The Highs and the Lows

Me at the beginning of my run this morning. Notice the snow coming down!

This past winter has been a real low in terms of motivation and energy for me. I wrote a post about it back in December. Well, it continued to linger months later. I am glad I signed up for the Canyonlands Half to keep me running even when I didn't want to. When I went to my doctor in early February, she discovered that my thyroid was low and my vitamin D was low. That would explain a lot of things.

Now, a few months later and after some adjustments in medication and supplements, I finally feel like I am getting my energy AND my desire to run back. I have had 2 really great runs in the past few weeks that have helped me remember why I love to run. The first was in Arcadia. We had a few hours between races. So while Montana and Summer were resting up, Hawk, Cheryl and I headed into the hills. The temperature was perfect, the trail was beautiful and the company was the best! When we got to the top and looked over the other side, we were looking down on Mt. Sac where they hold another big cross country and track meet. Then I looked back to where we had come from (which was really far away!) and I was a little overwhelmed. But I was feeling good and it ended up not feeling as far away as it looked.

The second great run was last Saturday afternoon. Montana, Summer and Kandace needed a cool-down run after their meet. We decided to head to The Rock-which is a portion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The girls headed up first. Cheryl drove Hawk and I to the trailhead and then met us all partway through the run. I had done this run once before with Montana and it was HARD! This time it was still hard but so much easier when you are distracted with conversation and people.

I have come to the conclusion that I need people to run with at this stage in my running life! I need the conversation, the company and the extra motivation of people with similar goals. I have a few more days to sign up for St. George and I even have a partner to run with if we get in! I think the lows are on their way out! Hooray for the highs!

Me at the END of my run this morning. SUN!

Em & friends

Last week, while we were in St. George, Emerson's friend Devri had a birthday. Emerson, Reagan, Makayla and the birthday girl spent the entire day celebrating. Leslie (Dev's mom) took them on a hike to begin the day. Then Bryan (Dev's dad) took them to dinner and to the short and scary hike.

They took lots of fun pictures!

They ended the day by going to see Soul Surfer. What a fun day for these girls!

Spring Break

Nate, Isaac, Finn, Indy

We got home from Arcadia just in time to turn around and head back down to St. George for spring break. We added a few extra kids to the clan for the trip. It was a pretty uneventful week. The weather wasn't as warm as I would have liked but it was certainly better than the weather at home so I shouldn't complain.

We didn't take very many pictures during the week. But we did catch a few when we went to the Red Cliffs Recreation Area in Leeds. It is a short little walk to a waterfall through really cold water.

The girls had just been to the same place the day before. Makayla got in the water that time----crazy!

Arcadia Invitational 2011

The girls enjoying the long drive!

This weekend Montana and I made a quick trip to California with the Harpers for the Arcadia Invitational. Hawk pulled some strings and got Montana in to the meet last minute. This meet was huge! There were high school runners from as far away as New York and Oklahoma.

We drove to Vegas Thursday, stayed the night and then headed in to Arcadia Friday afternoon. We had kind of a scare when Summer got a phone call from one of their track coaches mentioning that, when they went to sign Montana up, they never heard anything back. So we were prepared to do some last-minute wrangling to get her in. But everything worked out when we picked up their race packet and her name was on the list! The best part for the girls was having their names actually printed on their numbers!

Montana ran the 1600 m on Saturday morning. She was feeling good-no shin pain. There was one other girl from Utah in her group. Though she didn't place well, she had a PR-5:33:95 and she was very happy with how she raced. It was a good learning experience and good preparation for the kind of competition she will be facing next year at UVU.

Summer ran the 3200 m. She didn't place that well either but she also got a PR of 10:50. It was a fun day of track. These high school kids are amazing!

It was a quick, fun trip. I even got in a really fun run with the Harpers and we got to miss all the snowy weather here at home.

The Olden Days

My Primary class

Back row: Lance Orlob, Robbie ?, Brad Emery, our teacher-Linda Rich, ?(I want to say his last name was Heaps), Chris Nielsen, Trent Holmberg

Front row: Matt Rich, Lisa Cox, Shelly Hunt, me!

Last weekend the Butler 28th /Wasatch 8th Ward had a reunion at our old building on Dover Hill Drive. I was sad that we couldn't make it but Mom sent me this picture. Is that classic or what?

Finn's Birthday Surprise

Sunday after General Conference we stopped by Grandma & Grandpa England's house to give Finn his big birthday surprise.

He had no clue he was getting this! Grandpa dressed it up with a balloon and some signs.

I would say he was pretty excited!

This car was kind of a family affair. Grandpa helped Kurt get it all polished and detailed. Uncle Jay helped do some other work as well.

Unfortunately Finn didn't get to drive it home because he doesn't quite have his license yet. He still has a few more weeks of driver's ed. He's getting really impatient!

General Conference 2011

Our good friends, Pat and Jen Holmes, gave us tickets to go the Sunday afternoon session of conference. Kurt and Finn were also able to go to the priesthood session the night before. How weird that I have lived my whole life in Utah (most of it in Salt Lake) and have never gone to conference before. It was a great experience! I am amazed at how huge the Conference Center is. My favorite talk was given by Elder Richard G. Scott about marriage. I'm so thankful for counsel from our church leaders.

Celtic Storm

Emerson's soccer season is well under-way. Saturday's weather was perfect.

This is for you Courtney!

You weren't quick enough!

UVU Invitational

Our weekend was busy! Saturday morning started early with a track meet for Montana at UVU. She ran the 1600 m and 3200 m.

She was able to stick with Candace and Summer for about a lap.

Then her shins started bothering her and her pace fell off.

But she still had a PR by .11 seconds! As her coach says, celebrate the small successes!

Sweet Sixteen

Finn & Montana on his blessing day.

16 years ago today Finn was born. He came a little earlier than expected--two weeks to be exact. And thank goodness he came early. He weighed 7lbs. 13 oz. I can't imagine what he would have weighed had he stayed in there two more weeks!

We love you and are so proud of you! You are smart, kind, hard-working and always want to do what is right. How lucky you are to get to attend conference twice in your birthday weekend.

Cobras First Win of the Season

Indy's team, the Cobras, won their first game 10-0 yesterday. Let's just say that AA soccer is not quite the competition that AAA was.......

On their team, once you score, you have to play on defense. That's usually where Indy is anyway.

But he does like to score. I think every person but one on their team made a goal this game.

Paul & Nick hanging out.

photos courtesy of Alan Bailey (as usual)

Orem vs. Mountain View

Yesterday's game against Mountain View was a huge game. They are definitely Orem's biggest rival.

Mountain View's coach, Mark Graham, is also the coach of Finn's last club soccer team the Rangers (although he didn't play for him last year).

So, when they won this game 2-1, it made the victory ever so sweet!

Orem had not beaten Mountain View in 12 years from what I understand.

The whole team ran on to the field when they won.

These boys were pretty darn happy.