New favorite color...R A D.

We came, we ran, we got plastered in neon colored corn starch. This was definitely one of the funnest races I have done! The course was fun and the race went really fast (even though it wasn't timed). Glad to have Dad, Bree, Ty and uncle Todd there- aside from Dad complaining and throwing corn starch on random people while we waited :) Note to self for next year, stay in the packs as you run through the "color stations". I got hammered right in the eye ball by some punk kid chucking it full force at my face- push the smaller kids to the sides first.

After a 40 minute shower, my skin was back to pink with a few spots still blue/green today. My shoes and water belt however, probably will be seeing race residue for a while.  

BEFORE

Riding Dirty

TWO HANDS!

So handsome in his church clothes.

Kingston is 10 months old!!Everyone says it- where has the time gone? This kid is pulling up to the furniture, standing on his own for 4-5 seconds, is pretty much DONE with baby food, has still only two teeth, gives the best kisses, wasn't even fazed by the grass on his knees and is such a big boy!

We have now also entered "limp noodle" mode which makes holding this child on your lap almost like grabbing a greased piglet-church is awesome! He wants to crawl, get up in the mix and eat anything on the floor. He loves to wave, say "more" in sign language and has already mastered head nodding and "no nos".

I can't believe this tiny boy is almost a year old...

The Squinty Smile

Red Sand and Rock Climbing

Sad to say but Mark and I are Utah natives and have NEVER  stepped foot into Moab.We decided that when Mark's sister Debbie and her family were heading down, we could tag along. We are so glad we did! It was awesome!! We left early Friday afternoon sans children (who would be living it up at Casa Thomas. Thanks Auntie Bree!). Friday night we visited The Arches National Park- so amazing.
We went down for the sole purpose of scoping out the land of Red Rock in these sweet little side-by-side ATV's. They were AWESOME! We picked them up Saturday afternoon and spent four hours rock climbing and zipping over trails that no Jeep could handle. We took them out first thing Sunday before we left, on a trail that Jim said took him 2 hours in a Jeep...yeah, we were there in 20 minutes in these gems. I got to drive them to Gemini Bridges and that was so fun! Way better than any mountain bike, Jeep or Four Wheeler! Although Mark and I felt slightly under dressed, without our Keens, hip packs, dreadlocks and zip-off pants, we are definitely going back!

The Twin Arches

Our $20,000 dream ATV's

Me & the Hubs @ Gemini

Me, Mark and Alex

Moab, we salute you!

Easter 2012

This year, the Easter holiday spanned two full weeks! We started off with Mary Ann's annual hunt and prize raffle, the Saturday before. Mc was far more adept with gathering eggs this year and managed to rustle up about $5 in cash and plenty of candy. The following Saturday, G & Chris's for more eggs. More candy. Golf Cart rides. Saturday evening, the Lawrence family Easter @ our house. We made paper plate chickies (pinterest), dyed eggs, had a yarn "egg hunt"  and finished the night off with a fire.

We have been back in Utah for two years but with every holiday, it always solidifies that THIS is where we are supposed to be. We love to watch Mc playing with her cousins, spending time gorging ourselves surrounded by family and realizing how blessed we are to be so close to the people that love us most.

I also had the opportunity to teach the Young Women on Easter. There was no designated lesson and I stressed over the content for weeks. The Atonement is one that is so personal and for me, personal means crying. So through tears, I shared the events of the last week of the Savior's life and what he did for us personally. What an amazing blessing.



The Williamsons



The "Go Cart"

The chickies

The Lawrence Family (sans Brayden)

Dying eggs



The kidlets. I think this picture shows how much alike THEY look. There are pieces of Mark and I but they are definitely siblings.



Desperately Seeking- Yoga Pants

Today is a day of sadness. I am in mourning for the loss of my favorite pair of running/yoga/"go the store wearing Nikes and these so it looks like I just got done working out" pants. They have been wearing thin in the crotch for a while now and today, after my run, they gave up the ghost. These pants got me through the "cold" winters of Arizona, ran my first half marathon and have been through countless no shower Saturdays. Now, finding a pair comparable to these has been no easy task. Hence, why this pair made it to the point of me being able to see my inner thigh. So the quest begins for the perfect pair.

Criteria:

1) Stretchy

2) relatively dark in color to mask the ever present butt jiggle

3) Cheap- come on, I am not spending the $95 they want at Nike

4) POCKETS- this seems to be the most illusive- I need a place for my ipod, keys.

See, is that really too much to ask? 

So with great sadness, I say farewell. Guess I have to bust out the shorts that will not mask the hairy, iridescent legs these glorious pants have concealed all winter. My apologies.

The calendar on the wall, is ticking the days off....

Kingston is NINE months old! I can't believe that he has been here as long as he was in my stomach! He weighed in @ 19.5 lbs at his last appointment and is a healthy, happy kid. He is cruising ALL over, pulls himself up, loves eating big people food and is FINALLY (fingers crossed) consistently sleeping through the night. He has two teeth and loves Ritz crackers and cheese like his daddy. Everyone always comments on how "happy" and "mellow" he is and we have to agree. He is so pleasant and the sweetest little boy. Just boggles my mind that we are approaching one year since he joined our family.

 In other news, my sweet sister-in-law Marsha, invited me to go with her to the City Creek Press opener. While we were waiting outside of Tiffany's, security told us we needed to watch for the golf cart that was like a mile away, coming toward us. I could see a bunch of "old dudes" as I so lovingly called them and wondered why we were being so careful. As they turned the corner, I couldn't mistake Elder Uchtdorf (or the "Silver Fox") and Pres. Eyring & then Pres. Monson. Now, I have lived in Utah my WHOLE life and have only seen these men from the pulpit of the conference center. It was awesome! Such cute men just out for a stroll to see the beautiful mall they are building. It really is an amazing place! So many awesome stores. Marsh and I also went into L'Occetaine and the lady hooked us up with $100 in free swag- one bottle of cologne for Mark that Brad Pitt wears. Mark's comment, "Smells like old man. But in a good way".

This weekend, my sister in laws and mother in law, and I went up to celebrate mine and Amy's "dirty 30". Tradition serves shopping at the outlets, dinner @ the Shabu Shabu house and then a fun night chatting until 1:00 AM in Marsha's condo. Sure love these ladies!

 And here is our sweet Mckinley! This was her first real kite experience. I am not sure if she was crying because of the wind (she is deathly afraid) or that her Rapunzel kite plummeted to the earth. She is getting SO big. She loves her ponies, reading books from the library about squids and bugs, chocolate and "Guest in Boots" (Puss in Boots). She keeps life interesting and I am pretty sure I say her name 1000 times a day ("get down Mckinley. eat your dinner, Mckinley. Come here, Mckinley)- glad I picked a name we love. Still debating on pre-school this year. Still trying to learn to French braid her beautiful hair. Still pretty sure we are guessing every day on how to parent a three year old :)

Maybe not.

I was debating on taking my children to the mall in their Easter get ups to go and see the Easter Bunny. That is, until I saw this on a website I frequent. For $59.99 you too, can buy your own creepy, bunny costume! Can you imagine waking your children up wearing this thing? Hopping into my three year old's room in the early morning hours...no amount of chocolate would console her I am sure.

I had flashbacks of Donnie Darko and thought, maybe it would be best to not traumatize my children..at least, not this year. We save the best trauma for Santa.