Copy Cat

Let me just tell you some stories about little Kelsie poo and the mimicking that has been going on. The other day I was getting ready to go run some errands. I looked over to Kelsie and she was getting her "purse" and baby ready to go with us. Just like mom. 

Piggybag ride!

A couple days before, I was putting my makeup on and she wanted some on her eyes (which she wants every time now) so I complied. I said, "Pretty!" And she said "Pretty. Pretty like mom." Talk about wrapping your mom around your finger. Sheesh.  

Recently she's been copying phrases that we say as well. 

 "Baby hurt? Baby crying? Come here baby." (says to baby)

"Careful."

"What's that?"

"I want that."

"Mmmuh. Kiss Baby. Hug Baby. That's nice." (will say to any baby anywhere)

"Freaking fly" (summer+lot's of flies+open doors) and "Chill out Mom" have been the most recently used. Much to Chad's chagrin. 

Totally plays make believe with her doll and bear. She even uses a different, softer, higher pitched voice when she talks to them sometimes. Cracks me up. Oh I love her.....and am annoyed by her all in the same minute:)

Sassy Wassy

You may think I am talking about little Kelsie with that title and well, I probably could be. But I am not. I got a haircut. I told Chad it makes me feel sassy. I'm not sure he wanted me to be any more sassy than I already am but what are you going to do:)

This is how and when Chad met me. Like almost exactly. Long, flowing, blonde locks.

And I chopped, chopped, chopped them off. Probably about 5 inches. Not my intention but I was like "Should I get a hair cut? Or SHOULD I GET A HAIR CUT?" 

Here's the other Miss Sassy Pants poising for her daddy. With the sassy level in our house so high, I don't know how Chad can handle it. Plus I'm just seeing how many more times I can put sassy in a post. There's one more. Haha. I crack myself up. 

A Few Races this Year

Well I might as well start with the most formidable race I have done. In my own defense, it has been several years since I've run a half marathon. The Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon proved to be my undoing. Firstly, it SNOWED the night before. And I'm not talking little flakes on your lawn, like actual piles of snow in freaking April. Ridiculous. I wore whatever I could to get/stay warm. At the first mile, I had to use the portable facilities which has never happened to me before. Then I lost my energy trying to catch up to my pace. Big mistake. By the eighth mile, I knew I was in for a fight and then by the last my body was so done my vision started to blur. 

My cheer leading section at the finish.

Here I am thinking I'm going to puke everything I've ever eaten. EVER!

Cute little blondies. Kels could fit in perfectly with the Lunt's.

Kelsie looking at her mom in wonder:) Me wondering if I'll survive the drive home. Which I don't. I had to stop at my mom's, take a shower, and puke a couple of times. My electrolytes took a dive basically and I felt the worst I've felt after a race.

Moving on to the best bike race in Utah! Well it's the only one I've done so I think it is.  I rode in Pamperfest which is put on by Rockwell Relay peeps. There were chocolate fountains, massages, mini manicures, facial, etc. It's for women, men, so don't get too excited.  Melissa, Kendra, Janelle and I signed up to do this relay race from Snowbasin to Provo. 

At the start getting blinded from the sun. Our sensitive blue eyes. Melissa knows what I'm talking about. Anyhoos.....

July, but still kind of chilly in the morning up at a ski resort.

This is Rick. Kendra's husband. We are such good bike riders that we needed an extra support vehicle. Rick volunteered with Rockwell to help along the race and so we pretty much saw him the whole time. He was such a gentlemen. Whenever he was there he would load and unload our bikes for us. Or maybe he was worried we would scratch his truck somehow. Who knows:)

Getting ready for the first leg. About 22 miles.

Everybody waiting around. We did a lot of this when we weren't riding.

Kendra getting in some nutrition.

                                   

The Beloved Truck. I'm actually still surprised Rick handed the keys over. If he would have talked to Chad before he knew I was driving I think maybe we would have had a chauffeur.

                                  

Melissa coming in off her first leg.

                                   

Me and my butt headed out on my second leg. 16 miles I think. Fitting pic since we did talk a lot about butts on this race.

Finishing strong around 12 hours. I thought it was so much fun and will for sure do it again someday.

I also did a 5k a few weeks ago. Intermountain Healthcare put one on that goes around Sugar House park a couple of times that was FREE! My goal was under 30 and I did it in 28:40! I asked Chad how I look when I run because I've been recently intrigued by minimalist shoes. They apparently help you to run properly. He said that I skoot. I don't think that's a good sign of my running technique.

Pioneer Day at Heritage Park

Continuing with my random order updates, here is July 24th at Heritage Park in SLC.

Waiting around for the Allen clan to appear.

Dad taking a million shots of his little stinker.

Not so sure about the pony ride.

Panning for gold with cousin Mary.

Sally soakin' her tootsies in the cool crick.

Waiting and waiting and waiting for the Candy Cannon to blow us some charbroiled taffy.

The Adventures at Zion

At the end of June, Chad and I went on a camping trip to Zion's with The Johnson's. Paul's nephew and friend came as well. We stayed in Cedar City at the Best Western the first night we got down to Southern Utah. To do a lot of the back country hikes in Zion's, you have to get a permit.  Chad and Paul woke up at the butt crack of dawn to get a permit to do a hike called the Subway. It's a super popular hike so we were pretty lucky they were kind enough to sacrifice some sleep so we could go.

After a little nappy poo, we headed out to do some rappelling at a random location. 

Getting ready to head up to find a spot to jump off of.

Paul instructing the rookies on canyoneering. It has been a long time since I've rappelled and the first step off is always a little sketchy.

We ended up camping that night at a reservoir. Notice the tent in the middle is Chad's two man backpacking tent. That pretty much translates into a cuddle fest tent. Woot. Woot. Don't be jealous.

We had to, and I mean HAD TO, take a picture of the first fire we have ever built together. It's pretty much a highlight of our marriage. The fire's still burning people:) Wah. Wah. Or it's a culmination of all the knowledge we've seeped from watching shows like Dual Survival or Man vs. Wild. It was such a good fire that the rocks were exploding and put a hole in our tent! Take that Bear!

So it is true. Backpacking packs flatter any body:). New fashion statement? I think so.

We definitely over prepared for the Subway because of a video we had watched earlier in the week. It was of the Subway in April when the water level was super high and people were getting stuck all over the place. Luckily, it was not as bad as the video but the water was still freezing cold.  I was wearing my swimsuit, then a wetsuit and then my clothes. Pretty hot. 

There were a few obstacles and canyoneering areas throughout but it was beautiful. Just incredible. I would totally recommend going from the top to the middle. The middle to the bottom, however, not so much.

A very famous picture spot in the Subway.  So, so, so amazing.

Here we are waiting for others to get down the last little obstacle before the treacherous hike out.  The whole hike took us about 7 or 8 hours. Not for the weak:) The last 3 miles out and then finally straight up were horrendous. Back and forth over boulders, sand and water. I was in such a bad mood and said I would NEVER do the Subway AGAIN!  I could not understand how people hike from the bottom up to the middle and then back again. They are crazy. CRAZY I tell ya. I have actually changed my mind about it though. If someday I get the chance to do it again I will go. I'll just have a helicopter drop a rope and pick me up in the middle.