A Small Request...

So.. I REALLY enjoy the white New York Cheesecake flavor of soft serve yogurt at the Maverick.
REALLY, enjoy it.
And when they have it.. it usually stays around for awhile-- until they switch out the flavor to something I find disgusting.. like cookies and cream.
(Cookies and cream YOGURT... really?)
So here we are in September, with hot weather coming to an end, and I'm panicking just a smidge because last I checked.. it's still cookies and crud.. and I want me some white New York cheesecake, before it SNOWS.
My request?? That any of you frequenting the Maverick.. comment that you'd love to see the return of the white New York Cheesecake flavor (there is power in numbers..)and inform me immediately if you see the switch has been made. I'm not joking around here folks.

I know. Pretty important stuff.

Hey-ster There-ster

Um.. my Bo that I've spoken recently and oh-so-fondly of..
has outta no where-- began his own little Bo language.
It goes a little something like this.

"Hi-ster Mom-ster. I'm-ster hungry-ster."

No big thing.
I'm guessing it won't catch on like pig latin.
I just find it hilarious.

Birthdays and Races and SOUP! Oh MY!

See this little weirdo??

I adore him.
My Bo turned 8 back in August-- and chose to make the exact same goofy drinking soda face at this years party.. as he did at last years.

He also, just like last year, received a last minute "wrapped" (in t.p.) gift from Sophie, and was very sweet to act grateful for the stale Starburst she surprised him with..

..and again, had a darling group of wet, hyper 2nd graders run around our yard to celebrate!
I could share all 20 pictures of them making wet, hyper 2nd grader faces.. but I'm behind in my bloggable bits.. SO.. moving on..
Bo's birthday is always the preface to summers end.. and school beginning!

So here you have my token "First Day of School" shot. Again.. the Bo.
(I really did take some of the big boys..just can't find them in my files-- my "files" would make your head spin.. file savvy, I am not.. but I promise Jess and Sam were dressed and smiling. I swear.)
NEXT!
My first half marathon.
What can I say...I DIG, the running.
Here's me eating my pre-race banana.. in kinda stupid warm-up pants.

And here's me 13.1 miles later!

I posted some of the professional pics they take along the course of me on FB.. but props to Jasen for catching this one near the finish line.
I loved it. I had no idea if I could run that far or not.. so was excited to finish in 1:41and am hoping to beat my time at another Half going on up in Park City in October!
(Come with me! Anyone? Anyone??)
Of course having some darling "athletic supporters" cheering me on made it even BETTER.



In other news.. the tortilla soup I made for dinner last night, and lunch today.. was so tasty I had to photograph it.

Big enough bowl for ya?
I heart avacados.
Oh. And there's a mouse in my house. SICK.
Kay. I think I'm all caught up for the moment.

Chicks In Tennies...

LOOK! I ran another race! Get a friggin' load-o-me.

ACTUALLY-- get a friggin' load of ALL those adorable little runner girls.
Precious, are we not??
All fresh-faced and eager to begin our adventure!
The Cache-Teton EPIC Relay to Jackson Hole!
We each had 3 legs to run over a 2-day continuous race-- and we were ready to get THAT party started.

Sally was up first in all her smiley-grinned glory,
and we only lost her once..
for a couple minutes.
Here we are a couple legs in-- STILL feelin' perky..

Quarters WERE tight.
7 chicks,
7 sleeping bags,
7 bags,
and 7 POUNDS OF SNACKS..
a snug lil' SUV does make.
But on we rolled!
My first leg was a 7-mile stretch through the always po-dunk-yet-loveable Preston Idaho. I booked it as hard as I could-- and though SIKED about my 7 1/2 minute miles (I've never timed myself!).. enjoyed a crazy bout-o-nausea almost immediately upon finishing. YUMMY.
Shortly after.. I proceeded to poop like a dog, behind a barn, in the weeds.. but we don't really need to talk about that.
MOVING ON..
After completing the first 6 legs, we met up with our second van of even MORE darling Lightening Ladies..

I mean seriously... DARLING.
(What's not fun about HER??)

And then proceeded to our next "rest stop".

I use the term "rest", loosely. Don't know 'bout you.. but nodding off in a sleeping bag, in broad daylight, on a High School lawn.. does not come easy for me.
Besides.. I had all these cute people to talk to..

and we all know.. the talking DOES come easy to me.. so why bother??
No real rest was had.
My next leg was a 3-miler through.. um.. who the hell KNOWS where..
where much to my surprise, and I spanked it with 7 minute miles! Who knew?
Of course every leg began and ended with me using one of these beauties..

which always makes a girl feel glam.. but is better than, ya know.. weeds behind a barn.
We stopped for the night while the other brave van trucked on with their next set-o-legs.. where, long-story short.. I ended up shivering under my $2.50 Wal-Mart towel praying for daylight..

til' we got the call at 3 am that the first team was done and we were back in action under the oh-so-chilly Wyoming stars!
Now I'm just boring you all.. so I'll wrap it up.. but gotta say I loved my last 7.5-er through the gorgeous canyon in the BRISK mornin' air.. and somehow pulled out 7 minute miles again, making me feel like a supa-star for just a quick moment in life.
GOOD, STUFF.
Every one ran their little exhausted guts out-- so proud of all of em'..
and woo-EEE did it feel good to hit Teton Village at the finish line.. fill our achin' bellies.. and lay in the mountain sun awaiting the 2nd van.
TA-DA.

We even got medals. And random male competitors hanging out in our picture.

Loved every second of it.
Let's do this again real soon.

Things That Make me REALLY Happy..

Her..

at her first ever day at dance.

Them..

goin' fishin'.

And ME..

running my first 15K, and LOVIN' it.

Even if the race shirt was very, very, unattractive.

I'm A Survivor..

Just puttin' out there that since purchasing our cozy little red house built circa 1965.. I have lived, and and somehow survived, for 2 1/2 years NOT having a dishwasher, or air-conditioning. I'm a regular pioneer.
I'm not saying my hand-washed dishes are spotless. (My boys LOVE to point out, and gross out, when they find a little peanut butter or cream cheese dried on a fork. GET OVER IT dudes. You guys think showering once a week is sufficient.. but a dried Rice Krispy stuck in your bowl is gonna put ya over the edge?)
And I'm not saying that sittin' here at midnight after an 85 degree day.. that I'm not a little moist on my upper lip.
I'm just saying, I've made it this far.
That's all.

Kay.. That's NOT that Funny.. I Don't Care Who Ya Are..

Last night, just about midnight.. on our way home from a Bees game in Salt Lake..
Sophie-- obviously, and understandably tired..
chose to repeat,
in THE whiniest,
moaniest,
possibly MOST irritating tone EVER..
"Just TELL me we're HOME!
Just TELL me, we're HOME..
Just TELL me we're HOME!"
for exactly one, half, of an hour.

I of course attempted, more than 5 times, to just comply and say,
"O.K. We're home."
Even though, obviously, we were not.
To which she would continue..
"Just TELL me, we're HOME."

I'd like to believe holding back the urge to shove my hoodie in her mouth,
somehow built my character, and proved what a patient, loving sorta Mom I am.
But truth be told, looking back,
I think I was just way too tired,
and it was WAY too much effort to crawl into the back,
and do anything about it.