Bglife 55k

In December the manager at my gym asked me if I would help lead a running group. A girl from a local chiropractors office would help me. And that is how I met Katie.
Katie and I decided to meet early one Saturday before run group and do a trail run. She had never run on real trails before but it only took once and she was hooked. That week she found a 55k trail run on a Saturday at the end of April. She asked if I would join her. I did not want to commit to something so horrendous. I have done one other 50k and it is a memory I try to suppress. I told Katie I would train with her. There are NO women here that like to run on trails the way I do. So even if I didn't want do this race (with only 8 weeks to train) I didn't want to lose this potential new running buddy.
We did our first training run 18 miles on these amazing mountain bike trails way out in the middle of nowheresville WA. It was even better than I thought it would be. We were so evenly matched. We did a 20, 22, 18, and 24 milers and every time I had a blast. We got really lost once and had to shimmy over a tree in the middle of a huge washout to find our way back to a ridge line that looked familiar. After the 22 miler Cory and I decided I might as well do the race since I had put so much into training.
Many people asked how I am able to do suck time intensive training, but you all know the answer. I have the best husband and kids in the world. Plus I wake up REALLY early.
Anyway race week finally arrived and I wasn't even nervous. Usually running anything over about 10 miles in a race makes me really ill. So of course I work myself up for the whole week before and make it even worse. But this time through our training we really concentrated on fueling and hydration and I hadn't been sick yet.
Friday night we picked up Katie and headed to Brooke and Mike's. We visited, ate yummy ice cream and homemade fudge sauce then made our plan for the next morning. What we would put in each drop bag- change of cloths if needed and lots of food. Then we were off to bed.
Cory once again sacrifice and drove us at 5:15 am to the start of our race promising to be back 7 hours later to pick us up. And we were off. I think I push myself a little to hard some (ok most) of the time and Katie reins me in. However at mile 31 when the nausea was so overwhelming Katie was there pulling me along with calming encouraging words.
We ran, we climbed, we slipped and slid (I fell) all over that mountain. Laughing and talking and meeting many amazing people that made us look like weaklings. We ate pb&j's, hard boiled eggs, powerbars and more gels and gus than I like to think about. I took about 15 sodium tablets and drank 3 camelback bladders full of water. There was 4250 feet of elevation gain and a total of 34.5 miles run in 7 h 39 m. And I was happy every step of the way. I'm pretty sure our time would have been 45 minutes faster if there had not been such a ridiculous amount of mud.
And waiting for us as we crossed the finnish line were our amazing husbands, sisters, kids, and other sweet family members.
So that's my story and here are a few pictures...






And us at the top of capital peak mile 18...

Our Weekend

We had Benn stay with us this weekend while Meagan was doing her Ultra Marathon. Benn had a soccer game Sat. morning she needed to be to. Meags sent us a text and a picture, "At the top of Capital Peak, mile 19 and feeling strong!" I text back, "At Benn's soccer game, mile 0 and feeling hungry!" Hated missing my big 4 mile run, but oh well! We live to serve! We had fun! We picked out a bunch of new plants to help me feel better about my train wreck yard and came home and tried to think of fun things to do with Benn. She was a great help! We started a fire to get rid of one of our giant burn piles. It didn't entertain her near as much as it would have the boys. It is still smoking this morning 2 days and 12 hours worth of rain later. It was a hot fire! While Pa tended the fire, (He needed a break after working on pulling stumps....he is way glad he is not trying to clear land as a pioneer) Benny and I put up the trampoline. Our missionaries came home and helped us out. Benn told me earlier she did not like our new missionary Elder Newbry. She doesn't like change very well and is very loyal. It is hard to see Elders go after they have lived with us and they have become a part of our family. So Elder Newbry had not yet made the friend list. After the tramp was set up he started to help her with her front flip. He was cute with her and gave her some pointers. After a few times she was doing great. When the missionaries went in the house to get ready for their dinner appt. she came up the hill to talk to me. She told me she really liked Elder Newbry. He has nice! I teased her a bit and commented, "You know Bennett, it's too bad you can't just like someone without them having to pass a test. She gives me "the" little "head wobble" and says, "Well he passed the handsome test right off. Does that count?" "Maybe....We will have to ask Jane. I'm sure she noticed." I am so glad they are all yours and we just get to sit back and enjoy in an advisory capacity! Jack made it home from his big Scout Jamboree Camp thing. We were all so tired we could hardly move. The pajamas were on and we were looking forward to falling asleep watching a movie and the phone rings. One of our missionaries is in town with his family and they want to stop by for a visit. We quick and get out of our pajamas. Elder Fowlke and Elder Newbry come home from their appt.s and Julia and the kids....and it is party time at the Bennetts til midnight. It was so fun! I had said a prayer literally that I would be coherent. It worked....I think any way! After everyone had left or gone to bed Jack and I watched one of his favorite episodes of Supernatural he wanted me to see. It was the scarecrow one. He thinks it's really funny when I jump or cover my eyes. So there you have it....part of it anyway. Love you, Have fun, Le Anne

The Beginning

This weekend marks the beginning of my favorite time of year (although, now that I think of it I have lots of "favorite" times of year). Friday night we met up with friends at a frozen yogurt shop. Four families, 14 kids between us, boy were they happy when we finally cleared out of that place. Then Adam invited everyone back to our house for an outdoor movie. He has been planning a way to set up the projector outside for years, and it finally happened. Only one family was tough enough to show up. It was stinking cold and they just moved here from San Diego. But we watched "The Sandlot" and had a great time. Then Saturday night was a BBQ and volleyball game at our place. We begin training for the 3rd year of mud volleyball right now. Awesome. I wish I had pics to post, but I'm just not that with-it.

A garden!!!

My beautiful Dayne. Today was a half day and she came home with all sorts of plans to create (as usual)..my Azalea bushed out front are in bloom and Dayne picked at least 10 handfuls and  with them decorated the front yard. And then she came in and used a whole roll of tape (you think I'm joking) and a bunch of glue and threw together three different pieces of art that were taped up to the wall before I could protest. You see, Dayne works swiftly and efficiently (??) before Mom can come in to thwart her plans or progress. But, I caught her today. I stopped her before she finished off that roll of tape. And then I made her clean off the disaster that was our table before the Young Women showed up for our Personal Progress Activity (more on that in a minute..).

You've probably seen the dress June's wearing before. It was mine. There was another dress two sizes smaller that was mine, too. At one point, both girls wore the dresses together to church. So cute. Now there's only one size left that fits-and to June it goes. I found this other dress at thrift and I'm obsessed with it. It kills me that Dayne no longer wants to dress as a little girl. She's SIX!! I remember my mom wanting to dress me as a little girl-in more "traditional" (as she would put it) styles--when I was 13!! Come on, Dayne..just give me a few more years.

Cole's a stud. If you read this post, you'll find out what an incredible runner we have in our family (besides Geof.). I didn't post about it on here.., because I figured I should wait a few days to get some other people posting on here before I did, again (hint, hint).

I was called recently as the Personal Progress leader in our ward. I'm happy to be in Young Womens again. We have a pretty small group. Maybe 13 girls. Most of the time, only 5-8 come to activities. Tonight, our value was "knowledge" and the girls helped me plant a garden! All I did (thanks to an elderly gentleman at the local nursery giving me all the tips!) was find the sunniest spot in my yard, throw some mushroom compost on it (or whatever compost you have, of course--I just haven't started compost in this house, yet), some nice rich soil, and then staple the black gardening fabric down on top (with garden staples). It worked wonders! We did it all in less than 30 minutes. I really, REALLY hope to have some produce this year.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, sweet potatoes, asparagus (remember Nauvoo's asparagus plant?), butternut squash, peppers, and zucchini. Am I forgetting something?

The yw taking the pic didn't realize it was on blurry-mode. It's probably better this way.  ;)

Dayne and June were just thrilled to be able to eat outside and then have some trampoline time with the girls. Please ignore the bikes, fridge, and trash/recycling in the back. Maybe Le Anne will have some ideas for how to hide all that next time we see her?  ;)

Geof. built us a fire so we could enjoy s'mores afterward. Perfect.

Pounding Rocks or Building a House of GOD

I  loved this story that was in my lesson Sunday:

A traveler passed a stone quarry and saw three men working. He asked each man what he was doing.  The first man answered, "I am cutting stone."  The second replied, "I am earning three gold pieces per day."  The third man smiled and said, "I am helping to build a House of God!"

I am convinced it is not so much what we do as the spirit in which we do it .  I was teaching about being a wife, mother, housekeeper, and  homemaker.  I used Brooke as an example building a haven for her family each time they moved within weeks of their arrival.  I remember them moving 5 times in an 18 month period...amazing!!!

When I stayed with Alicia and Kevin a year ago last Oct. I took a picture of her laundry room.  I wish I could post it. She has a framed picture of herself in her wedding dress.  She is stunning! (As are all you girls!)  She also has her college certificate of graduation framed and hanging there. The irony and humor were not lost on me.  She is such a funny kid!!!

Mike Eddington came to visit us a few days ago.  He has been a cop in Vegas now for a couple of years.  I asked him if he still liked people.  He said he does but he told me a few stories.  He told me he could arrest everyone he sees because they all have rap sheets and are doing something to violate their paroles.  He told me about all the woman that have 6,7,8, kids, each from a different father. They really don't know which one was the father, but each kid is worth a bigger welfare check.  Do these kids have a chance?  It sounded like the letters home from Adam on his mission to Detroit.

GOD must be doing the HAPPY DANCE, when he gets to send His spirit children down to your homes where they will be loved and nurtured and taught what is right by loving parents that are trying to be good people.

There are days it may feel like you are pounding rocks....but you are all building a HOUSE OF GOD!

I Love you and appreciate your efforts,
MOM, Aunt Le Anne, Whatever.....

Bglife

Harris plays to exhaustion....



Hazel's sick day...



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Provo

Already attempting to pull himself up on things. Stop it Adam!!
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..and some more

You might have seen these on my blog, but I noticed some of my favorite Nauvoo pics didn't get uploaded when I initially posted. Here they are.

*sigh*

Ruby has been screaming "I want a drink of WATER!" from her crib for the last 10 minutes. She's already had two glasses, I'm putting my foot down...but I can feel my brain cells diminishing from the abrasive sounds. Fortunately, when Tristan's head hits the pillow he is out and can sleep through almost anything. Oh now she burst into my room, demanded water, I caved, now there is silence. So, the blog...you are right Darla, I've slipped off the wagon but I'm going to jump back on. I think it all stems from getting released from YW two weeks ago then suddenly becoming busier than ever. I thought it would be the other way around, but I was wrong. The time of watering our lawn by hand has arrived. It takes over two hours, moving the sprinkler every 10 min. to get the whole thing done. Who has that kind of time? But Pop has aerated and fertilized and mowed and my only job is to keep the beast hydrated. It was strange to have Adam home this last shift and not have any big events planned. So I had a "honey-do" list ready and he got it all done. Love that guy. Like everyone else, we are swamped with end of the school year programs and field trips. I'm 99% sure we are going to switch our kids to a new school next year. It is a language immersion charter school and we'll put them in to learn Spanish. I wasn't going to do it because I love being able to walk or ride bikes to and from our current school, and this Global Village Academy is about 15 min. away. But Adam talked me into going to the info meeting on Wednesday night and I'm sold. They had all these amazing stats on academic performance of language immersion learning and since I believe everything I hear...but really I think it'll be a good change. One thing I'm really looking forward to is uniforms. No more fights with S&K about who gets to wear what. The principal described the uniforms as "fun and colorful". Adam describes them as "goofy pants and a dorky t-shirt". Apparently you have to buy dark blue or khaki pants from Wal-Mart and 5 colorful school t-shirts. Fine by me. Anyone else have kids at a uniform school? I think I'm going to like it. I look forward to learning Spanish along with the kids. It'll help for when Adam finally convinces me to jump ship and sail around the world (or at least South America). Happy Birthday, Aunt Jack & AJ!!

I couldn't find a picture of Aunt Jack or AJ, but here is a cute one taken in 2009.

Didn't we?

I thought we all vowed under oath to keep the blog alive?

We didn't forget..

....and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACK! Geof. was so amazed at how big his nieces and nephews had grown since he last saw them (that's what happens when you work non-stop and don't see family). He still felt the need to give you some wise advise while in Nauvoo, however...

Just talking..

My girls are so different. Dayne's never quite sure what to do when I get a camera in front of her. This was the third try on Easter morning. I finally said, "Dayne, just say hi.". Now June, on the other hand was not properly prepared for picture taking and wasn't sure what character to become in time for her shot..so instead she made above face. She's a lot like Geof. in that way. Wants to be in character. He's not comfortable taking "normal" pics, either (as Nauvoo pics can attest). The kids got a small shared Easter basket with a few candies and a Lite Brite that I found on clearance at a craft store. Whenever I get things for my kids that I ALWAYS WANTED BUT NEVER HAD growing up.., it's disappointing to see how little interest they show. I guess I'll have to sit down and spend a good long time doing it with them. On the Sat. before Easter, we went to Maymont for their annual Easter egg hunt. Radio Disney was there and they had a bonnet parade (one of the few FREE things offered). There was only three little ones in line for the parade and they were about to start when a woman came up to June and offered her the"bonnet" she'd made. June complied, but not happily. You should have seen her face the whole time. A complete grump. Dayne wore it the rest of the day. Crosses and Catholic Saints adorned the hat. Pretty ornate.




In other weekly news, I learned two new spellings that I admit, am a bit embarrassed I didn't know before!! Earings is really spelled earrings.., and judgement does not have an e after the g..it's spelled judgment. That's what the missionaries told me while we were teaching a sister in my home the Plan of Salvation. So now you know..in case you're ever in a situation like I was. ;) Happy Friday! Geof. is..at this VERY MOMENT..taking his appraisal test to be certified. Yay! I hope he passes (I know he will)..that means a little less stress in our home and more of the Geof. we all know and love. We even hired a babysitter for a date night tonight!

Provo

I taught my YW how to make para-cord bracelets for our activity. It was a huge hit! Not sure what value it ties into... Knowledge? Individual worth? Whatever. Thanks for teaching me Ad!
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Easter

We'll I'll admit.., this whole iPhone (and instagram..!!) thing is getting more and more addicting (have to stop) and I'm not posting on the blog like I should (sorry, Mindi). Today was a quiet day. Most holidays are quiet for us. A good thing..sometimes. We're just grateful that we were able to be with family so recently, or else it might have just been too depressing. And can I add, before I forget, how EXCITING and what a surprise it was to have Meagan and Co. show up in Nauvoo? We had NO IDEA they were coming.., nor did we pick up on it when Adam and Le Anne both goofed and slipped Meagan and Bennett's names into conversations-as if they were there (on their drive out). We still didn't guess it. So fun.

Cole, Dayne and June sang a song in Sac. Mtg. today with a small Primary group. We recorded it after in our living room, but it was on high speed..not sure why. So here's the silent/fast forwarded version:

They did really well. I'm happy to report that all three kids are NOT tone deaf. :) I have a lady in my ward who wants to possibly take voice lessons.., but she's completely tone deaf (she's told me-I'm not judging). How do you teach voice to someone who doesn't hear it??

Hm..anything else to tell you all? Oh, yes..we have a bazillion inch worms hanging from everyplace imaginable. You walk into them all the time not knowing where the "webbing" is coming from. The pollen is also leaving a hazy, yellow film on everything and I believe the majority of Richmond is suffering from allergies. I saw a walking postman wearing a breathing mask (like doctors wear). It's crazy. We'll just wait it out and then borrow a power washer for the house and windows.

Now that's exciting news..

Harris' Birthday

We got to have the Allen's stay with us last night & today. Poor Meagan had to drive through a terrible Eastern Colorado spring snow storm to get here (with 6 kids in the car!). Today was a bright sunshiny day, tho. We went for a run together, walked kids too and from school, ate and ate and ate, cut geodes with Adam's tile saw, had an easter egg hunt, and celebrated Harris' and Jackson's birthdays with brownies. We love you guys!!

The Brothers

Darla, I'm so glad you are posting all of your beautiful pictures. I'm still trying to gather mine together, in the mean time here are my favorites...