Just You + Me: Asher

I had decided that for my date with Asher we would train for and run a 5k together. He woke up early on summer mornings (with Chloe and I) and we would meet some friends and go for a run.  He proved to have pretty good stamina and speed. Over the summer his scout troop was working on the physical fitness merit badge as well. This gave him the opportunity to do the mile run and time himself then work to beat that time.  I have to admit, I find joy having a child who enjoys running like I do. 

So I signed us up to run the Eagle Mountain Glow-in-the-dark 5K on July 13th. When we arrived to pick up our packets it was raining, but we were both so excited we didn't care. I showed him how to pin on his bib and put his timer on his shoe. We put the glowstick bracelets on.  It was so fun to help him through this for his first time. While we waited to start we ran into some friends of mine from the neighborhood. Gretchen was also running the 5K and we asked her to join us.  

While we waited and waited (not well planned I'm afraid) we discussed holding back after the starting time since we were individually timed, or heading to the front of the line. I always hold back so I don't feel stuck in a tight group and lose stride. However, we decided to be risky, after all it was a glow in the dark run, and we headed right to the front of the pack. 

Asher's excitement was visible in his huge grin!

I was nervous looking behind me to see a couple of brothers who were in the 6' range breathing down our necks. Here I was with my 12 year old with a mob of people behind us! When that timer rang we shot off like a rocket. The cool night air felt good and we were moving right along.  About half way I had to stop to catch my breath for a second. Asher looked at me for the okay and I sent him on his way in the dark watching his glowsticks bounce away.  I kept him in my sights from there until nearly the end, but man it was tough. I don't think I've ever run that fast. As I was nearly to the finish line there he was "Go Mom! You're almost done!" He'd already finished the race!!! There were just a couple of people done, one being Asher and another my friend Gretchen. 

We were so stoked. We may have actually won something!

We waited for the award ceremony and lo and behold Asher won 1st in his age group! He was the 4th person to cross that finish line. Those 2  6'+ brothers were there and another woman. Amazing! What an awesome first race he had! We cheered and cheered for him. He was so happy. Gretchen ended up getting 2nd in the women's overall and I was 3rd in the women's overall! We took plenty of shots with our awards and headed home.  

 On our way home we noticed the light to the ice cream shop in town was still on. It was about 11:01 pm. The shop closed at 11:00 pm. We tried the door and it was opened. So in we went. The staff had helped with the run dressed as zombies and they were happy to serve a couple of winners. We decided we deserved a double scoop.

This was definitely one of the most awesome memories I've made with Asher.








For Asher's date with Scott, Scott decided to take him to school with him. Asher had asked several times during the regular school year if he could skip a day of school and go to college with Dad.
 Well, since Scotty is in summer school and Asher is not we figured this would be a great time to take him up to the University of Utah. Asher and Scott rode the bus up to Salt Lake and then caught Trax in downtown to take them up to the school.

Asher has asked Scott repeatedly last year if he could go to school with Scotty. The school year was always hectic and of course Asher would be missing a day of elementary school to try out a day of college.  Summer seemed the perfect time to Scott. Scott was enrolled in summer school for the first time and felt it would be perfect to take Asher up to see campus, library, classes, and also the city.

I didn't send my camera, so Scotty used his awesome camera phone.

They left at 6 am and caught the bus up to Salt Lake. In downtown Salt Lake they transferred to Trax and rode up the University of Utah campus.  Scotty took Asher on a tour of the campus.  At lunch time they went to Bentley's office and they all headed to DP Cheesesteaks for lunch.  A man's lunch if I've ever known one.  

The boys caught the movie at the Joseph Smith building and walked around temple square. They stopped at the fancy new Harmon's in downtown and had some gelato also. After the long day they rode the bus home. While Scott was unloading the bus in his powerchair he looked back to see Asher sound asleep in his seat on the bus! Just as Scott was sending someone to wake him he startled and woke up.  Guess it was a long day for the boy. 

I think it was such a great idea for Asher to see all that Scott does and where he spends his time every day. Awesome date idea.  

Just You+Me: Chloe

I make plans of grandeur each summer. Many won't come to fruition, but those that are most important to me always do.  Top of that list is one on one dates with each of our children.  We have busy lives. I think it's important for Scott and I to take the time with our focus solely on one child. Plus, it is so much fun to plan these dates and think what each of my children love to do. I'll start with the oldest child and share each of our dates in order of age.

For Chloe's date with me I had planned to take her to my salon. She's only had her hair cut at the Dollar Cuts or by a friend, so it was a special treat.

This is our before picture. Not a bad start I'd say :)

The night before our date we were evacuated from our home because of the Dump Fire.
We had stayed the night at Ginger and Scott's in AF.  I had limited clothing, but we still made a go of it.
We both had our hair cut and our makeup done. It was fun to spend the day doing girly things with her.
She has definitely grown up a lot the last year.
She is becoming a wonderful young woman with so much to offer the world.
I'm lucky to be her mother.


The date Scott planned for Chloe was a Real Salt Lake game.
Chloe loves soccer and has talked often of wanting to see a professional game.
Again, we were out of our house for the hardwood floor to be repaired.
So I drove them to the stadium from Salt Lake, and of course I sent them with my camera. They made good use of it. They came home with random pictures of the back of people's head, the sidewalk, etc. and giggled as I looked through. "We made sure to get lots of pictures for you Mom." Those two can get real silly when they're together.

My favorite shot of them. 

Back to School with Miss Miranda

We had our Back to School Dinner last night.
I started this tradition last year, and I was really looking forward to it again this year.

Usually I prepare the meal/dessert, set the table, and do all the clean up myself.
This year I had a couple of helpers who just love to add ingredients and such.

 On the menu this year:
Teriyaki Beef with snow peas, red peppers, and mushrooms over jasmine rice.
Steamed broccoli.
Soda pop of your choice.
Dessert:
Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
served with a side of Honey Maple Nut Ice Cream.

I always serve the meal as if they are at a fancy restaurant.  

Using sir and maam.  

Getting them whatever they'd like. 

Even picking up dropped utensils.

You'd like a chocolate milk also, no problem, I'll be right back with that.

A second helping of dessert, absolutely!

Are you finished sir? May I take your plate for you?

 The kids just eat it up. They took up calling me Miss Miranda. One of our favorite episodes of the Cosby Show is when Theodore comes home and his folks have turned the place into a mini-town where he pays rent, must buy his own furniture, get a loan from the bank. Man it's good stuff.  Mrs. Huxtable goes by Miranda in that episode, so they thought it was a perfect fit.   The restaurant has officially been dubbed Miss Miranda's Fancy Back to School Restaurant. Too wordy?

They had a few good laughs at my over-politeness and delicious menu.
"The lady who usually cooks here isn't this fancy or polite."
"The lady who usually cooks here sings really loud and has bad dance moves."


When they were just about all finished with their meal Cole came in the kitchen and whispered,
"You're still my Mom, right?"
"Yes," I whispered back.
"Good. I love my Mom."

After dinner Scott gave each of the children a father's blessing to start the school year.
The words of encouragement he spoke were comforting. Each of our children has different and unique personalities, strengths and challenges.  Each blessing was perfectly tailored to those needs.  I'm so grateful for the power of the priesthood in my home.

I Run...

This summer I ran the Ogden Marathon in May with Molly and Tristan, a 5K in July with Asher and Gretchen, and a 200+ mile relay with Shannon and 4 other women I'd just met.

I've been asked often why? Why do you run? Why do you sign up for "torture".  True, there are times it does feel like torture.
My most common answer to the "why" question is, Because I can.

I don't mean "I'm awesome, I can run a race", because truth is I've watched many races and if you just scan the participants you will see a wide variety of ages and body types. I'm convinced most anybody can run any race if they put their mind to it.




So what I mean when I say I can is:
I have a healthy body.
I have legs that work.
I may not be fast, but I can keep going.
I'm not going to win a race, but I will win simply by being a finisher.
I can challenge myself beyond what I believe I may be capable of, both physically and mentally.
I can spend time and energy working towards a goal.
Most of all, I am so grateful to have a body that has the ability to do amazing things.
I am all too familiar with the immense sadness and struggle when your body becomes something other than what you've always known it to be.
I run for Scott.

He cannot. I can.
In every race I run I take a moment to clear my thoughts and think of him. Sometimes it's when things are really difficult and I just want to quit.  I think of him crawling to the closet each morning to hoist himself up and pick out a shirt.  I think of him maneuvering constant obstacles that most of us never deal with and wouldn't give a second thought.  It gives me courage to go on.

Sometimes I think of him when I feel like I'm flying and I could run a million miles.  I think of how he pushes himself and has a usually happy demeanor despite his physical limitations.  I think of the body he was blessed with that performed any athletic feat as if he'd been doing it all his life. He was a natural born athlete, I....was not.

He has been pushed so far from his comfort zone physically and mentally.  Most of the time this was not by choice. Many of us will not be tested in this way, but I think we can benefit in ways we don't even fully understand from being pushed. Even if we are the one doing the pushing. I have done well in some races (by timing standards) and poorly in some races, but it always reinforces the thought that I can do hard things.

While running through Soda Springs, Idaho in the middle of the night last weekend my thoughts turned to Scott.  I felt like my chest would burst with emotion.  I felt proud of what he has accomplished and I felt an immense gratitude for what my body can do.  I took a quiet moment in the dark to thank God.








In what ways do you push yourself? What inspires/motivates you?

Champions!!!

I was asked on very short notice if I could get some young women together as a basketball team to compete in a Regional Tournament.  Having one young woman at my house who loves basketball, I decided I could do this.  We had a sign-up go around and had enough girls to make 2 teams.  I imposed on a few women in the neighborhood with some natural athletic ability and they were the coaches.  We had time for just a couple of practices before the tournament began.

The coaches divided the teams up so that we had one team of girls who were very new to basketball and one team that had some experience.  It was a single elimination, 2-day tournament.  Chloe was on the more experienced team.

On Friday March 16th we arrived in Lehi to play our first game. Boy was I nervous.  These basketball teams were quite large and had plenty of girls aged 16-18.  We had 5 girls and the oldest one was 14. They were just so excited to be there playing.  As I watched them play I could see we had a very determined group of girls and a coach with patience, experience and kindness. Coach Rea was awesome. She's the kind of coach I wish all my kids had for sports.

The girls won their game and they did it with sportsmanship.  I was so proud! This would mean they got to play the next morning.  The car ride home was full of promising chatter.  Maybe they were better than they thought?  Maybe they could win again?

On Saturday morning we arrived early to warm-up.  This team too looked tough.  A couple of girls who were much bigger than ours and looked quite aggressive.  However, our girls definitely had better skill, and their calm natures gave them the edge here.  We won again! Unbelievable!  What if they could win the entire tournament. We started making phone calls to parents or friends to come and watch us play the championship game.

 It was a tight game. These two teams played with everything they had. Chloe was a star.  She was on fire with her shooting. She did have a few bumps, bruises and bloody lips, but she led in scoring. When the dust settled the Saratoga Hills 1st Ward young women had won the regional basketball championship.  I couldn't believe this.  We threw a team together and went into it planning to just "have a good time" and here we were the winners of it all.

 After the game Coach Rea and Scotty and I took the girls out to pizza to celebrate their victory.

I guess I learned to never count yourself out.  Your best may be just enough.