Giving Blood

BS and I took a break from our work date with Aerie and volunteered at the church for the blood drive.  Then we donated too.  We raced to see who could fill the bag the quickest.  He won, but barely.

This took me back to the days when I worked on the mobile blood donor team at Utah Valley hospital while I was going through nursing school.  I loved that job!  Maybe I'll go back.

By the way kids - Dad is A positive and Mom is O positive.

A Nice Day

We try to spend as many free summer days as we can at ECR, but it's never enough.

I took my bike and rode solo up to Snowbasin.  It is quite a climb, but it was so nice because it was cloudy and not so hot. It started to rain just as I reached the lodge.  I took some time to enjoy the rain and some rare time to myself.  But then it rained all the way back down to Mountain Green.

I made it!

 When I got back the kids were fishing in the pond.  I helped Will's friend Maddux catch his first fish.

 My boys think it's so funny that I know how to set up fishing lines, bait the hook, catch a fish, let it go, or gut it :)

 

And of course, the usual 4 wheeling and motorcycling.

It's so great that we can bring friends up here and they can just be kids in the outdoors. Explore and do whatever they want and just be kids.

What a nice day!

Pamperfest

In July, my friend Kelly talked me in to doing a cycling event called The Pamperfest.  It is a 4 woman relay from Snowbasin to The Homestead in Midway.  Even though I haven't been riding much, I figured I could handle 2 legs that were 20 miles each.  As unfortunate events played out, Kelly's Dad passed away and she had to miss the event.  I decided to still go for it - but instead 4 of us rode together for the last 3 legs, equaling 67 miles.  That would have been fine, except we started at noon.  Noon in July.  It was soooo stinking hot!  I struggled at one point but for the most part I really enjoyed my day with awesome people!  Even better was the 30 minute massage I got at the finish line, in the shade, at the beautiful park.

Jenny, Brenda, me, Dee

From Kamas to Heber with Jordanelle in the distance

But the best part of the day was coming home a scrumptious homemade cheesecake that Millie made

just for me!

Birthday Skiing!

 To celebrate our birthdays, BS and I couldn't think of anything better than having a family ski day!

We took the kids to Wolf Mountain in Huntsville - it was pretty close to where we were staying, and we love how they have a 1:00-9:00 pass option for cheap.  They also have great hills/tree runs for the kids - even a great beginner hill.

Quincy did awesome!  And bonus: she LOVED it!

Millie and the boys have really improved - they love to go through the trees and find jumps - just like what my friends and I used to do!  Millie is loving her new {used} boots and skis.

Kirk & Heidi brought their kids for the afternoon and they were so fun to watch.  Quincy loved skiing with her cousins!  Here is Kirk and Cole on the magic carpet:

 

Alix, Quincy, Millie:

 

Millie and Sambo just before dark.  I love what good buds they are, they really stick together.

 

When we were all exhausted and cold after a big day skiing, we met everyone at a local joint in Eden for hot chocolate and Mexican food.  It was delicious...almost as delicious as the fazookies we ate for our birthday dessert at the cabin.  What a perfect way to end a perfect day!  

I look forward to many more family ski days!

Maui

We've been home only a few weeks and already I want to go back!  There were 12 of us Clarks on this trip - Jim & Judy, Brady & Sarah, Adam & Jess, Sean & Megan, Jordan & Jenny.  We had such a great time and it was heaven for BS and I to have some alone time.  We celebrated our 16th anniversary <3

Grandpa Tom and Grandma Cindy took care of the kids - it really helped me be able to relax knowing they were in good hands.  Knowing I didn't have to go anywhere or do anything was priceless although we didn't lay still for too long.  We did a good job at balancing just enough play with just enough lay.

Highlights: Scuba diving {it's been 10 years since our last dive}, snorkeling & swimming with big Sea Turtles, the beautiful Road to Hana, fresh fish tacos, laying by the pool & shaved ice with coconut ice cream, paddle boarding and surfing, Warren & Annabelle's show, shopping in Whaler's Village and Lahaina, sleeping in!

Thanks Jim and Jude for planning and putting together this vacation!  We love you!

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Gooooooo Mom!

Back in January it sounded like a good idea - signing up for some athletic events to keep me motivated to get in shape.  Lots of emails started floating around from a bunch of my girlfriends about this and that event, and "who's in?" I already knew I wanted to participate in the "Goldilocks" and "Little Red Riding Hood."  Those were no-brainers.  But then I got talked into signing-up for a half-marathon and a triathlon.
Like I said, it sounded good back in January.  But then the months flew by like they always do.  And the weather was cold and rainy.  And rainy and cold.  It was very hard for me to train indoors on a treadmill and not once did I ride an indoor biking contraption of any sort (spin bike, bike trainer, exercise bike).  So I was cramming {which I am very good at...in whatever I'm doing}.

First was the Thanksgiving Point Half-Marathon.  I have never enjoyed running in the past, but I have never really given it a fair chance.  Turns out, once I ran regularly for a few weeks, I realized it isn't completely miserable.  Just a little.  I'm not a runner.  But I did it enough to be able to enjoy the race a little bit.  Originally I was going to do the Utah Valley half with 2 of my sister-in-laws, but when I discovered we were going to be out of town I registered for this one...it was close and nice scenery.  I had already committed in my mind so I had to follow-through.  Despite the SNOW that morning and the fact that I'm a total rookie, I managed to have a good race experience.  I think I finished in 2:08.  I probably could have gone a bit faster, but I wasn't sure how fast to run for the first half because I had yet to run more than 8 miles total {which I did twice} in my life.  Just inexperienced and little time to train.  The best part of the day was when I turned the last corner and heard my name and saw 2 of my best friends cheering me on at the finish!  BS was out of town and my parents had my kids so they came to support me.  Thanks girls!

Look at the snow on these tulips - race was during the Tulip Festival

Finish line in sight!

I love these girls!

Next was Goldilocks.  This is a fantastic, organized, "cute" event that starts and finishes in Daybreak.  By cute I mean cute shirts, cute water bottles, cute decorations, cute and yummy food {including homemade cookies}, and a cute necklace at the finish line.  We all decided to stick together and rode 68 miles.  It was perfect weather and a great time with friends!

Then it was the dreaded triathlon.  I've only done this once before {3 years ago} and crossed it off of my list so I don't know why I signed-up.  Probably because some friends were doing it and I figured I would only need to worry about the swim.  And this time it was in a pool.  The "Women of Steel" event is in American Fork and is women only.  It was actually pretty nice...good weather and a course that was pretty flat.  Of course the swimming was a joke on my end but once that part was over it was great!  BS even surprised me by showing up for support and taking pictures.  I'll leave the ones that involve swim caps, goggles, and skinnies out :)

Quite a sight - hundred of women in a pool at the same time.  Don't judge my form :)

Coming into transition from biking to running

Clapping for myself at the finish!

Last, it was Little Red Riding Hood which starts and finishes near Logan.  I have done this ride twice before and it is always a great experience.  Nothing wrong with enjoying a nice meal with friends at Maddox on the drive up, staying at a hotel enjoying peace and quiet, yummy frozen yogurt for a good night snack, and riding 100 miles with thousands of women on a gorgeous route with perfect weather.   This is also very organized with a really cute theme each year.  Awesome aid stations and cute bike chain bracelet at the finish.

 I'm proud of our group's efforts and for finishing all together!  Thanks friends!

And thanks BS for your help so I can do these fun events!

15 Years of Bliss & the sweetest kids ever!

The day after Easter was our 15th wedding anniversary!  It was a Monday night but thanks to Millie's awesome babysitting skills, we managed to go out on a hot date.  First we got pedicures (yes BS too) and then we ate at a really yummy restaurant, and then to the movies.  We saw "Water for Elephants" which I was anxious to see because I had read the book.  It was a great show.

About halfway through the movie, Millie texted me asking me to call home when we were 10 minutes away.  I didn't ask why and acted oblivious but I knew that she had to be up to something.  So we called and gave them the 10 minute warning, wondering what we were coming home to.

We walked up to the front door and saw this:

Then the door opened and we were greeted by the children dressed-up in their Sunday best clothes.  They had decorated the entry and family room with signs all over the place.  They sat us on the couch and handed us a drink and a freshly baked cookie that they had made.  Then they told us to watch the TV.  Soon our wedding video started.  Millie told us that they wanted us to re-live our wedding day, and that they were our wedding guests.  How sweet is that?

Rotated, this one says "every kiss begins with kay."  Will wrote this one :)

At the bottom says "May your love continue"  I love the spelling ;)

 BS has truly given me the best 15 years and the best 4 little kids I could ever wish for.  I can't even get started talking about him and how blessed I am to have him and how I feel about him because I will never, ever, ever stop.  It's okay because he knows how much {I love him}.  I am very lucky.