1/2 Marathon... check!

It's true! Can you believe it? I'm not sure I would, if I hadn't been there! These pics are post race too... can you believe we are still happy 13.1 miles later? (LOTS of hills too)! AND can you believe it is February in Phoenix? It felt like June in Laramie!
     I won't bore you with all the details, but I do have to express a little of WHY I have found LOVE in running. First off, I have found some AMAZING women to run with! These girls are so dedicated and caring. We had a wonderful time together sharing our lives over the past few weeks as we've prepared (4 saturdays worth of 2 hour runs)! We have all overcome some obstacles this time around from shin splints to Influenza A 3 days before the race to bum knees, asthma and who knows what else! It's like anything else worth doing... lots of obstacles in the way to make you really work for it (and to make it worth it).
     I truly feel like, though I'm not the fastest (and I also don't run my very hardest- I take after my momma- I talk my way through it... who knows, I MIGHT be Fast...) this is something I accomplished on my own. I didn't take any short cuts, I didn't have any advantages, other than GREAT friends and a LOVING husband who kept reassuring me when I was nervous the night before (it felt just like high school before a big basketball game or something)! Running is just me, my body, my running shoes and the road (and occasionally my friends and the jogging stroller). I guess what I'm saying is that it is easy for me to see accomplishments in Ben's life in school and my kiddos as they learn and grow. I LOVE seeing that! In my life, the accomplishments are usually about everyone else. I'm TOTALLY ok with that. So, I get up at the crack of dawn to run so I can accomplish something just mine... AND I get to drag my loving family all over tarnation to cheer me on and see that their momma is a "winner" or at least an accomplisher of healthy habits... Oh, and I get a free tshirt:) Ok, that's not my motivation, but you get the idea... SO, do I have any takers??? Oh, you didn't think I was going to quit now, did you??

Andy *hearts* (finally) Amber

Most of you know my brother, so I feel confident you will want to know he and Amber are getting MARRIED! yeah! We were lucky enough to have these two ridiculously cute chickadees come visit over new years. What a fun time! I totally wish we lived closer. I know we'd have way too much fun and spoil each other rotten, but seriously, someday, someday... We had such a blast staying up late talking and getting up early to run. We just love 'em to pieces and can't wait for Amber to officially be a part of the family:)
     It's really funny because in a lot of ways, Andy and Amber remind Ben and I so much of ourselves... It definitely takes us back *8 years* (whoa) ago when we were dating and considering marriage. What a crazy (yep, crazy is the best adjective I can come up with for exactly what I mean) time in our lives! I remember that time of engagement being exciting because I knew (with all of my heart) this was the man I wanted (and he equally wanted...) to spend the rest of my life with, but also anxious because it seemed like the rest of my life wasn't happening very fast! I so just wanted to be married and stop making wedding plans and getting frustrated with details of the plans and all the other dramas that come along with planning a wedding. Oh, how I'm glad that time is *well* behind us! *Side note: Secretly, or not so secretly, I think Ben is extremely thankful I had all those feelings because it made our wedding plans so much more simplistic than say other events I have since had my hand in... Ha! Lucky he asked me when he did! Don't get me wrong, I am glad we had that time in our lives and I thank the Lord every day that we are together forever, but that engagement time was not my favorite:) Amber, I wish you much luck on this journey. If you ever feel frustration or like no one else understands all the emotions you are feeling. I do. And I'm right here. A phone call away:) Andy, I'll listen to your whining, but in the end, I'll probably side with Amber:) Love you!!

Now that it's February, how about Christmas?

Santa found us!

Zachary and Ike in their new Christmas Jammies playing away

The Tunnels! Zach's new favorite word and a HUGE hit!

Best Friends, and funny kiddos:) Notice pants on backwards!

This was before Macy ran into a cactus on our hike- after that she kept saying

 "stay away cactus! I don't like you at all!"

Sunny AZ Decmeber 2010

Rainy day at the zoo- Giraffes were really close though, I guess it's worth it!

Lions!

Ike and Amber on the lightrail on our way to the Fiesta Bowl Parade

Andy and Macy on the lightrail- good times:)

sweet little family

Standing like this holding Zachary was fun for the first 10 minutes... 2 hours later, not so much:)

So, the second half of Christmas break was spent with Joni, Clay and the girls escaping the winter abyss for our little oasis of sun! We had such a great time with them! On Christmas Day, while poolside catching some rays and watching the kids splash around, we made an *extensive* list of all the things they wanted to do and see in Phoenix. Guess what?! I think we did it all! What a week! Our kiddos got pretty good at sleeping in the car, eating in the strollers and looking darn cute together! They were worn out every single night and never threw fits about going to sleep- does that say anything? Some of our favorite events: 1. sitting around talking and playing and being together Christmas Day 2. Showing off my cute nieces and even cuter preggo sister at church 3. going hiking to the petroglyphs and out through the sahuaros 4. watching Clay in Cabelas 5. Going to the Temple! 6. Zoo Day 7. Introducing the Kenningtons to IKEA:) 8. crisscrossing the valley for good eats and yummy frozen yogurt treats 9. fresh citrus 10. fiesta bowl parade 11. Andy and Amber driving all night to hang out 12. new years eve facials 13. late night talks and early morning jogs          I'm just sayin' I think I would almost be willing to commit to living in someplace like Pinedale to be closer to those guys! We love them and miss them dearly! Wait, the high there today was below zero... I may have to reconsider... P.S. Andy and Amber- you two rock and you deserve your own post:) I'll see what I can do...