Half Marathon

(This post is long and better pictures are to come)
At the beginning of this year, my sister Kate called me and told me she wanted to run a marathon with my other sister Richelle. They have been wanting to run one since they each ran in half marathons. Each time they talked about this, I would think 'There is no way I would ever want to run that far.' I just couldn't imagine that it would even be fun. It made me so nervous to even think about doing it, but I tried. After a couple days, I told her I would just start the training with her and decide whether I would do a half or full, but I knew I wanted to do one or the other.

I started training and it wasn't too bad, but then it gradually started getting harder. I kept going back and forth about it, because I felt like if I stayed focused on the training, I could handle the full marathon, but it scared me to even think about it. I ended up deciding to sign up for the half, and felt a lot more at peace. Matt was going to be in Utah for the week before the race, and made the decision to stay and run the half with me. I was relieved to have someone there with me on race day!

The training took a huge time commitment! I really ended up enjoying it, and it gave me a lot of fulfillment to be doing something just for me. With four crazy kids running around, I was excited to get a break from my busy schedule! I could have never done this without my awesome husband, mom, and mother-in-law! They were so supportive the entire time I was training and I am so grateful for them!

On race day, I was so nervous! Matt and I started out pretty fast, but had to stop at four miles for a potty break. We waited in that line for what seemed like forever! Then at about mile 10, we both started to hurt and slowed down a lot. At the final stretch, Matt told me to go ahead if I felt like I could! He really pushed me to finish strong! I cannot even describe the amazing feeling I had! It was awesome and I can't wait to do it again!

Memorial Day 2011

I love Memorial Day, because the cemetery always looks amazing! Last year I was walking around and saw a cute idea on a grandma's headstone with a picture of each grandchild in the center of a flower. I loved them so much had to use that idea this year for Lincoln! The kids colored on one side and wrote a note on them. The other side has each of their pictures centered on the flower. My mom took them to get laminated and we poked them into a flower pot Regan and Halley chose. They turned out so cute and the kids really loved making them! The pictures don't do justice to how sweet they are! I miss my sweet, adorable angel so much!

I am so grateful to have the freedoms we enjoy so much in this great country! I cannot express the appreciation I feel for the soldiers who sacrificed everything and are continually sacrificing so we can live in peace!

Dallin's Birthday

What can I say about Dallin? He turned 6 this year and I can't believe how old he is acting lately. He is growing up way too fast. He is such a sweet kid. Dallin reminds me so much of his Dad. He is so serious and quiet most of the time, but he can really get me laughing, too! When you get to spend time with him alone, he is especially funny! (Maybe it's because his sisters aren't driving him crazy, but I love this side of him.)

The girls were so cute with Dallin on his birthday. Halley kept singing to him before school and he was getting sick of it, so he told her, "You have to wait until everyone gets here, stop singing!" It made me laugh! After we took him to school we went to get him balloons and watermelon- two of his favorite things! He was excited to see the balloons in the car when we picked him up!

He has been loving the Wii lately, so Uncle Dustin bought him a Super Mario Bros. game. Dallin got to open it a day early, because Dustin couldn't wait to give it to him. He loves it so much, and it helps him get his homework done faster each day!

All he wanted for his birthday, just like last year, was a helium tank. He told Aunt Lureeta on the phone the night before his birthday that is what he wanted. She said she would look for one she got for Christmas a long time ago. They had never used it, so she didn't even know if she could find it or if it would even work. She called a couple hours before the party and said she found it! It made his night! I know it is shocking to hear that Aunt Lureeta came to the rescue with exactly what Dallin has been dreaming about! Grandma took him shopping for baseball pants and church shoes and ended up getting him this cool remote control spider! Kate and Mike bought a great set of legos he can build with! He was spoiled this year and we had so much fun!

A Wonderful Lady

I am blessed with the best family in the world! (At least from my perspective.) Included in this great group of people is someone who is very unique. When others are selfishly thinking of themselves, she is continually looking for ways to make others happy! This wonderful lady is my Aunt Lureeta. She means so much to me! She was unable to have children, but has always been like a second mother to me. I constantly slip and almost call her Grandma to my kids, probably because she loves them like grand kids. She called the other day and wanted to take my girls shopping for Easter dresses. She drove 40 minutes, just because she wanted them to choose their own. After she spoiled my girls, she met Kate and Kylee and shopped awhile longer.

Saturday, she brought the kids a cute craft to put together. Halley is in her element with these lollipop flower baskets! They turned out so cute! She is always helping me out in one way or another- from birthday cakes, to preschool crafts, to supplying new shoes or clothes for my kids, the list could go on and on! I just love her so much!

My mother-in-law said one time, "The world would be a better place if everyone had an Aunt Lureeta." I would have to agree, because I feel so lucky to have her in my life! I do think it runs in the family, because my Grandma Nelson was always putting others first. My mom and Aunt Carolyn are also great examples! Let's just hope my sisters and I can follow in the same amazing shoes.

Lincoln's Birthday

Today would be my sweet angel's birthday. Seven- I can't believe it. I constantly think of the song, "Who You'd Be Today?" (Kenny Chesney) I have so many unanswered questions. What would he look like? I can't imagine him as a 7-year old. Dallin is so tall, that I constantly wonder how tall Link would be. He was a big kid, too, so I wonder if he would still be big for his age. What toys would he like to play with? He loved balls, cars, rocks, digging in the dirt with Dad, and trains. Would he like to play sports and would he do well? What would school be like for him? Would he enjoy learning, reading, etc...?

Dallin has said so many times that he wishes he had a brother down here. I just don't even know what to say to that. Today he said he wants a little brother so bad, because he doesn't want to play with girl stuff. It breaks my heart! I wish he were here too, little buddy.

Each time his birthday comes near, I have anxiety for about a week of how hard it is going to be. It always turns out better than planned, but it seems I always have at least one meltdown. Today, it was during my run with my two sisters. They were amazing, and completely motivated me to run the whole thing with them. I was planning to turn around a mile early, but stuck it out and ran 11 miles! I was so excited and couldn't believe I did it! I am now only two miles away from the half marathon! During the last mile, I broke down a little, because Lincoln's birthday was my motivation today. I felt like I did it for him! I do a lot of things for him, but really they are for me. He doesn't need anything, now. He is safe and where he is supposed to be.

I am so excited for the day I will be reunited with him and I can raise him from the age he was when he left us and went home. I am so lucky to know about the plan of our Heavenly Father and the opportunity I will be blessed with! I will forever be grateful for that knowledge and the sealing power of the temple!

A Day at the Zoo

When I picked up Halley at preschool, my friend told me it was free zoo day. I called my mom and she was up for it, so we just dropped naptime and braved the cold to go play! It was pretty chilly, but we bundled up and had a blast! I finally feel like the kids are gaining just enough independence and we can actually do fun things. I haven't been able to taste the freedom of not being pregnant or nursing a baby until recently and it feels great! Kennedy is growing up too fast, but it is fun to see how the older kids react to the cute things she says and does!

This picture of Regan plugging her nose is classic!

Pondering...

I have so many things going through my head right now and don't quite know how to express them.

On Valentine's Day, Dallin got in the car from Kindergarten, so excited from the party they had.
He then calmed down a little, and said, "Madison got balloons, but no one else did."
I reply, "Oh really, who brought them to her?"
"Her mom gave them to her; one was shaped like a heart."

He continued to hint around that he wished he had a balloon for Valentine's Day. I love when Dallin does this, he just makes me laugh. So I told him we could go to the dollar store and pick one for each of the kids. He has a special love for balloons and always has. I know he loves them so much, because this is his connection to Lincoln. Every birthday in our family, we send at least one balloon to Heaven for our Angel. Dallin has done this since Lincoln's first birthday away from us. (D was 11 months)



Of course, we picked out one for him on Valentine's Day, too. We took it to the cemetery when Halley was done delivering her cute little valentines to her friends. Today, I went for my run over there. I knew it wouldn't have survived the storm yesterday, but it still broke my heart to see it. Flat, covered by snow, still tied to his vase.

Some days are just hard, and I try not to be negative. I want to think of the positive things. The way he laughed, looked at me like I was crazy, wrinkled his nose (my fav), ran away from me, chased me with his arms thrown back, and so many more things! He was perfect in every way, and I just miss him terribly! Each day, I will continue to be so grateful for the knowledge I have that I will see him again.



NO EMPTY CHAIRS
President Ezra Taft Benson said "God intended the family to be eternal. With all my soul, I testify to the truth of that declaration. May he bless us to strengthen our homes and the lives of each family member so that in due time we can report to our Heavenly Father in His celestial home that we are all there--father, mother, sister, brother, all who hold each other dear. Each chair is filled. We are all back home."