Weekend full of Soccer

A weekend of soccer tournaments. 

My crazy family. 

and escape from reality. 

Yes, please! 

Part of the fam, headed down to Mesquite to cheer on Gabe and the Force Soccer team. 

I love these boys so much!

It wasn't quite warm enough to swim, but we played in the hot tub and had a great time.  

The night games were FREEZING!

We all didn't pack very warm clothes because the weather reports said is was going to be warm. 

We bundled up pretty good for those games.  

Porter thinks he is getting to big to sit with me most times. 

This little baby zonked out on me. 

I couldn't help but just lay there and savor this moment. 

My Grams was a HUGE gambler. 

She loved to play slots and was ALWAYS so lucky. 

In honor of her, we all went out late one night and spent the evening gambling. 

Mom handed out $20 just like Grams did. 

Matt and I stayed at the Black Jack tables.  

Let's just say, I was much more skilled than he was and just kept handing him chips so he could keep playing. 

Mom ended up a winner and I did as well.... the Colliers should have just kept their $20 and left. 

I know Grams was there cheering us on. 

A weekend well spent with some of my favorite people in the whole entire world. 

Our favorite Zombie

It wouldn't be Halloween season without our talented sister performing at Lagoon. 

This year was no exception. 

Julie resurrected the Zombie show.

This was her final night in the show.

Without any of us coordinating coming our entire family showed up to cheer our favorite zombie on.

Good job, Julie!

until next year.... 

Ragnar, Wasatch Back 2014

I still can't believe that this is my 3rd Ragnar?  

I have quickly come to love them and the challenge of the relay. 

I lucked out having one of the greatest teams possible.  

There were a few people that I ran Vegas Ragnar with last fall.  

We added a few people and we were ready to go.  

Somehow I convinced Talia she NEEDED to do it with me this year. 

It was so fun having her there. 

I don't get to spend nearly enough time with her. 

Here is Van #2. 

Tyler, Ryan, Ryan, me, Talia and Julie.

I'm so glad each of them were with me. 

They were all so much fun. 

My family truly is the best, especially on things like this. 

They were there to cheer us on. 

Julie was runner 8 and I was runner 10. 

They were able to cheer both of us on Friday. 

Gabe and Matt were both running so Natalie & Mom bounced back and forth to see us. 

These were the best faces to hear when my energy was running low. 

It rained all morning Friday, so thankful that I was in van #2.  

It stopped by the time we made it to our exchange. 

But a morning full of rain made it VERY humid. 

Which makes for very big and unruly hair. 

This was only after 3 miles.  

After my first run, we waited up at Snowbasin for Tyler and Ryan to run. 

I was sitting and talking to Talia and our long lost Cabber friend, Keith ran into us. 

It was a fun little college reunion for us!

We also were able to meet up with Matt and Gabe at Snowbasin. 

Julie and I both hated that we all weren't on the same team, especially since Gabers joined Matt's work team last minute. 

He was runner 4 (my same runs from last year)

Gabers did such a great job. 

That is a long ways to run and no sleep makes that even harder. 

I can't do anything without these little cuties cheering me on. 

I sure love them. 

The 4 runners and 4 cheerleaders. 

Baby Luke did a great job cheering us all on.

Natalie and the kiddos were great sports spending their entire weekend watching us. 

Tyler participated in many dance parties throughout the weekend. 

I know I will always have a good time with him. 

He had some really difficult runs and did such a great job. 

All of our second legs were in the middle of the night.  

One of the exchanges the volunteers had decorated it with black lights and were having a giant party.  

Makes it so much fun. 

My night run was rough, it was 7.5 miles with no support. 

In fact, I was on a trail and was completely separated from all the vans. 

It was 2:30am when I started my run. 

I didn't pack my light running jacket because it was suppose to be warm. 

But thanks to the rain storm temperatures dropped a lot. 

I only had a sweatshirt to run in and I knew that it would be too much for 7.5 miles. 

So I ended up opting to just run in my tank top.

BAD DECISION. 

I froze the entire way. 

And because it was so cold, my breathing was causing fog and that is all I could see with my headlamp. 

Once I finished, I was shivering and wanted to snuggle up in truck. 

I finally got to sleep for 30 or so minutes after that. 

Here we are in Oakley, finishing up our 2nd legs.

We ran ALL night long.  

It was still pretty cold up there but we were ready to head to our final exchange with van 1 and shower and sleep. 

A middle school in Heber does a fundraiser during Ragnar where you pay $5 for a shower and place to sleep and $5 for a hot breakfast.  It was heaven even if we only slept for 90 minutes or so. 

Hads loved coming and sitting in the truck with TyTy.  

She wasn't quite sure about the dance party happening, but with a little help from TyTy she was into it. 

I knew going into this year that I had some difficult legs, specifically my 2nd and 3rd leg. 

My 3rd leg was the top of RAGNAR HILL. 

I had no plans of ever "running" the hill, but thought I could power walk up this beast. 

.50 mile into my 4.0 mile climb I broke down. 

My team was only going up 100 yards every time and I was hitting a major wall. 

I was so frustrated mentally and physically. 

My legs have never felt so heavy in my entire life. 

My team was trying to pump me up... it wasn't helping. 

My sister, Julie and Talia saved the day.  

They both took turns walking with me to help me finish what I started. 

It was tough. 

I was slow. 

I felt defeated. 

Eventually, I saw that 1 mile left sign and I knew the end was in sight. 

The last .25 of a mile I was able to see the finish and picked up my feet and ran to Tyler. 

It was the most emotional and best exchange of my life.  

I'm not sure what I would have done without my team to help get me to the top. 

I knew I could not climb in the truck and let someone else finish it for me. 

I needed to do it. 

and I did it!

Despite my two miserable runs, I had a great time with my team. 

We know how to dance, run and laugh.... and eat. 

Sounds like Ragnar 2015 is already in the planning stages.  

Whether I want to admit it or not, I am a Ragnar Addict. 

THE CAPTAIN'S MISFITS!

National sibling day

Who makes these National Holidays up?

If you are on social media you pretty much feel guilty for not giving a shout out. 

Although this holiday is stupid. 

I have really incredible sisters. 

Some days, I want to punch them in the face. 

and minutes later we are laughing on the floor at how ridiculous we are. 

They are wonderful examples of love. 

They all continue to care and love me so much. 

I'm grateful I was sent to this crazy family and grateful to be their little sis. 

Most of my fond memories include one or all of these sisters of mine. 

Can't wait for a lifetime more.  

2013: Recap

The reason I started this blog was to keep up with some dear friends that moved across the country.  

Now, it is for me.  

I like to be able to look back at things that I have done or places of my life. 

I have always done a recap of the year. (2010, 2011, 2012)

Last year, I did a video. 

It's even more fun to watch and remember certain moments of the year. 

Here is 2013's Recap, video style. 

2013 has been a year of growth for me.  

I'm proud to say I have learned a lot and ready to put the lessons into actions. 

Here is to 2014.

Livin on a Prayer

I was lucky enough to be the sister that Jennifer called when she got 4th row tickets to see Bon Jovi.

How can you turn down Bon Jovi?

You just can't. 

Jennifer and I went and had a ball. 

When you can say you touched Bon Jovi, you know it is a good night.

Love spending time with my sisters.

2012 Recap

2012 was a great year. 

For what started out a rocky year, 

with losing my job 3 days prior to the year beginning, 

turned out to be a year to never be forgotten. 

Year of Dreams lived up to it name. 

It was a year of growth.

 A year of love. 

 A year of new relationships.

A year of travel.

A year of laughter.

A year that I am so grateful to have had. 

In the last 365 days I have learned so much about myself, 

realized what I want my future to look like 

and what direction I need to go to get there. 

2013 has big shoes to fill.  

Thank you 2012 for being so kind to me!

Year of Dreams

Girl time

None of the Best girls need much of an excuse to go and get a pedicure;

and Hadley is following right in our footsteps! 

Love the sweetness of this little lady and love being able to spend time with my sisters! 

The end of a Saga

  After several years of traditions, the Twilight Saga is complete. 

I'm a huge fan of the story and the books.

The movies not as much. 

But I will say, they did a great job on this one. 
Too bad it took them until the 5th movie to figure out 

I have always gone opening night with, Miss Stacy May and company.

and then the following day with my Mom, sisters and Preston, our favorite stylist.

A tradition that I am sad to see end, but looks like we will just have to replace the tradition with the Hunger Games.  

 

During the last 5 minutes of the movie, when Bella was able to show Edward all of the memories they had together made me remember how much I loved the story.  

Still years later, I love in New Moon with her running through the streets of Italy to save Edward. 

Best Twilight moment ever. 

And one of my favorite traditions ever.