Ragnar 2011

I had a blast at Ragnar this year! I wasn't nearly as anxious as last year and the people in my van were fun. I was the second runner which was a total of 13.3 miles (Leg #1: 6.7, Leg #2: 3.0, Leg #3: 3.6), which is one of the shorter legs and probably another reason why I wasn't as nervous or sore.

This picture was taken at our office before we left for Logan.

Our start time was 5:00 a.m.! And it was freezing! These 2 pictures kind of show the 45 degree weather, but the wind was what made it so cold.
This is my first run and yes my eyes are closed. I do not have any good pictures of me running this year. Because of this I came up with 5 Fun Reasons that shows the Ragnar culture and what makes people run this crazy relay.

Fun Reason #1: It's a relay!
Relays are fun because you have people cheering you on during your whole run and you get a burst of excitement at the end of each run because you have finished another leg. The next two pictures are examples of what exchanges look like. There is a slap bracelet that is passed at each exchange before the next runner is sent off.

Fun Reason #2: The beautiful scenery

These pictures don't do it justice, but the views are amazing which always gives motivation while running.

Fun Reason #3: You get to know your vanmates (maybe too well)
As you sit in the van for two days it's hard to decide which bodily need supersedes the others: sleep, hunger, or going to the bathroom. Whichever it is, jokes are constant as you get to know each other.

This picture was taken the last day and you can start to see how worn out we are, ha ha.
Fun Reason #4: The costumes
These 2 pictures are just some of the many. Barrett saw a team where each runner represented different sporting events: one carrying a full surf board, another in a kayak jacket carrying a paddle, and another did all his runs on cross country skis!

Fun Reason #5: The sayings on the cars
(No explanation needed)

Sadly, Barrett did not take any pictures, but I did get a copy of one picture from someone else. Barrett ran the same leg that we did last year so he ran 18.1 miles.

And finally. For those who have run Ragnar, or for those who have time to watch a funny video, you will get a kick out of this: Do you want to run a relay race

Girls night: making book flowers

Every now and then I get to have a girls night with my Mom and sisters! Last month when we got together we decided we wanted to make some sort of decoration. My sister found the book flower idea on another blog and it was the perfect craft for me. Simple distinct directions, no need for creativity, no painting or gluing required, and it took about 20 minutes. And it looks great on our entertainment center.

Sewing project

My mother-in-law bought this cute pattern for a little girl's skirt. When I found out my good friend was having a baby girl I decided I wanted to make it for her. With a lot of help from my mother-in-law it turned out really cute! Here are pictures of the finished product:

Changing focus

After almost 2 years of art lessons I will no longer be taking. My teacher has the opportunity to study under another artist and I decided to place my focus somewhere else. However, the last project I was working on was sketching faces. It's the one area I was especially nervous to work on, but knew I wanted to learn and practice as much as I could before ending. So I decided to post 3 of my better sketches as a goodbye to art lessons.

This is Barrett's cousin's baby that was born in January. The sketch should be horizontal, so he is laying down on a blanket, but for some reason I couldn't get it it to upload right.

This is a sketch of my friend Natalie.

This is a sketch out of an art book in a section about facial expressions and emotions. You can decide on your own what emotion this is...

Shortly after I decided to stop taking art lessons my next door neighbor asked me to teach her two boys piano. I was thrilled for the opportunity and am now focused on being a piano teacher.

3 Years!

Barrett and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary on Tuesday! We are continually grateful for the many blessings God has given us, including finding each other and our wonderful life since we were married. We also feel very blessed to have been sealed in the temple and love that we will be together for eternity. I love you babe and look forward to another year!

Happy Mother's Day!

moth·er/ˈməT͟Hər/

Verb: Bring up (a child) with care and affection: "the art of mothering"

I love this definition! And it truly applies to all the mothers I am close to and look up to: my mom, my sisters, my mother-in-law, both of Barrett's wonderful grandmas who have fully welcomed me into their families (mine have both passed away although they were wonderful as well), and my friends who have children (and I'm sure those who will in the future). For all those women out there, may we all learn "the art of mothering".

April Fools

Barrett walked into his office on Friday to this:

Click on the picture to make it bigger because it is an amazing foil job! (Notice the wrapped cup, fruit snacks, pen, flash drive, etc.)
People were coming into his office all day to see the desk, and his boss even had the hospital photographer take pictures of it. Barrett already has some payback ideas forming.