Layton 1/2 Marathon and our finished kitchen

The 2011 Layton 1/2 Marathon!! The Full Marathon started on Antelope Island and the 1/2 started on the causeway. It was freezing cold and we had to wait an extra 30 minutes to start because they didn't have enough buses show up to drive us out to the starting line. Matt and I huddled next to a group of people standing by a huge generator. We probably got a little tipsy from the fumes, but at least we stayed somewhat warm!

Wahoo! We were so proud of ourselves! We finished 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. It was so fun to see our parents and especially Drew there cheering us on! Overall, it was a wonderful experience. It was so fun to have a goal to work towards together as a couple. We had a lot of time to talk, especially on the long runs. It was so nice to have your best friend there to support you. We're thinking about doing the Top of Utah Marathon next year in Logan. Go us!!

Here is the way our kitchen used to look like...

And here is our kitchen now...

We opened up the doorway

We did the demo, tiled the floor, had recessed lighting put in, painted, got new cabinets, and got new appliances. I love all the extra cupboard space! The flow is so much better by taking out the peninsula and putting in an island. I LOVE my new kitchen!

Slacker

Bodie Island Lighthouse, NC

I love my family!! Katie, Matt, Drew, Sammy, Mom, Christie, Crystal, David

My grown-up preschooler

I love looking at family and friends' blogs, but at the same time, I hate feeling guilty for not updating mine for the past 4 months!! I really don't have an excuse, it's just that my blog has kind of become like my journal. I get excited to report what has been going on in my life at first, and then lose interest and feel guilty for how long I've neglected to write. So, I resolve to throw the guilt out the window and enjoy blogging when I darn-well feel like it! Maybe if I don't feel guilty, I will start to enjoy it again.

Here's what we've been up to this summer:

We went to the great state of North Carolina to visit my brother David and his wife Crystal. My mom, sister, Christie, and brother-in-law, Sammy came too. It was fun to have a mini family reunion and especially fun to enjoy the beauties of NC and the beach. (We stayed a week on the Outer Banks where Hurricane Irene hit recently. It was strange to see places that we visited affected by the hurricane on TV.) One thing that I realized about my family this summer is that everyone is at different stages of their lives and they all define relationships differently. I've always wanted to be close to my siblings, but I need to be able to accept whatever stage that person is at and cultivate the relationship as best as I can. I love my family and I want to love them unconditionally. I am grateful for the family I've been given.

Matt and I have been training for a half marathon. I've always wanted to run a marathon just to say I did it. I knew that I was no where near in shape enough to run 26 miles, so I made a compromise. I thought I'd start with a half marathon since 13 seems much more attainable. Matt jumped on the bandwagon and we decided to train together. When we started out, I honestly didn't think it would be too hard. (I ran cross country after all! Even though I'm in denial that it was 10 years ago!!) Suffice it to say training was really hard for me in the beginning. I didn't know how on earth I'd be able to run 13 when I could barely run 3! After a few weeks of training, things started to feel better. Three miles feels really easy now. We just ran 8 today and it felt totally doable. It's been really fulfilling to work towards a goal with Matt. It reminds us that we can do hard things if we put our minds to it. We have 5 more weeks of training. Go us!!

Drew started preschool a few days ago!! I can't believe how big my baby is!! He has been so excited to go to preschool. Every morning for the past few weeks, he would wake up and ask me, "Is today the day I go to school?" He just goes 2 days a week for 2 hours, but I think I'm really going to miss him. He's been my little buddy for the past 3 1/2 years. The other day he asked me, "Mom, what are you going to do when I'm at school?" I told him I would be doing chores and thinking about him. But it did get me thinking. I have the itch to do something more with my degree. Since Drew was born, I've put my degree on a shelf, but Drew is growing up and I want to better myself and contribute to my community. I want to start teaching private lessons again. I've also thought about contacting the local music teachers to see if there is anything I would be of use to them. I've also thought about going back to get my teaching certificate. These are just thoughts that are mulling around in my mind. I definitely want to start teaching again. I feel like I'm not using the talents that God has given me right now and that makes me sad. Here's to new goals!!

And the Cutest Boy Award Goes To...

We took Drew to Target to get his 3 year old pictures on Friday and he was so stinkin cute. Here's the proof!!

This was a completely different experience than last year when he would NOT smile! I think bribery had something to do with it!! A few days before we got pictures, I tried to prep Drew about what would happen. We even had him practice posing, which he is very good at! Then we told him if he was a good boy for the pictures, we would go to the play place at Carl's Jr. Ahh...I love bribery!

I can't believe my little boy is almost three. I LOVE seeing him grow and develop, but at the same time, it breaks my heart to see my baby slipping away. We are having a birthday party for him next Saturday, then let the hard-core potty training begin! He's been doing really well with it lately, thanks to the goody basket. (He gets to choose candy, cars, or underwear after he goes potty. He chose all of the cars first, then the candy, and can you guess what was last?)

Drew says some of the funniest one-liners. Here are some of them:

Drew came up to me one day after pooping and said, "Change my diaper, Roger copy?"

Dad: "If you keep them in your hands, they're going to melt." (Referring to chocolate chips.)

Drew: "My hands are gonna melt?"

Drew's evening plans: "We can make cookies, and take a bath, and watch American Idol, then go to bed."

Matt got home after a long, hard day at work. Drew came up and said, "Dad are you fwustwated (frustrated)?" Matt said, "A little bit." Drew smiled and said, "Dad, I can make you happy!!" (Isn't that the truth!! No matter how stinky of a day you're having, Drew always make you smile. We feel so lucky to be his mom and dad.)

After we had all of our Easter festivities (Easter bunny presents, coloring eggs, and Easter egg hunt), Drew looked at us and said, "I'm happy that God gave us the Easter Bunny!"

I think Drew is realizing we're a little different from other families with more than one child. He came up to me the other day and said, "I'm a big brother to Moseley." (Moseley is our dog!!)

Dear Dad

Dear Dad,

The other day, Drew and I were driving home from doing errands when we saw a UPS store and asked what it was. I told him it was kind of like a mail store and it was where you worked for most of your life. Then he asked me, "Where is Grandpa Bruce, mom?" I told him that you live in heaven now. Then he said, "I miss him, mom." I told him I missed you too. It's been over four years now that you've been gone. At first it just seemed like you were on a really long vacation, but now reality sinks in a little more now that I have a precious little one. I wish you were here to see Drew, dad. He is the most beautiful boy. He looks so much like his daddy but he has my brown eyes and definitely has the "Fulford lip" (especially when he is pouting). He is shy when he first meets people, but once he warms up he has the most fun-loving personality. He loves being silly and making people laugh. He comes up with the funniest one-liners. The other day he told me he peed in his diaper (we're working on potty-training). Then he said, "Change my diaper. Roger copy?" I just cracked up. He also has the softest heart. Last week he had a day when he was acting really naughty. I finally lost my temper with him and yelled. A little while later I told him I was sorry for yelling at him. He looked at me with a big smile and said, "It's ok, mom." He is so loving and forgiving. Matt is such a good daddy to him. You should see Drew's face light up when he comes home from work. It is so fun to see and hear Drew and Matt play together. Every night before Drew goes to sleep, we ask him what his favorite part of the day was. His answer is usually, "playing with daddy." I am so glad I married Matt. I am so glad that you got to meet him before you passed. You were right about him, dad. You saw how he treated me and you knew I would be in good hands. I wish you were here to see our family grow. I wish you could hold Drew in your lap and tell him to pull your finger. Hee Hee! I wish I could see you as a grandpa with him. I like to think and I believe in my heart that you knew him in heaven before he was born. I think you tried to teach him a few things and passed on a little of your spit-fire personality with him. I think you helped him get to earth safely. I felt of your love through him when he was born. I remember when you gave me a blessing before you died. You said that someday I would be a mother. And when Matt was giving the baby a name and a blessing, there would be an extra set of hands in the circle. We felt you there that day, dad. I miss you very much. I miss not being able to make more memories with you. I am so grateful that I was born to you and mom. I know that you both love me very much. I am grateful for eternal families and know that I will see you again. Until then...I love you. Love, Ka-Ka-Ka-Katie

Here's a picture of our little Drewby to make you laugh:

This is Drew sleeping yesterday. I love watching him so relaxed and peaceful.