I've been keeping track of all the mileage I've put on my shoes since I started running back in June.

I started out using Map My Run which has great tools to do just what it's called, since I don't have a GPS
(I still use their maps on occasion).
Then a friend told me about Daily Mile.
It has a wall kinda like facebook to post your workouts and see everyone else's workouts too.
You can request/deny friends (like facebook).
You can post comments, pics, etc... (like facebook).
It's fun to log on to see what type of workouts (running, walking, elliptical, basketball, etc...) everyone's up to.

To get to the point.
As soon as I hit a certain mileage on these babies:

Can't believe how fast time flies.
I have two babies.
One is 80 years old.
One is 3 years old.
Both need constant care.
(The reason why we probably won't be having anymore babies.)
My 3 year old baby had a milestone yesterday.
He GRADUATED FROM NURSERY!!!
So happy!
And sad :-(

Can't stop listening to this song. LOVE IT!!!
"The One You Love" by Rufus Wainright

Monday brought oodles of snow.
The kids were in heaven!
A little before 6pm the power went out.
We bundled up and lit some candles.
Bedtime came earlier than normal that evening.
It was an obvious way to stay warmer.
Hubby got home at 11pm.
Daylight came and we made the choice to escape.
By then the house was a frigid 41 degrees.
Our good friends, the Anderson's, took us in.
They provided us shelter.
They fed us.
They gave us a warm bed to sleep in.
They gave us a warm shower.
They gave us great company to forget our worries.
And even a little morning entertainment (you know who you are).
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
Some of the most selfless people that I know.
School was cancelled for the rest of the week.
Power outage and icy roads were the cause.
The kids didn't mind.
We returned home Wednesday afternoon.
We found a good buddy had died.
Harry.
Sarah's African dwarf frog of 4.5 years.
Froze to death.
So sad.
Completely my fault.
I should have brought him along.
We also ended up having to throw out food.
$50 worth, including a big Thanksgiving ham.
Next time I'll be smarter and figure something out.
Hopefully there won't be a next time.
It's just part of living amongst the trees that lean on power lines while the wind doth blow.
Trees that topple over and block roads.
Trees that cause transformers to explode.
We are so grateful for a warm house again.
So grateful for good health.
So grateful for our safety.
So grateful for good friends and family who care for us.
So grateful for my Savior who gives me strength in times of need.


All these pictures were taken with my cell phone. 
Somebody took the batteries out of my camera when I needed them. Stinkers!

We are so proud of Sascha who needed no poking or prodding in joining his school orchestra (I had to bribe him to play a piano piece in sacrament meeting while the Primary kids sang, which he did amazing with.). I haven't had to bug him once to practice his viola. I actually think he does most of it at school. It's pretty easy for him. I'm sure next year will be more challenging. Or not.
 On our way out the door Apollo grabbed his camping chair stating that he needed to bring it. Yes, he's still wearing flip flops even though it's in the forties.
 Sarah grumbled when I told her she was coming (what is it with kids these days?) So she grabbed her book and this is what she did the whole time.

As I was going through some e mails, I came across this sinfully sweet temptation that if I could get my hands on it right now, I'd be doomed for the rest of the week. Good thing it's too late and they're closed. Enjoy some eye candy:

What better place to have a family reunion than at Beaver Mountain Lodge up Logan Canyon.
This was our first Fyffe family reunion with just the siblings and our families + Mom, of course!
That's 10 Fyffe kids (all married), 24 grandkids (+ 1 hubby)  and 1 great grandbaby = 47!
There were a few absent for reasons beyond their control. Grand total = 41!
Would have been even funner had those six family members been able to come.
Next time!
Beaver Mountain Lodge is a ski resort come winter.
Come summer, it's a RENTAL!!! And quite affordable when splitting it 10 ways.
Three days, two nights (which we later decided wasn't long enough) was $41.60/day.
That included the WHOLE stinkin' lodge! Definitely a steal!
Okay, so we all had to bring our own blow up mattresses and food. But STILL.

Click to view larger:



Sad panoramic I took from up above. My camera wasn't being hayv (as Sarah used to say):


And here are some shots from what the lodge looks like in full swing (from their website):

Back in August we were able to take a trip to Utah for a family reunion.
First stop. Pocatello, Idaho.
A nice stop along the way only leaving a two hour drive for the next day.
Kids were happy there was a big pool with a deep end.
I was happy there was a gym with a treadmill.
Steve was happy there was internet access.
We ate dinner at Five Guys Burger and Fries.
The kids swam.
We slept.
The kids swam again.
I ran.
We packed up and left.



Click to view larger:





A few pics directly from the Holiday Inn, Pocatello site:









Oh, and the best part was that I scored the room off Priceline for a sweet deal of $50!

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The kids thought Jazz Band was over back in June.
Little did they know that they would be performing again at B.A.D.
(Brownsville Appreciation Days).
No rehearsal.
We packed up their music stands, music and plexi glass (so the music wouldn't blow away) and headed off to Brownsville Marina.
There was lots of entertainment, inexpensive food, free rubber dingy rides, free kayak demonstrations, kids activites and craft booths.
It was our first year going and we live right around the corner.
Next year we'll definitely go again.
Weather for the day = HOT!

At the beginning of summer a good friend of mine twisted my arm off and said she wouldn't give it back unless I agreed to run the Iron Girl Seattle 5k race with her. Realizing how useless I would be without my arm, I agreed.

So we both started our training using an amazing app called C25K (couch to 5k). I would HIGHLY recommend it. Yes, I have been a couch potato as far as exercising goes, for who knows how long. With that, the only running I can vouch for is the 7th grade track team, running the 100 meter. I was a sprinter, not a long distance runner AT ALL! Whenever we HAD to run the mile for fitness in junior high, I would always have to stop and walk for parts of it because of side aches. I hated it! In fact, I think I faked being sick more than once on the days I knew we had to run the mile.

Well, the summer training payed off and I was able to run my very first 5k race in record time! For some of you, this record time of mine may be slow, but for me it was cause for celebration. Here are the stats:

Out of 1,367 finishers for the 5k race, I was the 341st finisher.
In my age bracket I came in 67th out of 238 finishers.
My finishing time was 32:19.

It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. Thanks LaRee, for lighting that fire under me.
Now into my second week of training for a 10k.
Wish me luck!


Click on picture to view larger:

                                                                                                  ***this pic was not the actual pic from that day.