Boys Like Girls!

So I've had kindof a lucky week! A band called Boys Like Girls was coming in concert to Tuacahn! I have 2 of their songs on my ipod, and I'm really picky about what I put on my ipod. They're even in my running mix that is only long enough to get me through a half marathon which means this is really my kind of music. But the tickets were a little overpriced so we weren't going to go.

On Wednesday morning, after my 6 am run, I was in the car and they were talking about it on the radio and then played their song, "the Great Escape." I started to get really sad again that we weren't going to go. I ran into Harmon's to grab a few things for Lincoln's birthday party and when I got back in the car I heard on the radio..."and also qualify to win backstage passes for Boys Like girls, call ###-###" So I picked up my phone and started dialing. It was busy about 3 times and then it was ringing. And I just had a feeling....

"Hello, the planet, whose this?" (Natalie) "Natalie, your'e caller # 9!" And I say, is that what you were looking for! Turns out it was! So I won 2 tickets and also 2 tickets to the movie, but it had to be that day, and I was qualified for a drawing to win backstage passes. I never try to win things on the radio - but this was something I really wanted! I was so excited and couldn't wait to get home and tell Tyler. A few minutes later they replayed my phone call on the air, and I sounded really dumb cuz I didn't know if I was the right caller but oh well - I love a good concert, especially when I know and love the music.

So Wednesday night after Linc's birthday party - see below- I ran to book club for an hour and then Ty and I went to redeem our free movies at a 9:45 showing! How can you not go to the movie if its free? Super fun! And On Friday morning on my way to Yoga my phone rings! "Hi this is Larae from the planet, do you have any idea why I might be calling you?" (Did I win backstage passes?) "You did!" So funny! Not sure if they replayed that phone call or not, I had to get to Yoga!

So last night I was super ready for a fun night out with Ty. I did a 67 mile bike ride, the tour de st. george, yesterday morning. It was a blast but I was definitely starving for a good dinner! We went to Bajio and then headed out to Tuacahn! They let everyone with backstage passes into the dance room and it was just a quick moment with the band to snap a photo and we asked them to sign our backstage passes! We felt really old in a room full of teenagers but it was still pretty fun!

When we were walking into the concert we saw Aaron and Darbe (Aaron works Ty and we've been to lots of concerts with them at the shoe show and others in Vegas. Aaron's been the lead singer for a few bands and they are both VERY into music) Darbe's brother was working the spotlights and they were sitting up in the booth and invited us up there with them. It was a little chilly so we took them up on it. After the two opening bands we moved some folding chairs outside onto the catwalk in front of the booth to watch the main show. They were great seats! An unobstructed view from up high! We couldn't see detail but it was really fun! I tried to take a pic of us with my phone in the dark...Aaron got cut out! Oh well!

Boys Like Girls put on a great show! They have a new album coming out and I hope its as good as the first! They had lots of personality on stage and were totally clean and I can say I like every song on their first album, usually I just like 1 maybe 2. Here are a couple of quick videos of "Thunder" and "Great Escape" If you know the songs you can probably understand the lyrics. We were too far away and I was videoing with my phone so sorry you can't see anything!

Lincoln's first birthday!

So our baby is one! Does that mean he's not a baby anymore? I say no, even though he's starting to look like a big boy!! His first birthday was Wednesday, March 25th. We invited over My mom and dad, Bree's family, Kami's family, Eric's family, the Edwards and our neighbors the Frasier's. We had pizza, let Linc try to open some presents and of course let Lincoln have his very own chocolate cake!!! Linc on his new four wheeler from Grandma and Grandpa Christensen who we will be home from their mission soon and we can't wait! Thanks - we love you!
Just starting to dig in and looking pretty happy about it!

Getting his little feet involved!

MMMMM!

He totally loved every minute of it! It was hilarious!

And then Grandma swooped him up and threw him in the bathtub! If anyone has problems with dry skin, try chocolate frosting, Linc didn't need any lotion after this bath!

Happy Birthday Baby - We Love You!!

Spring Break!

Our Spring Break was full of nonstop action! We were so lucky to have a week full of amazing weather and lots of fun friends to spend the warm days with! It seems like Spring Break is usually windy and everyone is gone! This year couldn't have been better!

Monday: We went the sand dunes in snow canyon in the afternoon! We went with Kami and her kids, Eric and his girls, and Bree and her girls! It was the first day I'd worn shorts in a long time and it felt so nice. The sand was perfect and the kids stayed happy. Even the babies loved it - Lucy (Eric's, 14 months) was hilarious rolling around in it and throwing it in her own hair!

Tuesday: Kami and I each took our two oldest and spent the day in Brianhead. It was such a warm day and fun to see all the festive people in green for St. Pattie's Day! Morgan and Cameron are getting to be great skiiers but I still couldn't get in front of them in case one of them needed help! And one of them always did! It turned out to be a fun, but very eventful day! Christian, Cameron, Morgan, Abby, Kami, & Nat

Wednesday: The first pool day of the year! We had lots of fun with Kami and Bree's families plus some of our fun neighborhood friends. We love the pool at Summit for the kids! I was in heaven, all winter I've been thinking about pool days and actually feeling heat - I know I'm a wimpy St. George girl but this winter just dragged on way to long for me!

Thursday: We took the kids to Zion for a picnic and hiking! We packed up lunches and ate them on the grass in front of the lodge. Then we hiked up Emerald pools with a few moms and many children, what an adventure!! There was Kami's family, Bree's family, the Lewis's, the Stewarts, the Bairds and the Taylors.

Lainee is too much! I'm not sure whether to be proud of her or keep her in the house for the rest of her life because she scares me so bad! On the way up she got away from me - she's very independent and has no fear! When Bree and I caught up with Staci and Trisha, they said that her and Ellie were racing! So we sent one of the big boys after them and reminded them to stay with us! On the way back down from the upper pool she got away from me again. A nice man at the fork was kind enough to tell me which way she had gone - the right way thank goodness- and I caught up to her at the middle pool. I reminded her again to stay with me. Then I stopped to fix Lincoln's backpack because he was down to low and when I was done Lainee and Ellie were gone again. They had gone with Morgan but I knew they would get away from her so I quickly started heading down the trail trying to find them. I was also trying my hardest not to look at the cliffs on my left side and think what could happen to a 4 year old running down the trail. After not too long I found Morgan sitting on the side waiting for me. At the point I started running down the trail with Lincoln on my back trying to find the girls. Pretty soon Ellie came walking back so I took her by the hand and walked as quickly as I could until I found Lainee who had caught up with the big boys! The icing on the cake is that in the car on the way home Lainee said, "I thought we were going to go on a hike!" Apparently that wasn't a hike because we were on a trail the whole time! I wonder who her dad is???

Lincoln enjoying a treat at the upper pool!
Lincoln and one of his girlfriends Madi Lewis, Look, they're holding hands!!

Natalie, Linc, Madi, & Heather

Oakley & Staci Taylor, Nat & Linc

A group of the super hikers!!

Friday: And Friday we were back to swimming at Summit! So much Fun!

Heads or Tails??

I got Kami's camera from her to get pics from Spring Break. On her memory card I found these pics of Linc on Christmas Eve!! Fun, I'd forgotten about these pictures! I'm so in love with those big blue eyes! But how about those cute pincheable bum cheeks?? - he must have gotten away from me in the middle of a diaper change! Can a mother choose which end she likes best? So I ask you - Head or Tails?

Lovin' Springtime!

Last Friday Bree was over with her girls after their little dance class. Her and I were chillin' inside and we looked out the window and saw Lainee pushing Ashtyn in the swing. Then a few minutes later we noticed that Lainee had taken a rope and tied their swings together so that she could swing and push her at the same time! SMART GIRL! We decided to go out and take a picture and ended up staying outside with the kids for about 3 hours! I am so happy spring is here!

Lainee lovin' the monkey bars! We also spent a little time teaching her how to ride her 2 wheeler. She's almost got it but the bike is a little big for her, which makes starting and stopping really hard!

It felt so nice outside, Bree and I laid on the tramp and let Lincoln crawl all over us while the older kids enjoyed the swings, bikes, and cars!

Linc is excited Spring is here too! He's so happy outside!

Gonna make it short! Gotta take the kids swimming to enjoy a little more of this weather!!!

Happy us!

My Weekend of R & R

Did you know I meant Reuniting and Running????

So the reuniting all started with facebook - of course! My friend Malea posted a picture of all of us at our 1994 Jetette Reunion, 15 years ago, my Jr. year at Dixie High! We all started commenting on the photo and before you know it we had a reunion planned! At around 3:30 on Friday March 6th we met at Erin's mother's home in Santa Clara (thanks Bonnie)! I couldn't resist wearing my Hot Pink warm up outfit that we wore that whole year! We would wear them to school on game days, at competitions, and when we were at Disneyland they made it really easy to find each other! Plus, Hope paid me a dollar to wear it - how could I turn that down!

Our awesome advisor, Laurel Peterson, came for a little while to catch up! She is still the Jetettes advisor and her beautiful daughter, McKenzie, who we all potty trained, is now a Sr. Jetette. While everyone was arriving we watched some video of our old half-time performances and competitions. Hope had gotten her brother-in-law to convert the vhs tapes to dvd and we all got a copy!!


Nikki put together a fun game! We each submitted a favorite Jetette Memory and a current fact and then tried to guess whose was whose. Can you tell how much fun we had remembering old times!!

While we ate our delicious meal from Pizza Factory we watched a dvd slide show that Malea put together! She took so much time and did pictures of us then and pictures of us now with our families - priceless! Thanks Malea!!!

One last group picture before we head off to the review - are you glad I changed my clothes?? We had 16 out of 24 girls come and really missed the ones who couldn't make it. Tahlia flew from Wisconsin, Bryn drove up from Pheonix with her four month old baby, and others made the drive from San Diego or northern Utah. Thanks for the effort girls!It was so fun to watch the current Jetettes perform at their review! They were wonderful and it brought back so many memories! We had to take another picture in the D!

After the review we ended up at - wherelse?? - Frostop! We stayed and chatted until 11:00 when they closed and then stood in the parking lot in the cold for about a half an hour longer!! What a SUPER GREAT night!!

And next comes the running!

After staying out until midnight I was up again at 5:30. It really was a flash back to highschool weekend!!

Some of my favorite girls and I were on a team at the first annual Lake to Lake Relay! The race started at Gunlock Reservoir and had 10 legs of about 5 miles each. So each of us ran twice! With Staci as our team captain, the pressure was on! We not only had to win, but we had to look good too!!

Staci, Trisha, Jamie, Natalie, & Nat

This is our before pic at Gunlock. It was really cold and we felt bad leaving Natalie there to start the race for us! She ran 6 miles to the old highway where I tagged in and ran to Ivins! By then the sun was shining on me and I got super hot! It turned out to be the most beautiful day for running and we ended up in skirts and our matching yellow tank tops!

It was such a releif to be done with my first leg and feel good about it. We had fun driving from exchange to exchange and stopping along the way to cheer on our runner and take pics and video! This is Trish and I waiting for Natalie to run in from Leg 6 and tag me onto leg 7. By this point in the race we were completely alone! There were 3 all men teams and one co-ed team at least 10 minutes ahead of us and we couldn't see anyone behind us!

This is at the Dr.'s free clinic on Riverside. I ran under river road and on the trail that comes back out on Riverside near the dinosaur tracks. From there I went into the industrial area and tagged off to Trisha. She went through the fields out Washington Dam road and into the dirt where she had a tough hill and then tagged off to Jamie who had four miles of uphill dirt!

Staci was our anchor and ran the last leg on the road that goes to Sand Hollow! We all ran across the finish line with her! Ahhhh Victory!

50 miles in 5 hours and 50 minutes!!! We waited 15 minutes before 3 co-ed teams came across the finish line....not sure how long it was until another all woman team finished!! I have got some Hot Fast Friends!!!!

There was an awards banquet that night and we let Linc go a little nutty with the cookies! Nothin' like a happy baby!!!

Here's Staci with our Women's Division Champion's plaque! Besides winning first place we also won best dressed team - thanks to our leg warmers I do believe! We won a couple of fun goody bags and each got a baton that said first place on it!

And after this awesome weekend I can't stop thinking about how lucky I have been my whole life to be surrounded by amazing girls! I love you all!!!!

Brianhead with the Kids!

Thursday, February 26, we took all the kids to Brianhead! Yes, I said all the kids! The plan was for Ty to take Linc in the Baby Bjorn while teaching Lainee to ski at the same time! Yes, he's coordinated enough to do this. No, Linc isn't patient enough for it to work!

We still had an amazing day! It was Sunny and pretty warm, the only way I really enjoy myself while boarding! We had a couple of good runs with our whole family in tact but by the end of the second run, it was way past naptime and Linc had had it! I took him into the lodge and hung with him while Ty taught Lainee how to ski!Jordan Christensen joined us for the day which was really fun! And we needed the extra coordinated skiier to help Lainee learn. When they all came in for lunch I grabbed my board and headed out for a few runs! Then Ty came out with the kids and said Jordan was ok with Linc for a little bit! He checked on him once and they were both asleep in the lodge! Thanks Jordan!!!!

I ended up back in the lodge with Linc for the last hour. It was so fun to ski with my kids. It's exciting to me that they are getting big enough to join us on all of our adventures!

Mo and Cam do so well on their skiis! It was so fun for me to watch them go. Last winter I was pregnant while they learned and hadn't seen them!

Lainee had lots of fun once she got the hang of it and Ty figured out the best way to use the harness! FYI, around the waste is better than the shoulders! I'm so sad I missed the photo opportunity that looked like this with Linc in the carrier strapped to the front of Ty.

Somehow we lost Lainee's gloves before we even started - I know, it's a shocker! Her little knit back up gloves were getting all wet so she ended up with Ty's gloves on! I saw complete strangers stopping her to take pictures - of course she just smiled and posed!

Cam's hitting the jumps all ready. The battery on the camera died right after this one so I missed some of the best ones! How does that saying go.....Like Father like Son!!

The one mistake I made that day was giving the kids the sunscreen and telling them to put it on themselves! You should have seen their faces the next morning! Raccoon eyes and funky lines all over the place. I sent them to school with a reminder to have a good sense of humor!

Snow Run in Snow Canyon

How often can you run in the Snow in Snow Canyon??? This run was on Valentine's Day! We ran up and back (10 miles total) the West Canyon of Snow Canyon! When we started at the bottom the road was icy and slippery, it was a very cold morning! By the time we got to the top of the trail we were running on a snow packed trail! It's so interesting that only 20 minutes away at my house there was no sign of snow! I had no idea what I was in for that morning, and as hard as it was to run uphill in the snow, the view from the top was completely worth it!!