Start Today

Today is the day. I have to start today. This is me mentally getting myself prepared for the next 17 weeks of training for the Ogden half. I registered and so I am now totally committed. The training really is only 10 weeks but I haven't run in so so so very long. I have to run on the treadmill because it snowed 2 feet yesterday. Really I don't know if I can run at all. I haven't run truly since last June. Woooossssyyyyy. Anyway I am starting TODAY!!!

I got this list off someone else's blog but I liked it.

1. Don’t be a whiner. Nobody likes a whiner, not even other whiners.

2. Walking out the door is often the toughest part of a run.

3. Don’t make running your life. Make it part of your life.

4. During group training runs, don’t let anyone run alone.

5. Keep promises, especially ones made to yourself.

6. When doing group runs, start on time no matter who’s missing.

7. The faster you are the less you should talk about your times.

8. Keep a quarter in your pocket. One day you’ll need to call for a ride.

9. Don’t compare yourself to other runners.

10. All runners are equal, some are just faster than others.

11. Keep in mind that the later in the day it gets, the more likely it is that you won’t run.

12. For a change of pace, get driven out and then run back.

13. If it was easy, everybody would be a runner.

14. When standing in starting lines, remind yourself how fortunate you are to be there.

15. Getting out of shape is much easier than getting into shape.

16. A bad day of running still beats a good day at work.

17. Talk like a runner. “Singlets” are worn on warm days. “Tank tops” are worn to the beach.

18. Don’t talk about your running injuries. People don’t want to hear about your sore knee or black toe.

19. Don’t always run alone.

20. Don’t always run with people.

21. Approach running as if the quality of your life depended on it.

22. No matter how slow you run it is still faster than someone sitting on a couch.

23. Keep in mind that the harder you run during training, the luckier you’ll get during racing.

24. Races aren’t just for those who can run fast.25. There are no shortcuts to running excellence.

26. The best runs sometimes come on days when you didn’t feel like running.

27. Be modest after a race, especially if you have reason to brag.

28. If you say, “Let’s run this race together,” then you must stay with that person no matter how slow.

29. Think twice before agreeing to run with someone during a race.

30. There is nothing boring about running. There are, however, boring people who run.

31. Look at hills as opportunities to pass people.

32. Distance running is like cod liver oil. At first it makes you feel awful, then it makes you feel better.

33. Never throw away the instructions to your running watch.

34. Don’t try to outrun dogs.

35. Don’t trust runners who show up at races claiming to be tired, out of shape, or not feeling well.

36. Don’t wait for perfect weather. If you do, you won’t run very often.

37. When tempted to stop being a runner, make a list of the reasons you started.

38. Never run alongside very old or very young racers. They get all of the applause.

39. Without goals, training has no purpose.

40. During training runs, let the slowest runner in the group set the pace.

41. The first year in a new age group offers the best opportunity for trophies.

42. Go for broke, but be prepared to be broken.

43. Spend more time running on the roads than sitting on the couch.

44. Make progress in your training, but progress at your own rate.

45. “Winning” means different things to different people.

46. Unless you make your living as a runner, don’t take running too seriously.

47. Runners who never fail are runners who never try anything great.

48. Never tell a runner that he or she doesn't look good in tights.

49. Never confuse the Ben-Gay tube with the toothpaste tube.

50. Never apologize for doing the best you can.

51. Preventing running injuries is easier than curing them.

52. Running is simple. Don’t make it complicated.

53. Running is always enjoyable. Sometimes, though, the joy doesn’t come until the end of the run.

Home for Sale

I have an incredible home for sale. If you know of anyone who is in need of an incredible home here is the listing. http://www.utahrealestate.com/858836

House hunting

Robbie had to be up at Box Elder this am and so I set up some appt. to see some homes. I looked at 4. 2 were not what I wanted at all. The one I want is an enormous project. It honestly was totally gross to walk thru but I am a woman of vision. I really loved this house but it would cost a good $50,000 to make it into a really nice home. I don't think Robbie is looking for that kind of project it is also out in Corrine. Heaven that is all I have to say. The other house we looked at is actually really nice. It needs a little updating but nothing major and it has almost a half acre full of fruit trees in the back yard. I really like it a lot. It also was walking distance to the HS. That is huge.

Seriously what were we thinking

Had a realtor come and look at the house Tuesday to see what we could list our home for. Not kidding I have been cleaning for 3 days straight. He says the normal stuff the we knew we needed to do. By the way you live with a lot of crap when you just live somewhere but when you are getting ready to sell it is amazing at the stuff you can't live with anymore. Anyway I don't honestly think my house has been this clean in 6 years. He says and you need to get all the cobwebs off and make sure everything looks great. I look up on the fan above and of course it is the only light I didn't clean and it is nasty dirty. I ended up hiring the neighbor girls to help me finish doing all the stuff on the list. The boys are great for some things, deep cleaning is definitely not one of them.

2009 Family Newsletter

Moving

I was asleep. Then Robbie came home from the Box Elder wrestling tournament and woke me up and now my brain won't turn off. So we are moving. Crazy I know because we live in a totally amazing place. Robbie has a fantastic job, we love the schools, our kids have great friends but we are still moving. In December the Box Elder Football job in B City came open and we have always said that that would be a great place to live so we decided to apply. He went up for an interview the Monday before Christmas and they hired him on Tuesday. We told them we needed a couple of days and we prayed and fasted as a family. It is amazing when something is right how everyone in the family feels it is right. Brit and Breck were a huge part of this decision. This will be affecting them the most and they both felt good about it. Every time we think about moving there it is such a good feeling but we are sad to leave the friends we have made here. I have loved living in C-Ville. It is an awesome place. I am looking forward to B City. Change is always hard for me. I love it but major change takes me a while before I feel like it is home again.

Really

Seriously all I was asking for is one photo with everyone looking partially decent and this is what I got

It only took like 50 picture later to get this one and I think I caught them unaware. Love these kids.

The fancy McDonalds

Date night. Now that my children are older we do this on a regular basis. You know movie and dinner. So the boys were supposed to be else where tonight and Robbie told Malia that she could go with us but it was a nice restaurant and she would have to behave herself. She said,"Are we going to the McDonald?" Robbie said no that we were going to a nice restaurant. So her reply to that was, "Like the McDonald's in Bountiful?"

PLEASE-who taught that kid that the nice McDonald's is in Bountiful-She should know it is in the C-Ville Wal-Mart. Now that is classy date night. By the by we did not go there-We went Sizzler all the way!!!!!

Starting the New Year Off Right

How do I begin this? I could say that this year I want to be the best mother ever or I could say that I will finally fit into size 6 jeans( hold on I just laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants) or that I want to connect on so many -ally levels but lets be honest. I am talking about me here. So here are my resolutions for the next 6 months. A year is just to long.

1-Make sure Malia is not late for school every stinking day because her mother is the worst morning person ever. I know that I also have two boys but they both have alarms and get themselves up and to school. I supervise from bed (I know mom it is awful and I am sorry but that is how it is). It is pathetic but it is now my new #1 goal.

2-Once again I am running the Ogden half marathon with Robbie. This year we are going to be joined by Steve and Rachelle and I am looking forward to more people to run with me. I honestly have not run for 6 months and because of that have gained about 25 lbs back which I am so not happy with. My goal is to finish in 2 hours and 15 minutes. I finished in 2hours and 26 minutes last year. Tomorrow I start on the treadmill because I live in the frozen tundra!!!

OK I thought I had more but right now I am starting with 2. I may add more but goal #1 is going to kick my butt as it is.

New Years Sleep

Gunter PAAARRTYYY

The day after Christmas we headed to Idaho for the J&V family party. Tanner and Melanie had a weekend away and so we got to take McKenna with us. She was really good and was fun to have around. It was a blizzard and the idiots that we are we still went. The roads were horrible, only one lane open and the wind was blowing so hard that it was causing drifts on the freeway. I have found another reason to love the Suburban-4wheel drive. I love it. We got there safely and Robbie and his brothers went Snowmobiling in white out conditions. Crazy but he loved it.

Robbie being the drivers ed teacher thought that this would be a great experience for Brit to drive in winter conditions. Brit actually is a pretty good driver but it still freaks me out.

Shya, Brock, Rachelle, Malia, Kobee, Angie, Bentley, Ally

Our family has become so big that we do our party at the church. We eat OK stuff ourselves and then Vickie had a piano recital planned but forgot to tell some of us. Next year I will have my piece The Happy Farmer down. Breckin and Robbie are going to do a Baritone duet. We also do a pinata for the little kids. I have watched enough Funniest Videos to know that this is just an activity that men should stay away from. Luckily this year no injuries.

We also do a white elephant gift exchange. Here are the boys Brit, Breck, Dex, Tys, Braiden

Grandpa Sid, Grandma Helen, and Grandpa Jimmy at the gift exchange.

The next day Brock brought the Wii and Robbie was showing what he was made of by boxing. I think this is how he threw out his back.

Just before Cam was leaving he came in the helmet that he had to wear snowmobiling. They gave him the cool Canadian motorcycle helmet. And this man makes million dollar deals :). We had such a great time. I love the Gunters. They are a crazy bunch.

Hot date with the Senior Citizens

I know that this is not the cool thing to love but I can't help it. I love Sizzler Steaks. I normally don't eat anything else there but I love their steaks. The salad bar creeps me out but I love their steaks and the atmosphere. I can actually talk to Robbie without yelling. Texas Roadhouse just opened up here and the food is good but the atmosphere is a definite thumbs down. Every time we have been there we have to wait in line for what seems like forever crammed into a tiny hallway touching other people. UGH! Also there are peanuts everywhere. I know, who doesn't like to throw peanut shells on the floor but really wearing flip flops in there is a definite no no and I swear that is all I wear and I always get shells on my feet. GROSS! Plus it is so stinking loud in there that you can't talk to anyone. Maybe that is a good thing. I will take Robbie there when he is really bugging me and I don't want to talk but any other time I think I will stick with the senior citizens at Sizzler

Christmas 2008

Christmas this year was really great. A little on the excessive side but it was wonderful. Christmas Morning-It was about 8am-Meena looks like the only one excited. We go into my room and read the Christmas story and talk about the real reason for Christmas and then say a prayer. It was pretty cool.

It is tradition that on Christmas Eve we play games-This year we played Sorry card revenge. Mom and Dad Willey dropped by and played a couple of hands. They were flying out to PA for their 40th Anniversary and to see Ethan's blessing. We also make signs on the Eve so that Santa knows where to put our gifts. I will say that the signs have definitely been better in the past. This year we were all lame.

We are definitely not clean Christmas package openers.

Robbie's favorite thing that he got was a Magellan navigation system from a friend. I thought it would be totally lame but that thing is the best. It is so worth it.

Malia wearing her Mountain goat hat that I got from the boutique.
I told the boys that I wanted smiles this year in photos and not dur durt dur dur photos. So this is the boys trying really hard.This was the best wrapped present I got. I ran out of wrapping paper and so Malia had to use newspaper and she did NOT want help. She did this with no help at all. I actually was really proud of her. She did it herself.