Sometimes you just have to get out

 This has been the coldest February! We have received tons of snow this month.  We had a snow day and so I missed my bike ride.  I grabbed the boys once it melted and we went out exploring all on our own in our new back yard.  

A Day at the Temple

 Today, Nolen was able to attend the temple for the very first time.  It happened so fast.  We got the message Thursday night and then went Friday morning.  We had to get recommends the night before but we made it!  It was a beautiful day filled with the spirit. 

A Snow Day!

 Finally, we had a snow day!

This winter has been pretty warm and dry.  We haven't had a lot of moisture and it was been unseasonably warm.  Well, I use "warm" loosely as it has been 19 degrees for my Tuesday/Thursday bike rides.  HA!

The boys were excited to get out in the snow and play.  I forced everyone to smile for one photo.  

Melanie!

 My friend Melanie came to visit for two days.  It was dreamy.  We never slept.  We talked all day and all night.  I had rehearsal so that sort of got in the way, but we got so much done.  We went on two walks, painted a wall, and decorated the shelves.  

I am so glad I got to spend some quality with Melanie.  She means the world to me and our friendship has grown so much over the years.  I am so glad we live closer.  While she was here I wanted to snap a photo of us by the river.  We walked down to the river and I turned to get a photo.  As I took the photo, my phone slipped out of my hand and fell right in to the river.  It was like slow motion.  It hit the ground then slid right into the water.  I jumped in with my new Nike running shoes on and new Zyia running gloves.  I felt around where I saw the phone disappear and didn't feel the phone.  Then I moved my hand just a bit and caught the side of it.  I grabbed again and pulled my phone out of the water.  I am so glad I found it!  The Rio Grande is a muddy river!  I am sure I would have never found it had I not jumped in as quickly as I did.  We finished our walk and my hands and feet were frozen the entire time.

 

I have also decided I do not spend enough quality time with my boys.  AND for that reason I am so upset at myself for saying yes to doing Frida, the opera with Opera Southwest.  It was a mistake.  It takes up so much time and I just do not have that kind of time to give.  I work 20+ hours a week, home school my boys, and I am training for a marathon.  I really should have thought through all the things that are important to me and being a part of an opera is not one of them right now.  

With this in mind, I decided to take my boys on a little date just to remind them (and me) that I love them.

 

Phoenix Rock 'n Roll Marathon and a Half

 This weekend, Stephen and I wanted some redemption for our 2020 marathon.  My legs were not quite ready to run 26.2 miles, but Stephen's were ready.  He ran the full marathon in 3 hours and 55 minutes! It was incredible to watch him accomplish his goal.  I ran the half marathon in 2008 and it took me 2 hours and 36 minutes.  I wanted to prove to myself that I could run it in under 2 hours.  I ran it in 1 hour and 54 minutes.  

It was so crowded.  There were 15,000 people out there that morning.  I passed 8,000 of them.  I started in the back after waiting in line for 30 minutes to go to the bathroom.  Stephen started a little after 8 AM and he was with a lot of walkers, so he had to pass a lot of people.  I had a great race except for the unexpected knee pain that crept in at mile 9.  That means I have a lot of work to do in order to run a full marathon someday.  

We stayed with Craig and Blair and it was amazing.  After the run we went to Omni spa to relax.  It was anything but relaxing.  We were starving and thought it would be a good idea to eat lunch up at the pool.  Blair and I ordered food that took an hour to finally arrive.  The service was absolutely terrible.  The food was not worth the wait. I was so hungry.  I went to my massage and the massage therapist JUMPED on me and used her knees to massage my sore hamstrings after I ran 13 miles! It was excruciating.  

After the spa we went to a delicious dinner at Stake 44.  Wow, best stake I have ever tasted.  We ate all the delicious food and I went right to sleep when we got back to Craig and Blair's house.  All in all a wonderful weekend!