Winter Fun

Bundling up to go shopping

The boys have loved winter! Here are a few things we've been up to.

Going to the Zoo

Seeing the lights at Temple Square

Playing in the snow

Sledding

Flying Will's helicopter

Making Christmas tree hats at Story Hour

Making a slide down the stairs with a mattress and cushions

Merry Christmas

Will couldn't wait for Xav to wake up to open presents.

Christmas was great! The boys were so fun to watch open presents. They were so animated and got so excited. Will got a Thomas train with a "constroller" and Xav got a big wagon.

After we opened presents at home, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa Fowler's for breakfast and more presents. Grandma Fowler made the most delicious breakfast with quiche, stratta and orange rolls. We got to see some of the Fowler cousins and the boys had fun running around and playing with them.

We came home and got ready for the Losee family to come for dinner. It was so fun to have everyone together. It was a little chaotic, but we loved it! This year we had a sibling and in-law gift exchange of our favorite things. It was so fun to see what some of our favorite things are. I ended up with some Astroglide thanks to Levi.

Xav was so excited about his wagon. He had to be right in the middle of putting it together.

The Losee Cousins

The boys made this Christmas so fun. We just love them so much.

Team Oiselle!

Yay! I just became a member of Team Oiselle! I am so excited to be apart of such a wonderful team. I got my welcome package in the mail the other day and tried everything on. The clothes are so comfortable and fit so well. I can't wait to race in them!

Xav's Loves

 Xav has two loves: Es and his left thumb


Since Xav was born, I've put him to bed with these thin, soft, linen blankets. Xav loves these blankets and drags them all over the house. I try to keep the blankets in his crib, but Xav can't leave his crib without them. A couple of months ago, Xav started referring to these blankets as "Es." Xav loves his Es and asks for them when he gets tired.

Xav has been a thumb sucker since he was born. He loves his left thumb. I think thumb suckers are pretty cute!

Xav has a few things he really likes: Raffy, Georgie and vacuuming. Recently Xav has become attached to a stuffed giraffe he calls "Raffy" and a stuffed Curious George monkey he calls "Georgie." The other day I went in his bedroom to get him from his nap and he's standing up in his crib with his arms full of his Es, Raffi and Georgie. It was pretty cute. He's such a funny, particular boy!

When Xav hears the vacuum turn on, he comes running! It doesn't matter what he's doing, nothing can distract him from helping me vacuum. He is such a good helper. I love this sweet boy!

Halloween

Happy Halloween! The boys loved Halloween this year! Holidays are so much fun with kids.

We had a Fowler Family Halloween Party at Grandma and Papa Fowler's house. It was such a fun party we ate, played games and made caramel apples. The boys had so much fun with their cousins. Will was pretty good at playing Musical Chairs and he was the best toilet paper mummy I've ever seen.
















We had a Ward Trunk of Treat that we went to the day before Halloween. We had dinner, then the kids paraded through everyone in their costumes. Will won "The Strongest Muscles" award.

We carved pumpkins and Will told me to exactly how to carve his pumpkin. He wanted his pumpkin to have circle eyes and nose, and a really big smile. Xav didn't really care about carving his pumpkin, he just wanted to jump on the tramp while we were all outside.

On Halloween night, the boys didn't last very long Trick or Treating. We made it to the end of the street and Will said he wanted to go home. Jeff stayed home to scare trick-or-treaters. He sat on our porch dressed as a gorilla, had spooky music and a fog machine going. Some kids wouldn't even come to the door and get candy. Jeff had so much fun scaring kids.

Farmington Fire Station Fun!

We went to an Open House at the Farmington Fire Station and had so much fun. We checked out the Life Flight helicopter, then watched it take off.

The boys ran an obstacle course.

        Will wasn't sure about dragging the dummy around. He didn't want to touch the rope to pull the dummy.

Will got to squirt the water hose. 

The boys got balloons and fire fighter hats. What a fun day! We loved it!

Honey's Birthday

One of my favorite things Xav does is call Jeff "Honey." It makes me smile every time I hear him refer to Jeff as Honey. We had a fun day because it was Honey's birthday and we took a trip to Pack's Pumpkin Patch.

The boys LOVED the pumpkin patch. They had so much fun playing in the maze, pulling the pumpkin wagon and getting dirty. Will really wanted a green pumpkin, but I talked him into an orange pumpkin because we had a couple of green pumpkins in the garden at home.

That evening we surprised Jeff at work with cupcakes for his 34th birthday! We were planning on taking him to City Creek to eat at The Cheesecake Factory, but he had just eaten 4 cookies before we got to his work, so he wasn't very hungry. We still went to City Creek, but ate at Kneaders instead. The boys loved walking around and seeing all the water fountains and fish in the stream. We had such a fun day! Happy Birthday, Honey!

Top of Utah Marathon

There was a strong field at the Top of Utah Marathon this year. Allie Moore, who has won the race the past 2 years and was planning to run sub 2:50, was running. Stephanie Talley, who has won both the Ogden and St. George Marathons, was there. Janae Richardson, a former WSU runner, was there and was shooting for sub 2:50.

My goal for this race was to run 6:20 pace per mile. I ran 6:24s at the Ogden Marathon a few months ago, and I felt great. I thought I could easily shave off 4 seconds per mile and still feel good.

The first half of the race coming down the canyon felt really good. I was running with a group of guys and once we hit mile 12, they started picking it up. I debated on whether it was better to run with them and go quicker than I planned, or let them go and run by myself. I decided to run with them and try to hang on, but a couple of miles later we ran a 5:55 mile and I decided to let them go. I was a little over half way through the marathon and knew I couldn't keep running that pace and finish well. I'm so glad I let them go when I did because at mile 19, I was done! My legs felt like lead, and I couldn't make them go any faster. I kept thinking to myself, "This is what people are talking about when they say they hit the wall."  The last 7 miles were such a battle and drug on. A guy ran by me and said, "It's all mental from here. You got it!"  I kept repeating those words over and over in my head. A policeman escorted  me from mile 24 and he really helped push me along.  I was so happy to cross the finish line. I was completely exhausted. I think the quick miles in the middle of the race really hurt me, but I still came in  first! Jeff, Will, Xav, my mom, Lis, Richie and Dallin came to cheer me on. It was so nice to have their support.

 

My good friend, Janae

Me, Janae Richardson, Allie Moore, Stephanie Talley and Rachelle Wardle

 

Here are my splits for each mile: 6:13, 6:19, 6:14, 6:11, 6:22, 6:14, 6:18, 6:11, 6:13, 6:15, 6:14, 6:04, 6:04, 5:55, 5:58, 6:06, 6:07, 6:15, 6:29, 6:32, 6:26, 6:42, 6:44, 6:42, 6:43, 6:49, 1:18. My total time was 2:45:51, with an average of 6:19.9 per mile! Exactly what I wanted to run!