Their Newest Member...

Last weekend I headed out to the Great Salt Lake salt flats to compete in my first Time Trial. I was not sure of what to expect but I'll be honest when I say that I was nervous. When I finished the St. George marathon, I was just so excited that I had accomplished it and even more excited that I had done it so well. But now it's a whole new game. Now I have to worry about getting better and better...faster and faster...national races...official times and placings. Yeah...a whole new game but I am so excited to do it! To see how far I can actually go with it. To see what other paths may be possible. I'm not promising anything but I've got to at least try and go for it! OK...so the Time Trial was a 10k and it would be timed and tracked. I got a lot of heat from the guys about my clothes. They had on their tight aerodynamic clothes and I had on my Victoria's Secret t-shirt that I'd been wearing all day long from the earlier race, my JCrew knit pants, and my "heavy" (as I was told) Puma's. "You'll need to do something about this", they sternly told me!
Well I survived it. I did the 10k in 33 minutes which breaks down to being a 4.71 minute mile which is my best time yet. It's now the time that I will use as my starting point so that I can start to track my improvements. It felt great to really push it and I will once again pay tribute to my iPod! :) It's going to take alot of time, work, and determination but I'm so excited to do it. I'm still amazed that this opportunity is even available to me. It's not like I set out to even do this and it just kind of happened! I swear...that's how the best things happen...they just randomly do!

Oh yeah. The smell? Total rotten sulphur ace smell! Makes me sick every time!Halloween night was pretty fun. The only thing that I hate is that no one goes out around our neighborhood! They do a "Trunk or Treat. I'm sorry but they are HIGHLY banned at our house. How much fun can it really be to go to a parking lot and run around to a circle of cars, get your candy, and call it good? Really. Ringing the doorbell and seeing how many houses you can possibly go to is the best thing! So we started out at my parents neighborhood going with the Terry cousins and then we went up to Trevor's parents neighborhood. You know that the night has been a success when you hear "Mom...This is the best Halloween ever! Look at how much candy we have!" Even though we had a few drops of rain, it still turned out to be a great night!

Haaaaappy Halloweeeeen!

The Africa 5k Benefit Run...

Last weekend Sara and I were able to participate in The Africa 5k Benefit Run that Tara, being the race "Director", had helped to organize. I was so glad to do it but it was way too early (early puffy face) and way too cold and when you put those 2 factors together???...that equals a little bit of anger in my heart!?! The kids were so excited because they were able to come to this one and see me actually race. It was the best, as I was coming around the corner, to see them at the end cheering me on! My parents and my sis Jenny were able to also come which is always an added bonus...when your family and people who actually KNOW YOU are there to see you perform! Kindra was giving me pep talks the whole ride over..."Mom. Remember what we've talked about. You never give up. I want you to win but don't be too upset if someone beats you." I was laughing so hard to myself because I realized just how good she has gotten at quoting her Mother!!!

Congrats to the Foundation as well! They were not sure what the turn out would be but there ended up being over 125 racers so not too bad I'd say....

...the half-way point ...

I will say that it's nice to be the ONLY hand cycle participant and/or the only female competitor because then I'm always guaranteed a 1st place medal/award! hehehe Serious...I'm going to have to designate one of my walls pretty soon!?! But really...I have found my new passion! I get so pumped and into it. Even though I am the only one in my "category", I am so competitive against myself....making sure that I am beating my previous finish times. It's all about my motivated, highly competitive, determined mind set I guess! :)

Trying Something A Little Different This Year!

We finally made our way over to the Monson Pumpkin Patch to choose out this years pumpkins. Even though they changed their minds a million times and even they though they searched every pumpkin row possible, the kids finally picked their winners! Let's be honest...I had to give them a 10 second time limit or we would've been there all night. Seriously!

I figure that since I "go to town" when it comes to Halloween, or in this years case, partly "go to town", I should be able to say how we "decorate" the pumpkins and when I say "decorate", this year that's exactly what I mean. A few weeks ago I went over to my cousins blog and saw what she had done this year with their pumpkins. The wheels immediately began turning..."I can totally do that and without even a mess to clean up! SOLD!!!" I made a few changes but I am happy with the way that they turned out. Even better? The kids had so much fun because it allowed them to be so much more interactive and to pretty much do it all. It's all about the craftiness, remember? So Cami...here they are...Count Dracula and Mr Mummy!

PS---I just heard the weather report and yeah....Friday? 70 degrees!!!

I've Been Thinking...

I've been thinking about something today that a friend brought to my attention earlier.

I use to think that-

1. bad things happen to bad people
2. bad things happen if you are doing something that "YOU KNOW" is wrong
3. bad things happen because of bad karma

I was reminded today and it got me thinking. I really do know that it is because bad things happen to everyone whether they are good or bad people. Whether they deserve it or not. Bad things happen to GREAT people all day long! We all know of a story.

And it's what you do with it. It's how you act afterwards...after the trial. It's what you turn it into. It' s all about your attitude.

And sometimes? Not all times. But sometimes I also think that some of us are the lucky ones that GET to have something bad happen...because of who it allows us to really become.

Thank you S for that update and for that great post.

Traded In...

Our conversation played out a bit like this tonight...

Kindra: You are so mean. You are the meanest Mom ever and you always make me go to bed when I want to play and make a horseland. You are so, so mean and right now I don't like you!

Me: Goodnight Kindra.

Kindra : I am going to get a new Mom. I am going to call someone and tell them how mean you are and they will send me a new one!

Me: Goodnight Kindra.

20 minutes later she came into my room.

Kindra: I love you Mom. I made a new choice. I want to take it all back. You are not a mean Mom all of the time. Just at bedtime.

Me: Goodnight Kindra. I love you too.

Oh me and that child are going to have some rough years ahead of us. Mark my words. They will be rough! I can hardly wait!