Half Marathon

It all started about a year ago when I joined a gym for the first time in my life. I knew I needed to do something about my sedentary life. I started going about 3 times a week for 1/2 hour to an hour. I had been walking outside and was really having trouble with shin splints. I decided that the weight lifting aspect of a gym would help me. I started there by lifting weights and trying to strengthen my calf muscles.

I eventually started going more on the treadmill. I remember the first time I decided I would try to jog, after 3 minutes I thought I was going to die! About a month later I ran for 8 minutes straight. I thought I was the toughest person around. I told everyone how I ran for 8 minutes without stopping. (This now makes me laugh, but at the time I was elated with myself.) I kept at it and kept increasing my time. The first time a ran a whole mile was a big milestone for me. The day I ran for 25 minutes straight I almost started crying right there at the gym because I never thought that was possible for me.

Around this time Scottie announced that he was doing the Ogden Half Marathon and invited anyone who wanted to join him to do so. I just laughed because although I was extremely proud of my 25 minutes that was only about 2.25 miles, a far cry from 13.1 miles. Time kept passing and I kept running longer and longer. Around Thanksgiving Becky and Scott asked if I wanted the registration fee for the half marathon for my birthday and Christmas. At this point I was actually considering it. Scott and I ran in a Turkey Trot and I didn't do so hot. However, I realized that May was far away and that I did want to do the half marathon.

I signed up and just kept working towards 13.1 miles. One of the key things for distance for me was running outside. I was really use to a treadmill and it is a bit easier than outside, but oh so very boring! When I started running outside and loving it, my distance really increased. We have a walking/biking/running trail behind our house that I always run on. I would always set the next goal for my running outside. My big wall was doing 10 miles. I finally did it and was so proud of myself. Then I did 12 and my last goal before the half was to do the entire trail round-trip. It was 15 miles long. I did it in 3 hours 10 minutes. That was 2 weeks before the half. Who would have thought that I could run for over 3 hours straight!

May 15 finally came and Scott and I got up early. Mom took us to the start line. (We didn't really want to catch the shuttle bus at 4:45 a.m. for a 7:00 a.m. start time.) The worst part of the whole race was waiting for it to start. It finally started and we were off. It was just a high to be running with all those people and have people cheering you on. One of my favorite parts was running past the relay points and having groups of my friends waiting for their relay turn cheering me on. The course was absolutely beautifuly. We started in Eden and ran through Ogden Canyon and down to Grant and on the 25th Street. There were a few times I almost broke down in tears because I had worked so hard to complete this goal. I must admit that I have always wanted to run in a marathon event, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it was possible for me. It was a very emotional triumph in my life.

My final time was 2 hours 37 minutes 22 seconds. I always said before that it would be my only half marathon, but it cannot be. It was so much fun that it can't be the last one I do. I can't wait for the next one!

Cody brought the kids and Becky came with her kids as well as Mom and Dad. It was so fun to cross that finish line and see Becky and Mom and Dad. I couldn't find Cody and Becky and Mom and Dad couldn't find him either until after they were looking at the pictures Becky took and there Cody and Brock were in one of her pictures. It was so good to have family there cheering me on.

I barely missed Scott coming through the finish line because I had to help Cody with the kids, but he finished too. Receiving that gift for my birthday and Christmas was one of the best gifts I have ever received. Thanks Becky and Scott!!!

My New Bench

Becky found a new blog she happens to be pretty excited about. In fact, she has had a hard time sleeping because she thinks about this blog all the time. Of course, me being the little sister and having always done what my sister tells me to. Inclucing many a worksheet while playing school when we were little. And me, never having the opportunity to play teacher, but always relinquising that duty to her, I followed my instincts and checked out this blog she was so obsessed with.

The blog is knockoffwood.blogspot. com for anyone interested. This lady tells you how to make furniture. We both got pretty excited about it. On Monday Scott told Becky to go to their house in South Ogden and get the mail that hadn't been forwarded to them. He also told her that she could take her time. Take her time she did. She not only returned home at 9:30 p.m. but she returned with a BENCH!

We ventured to Lowe's with 5 kids to buy wood for our benches. It was quite an experience in itself. We then came to my house to make our grand project. We were both a little nervous. Our dad and brother happen to make furniture and they do it really well. We knew this bench would not be up to the standards of the male species in our family, but you have to start somewhere.

Becky, having not exercised that morning was really glad to read on this blog that you burn 300 calories an hour building furniture. We knew that we would be building for many hours. Once we got started we realized that we were going to be burning a lot more calories because of our laughter and not necessarily because of our building.

We finished our benches (minus the sanding and painting) at 6:30 p.m. Cody was good enough to leave us alone to our building and make dinner for us and the 5 children. We had a really great time making our benches and are pretty proud of how they turned out. Our next project might just be a headboard for Becky's guest room. So, if you are planning on staying at Becky's new bed and breakfast you might be in for a treat with a new headboard.

Yummy!!!

Have you ever seen a happier boy? Brock loves anything sweet. He is not one to miss out on Sunday dessert.

10 Miles

For Christmas and my birthday Scott and Becky paid for my registration to do the Ogden half marathon. I have been training for this since before Christmas. Today I finally hit one of my major goals to completing the race. I ran 10 miles this morning without stopping. It felt so good!

Back in mid May I joined a gym and could run for about 2 minutes before I thought I would die. I can't believe how far I have come. Today I ran for 2 hours and never once thought I would die.

Curly, Curly, Curly

As a child every Saturday night my mom would put my sister and I in the tub and then get us out and put pink spongy curlers in our hair while we watched The Love Boat. This was all in anticipation for church the next day. Personally, I really didn't like it. Don't get me wrong - I loved watching The Love Boat, I just didn't really like curly, curly hair. One of my main problems with curly hair was that one side never curled. Consequently I had one side that was out of control curly and the other side was extremely straight. I always thought I looked ridiculous.

The other day I went to Walmart and found blue spongy curlers on clearance. I just plain couldn't help it. I bought them. My next task was getting Paige on board for this trip down memory lane. I talked about how wonderful curly hair was for a week in hopes that she would cooperate. Saturday night came, after giving all my boys a haircut Paige got in the tub. I got her out and we went to the basement and since I didn't have The Love Boat, I turned on the next best thing, Anne of Green Gables. We watched while Paige sat very still and Brock handed me curlers. Surprisingly it didn't take too long.

Here is a photo of Paige with her curlers.
Sunday morning dawned and I knew if those curlers were dry I better take them out so they had time to calm down. I took them out and boy did they need calming. (Pictured below) Paige was so pleased with her curls. She loved having boingy hair all day long. Luckily it did calm down a bit, but she still has very curly hair. I sure love my little girl for indulging my reminiscence.

Paige is Three!!!

My Paigey turned three. She is such a big girl. Just ask her! We started out the festivities on Friday when we went to Salt Lake and Aunt Christy took her to Build a Bear and she got to make her own teddy bear.

Saturday Grandpa and Grandma Frederickson came down to celebrate her biggness. We had a really good time with them.

On Monday we had her actual birthday and yet another party. She had been talking for weeks about how wonderful her princess party was going to be. She had it all planned out and I wasn't even aware that we were having a princess party. Since she went to the work to plan it, I decided I better try to carry out her plans.

We had Grandpa and Grandma Stevens, Scott, Becky, Aubree and Sydney, Abby and Rachel and our family here for the party. We started by going sledding at Syracuse High School. I actually think Paige had about the most fun. She just kept going down the hill the trudging back up to do it again. We all had a great time sledding. Brock even had fun going down with Cody and I.

After sledding we went back to our house and all the little girls dressed up as princesses. Ty couldn't be left out so he put on his spiderman costume.


Cody rigged up a pinata. We thought it would break really fast, but it just couldn't be broken. All the kids had about 3 chances to hit the thing. Grandma even gave it a wack. Finally it just fell off the rope and it was all out war for the candy.


We unwrapped presents and had dinner with cake and ice cream a little later.


It was a long party, but we are so glad to have our Paige. She is even starting to go on the potty.

We love our Paige so much. She brings such joy into our lives. She is the cuddliest little girl in the world. She is so tender-hearted and always needs to know we love her. We are so glad to have Paige in our lives.

Hardware Ranch

A few weeks ago we went to Hardware Ranch in Hyrum to see the elk. We had a great time seeing all the elk. The kids loved it. Later we drove around Logan a bit and drove by our old house. I can't believe we ever fit in that small house.

That afternoon and evening we went to Michael and Stacie's house just to hang out. It was a great way to spend a Saturday!