Mother Racer

Sunday: The girls were a little more difficult this morning as we were getting ready for church. Corom was gone at his morning meetings. Church (Sacrament meeting) was really good today. The speakers did a great job! After church, I had my YW (young women from church) come over for a meeting and lunch and then we (my kids and the YW) went out to visit all the other girls that were not there. It was nice. Corom, the girls & I, my sister, Missy & her family, my brother, john & his family went to my Aunt Georgia’s house for family time and BBQing.

Monday: I woke up so tired this morning… So I grudgingly got up and went out on a 37:24.28 minute run. Not the best run but I am glad I got out. I went to cross country practice (with the girls)… They went out on a 9 mile run (well some of the kids that could make it that far)…

For lunch, I met Corom at work (the jail) for lunch. 🙂 The food was actually pretty good.

I have never been to Corom’s work or seen his office… And he has been there for 5 years. The whole security thing gets in the way. But it was fun. The girls were with 3 neighbor girls that wanted to babysit. They set up a little makeover shop and painted the girls nails, etc…

The babysitters also helped the girls with their “school” work. It was very nice not to have to deal with it. We had a lot of neighbor kids that came over… Always chaos at my house in the afternoon! 😉

It was our streets turn to clean the church… We had a good turn out. After we were done, we played a little bit of soccer, frisbee, keep away, etc. In the gym. We then went and got a nice cream cone. 🙂

A friend of mine (Camille) came over and we watched the Bachelorette. Good times!

I ran with the cross country kids today. I was in a hurry to get home though because the 2 older girls had their horse lessons and we only had 1 car that kind of works. So I ran a 4.8 mile loop in 35:22.47.

It was a nice run… My legs were tired from yesterday so it felt good to run a shorter route. The 2 older girls had their horse lessons. They are loving it! It has been great bribery at my house.

Then we went straight to tumbling/gymnastics. I am so grateful that we are able to bring our kids to these type of opportunities. Our friends (the Fullmer’s daughter) wants to learn how to teach little kids how to do gymnastics… So our kids are her experiment. It is a win-win situation for both of us! There is no way we could afford to put 4 girls through gymnastics… So I pay $40 a month for all 4 girls, 45 minutes once a week. They love it!

After chores and their normal routine, I took the girls to the Splash Pad in SF with a few friends…

When Corom came home from work, we took the girls on an over night back packing camp out. Jason Booth came with… The girls packed their own clothes and sleeping bag. We hiked a half a mile to our camping spot and set up camp…

We did the typical camping thing… Sunset, s’mores, hiking around, catching bugs, etc. We did take out our tent to set it up… Yeah, there were no tent poles in with the tent. Zep (our Foriegn exchange) and her friend used it last… Well, she forgot to put the poles back in. 🙂 So we all laid on the tarp and slept under the stars.

We had a restless night but that’s normal. 🙂 I got up early and went for a 1:44.26. That run kicked my butt mentally and physically! I wanted to get a long run in and I pushed through it mentally the whole way. But I did it. It was a beautiful morning, too!

I started on the trail and headed out and around the Salem, Woodland Hills, Elkridge run. It was a tough hilly course. I ran back up to where we were camping. I got back, we packed up camp and hiked back down.

Later in the afternoon, Corom and I worked at the Clarion Gardens. I worked at the facility in Payson and Corom helped cater in Bountiful for the Clarion. We served an ice cream bar and cream sodas… So good! I couldn’t stop eating!!!

The girls had fun with their babysitter tonight! Long day but a good one.

I met up with Rachelle, Amber and Melissa for an 8 1/2+ mile run. We started off with an easy pace and then added in 90 seconds fast/hard with a 60 second recovery. I ran 7 x 90 seconds. Oh it kicked my butt! I don’t know what my pace was except for the last one… It was a 5:10 pace and it hurt. We ran for 1:02:36 minutes. I felt good after I finished. 🙂 I went around to the different elementary schools today to propose a fun “fitness” idea to get the schools/community united. My friend Beth did it for her school and it went really well. It is the 13.1 to 26.2 mile activity. I think everyone is all on board. Then some friends/neighbors and I went out to lunch and 3 girls came over to babysit all of our kids.

we had a great time. Then a few kids and moms stayed at my house and the kids played in the backyard and on the bounce house… It was a great entertainer!

We went to a neighbor’s house for dinner, then Corom went to a church meeting, the girls went to the other cross country coaches house (hung out with Marti and the kids) and I went on our Thursday night trail run with the cross country kids. We went out for 37:24.20 minutes.

We had a great time. My legs were dead from this morning but it was fun. We did have a couple of battle wounds but it wouldn’t be a trail run without a fall.

Oh before I met up with the cross country kids my car broke down as I dropped my kids off at Marti’s house. 😦 No good… Hopefully Corom can fix it in the morning. After the kids went to bed, I went to a Relief Society (church) activity that was being held at a neighbor’s house down the street. We are doing a movie night, outside… We are supposed to bring our own chairs… So Corom took it into his own hands and brought my chair for me. 🙂

What a man… I was comfortable! We had a good time. I ate 2 candy bars, a bag of popcorn, and drank a lot of soda. I couldn’t stop because it was right there! 😉 We watched Ever After and had about 20 ladies there. Good times.

Monday: I ran with the high school kids today. We went on the “Highline Canal” route. It was an 8 mile route and I finished it off in 56:26 minutes.

It is great running with the HS kids. They push me! After the morning routine, I took the girls to the Bean Museum with my friend Makale Guenter and her kids. This museum is amazing and it is free!!! It is at BYU college.

The girls loved it… Who am I kidding, I loved it!

The neighbor kids came over for some backyard fun!

Then off we headed for Chuckie Cheese for my nieces birthday party.

All the kids/cousins had fun! The place hasn’t changed much from when I was a kid. 😉

Tuesday: I ran with the HS kids again. I sent them out on a run where we ended up doing hill repeats at the end. We ran a 4.8 mile loop to a short, very steep hill (Hazel Drive). I told them to run 3-10 hill repeats. I ended up running 10 repeats and I was so tired. My legs felt like jello (at number 7). I ran for 1:00.36.

I thought it was really neat… The HS school kids were cheering me on as I ran up the hill… They did it for each other (I did it for them) but to hear them encourage me as I ran up was, well, encouraging. 🙂 There was a lady up at the top of the hill that was trying to sweep up all her plums…

I don’t know if the kids wanted to get out of running these hill repeats but it worked. They helped the lady get the task done. She was very grateful! I was very pleased to watch these group of HS kids helping out! Good kids. The rest of my day was my normal typical day. Piano/violin lessons for my 2 older girls, chores, neighborhood kids playing, etc. Later on I went to YW’s (young women’s… Church group of girls from the ages of 12-18). It was a combined activity with the young men. The leaders and kids went up the canyon and cooked our dinner on a stick. Good times!

Wednesday: I started off my day with a morning run… Surprise, surprise. 🙂 Mac and I ran together. I ran for 1:02.34 minutes. It was at an easier pace today but my legs were still tired. I quickly went to cross country practice. The HS kids wanted to go on an adventure run… So I sent them out for 60 minutes. My girls just played around…

My 2 younger girls had their horse lessons (the 2 older girls will go on Fridays). They are loving it!

I held our 1st PTA meeting at my house today. I guess I have volunteered to be the president of the PTO… I don’t know what I am doing but I am grateful I have a great group of board members. We had a good meeting and all our kids ran around and played. Corom patched up our bounce house, so the kids were very entertained!

My neighbor friends came over (with their kids) and we all just hung out. Corom works late tonight, so tonight I just vegged in front of the T.V. when the girls went to bed. 🙂

Saturday: What an emotional, challenging day. I had my alarm set for 4:30 a.m. I was going to help pace the Hobbler 1/2 marathon 1:30 time (my friend Rachelle was pacing and I was going to hop in and help). Well Corom and I were up all night with the 3 younger ones throwing up. It was a long night!

The poor girls. It was less than a 24 hour bug or something but when my alarm went off, I could not get up! I ended up going out at 7:30 a.m. I ran 8.7 miles in 59:44.32. I ran the Harry’s loop (1st time doing the Harry’s hill since Grandma’s marathon). I timed the mile long hill and ran it in 6:58. It felt pretty good!
A sweet neighbor girl came over so Corom and I could attend a funeral for a dear friend’s infant baby. My emotions were running high all morning for our friends. She was born prematurely and had other complications. She lived a short time on this Earth but the light and joy she brought to her family will last forever!

There was not a dry eye in the room but their was peace in the room that was so strong and powerful. Our friends are one of the most amazing people we know. Beautiful inside and out! Corom and I were talking and we are so grateful for the gospel in our lives. We know (and this family has the same belief) that we will be reunited with loved ones that have passed from this life… For all time and eternity. It is a blessing and I know our Savior loves each and every one of us. Our friends have been in our thoughts and prayers and we want them to know we love them! Trav and Meg… You and your family are one of the best families we know. You have been a great example to Corom and I! After the gathering at the church we headed to the graveside service. It was a very spiritual experience.

We did spend time as a family the rest of the afternoon. We were able to get a few things cleaned and organized. After putting the kids to bed a few friends came over and we watched a movie.

Sunday: We went to church. The girls were pretty good today (well my youngest was a little hyper… But that is no surprise). I had a meeting after church (with the other YW leaders), a few friends and a few of the young women (from church) stopped by at different times, we had a couple of neighbors over for dinner, and the girls (and friends) were tying each other up during all of this…

It is now 9:15 p.m., the kids are asleep, Corom’s asleep and now I’m going to sleep…