Monday, December 31, 2007

The Year 2006-2007 Highlights

Start at the beginning!

We were married on June 21st, 2006. Literally, the longest day of the year (summer solstice). Before getting married everyone wanted to give us advice on how to have a successful marriage. The only piece of advice that we can remember was this, "Only the first hundred years are hard. . . The rest is easy." We have decided that laughter is the best medicine.




Bear Lake

We went up to Bear Lake with some friends. While we were there Rebecca learned to ski, and got up on her first time. She couldn't stay up very long because she couldn't stop laughing.
















Happy Birthday to US!

We have the same birthday, and the thing that we wanted most was to spend it being active and with the people that we care most about. We had so much fun participating in fun activities and through the sweat and the blood (Sorry Matt :() we made it and grew closer together. Taylor looks like he could be the next Paul Bunyon. Matt had worries with his harness, and Cliffhanger II won't be featuring Sylvester Stalone, congrats Ben on the acting gig. After we had burnt burgers at Edeltrauds house with everyone.






Read All About It!

The first marathon that we ever ran was the Teton Dam Marathon. We decided to run it the night before when Gail our brother in law called us asking if we wanted to get crazy and run 26.2 miles. We did and we were sore but it was all worth it b/c we found something that we love to do. We are planning to run more in 2008 until we qualify for Boston. Oh Yeah we made it on the front page on our first try. Featured on the front page on teh left Gail (our brother-in-law), then Rebecca, and Nicholas on the right. This was the first of three marathons in a six month period of time. After this we ran the Park City in August and the St. George in October.









The St. George Marathon
Hilary, Nicholas, and I had such a blast and were all so close to qualifying for Boston. I was about 10 min short Hilary about 4 min short and Nicholas was about 30 min. Both Hilary and I need to run the marathon to qualify in 3 hours and 40 min and Nicholas in 3 hours and 10 min.



Nicholas, and Hilary were all smiles and I sort of looked delirious. I wasn't really sure what was going on when I saw Becky and Paul on the side lines taking my picture. Scary!




The Park City Marathon

This Marathon was so much fun. Most of it was on dirt roads. I felt like I was up Millcreek canyon trail running with Cooper. Emily and Max were at the finish line taking our pictures. I ran through the finish line and found the nearest garbage can to use as my so impersonal out in the open barf bucket. I felt better after I ralphed. Sorry for the graphics.


Nicholas running the Ragnar relay race
Nicholas was invited to run the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay race with Taylor's work team. 175 miles, sleep deprived, 2 day party and well worth it. He was all smiles when Rebecca picked him up at the finish line in Park City. Rebecca was so jealous, so we decided that we need to do it again this year. So if any of you reading this want to do a relay, let's form a team!!





Hiking the Narrows
There were two things that we realized when we hiked the narrows. First: you never really know how hungry you can get, and how you wish you packed that extra trail mix but didn't want to cause it was too heavy, and how rock hard ground can feel like a big fluffy pillow of clouds when you hike 10-12 hours a day. It took 2 days and boy were we tired.




B.S. 2007 Family Reunion














Our family reunion was in St. George Utah. There were plenty of things to do. Our daily routine was: working out, going boating, biking, running, swimming, eating, and don't forget the napping (if you could find a quiet spot). It was fun to see everyone and play guitar hero. Nicholas got tired of waiting to go out on the boat and convinced Trey into a mud bath. Bridger watched.







Hiking Up Millcreek Canyon
Our favorite thing to do these days is hiking, snowshoeing, or trail running. Cooper loves gallivanting through the snow. We are excited for Koda to grow a bit bigger so that she can come too. This is quickly becoming a Christmas Day tradition.







The 24th of July


Becky and Paul and their ward family worked hard on a float to be displayed in the 24th of July parade down town. It turned out fabulous and you could tell that it was a lot of work. They worked for weeks on it most every night up until the night they displayed it at the South towne expo center. Nicholas had to work that day so I road my bike down town to join in the festivities. Paul was sizing up my bike. On my way to work I got caught in a wind storm. I finally got on Trax made it to work. By the time I was making my way home I was caught in a rain storm and it was cold.





Saturday, December 29, 2007

Welcome to our world

Nicholas and I are starting out this new year with a new pack member. Her name is Koda and she is a black lab mix. She is six weeks old and cute as a button. Nicholas is equally as cute because he surprised me Christmas Eve with Koda. He was very sneaky about it too. He left early Christmas morning, he said "to go run errands" it ended up that he was picking up the newest member to our little family. Who said that Nicholas wasn't good at surprises? (Oh I did) He proved me wrong.


We had a wonderful relaxing Christmas break. Nicholas is out of school right now and has started some projects around the house like tiling the bathroom downstairs. He is a regular handy man and impresses me every time he finishes a project. He is working up at ARUP the blood services lab while he goes through school to become an accountant. He will be done in about 2 years if he holds to the path that he has laid out. I am still working with Total Health and Fitness going on over 2 years now and love it. I have taken some time off during this Christmas break to spend more time with Nicholas before life commences to the normal hustle bustle of work and school and other activities. It has been a blast. I don't think that we ever stop laughing. If Nicholas were in school this is what he would look like studying hard and being diligent with his school work. Isn't he handsome?


Over the break we have done many fun activities many with family. McKay, Hilary, Nicholas, and myself all went snow shoeing Christmas morning and wore our selves out for the rest of the day. We took Ballstaedt family pictures later that day and I am proud to say that I am finally on the Ballstaedt family hallway wall of fame. It is official I am proud to announce that I am now really part of the family. Exciting I know!

Music To Make You Happy :)