Independence Day Weekend

July 4th has always been one of my favorite holidays. It means even more to me this year after Jonny and I have been studying and researching the divine principles of liberty that molded the constitution of this country. Now that we are starting to understand what it really means to be free, we are so passionate about the great beginnings of America.  (If you want to read an incredible talk by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, check out "The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner." That is Jonny's topic for his talk this Sunday in chuch. Pres. Benson's "Proper Role of Government" is a must-read too.)

Our 4th was great. We went on a bike ride in the morning, played at that awesome new park in Alpine, and ate french toast at Kneader's. After a relaxing afternoon we partied with neighbors then watched the Thanksgiving Point fireworks from the bed of Jonny's little truck. A special thanks to Grandma Myra for sending the glow sticks in the mail. They may have been more exciting than the fireworks!

 

 

Actually though, the partying began with a camp out Friday night. Now this is a big deal because it was Julia and Gabe's first ever camping experience. Jonny and I love to camp but we just hadn't ventured out yet with our excellent-sleepers-as-long-as-they-are-in-their-beds. Well, we were surprised and delighted when we all slept soundly. After playing hard with cousins, Julia and Gabe were out within minutes once we were settled in the tent together. Thanks to my Dad for securing a sweet (yet soggy!) campsite on such a busy holiday weekend. It was so great to be enjoying the fresh air and beautiful mountains with family. (We did have to keep a close eye on all the toddlers, who were keen on running into the road and oncoming campground traffic. Yikes.) I was on such a high after our over-nighter that we may just go again this weekend. Julia would be ecstatic. She can't stop talking about it. And Gabe will gladly welcome another opportunity to play uninhibited in the dirt and mud! Plus, he loved having free reign over the picnic table. Observe:

 

Here are some silly sisters and nieces. Teenage Katy is surely thinking, "This is the dumbest family trip." (Sorry, inside joke for Drew, Emily, and Lili.) 

Here are the cousins in matching shirts we made just for the occasion. Did any other sister happen to get one of all of them smiling!?

Julia and her hero "Lassyn" (Allyson)

Drew and Julia made sure to include those gigantic marshmallows in their s'more makings. Julia was excited about it until she couldn't fit her mouth around the s'more!

TJK (An acronym for "That Jon Kid," as my bro Matt used to refer to the punk I was dating.)

Here Drew and Julia are singing Disney songs. I came away with some great video footage of this.

And because my siblings may want to see and have all the pictures taken at the camp out, here is a slide show.

distrubing the peace, a tunnel monster, and dancing as usual

Julia is often "singing" her thoughts. When she is outside jumping on the tramp or just playing around, she does it her very loudest and can be heard chanting all through the neighborhood. (Sometimes I wonder if she is disturbing the peace. But I had it from some neighbors a few weeks ago that they think it is hilarious. Hope that sentiment stays the same, day after day!) Of course Gabe has joined in now too. His words are almost impossible to decipher, if he is saying anything of substance at all. I talked with my sister Cami about this yesterday and she said her Ethan used to do it, she called it "opera mode." Excellent term, I think.This morning I finally caught some of this on video. At first they are both just yelling out gibberish, but later on Julia starts a little number about her friend Miles.




This second video was taken a few months ago. Jonny found a new game to play with the kids' tunnel. It is pretty great.



Lastly, another video from a few months ago. Here Julia is dancing in her lyrical fashion. This is pretty hilarious, but also quite interesting to see how she feels the music. Notice her eyes are closed most of the time so she can really get into it. (But as soon as there is a passerby she is immediately over there to chat. She loves people. And dogs.)

my second half

I ran my second half marathon last weekend: the first annual American Fork Canyon Half Marathon and 5k. The entire race experience was just awesome. (If you are truly interested in reading the details, link to the long post on my running blog here.) This is one that I would highly recommend. All the proceeds went to cancer research and treatment, the race was incredibly well-organized, the shirts were super cool, and the course was so beautiful. (It started at Tibble Fork, ran through the Cedar Hills golf course, into Adventure Learning Park, up in to Highland and down to the American Fork high school. It was very nostalgic for me, as I used to run along every part of the course.) The course was mostly downhill, which makes for a great pace, but sore quads afterward! But I felt great during the race and can't wait to do this one again. Maybe I will see some of you there?

P.S. Jonny and the others ran the 5k. Just in case you thought he or I were crazy enough to push the kids in the stroller for 13 miles! 

Oh, the drama!

Last weekend Julia tripped on the street and ended up with a pretty bad skinned knee. Unfortunately it was on our way to the car from a restaurant. At home we could have easily distracted her from the pain. But riding in the car, she had nothing to do but cry her eyes out as she looked at the bloody knee. (She didn't want a band-aid and she didn't want any form of distraction - music, an iPhone, nothin'.) But as awful as it was to listen to her cry all the way home and not be able to comfort her, it was pretty hilarious to hear her dramatic outbursts between sobs. I wrote them down when we got home:

"How will I ever do this?"

"I have to wear shorts forever. Mom, I will run out of shorts!"

Looking out the window at the passing cars, "I don't want everyone to see this!"

"How will I not let Naomi see it? And Mary? And all my girlfriends? And my boyfriends!?"

"Mom, will you not forget to tell me to wear shorts every day? Every day!?"

"Gabe, I have an oweeeeeeee!"

"How will I go hiking?! What shorts will I wear when I am hiking!?"

Jonny said something to me like, "This is ridiculous. She sounds like she broke a bone and we are on our way to the hospital." Julia heard this through her crying and wailed out, "I don't want to go to the hospital!"

It was a long ride home.

 

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago, at a much happier moment in her life. Thought I'd tuck them in this post so you can see a little of her dramatic silliness.

 

Four and Two, Pink and Blue

 

Julia's and Gabe's birthdays are only two weeks apart. There was a lot going on this year so I decided we'd have a joint party for the two. In honor of their favorite colors, we had a "Pink and Blue Party." (Julia reminds me that pink is her favorite color every time we come across it, so several times a day. And yes, she has appointed blue as Gabe's favorite color. He is cool with it.) We wanted to give Julia a scooter. But since it would just be asking for serious trouble to give her one and not Gabe, he got one too - even though he is still a little young for it. I love how he just stood on it for a few seconds, then hopped off, uninterested. Until any other little cousin tried to play with it, of course! (It reminds me of Julia at his age when she got a trike. She sat on it nearly all day. Eventually she learned to pedal. All in good time!) 

Family members came to celebrate with the two. They loved having their Utah cousins here joining in the birthday fun. I had fun making cake pops, once I got the hang of it! (You may notice there are only a few blue ones. Oops, I learned how to seize chocolate! Hey, I am a beginner at many things in the kitchen.) Julia was so excited to have lollipops at her birthday. And this year I made the pink cake she was so sad she didn't have last year, when I made a rainbow cake. Well! At least I got it right this time.

  Here Gabe is singing, "Happy Birthday to Daddy!"

 Julia drew these pictures in honor of the party. Notice she wrote the names in the favorite colors. She is very careful about these things!

And because there are a ton more pictures, here they are in a slide show for those who want to feel like they were actually there! Amber, make sure you check out the ones Jonny took of Brady. He is awesome.

Penny and the Triplets

Okay, for those of you who don't look at my sisters' blogs but may be interested in the antics that go on, check out this video. My twin sister Emily, KC, and their triplets Alex, Bennett, and Ruby live on the main floor of a darling house in Maryland. Elise, Jeff, and baby Penny live in the basement. This makes for lots of crazy and awesome baby times. Check out Elise's latest film, showing us just what it's like in Babyland...



I like to call them "Penny and the Triplets" because it sounds like a band or something.

Run, Grandma, Run!

Anyone who is related to or acquainted with my grandma Julia Barrett can't help but be completely inspired by her. It's no wonder my daughter is named after her. She is and has always been one of my heroes - and it's not just because she has run 139 marathons. If I had to choose one word to describe her, it might be colorful. Everything about her is colorful, from her clothes and home decor to her personality. She is creative, brilliant, unique, artistic, faithful, caring, funny, strong, and brave. And because we all love her so much, it was decided to throw a surprise party for her 80th birthday. What better way to celebrate than running together? (I have been running races with my Grandma since I began running in junior high school. These races are still the highlight of my summer. Last year Jonny, Grandma, and I ran a half marathon together. You have no idea how fun it is to shout, "Go, Grandma!" as this beautiful, tan woman with striking white hair crosses the finish line.)

So on her birthday weekend, much of my extended family met at a park near her Logan home in matching blue t-shirts (which my talented sister Elise designed) to surprise Grandma with an 80Y 5K. And was she ever surprised. She laughed and cried and exclaimed and cheered. Then we all ran. It was perfect, I think. See for yourself:

This is a picture of only my family with Grandma. I don't have one of the whole group, but I know someone's camera snapped one. Anyone know where that picture is? I'd like one of the whole crowd, as it was pretty big!

Jonny loved playing with Baby Penny, as she and Lili were in town from Maryland. (We loved see you two.  Thanks for surprising us all with your visit!) 

 Allyson + Julia + Todd = Awesome

 Sweet picture of Todd and Gma:

 This is older and wiser Sawyer (Gabe's second cousin, I think?) telling Gabe that it is not a good idea to eat Mommy's keys. So fun to get these little cousins together.

 My cousin Ben organized a vacuum buying for Grandma. She was so excited to try it out!

Julia, looking cool. Jonny thinks her sunglasses are ridiculous. I think they are fabulous.