Cross Country

Of course Dad was there at the finish line. What a great pic. I didn't show you the picture that during the race Welc was on a bike with a bubbly black helmet pedaling from spot to spot around the course to yell out times for Michael at certain distances so that Michael could pace himself. :)

Michael's cross country

This season cross country running Michael has done exceptional. He has already met his season goal as of today in Yakima...he ran a 16.58 5K!

This weekend I am going to run a half marathon in the Leavenworth Oktoberfest. It was this race last year that got me going with a goal to start exercising. I realize now that I need a goal or I don't have motivation.

Last year I ran the half marathon in 2 hours and 31 minutes. My goal this year is to run it in 2 hours and 25 minutes...I figure one year older and 6 minutes faster is good! I am very excited and it is wonderful that so much of my family is coming to support me :) Yippeee for families!

Michael had a cross country race this morning. The weather was GORGEOUS and Michael ran a great race. I think he was in the top 5 or 6. The Wenatchee boy's varsity team won a trophy...pretty exciting!
Then I was off to a little place called Cider Mills Cafe in Cashmere. I met up with my friends Terri Wynder and her mother, and Kristi Anderton. Terri, Kristi, and I have been taking guitar lessons and there was a group at the cafe playing mandolins. Mandolins are small and sound Celtic. We had a great time enjoying the music and catching up. Since I have been released as RS President we haven't been able to keep up with each other's lives...it was good to have "girl time."
Then I was off to pick up Christine and Carson for the RS Broadcast. There was a light salad dinner before the broadcast. I was very pleased at the attendance. I was afraid that most women would stay at home and watch the broadcast on KBYU. I guess the thought of getting out and having a light dinner with other women was great motivation...the cheesecake was VERY GOOD!
After the broadcast Christine and I were off to DQ for an ice cream treat before returning home. So a little after 7:00 pm I finally arrived home after a day filled with WONDERFUL memories...I am a happy girl!

I am going to go visit Paige at BYU Idaho for Mother's weekend! I am so excited to get her all to myself and enjoy the events they have planned. I will also get to see my sister in Blackfoot and also meet up with a college friend in Lava Hot Springs. I have never been to a hot springs before - I am very excited about everything except trying to s-q-u-e-e-z-e into a swim suit for the hot springs. I am assuming people wear swim suits - if you are supposed to go in the buff I am afraid I will have to enjoy a good book curled up in my room :)

I hope to remember to take pictures of the trip to post .... this will be FUN!

Notra Dame

After we had walked through this magnificent church we sat at a little cafe on the side street. I ordered a crepe with nutella, sat at our table and took the picture that is in the bottom right corner of the collage. As I enjoyed the moment, I couldn't help but pinch myself and think "I am in Paris eating a crepe and sitting outside Notra Dame!" It was a beautiful day...I will never forget it. I was very grateful that we had purchased food because there are hardly any restrooms and in order to use one you have to purchase food and they give you a "token" in which you can use to open a stall down in the restrooms. Isn't America great!

This was histerical....I told Welc to move over while I took a picture of this incredible statue that was at the front of a battle ship eons ago. He moved over and was litening as he looked up at the ceiling. I caught this photo and realized that it looks like he is posing as the statue! I'm not sure he thinks this picture is as funny as I do!

This is the Louvre. It is HUGE. I think there are 4 or 5 levels and the building itself covers blocks and blocks. It would take a couple weeks to see everything that is here.

August flowers

I love to garden!

Fire!

On the way home from Spokane, we received a phone call from Jared telling us there was a fire coming close to the house. They were getting ready to evacuate homes. Luckily Jared was able to get up to the house and help Eric load the Explorer with files, computers, photo albums, etc.

When we FINALLY got to the house the fire had calmed down tremendously. As I arrived fire trucks cars and people were so thick on our culdesac that I had to beg to get through. Here are pictures after one of the fire trucks had finished spraying and left. This last one in pulling in his ladder and getting ready to roll up the hose. Even as I was getting ready to go to bed there was a fire truck camped out front just in case any flair ups.

I am so grateful for the church! When I arrived, besides Jared, Christine, Eric and Michael there was Mike Anderton, the Sister Missionaries, 6 phone messages, and a stream of phone calls coming into my cell phone.