Prize winning zucchini

We have tried growing raspberries for 4 years in a row now.  They die every year, so we buy new plants and try again.  They have never worked for us, which is sad because Cameron loves them and they are so expensive to buy!  Anyway, we planted a zucchini plant next to the raspberries and it has been successful.  We enjoyed lots and lots of yummy zucchini.  I wish I had more space to have a garden and grow other yummy foods!!

26.2

September 12, 2016 I ran the Big Cottonwood MARATHON!  It was exciting, cold, beautiful, fun, painful, boring, hard, hot, exhausting and amazing all at the same time.  With 26.2 miles I experienced every emotion but mostly varied between love and hate for running :)

Our pre-race ritual.  Dinner consisting of carb loading at The Pizza Factory.  I load up on the spaghetti and garlic bread...YUM!

The bus shuttled us up the canyon to the top of Gardsman pass...it was like 6 am and it was freezing!!!

I had no idea what I was getting myself into...  The first 13 miles were AMAZING!  I loved every minute and was cruising.  The next 7 miles were pretty good, I was starting to get some calf cramps and so at at mile 20 I stopped at an aid station and they taped up my calfs to avoid tearing anything.  The about mile 21 I hated life, wondered why I was running and wish it was over.  Between miles 21-24 I was bored, I hated the music I was listening to, but I hated running without music, everything on me hurt and I was dying :), but as I got closer I realized I was almost finished and that kept me going.  When I was done I vowed to never run a marathon again, but if you ask me now I would tell you yes I would.  Runners are crazy!

My crazy, amazing runner friend that talked me into doing the full instead of the half...

I checked it off the bucket list...who knows if I will do another full.  Half marathons are more my style!!  I felt I accomplished something, didn't PR or anything but I didn't expect to considering I had just had a miscarriage a month before and hadn't really even trained to run!  Yeah me!

School lunch with Cameron

 Mackenzie was so excited to go eat lunch with Cameron at school today.  It was a few weeks after he had started first grade.  I told Cameron he could pick whatever he wanted us to bring him for lunch.  He said "you can't bring lunch, I have to eat school lunch or the lunch you pack."  He is totally a rule follower...and afraid to get in trouble (especially at school).  I assured him I could bring frood from Wendy's or Cafe Rio or anywhere and it would be ok, but he thought it was too risky :)  Mackenzie wanted to pack her lunch in her Hello Kitty lunch bag and bring with her.  She was excited to use it for the first time.  So, I brought myself Cafe Rio...LOL

We got there about 15 minutes too early, and it was hard to wait....she was so excited!

Finally, lunch time!  Cameron was happy to see us and gave us hugs.  He is such a sweet kid.  We enjoyed our lunch with Cameron.  And I am happy to report that all the other times we have eaten with him, he has let me bring him food from other places.  He realized it was OK!  

Mackenzie is 4!!!

For her birthday she took these little fish treats to her class saying she had "o-fish-ally" turned 4.

 She had a special birthday balloon waiting for her at her desk when she got to school.

 After school I took her to get her hair cut/done and then she chose where she wanted to eat for lunch.

She wanted to go to Noodles and Company.

 Later that night we had her family birthday party!

 She got her first bike!  Hopefully she will want to learn how to ride without training wheels soon!!

 Cake time!  I made a princess theme cake this year.  Because she wanted a princess party and she is my little princess :)

 She got that crown at school and she wore it most of the day.

Cameron is the best brother.  He is sooooo thoughtful.  He had me take him shopping weeks before her birthday so he could pick out and buy her a gift and a card.  He picked out the nail polish kit.  It had a nail file and other stuff in it too :)  Then he wrote on the card.  I love that they are such good friends and that he loves his sister so much.  I can't believe Mackenzie is 4!!  She has brought so much joy to our family.  I can't imagine life without her.  She is sweet, funny, kind, helpful, and determined.  She does everything for herself.  She loves makeup and clothes.  She loves animals.  Mackenzie gets so excited about everything and she is always happy!  She makes the best out of things and looks at the positive.  I love all the big words she uses and how she talks like she is so much older.  She is so mature for her age....I hope it slows down :)  Mackenzie we love you and your attitude, your free spirit, all the songs you make up and the dances you do!  I love when you do my hair and my makeup and playing house with you.  You amaze me with how smart you are and how good you are at reading.  I can't wait to see what you will be doing when you turn 5, but I wish you would stop growing up!

Dance class

The first class of every month the parents get to sit in and watch their class.  It's always so fun to watch Mackenzie with her friends.  She loves dance and it's cute to watch her concentrate and listen to her teacher.  

I love this picture of her and I love her!!