Girls night and biting off more than I can chew

Winter is here or maybe it's just giving us in UT a sneak peak? Snow, ice, and cold mornings have been going on in these parts and even though I professed my hate for snow only a few days ago, it's actually inspired me in a couple of ways.
Josh and I have been talking about doing some upgrades in our home for awhile now. Finally we felt like it was the right time and so we've been carpet hunting, paint shopping, and banister/railing exploring. I'm so excited to see the finish product. It's happening a lot sooner than we expected(very good thing) but it's left us trying to paint before Monday*edited to add: we finished painting, but still have one wall to touch up*. Luckily, it started snowing and it's inspired me to stay inside and get as much done while J takes his naps or when he goes down to bed. I hope we're not biting off more than we can chew. Cross your fingers that all will go according to plan!*more edits because I forgot to publish this, our carpet is back ordered till next week! Now our stairs and hallways have exposed nails, blah!  Only a few pics for now, I'll post the finished work next week.(or the next...)

before

During

Moving on, lately I get up and crave to run on the treadmill because it warms me up. I turn the heat on, run, and J plays and we get all toasty. During the other seasons I always hate running on the treadmill because I think about how I could/should be outside running in the beautiful weather. I have no such feelings when it's snowing and freezing outside. I hope I find some new ways that snow can be a positive force in my life because if this is no sneak peak, then I'm in for a long winter.

And on a totally random note, but definitely worth noting, Wednesday night the girls all got together. We met at Liz's new apartment and caught up on each others' lives. I was sad because I could only stay for a bit, but I love getting together with these crazy ladies.

Pile on the Miles

I follow a running blog called Run Eat Repeat where the author, Monica, is having a 'Pile on the Miles' challenge. The challenge runs from November 1st - December 1st. You can read all the info and sign up here.
I joined not because I think I'll win(but if I happen to win some of the giveaways go me!) but because I love the thought of moving more and piling on miles instead of pounds during the holiday season. The challenge is simply run or walk as often as possible and whoever does more miles wins. I aimed high(for me) for 100 miles. That's about 25 miles a week. I usually only do about 15-20 miles on a good week so I'm definitely going to try and push myself. I hope you are inspired to join even if you walk all your miles, it's still a great accomplishment.
Here's to moving more=)

J is doing the 'bike more challenge' haha becausei'mobsessedwithhim

ps you can add the widget to your blog too, just click the link above. It'll bring you to Monica's blog and she has posted the code.

The Haunted Half race recap

#4 is down in the books. It was my real last half of the season because like I mentioned in my last post, I hate the cold. I am doing a turkey trot 5k with my friend Vanessa, but I'll bundle up.
Let's get down to the nitty gritty of the race. I woke up at 6:15 bright eyed and bushy taled because to me, anything past 6am is not too early. Dressed in my borrowed bumble bee costume and waited in my car for Amanda. Hmm, she just called and said she was outside, but no one was outside. . . I quickly call her back and tell her she's at the wrong house and don't try and walk in(I had told her to just walk in to my house). Whew, luckily she didn't but was just about to! haha oh Amanda. Moving on, we finally met up, picked up Lindsay and were on the road to Salt Lake City Capitol building by 7am. Found parking super easy, used the bathroom and waited about a half hour for a bus to shuttle us to the start (6 miles up Emigration Canyon).

Can I just say what a beautiful morning it was? Seriously! The canyon was gorgeous, and although it was a bit chilly, it warmed up quite a bit throughout the course. I was really hot in my long sleeve. Luckily, a very kind bus driver let us sit on his heated bus until the start, heaven sent! Ate half a banana and then it was go time.

Miles 1-3
Flew by. Lindsay and I chatted away and took in the beautiful houses, canyon, and weather. (Amanda cruised on ahead after mile 1, she's a rockstar).
No seriously, she was an 80's rockstar

Miles 4-6
Again, they really just flew by. We were chuggin along, had a great pace. No worries. Until. . .

Miles 7-10.5?
HILLS! There were exactly 5, yes I counted them, hills that were steep hard hills. They just wouldn't quit. At mile 10 Lindsay stopped to stretch and she politely told me to continue on. Luckily the hills decided to stop*note to self, read the fine print of race course details, sheesh

Miles 10.5-12
Felt great, picked up the speed and realized if I really pushed it I could beat my time of 1:53. So I kept pushing it and then I came upon a car? There was a car in the middle of the race just driving along at like 2 mph. what? really? There wasn't much race support, road blocks, or anything so that was pretty annoying. Luckily I found a way to squeeze by and move on.

Mile 12-13.1
It was downhill so I just started to sprint. By the last yard to the finish my legs felt like complete jello and I was worried I trip. I didn't. I beat my time by 1 minute! A min is a min to me. I'm so glad I could end my race season on a high note. I felt really good after and just really enjoyed the race!

You can see me in the middle of the pumpkin mouth, crossing the finish line

The race itself: the aid stations were great, had enough water, gatorade, gu's. But the website said there would be fun activities like bobbing for apples, a donut eating contest, etc. There were no such things. No zombies chasing us, and they promised a big party at the finish with delicious grub. Nope, not even a water bottle. You had to pour your own water that was quickly running out. I didn't even get any free candy or granola bars. All they had left were animal crackers and apples, really? VERY poorly done(there were still so many more runners to come and the water was practically gone when I got there).
But I loved dressing up, being with friends, and it was just a great race. Hopefully next year it'll get better.

My boys, the best fans=)

Lindsay(Superwoman), me(bumblebee), Amanda(80's rocker)

FALL LALALA

More Fallness because I'm soaking it in. I love the long sleeve sweater/light jacket weather. I dread, like really dread more than 1 day of winter. Maybe this year will change my mind? I highly doubt it. That's besides the point. We went to Thanksgiving Point to check out their petting zoo with Whitney's play group.  Wednesdays my sisters and I try and get together because it's usually the day that works for everyone. Unfortunately, Leah had some important things come up and couldn't make it down but Neeley and Brittyn came along=)

J and Cal, the inseparable duo

Neeley wouldn't take a pic with me, something like my obsessive picture taking is annoying..

J would NOT touch the horse

Brittyn=)

A loss

Today my cousin Maddie and her husband Josh have to lay their sweet baby boy McCartney to rest. Monday, Maddie found out only a couple days before her little boy was to be born that he had passed away. I can only imagine the pain, hurt, frustration, and sorrow that they must be feeling. All week I have cried for them. Maddie and I have always been close. The whole Dickson side is. . . Throughout the week I kept feeling guilty that I was able to have Jackson. I kept praying that Maddie and Josh and the whole family would be comforted and know that Heavenly Father loves them. That's when I realized I need to stop feeling guilty and feel grateful. 
I'm so grateful that Maddie knows that she will see her baby again. That through the Plan of Salvation her family can be together forever. I'm grateful that she's in WA and has so much family around her to support her and Josh. I'm so grateful for Josh for being such a great husband to Maddie during this tragedy. I hate that I can't be there for my cousin, but I'm so grateful that  the Holy Ghost can be there for her and so can the Dickson and the Albright side.
I love you Maddie and Josh. I'm thinking of you guys and you're in my prayers. I mourn for your loss and our loss as a family.

A Witch Hunt

Tuesday's weather was quite windy with a bit of a chill. It was a perfect fall day to make our way to Gardner Village and attempt a witch hunt. Well, someone was excited. . .

Cal and J looking at the ducks

I was invited by my sweet friend Vanessa where we met up with other mommas Jennifer and Aubrey. I also brought Whitney along on our witch hunt. Surprisingly, the scavenger hunt was difficult and we didn't complete it. We had a lot of fun looking through the shops and having lunch. I think my favorite shop was the Quilt shop, the fabrics were so beautiful.

so curious

We found this witch while we were waiting for the rest of the group. Look at all those leaves! Fall is definitely here.

Fall Family Fun

There are so many fun activities to do in the fall. I have a post-it note in my planner of all my 'fall ideas' and it's rather crammed.
Saturday night we headed to Josh's parents fall festivity at the church. The boys had a lot of fun at the 'petting zoo.' Jackson was a bit frightened at first of the goats, but Calvin was ready to go to head to head with them. He's a brave little guy!

J had to be accompanied

Aunt Lishy was brave enough to bring both of them on the little train ride. Right before it was going to start J stood up and didn't want to go so Calvin and Alisha rode around.

all he wanted to do was run around the parking lot, so Josh chased him

There was a delicious soup dinner(chili cook off) and some awesome pumpkin carving. I forgot to document those, I was too busy eating=)

We finished the night with Avengers at our place and popcorn. Unfortunately, everyone fell asleep except the Josh's, oops!

mom's in town, and a long run

This week has been a busy one. My dad left on Monday to get back to work, but my mom got to stay a whole extra week! My sisters and I take turns having her stay with us and fortunately it was my turn. My favorite times are just when we can relax and chat. I loved coming home in high school on the weekends and talking to my mom about the nights events. Now we just talk about real life stuff, like how I can convince my dad's boss to open a new dental office here in Draper . . .

evening walk with Grandma

playing at the park

cousins taking turns pushing J

we love to check out Harmons, and of course Grandma got him a cookie=)

I love just having my mom along with me doing the day to day things, it sure cuts our phone bill in half. We had fun shopping at Thai Pan, playing at the park with the kids, going to book club, and Brittany's baby shower. (had to drop my mom off at the airport after, tears, k enough talking about it).

Brittany=)

Moving on

Saturday morning before the baby shower my friend Lindsay and I set out to do 10 miles before our race next week.(my mom slept at Leah's Friday to help with Shower stuff) It was dark, cold, and windy. Luckily it lightened up before too long and the miles ticked by, well, for Lindsay. Unfortunately, by mile 6 I was done. I'm so glad I had a partner to run with because I probably would've quit, but we finished.

view of the mountains from my car after run

*edited to add: my heel has really been hurting me since the run and I took yesterday(monday off) and I'm taking today in hopes of a 100% better heal by race day Saturday!!!

Here's to resting!

teeter totters, pumpkins, and model homes

My parents are in town! If  you've been reading my blog for even a day, you'd know I'm really close with my family. This week my parents are in town to watch this.  And of course to spend time with me, I mean all of these girls. . .

Neeley was sad that she didn't get the,'wear heels' memo

Friday I picked them up from Salt Lake and brought them to a model home to show them how beautiful UT is and their homes. They loved the 25,000 reasons why they should move to UT list I recited to them on the way. . .

seriously, who wouldn't want that kitchen?

After we headed to Neeley's house and met up with the rest of the clan and made our way to the pumpkin patch.  Last year J slept the whole time. This year, he LOVED it! Josh stayed behind this year, I think it had something to do with football. . .
Lots of pictures, the truth is we got there a half hour before they opened so we had time, lots of it.

Niece Bayley and sleeping J

Grandpa and still sleepy J

He woke up and wanted to play in the dirt

Walkin boy

We finally made it inside where there's a whole courtyard/field of fun activities.

pumpkin bounce house. He couldn't go in with the older kids

they moved on, so it was J's turn, he wouldn't get out!

walking with Grandpa

teeter totter with mom

we went down a giant grain shoot, I had fun. . .

There was a corn maze after this, but we walked ran through it because J really just wanted to sit and play with the corn on the path. No time for pics.
The hayride was next on the agenda.

he found his pumpkin

on our way back

Of course we came home to do our nails, eat pizza, and Halloween donuts, yum.

matching pajamas with cousin Ty