Summer Fun

I can't believe the summer has flown by and school is a mere 3 weeks away! We have had such a great time and have been super busy that time has really gotten away with me.

In June, Matt and I had the opportunity of driving (a long 15 hours) to Bellevue, Washington to participate in the North Face and Gore-Tex Endurance Trail run. Matt did 30 miles and I did 6. It was one of the prettiest and funnest runs I have been on thus far in my running career (that sounds silly). We had such a great time having an all-adult trip. Matt finished his 30-mile run in a little less than 6 hours! I'm amazed that he could do something like that. Carter and Jaxon were able to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Hill for a few days, and Grandma Jo came down to watch the boys for a few days as well. What would we do without them?!?!

Looking lovely after our race!

Next, was Boise where Matt participated in his first IronMan! Wow! He did amazing and actually beat out his boss, who has done a few before. Matt has this amazing endurance and drive inside of him, and I'm so jealous of it. I always tell him that I wish I could stick his mind in mine so I could do something like that! The boys and I had fun swimming, watching daddy, going to the zoo, shopping a little, and I was happy to find a place called an old favorite Pizza Pipeline where we got some cinnamon breadsticks that are made in heaven! It was such a fun mini-vacation!

My brother Dustin came home the middle of June and that was such an experience. He was seriously the last person from the plane to come down the escalator. Everyone kept saying to us as we were holding the welcome-home signs and balloons.."Oh, he's coming." "He looks like such a great missionary." He really was a great missionary, but we have loved having him home. Carter and Jaxon just adore him! He has turned into the dating machine, so any of you single ladies out there....

At the end of June we went to Lake Powell with my entire family. We had so much fun! There is nothing greater than lounging around, relaxing, sleeping, taking naps, waterskiing, wakeboarding (which I tried this year), and did I mention taking naps. It was a little nerve racking with the little ones, and they were not allowed to leave the houseboat without a life jacket on. Jaxon, AKA the daredevil, loved his life jacket and was made if we tried to take it off (whew!).

A week later, we made our way up to Wyoming to celebrate July 4th. Matt did yet another race as he participated in the annual July 4th half-marathon. I was going to walk with Matt's sisters but then I came down with a chest cold a few days before and almost passed out the morning of the race, so I passed. Matt completed it in an 1:40. He is seriously an animal! The boys had fun watching fireworks and Jaxon actually fell asleep during the huge Dr. Bill's fireworks show. We had fun visiting with Matt's sisters from North Carolina and Tennessee and Matt's brother Jeff. Carter was able to participate in Grandma Jo camp the week after we left all by himself. He was really nervous to stay by himself but once we left, he was really good and had a ton of fun. It seemed like he never wanted to talk to us when he called and one time I asked him how he was going and he told me 2 things and then said, "Bye" and hung up the phone!

Jaxon has been doing this lately...lying down and throwing tantrums

Jaxon loved riding Grandpa's horse nugget! Carter would barely get near him at first but finally did after everyone had taken a ride.

We have been home ever since. We have taken a few mini vacations here and there, but it has been nice to be home. The chaos all starts again as my Christy and her family come this Thursday from Texas for Cody's farewell (he is going to Santa Maria, Brazil). She is staying for a week and a half. Cody speaks on Sunday and then leaves on Tuesday (I can't believe it). We are home for a month and Carter starts preschool and then we are headed to Texas for a 11 days to have some fun out there!

Jaxon is really starting to talk and communicate. He counts with us when he is in trouble and is really growing up. We bought the boys a bunkbed and ever since it has been set up Jaxon wants to sleep in it, but Mommy is not quite ready for that step yet! He yells for me the minute he wakes up and now has started to yell for me when I put him down! Maybe I'm not so excited that he has found his voice. He is funny too because he always says, "Oh" (like Oh, I get it). Whenever I say things like, "Jaxon, we don't hit." Jaxon says, "Oh" (as if he didn't already know). "Jaxon, please dont spill your water on the floor." "Oh."

Carter honestly looks older and older every day. I have to remind myself daily that he is only 4 and not 6! In fact, when we were in Wyoming, Matt's cousin said, "How old is he? He is just a giant!" He is really tall and all the pro BB players better watch out, cuz he could be good! He loves to play with friends and wakes up every day asking who he gets to play with today.

Matt's work has slowed down for a little bit but it looks like he is picking up again with the close of summer. He stays busy with work and has now become Jaxon's "favorite." Every day when he Jaxon wakes up he says,"Dada?" I tell him he is at work. and Jaxon says, "Oh." :) Matt is looking forward to buying his first tri bike in a little bit. He also took Carter on a fathers and sons campout this weekend and had a lot of fun there!

I have been starting to run again and I am doing the another half-marathon in Logan at the end of August. I have found some great running partners and we are up to 8 miles so Go us!

In the midst of all this, we are about 75% done with our yard. Despite a few swamp issues and a garden area that is not quite complete, it has come along pretty good. I'm glad to have it almost completed! Now we just have to maintain it!