Walking Man

Today my amazing Dad ran and finished his third marathon! He ran in the Deseret News marathon and finished in 4:08 - pretty amazing if you ask me!

I am pretty proud of my Dad - can I just brag for a sec? He has always liked walking over the years. He would go for long, long walks (we're talking like someone would drop him off at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon and then he'd walk home!). In fact, this song always has reminded me of him...



A few years ago he decided to start running, and he eventually ran his first marathon (the Deseret News marathon). Then, a little over a year ago, my Dad decided once and for all that he was tired of being overweight. So, he just started walking. He decided to walk to work and hasn't stopped since. Every single day he walked four miles there and four miles back. Then he started running. He has lost TONS of weight and is healthier than he has been in a long time (not to mention he is handsome and tan as all get-out!). I am so proud of him!

We got to go cheer him on today as he ran his third marathon and got his best time ever.

my boys waiting for Dad near the finish line

can't wait to see Bapa!

here he comes!!

you can make it!

nearing the finish...

way to go, Popsy!!

Dad and his friend Burke, one of his counselors in his bishopric

James was so excited to see his Bapa

James with his Aunt Baba

The fam

My Dad, the Marathon Man

On Saturday my Dad ran the Salt Lake City Marathon. We are so proud of him! This was his second marathon; on his first one he got about 5 hours and 30 minutes. This time, his goal was 4 hours and 30 minutes, and he got 4 hours 12 minutes! Way to go, Datty!

James and his Grandpa

The fam

Lisa, Jim & Luke came to watch, too!

Way To Go, Josh!

Today my brother Josh ran in his region cross country meet. James and I went with my Mom to see him run, and we were so excited, because HE CAME IN FIRST PLACE! We are so proud of him! He ran in the JV race, but he got a better time than a couple of guys from his school who ran in the varsity race - which means he may get to run at State next week. Good job, Josh! We're so proud of you!

Here are some fun pictures of the race - Josh is the one in front with the gold jersey.

Lining up to start

They're off!

You can see him on the left nearing the front

This is him right before the finish line - he not only came in first place, but he came in first place by a long shot - you can't even see anyone behind him in this picture!

Yay Uncle Josh!

Wheeler Farm

Last week, James and I went to my brother Josh's cross country meet. It was held at Wheeler Farm, an old historic farm that is a lot like a park. I hadn't been to Wheeler Farm for YEARS and it was so fun to go back! I think the last time I went was for a field trip in either elementary school or preschool.

Here is a great action shot of Josh -


James is just chillin', watching his Uncle run -


So this farm is such a neat place to go, there are tons of animals and it's totally free to just walk around and look at all of them. You can also milk cows and stuff - pretty nifty! Although, if I really wanted to milk cows I'd just have to go to my in-laws' and I'm sure they'd be glad to have the help! :)

After the meet we walked around for awhile and looked at all the animals - first we saw these huge geese (they are geese, right?) - and to be honest, we were a little scared. I guess they are just so used to the people that they are not afraid to walk right up to you. I thought James would be scared, but he just sat there and looked at them. We even fed them some of his little Gerber puffs!

A big old goose, staring me down -


Kind of scared to go any closer -


James and I looking at the geese -


I don't have pictures of the other animals, but there were cows and horses and sheep and chickens and bunnies and turkeys and roosters and pigs - pretty much every farm animal you could think of. What a fun place to take little kids! We will definitely be going back there.

We kept walking and we found this big huge tree that my sister Annie and I remembered from our childhood. When we were little, our Grandpa Glenn used to take us to Wheeler Farm all the time (he is the one who James is named after - Jim Glenn - the kindest man ever!), and we both remembered this tree from when we were little. We even have a cute picture of Annie sitting in the tree when she was really little. I wish I had a copy of that picture, because it would be fun to compare it to this picture of Annie sitting in the tree -


And here are some pictures of my boy and I at the tree. What a handsome little guy -



I'm loving his toothy little grin -


Peeking out through a window of an old playhouse (do you see Josh in the background?) -


My son likes to bite things lately - his crib rails, his Mommy's arm, old rotting wood -

my baby looks like a big boy!!

James is growing SO fast, he has been wearing some clothes that are 6 and even 9 month size!!! I can't believe it. Today I tried this shirt on him, for fun, and it was only a little big on him, I couldn't believe it! He just looked like a little boy to me, instead of a baby! He is so cute. The reason why he looks SO tired in this picture is because he hardly slept today at all! He's teething and he just won't sleep for any length of time. Poor kid!


Our happy boy!!


Today we went and watched Uncle Josh run in a track meet. It was pretty windy and cold outside, so I bundled up the boy, and then I decided to try on his shoes! He has these cute shoes that my sisters gave him, and he had never worn them before. They were SO CUTE! I just love this picture, and I think it is funny how big he looks, with his feet totally hanging off the end of the car seat.


I just love this picture. Here is the boy in his stroller at the track meet. It was pretty cold!


Love the feet!


Me and my cuddly boy!