So sad

This whole economic slump has really affected my family. My dad is still working but he only works half days on Thursdays and he is done for the rest of the week. My mom is still keeping busy at her job. My sister and my brother in law have struggled. Since my sister has gotten laid off from her job and then went to a temporary job that is all done she hasn't really found anything. My brother in law is doing odds and end type of jobs. They both have decided to move back to Arizona where my sister got her old job back and my bother in law will be working everyday with one day off. This being said this weekend is her last weekend her in Utah. We weren't going to go to Bear Lake with my family since it's on the same day is The Peterson reunion but that has changed. After my sister told me that they were leaving for Arizona next week we decided that we needed to spend time with my sister and see the her kids before she leaves. I am so sad because I am very close to her and now I won't be able to see her as much anymore. It's for the better though and I am happy that they will now not have to worry about getting jobs. So now I will be heading up to Bear Lake this weekend with the kids. Brandon may join us later on Saturday because he may have to work Saturday if his team hasn't reached their goal. I'm hoping he will be able to come up tonight but we will see.

On another note, I ran 9 miles this morning! I decided to do my long run this morning instead of tomorrow morning since I didn't run yesterday. I was a little worried about running 9 miles but I did fine. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and I finished in 1hr25mins. I thought that was a great time but I don't know. The 1/2 marathon is almost here and I can't wait to run it!

Almost Done

I can't believe I am almost done training for my 1/2 marathon. I only have 2 more long runs to go. This Saturday, which is a 9 mile run and next Saturday which is 10 miles. I can't believe how fast training went. I just got to tell my self I am almost done. The long runs are the runs I dread waking up in the morning to do. I would rather sleep a couple more hours than running. I can't give up now. Plus I need to get rid of my 4 pounds that I gained while on vacation. I was doing so good but vacations are so hard to not over eat on goodies. Oh well I'm hoping it will come off.

Island Park Vacation Pictures

Baby bear cubs at Bear World


Brandon told me to take a picture of this Elk at Bear World


Hoping on the truck to feed the bears





Petting the big fat pig as the girls call him


Brock and the goats


Petting the baby deer





In front of Bear World gift shop


Fishing at the kids pond in Island Park





Nevada City (a house that people use to live in)


Blacksmith explaining his job


The only buffalo we saw


Waiting for Old Faithful


Old Faithful starting to erupt


There it goes


Mariah watching Old Faithful from daddy's shoulders


Brock didn't like getting splatter by Old Faithful





West Yellowstone


Shirt that daddy bought the girls

I love Island Park!

We are back from our little outdoorsy vacation, and it was so fun! I only ran once the whole time we were there because I was afraid of encountering an animal since our cabin was deep in the woods. I did however run my long run Wednesday morning before we left so I felt good about that.

Our first stop was in Rigby, Idaho at Bear World. Whenever we are in the Idaho Falls area or are heading to Island Park we always stop at Bear World. This little stop has started since our honeymoon and has continued since then. As we have gotten more kids it has gotten soooo expensive! Brandon is amazed how they suck all your money out from you by the time you leave that place. We feed the bears and walked around the petting zoo. Brock had a blast with that. He was so amused by the ducks and the goats that were walking around. After we were done we headed out to our cabin that we rented for the day because we decided to go a day early so our other cabin wasn't ready yet. The next morning Brandon and I got up early to do some fishing, because Island Park is known for good fishing. We get up and I was smart enough to bring a sweatshirt and Brandon forgot his jacket. At 6 a.m. in Island Park is really cold. It was, I think 47 degrees that morning and Brandon was cold so I felt bad for him. We found a spot and set our things out. While fishing we heard something come out of the water and it sounded like something big. After that sounded we heard some kind of grunting sound 3 times. We don't know what it was but figure it had to be some kind of animal. We ended up not catching a darn thing that morning and as we were heading back to the cabin I saw a deer and then Brandon saw 2 wolves cross the street. We drove up and could see the wolves in the trees. After seeing wolves I decided I wasn't going running on this trip. We checked out of our cabin and had to kill time before going into our other cabin so we went to West Yellowstone had lunch and shopped a bit. We got settled in our cabin and took the girls fishing. Nothing again. I was beginning to think fishing in Island Park stinks by now.
The rest of the family came up Thursday night.
While in Island Park we went to Virginia and Nevada City, Montana. It's a old little mining town and it was interesting to see how they lived back then and see their houses that they lived in. We did lots of 4 wheeling with the kids. Brock loved it! Whenever we would take him outside he would make this sound and we knew he wanted to get on the 4 wheelers. It was cute. We went to Yellowstone on free day, which was Saturday and every little spot that was a pullout was full! Our destination was to Old Faithful and the parking lot was packed! We got there just in time to see Old Faithful go off though so that made it nice. The whole drive up and down we only saw 1 stinkin buffalo. The other times we have been we have seen more than that. We stayed up a little bit later and told ghost stories on our last night. We made sure the kids were in bed first though.
It was a fun trip and my kids love it and I now look forward to doing this trip every year. We already have plans for what we want to do next year. I can't wait. I do have pictures but for some reason they are not loading. I still need to play around with the camera and computer. So pictures coming soon.

Please Stay Away

So tomorrow we head out to Island Park and we are so excited. It will be good to get away with the family and enjoy fresh air and animals. It's been a joy to be able to have these last 2 days with no children but I'm ready to see them. The house has stayed cleaned since we left last weekend and I didn't have to do much cleaning for a showing this morning, so that was excellent. I am just packing a few things up and heading up to Tremonton and Brandon will go after work and bring the 4 wheelers. This is going to be a fun vacation the only thing I'm worried about is I will be running in the mornings and I don't want to run into a bear, a moose, etc. etc. Brandon got me a little freaked out about getting a can of bear spray to stick in my camel back. I'm hoping that I don't run into a bear and that the animals in Island Park will just stay away from me while I am running.

Feeling Loved

So we headed up to Payson Lakes this afternoon with no kids and it was really relaxing. A little quiet but so relaxing. I didn't have to worry about the kids getting too close to the water or them getting bored and restless. We fished for a bit (Brandon out fished me, 2 to 0) and then found a spot and had a little bbq. We headed home and got a call from grandpa. Mariah talked to me and told me how much fun she was having and then Jazmin got on the phone and told me she missed me and started to cry. It broke my heart a bit. Jazmin always tries to be strong for me but she gets a little tenderhearted and starts to cry. I told her we would be there Tuesday night and to stay strong. She told me ok. A couple minutes later (5 mins or so) grandpa calls me again and tells me that both the girls are in the room crying now. I talk to Mariah and she tells me she is sad and misses me. I told her to hold tight that we will be there in 2 days and we will go and have fun. I feel really loved when they call and tell me how much they miss me. I love my girls and I appreciate how good they are. Even though I get a little frazzled with the things they do they are such good girls and I love them. Don't worry girls we will be there Tuesday night. I love you guys.

Happy Birthday Mariah

My little squishy is 5 today! I can't believe she will be going to school next month. She has been such a joy to have. I can't believe how much she has come from breaking out of her little shell. She was so attached to me and so shy but that has been conquered. We are still working on ignoring people with her but she has come along way. I love her squishy little cheeks and her big blue eyes that she has. She does have her little latina flair, Brandon calls it, but she is a sweetie. I just can't believe how fast these little munchkins grow up.

She is so excited that she is 5. She had 2 parties, one on Thursday for her little friends and one on Saturday with family. She thought she turned 5 on Thursday and when we told her she doesn't turn 5 til Sunday she started to cry. She was so sad but then we told her that she was going to have another party on Saturday and that she is sleeping at Grandma Vickie's house Saturday-Tuesday she got excited again. It turned out to be a good party and the weather was perfect on Saturday. It wasn't scorching hot or humid. There was a nice breeze that day and it felt good, thank goodness. I took the kids to Tremonton around 5 on Saturday and I headed back home around 7 p.m. It felt so good to be able to sleep in today. I have no kids until Tuesday night! I have been so needing this little break. I love my kids and I do miss their things that they do around the house but it's time for them to go away for a couple of days. Just a couple though.

Happy Birthday Mariah and we love you!

Singing Happy Birthday


High School Musical Shirt. Check out her long hair!



Hitting the pinata



Brandon and brother in law fixing the pinata. It fell off the hook.


Singing Happy Birthday



What a pretty cake!

Hitting a wall

I've hit my wall! I have a month left until the 1/2 marathon and I am so unmotivated to run! I still get up in the mornings but I dread it so bad! The middle of the week isn't so bad but it's the weekend that kills me because it's my long run. I have to run 8 miles this Saturday and I have to admit I'm a little nervous about that. I only wish I had someone to run with but since we are up north that weekend I'm on my own again. I now understand why my friend wants someone to run with on the long runs because you have someone to talk to and motivate you to keep going. Oh well, I will just have to keep it up I'm almost done.

4th of July Pictures

Sorry computer has been acting funny downloading pictures but I finally got it to go. Enjoy

The 4th of July

We headed up north for the fourth of July weekend because RaChelle, sister in law, blessed Ian. Saturday morning I had to run 7 miles! I have never ran anything passed 6 miles so I was a little nervous on how I would do. I got up (a little late) and started my morning long run. As I got a ways passed my parents house I looked down and noticed my watch wasn't set right. I finally set it up and I was off. I started running and I went by some of my friend's old neighborhoods. I ran up main street and I figured I would run on the hwy heading to Honeyville. I'm running feeling good and then I see what's ahead of me, a big hill. I decided not to run up that so I ran down this little lane. As I was running down this lane I realized this was the same lane a bunch of us from high school would go to head to the "tracks" at night. If any of you from high school is reading this you might remember what the railroad track was all about. I turn around at 3 miles and head back home. I decided I would head up Highland to go home well after running up that hill I decided not to. I did finish my 7 mile run and it took me and hour and 12 mins or so but man it was tough. I serious wanted to stop and walk the last 2 miles but I didn't. I did walk a bit on my run because my calves were killing me! I walked it off a bit and back I went running. I've decided that running hills are not fun what so ever. I hate hills! I can not get around running a hill because the routes I run have a stinkin hill! Blah!

So I finished my run and then back to shower. My family heads to the park in the afternoon and they stay there til the fireworks. We have a bbq, play volleyball, and just sit and talk. This year it was nice because it wasn't so hot and humid like it has been before. It was hot when you were in the sun but if you sat in the shade it felt pretty cool. Brandon and I headed to Shopko and we bought lasso golf and badmitten so that we could play. Good idea. The kids and even my dad played the lasso golf game. It kept the kids entertained. I also played volleyball, which I am a horrible player, but I was a sport and tried. I have to admit I started to do get a little better towards the end. Brock had a blast, and when the fireworks came on he wasn't scared when bit. He sat on my lap and watched and then would get down and play with the kids.

It was a tiring weekend but we had tonz of fun, and now I can't wait for Island Park next week and 3 days without the kids! Yay! I'm leaving the kids with grandma before we head up to Island Park. I need a break from them.