My kids are cute.

Annie was here.

Super Dale 10K

I now know what it feels like to not hit a goal that you set for a race. Maybe it's because I'm getting to the point that it's going to be very difficult to shave those seconds off? Either way, it was a first for me and I had to not let it get me down while I was on the road.

The wind was awful. So you know I'm not exaggerating, there were broken trees at the high school where the start was because of the wind. I was excited, but I told my friends walking in that for some reason I just wasn't feeling very fast today. I was also fighting a stomach ache (Note to self: A gigantic dinner of delicious crepes and sausage links is NOT a good idea the night before a race!) so I was nervous about that.

We started, and within the first two tenths of a mile I knew that I wasn't going to hit my time goal- the wind was so strong that it felt like someone was pushing me backwards. I'm not every strong, or very big, so I was literally getting blown all over the road. The only plus about it was that the other runners were fighting against the same obstacle.

The first 3 miles were the hardest, then we turned and I was able to sail along with a tail wind or a side wind for a couple of miles, and then the last mile was absolutely killer. I knew when I looked down after running for 4 miles and saw that my average was 8:11/mile that I just had to forget about the time and focus on the fact that there were only 3 men in front of me.

I kept steady and pushed through! I was passed by 2 guys at a half mile to go- I just didn't have the strength to push through the wind like they could. I sprinted at the end to try to beat one of them, but I just didn't catch him. However, I was able to achieve my first goal of placing 1st overall in women! There were only 5 men that finished in front of me- I was very excited about that. I finished the race in 50:03.88 (my Garmin said I ran 6.35 miles) and my average pace was 7:53/mile. I was so glad I could finish with an average under 8!

I've been home for a couple of hours now, and I feel completely wiped out- like I ran a half marathon instead of a 10K. It was tough! At least I can say I have a first place under my belt.

Me, Sariah, and Darcy taking shelter in the car after the race. It was so bad people didn't even stick around at the finish- they just bailed. Do we look windblown?

Pow-Pow-Powerwheels!

Will's friend Grace got a brand new Dodge Charger police car powerwheel the other day. He rode in it the day she got it, and then yesterday she picked him up and they drove to preschool in style! Annie and I walked up to help them drive back home. After awhile they all squeezed into the car and chased robbers together. Will had the most giant smile on his face the whole time. He's cool just being the sidekick and letting Grace do all the driving while he eats his treats and enjoys the ride- he's a cop in training.It was so nice yesterday that it made us very excited for the impending spring. In fact, I no longer have any snow in my yard! We are looking forward to many more walks and powerwheels drives in our future.

Christmas Time! In March!

I know what you're thinking- "Christmas time? In March?"

Yes, sir!!! Thanks to the handy dandy tax return.

Annie repeated "Christmas time" over and over because this showed up at my house today:

I've already played some Scrabble and am currently reading Water for Elephants for my book club on Thursday. I love it!!!! In the words of Dallas, "Now [I] can e-read my life away." And I will.

Run My Guts Out

I started a new blog where I can post more frequently about running. I'll still update about races and a few big breakthroughs on this blog, but if you are interested in the day to day, nitty gritty dirt on running, check it out.

http://runmygutsout.blogspot.com/

My running blog isn't private, so feel free to tell your friends! I would love to hear feedback and hear about other peoples running journeys. It's all about inspiration, baby.

Here's the DL on why I started it:

I started this blog to get my running thoughts out so I don't bore my husband with jibber jabbering about it all day. Because, I'll be honest here, he likes running about as much as he likes ABC's The Bachelor.

I started running in January of 2010 because I was suckered into running the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back with some of my close girlfriends in the area I live. Little did I know how truly "sucked in" I would become. Since then I have completed a few local races, a half marathon, Ragnar Relay Del Sol, and I am pursuing the Ragnar leg in the Wasatch Back and the Top of Utah Marathon in September of this year. I can't wait for the challenge!

Many people have asked me why I love running, and it's a hard question to answer. I guess the best way to say it is that I love it for a thousand reasons. It's liberating. I love that I have time to just be me and not just a mommy or a wife. I love that I get to set goals and accomplish them. I love being able to take in a huge deep breath. I love the quiet. I love the views. I love that I can play with my kids and not get winded. I love all of my many running partners (my "pack"), and I love watching them have breakthroughs and improve. I love being challenged and pushed. It has filled a gap in my life and has helped me to become a better person.

Besides my love for running, I also love my family, my Lord, my friends, and junk food :).

Cutest Pray-er Ever

Annie has taken off with her speech in the last week or so. She has started repeating everything we say- and not just a few words, she's repeating entire sentences. She even reminds us to say prayers at dinner. Lately she won't keep her pants on and is constantly trying on someone else's shoes. She is still my little tantrum thrower and will stomp her feet and protest when something isn't going her way, although people usually only see the sweet and cautious side of our Annie Kate; she's on her best behavior around strangers. She definitely has my sweet tooth! Annie is at the pantry door begging for snacks or candy all day long. Annie's favorite person in the world is our next door neighbor Sariah. She is constantly saying her name. She even knows the pajamas that Sariah gave her and she begs to wear them. She always wants to play a "gamie", and she is a whiz at the wooden puzzles and puts them together all by herself! This is the most fun age- I hope she stays this funny forever. There is a lot of personality shoved into that little body!

Dallas

My husband gained another year in his age and has already proved to me since yesterday how much wiser he is than I am. He tends to do that a lot. In honor of his birthday, here are some things you may not know about Dallas:

1. Dallas is funny. Really, really funny. However, he only shows his humor to a handful of people.
2. If he could make a living as a used car salesman, that would be his dream job.
3. When he was about 7 years old, he leaned up to the stove and his shirt caught fire. Instead of applying "stop, drop, and roll", he ran- causing his mother to chase him around the house, finally tackling him outside in order to put out the flames. He was very badly burned and still has scars all up his back.
4. His Grandpa Lyman Nicoll gave Dallas a blessing after he was burned that he wouldn't feel any pain- and he didn't. Not even through the scrubbing of his skin and changing of bandages that happened every day for weeks.
5. He wants to move to New Mexico, and we talk about it often.
6. He does like nice new trucks, but I think he would still prefer the biggest, oldest truck he could find on ksl.com. (Maybe this isn't really true, but it sure feels that way!)
7. He's a good sport and listens to my Dad tell stories for hours (or days) on end.
8. He worries about his siblings a lot and is always thinking of ways he can help them.
9. At one point in his life, he used to have a parole officer. He didn't tell me this and I found out about it in the line at our wedding when his ex-parole officer introduced himself!
10. He absolutely HATES IT when I plan something on Saturdays. He wants to be able to do whatever he wants. If we do something spontaneously, that's fine, he just doesn't want any plans.

I'm so blessed to be married to someone that balances me so completely. There's no better time than 5PM when he strolls in the back door for the night. We're all so glad when Daddy comes home!

Happy 28th Birthday, Dallas!!!

Getting a good picture of children is nearly impossible.

This is one of the first pictures, which means I was still asking nicely and saying, "say cheese" with a smile on my own face.

Now we're in the midst of a battle- "Hold still!", "Look at the camera!", and "Don't smile like that!" can be heard like war cries in the battle field. Why won't they hold still and smile so we can just get this over with? Is it really that difficult?! Is it really impossible to hold still for 2 seconds?!?!

I've given up. I'm looking at Jennifer in defeat as I snap the last picture before my battery dies, when, lo and behold- (cue angelic music here)- a picture with all 5 children at least looking up!

Will, James, Alli, Miles and Annie
They're not all smiling, but at least I can see those eyes! Now off to swim!
Taken at the Yarbrough's condo in Deer Valley.