Allie's Birthday Trip

Last weekend, I asked Allie what she wanted to do for her birthday.  I assumed she would ask to go to get ice cream or bowling or a movie.  Her response?

"I want to go see Natalie!"

Good idea!

So I called DeAnn, and we planned a trip north to Ohio!  We left on Friday afternoon, stopped at Denny's for dinner, per Allie's request for chocolate chip pancakes, and arrived late Friday night at DeAnn's.

We spent all of Saturday just hanging out and playing.  The kids had fun playing with cousins, we played games, DeAnn and I got excited about our coupon apps, and of course we watched a horribly awful Hallmark movie.

But most of all, we celebrated Miss Allison!  DeAnn made her a funfetti cake (which sort of fell apart!), and we sang and opened presents.  She got to play with Megan and Natalie, her birthday wish!  I love it.

We left Sunday morning to beat a bad snowstorm that was coming in. Our route takes us straight to Kirtland, so we swung by and saw the temple.  Next time we will do the tour.  I did it last time I was there, but I am excited for Nate to have that experience!  I talked to the kids about what happened there and read from the Doctrine & Covenants about Christ appearing.  It is true, and I felt that confirmed to me once again!

We came home and couldn't wait to see the kitties.  Our sweet neighbor, Lisa, had taken excellent care of them for us.  We really are so blessed with a wonderful neighbor here!

Claire Elizabeth turns 3!

Last Sunday was Claire's 3rd birthday!  She opened her presents, and we enjoyed a nice Sabbath day as a family.  Then yesterday, we had a big Frozen birthday party for Claire and Kendall.  Queen Elsa came, and it was really amazing.  She sang and did some stunning face painting!  LOTS of pictures!

We love you Miss Clarence!  You are such a silly, funny, beautiful, cuddly girlie, and we cannot imagine our family without you!

Eight!

A few more pics from Cam's birthday.  We celebrated by going swimming at the water park and then had a pizza party at the Bounce House.  I think Nate and I had just as much fun as the kids did!

We love our Cameron so much!

Ogden 26.2: Week EIGHT (A Runny Birthday Party!)

Aaahh, well that is more like it!  Awesome week!  Monday and Thursday were just runs.  Nothing special. On Wednesday, Ashley and I did a long trail run on Bonneville.  It was gorgeous, and it made me so happy to get up on those trails again.  Planning weekly runs there from now on.

This morning was my "Very Runny Birthday Party".  We planned this a few months ago, so I can't believe it's already here and over!  Nate's mom took the kids overnight, so Nate and I enjoyed a relaxing, QUIET evening last night.  But we stayed up too late!  I was so tired when I woke up.  I left at 7:00 and ran down to Liberty Park.  Nate drove down and met me there.  I was completely blown away by how many of my dear friends showed up.  These people mean the world to me.  I love them so so much!

(This was Joshua's logo for the event page.  Awesome!)

Here is the group, minus a few who had to leave early or arrived later.

Can you believe that?  Janet, Nicole, Galen, Susette, Kasie, Louise, Joshua, Robert Merriman, Merideth, Elvia, Monnica, Cindy, London, Jill, Mark, Jonathan, Monte, NATE (Yay!), Jarom and Vince.  LOVE THEM!  Katheryn, Christy and Jerri sadly missed the photo, but I love them, too!!  This is my family.  They love and support me like I have never felt before.

We had lots of yummy food.  I waited until after my run to pig out, though.  I ran 15 miles today!  The furthest (farthest?) I have EVER run at one time!  It HURT.  But I did it!  Ogden is going to be so much more difficult than I imagined, but I'm also learning that the reward and satisfaction of accomplishing it is going to be SO much sweeter than I imagined.

Nate ran 8 miles with me.  Such a treat!  I love running with him, but it rarely happens.  I got to enjoy a few laps with Robert Merriman.  How I adore that man!!  Seriously.  I can't praise him enough.  Joshua, Kasie and I had a blast, as always (the inside jokes are out of control).  I got to know Jarom and Louise a bit better.  London and Monte are sweethearts, and they gave me a 26.2 charm for my necklace.  Everyone sang to me, too.  So SO sweet.  I was extremely touched by everyone's kindness to me.  I tell Nate that sometimes I don't know how to handle it all!

Nate went to go pick up the kiddos, and I'm going to go eat a salted caramel/pretzel/Snickers Rice Krispy Treat (Joshua's bday gift to me!) and then go crash on the sofa.  These legs are dead!