Spencer's softball and more...

Spencer has always been great about letting me get out to do fun things like girl's night out, bunko, and scrapbooking, but he never takes the time out for himself. Our good friend Jeff plays softball on a men's team and asked Spencer to play. He was able to rearrange his work schedule so he could have Wednesday nights off so he could join. I am so happy that he is able to get out and do something that isn't work, school or family related. We all need a little time for ourselves, even hubbies! Plus, I get to hang out with my ladies and our little ones running amok while we watch. Pure bliss! I had to take a few pics to document.

Also, for those of you that know me well, you know that I despise white walls in my home. After living in our home for over 6 months, Spencer and I buckled down to paint over dirty looking white walls. The poor walls had never been painted since it was built in 2003. I thought I would put up a before and after to show off all our hard work.

Before

After (note that it is at night so it looks darker.)

Pictures from St. George

We found our camera that we "lost" in St. George, (thanks Spencer!) and I wanted to put up some pictures from that trip.

Hangin out at Zions lodge

Jenna and Houston

The boys on the bus

Sleeping water baby While I am at it, I should mention how lucky that I am that I have the best friends in the world. I am so thankful that I have someone that knows the real me deep down and still likes me for it. I feel so blessed to have these amazing people in my life who support, encourage, entertain and inspire me. This is a shout-out to my gang: Jenna, Bekah and Siomara. I love you ladies!!!

Oh no she didn't!

The horrible parents that we are, we didn't notice that Madelyn was crawling around with a pencil. But luckily (or unluckily I guess) she found a way to entertain herself with it. By coloring on the walls! Yes, my 11 month old baby is already coloring on my walls!




I had to take some pictures of it, just to document her vibrant personality, even from such a young age. I love the one with her looking at me, like she knew she had been caught doing something naughty. I love you, crazy bear!

1st day of 4th grade

I can't believe my baby is in 4th grade! It is so weird to see your kids at a time in their life and be able to remember when you were that age.

Our cruise!

To celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary, Spencer and I went on a 3 day cruise to Ensanada, Mexico. It was such a blast! We made friends with a great couple that we were seated with. You guys were awesome Michelle and Andy! It was a little scary with tables assigned, not knowing who you were going to be with but we all got along and really enjoyed one anothers company, (although we missed you Jim, Lori, Kelly, and Evan. It wasn't the same without you guys!). Just hanging out with no children, eating yummy food, watching fun shows, seeing new places, getting fake tattoos and laying out and reading books were so fun and so recuperative. It can be so easy to forget how much you enjoy each others company with all the distractions from work, school, kids and daily life. I am so proud of us for making it this long, but also for doing it while still so happy together.

Spencer, you began as my best friend and you still are. We started it out a little rough and we truly have been through a lot together, but I think it has only made us stronger. Thank you for everything. Thanks for putting up with my impatience and my nagging. Thank you for always being willing to work so hard to provide for your family. Thank you for making me laugh every day. Thank you for being such an amazing father to our children. I adore you and I thank Heavenly Father every day for blessing me with you in my life. The next 10 years will only be better. "It's gonna be fun!"

My bike souveniers

So I am totally clumsy and I fell over with my bike several weeks ago. I got pretty bruised up and scraped, but I thought they were cool so I took a couple of pictures. Note that I didn't crash into anything, I just pretty much fell over while I was attached to the bike. The picture is what the gears did to my leg. I have always fallen while riding a bike, so being attached just makes the chance of a fall slightly higher.

Sienna's 9th Birthday

For Sienna's 9th birthday party with friends, we had a few friends of hers over to throw around water balloons around and just jump on the tramp with sprinklers. We also had a pinata. The theme of High School Musical was her favorite. She had cupcakes with friends and cake with the family. It was a lot of fun.

On Sunday (her actual birthday, I know...I am so late about this!) we had the families over. We were very happy that Grandpa Gregerson and Jeremy were able to make it, since it looked like they wouldn't at first. We had a lot of fun hanging out and visiting with everyone. She was waaayyy too spoiled by my little brother Paul and his fiance Kelsey, who bought her a real guitar, a really nice guitar. So I need to find someone to teach her lessons.

Sienna, you are such a sweet girl. You amaze me every day with your goodness and your real desire to be a kind person. I am so proud of who you are becoming and I thank Heavenly Father every day for such an amazing daughter. I can't believe it's been 9 years! It seems like just yesterday you were born. You are growing so fast into a young woman and I hope that I can be the mother that you need to realize the potential of who you can become. I love you baby girl!

So finally...here are the Spudman details

So I know it is way past the time I said I would post the details, but I was waiting on pictures which I feel help tell the story.

The race was so fun, amazing and completely exhausting, (which I am sure most of you are saying, duh! Triathlons are exhausting!). I have never felt so physically and mentally tired in my life! During the final run in to the finish line, I almost fell several times because I felt like my legs would not support me any longer. It's a completely different thing doing twice the distance.

My race was definitely not the best. I was very upset to finish at 3:25 since my goal was 3 hours. But I was off from the very beginning. My swim ended up being 21.5 minutes, but if I could have been able to breathe enough to swim freestyle I am sure I could have done it under 19 minutes.

The bike was pretty good I feel. It's so weird transitioning all the blood from your upper body to suddenly being all in your lower body. The 1st 5 miles I wanted to quit, but after that I felt better. My bike time was 1:31 for biking 25 miles. I was definitely exhausted, but it was fine.

The run (or should I say walk with a few jogs?) wasn't great. My breathing was a huge problem with the run portion. I also had problems with my outer arch of my right foot and I really, REALLY needed to pee. Any ladies out there that have had babies and the repercussions after will know what I am talking about. The only Porto-potty was a little after mile 3, but it was being used. The time for the run was 1:22. So slow, but what can I say? There are matters sometimes out of your control. But on a side note...my knee was great.

Right after the race we found out that someone had died. Despite all my disappointment, it really put everything in perspective. I was so grateful to be alive.

A friend asked if I would do it again next year and at the time I honestly wasn't sure. But now...of course. Despite all the training we did, I think we could have done it better. So I will analyze everything and make it better next year.

Spencer did really well. His swim time was 23 minutes which is so great. He is amazing. His bike portion was 1:22 and his run was 1:16 with his total time being 3:11. He had a tough time on the run portion too. At least I didn't puke. He will also do it next year. We are both so grateful to have done this and had these experiences. I truly feel that races like this show you how a lot of hard things are mental, and you can choose to give up or you can choose to keep going. I think that has helped us get through some very difficult times. I love doing these races and I am especially glad that I did them after they are over.

Happy Birthday Lilly!!!

It seems like just yesterday that we were celebrating your 1st birthday with you and now here it is, 2 years later. I cannot believe you are 3 years old! I hope you know how much we love you and miss you. I wish there was a way to work things out to see you, but I just don't know how. I am so sorry that you aren't here with us and I wish I could change that. The ache of you not being here sometimes still takes my breath away. I know you probably don't remember me, but I will never, ever forget you. Despite everything we went through, despite the pain, I would never change a thing. I am grateful for every day that you were with us, I am grateful for your smiles, and your mischievous little giggle and your sweet snuggles. I pray for you every day, that you will be watched over, that you will develop a testimony of how much you are loved by your Heavenly Father and your Saviour, Jesus Christ, and that it will somehow protect you from the life and circumstances that you are in. I would change things if I could. I just wanted you to know this, even if I can't tell you today. Maybe someday. I will love you and think of you always, Mom

The 4th of July

Everyone just hangin' out and playing with poppers.

The crazy boys trying to light a snake(or something like that!) Sadly, it didn't work.

More popper fun!

For the 4th, we made plans with Spencer's sister, Carrie and her husband Pablo to hang out. We went up to Herriman but Pablo wasn't feeling very well. We bought him some Pepto Bismol which is my cure-all for tummy aches, but after 2 doses he was not better and the pain had spread to his lower right abdomen. Spencer told him that he should got to the ER to make sure it wasn't appendicitis, so we took their daughter Kaitlyn to my brother David's house in Draper. It ended up that Pablo did in fact have appendicitis so we watched fireworks at Dave's house with my family and siblings and took the kids home. They were very excited about getting to have a surprise sleepover with Kaitlyn and we were very grateful we were there to help with Kaitlyn and that Pablo was able to have his surgery with no complications. We love you Pablo. Get well soon!

I have to mention my gratitude for this country that we live in while speaking of our country's independence. I must say that in the last little while I think that I have become slightly disillusioned with some things in our country. I won't go into politics, don't worry, but despite all that I sometimes feel, I know that we live in the greatest country in the world, with the freedom to live how we choose, to be able to practice religion without fear of persecution, to speak against injustice here and in the world. I am so very blessed to have been born here with the rights that should be basic to all people, but sadly are not. Despite the problems that we have, we are still the best place for freedom and I pray we will continue to improve and become even better. I love the USA !