September 2013

• September started off with a bang! On Labor Day we went for a hike to Bridal Veil Falls up Provo Canyon. It was a perfect day and a great hike for the kids.

• The kids thought it was cool to see so many fish in one little pond.

• Since October of 2012 I had been working for our city's recreation department. I worked on average 5-10 hours a week and the job fit in pretty well with our family's schedule. Unfortunately, the lady who ran the department (there was only two of us) left the first of September, and it was an overnight, unplanned leaving. This meant that I was put in charge of the department until they found someone new. I didn't know very much about how the department ran in many aspects but I was about to find out as I took on this 30+ hour a week job. Two days after I was put in charge of the department I left for Wisconsin to support Sarah in her first Ironman! The job would have to wait!
• Sarah was seriously amazing! She had been training so hard and for so long and it was awesome being there to cheer her and so many of the other athletes on. 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run = 140.6
• Gerren, Mom, and I saw Sarah come out of the swim and start her bike, Then we traveled up north of Madison to Mount Horeb and were able to catch her twice on the bike. Mom's cousin ran one of the aid stations in Mount Horeb so we met Pat and talked with him for a bit. We made fun signs to cheer her on and I even made it in a Youtube video someone made of the Madison Ironman holding one of the signs:)

• SO inspiring watching all these people cross the finish line! Here she comes with the Wisconsin capital in the background. Sarah crossed in under 15 hours!

• Love all these ladies! 

• Me with my sweet niece and nephew, Kailei and Koty:)

• Dane was kind enough to take on the Mr. Mom role while I went to Wisconsin. I invited him along since he was waiting for BYU-I to start but he insisted on staying with my kiddo while Todd worked during the day...I think he was more than ready for me to return:)
• The day before I left to Wisconsin Brynn brought home a paper from kindergarten saying she was the Star of the Week, that next week! Luckily Aunt Amy came over and helped Brynn make a poster that talked all about her. They did a super cute job together!

• Mid-September brought a few more bits of change. Dane moved up to Rexburg to start BYU-I and Todd also started the Pathways courses through BYU-I. We were sad to see Dane leave but I know he was definitely ready to begin the 'real college experience'. Todd has learned lots of lessons in time management as he as chosen to take classes and balance life and me working:)
• Girl Scouts also started again in September. Addy became a Brownie and Brynn is now a Daisy! It's fun to have them both in the troop together. We had a Bridging Ceremony for all the girls going into Brownies and welcomed the new Daisies into our troop.

• At our elementary school each teacher chooses one student each month to receive the Ollie Otter award at the monthly assembly. Mrs. Cowley chose Brynn as her first student of the year! Brynn was so excited (even though she didn't even know what it was at first) and was invited up on stage in front of the whole school where Mrs. Cowley talked about what a positive and happy attitude Brynn has. She said Brynn is always eager to participate and helpful to her classmates and her teacher. It was such a special day for Brynn and we were so proud of her. Addy was also happy for Brynn even though she has not yet received an Ollie Otter award...it was a good lesson in how to be happy for others:)

• Brynn received a free kids meal to the Brick Oven so she and I went on a special. She got A LOT of food! I think she took two bites from each plate and took the rest home in boxes. It was a fun afternoon for us to spend together.

• Bodee hanging with Amy and being a rough and tough boy

• On September 28th I ran my 7th marathon. Merri, my neighbor and favorite training buddy and my sister Gerren ran it as well. Sarah flew in as ground support and Dane drove down from Idaho to see his favorite sisters. We stayed in a hotel the night before and got up early to drive to Huntsville. The start line was FREAKING COLD! I ran with Merri until mile 16. (At mile 16 we were on track to easily qualify for Boston) At mile 16 I told Merri to go on without me (sniff, sniff). Merri placed second in our age group and qualified for Boston. My last 10 miles were rough and came in at 3:53. Not a horrible time but it was sad for me since I was on track to qualify. Beautiful race and good times with my favorite girls. I loved having my sisters around for the weekend. I wish as so many times before they we all lived closer to each other. Talking on the phone a couple of times a week just doesn't always cut it.

• Our pass to the Children's Museum expired at the end of September so I thought I'd take the kids for one last time. They each invited a friends so we had a full car. Bodee brought Emerson, Brynn brought Maya and Addy brought Hailey. The kids all had fun and we stopped for Happy Meals on the way home. Fun times!

• Sometimes when I was in school I felt like my math was in Chinese since I could barely understand it sometimes. Then I looked at Addy's math homework and I thought, 'Wow, her homework really is in Chinese!" She is doing very well in Chinese this year!

• Merri and I took the kids to a Salt Lake Real Game. It was a really fun night. I just laugh the whole time I hang out with Merri! I'm so glad for her friendship:)