Running Adventures!

This year has been a year of LOTS of running. To start it off, I ran in my first ever 10K. Jessi challenged me to it because we'd both been running a little, she a lot more than me, and we thought it would be a good time to tackle it. I don't have very many good pictures, but I'll take what I can get. As of that day, 6.2 miles was the furthest I'd ever gone! I finished in exactly 1 hour 20 seconds. Good enough for me!



A little tired!


The proud husband who thought it was a little strange to be the one waiting at the finish line and the baby that provided the pregnancy pounds that inspired it all!!!


Next on our list is the school's Fun Run 1K! Both Jace and Erica ran in it. Jace took 5th in his division 2nd - 4th, and Erica was the 5th finishing girl in her division K - 1st. So proud. There were so many kids. They did awesome.



If you can see Jace's face, you'll see exactly how fast these kids were flying. He was trying HARD! You have to imagine, this is only a .6 mile race so these kids were sprinting. It was awesome! Jace must be like his daddy!


Erica held an awesome pace. She started out going the same speed as a lot of other kids, but eventually they fell back one by one going slower and slower...but not my baby! She is all determination. GO ERICA!


As you can tell, there aren't any other kids racing in the pictures even though there were at least 50 kids in each race. They weren't in the pictures because my kids were so fast and the other kids were too busy EATING THEIR DUST! WAHOO! Proud mom moment!



Now here is the big surprise! Just yesterday Jessi and I ran...............................
























The Halloween Half Marathon!!!



Wahoo! I did it! Wahoo! I'm a runner! Wahoo! And I even finished ahead of my goal by almost 3 minutes. I'd even lost all hope for that goal by the time I'd finished training and realized that my long runs were never coming close to my goal time. But I managed to finish in 2:07. I ran 9:45 miles. YES!!!!!! Jessi did even better. She finished in 2:01. She's incredible! We were so excited. It was great to feel like I could do something that I never thought was even remotely possible. I didn't even need my inhaler. I haven't used it running for a least a year!



This is my great friend, Yvonne Campbell. She ran the whole way with me. It was actually fun despite the complete exaustion and stuff!


Here I am crossing the finish line. I'm the one in the front in the black. I had just turned around to smile for Tony who was trying to take a picture so I look like I'm falling over, but it's all good. I stayed upright!


Did I mention that my parents were at both of my races? It was so fun to feel so supported. They even met me at two seperate places along the half marathon route and cheered. It was so fun to see them! I have the BEST parents.


And of course my wonderful family who was waiting patiently at the finish line. What a lucky girl I am. Jace made me a trophy out of clay that he presented me with, and Erica made me a card. Tony was so excited he couldn't stop smiling and telling me how awesome I did. He is so the bestest! Good times! Is it so bad to be proud of myself?
Because I am :)

Summer Fun!

I have had the funnest summer ever with my kids. We bought a zoo pass and so have visited there often, we've been camping, fishing, and just plain ol' playing. Oh so fun! Here are some random pics of our summer fun!

Sleepovers with cousins, forts, and movies!!! YES!!


Best Friends!! We are SO lucky. All of these kids live NEXT DOOR! The family next door has kids all very close to our kids ages. They're awesome!

Kent and Sadie


Ryan and Dax


Erica and Addie


And I know I have a picture of Jace and his buddy, McKay, somewhere, but I can't find it. But these two are pretty good buddies, so I'll put this one in instead. (They're building a bird house)


We had some fun hiking and fishing with Grandma and Grandpa Smith too!



And Kent had his first fishing lesson this summer.

"I got it now, Dad. Back off!"


And some more Zoo fun!

The First Ever Tony Chandler Family Camping Trip (by ourselves)

We went on our first ever camping trip with our own little family in Kamas. It was great to have some real quality family time. And you would be amazed how you can fit 6 people, including a pack-n-play, in that little tent. We have resolved though to buy a new tent next year.

There was a smudge on my lens for this trip, so just ignore the fuzzy parts of the pitures.


We fished and had fun getting muddy in the water.






And we all felt very safe if any bears came close.



Can you see that little fishy on the end of his line?? Oh yeah! We hit it big.

Bear Lake Chandler Reunion

This year we went to Bear Lake for our Chandler Family Reunion. Kayla and Michael were working there all summer and had a fantastic place for us to camp and play. They also got us some jet skis to use while we were there too. As Jace would say....Sweet!! We had a lot of fun together, hiking up to the cave, jet skiing, and lots of eating!

All the cousins waiting for our turn to go down into the caves.



Ryan loved the caves!!



Our one family picture. This one didn't turn out so well, but at least we know we were all there.


The kids all being spoiled by Uncle Michael...again. My kids are so stinkin' spoiled by their uncles. We love you guys!


Best Buds! These two play so well together. I really wish we could be neighbors.


My little sweetheart!


Kent looks like he's cold, but the water was surprisingly warm. Kent of course had a grand ol' time in the water and mud.


Cheese!


And one more of my baby for good measure. Not that he's spoiled or anything.....


And one more. He fell asleep in the hammock. How could I not post that!


Thanks to everyone for coming and putting up with my crazy planning. We had so much fun with you all and look forward to the adventures Cindy is going to plan for us next year. And thanks to Kayla for taking all of these awesome pictures. I didn't get out my camera once. I was too busy enjoying the easiest reunion I've ever been to. This was our first without me pregnant or with a baby less than 5 months old. (oh, except last year I guess, but Ryan couldn't walk and so it was still a little tricky) Yes! Life is getting so much easier.

Wasp Bites!

On my porch in my backyard we have been invaded by wasps right outside the door. They have made some massive nest thing inside the railing of our porch. Erica was bitten a week ago on her hand when she was holding on to go down the stairs. Then she was bitten again right on her upper lip two days ago. It was the saddest thing ever. I was so mad at the wasps I wanted them all to DIE!!! Today I'm on my way to the store for some wasp spray. Ha-Ha! Revenge of a mad mother! Erica looked awful. Her face was so swollen. When Tony saw it, he suggested I take a picture and my response was NO WAY! Why would we want to remember our baby getting bitten by wasps, but the more I looked at her lip and when Erica and I had both finally calmed down and could laugh about it a little, I broke down. It really was crazy.

From This....


To This....


Poor baby! I couldn't even understand her when she talked. It was so swollen. But the next morning she was completely back to her beautiful self. Poor little thing!

Deer Creek with the Cousins

My mom, sisters, sister-in-law, and I took all of the kids to Deer Creek on Thursday. We stayed all day. I had so much fun with them all.

Cutest kid ever. I know! He's my baby and spoiled to bits. I love having a little toddler and being able to give him the attention he wants. Right now I should be having another baby if I were to be following my previous baby schedules, but I'M NOT! :)


He played in the sand the entire time with occasional trips to check the water temperature (which was never satisfactory). He even skipped his nap and never whined once. What a stud muffin. Sheesh. He is always furrowing his eyebrows in his pictures. WHY!!! Oh well. It's cute!


Another picture of my baby just because he's adorable!


Love this picture. Kent had a blast. I didn't even lose him once! Which, if you know him, was a miracle. He stayed in the water almost the whole time just floating around in that little tube. He came out a few times to play in the sand, but not for long. We were there for over 8 hours, so he was definately water logged.


Kent in his element with his cousin Kade.


Erica and Ellery. Two little bugs. Kids with goggles on always remind me of bugs! But these two are definately pretty little bugs!


Here's another picture of my pretty little princess, Erica, because you couldn't see her face behind the bug eyes. Isn't she gorgeous!


What up, yo! Jace is so easy now. I just send him off (still in a life jacket because I'm a worry wart) and let him play all day. He had a blast! He was also my personal life gaurd. He kept an eye on all of my kids that ever touched the water. He's my angel!


Jace and the cousins on Trudy's fun rafts. They kept the kids entertained the entire time and tuckered them right out I might add. I had NO problem getting them to sleep last night!

Wow! Long post! I need to stop taking so many pictures because then I want to post them all. Believe it or not, I didn't even come close.