The Difference Between a Jogger and a Runner -

"The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank."
-George Sheehan

Hi! It's me Gideon and I am here with my sister to cheer mom and grandma on in their race.
It was last Saturday the 18th.
Aunt Jesse came to help cheer and keep an eye on Parker. She brought me a hot chocolate and a big #1 finger to use as I cheer.

Grandma came in first, but then her race wasn't very long. I held up the big finger and cheered for "Grandma Cindy".

Yay!! Grandma may have finished 294th, but she wasn't last and she is #1 with me.

Mom ran the 1/2 marathon. I know.... it sounds crazy to enjoy running 13.1 miles, but she does it. They didn't have any water on the course after mile 8 so mommy's time was a little slower than usual.

She looked kind of tired when she came in, so I ran out to her and helped her to the finish line.
My mommy is so cool!

Well, that's it from the Scenic River Classic. The next races aren't until 4th of July weekend. We'll let you know how they do.
See ya later alligator!
Gideon - aka- 'Big boy'

A Summer View from My Life

The temperatures have been a little on the cooler side the last couple of weeks, but when the sun shines my view of the valley is one of the prettiest on earth!

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!!!!

Running the “Dam” Thing

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

 The Teton Dam Marathon races were a lot of fun. Cali talked me into doing the 5K while she ran the Half-Marathon. Our friend Eden called about 10 days before the race to say she was coming down from Washington (near Spokane) to run in her very first Marathon. What fun we had. Eden’s race started at the Teton Dam Site at 6:30, Cali’s race started in Rexburg at 7:30 and mine started at 8:30.  There were some pretty good hills that each of us had to climb. Mine was at the very start of my race and went up for 1.7 miles. The good part is I ran most of the last mile (which is downhill).

Darryl and Eden’s mom were the designated babysitters for the day. Darryl dropped me off at the park for my race then they took off to go find Cali and Eden. Gideon loves to run along with his mom when he sees her coming. Eden did excellent  for her very first Marathon and caught up with Cali toward the end of the Race. Her official race time was 3:54. She finished 3rd in her age group (20-29), fifth for the women and 21st overall.  What a great Job.

Cali did well for her Half Marathon. She has done one faster, but this did have a lot of hills. She is such an inspiration to me as I start on this journey of running. She teaches me to have patience with myself and to celebrate all of my little victories and milestones in my personal running quest. By her constant and persistent personal example she shows me that I don’t have anyone to compete against except myself, and to improve myself is all that really matters.  – Of course, She also gives me ‘that’ look (you girls know the one I mean) when I start talking like I am too tired to run or want to wimp out. Just knowing that eyebrow might raise as she looks at me is enough to make me want to go for a run. Thank you Cali. You really do keep me going.  (And she looks so darn cute when she runs. )

   After the race we had a picnic on the median of the boulevard as we cheered on the runners coming in!

As for me, this was my second 5K and I was able to run half of it and although I was spent at the end it did feel good!

Jesse's Baby Shower

I do have one picture from Jesse's baby shower. These were some of her closest friends in School. Katy, Jessica, Julie, Jesse and Amber.

It was a wonderful time! Be sure and read the other post. It has more Pictures of my girls and Grandkids!

Tra La - It's May! Baby Showers and Other Fun!

Darryl and I arrived home from Mississippi on May 15th. The following week was very busy with cleaning, unpacking, repairing a leak and remodeling the weight room into a library. We did have one sweet surprise when we got home...... 4 newborn Kittens!!

Gideon also came over to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa. He serenaded me in the morning with "Snowman, Snowman". Can't we teach him a springtime song? Popcorn or something?

The following Tuesday I ventured down to Utah to meet up with Skye and Ryan. Cami also flew in and Cali and Jesse came down for a surprise baby shower for Skye.

Hillary hosted the outdoor event- the weather was perfect and the food, delicious!

This is the first shower of any kind I have been to where the backyard trampoline played such a key roll.

It served as a good babysitter for the children who were there.

Parker enjoyed herself immensely...

She very quickly took to Uncle Ryan and he entertained her most of the day.

Skye was very surprised and had a great time opening her gifts.

Thanks to all who attended,... it was a wonderful affair.

After everyone left I decided I needed to get a picture of my three expecting daughters.

Jesse is due first on Sept. 7, Cami on Sept. 15 and Skye on October 21st.

After that the fun really began as all my daughters decided they needed to play on the trampoline.... The instigator of this was Cami..

Three pregnant ladies on a trampoline.... this can't be good.

Then Cali and Hillary joined them... Oh what fun!!!

And then it moved right into Hilarious....

In her defense.... This is her third pregnancy .....

No... no one is hurt. They are laughing so hard at Cami's predicament that they couldn't even stand up!

Cami, billions of mothers can relate....

******
This past Monday and Tuesday we had 2 more baby showers here in Idaho. One for Skye and one for Jesse. Lily loved the refreshments....

My sweet expectant Mothers!

Good food, good friends and lively conversation. It was so fun.

Cami... you're supposed to be helping to make the refreshments, not eat them all!

Unfortunately, my camera battery died so I have no pictures of Jesse's shower, but I am sure she will post them on her own blog.

Finally, more than a week ago I promised Gideon that he and I would hike the butte when Lily got here. Since yesterday was so beautiful we took full advantage of it.

Lily and Gideon packed snacks in their backpacks, grabbed a "bug house" and butterfly net and away we went.

When we got back home Cami and Parker were enjoying the afternoon on a blanket in the yard.

Yesterday, Darryl had to pack for a short trip to Colorado. Little Miss Parker decided she needed to go with Grandpa!

Gideon has learned to work the jets in our master bath tub. Cali put a little bubble soap in there, but when her back was turned Gideon put the rest of the bottle in and punched the Jets button.

We could see they were very, very clean.......once we found them amid the suds.

And that, dear family and friends, is what we have been doing for the last two weeks.
Have a wonderful day!