Alta, meet your Great Grandma!

My wonderful father recently flew out to Alabama, just so that we could drive the 10 1/2 hours to Arkansas to see my Grandma. Don't I have a great Dad? I do!
I am so thankful for the car rides there and back. #1 - Alta is a rockstar. She only needed to stop one time (other than the pre-planned stops) along the way. She just patiently played in her carseat, slept, and cooed like a gremlin. #2 - I got 20 hours of talking to my Dad. Just us. No distractions... no one else to interrupt us... just us! After about the first 2 hours we figured out that WE actually had to do the talking - it was funny. I feel like we really got to know each other. Why is it that we really don't know our family the way we do our friends? This trip was such a blessing. I will never forget it.

Anyhow, when we got to Arkansas, Grandma was waiting for us. This is her first time meeting Alta.

Alta immediately loved her Great Grandma. She was so happy to be with her. And knew that we were gonna have a good time.

Well enough about meeting your Great Grandma... Foods ready!!! Cornbread, Fried Corn, Taters, Peas, Slaw... you know... the usual. Top it all of with some Pecan Pie... "Well, I'm sorry that I just don't really cook anymore", says Grandma.

So the week was filled with a lot of EATING.

Good doesn't even begin to describe it. Grandma could make you want to eat if you were anorexic.

On Thursday Meghan and Anna joined us. She flew in from Salt Lake. We were lucky enough to be able to go on some runs together. She is amazing, and I love her so much. It was fun to be able to go running with her. We basically have the same stride, the same competitive nature, and the same love of nature. To say that we make good running partners is an understatement. I wish I could have her close by for every workout.

We hit up decoration day again. We celebrated and honored our family at the Shockey Cemetery. I got to see everyone from last year, and it was nice to feel a part of a big family again. I adore my cousins, Aunts, and Uncles. It's weird when you get to be around your family that your never around. You kinda look like each other, have similar mannerisms, and yet - you haven't been hanging out your whole life.... but still - you just fit. Alta remained the center of attention, bath time being no exception. Aunt Helen bought her some rubber duckies, and she really really liked them. Especially this one... which as you can see, she likes to eat with no hands. My Dad sent a picture off to Jaren similar to this one. His response? "Well it's not real meat - but it's a start." One thing about Grandma, she loves Dominoes. It's just not Grandma's if your not playing. Each night (usually after Alta went to bed), the games would begin. Now, Grandma is not your docile, "I'll let you win" type. She is competitive (Hmmmm... I wonder where this comes from), smartypants that will tell you when you haven't been paying attention to the "clicks". I thoroughly enjoyed playing, and won a couple of times too. Alta of course thought it was awesome when she got to play with me. I let her mix for me. Here's a picture of me wrestling with Meg. Apparently she doesn't know what a real threat I am. Anyhow, it was a great trip. I am so lucky to have the family that I do. Here's a final picture of my cute Grandma and my Grandpa (who I miss SO so much!)

I will be heading back up this Thursday so that Jaren can hang out with the family too. We have to take advantage of being so close while we can.

Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Putrid, Poor Performances...

I have so many great memories from my time as a competitive swimmer.

I also had a lot of oversized t-shirts. You see, my time as a Brighton Bengal and CHAT girl meant something to me - so I could never really just toss out all my old swim shirts. Ultimately, I'm just too sentimental to chuck them. And thus, I carried them from house to house to house as I have journeyed these many years. I always knew that I wanted to do something with them - and wearing them ... well... was getting a little silly. They are huge! Seriously, what was I thinking ordering a large back then? I was 98 lbs for a good chunk of this! Oh yeah - I remember... it was the 90's! Everyone wore large t-shirts back then.

Anyhow, I digress...

The point is, I wanted to make something that could help me to share my fond memories with my children and family.

Ergo, my t-shirt quilt:

Ahhh... I can almost feel the alarm going off at 4:21 now. I can feel the ice on my kickboard, and the dread that only a cold outdoor pool in Utah (in April) can bring. Even now I can remember joy we would get from "Super 500's" as our warmup. (Still one of my favorite things to swim).

Russ (my coach) was right about many things. One thing he often said, was that I would never again be surrounded by so many high-powered and motivated individuals. He was right. The majority of my old teammates are now very successful people... who continue to push themselves in all aspects. Many of them are now Dr.'s, Laywers, Social Workers, Teachers, Mothers, cyclists, triathletes, runners, etc. I think we gained a love of working hard.

Another thing I can thank my swimming days for: My love of synergy. Teamwork. I truly believe what one of my old t-shirts says: "Changes can come from the power of many, but only when the many come together to form that which is invincible.... the Power of One." It taught me that everything is more fun when I am doing it with other people. And, that if someone else is suffering right next to me - well then, I can endure just that much more.

Anyhow, I will leave you all with one more quote off a t-shirt we wore. I think it pretty much sums up a theme that is ingrained in my personality, then and now:

"SUCCESS is the result of WORK

WORK is the visible manifestation of COMMITMENT

COMMITMENT is a pledge to PERSONAL EXCELLENCE

PERSONAL EXCELLENCE in the present is not possible without a severe struggle."

-Albert Einstein

Life in Alabama is great. I know... did I just say that? But it is true! I feel like I'm finally hitting my stride with this whole "being a mom" and "living in Alabama" thing. I'm figuring out how to be me (keeping my own sense of an identity), while being a mom,a wife, a vegetarian, etc. I'm also figuring out that my life entirely depends upon working out. I know that could seem kind of lame to some people - but honestly, it makes me so happy. Also, I really like the side effects.


I started running with my friend Amy back in February. It started out as just the two of us - but we quickly figured out that everything is more fun when you get to share what you love. Now, we have quite a few girls that regularly get up and come running with us in the morning. Amy just returned back to her native land of Idaho - and this is a quick pic we took of her last run. It's only been 3 runs since she's been gone - and I miss her dearly. See you at Spudman Amy (Yes I convinced her to do it with me!)

Left to right: Katie, Challis, Emilie, Christina, Kristen, me, Amy & lots of kids!

Meanwhile, my friend Jaimie has been sewing up a storm for her Etsy site. She convinced me to be her "model" - HA! But the girl has amazing camera skills - and took a picture of me that I actually like. So I'm posting it... as reminder to myself that at 6 months post baby - you can like yourself and your body... I must remember this!

Jaren has been really busy with flight school. He is in the Blackhawk portion of training. He is gone all day - almost every day. He gets to see me right before bed, and Alta during his midnight trips to check on her. Other than that - he gets to see her on the weekends. No worries... she is such a Daddy's girl. Always and forever!

We took a quick trip to Falling Waters State Park this past weekend. It was a lot of fun. We went with some of the family's here from our church. I truly feel lucky to have so many good friends from church.

You have to kind of joke about this trip though. The waterfall is Florida's largest - at a mere 73 feet. It reminds me of something you would drive by on a freeway back home... but here - well it's State Park-worthy! At any rate - it was a good trip with good friends!

Once again, I'm sitting here feeling grateful. I am enjoying this period of my life, and thankful for those that are in it. I am one lucky girl!

Oh, and one last thing - we found out that our next stop in this journey will be Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Once I processed that it wasn't Hawaii or Germany, or anything on our list of choices - I was fine. Ft. Bragg looks like it will have plenty for us to do - and it will be return to veggie friendly places and people. All in all - it must be where the Lord wants us to go next... Can't wait to find out why!

Seriously Mom, what did you expect?

As you give birth to your child - you know that they are going to receive some of your genetic makeup. You quietly pray that they will get the best qualities of each parent.

Unfortunately for Alta - she got Mommy's appetite. I doubt that she will ever know the meaning of the word "full."

I have heard so many stories about how "difficult" it can be to get some children to try to eat. This does not seem to be a problem for little miss A.J. The biggest struggle was trying to keep her face out of the bowl. First feeding - finished the entire bowl.

Hello, my name is Alta.... and I like food. A lot.

First Trip to the Beach

Our trip to Grayton Beach started out so well. The weather was perfect. Alta's loved the sand on her toes! She looked great in her yellow polka dot bikini!
And then BAM!!! A very cold wave went a little higher than Mommy anticipated. Suddenly the cruel reality of this world came crashing down!

Sad!!!! Look at that tear! Well... the was the first of many that day. After we got her calmed down, we laid her on her blanket - only for her fist to be faster than her Mommy. She grabbed a big handful of sand, and threw it in her face... (everything goes to the mouth).

Luckily, Daddy knew exactly how to cheer everyone up. Shopping at Destin!

Thank Heaven for Daddy's!