3 Amazing Years

Nathan took me on a lift ride up at Sundance Ski Resort.  The scenery was beautiful and calm.  Being on the lift made us slow down, look around at our beautiful surroundings, and enjoy the completely un-rushed time we were giving each other.  We just enjoyed how in love we still are!

Afterwards we went out to eat at The Frontier Grill right by the lift...I wish I could say that the meal was amazing...it wasn't (maybe amazingly expensive) but the atmosphere is relaxed and comfy and again, just being with each other and not having to chase a toddler around the restaurant was very nice.  (*a big Thanks to Jessica and Brad (and Bailey) Johnson for watching Harlow so Nathan and I could enjoy some us time for our anniversary)  On the way down the mountain we played a game where we went through the alphabet and we each said something we love about the other that started with that letter.  (Nathan's a good sport to play my games with me...like the dice game the night before ;) - super liked that one)

We drove by a theater in Provo, but nothing sounded good.  Then we got a text from Jessica saying that Harlow had thrown up twice...we were already heading home so it didn't cut the night short but we sure felt bad that they had to deal with that.  We stopped at the Creamery on 9th for some yummy Butter Pecan ice cream and then to pick up Harlow.

We ended up borrowing 50 First Dates and watching it.  Super cute movie...wish it was more clean

The whole night was wonderful, just Nathan and I.  It's been a long time since we've been out just the two of us and it felt nice.  I am grateful for the love Nathan so freely and abundantly gives me!  He makes my world beautiful and bright...I'll save the rest of the mushy stuff for my Nathan to hear :)  But I will say that I am so thankful for this man who is my husband and my love, the Father of our Harlow and other children to come.  I don't know what I would do without him in my life! These truly have been the best 3 years of my life and looking forward to many, many more to come <3

Boating w/Kyle and Heidi

Kyle and Heidi have invited us out boating with them quite a few times this summer but we've always been busy until today!  We met up at their place and got the boat all ready.  I feel like I grew up on Utah Lake and dang, it honestly felt so good to be back in that green, dirty water!  I started off the trip by knee boarding, in memories of boating with Grandpa Ras.  Then we pulled out the wake board.  Nathan did great and is learning quickly.  It was nice to have Kyle and Heidi there giving advice on what to do different and improve.  Kyle was incredible to watch and Heidi was doing some sweet jumps by the end.  I even got up on the wake board!!!  A first for me!  I was so excited that first time that I started yelling and cheering, so much that I fell over...haha,  I quickly got back up and was going again.  I even got back into the wake!  I was thrilled!

Harlow had a good time on the boat.  We'd dip him in that water now and again to cool him off but the water was cold and he let us know that wasn't his favorite thing to do.  He did go swimming with Daddy for a tiny but and calmed down a little.  As it got later Harlow started getting sleepy but we made him a little bed under a shady spot (just like my mom use to do for me) and he took a snoozer.  Towards the end of the trip we wanted to get Harlow out on the tubes. 

Ended the day off with a relaxing picnic dinner out on the patio (Taco Salad) at our place and then watching The Ghost.  It's sure fun to have good friends.

Snake

Out doing yard work tonight and look what we found - a small garter snake!

Harlow's first encounter with a snake and he liked it.  "Be soft" was hard for Harlow cause he wanted to pick it up but when he did he'd squeeze the snake with his little fingers.  Poor little snakey!

Spanish Fork Reservoir

Nathan took us on a fun little family outing today - The Spanish Fork Reservoir.  He found it after attending a shotgun competition for his work up at the Spanish Fork Gun Range.  Spanish Fork has taken an irrigation reservoir and made it a multipurpose facility, if you will.  They made a sandy beach on one side of the water for people to relax on.  They also plant fish in it so that you can go fishing.  It was fun to feel some brush my legs when I was in the water.  The water was very cold today but Nathan did eventually braved up and swim across the reservoir lengthwise.

July was a month full of family and we absolutely loved it.  But it was so nice to just go spend some time together as Our Family.  Nathan's good at that, making special things happen and creating memories for our little family of 3.  There's nothing like being together!

Temple to Temple Run

a 5 Stake 5k

 Temple to Temple Run

from the Provo Temple to the new Provo City Center Temple

July 24, 2013

Nathan ran, pushing Harlow in the stroller.  He was hauling.  He said he wished he had got a better start and could have gotten out with the faster runners cause he was weaving in and out of slower people the entire time which he felt really slowed him down.  He still creamed me...oh well, it's not a competition...or is it...

My goal was to run the whole time.  As someone who ran a half marathon the entire way (except for having to stop to use a bathroom and getting locked inside) that shouldn't have been hard...but let's face it that was almost 2 years ago and since then I've had a kid and my running days don't come as often anymore.  But I made my goal, I ran (jogged might be a better word) the entire way without stopping!  Wahoo!  Silly, maybe, but I was totally proud of myself!  Go Me!!

We each wrote a name of an ancestor on our bib and were asked to think about that ancestor as we participated.  It was neat to think of Liela Wilkey as I ran and see so many other names written on all the backs around us.  As I ran with Whitney she told me about the name I chose and hers (Matilda Winkleman).  I am grateful for their righteous examples, their faith, and sacrifice.  I can be better, knowing who they were and what they've done makes me want to rise up to the call and be my best.

Dad Ras dropped us off at the Provo temple, drove and parked down town and started the race from the bottom.  He ran until he met up with Whitney and I then turned around and ran the rest of the race with us.  He said the first/lead person in the race was flying!  He couldn't believe how fast he was going.  Dad also said that the man had a motorcyclist going beside him and once he had to shout out to the runner cause he almost took a wrong turn.  That would have been fun to see.

Super fun to run with so many people!  There were over 5,000 people in this race.  Neat to just be surrounded by people the whole time.