Summertime...

Two words: Family reunions! We had two this summer. They were fun and exhausting at the same time.

For the Beutler reunion we all stayed in a huge (beautiful) cabin in Afton Wyoming. We had so much fun that the only picture I stopped to take was this one. You can tell Eli was having the time of his life being out of his carseat...but don't worry, we weren't actually driving in this picture! Brian golfed, I ran (beautiful country!),  we played games, went on a hike, had fireworks, and the cousins enjoyed being with each other. The only thing we didn't get enough of was sleep.

I learned from the first Reunion to remember to bring my camera, so I snapped a few more pictures this time. For the Gray reunion we all stayed in a big cabin at Bear Lake. It was also a blast accompanied by very little sleep. We wore the kids out with activities. The boys went fishing while the girls took the kids swimming at a nearby pool. We also played at the lake (very little shoreline with the water being so high this year). there were only a few "beaches" open and they were crammed shoulder to shoulder with people. 

...and my sisters and I went for a 10 mile run! This was us at the beginning. At 6:30 am....all smiles. We kept each other paced pretty well. And although I had moments when I didn't feel my best, they passed and at the end I was surprised at how good I felt overall. My sister and I later said we should have added on three more miles and just made it a half-marathon! I wish we did.  We are all training to run a 205 mile relay race from Logan to Jackson  Hole in two weeks. I am soooo excited and pumped for the event. I have been training since January and can't believe it's just around the corner! I'm glad these girls get to do it with me! 

 We hiked through Minatonka cave later that day. The 400+ stairs were hard on my knees after our morning run, but it probably kept me loose and limber and prevented me from getting too sore. It was nice and cold down there and so we had to bundle up the kids, but they loved it. Both were great family reunions. We really enjoyed being around our relatives and exploring new places with the kids. 

We have had the bussiest summer (still more on the horizon) so we are looking forward to a weekend of NOTHING! I'll let you know if/when that happens! 

4th of July

Our 4th started off at 6am. It was a fabulous day, we had a lot of fun. Partied all day, and witnessed three miracles too!

It was a little overcast, not what you would typically want on a 4th of July, but I was excited because that meant great running weather! I felt good and prepared in every way (physically and mentally) to run a race. I had signed up to run the freedom festival 10k. We planned to be out the door by 6:20 to get to the start line by 7am, but waking up 3 kids, getting them all dressed, out the door and buckled in the car took us twice as long as we expected!
I was starting to wonder if I'd ever make it on time....which I didn't. With road closures and traffic due to the parade....we could only get a few block from where we needed to be, so Brian dropped me off and I had to run TO the start line! I was one of the last few to cross the start line...there were 5,000 runners ahead of me.
I was feeling good though. I quickly began passing people and getting into my groove, but then about 2 miles into the race my heart began having flutter-like palpitations. I kept running. Another mile later, my heart was aching and I was having a really hard time breathing. I couldn't believe it-- was I having a heart attack?!?
I didn't understand what was going on! I was well prepared to run the 6miles and have gone that distance before. I am training to run 3 times that much in a month from now, and knew I was well prepared. This was supposed to be an easy, just for fun kind of run...I was so confused and so disappointed, this was so WEIRD!!
I did the run-walk thing trying to catch my breath. I was really thirsty, but all the water stations at that point were out of water, Gatorade and cups. My vision started going, I couldn't see peripheral and what I could see in front of me was very hazy. I  had what (I now know) is called "tunnel vision". I felt I would pass out soon, a thing I've never done before. It was a little scary.
But I kept walking-- I moved close to the curb so if I did fall over, I'd fall into grass instead of pavement (hopefully). I was too prideful to ask for help and I really wanted to finish. It took me 20 minutes to recover, meanwhile strollers, other walkers, and larger runners were all passing me. I was just praying I wouldn't DIE!
The very last water station had ran out of supplies a long while earlier, but it was close enough to some one's house that they rigged up a hose and brought it into the street for the runners. There was a line to get water. I got a sip, kept walking, and with one mile left to go in the race, I started feeling good again. I decided I would try to run to the finish line. And I did just fine! I ran the rest of the race without a problem! It was so weird! Brian and the kids were there to cheer me on at the finish and it really boosted my spirits. It definitely wasn't my best run, but I enjoyed it anyway, and in spite of my condition, I finished in the top 10% for my age category, which isn't too bad....miracle #1- I survived!!

When we got home (which took over an hour because the parade), we did yard work and decorated for our BBQ. I had spent the weekend making decorations and really enjoyed making the yard look festive. It was fabulously decorated in my opinion!

Then the boys in the family all came over to play some ball. It was fun to watch and cheer them on. Brian did pretty well herniated disc and all...

After that we went for a swim at Liz and Scott's pool. I didn't swim because it was too cold for Eli (and Zoey after one dip- enough for her!). Brian and Jackson were living it up in the deep end. Jackson is getting to be a pretty good swimmer, but he is used to the Lindon City pool where he can touch at almost every point. He didn't realize this new pool was so deep.  He was playing and splashing around in the deep end, the adults were chatting and having fun, and I look over and Jackson was all but drowning! He had flipped out of his floater and his hands were splashing in the air and my heart leaped out of my chest for the second time that day! I yelled for someone to save him.  Brian dove right to him and very quickly brought him up for air and to the side of the pool, where he cried. Which was a very good sign because that meant he was alive! After a few minutes, he bounced back and went swimming again, with a lot more eyes watching...Miracle #2- Jackson was saved!

By then we all had a nice appetite worked up and we came back to our house for some good grillin' and chillin'! We had a nice pot-luck spread of side dishes and Brian grilled Delicious steaks. We ate, chatted, laughed, and enjoyed wonderful company and a wonderful day.

We finished off the day with the PG Jr. High firwork show- which rivaled stadium of fire! It was fantastic!  The kids just squeeled and danced and spun around having the time of their lives. I loved seeing them have so much fun and it reminded me what childhood is like. I really enjoyed seeing it through their eyes! Eli was mesmerized by the show and laid on his back staring into the sky. When the show was over, we gathered our things and chatted for a minute with some friends, and when I looked around for Zoey, she was GONE! It was dark, and there were hoards of people everywhere, and trying to pick out my little girl in that crowd was near impossible. Brian took off calling for her. I was holding Eli and Jackson by my side. Brian came back a minute later with no luck. I handed Eli and Jackson over to some friends so I could also look for her. Brian and I split up yelling her name. Our friends took our children and knelt in a circle and said a prayer for Zoey. My heart was racing once again. All the friendly people who were sitting on blankets by us and enjoying the same fireworks show seemed so innocent before, were now looking like threats to me. Who could have taken my child? I ran calling her name, walking as fast as I could, scanning the crowd in the dark and returned with nothing. I was trying to think what would I do next? On my way back, I spotted Danny in the crowd and he told me Brian had found Zoey! I was so relieved...miracle #3- Zoey was found safe! She had started following the wrong person our of the field and ended up by the side of the school where some other little girl spotted her and asked if she was lost.

We have so much to be thankful for in celebrating the 4th of July, and this year, we are thankful for so much more than our freedoms!

 Happy 4th of July!