Okay, Okay, I Guess Running Isn't So Bad After All...

So, in the past I have been a little (okay, a lot) snarky about the girls' annual school fundraiser called the Fun Run. (What can I say? I'm a little snarky about everything.) Lest you think otherwise, it isn't because I begrudge the school any fundraising money, but rather because I have always hated running and found it ironic that the words "fun" and "run" should be paired together in any capacity. 

Alas, as a wannabe runner as of the beginning of this year, I find that I must keep the snarky comments to myself as I report on the momentous Fun Run of 2014. I still can't say that I find running "fun," per se, given how darn hard it can be, but I sure do feel that it's worth doing after all. And knowing how hard it is makes me prouder than ever of what Savanna accomplished this year. (Only Vanna this time...poor J was sick with a mystery fever and missed school all week.) Running two miles straight at the drop of a hat without having to work up to it is pretty commendable indeed. (I'll just keep to myself how long it took me to work up to 2 miles...)

The school had to move the Run inside instead of holding it out in the sweltering October heat (that's right, I just used the words "sweltering" and "October" together...if you've ever lived here you know what I mean) because the fields were flooded from all the rain we had gotten the week before. Sweet mercy, it was a welcome change for runners and spectators alike. (I just hope they learn from this year and start having it inside every year!)

Here are the highlights:

Savanna and her good friend, L. Just leave it to Savanna 

to smile and laugh for the entirety of a 2 mile run.

Vanna's biggest Fannas

"Um, seriously...you woke me up from my nap for this?"

SUCCESS!

I love my little grinning runner. I am seriously considering hiring her as my coach...maybe she can teach me to smile while running, too. 

J-Notes

Our newly established crap table (er, craft table) means that the girls have ready to access to all sorts of fun, crafty paraphernalia at all hours of the day. It is seldom kept organized, but it does ensure that the girls can crank out little treasures like the following whenever they fancy a little project time. 

These were Julia's creations.

I could die from the cuteness. (If Spencer doesn't send me to an early grave first, that is.)

Slipping Through My Fingers

I was looking at some old pictures yesterday and marveling at how fast time is going by. At this time last year, Spencer was learning to crawl and just mastering solid foods. A mere 12 months later and he is running, climbing, pounding, yelling, and otherwise keeping my heart rate constantly elevated. By this time next year he won't even be a baby anymore. Gulp.

So, I am making some resolves. To hold him even more. To kiss him even more. To enjoy his spunk and energy even more. To smile and play and laugh with him as much as I am able.

{Oct. 2013}

{Oct. 2014}

And, to not get too mad/frustrated/exasperated when he dumps out an entire box of newly opened cereal all over the floor of the office while I sit here and reminisce. 

And then does it again. 

When Family Comes To Town

It's been a great year for family visits and I feel so blessed. All of my immediate family is now here in Arizona within a reasonable range of 2 hours from us (at least part-time) except for my lovely Cyndie who lives an astonishing and painful 7.5 hours away. This means that we don't get to see each other nearly as often as I would like, so when we do get together it's a wonderful, chaotic, and hilarious time, even when she has to spend a lot of precious time dealing with dumb homework and infuriatingly spotty internet connections. (Oh, and a car-towing, but we can talk about that later; I think it might be too soon).

This latest Tracy visit was one of the best. Not only did Cyndie get me out to a fabulous Weezer concert at the ever-sketchy Arizona State Fair, but we also all got a lot of cozy down time and late night talks and cousin bonding time. I laughed until I cried and went to bed exhausted every night.

Just as it should be.

{this is how grown-ups play}

{this is how boys play}

{this is how girls play}

{this is how Lex plays}

{this is how Fan and Zac are pretty much the cutest things ever}

{this is how Cyndie works on boring-oring homework with a beautiful smile on her face}

The real highlight of the trip, though, was our visit to the gorgeous new Phoenix temple, so stay tuned for more...

Being Free

"God will not act to make us something we do not choose by our actions to become. Truly He loves us, and because He loves us, He neither compels nor abandons us. Rather He helps and guides us."

-D. Todd Christofferson