the last of the boxes, I unrolled my "surprise" for her.  I had made her a vinyl sign and a little skull to go on her boring concrete block wall.  She was very surprised, and LOVED it.  Helping her set up her room made me recall doing the same 20 years ago.  SCARY.

It's amazing to me how much things change... forever.  As I was getting in the car to pull away Morgan was standing at her dorm door, and I had to take a picture of her.  It was then I realized things never really go back to the way they were.  She now has gone from a RESIDENT of our home, to a visitor.  WOW.  Just when I thought I was ready for this, it happens, and I'm driving away bawling like a baby.  I gave her a big hug before I left, and told her I already missed her.  At 10 minutes before midnight after I got home, I got a text message from her on my phone that said I MISS YOU.  That is what makes being a mom all worth it.

I AM NOT GETTING OLD!!

I had my high school 20 year reunion at the beginning of August.  20 year????  HELLO, it has NOT been twenty years since high school!  That would make me old... and I still feel 17.  My best friend from high school, Suzi Neilson Fullmer, was in charge of it all... and it turned out GREAT!  I made a video for the reunion, and it seemed to be liked by all.  Good food, good company, good times.

above: me, Suzi Fullmer, Suzanne McKinnon Reeve, and Yolonda Collett Foremaster

above: Annette Yoder Pullin, Deon Fillingim, and myself... in the old cafeteria at the high school.

above:  Adrienne McGraw, myself and Amanda Ebright.  

It was great to see many friends and reacquaint myself with some of them.  The entire thing was painful for my NON-social butterfly husband, but he was a good sport. 

A Cabin "getaway"

After our sealing in Manti, Hayden's parents agreed to take on all the kids for the evening so we could go and stay at their cabin that evening.  Hayden had been working so long and hard previous to this time, that it was some MUCH needed down time.  The cabin doesn't have a shower, running water, or a toilet (it has a lovely out house, however).  But it does have the beauty of the mountains, and the stillness that a hectic life often craves.

The evening we got there, we just sat out on the porch and watched a storm roll in.  Beautiful.  Afterwards Hayden and I walked to overlook point and watched the valley lights come on in the little towns below after the sun had set.

The next morning we got up and went for a nice walk... two hours. This is one of my favorite things to do with Hayden.  We have done it ever since we were dating and he was going to the U.  Even four years later, we walk for 2 hours and never run out of things to say.  I love it.  The mountains of Fairview Canyon have alot of Aspen trees, and this is one of Hayden's favorite things to listen to when the breeze begins.  Thus the naming of our daughter: Aspen (well, my reason for the name was different from his)

  

While we were walking the rest of the family were preparing to come join us for a day.  Aspen had never been to the cabin so I was excited to see how she would react.  Hillarious.  She would crawl in the cabin, then out on the deck, then back in, then out again.  She wanted to climb the loft ladder that goes upstairs, and would throw a fit when I found a way to block the stairs.

Brenden LOVES the cabin.  I think he likes being able to drive the ATV's grandpa Frank brings up for him.  Between that, and the uniqueness of the cabin, its a winning combination for him.  He says that he wants to have a HOUSEBOAT at Lake Powell, and a cabin in Fairview Canyon when he grows up.  I love being there with Brenden because when I take the time to go on rides with him, we are able to talk like mother and teenage son aren't usually known to do.

Wade hung out with his cousin, Austin for most of the time... both, at the house in Ephraim, and at the cabin.  He went with us when we went for a long drive up to the top of the ridge and we took some pretty cool pictures. 

 

He ended up staying at the cabin for an extra day when the rest of us left on Sunday evening.  Hayden had to work, and I had to get ready for my teacher days back at school.  

Infinity Day (8/8/08)

Today is our anniversary. Three years ago we got married, and now, three years later we have just gotten sealed to each other and to our little Aspen. What a very very cool experience! We stayed last night with Hayden's parents in Ephraim and this morning woke and took all the kids with us to the temple. The morning did NOT go without a hitch... between me forgetting shoes, and my bag I was going to take in with me, Wade forgetting his church clothes, Brenden forgetting his belt, we made it with no time to spare. Aspen got to go to the nursery while Hayden and I dressed. The ladies there LOVED her. She read books and played with toys. When they brought her up for the sealing, she saw momma... and that was the end of the HAPPY. She screamed if anyone else had her (including her dad.. and grandma Janet) other than her mom. We just went ahead with a crying baby. As we were leaving the temple, we passed one of Tonia's friends, Becca Witt, and Aspen jumped into her arms. Little Stinker.

We had alot of family come. All my sisters (Audrey, Jolona & Kara) came, one brother in law (Bill), my parents, and my brother Nate and his wife Monique came. Two of my friends I teach with came as well. Thanks for coming all that way everyone!!!

Our little family. Morgan, Hayden, Wade, Aspen, Tonia & Brenden

Aspen, our new little permanent fixture.

After the ceremony we drove to Ephraim to Hayden's parents'. Grandma Deb had made an AWESOME lunch for everyone. We took Grandpa Lynn and a few others for a ride up Ephraim Canyon, and had a great visit with everyone.

Hayden and I are headed to the cabin in Fairview until tomorrow... lucky grandma and grandpa... they get a baby and 3 teenagers for the night!! They will join us tomorrow and I will post more then.

What a great day.