26.2 and YOU

Minds and I decided to sign up for the St. George marathon and I thought I probably wouldn't get in the first year since it's so hard to get in usually. Well of course the year I sign up, they let everyone that signed up in- first time ever! So I was stuck running it. And I'm so glad I was stuck! It was such an incredible experience.

I drove down with Mindy and Brady (Mitch was working the weekend and I left my kiddos till he got home with my mom and the next day with Lisa) Friday at 3 and drove home the next day after running the marathon at 2. So we drove to St. George, ran a marathon, and drove home in a little over 24 hours. It was so crazy and so fun!

We picked up our numbers around 8 and then got Olive Garden to go. The whole town was so crazy busy. I got to have a sleepover with Tagg which was awesome. He is such a cute kid. I was missing my kiddos but it was also a nice break!

We got up at 4 (really didn't sleep much at all that night) and left to get on the bus. It was so organized I couldn't believe it! It was pretty intimidating driving for a half hour up the canyon thinking- suds I have to run this all!

We got to the top and it literally looked like we were all at a refugee camp. Everyone was wrapped up in Mylar blankets and looked lost. People were huddled around fires trying to stay warm. Minds and I were dancing and chatting and just excited to start running.

We started off at a great pace but slowly, our lack of training kicked in. My knees were killing and Mindy's hips were so painful. We switched music, we chatted, we ate lots of little snacks at each aid station, used icy hot like it was going out of business, skipped, and anything else we could think of to keep going. Brady met us around mile 18 and helped us through till the end.

 

Around mile 22 I just wanted it to be over! I kept thinking where is that finish line?!! Seeing those white balloons arched over the finish line was pretty amazing. We ran the whole race together and crossing the finish line together was so awesome! We both picked up some fun free stuff and then collapsed for a while on the grass.

Such an amazing experience that I will never forget. Love that I got to share it with my best friend! And I was all recharged and ready to get back to my cutest kids! They had a blast with their grandmas and dad while I was gone.

First Birthday for Ruby Jane

That's my little birthday girl on her birthday morning. I love her! She gave me the best gift by waking up early and falling back asleep in my bed, right on my chest. She never does that. But it was perfect and reminded me of the first time I held her right after she was born. I started the day off emotional already! It also made it tricky getting her birthday bed balloons ready because I didn't want her to roll off the bed. I propped some pillows up and woke up with Rhett while she kept sleeping. 

Rhett helped me make her hootennany pancakes which he kept calling "ruby's pancake." "can I have some more Ruby pancake?" She woke up right in time for breakfast. Rhett and I took some balloons in and tossed them on the bed and she loved it!  Both kids looked at the pancake wondering if it would be edible.

She liked the candle more than she liked the pancake, but Rhett made up for it and ate a ton. He loves anything with syrup on it. 

Mitch made it home from his long 30 hour overnight shift and we got to just play and enjoy all being together. Ruby got a good morning nap and we headed to Chick fil A for lunch.

We figured we should probably buy her her own meal since it was her birthday and she chowed it down! This girl can eat!

I had so much fun planing her birthday party. Fall birthdays are the best! With the apple orchard right in our backyard, I had to do an apple party. The orchard has the best view of Mt. Olympus and the weather was just perfect. 

Mitch, my mom, and Minds helped so much!

The boys couldn't wait for Nana's yummy (12 times'd!! whoops) soup with all the treats out. 

Her little apple smash cake!

I think my favorite thing about Ruby's party was this last minute picture collage of her first year of life. It was the perfect thing to do the night before her birthday. Mitch was at work that night so I was just by myself going through each month of her first year picking my favorite pictures of her. So many fun and special memories. I couldn't believe how much joy she had brought into our lives. 

 

 The guests were just the best! 

 

 

 

 

Love that little pudgy hand grabbing an apple. Pretty sure it's Rhett's. I doubt he ate more than one bite.

 

Mitch had the cute idea of displaying all these gifts on the ladder in the orchard. He told me this better be on Pinterest by the morning.

 

The soup my mom made was definitely the hit, and the caramel apple bar was pretty yummy too. 

 

Can't beat apples right off the tree.

 

We did this Korean tradition that Mitch learned on his mission we did with Rhett on his first birthday where you put a bunch of objects out and see what they choose. Ruby chose me! I loved it. She didn't want anything on the blanket she just kept trying to walk to me. Eventually she chose tennis!

This girl knows how to smash a cake! Such an American tradition- here's an entire cake just for you and all you do is dig in and eat as much as you can and make as big of a mess as possible. Now that's good entertainment. 

She was getting impatient while we were singing to her.  

She started out with a spoon but pretty quickly just dug in!

This girl got spoiled! She got such cute clothes and fun gifts. 

 

Happy birthday Ruby Jane! We loved celebrating you and even more, we love every day we have with you. You are so loved!