First Day of School

We started a new school year just two days after the half marathon, on August 19. We were all ready and excited. 

Brielle went off to second grade with Mrs. Hamilton (English) and Senora Abuchaibe (Spanish). She was happy to be back with all of her friends again. I mean, really happy. She was just brimming with excitement when she got there. There was a lot of little girl hugging. 

A week later, Ava had her first day at Kindergarten with the new teacher, Miss Pennington. Ava also was excited, but was nervous and shy too. She put on her brave face though, stood in line and waited for it all to begin. 

Scott took the morning off to walk Ava into the school for her first time. 

I will admit that when I saw Ava's teacher for the first time, I was nervous. She looked like she was 16. I've worked in the classroom a bit with her now and I LOVE her. I really do. She is so cute and fun, but not too energetic (good for Ava). Just calm and cool with all those kindergarteners. She is great. Ava feels the same way. In love.

They pulled out the red carpet for the new little school kids and everyone cheered as they went in. 

I picked Ava up from school pushing this train up to the school and then down to the mechanic to pick up the van and got some adorable first day of school pictures of her along the way.

And one week after Ava, Zachary got to start preschool with Ms. Chris. This kid was ready to go. He wanted to do his hair with 60 hundred spikes. He packed his new Avengers toothpaste and toothbrush in his backpack for show and tell (and just in case he needed to freshen up). He learned to wipe his bum all by himself. And he stuck a Rick Majerus (from his funeral) sticker on his chest for good measure.

At some point in all these new school days, Scott came home with a bunch of leftovers from a work bbq - buns, hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. He had the best idea to invite all of our neighbors and friends with kids to a Back To School Barbeque. We called people on Sunday and had it on Tuesday. We just assigned out something for everyone to bring. And they all came. Everyone. So many friends and so many kids (20 families). It was easy and it was so much fun!!

And what happens with this little girlie in all the shuffle of going to school? She spends A LOT of time here in her car seat. She loads up and gets buckled up for short little drop off or pick up stops at 8:10, 9:30, 11:00, 11:30, 3:00. Poor thing.

Hobble Creek Half Marathon. I did it!

 So back in May I registered for the Hobble Creek Half Marathon. I had heard great things about this half and had wanted to do it for a few years. I got in and was registered! Problem was that although I had been running every other day for a year, I only ever ran 4 to 6 miles. I had NEVER run more that 6 miles. And I was scared that I really wouldn't be able to.

This was a huge deal for me. Huge. It was definitely physically challenging. I had to maintain running during the week while all kids were home from school for the summer. I would wait until Kate's nap time after lunch, put on a show for the other kids and do my run on the treadmill in the basement. On Saturdays, I would do my long runs. I remember the first time I ran past six miles. I came around the corner on to our street and saw our neighbor. He said, "Hi." I shouted back with way too much excitement, "I am just finishing 8 miles!!!" I couldn't believe it. I felt so amazing that I could actually run that far and feel okay. I had done it. This just boosted my confidence that I could go even further.

Next long run I did 10.25! I felt awesome. Then, when we were in Bakersfield for our family reunion I decided to run from Laura's house to my mom and dad's house and back. It was a nice change because it was sooooooo flat! Not a single hill. It was also sooooooo hot. I ran 12 miles that day. When we were back home I did my first 13 mile run and felt good. I knew I was ready for the half marathon and I was getting more and more anxious and excited.

I guess the biggest thing for me in training for this was that this was just for me. It felt good to do something that was all about me. My days are filled with taking care of everyone else. I rarely get time just for myself. My training runs completely depended on me. And when I was out, it was just me. It was my goal and it felt like a big one. A hard one. And I did it! I loved that feeling.

(August 17) The morning of the race, I woke up at 3:30am, drove by myself down to Mapleton with my ipod and running shoes. I got my bib number pinned on and boarded the bus at 4am. They bused us up Hobble Creek Canyon and dropped us off. We then walked a mile in the pitch black dark to the start line where there was quite a line up of outhouses. I went to the bathroom four times. I think I was just nervous and ready to get this thing started.

We started the race and I went strong for the first 10 miles. I started getting really tired then and the sun was high in the sky and beating down on me. Luckily, just before mile 11 and as I was going up my first good sized hill, I got a glimpse of Scott and kids in the distance. I was surprised and can not even say how happy I was to see them. They gave quick hugs and cheers and I kept on going.

I pushed myself to the end and found them again waiting for me at the finish line. I was beat. I was so hot and so tired. Brie, Ava and Zachary jumped into the race and ran me into the finish line! Wahoo! It was over.

Some delicious watermelon and pineapple!

Girl's Trip

We were so excited when we found out that Jessica (back from Saudi Arabia), Krista and Kea were driving to Utah from California to visit us. We had so much fun with them even though they were in Utah during the four hottest days we've had this whole year. We, of course, packed in the good times. 

We started with an outdoor concert at Deer Valley. It was nice and cool up there, the music was good, the scenery was beautiful and it was nice to be with so much of our family. Sarah and her kids were with us too. We brought a picnic dinner and then laid back and watched the kids dance up front through the whole concert. They had a blast! I think Brielle taught the cousins a few new dance moves. Oh, and to help with that, she and Ava were wearing their new belly dancing wraps that Jessica brought them from Egypt. Really helped with the shimmying. 

Check out Zachy's moves.

Brielle and Kea shakin' it up on stage.

Jessica had missed the green and mountains being stuck in the Saudi desert all year and all. So we took her up to the mountains again for a hike to Donut Falls. It was hot! But still fun and still pretty.

Lunch on a log for these ladies.

Jessica helping the kids down the rock slide. Because she's so good with rocky precipices and all. 

Kate didn't make it too far in before she looked like this. Poor thing. Good thing she's still so flexible.

Crossing the icy, cold river.

Sarah and I with a baby strapped on and three year olds that just couldn't make it on their own. We should have been pioneer women.

The end of the hike. We made it and we're still smiling!

Shave ice for all the weary hikers.

Cheers to cousins!

After all the fun with the kids, it was high time to get a babysitter and go out with just the adults. We went to dinner together and Iceberg for shakes. A pretty great night with the siblings. It was fun to have Krista and Jess join the Utah Allreds. (Sarah, Jessica, Alicia, Scott, Krista, Tawna, Evan, Landon)

Apparently, Evan was bored with our dinner conversation.

As part of the continuing summer entertainment, we took the kids to the drive-in movie the next night to see Monster University. They all laid on top of each other in the back of the van and seemed to be very happy.

Especially when the leftover Iceberg shakes came out.

The movie ended at about 11pm. Late enough, right? Everyone said good bye and left. I finished putting seats together, went to start the van to go and the battery was dead. Stink! It's so late, I have three little girls that have to pee, I'm surrounded by the classy folks that have their kids at the drive-in at midnight and a dead battery. I was able to get the guy next to me to jump the van and we finally made it out of there, putting the kids to bed at midnight and us at 1am. Yikes.

I'm training for a half so I still got up at 5am to run 11 miles the next morning. Oh, and did I mention the heat wave. It was so hot, even at 5am. Looking back, I should have given up on that run, but I did it. As soon as I got back we packed the van up with kids and food to go up Millcreek Canyon to celebrate Krista's birthday that day. Landon and I cooked up some delicious eggs in a frame and delivered quite a stack to the birthday girl.

Zachary and Aiden sword fighting with fishing poles.

And what more could any girl ask for than a birthday lemonade from Aiden's lemonade stand to top it all off.

It was a fun visit. So glad those girls came.