Totally Out of Control

You know that feeling when you are driving and it begins to snow and then the snow starts to stick to the road and then suddenly there is a snow drift in your lane and you begin to spin out of control and just pray that you don't hit another car or a person? AND despite the fact that you have just crashed your car and have a minimal amount of damage, you are grateful that the crash was not nearly as bad as it could have been. That was me at Road Runners last night.

Let me preface by saying that I haven't been running as much as I should be.......and have found my strength and stamina to be in decline. That being said, I still pushed myself like I was at my peak performance level. I love my new Road Runner group. I have bumped up a group and find it to be more of a challenge AND a lot more friendly than the last group I ran in. Tonight we ran the trails and some steep wooded inclines. As we were charging up the steepest part of the woods the light had faded a wee bit and I managed to trip on a tree root. Well, I nearly tumbled head over hills on the trail, but instead I engaged my quads with all my strength to try and catch up with the momentum of my body. To balance off the momentum I steered myself straight into a blackberry and stinging nettle patch. OUCH! The blackberry bushes shredded my legs, but it was nothing compared to the nettle. Of course I whimpered in my brain, but I wasn't going to prove to be wimpy and stop running so I carried on and didn't bother to assess the damages. 

When I finally got home the sweat had encouraged the glorious stinging from the nettle welts as well as the scrapes. I literally had red welts all over my legs. You can't see the welts as well in the pictures, but I swear they hurt the worst. I laugh as I picture myself running like a mad woman totally out of control and breaking in the nettle patch.......truth be told I picture William as I tell this story. I always blamed John, but I am starting to wonder if that wild crazy "bull in a China closet" behaviour actually comes from me :) I totally loved this run, damages included. The hot pink coloured sun more than made up for any amount of scrapes and welts from my wild and crazy running self. Oh how I love running.

When I got home I tried to take a picture, but I couldn't quite find lighting to do it justice.

All cleaned up a day later.

Next time I think I will take it a little easier, or at least slow down when I am getting tired. Good grief!

Fourth of July Flashback

I just returned from the US where I got our traditional family flag t-shirts for our Independence Day. Here is a little 4th of July flashback! We love to celebrate the 4th of July big.....as do most people in the US and certainly most people in our State and home town. We usually kick off the day with a swim at the pool, a BBQ, and then the firework show with live band up the street at the Golf Course club house. I am definitely a summer girl and by the 4th of July it is VERY hot outside......I love me some heat. We celebrate the same way each year with family and friends. Here are some pictures of our family over the past 7 years celebrating our beloved holiday. 

This is me 2 months before Adessa was born. 

You can see why she was only 2 1/2 lbs.

2005

At the Centerville Parade Adessa is 10 months.

2006

Getting ready to walk up to the fireworks Adessa is nearly 2yrs.

2007

Ready for our BBQ and fireworks. Adessa is nearly 3yrs. 

2008

William is 2 months old and Adessa is nearly 4 yrs.

2009 

Our last 4th of July at the Eaglewood Fireworks. 

Adessa is nearly 5 and William is 14 months.

2010

Our first 4th of July as Ex-Pats. 

We celebrated with 2 other American families and sent up floating lanterns instead of fireworks. 

William is 2 and Adessa nearly 6 yrs.

2011

It is fun to see how our family has grown and changed over the years, and I continue to get excited about the fun things we do and the traditions we create.

Heading Back to the UK: Day 9 - The Long Flight Home

It's time to go home. I was super sad to be leaving, but also excited to see my kiddo's and Hubby. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to visit home, it breathed new life into me. I know it sounds cheesy, but seeing my former dance teaching co-workers/friends and students made me feel like I do have a purpose, seeing my family made me feel loved, seeing my friends made me laugh and laugh hard, and being home in the hills and sunshine made me feel at peace. I really do like it here in the UK, but it is as Dorothy says in The Wizard of OZ "there's no place like home." So true. I love my parents and my family very much, we aren't a perfect family, in fact we are nuts, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I was very happy to see and spend time with Mom.

We are sad that I am leaving.

I am not a sitter and NEVER have been, so a 12 - 15 hour flight is my own personal version of Hell. Apparently, my body feels the same way that my mind does. My ankles had completely swollen to tree trunk legs, I had pitting, and my feet really hurt and were itchy. I got in the car and went to take my shoes off when I saw that I had no ankles. Gross eh?

I had a really great time, but am happy to be back with my own little family. 

Thanks Mom for being the greatest. Love yer guts!

My Trip Home: Day 8 - Cheesecake Factory and Man of LaMancha

Today Gucci and I took our time getting ready and vegged out watching "Dancing With The Stars." After we had sufficiently wallowed we headed out the door and met Great and Shan at The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Shan and I laughed at Gucci and Great wearing the same jacket....... awwww so cute.     :)

I ordered the avocado egg rolls.......

and a small salad.........

and this GLORIOUS chocolate cake. I am such a sucker for chocolate!

When we finished with lunch we wandered around shopping and Gucci bought me a cute pair of "Toms" for my Birthday......in November. Mom said she would rather buy my gift there than send me money and have it be half the value. I totally see her point and let her get me my gift there. After we shopped we headed home to get ready to go see the Man of LaMancha. I have gone to theatre regularly since I was Adessa's age. With a mother who is a performer the performing arts have always been a very important part of our life. I have seen the Man of LaMancha many times before, but I love it all the same. It makes me feel sad, but I still like it.

The man of LaMancha is one of Gucci's favourite shows. Tonight was my last night home and I am grateful that I got to spend it attending the theatre.

My Trip Home: Day 7 - Friends and Family

When Mom flew me home to UT to surprise Great for Mother's Day I was under strict orders that she flew me home and my time was to be spent with her. However, she generously gave me a day to get together with John's family and my friends from my old neighbourhood. I posted on FB that I was home if anyone wanted to do lunch, and look at what darling friends wanted to see me! It has taken moving to the UK and thinking and pondering for many hours and many days about life to come to a very important understanding about friendship. 

Friendship requires an equal level of commitment, and a true friend always appears in your life when you are struggling the most. Friendship is earned and not entitled. Friends ask how you are and leave the comparisons and the "It could be worse" attitudes at the door. I have learnt that it is important to be kind to everyone, but not everyone has to be your friend. Some people are toxic and controlling and manipulative and it is okay to keep them at a distance. Again, it is important to be kind to everyone you see at church, or at the school, or at sporting lessons, but outside of church, school, and lessons, you are not required to be close friends. I have also learnt that it is okay TO have close friends. 

I am grateful for these amazing women who have taken a mutual interest in me and feel super blessed to have good friends. I am a person who definitely needs to have friendships in my life and have learnt a lot over the past 2 years about real friendship that builds, supports, and encourages. Priceless. We decided to meet at Paradise Bakery for lunch and chit chat until it was time to get the kiddo's from school.

Here we are in all our lunching glory. Lau took the picture.

Photographer Laura getting her own solo shot :)

Lau 

Mari 

Carrie 

Sarah 

Aunt A-dee AKA Adriel

Mariann

Rashawn

Tiffany left first and I forgot to get a picture with her. It was so nice to see these fun friends that I cried when I saw them all. It was so nice and comfortable and fun to chat and see their cute faces. I can't even begin to tell you how it felt to see these amazing, strong, fun, beautiful, friends again. Each of them inspires me in a different way.

After lunch I ran some errands with Mom and then headed to John's Mom's house for dinner and mingling with his family. John's mom only lives a half a mile from my mom. They are in the same neighbourhood, convenient eh?     :) 

John's sister Allison and her husband Danny with my nephew Ben and niece Hannah

John's sister Sarah and her husband Jon and my niece Malu and nephews Hiwa and Keoki

My beautiful niece's Hannah and Malu. Malu is 14 and she is 2 inches taller than me and Hannah is 12.

John's dad Dee and his Step Mom Jan with our nephews Joey and Nick

My darling nephews. I held Hiwa, Austy, and Joey when they were just babies. Hiwa is the one next to me and is 6'4" at the age of 15, Austy is next to him at 6'2" at the age of 15, and Joey is next to him at 6'0" at the age of 15. Tall tall tall boys. Keoki, Ben, and Nick are in the front. These boys are all darling and such good good kids.

John's sister Amy and my niece Hannah

Amy's "special friend" Gerry

John's sister Amy and my nephew Austy

I LOVE John's family and have been hanging around them since Jacob the eldest grandson was born 15 years ago. John and I had a great friendship before we married. John's family is BEAUTIFUL! I could just stare at his gorgeous sisters for hours.......sounds creepy, but seriously they are all that gorgeous. I feel really blessed to have such fun SIL's that feel like blood sisters to me. I miss John's family as we were really close to both of our family's when we left. It was fun to squish these cute kids and my family and to chat and catch up. Can't wait for them to come and visit this summer.

My Trip Home: Day 6 - City Creek

I have always been blessed with great friends! Great childhood friends, great High School friends, great roommates at University, and again great friends as I have become an adult and moved around. I feel VERY blessed. Shanna is one of those childhood friends that has remained a friend for 25 years. There is something special about friendships that are that old and that well preserved........ you don't have to go into back story, because it has been lived with you side by side for many years. Shanna has been to visit the hospital with each crazy childbirth and in a time of great need and support in my life, as well as through many difficult years before children and difficult years after children. I know that if I EVER needed anything Shanna is just a phone call or email away from helping. What a great great friend I have. Shanna and I went to lunch at Red Robin and chatted away. It was so nice seeing her after a year and a half!

I had shed a few tears before taking this picture :)

After lunch and goodbyes with Shanna I headed out with Mom and Shannon to City Creek. City Creek is an amazing new shopping and dining centre right in the heart of Salt Lake City. City Creek offers glorious views of the mountains, LDS Temple, and is conveniently next to Trax and the Convention centre. I was in LOVE. I always have to have a shape picture :) It is the dancer in me.

They have some beautiful fountains at City Creek.

Gucci and Shan

Ummm...........yep, those are chocolate dipped bacon strips. Oddly enough, it sort of sounds good.

We went in "Tiffany's" to peruse around at what they have to put in those little blue boxes. I found just exactly what they have! The girl working there was darling and pulled out all kinds of expensive and posh rings for us to put on and photograph. We laughed ourselves silly. A girl can dream right? Actually, this ring would NEVER open soda cans as well as my own wedding ring does. I truly don't deserve anything nice.

We came home from City Creek and picked up my favourite pizza's......"Papa Murphy's Take and Bake." We munched on some pizza and then played Farkle with my Brother and Shannon and Grandma Great and Gucci. I sucked. Seriously, I was only on the board twice. The KILLED me.

Before Farkle my friend Karren and Adessa's little friend Thomas came over to visit. Ads had her school picture and a bag of sweets for Tommy. They are such cute little friends. It was fun chatting, even though it was brief. Next time Karren and I need a few hours to go for a walk and catch up some more. It was yet another wonderful day at home.