The Big 25

So I turned 25 this week.  I can't mark the "18-24" age group for surveys and anonymous statistical information forms.  It's a big deal, I know.

For some reason birthdays always make me think back to the things I have and haven't done in my life. I haven't done much anyone will remember in my life, but here's a few of the things I am proud of...

I got married for all eternity to the most amazing man
I graduated college (Associate degree, but still, it's a degree I am proud of)
I became a mommy
I bought a house (and since then have sold it)
I became a mommy all over again, but this time without the assistance of an epidural (purposely)
I bought a minivan
I completed a sprint triathlon
I raced in a half-marathon
I raced in a marathon and achieve my goal time of under 4 hours
I became much more confident in my home canning abilities
After some scares and blessings, I became a mommy for a third time (again without an epidural)

What things am I currently doing?

Trying to train for some more races.  Definitely a half marathon and possibly another full.
Trying daily to be a better mother to my 3 boys (includes trying to keep my sanity in the process).
Trying to be supportive of a husband working 2 jobs and getting his masters degree (again, here's where my sanity is at risk).
Trying to serve the Lord and show my love for him through my obedience to the small and seemingly big things he wants me to do.
Hoping I keep my figure!

Life is so wonderful.  It is stressful, fulfilling, sad, exciting, hard, fun, and so much more.  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  I am happy, healthy, have an amazing family, and food in my pantry.  I can only pray my next 25 years will be as good as the last.

Here's how the week went:

10th
Today I had a few favorite moments.  One was when I went to the Verizon store to get a new phone.  Mine has been in serious danger of completely dying and I have been putting off getting a new one.  So, I finally went to get one and my brother came along.  I was set on getting one without a data plan and sticking to the cheapest options, but then I started playing with the iPhone.  We have a few apple products and love them all.  I knew I would want an iPhone if I really knew all it could do.  It was really fun to sit and listen to my brother explain tons of advantages, options, and features of the iPhone.  So, I gave in and I am so glad I did!  I love it!  But, the best part about getting my new amazing phone, was the fun my brother and I had in the store together.  We don't have many moments like that so I really enjoyed it.

Then...after getting my awesome new phone, my brother dropped me off to have dinner with Devin.  It was a birthday date dinner at The Deli.  We love that place and this time was no different.  Devin told me about work and we talked about some of our future plans.  Every time I get a date with Devin, I am reminded how amazing he is and how much we belong together.  Date nights are the best!

11th

Today is my birthday!  I had lots of favorite moments.  The first was when I went out to the kitchen to get breakfast and saw the bowl of cream of wheat Devin had made for me.  It's one of my favorites!

Later, Devin came home for lunch and made sure the boys' meals were all taken care of - including dishes!  Then, my mom took me, the boys, Jeni, and Joshua all out for ice cream.  We got Thrifty ice cream, which was super yummy!  Poor Ollie was jealous he couldn't have any yet!  He just got Cheerios!

After coming back from ice cream, I got ready and took the boys to spend the night at Nana's so I could go to my Relief Society meeting since Devin wouldn't be home to leave them with.  I opened my present from the family of a nail salon gift card (for a pedi), a movie theater gift card, and dinner gift card to my favorite, Buca de Beppo, plus free babysitting!  Another date night!

So off to Relief Society I went, happy to know I would have the day to myself (and Ollie) until Devin got home from work when we would go out for another date together!

And...between there sometime my mom and dad brought me a cupcake with a candle so I could make a wish.  It was sweet.

That night, Nana had to call because Jaxon was upset that he forgot to give me my birthday card.  What a sweet little boy!  He told me he did not want me to be sad and think he forgot about my birthday.  I told him I knew he did not forget because he gave me super big birthday hugs earlier and it would be okay for him to make a card tomorrow.  He feet better after we talked for a little bit.  That boy has such a tender little heart.  I hope he stays sweet and kindhearted.  I am so blessed.

12th

Today was great because I got some nice time to myself.  I love my boys more than anything in the world, but it is really nice to have some time for myself too.  Ollie didn't stay with Nana and Papa since he is still nursing.  He woke up at 6:00, which was kind of a bummer, but, after playing for about an hour, he went back to sleep until 9:30.  So...so did I!  It was so great!  I n.e.v.e.r get to sleep in so it was really, really, really nice!  Every once in a while Devin will get up with the boys on the weekend and let me stay in bed, (and even then my sleep is interrupted with noises from the boys playing) but pretty much since Ollie was born, I'm up early to feed him every day.  So, anyway, I really enjoyed the peace and quiet that allowed me to sleep in.  After a nice workout and playing with Ollie, I put him back down for his nap and was able to do some playing with my new phone to get it set up and synced with my desktop.  Uninterrupted computer time is also something I don't enjoy much of, so that was really nice too.

After Devin got off, we dropped Ollie off with Nana and Papa and headed out for date number two for the week.  Multiple birthday celebrations are so great.  I don't think I've celebrated my own this many times in one year before, but I think I want this to happen every year!  It was once again so wonderful to spend the time with Devin.  Having him gone Monday through Thursday nights (and every other Saturday) is really hard for me.  I love when we get time together.  Our date was amazing, then we picked up the kids and headed home just in time to watch an episode of Smallville, only one of the best shows ever!

We still have our movie gift card (none of the times worked for our schedule today) and my pedi gift card for next weekend.

13th

Today my favorite moment was during our cheese party.  Yep, it was actually at Elisha and Josh's.  They got 9 cheeses from around the world for us to taste.  It was so fun!  We got a few ideas and plan on doing it again too!  It was so fun to visit with Josh, Devin, and Aaron about the creepy expired food store and joke about how weird, yet awesome it is.  Adult time is nice.  Laughing is even better.

14th

Today was my birthday Sunday dinner.  Devin's family came over and made me a beef roast, veggies, noodles, gravy, and fruit.  Devin made a (frosting-less) chocolate cake from scratch and mocha ice cream (coffee free).  It was all a.mazing!  The food was fabulous and the company was even better.  It was such a fun week of alone time, Devin date time, and family time.  So far, it feels good to be 25!

My mom got me a Road ID bracelet for when I go running.  It's awesome!  If you are a runner, get one.  Find them here.


PS...I did post all about our summer.  I cheated and backdated so they posts look like they were done on time:)

Husbands' 2010 Goals

I've got a few goals for the new year, which I won't post here, but one of them I will be able to check off on January 17th when I cross the finish line!!!

So, I'm not all about "resolutions" where people think of things they'd like to do, but hardly have the intention of doing.  I really set goals and work on them.  I think it's good to constantly try to do better and improve yourself through out the year, but every once in a while take time to go over those things and the new year is a good time for me to do that.  

After thinking about what I really wanted to accomplish this year, I wrote down my goals and I asked Devin if he wanted to write down a few things for himself to work on for the year.  This is how it went down...

Me, "Here's a paper if you wanna write some goals down for the year."

Devin, "K" and he proceeds to name things for his list starting with..."make love everyday."

Me, laughing, "I'm serious.  Put some things you really want to do this year."

Devin, "I know.  You don't think I'm serious?"

I should have known, of course he was serious!

Tri it! You might like it!

This weekend was the 1st Annual San Tan Triathlon! I loved it! Well, parts of it:) Like, the swimming, running, and finishing part, but not so much the biking part. Originally I wasn't going to participate because of my marathon training (and the fact that I didn't even know how to swim, nor did I own I bike), but I decided, what the heck? It could be fun! It was and I'm SO glad I did it!

There were 27 participants. The winner had a time of 1:13:45. I came in 9th overall, 4th out of the 13 women, with a time of 1:35:30.

I am really proud of myself! Swimming and biking were both things I had never done before, so to learn how and practice then see improvement was exciting! The improvement was mostly on the swimming part. The 400 meter swim took me over 10 minutes the first time. On race day, I swam in 8:26. It's 2 seconds slower than my best, but I had to stop once for a few seconds because Jaxon was about to jump in after me!

I was so much fun to race again. I haven't competed in 5 years (since high school). The night before I couldn't go to sleep! I think if it had been running only I might not have been so nervous, but since I've never competed in swimming and biking, especially at the same time, I didn't know exactly what to expect. Once I got there and it was about to start, my nerves calmed down and I wasn't so worried.

The transition from swimming to biking wasn't too bad. I didn't towel off much, but it didn't take long to dry. I took a few extra minutes getting my iPod on, but I wanted to have the music. My legs were pretty tired on the bike and it was SO windy I felt like I wasn't going anywhere! Oh it took forever to bike those 11 miles! That was the hardest part--biking in strong winds. There were times where I was actually talking out loud to myself to pick it up. I had a chocolate GU packet stashed in my bra that I gulped down during those hard moments. That helped.

The transition from biking to running, now that was tough. My legs wanted to quit, but I wouldn't let them. After a few minutes, I was able to get into my pace I was enjoying myself. It was a little warmer than I'd like, but not bad. I love running. I really do.

Oh, a few times I actually had to turn around because I realized I had gone the wrong way! That was a bummer since I lost time.

My sweet husband and kids were there to support me. My brother came from school to see me finish and my mom, who had worked from 3:00 pm to 1:00 am the previous day was there before it started to help me get set up and plan my transitions. My dad had to work, or I know he would have been there to support me too. Devin, the boys, and my mom drove along the way and cheered me on at certain points. That was helpful and so sweet. I have an awesome family and I'm so thankful they were there. It really meant a lot.

My number 1 fan

About to start...

I was in the first lane so he was able to run along side me. It was so cute!

On the bike

Just dropped the bike and off to run. Notice the wet spot...I didn't pee. It's from my seat where my shorts didn't dry.

Right after I finished

Rehydrating

Jaxon playing with my iPod

Henry being supportive

My brother and mom

Not all, but most of the group

2009

It's a new year so make some resolutions!

I found these cool quotes about goals:

"The trouble with not having a goal, is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never cross the goal line."  -Thomas S. Monson, excerpt of talk given January 14, 2001 on the campus of Rick's College

A goal not written is merely a wish.

"Many persons have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness.  It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."  -Helen Keller

Some of my goals:

1.  Read my scriptures every day.  (I have done this like a champ my whole life, but since the arrival of child #2, I have been a slacker when it comes to daily reading.)

2.  Keep current inventory for our food storage.

3.  Save more money...spend less.

4.  Look hot for swimsuit season despite having 2 children.  (Dang stretched tummy skin!)

5.  Learn how to do digital scrapbooking using free software.

6.  Cook more.  I really mean it.  I know I have said I don't have a desire to cook and since Devin loves to do it, I didn't feel a need before, but I do now.  See, when he's cooking, he's basically off duty for watching the kids.  This leads to the following:  

Devin gone at work all day.

Ruthann home tending the kids.

Devin home from work.

Ruthann wants and needs a break.

Devin has to cook.

Ruthann still has to tend the kids.

Devin prepared dinner.

Ruthann didn't get a break and is now grumpy.

So, I decided if I cook, I'll be the one off duty.  Sounds like a great plan, we'll see how it goes...

I am telling everyone my goals because if I tell people, I'm more obligated to do it!