Labor Day Weekend

For the three-day weekend, we went to Huntington Lake with my parents and then Blake and his friend 

David joined us later. It was such a fun way to put a close to the summer season and it was actually 

warm outside! We brought kayaks and a pool donut. We also rented paddle boards twice when we were there.

 On Sunday On Sunday we went to 9-mile canyon… NEVER AGAIN, it was at least 40 miles! We thought we would drive a 

short distance to a hiking trail and then hike to see some hieroglyphs. Not even close! It was a 40 mile drive and we really could 

not see any of the hieroglyphs. We talked to some people and we were finally able to see some stuff. Sure, it was interesting, 

but was it was not worth all those miles! But now it will be a fun memory and we can say we have been there and done that! 

We also celebrated Blake’s 25th Birthday! We had a fun weekend together as a family! 

Chalk the Block 2019

One annual event that Andrew and I love to attend is Chalk the Block. Local artists draw amazing art work with chalk all 

over the parking lot and every year I am blown away with the talent and creativity these people have, especially when 

I struggle at drawing basic stick figures. If you have never been and you are in the area during the time,

 you need to put it on your list to go!

 ^This one was Andrew's favorites because it's basketball^

The theme this year was based on Hollywood, so there were a lot of different movies as part of the display. 

^Look how magical this set up was!^ 

 ^Love this artwork so much and the quote!^ 

Isn't all that artwork astounding?! We really love going and every year we hope it doesn't rain 

(because that has happened before). And one thing that I think would have been really cool was if an  artist did

a Mary Poppins chalk drawing from when they went into the chalk drawing with Bert. It would have been 

practically perfect in every way! But we didn't see one. If only I had some level of artistic ability and I would have done it. haha. Personally, I just love the idea I had. 

It's a fun way to start wrapping up the summer and it's so much fun to spend time together. 

Beautiful Nebraska Land ♫

Nebraska is a huge part of my childhood since we went there a lot when I was growing up.

Both my parents are from a small town on the west side of the state. 

It was fun going back because the last time I was there was 4 years ago and the time before that, I can't even tell you. 

All the childhood memories of the place came flooding back to me. 

Our first stop was to see my Grandma. I have not seen her since 2015, so it was so much fun to see her! She

had never met Andrew before so it was fun for me to see them meet. And she loved him! 

We made it to my Aunt's house and celebrated the 4th of July there. It was a really cold day, so it wasn't the typical 4th of July
but we manged to have some holiday fun. And I love how we are literally eating out on the road in this picture, haha,

The next day it finally started to warm up a little bit more and we could actually go out on the lake! 

I loved being outside and out on the boat! it's one of the best things of summer!

 ^Blake^

^Andrew^

Later on that day we hiked the Scottsbluff National Monument. I remember doing it as a kid and 

the memory I have is nothing to how it actually was. But we had so much fun! We loved hiking and seeing the
beauty of Nebraska. It's a state that does not get a lot of credit for it, but it really does have it's sites to see.

Plus we were able to see my Grandma's house at the top!

^Nebraska is beautiful!^

^Us at the top!^

AND on our way up we met a bull snake and it was mad! The hissing it made was loud and no one could get 

through the path. Leave it to my brother to pick up the thing with a stick, and throw it off the edge. I couldn't 

look I was so scared but he didn't get bit and Andrew recorded the whole thing!

Andrew made Viet food for my family one night and they LOVED it! 

They were so impressed with his amazing cooking ability and the foreign food. 

On our last full day we went to see some famous Nebraska landmarks. On the way to Utah, a pioneer woman named 

Rebecca Winters became sick, and like so many, died on the trail.  But what makes her stand out is that a family 

friend marked her grave with a metal rim of a wagon wheel with her name and age and buried her along the trail.

 So many graves the went unmarked, and her's is one of he few that were named.

We also were able to go to Chimmny Rock, a famous landmark for all the pioneers who were coming west. 

I love how this little town of my parents has some history the westward expansion tied with it.

One fun thing that we were able to do was drive drive down memory lane. 

My parents met at a movie theater. My mom sold the tickets and my dad ran the projector. It took many years 

for them to actually get married but the movie theater was the start. There were two movie theaters within a
block of each other and they worked at both. This is the only theater on the street that remains.

This is the theater where they actually met, but it's no longer a theater, just a local shop, 

but that location is where it all started!

We went to Taco Town. My aunt and uncle used to own this restaurant but with circumstances beyond their 

control they had to sell the place to new owners and move on. But we still always make a special trip to 

Taco Town and the tacos are some of the best you will ever have.

We also drove by my Grandparent's old home and the library where my Grandpa and I would walk to when I
would visit. It's crazy how everything becomes a memory and how much things change. Sometimes I wish I could go
back and experience some of those same things with greater appreciation. Go back and remember the feelings, places,
smells, and people with greater love. 

And saying goodbye is always the worst. Here is my cousin Lance and his little sister Taylor. 

I wanted Taylor so much. If I could get away with kidnapping her, I would do it! 

 She was the easiest baby that I have ever seen! She hardly ever cried, even when she was tired or upset she would just
let out a little whine to let you know and they she would stop. She was one happy baby and would always smile,
wave, and try to copy your facial expressions. Andrew let's have one like her ok?
That would make the baby stage of motherhood a lot easier!  

I'm only HALF crazy! {13.1}

I ran my first ever half marathon on Saturday and I think I caught the running bug! I have never been a big
runner but one of my friends suggested I try a half marathon and I think I laughed at the idea. But that thought
stuck with me and I thought, "Why not, this is the healthiest I've ever been. Better now than later."
I started training in January because running was something I did about once a week and it would only be
for 3-4 miles tops! For my first half I am so glad I trained as early as I did because I got sick and did not run
for a week or two. We went to Hawaii and I only ran 3 mile runs, 3 times. Later, I got a small injury that prevented
me from running for a week. Just small setbacks but since I had 6 months I wasn't trying to cram in all this
training. With that being said, it was a lot more running than I was used to and I was anxious for my half marathon
to be over because I was so sick of running almost every single day!

I ran the American Fork Half Marathon Against Cancer and it surpassed my expectations!

The day started with waking up at 3AM and we were out the door by 3:40. Guys, I seriously have one of the best
husbands because he woke up with me and drove me to the race and he was not even running the thing! He walked
me to the bus and I was shuttled up to Tibble Fork. It was FREEZING! I'm talking about low 40's here with a
little wind chill. The weather this year is bizarre! I know it's  colder in the morning, and then it's up the canyon,
but why in the world is it so close to the freezing point in summer? And it got a little warmer as the sun got out
and as I started moving but it never got hot. (To prove my point, we had a BBQ later in the day and I was wrapped
up in blanket because I was so cold.)

The first 7 miles of the race were all downhill which was amazing! I have the app RunKeeper on my phone and
I have it set to tell me the miles I have covered and my average and current pace every 10 minutes and I
could not believe how fast the time and miles were going by! Thank you downhill! When I reached the mouth of
the canyon, Andrew, with my parents were there cheering me on and it was so fun to see them!

I was doing and feeling really well and ran 10 miles straight before I needed to walk! That is the longest I
have ever run before slowing down. From there I needed to walk more, not necessarily because I was tired (I was)
but more so out of the necessity because my calves were crying! I think it was all the downhills which I was not
used to because I trained mainly on flat ground with a slight uphill. It was a mix between walking and running
between miles 10 and 11 but when I got to mile 12 I told myself I was going to run the entire last mile no
matter how slow I went and that is exactly what I did!

I saw the finish line and I started to sprint hard. When I got there I realized that the finish line was not right in front
of me but around 2 more corners! You have got to be kidding me!!! I slowed down a bit because I can only sprint
for so long and when I turned that last corner I went hard! I saw the time ticking and when I saw where I was,
I was determined to make it before it turned into another a minute and I went faster. When I crossed that finish
line I was fighting the urge to not throw up and thank heavens it only lasted for about 10 seconds.

^Do you see my parents with in the observation area with their phones?^

I ran 13.1 miles in 1:57:58:55 and I am SO PROUD of myself! 

I did not expect to run it in under 2 hours but I just barley did it!

^My dad was my running buddy near the end of my training. He pushed me and kept me running when I was dying!^ 

 ^My parents came to cheer me on and kept popping up during the route.^

^My in-laws came to cheer me on at the end.^

I loved my first 1/2 marathon! I went into it thinking this would be my first and only half and doing it to cross
it off the list, but I absolutely loved it and would do it again! I think I'm still on this runners high!

If anyone wants to do it with me next year, let me know! I went solo this time but I think it would be so much
 fun to start the race with friends! I can't quite convince Andrew to run with me. haha. 

The Miracle Pageant

This weekend we went to the Manti Temple and attended the last season of the Miracle Pageant in Manti, Utah. 

Going to the pageant has been one of my favorite summer traditions and I am so sad that this was the last year. 

The pageant is an outdoor performance about the early days of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and reenacts 

scenes from the Book of Mormon. One of my favorite scenes is when Jesus Christ comes to the American continent 

shortly after his resurrection. I’ve been coming to the pageant ever since I can remember and can quote almost 

all the lines. When I read the scriptures I’ve recalled moments portrayed in the pageant. It has brought the 

scriptures to life and has given me so much joy to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. ❤️ 

Since it was the last year I tried to get as many pictures as I could with the cast members. 

I am so grateful for the many years I was able to attend this pageant! It has been a wonderful time to be with family

and to deepen my love for my Savior. I hope that in future years I can still remember the lines, the music, and 

the strong spirit felt. Fingers crossed that someday they will bring this experience back!