Football

Andrew came home from work last week with this Broncos football.

It now sits on Taylor's dresser (that is, when he's not playing with it!).  

While he was playing Bronco ball one afternoon, I asked Taylor if he knew about the "horse" on it.

"He's a mean horse," he said.

"Oh yeah?" I asked.

"Yeah.  The MEANEST horse in Africa!!"

Ha ha.  Where does he get this stuff??

Wildcat Mountain 10 Mile Trail Run

Another race completed!  This stuff is so much fun.  I think I'm hooked!

Donna and her outgoing friend Cindy joined me for this one.  If they could've seen the weather coming for our big day, I'm not sure that they would have...

...because it was the coldest day of the year so far.  By far.  Instead of checking out the race venue before we ran, we huddled in the car to keep warm.

The trail looked so wet and gloomy; we even talked to race officials and nearly switched to racing the 5 mile race instead.  But right at the bitter end, with only 20 seconds remaining until the 10 miler began, we changed our minds and went for it.  

I'm so glad we did.

We got to run on snow-covered dirt trail under foot, through foothills filled with scrub oak and light snow falling overhead.  The falling snow created an illusion of mist and fog all around, and a calm stillness that seemed to stop time.  Other runners were always near, but I felt alone and at peace.  

It was beautiful.  

Perfect.

Just under two hours later, I turned the last corner before the finish line to see...

...something I couldn't stop smiling for!

These guys!  

With big grins on their faces, cheering "Go Mommy!"  and the most handsome man I've ever seen (their dad), standing beside them taking pictures.

Ahhh.  They are what I live and die for!  

Cindy and I then waited for our comrade to cross the finish line, where Andrew was again prepared to capture the moment.  Way to go, Donna!

Finally stopped--the realization that our hands and faces were beginning to freeze, that our feet were sopping wet from running in mud and snow for hours, and that our bodies were exhausted--sank in.  It gave a feeling of relief to be finished, but mostly a sense of friendship, fun, and accomplishment.

I would do this again...

...in a heartbeat.

(snow and all). :)

I think I want to try my hand at my first 1/2 marathon now.  Anyone want in?

Telluride Part 3: The Gondola

View of Mountain Village from the Gondola

Exploring and playing together in Mountain Village 

It was a lot of fun.  And such a BEAUTIFUL place!  

Wow, getting these photos out again makes me nostalgic.  Wish I was there. 

Glimpses

It's been a little under a week since I've been here, but I feel fairly exhausted...more than just six days' worth.


Here are some glimpses of my recent past:

To celebrate our little Taylor's accomplishment in becoming a "big boy," we offered to either buy him a new special toy or take him on a family outing of his choice.  

On Thursday, we made this 3 year-old's dream of a perfect evening come true:

We ate Ramen Noodles and chocolate milk for dinner.

We went to the "inside pool."

It was such a fun evening for all of us.

But Big Boy was especially impressed--who since, hasn't failed to say a meal time or bed time prayer without remembering to thank his Heavenly Father for his "getting to go to the inside pool."  

What a sweet heart.

I'm only four days away from running my 10 mile trail race.  To prepare, I've been running nearly everyday, almost everywhere (it seems).  

My personal record breaking distance run on Friday took me nearly two hours, going 8.36 miles through neighborhoods and past parks--driving my little guys crazy with cabin fever and completely wearing them out.  I felt so cruel running past so many parks and not stopping to let them play at any of them!

So as soon as we got home, we got right back into the car and drove to one of the coveted parks to play.  

If any kids deserved park play that day, mine did.

Aunt Donna, her friend Cindy and I drove to Highlands Ranch on Saturday morning and tested a portion of the 10 mile trail we'll race on this weekend.

It. was. BRUTAL.

I was under the impression that "10 mile trail run" meant something like, "10 miles on a joint-supporting, flat, dirt surface."  Oh, boy, was I ever wrong!

For those who wonder the truth:

When you read "10 mile trail run" on a race website, what it actually means is that you run several miles UP UP UP a steep-grade hiking trail, and then DOWN DOWN DOWN another steep-grade trail for several more miles.  

Put simply, the downhill part is really nice.  But the uphill, well...

Later that same Saturday, I began watching one of my favorite church traditions on TV:

(Click above to hear Pres. Monson's Sunday morning talk)

General Conference.

It happens twice a year--when our church leaders share spiritual messages in five 2-hour sessions over a Saturday/Sunday weekend.

It's tough to choose my favorite talk from this recent conference...perhaps Elder Uchdorf's "Forget Me Not" talk, Elder Bednar's talk on the Spirit of Elijah, Sister Dalton's talk about raising daughters...

But I can say this for certain: 

More than anyone at conference time, I look forward to hearing from our sweet prophet, President Monson.  He is such a good, kind, charitable, happy, positive, genuine person.  He radiates love.  Every time I hear him speak, I learn so much and wish even more that I could be just like him. 

To me, there is no question that he is God's prophet.  

I love that man.

My little boy was another one of my teachers this week. 

He and I shared one of my favorite moments when together, we took some time to just be still... 

He led the way as we walked together and absorbed the perfect evening sunshine.

Holding hands.

Making "discoveries."

Picking flowers and making wishes.

And I remembered why I, amidst all the chaos-- the meals, laundry, cleaning, diapers, stressful disciplining...

...am more blessed than I know.

I love my family.