How to spend your Saturdays.

This weekend I got to run a 1/2 Marathon. We were up in Logan for a last minute thing and since most of my family (mom & dad, sister & brother-in-law, sister-in-law) were all doing it, it being the Top of Utah 1/2 Marathon, Shayne and I decided to join in. It was a lot of fun. Yes, running a 1/2 marathon CAN be fun, though mostly it is just good when it is over. It was during the race that I learned what shin splints are the hard way...hell. They are hell. But because of them I persevered, learned how to be mentally tough and ended up finishing strong (because they didn't hurt as much on the flat or uphill parts). 1:42 was my time. This was a personal best, so that is good. Everyone had a super race. My mom who hasn't run a 1/2 marathon in her life also persevered, she walked the last two miles with a broken foot. Well the verdict is still out on that but definitely a stress fracture. Only my mom would continue with pain like that. It made my measly shin splints seem more like a bothersome blisters. My mom is incredible. I unfortunately did not get this amazing attitude, maybe it skips a generation...which I actually hope is true...with 4 daughters...hummm. Anyways, I myself am a complainer. My mom IS NOT. I should be more like my mom.

Since so many of us were running in the race and the few of my family members that weren't, were watching all the children (that in itself worth a first place medal), we did not get pictures of the event. I will however post some from the Spudman Triathlon that a number of us did a month ago. That also was a great race. If any one is thinking of doing a triathlon (Olympic distance) this is the one to do. It is a FAST one. The mile swim is downstream. The 25 mile bike and 6 mile run are both very flat courses. It was a lot of fun. I did this race before I was married, and got a time of 2:29. 11 years and 4 kids later I got 2:32 . I didn't think I would even come close to my old time, so I was pleasantly surprised. Hopefully I will feel the same way about my St. George Marathon race this year. Fingers crossed for a personal best and no hellish shin splints.

Elise (sister-in-law), Isaac(brother), Christian (brother-in-law), Sadie (sister),
Baby CJ (nephew-did not race), Steve (dad), Me

Me

Here's one from the TOU 1/2 Marathon:
(My sister Sadie just sent this to me. Thanks Sadie.)

Shayne, Maggie (did not race), Me

Me (racing to the finish)

Thanks Liz or rather her husband Jared for taking this keeper.

Passing Notes

Parly loves to write us notes. We have gotten quite a few over the years. She usually writes them when she is angry and upset, or sad and remorseful. Well, we got one from her the other night, right after putting the kids to bed. And this is what it said:

1. I cant go to sleep one tinsie wincey bit.
2. It is light out side.
3. And I'm ready to Dance.

Shayne and I were dieing. So funny. So Shayne caved and let her stay up a little longer with us. This is when it's fun.

I'm out saving lives!

I just found my new calling. Now that Shayne has been made redundant, see his post about that here, we have had to find creative ways to make money, you know to feed our children and pay the bills. This morning I was on my way to my new "job" and a friend of Shayne's pulled up beside me at a light. He rolled down his window, and noticing it was me driving the truck said, "Where's Shayne?" My reply, "Someone's got to pay the bills!"
So for now I am a working mom. What is my new job? I give plasma. Yep, I go and sit for just over an hour while they take my blood out of my body, separate the plasma, and then put my blood back. Very fascinating, I know. It's kind of rough. Actually not. Easiest money ever made.

I have found some interesting benefits to "working" at BioLife, besides the saving lives and getting $50/ week (if I go twice/week), I get my iron and protein checked each and every time I go there. I have a history of low iron and when I am running lots I sometimes get too low. I spent $170 a month ago to check that iron, and find it was normal. Ugh! Now I can do it for free. Awesome. Another benefit? I have an hour in my day with uninterrupted reading time. After getting Breaking Dawn, I was dieing to go give plasma, so I could get reading without the girls bugging me about dinner or Shayne giving me the eye. No guilt.

Could there be more benefits? Believe it. It was there that I learned I was gifted. Gifted, really? Yes. How so? I think I can safely say that I was born to give plasma. I have the perfect veins for it. They are huge . I didn't know this really until now. Almost every time I go, the person sticking me with a needle comments on how large my veins are. They are surprised that a small person like myself would have some so big. Super. No need to panic with the needles when even a half blind person could stick me in the right place. Good. And for some strange reason this new discovery has made me feel special. I get a weird satisfaction knowing that I am the perfect candidate for plasma giving. And it really feels good when you find that one thing you were meant to do in life. Mine happens to be saving lives, an hour at a time.... and without a medical degree. My self-esteem has never been better.

I've been biten!

So I am back. I was on a sort of mini vacation. Laundry piled up, kids ran wild, food was a bother, sleep not a requirement, and I hardly left the house. It started as soon as I picked up the first book of the Stephenie Meyers Vampire series, again. That's right, I reread all three of the books, Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse, to get ready for the last and final book of the series, Breaking Dawn. Well I finished Breaking Dawn last night at 1:30 in the morning and I was too jazzed up to sleep. Too bad it was too late, or earlier rather to call anyone and discuss. I so looooooved it. I have heard from others that not everyone feels this way. They are idiots. This was my favorite of them all. Stephenie Meyers is pure genius. Just when I thought I had it figured out she shocked me and I couldn't have been more pleased to be wrong. She is an amazing story teller! And instead of finishing my vacation sad and wishing it could have been longer, I was thrilled, happy, and a little exhausted.