Highlight of the summer

Summer came and went so fast that I didn't get a chance to blog about the highlight of my summer. So better late then never. Last year Keith ran a 50k race in the Big Horn Mountains and once he was done I had the itch to do it with him next year. So we got a running schedule set up and off we set to get ready to run a 32 mile race. By the time it was race day I was more then ready to run. We had worked hard and I was just ready to get to it! So on Friday we took off for Sheridan to spend the night there and then head up to the mountain early on Saturday morning. What was great is my sister Heather, and my Mom and Dad came with us and stayed the night. The bad part was that we stayed in a hotel that was right next to the train tracks and not a one of us,except for Keith got any sleep. I think a train passed by every hour and would honk it's horn at least three times but it felt like ten. What was really wonderful was we had the kids come with us, and Heather was our little babysitter. The kids were in heaven because they got to sleep in her room and then spend the day with her. Also Mom and Dad drove Keith and I to the starting line and it was just so nice not to have to worry about any thing but our race. Even better I asked my Dad if he would take some pictures and he went above and beyond and took so many great pictures.

Here is the picture of us as we are checking in for our race. We were about the first ones up there but we had to wait for 3 other buses bringing all the racers. So we waited and waited and then found out that the last bus and taken a wrong turn and was late.
So here we are trying to stay warm and stretching. It was chilly that morning which was not so good for my Mom and Dad but for us it was good since we would be running all day.

Here we are getting in line to run. My Mom was standing by us and I asked her for a good luck hug and two people walked by and said, "We need one too." and so my Mom gave two strangers a hug. The look on her face was funny but she took it all in stride. Then as soon as the third bus showed up it was time to go. We were 20 minutes behind schedule and they didn't give us much time to think it was sing the anthem and then send us off on our way.

Here is the group that we ran with. Keith and I were at the very back of the line. What is funny is everyone starts out running and then they reach this hill about 20 yards away and they all stop to walk up it. Granted it is a steep hill but you would think they would just walk the whole way. As for me, I was so ready to run that I told Keith I wanted to run up it as much as I could and so we did but it didn't last long. Not only is it a steep hill but it is forever long.

Here we are walking with the rest of the crowd.

Once we got past the hill we ran and ran. I was having such a great time. The view was awesome and the people working the race were so nice. On the first leg of the race you make a loop back to were you started and so this picture is of us after our first 14 miles.

We ran through snow, mud and water. We also ran down hill a lot and because of that Keith in this picture is taping my blisters. For bonus you get to see my muddy legs. Nice sock line. (;

Then after we got something to eat, which I think I had pizza at this station, and also something to drink we were off again. Here we would make the last 18 miles and not see any family until the finish line. I wish I would have brought a camera to take pictures of how beautiful the scenery we ran through was. It was great.

The sad part was after about 10 miles later from this point Keith's knee started to hurt him. We had to walk which for scenic purposes was wonderful but you could tell he was not happy about not being able to run. What was hard for me was watching all the people we had passed, now pass us. My competitive side kicked in a little but was soon gone knowing how frustrated Keith was as well. At one of the stations an EMT sat Keith down and wrapped his knee and we were back in business. He was able finish the race running the whole time.

This was a great race. The only thing that was hard for me was the last 5 miles. We were out of the mountains and so it felt as though we should be done but we still had 50 minutes left to run. That was the worst and I also felt as though if I stopped running at any point I wouldn't be able to start again. So here we are at the finish line. Keith's family showed up to support us and as we were running into the park there was Allen running to catch up to us to take a picture. He and Cindy had just gotton there at the same time we were running in. Judy and Bob and Keith's Grandma and Grandpa Wharton were also there. It was so nice to see them and know they were there for us even if it was just to watch us run about 15 yards of our race.

All done! Once we stopped I was ready to just sit and never get up again. The blisters on my feet had to be taken care of because they were about the size of Texas and I just felt exhausted.

Keith's Grandpa Wharton was great to buy both of us a wonderful massage! It was a life saver after such a long run. Can you see my feet and the tape job the EMT did for me.

I can't put into words what it felt like to finish this race. It was so awesome to train and work so hard and then make it to the end in one piece. I was so happy to be able to run this race with Keith and I had such a great time. Thanks Keith for all the encouragement and for staying with me even up the steep hills. Thanks also to everyone that was there for us! It made a fun run even better with you there and the memory that much more enjoyable. If you want to know weather or not I'm ever going to run this race again I guess you will just have to see if I post about it next summer. ;)

Happy Halloween

Costumes- $12

Candy- $8

Hearing my kids say that this was the best day ever. - Priceless!

Eli as Buzz Lightyear and Mckenna as a dice.

To infinity and beyond.
She was so cute as a dice.

At the end of the church party they both got fake teeth. Here they are as my little vampires.
On Saturday we got the pumpkins out of the garden and here we are getting them ready to carve.

Mckenna didn't want to put her hands inside the pumpkins she just wanted to stir the seeds. Eli though, helped out with this one by scooping out some of the seeds.

Keith came home with some candles and quickly carved his pumpkin. Here he is lighting them up for the kids.

Here are our pumpkin creations!

Keith as the headless horseman.

We had such a great time together. I loved watching the kids and knowing they were having fun made it that much better.

Next Stop

Great Grandma and Grandpa Wharton's!

Yes I am still going strong on my story of our week long vacation. I don't want to leave any detail out on this great week we had, so here goes the story of the last leg of our trip. We had such a great time but I have to say that I think both sets of grandparents are in on a plot to fatten all of us up for some reason. Not only did we get feed just about every thing under the sun but were told to have seconds and sometimes thirds! I don't know how either of these two plotters stays as skinny as they do. (;

Now on to the rest of the trip. The pictures that I have are sadly the only ones that I took of the few days we were there with Grandma and Grandpa Wharton. Sorry that doesn't mean I didn't go overboard because I took a lot of pictures. This is because we got to go out with Grandpa to feed his horses. When we told the kids what we were going to do they were so excited. Though I don't think they even imagined just how much fun they were going to have. Here are the photos I took of all the smiles and fun we all had together.

As we started to make our way to the fence all the horses came running to us, knowing it was time for dinner.

So after Grandpa got the hay out here is Keith helping Mckenna and Eli. Mckenna at first really didn't want to feed them she just wanted to watch. Eli though put the hay right up to the fence so the horses to get to it. Here is Eli telling the horses it was time to eat.
Here Grandpa let Eli help him carry the hay on his pitchfork.
Grandpa helping Eli push it under the fence.
Finally Mckenna was brave and gave the horse some hay but as you can see she wouldn't get very close to the fence and made the horse come to her. So Keith would hold her and help her feed them.
Soon the hay was gone but Grandpa showed us that the horses really like the long grass that they can't reach outside the fence. So we started feeding them all the grass we could pull.
Here are some trouble makers! Keith, Mckenna, Eli and Grandpa Wharton having a break on the fence.
Here are Mckenna and Grandma, don't they look cute together!
We tried to get Mckenna up on the fence with us to take a family picture but by this time she had had enough.

The next day we got to go to the zoo. I of course forgot my camera and so I missed all the great photo opportunities we had there. I know, I know, I am a terrible blogger! Though despite my forgetfulness we had such a great time with the Wharton's. The kids still talk about all the fun they had there.

Last but not least on the last day we headed over to see Lynette, Dave and Caitlin. It was really good to see them and see their beautiful house in the mountains. They had some toys for the kids so they were happy until for some strange reason they started to fight over them, and also Caitlin's attention. Eli still talks about visiting that one girl in that big house some day. Sorry Caitlin he is too much like his Mom when it comes to remembering names.

But this picture of them is as we were driving away because I had left me camera in the car and had to get a picture of the three of them before we left. Classic!
Thanks everyone for letting us take over your lives and your homes for a few days. We had such a great time and we hope you did too because we can't wait to come and see you all again!

Great Grandma & Grandpa Pasley's House

Our next stop on our vacation was to Grandma and Grandpa Pasley's. They live in the mountains of Idaho in a beautiful house that was built by both Roy and Norma. They have been building and working on this house for a long time and it shows. It really is a beautiful house and even better is the view surrounding them. This first picture was taken from their back porch. Tell me you wouldn't want to wake up to that every morning!


Here is the house itself. Sorry about the rain drop right in the middle of the picture. The rain didn't want to let up that last day that we were there. So much so that I didn't' get a chance to take a picture of the turkeys. You heard me right I said turkeys! If you look close in this picture you can see on the road in front of the house that there is a little bit of yellow there. That isn't rock, it's feed for the turkeys that come every day to the Pasley home.
That's not the only thing the Pasley's feed. Every day they fill up their bird feeders and humming bird feeders so that they get to see all the beautiful birds that live in their area. This particular bird I had to get a picture of but as soon as you walk out the door or make to sudden of a movement it flys away. So I had to take it's picture through the window. It is one of Norma's favorites and I have to say I really like it too.

They have some squirrels that come and eat the seeds as well. There were two of them at one point and we were all laughing because they were being very silly chasing each other all around the tree.

The first night we were at their house the kids needed a bath and the bath tub that they have is fit for about 5 people. (; The kids of course were so excited to take a bath in there so I had to take pictures. (If you can even find them in there.)This was on our last day with Norma and Roy. We had such a great few days with them. We ate and played and did I mention we ate. Norma is a great cook and she made some of her wonderful homemade candies. I don't think I stopped eating sweets they whole time I was there. Not only did she make them for us while we where there but then she sent some with us on our trip. Lets just say I may have gained a few pounds on this trip. The kids loved being with their Grandma and Grandpa. They thought the house, animals and land was like a huge camping ground for them. I didn't take as many pictures as I would have like but here are some really good ones that I got of the kids and their Grandparents.

This first one is of Eli and Keith. Eli had been playing outside and since it was raining he looked like he was showering with his clothes on.

Eli sitting with his Great Grandpa Pasley. Don't they look like a couple of handsome boys!

This picture is one of my favorites. Mckenna just wanted to sit in her Great Grandma's lap and then when Eli came over I got this great picture of all of them together.

Here we were all sitting together eating our breakfast. Yum!

This is a picture of the kitchen of my dreams! I loved everything about it from the wood to all the drawers. I think I have a little drawer envy. There was just space to put everything and best of all to cook.

We had a great time and can't wait to go back. Thanks Norma and Roy for letting us come and stay and most of all play.