Don't Forget to wear your "REDNECK" Shirt!

On August 21, 2010 Mike and I joined my Dad and Stepmom for a night out at the Fair. Growing up my Dad would take me to Monster Truck Shows, Tractor Pulls and to Demolition Derbies so I grew to love going to these events. Mike and the other had had never been to one, before tonight so it was going to be something that we, my parents and I, would be able to experience with him for his first time. Needless to say he loved it and really how could you not love it. Who doesn't love watching cars smash into each other over and over again? As my Dad would say, "This is one event that you can pull out and wear your "REDNECK" shirt and fit right in."

Two Years and Couting!

Two years ago on August 1, 2008 I was sitting across the alter being sealed to the love of my life for time and all eternity. We were surrounded by the people we love and who love us the most, we were on cloud nine. Now two years later, I look back and say where did those two years go, time goes by so fast.

Last year at this time we were boarding a flight back from Hawaii where we spent 12 glorious days in paradise. We didn't go there strictly for our anniversary, it just happened to be our anniversary while we were there. See Mike's parents took Me, Mike, Kristy and Aaron (Mike's sister and husband) to Hawaii for a family vacation and it just happened to work out that we were there for our anniversary.
This year to celebrate our Anniversary we went camping up American Fork Canyon to a place called Granite Flats. Some of my family joined us to help celebrate our anniversary. We spent 2 relaxing days fishing, playing cards and just enjoying the mountains. Mike not only made me my favorite breakfast on Sunday but he made his own favorite breakfast also (We don't like the same kinds of breakfast foods). We had a good weekend and a good anniversary.

Happy Anniversary Baby!!

Fun for all ages!

July 27, 2010 was our niece Shayna's 3rd birthday and for her 3rd birthday Allison, her mom, rented a bounce house and it ended up being the highlight of the party. As Shayna and her little friends were opening presents me, Mike, Kristy and Angie (Mike's sisters) decided we would try the bounce house out. Well one of the first trials was getting in the thing. Angie went first, she went to step on what we thought was the stair to get into the house, ended up not being a stair for people that weigh more than 40lbs. Needless to say, the step collapsed and Angie faced planted into the bounce house. Mike decided he would try it and did the exact same thing. I went next and instead of stepping on the non step I hurled myself through the tiny opening, Kristy did the same thing as I and got in just fine. Angie tried to do what Kristy and I just did and failed so then she just stuck her arms in and Kristy and I pulled her in. Mike succeeded with entrance Kristy and I had done. All of this while Shayna was opening her presents, needless to say the attention was not on Shayna, even the camera was directed to us.

After all of us were in and jumping we looked over at Angie and she had gotten a little to close to the edge and the edge had collapsed on her bending her in half. Kristy and I couldn't stop laughing even after we noticed she really needed help because she could get out. After we saved Angie we decided to exit the house. Mike went first and some how literally fail out of the house and ate dirt. Angie, Kristy and I got out with no problem. From that moment on any time there were no kids in the bounce house the adults would take their turn and although we could never stay in for very long because it is very tiring and we were laughing to hard, it was still fun.

Later that night as Steve and Mike were putting the bounce house away, they found something new to do with the bounce house. Steve was on one side and Mike jumped on the other side throwing Steve off the corner he was on and landing on the grass. After finding out that this was fun, Steve came inside and had me and Allison come outside and try it. After doing it a few times we went inside and got Kristy to come try. The fun finally stopped when it started to pour.

I think it is safe to say, to have any kind of family get together/ family party without a bounce house of some kind will just not cut it anymore.

Ephraim/ Manti Weekend

So if you haven't figured this out by now you will understand by the end of this post how much we love 4-wheeling. I have to admit we don't do it that often, but when we do go we remember why we love it.

My Dad had asked us if we would like to go 4-wheeling with Him and my Stepmom for the weekend and we accepted. So after I got off work on Thursday, July 15, 2010 we packed up are things and headed towards Ephraim. We got into town around 9:30pm and after some planning with my parents on what time we would be up to eat breakfast and to leave, we hit the sack.

Friday, July 16, 2010, around 9:00am we headed up Ephraim Canyon. The first trial we took was a short ride down to Grassy Flats Reservoir. This reservoir was tucked away down a mountain path and was one of those place that you would never know existed unless you knew it was there.

After our short break at the reservoir we head back to the trail and just road. We road along Skyline Drive for a while, took some side road trails, saw some wild life, mostly sheep, and just enjoyed the day. We did run across some snow so my Dad said I should make a snow angel and send it to our missionaries, so I did. Needless to say the snow was very wet and cold, looking back on it now however it did feel good.

After 7 good hours of 4-wheeling, we head down off the mountain to eat dinner, shower and go to bed.

Saturday, July 17, 2010
After loading up the 4-wheelers and eating breakfast we headed to Manti where we would be 4-wheeling for the day. We started off the day heading towards Duck Fork Reservoir and can I say getting to this stop was one of the most beautiful rides I have ever been on. We had every kind of terrain possible, we road through beautiful meadows, thick dense forest, open ranges, we climbed over rocks, tree roots, road straight up hill, and road straight down hill. We saw deer, sheep, and best yet, very little people.

After stopping at Duck Fork we headed to Snow Lake and getting there was also a beautiful ride, we passed fields of wild flowers and other small little reservoirs along the way.
After Snow Lake we started making our way down off the mountain. Making our way down off the mountain took a couple more hours of cool riding, lots of mud puddles and rock to climb over but the coolest was the final minutes of the ride, straight down. When I say straight down, I mean we were going straight down, weaving in and out of trees and making sharp turns it was fun. Also on our way down we saw the Manti Valley come into view, can I say what a beautiful little valley.

We had a great weekend! Beautiful riding, beautiful things to look at, great weather and great company.

American Fork Steel Day's

After running the Freedom 5K on July 5, my Mom asked us if we would be interested in running the American Fork Steel Day's 5k on July 10 with the rest of the family. I was a little hesitant just because it had only been 4 day since the previous race, but said yes anyways. So on the morning of Saturday July 10, we woke up at 5:30am got ourselves ready and headed towards are next 5K. Mike improved his time finishing around 37 minutes and I lengthened my time finishing around 42 minutes. This race was really hard on me, my shins hurt from the last race and were just starting to feel better on Friday. I had a great start on this race, however, not long after my great start the pain of the last race and the new pains of this race hit me and stopped me in my tracks, needless to say I walked my fair share of this race.

I know I should think more about the fact that I am improving my health and finishing 5K's then dwell on the fact that I have yet to finish a race with a quicker time than the last, but it would be nice to finish at least one race with a quicker time the the previous. Our next 5k will be August 14 so I have one month to solidify my 3.2 miles and improve my time. Wish me luck!

4th of July Weekend

Friday, July 2, 2010 we helped Allison and Steve sod their backyard but just like their backyard, the whole day was filled with bumps and hills that needed to be smoothed out. First hill that needed to be smoothed out was the one left by the forklift that sunk while dropping off the sod. Second bump that needed to be smoothed out was figuring out what we were going to do with all the rocks that had been tilled up and also the rock hard ground that couldn't be tilled up. Third was the fact that we had 2000 sq. feet of sod sitting outside in the blazing heat that we didn't know if we would be able to lay. Fourth was finding a company to deliver topsoil on extremely short notice. Fifth was figuring out how to spread all the topsoil and sixth waiting to see how Mike was going to run the Bobcat that was rented to help fix all of the problems we were having.
So what it boils down to is that we spent all day smoothing out hills, filling in holes, moving rocks, spreading topsoil and laying 2000 sq. feet of topsoil and then realizing that we didn't take one pictures of this very rocky day.

Saturday, July 3, 2010 we had a BBQ with Allison and Steve, watched the UFC fight, and relaxed from the previous day.

Sunday, July 4, 2010 we went to my Moms and had dinner then came back home to help my Dad load our 4-wheeler into his truck so we could go 4-wheeling the next day.

Monday, July 5, 2010 we got up at 5 am in order to be Allison house no later than 5:45 am and be in Provo no later than 6:45 am so we could be at the start line for the Freedom 5k we would be running. That's right our second 5K of the summer! Once again we all finished, Allison coming in first with a time of 36.23, Mike coming in second with a time of 39.19 and me coming in third with a time of 41.52. Although all of our times increased from our first race, I don't think they were bad considering the last leg of the race was all up hill. Although I finished with a slower time, I loved this race, I loved running with thousands of people, it kept me moving. (Click on the links below to see photos of Mike and I during the race.)
View Photos from Freedom Run - America's Freedom Festival at Provo
View Photos from Freedom Run - America's Freedom Festival at Provo

After the race we headed straight to my Dads house to go 4-wheeling. We ended up riding in Levan at a place called Chicken Creek which by the way was a beautiful ride. I love 4-Wheeling! We had a great time and will be heading Manti next week for another 4-wheeling weekend.

Pool Time

So Allison and I have been going to the pool lately and last week I took some pictures of Shayna and Alex while we were there. Shayna loves going to the pool but won't go in past her knees. Alex also loves the pool, he loves to splash, however he doesn't like his floaty.

It is so fun watching them, Alex gets this surprised look on his face when he splashes and the water hits him and Shayna just loves being there. She will play with toys and throw balls into the water and I will get them and throw them back to her. Shayna always makes comments like, "Nesha you are such a good swimmer" and it helps you feel so great about yourself. This week at the pool she was introducing Allison and I to the other little kids, which is so cute because she has the softest little voice and she didn't even look at the kids when she said, "This is my Mom and this is my Nesha". Shayna is so smart that some times it is hard to believe that she isn't even 3 yet.