12 WOMEN * 29 HOURS * 182 MILES

This weekend I ran the Ragnar Relay - Wasatch Back. It was incredible. We started at 8:40 am on Friday in Logan and ended at 2:15 pm on Saturday in Park City. We had 12 women. Our van included: Karen Woolstenhulme, Deb Richards, Staci Fausett, Sue Denver-Betts, Alexis Benson, Myself and our driver - Jenny Benson. The other van had Kim Labrum, Alicia Foster, Jenna Foster, Alawna Eldredge, Laura Duncan, KaeCee Arnold and their driver Matt Duncan. Our van would run our 6 legs then take a break while the other van ran their six legs. Then it was our turn again. While the opposite van ran we would go to the place where we were to begin and take a break - get something to eat - get a massage :). We each ran 3 different legs.

This is me as I was finishing the first leg on my race. I was runner #5. It was uphill on a dry dirt road at 1:00 pm. It was hot, dusty, and FUN!!! I ran a total of 18 miles during my 3 legs. This was by far my hardest leg of the race.

We had so much fun in our van. We cheered each other on. The cheers got pretty dull when we started again at 4:00 am on Saturday morning - but hey - we still cheered. (Sue Dever-Betts is not pictured because she was running.)
Staci and I at the finish line. We hadn't slept for 2 days and wanted to pass out. We all ran across the finish line with our final runner, Alawna Eldredge. There were so many people there. Staci was our first runner and we got lost on our way to find her. She had to wait 15 minutes after she had ran for us to come. (Your next runner is suppose to be waiting so they can take off.)
This is our whole team after we had finished. Today I am sore and tired and can't wait to do it next year. These two days will always be incredible memories. If anyone wants to do it next year - let me know - I would LOVE to put a team together!!! I can't put in to words how much fun I had. Thanks Kim for asking me to be on the team!!!

Primary Activity

We had a Primary Activity yesterday. We went to the mountains and made "Pioneer Ty-Die" shirts. On the way up, we stopped and gethered leaves and flowers. We made the shirts, roasted hot dogs, the kids went expoloring, and made smores!!! We all had a really fun time and I think the kids loved it. Thanks Aunt Nancy for the shirt idea - we had a fun time...

Wayke helped pick the flowers on the side of the road. Katie and the primary kids.
Katie, Jalene and our "small" primary. Rayce and Colten cooking hot dogs.
Wayke and Cole or Carson. (They are twins and they are the cutest kids I have ever seen - but I can't tell them apart!)

A MOOSE???

We went to change water last night and there was a moose in our backyard. It was really neat to see. She just stood there and let us get about 10 yards away from her. We came back to the house to get a camera and she had started to walk away. So there isn't any pictures from the front.

Thank you warm weather!!!

Today was such a nice warm day with no wind. It doesn't get any better than that.

We built the boys a sand box. A really big sand box. (As you can see - still, no grass!)
We put up their swimming pool. The water was still a little cold so they didn't stay in very long.
The "almost" finished project. Dusty has to put in a fence behind the sand box before he can finish completley. But they can at least play in it for now.
Dusty got a shot gun for Father's Day. I actually surprised him!!! You should have seen the weird looks I got while I was trying to buy it. I think they thought I was a "crazed women"...
The boys getting ready for their sleep out. They were trying to find the first star out. (Dusty's arms really aren't as dark as they appear - his legs probably are that white though!)

MY FAVORITE NEW THING

I have to let everyone know about my favorite new thing. I have always just been a "runner" (or at least I like to try) and never did many strength training, yoga, or anything else of the sort. We bought the Wii Fit a couple of weeks ago and I love it. IT REALLY WORKS. I have muscles that are sore that I didn't even know that I had. I have always really hated Yoga - but it is actually fun with the Wii Fit. There is Hula Hoop - which of course you would only do in the privacy of your own home - if you know what I mean. You really don't have a hula hoop but you sure shake your hips like you do. There is snowboarding, alot of balance games, running, strength training and much more. If you are looking to spend or waste (which ever way you like to look at it) some money - I would HIGHLY recommend the Wii and a must have is the Wii Fit!!!

One of the best inventions has been the WII!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAYKE

Wayke is 2 years old. He is the cutest kid with a big personality.
Wayke has been a big blessing in our lives. 3 years ago I had a tumor removed (pituitary tumor) from the center of my head. We were told we may never have any more children. Almost exactly 1 year later - Wayke was born. He was born on a Saturday after we had moved cows all day. I had walked about 3 miles. Later that day, I swore I pee'd my pants. Everyone says you know if you "pee" or your water breaks. Well, I am here to tell you, you don't. I thought for sure I was peeing my pants. The thought of my water breaking didn't even cross my mind. I just kept telling Dusty, I just pee'd my pants. Finally, he said, "Are you sure your water didn't break?" I said, "No, you know when you pee your pants and I did." Well, I hadn't - my water really did break. Even after my water had broke, we had a house for sell we were meeting some people to show. I still went, we sold the house, then went to the hospital!!!Wayke loves to be outside. His favorite thing in the world is his dad. I have never seen such a daddy's boy. When he gets hurt, he wants his dad. When he is happy, he wants his dad. He loves to do anything with his dad - especially ride the four-wheeler. We are so thankful for Wayke - He is so much fun to have in our house. We love you Wayke.

I had to throw these pictures in. Amy and I went walking up and down our small lane. The kids played outside. When we came back this is what we found: Them playing in the middle of the pond. Luckily, we have it drained right now - but its gross. They didn't care at all - they were having a ball out there!!! Rayce and Sammy were dragging this pail around catching snails.

More pictures of the kids. They were so gross after - but hey, they had fun - and thats all that matters - RIGHT???

OUR HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

These pictures are for you Nicole! But I won't lie - I do like to show pictures of my house because it is something that I love!!! You can see we really need grass. We have been working on flower beds all week. (When I say "we" I mostly mean Dusty) As soon as they're done - WE'RE GETTING GRASS!!!Dusty didn't work yesterday so he put in flower beds.

Please don't tease him...

This is a picture from the road. We live 1/4 of a mile off of the road. We built back here so our kids couldn't play in the road. Well, we live on a 1.5 mile dead end road. We are only the 3rd home up here. So needless to say - there isn't ANY traffic. Maybe 4 cars a day and we are 2 of them. We are still glad we built so far back. We love our view of the mountains and can hear the river running at night. It is very peaceful. And, the kids have never went to the road. The plan worked!!!

This is a picture of my kitchen. It is one of my favorite places in the house. That is where all the food is!!!

Another favorite thing in my house is our front door. That is a little peep door at the top. But of course, you would really never open it. It would be funny to open, look out, and decide not to open the door!

This is our family room. Our entry way, kitchen, and front room are one big open area. We love it - if we are in the house - we are all together as a family.

This is our boys "John Deere Green" room. It is very bright. I had a hard time putting extreme colors in my house - but everyone said you can paint it again when you get tired of it.

Dusty and the boys taking a break yesterday.

We really love our house and really love where it is located. We bought a ranch from Stewart (Dusty's dad) about 3 or 4 years ago. We (again, that means Dusty) run cows. That is Dusty's absolute love. He even calls home in the middle of the day and asks "How are my cows?" The boys are so happy over here. They can walk outside and there is many things they can do. (They all usually include dirt) We are so grateful to Stewart and Sheril for giving up what they loved to us so we could raise our boys in the life-style that we have chose.

That pretty much sums up our house. Nicole, I hope you guys come and visit soon. And everyone else, you are invited anytime!!!

Saturday Yard Work

Every Saturday is spent doing some sort of yard work. This one we put in a flower bed at the front of our house. It took almost the whole day to do. Next weeks project: Grass!!!

A couple of days ago Rayce's friend, Payden, was coming over. They always went to gymnastics together so he asked if he had gymnastics that day. I told him gymnastics was over and he wasn't going to go anymore. He asked me, "Well, when's church going to be over?"

I had to post these "pretty" flowers too! Rayce went for a four-wheeler ride today and picked me these. (I think a lot of them are weeds :) )Everytime he looks at them he says "Mom, do you love your flowers?"