Intensity!

Tonight marked the end of a fun, eventful, and impressive season of the newest sport added to our family's repertoire:  lacrosse, or LAX.  Sarah decided in December that she wanted to play on the LAX team this year even though she'd never formally played before.  I went to the first informational meeting for parents and was impressed with the coaching staff and their philosophy: "We are building character girls."  We were happy to encourage her in this endeavour - building character is a good thing after all, and physical fitness  isn't a bad side benefit, right?   Conditioning started at the first of January and it was brutal.  Running, running, running, and more running!  I was proud of Sarah for sticking with it. It wasn't easy by a long shot, but she pushed herself hard and her hard work paid off.  She learned skills quickly and became very fast. She even recruited three other girls to the team. 

Games started in March, and the first one was a bit disappointing - they were soundly beat by the other team.  But, the coaches and team members took it as a learning experience, and quickly recognized skills needing improvement.  The very next game it was apparent that they had worked hard on those particular skills.  Before games, the players raise their sticks in the air and shout, "INTENSITY!"  The season progressed with much intensity at practices and at games.  The girls have improved a great deal and won many games, but overall, I am truly impressed that these girls really are "character girls".  They have really pulled together as a team and support each other 100% 

Many family members and friends came to games to support Sarah. I know it means a lot to her - and it's fun chatting with family and friends on the sidelines while we watch and cheer!  Thank you!

Unfortunately, as cute as it is, this is the only picture I have from this season.  I took a whole bunch of awesome shots tonight of Sarah racing down the field with the ball in her stick only to find out when we got home that the memory card was not in the camera.  Ugh!  I am so upset about that, but I hope that Sarah will play again next year so we can catch some great shots of her then. 

Sarah and her two friends, Ellery and Nataya at the Skyview game

Thanks, Sarah, for being brave enough to try a new sport, at a new school, with new people! That takes a lot of courage!  I admire you and am proud of you for your hard work and determination. Plus it was just darn fun watching you play!  Let's do it again next year!

INTENSITY!!!

Plucky Leprechauns

(Or, in other words, more than you ever wanted to know about my race. This is really more of a journal entry for myself, so though anyone else may read it, I can't guarantee boredom.)  So, guess what. . .   I did it!  I did it, I really, really did it!!  (View this if you don't know where that came from - specifically at 6:58ish.Hee, hee.)  I finished the 5k, on my feet, and running - very slowly, but running!  I didn't walk even once.  I must say that I am super proud of myself.  This was something hard for me.  And I did it!

My family support - Mom, me, Nicole, Matthew

Of course, I had a lot of encouragement and support.  I really don't think I could have done it alone.  In January,  I started walking  about 2.8 miles most weekday mornings with 3-4 other ladies in my ward.  They are super speed walkers.  (And several of them are also veteran 5k, 10k, and marathon runners.)  I could hardly keep up with them.  Seriously. (I still can't very well!)  So, I would walk, start falling behind, and then jog to catch up.  Walk, start falling behind, and then jog to catch up.   Repeat throughout the route.  One day, I decided to just keep jogging slowly to stay with them rather than falling behind.  I started jogging more and more of the route, and soon my walking buddies started saying, "Are you going to do a 5k?"  I laughed it off,  "No way, I am not a distance runner."   But inwardly, I thought, "Maybe I should try."   Hence, my goal was born.  I decided that I would do a 5k sometime this year.  That meant run a 5k.  No stopping.  No walking.   I was thinking maybe summer or fall would give me enough time. 

Feeling fresh before the race.  The wind was horrible though, so we left the hats behind in the car.

Not long after I decided I would try to do this, my neighbor, Cherie, texted me asking if I would like to run a 5k with her on St. Patrick's Day. As in March 17, 2012. Yikes!!! That was much sooner than summer or fall. I think it took me over a week to commit.  And even then I felt a little sick to my stomach when I said yes. I started jogging as much of the morning route as I could.  My walking buddies were such a huge source of support.  One in particular, Joyce, would run along with me and keep up a steady stream of conversation so I would be distracted from my fatigue.  Every now and then she would say, "I'm talking too much.  I'm sure you have things to say, too!"  Uhh, no.   I was just trying to breathe.  :)  I would occasionally puff out "Wow, uh-huh, oh," type expressions as I forcefully exhaled, but that was about all I could do before gulping for more air. :)   Joyce was awesome, though, and I look forward to many more jog/walks with her and the other speedies early in the morning.

Me and Cherie after the race.

A little more red-faced, but feeling great.  Mom took 3rd place in her age division!

Cut to March 17th, 9:00 am.  Cherie, my mom, Nicole, myself, and it turns out my studly brother Matthew (who had been signed up by his loving wife that very morning at 7:30 am) started moving with over 300 other green-clad jokers as the starting gun sounded.  Matthew, who claims he hates running, and Nicole, quickly outpaced us.  (Not all that suprising.)  Cherie, my mom and I stuck together for quite a while.  Then it was just me and Cherie.  We stayed together for almost the entire race.  Towards the last half mile or so, I moved ahead of her, just a bit.  This was not because I am so amazingly fast, it just happened. However, having her just a little behind me turned out to be more motivation.  I realized she would see me if I started to walk.  And then I would embarrassed.  So I kept running.  I started feeling very tired, and thought, "I'll just walk for a second."  Then I thought of my sweet daughters, who had told me over and over, "You can do this, mom!" I did not want to let them down.   And I kept running.  I was maybe a quarter of a mile to the finish line, and somehow knowing that made me feel even more tired.  I thought of an article I had read previously that week about a woman who was training for a marathon.  She was on a treadmill and her trainer had her running as fast as she could for five minutes.  When she thought she could not possibly run any longer (near the last 30 seconds or so), the trainer got right in front of her and said, "Don't you dare. give. up!   You can do this!" and then would count down to the finish.  She made it. I was in the last "30 seconds" of the race.  I kept telling myself over and over, "Don't. (explosive exhalation)(gulping inhalation) you.(explosive exhalation)(gulping inhalation) dare.(explosive exhalation)(gulping inhalation) give.(explosive exhalation)(gulping inhalation) up!  You can do this!  You are almost there."  I nearly started crying when I crossed the finish line.

Even more amazing,  I think I'll do it again. 

 Because I can do it!

Wish Me Luck

Today is a big day for me.  It is St. Patrick's Day.  And it is the morning of my first ever official 5k race.  I know this is not a big deal for most people.  Three point one miles is not that far - for many - to run.  But for me, it is big.  I set a goal for myself to do a 5k this year - and run the whole way.  I could walk it, no problem, but running is another story.  So, on this day of luck and leprechauns, and all that fun stuff, I need the luck o' the Irish with me.  :)  Thankfully, I'll have a few friendly leprechauns running with me - my amazing mom, my stellar sister-in-law, Nicole, and my awesome neighbor, Cherie.  (She is the one who talked me into this so early in the year.) So, instead of cooking corned beef and cabbage, I'm going to go run.  Wish me luck.  To be continued . . .

J is for Jacob

... and joy!  This little boy of mine (who isn't so little anymore) has brought so much joy into my life and into our family.  One week ago today, he turned six.  Just ask him.  He will tell you.  ("Hey, Jill.  I'm six," stated in a very matter-of-fact voice.  End of conversation.)  I asked him if he is still my baby, and he said, in no uncertain terms, "No, mom.  But I am  your boy."  Whew!  So glad of that.  He'll always be my Jakey-boy.

Six things I love about Jacob:

1.  He gives me a hug every single morning when he first wakes up.  He comes looking for me to give me that hug.  Love it.  Who wouldn't?

2.  He loves to build things - and is quite good at it, too!  He can spend hours constructing the perfect train layout, lego ship, marble run, or other imaginative creation with his wooden blocks.

3. He has passion.  Trains have obviously been his passion since he was my baby, but, stop the presses - he now claims drawing is his favorite thing in the whole wide world.  Guess what he likes to draw?  The two passions have now combined.  :)

4.  He is inquisitive. This summer he heard some snippet about the Titanic somewhere and asked more questions about it.  We now check out books at the library on the Titanic, look at websites about the Titanic, and watch shows about the Titanic.  He recently drew a picture of the stages of the ill-fated ship sinking.  Sad, but impressive.

5.  Jacob still loves a good tickle fight with Darin.  I love to see them two of them wrestling and laughing together.  When Jacob has had enough, he suddenly transforms into a black mamba and is safe from any more tickles, for as we all know, black mambas are not to be messed with. . . unless Darin suddenly transforms into a mongoose . . .

6.  Even on days when Jacob is feeling more like this:

He usually turns around quickly and becomes the happy, fun-loving boy that brings so much joy.  (Plus, don't you think he still looks so darn cute - even when he's mad?)

Happy 6th  Birthday, Jacob! 

 I love you!

13 Reasons why...

I love Megan:

1. She has a super kind heart.
2. Her smile makes my day.
3. Her angelic singing voice - even in the shower
4. "Twister" stories - just ask Matthew and Jacob
5. Her hugs - love it when she just walks up and puts her arm around me and lays her head on my shoulder.
6. Laughing together after one of my lame jokes, and then she sighs, "Oh, Mom."
7. Secret hand shakes
8. Planning out and working in gardens together.
9. Cooking together.
10. Her sense of style- she can pull anything off.
11. Her artistic abilities.  I always enjoy doing projects with her.
12. She still lets me brush and blow dry her hair.  (Sounds weird, but it's a bonding time.)
13. She is beautiful - both inside and out.

I'm so grateful for you, Megan. 

Happy 13th Birthday!

First 3 kisses... aw yeahh

First (and last) kisses...from a goat.



Rewriting the Christmas Story

Last night we were watching the new nativity movie the church has produced.  I thought Darin and I had done a pretty good job of teaching our children this beautiful true story of Christ's birth.  However, I realized that pop culture has a strong hold on our kids after Matthew shared his "knowledge".

When watching the part of the wisemen bringing gifts to Jesus, Darin asked, "What were the gifts?"  Matthew enthusiastically exclaimed in earnest, "Gold, silver, and rum!"  Really?  Was Jack Sparrow one of the wisemen?

Shortly after that we were watching Mary, Joseph, and little Jesus flee to Egypt.  Darin asked, "Why were they going to Egypt?"  Once again, Matthew came through with, "Because King Hagrid wanted to kill all the baby boys!"   And all along I thought Hagrid was one of the good guys!

We all laughed and laughed after both of these revelations. However, I think we will be revisiting the real story of Christmas and clear up any misunderstandings.