A New Hobby

In February I decided I was going to start running with the intentions of training for a 1/2 marathon this fall. I bought my first pair of running shoes and found a Couch to 5K training program to get me going and I started my 10 week training program in March. Little did I know of what this new hobby would sprout. I have found so much joy in running the last 3 months, it has been a time for me to thought process, pray, and just simply have "me time". I have also found wonderful running partners, my family! Brody decided to start running as well and we take turns running with Clayton and Farrah.
I ran my first timed 5K race with Clayton the first part of May and then my official 5K race at the end of my training program a couple weeks later.

Brody and I ran our first race together May 17 in San Fransisco called "Bay to Breakers", a 12K. It was quite an experience to run with more than 30,000 people, some completely naked! It was a crazy first race, but so much fun and such a memorable event for us. I am so thankful to have ran my first race with my best friend.

There is something about having a finish that brings such an amount of accomplishment, joy, victory, and perseverance, knowing the end is near. Persevere, Brody brought this word up one day on a run and I have thought a lot about it lately. Perseverance is how I would describe overcoming the 1 mile hill in the bay to breaker race, overcoming the intense side aches without stopping, or the feeling of just wanting to collapse and quit at mile 5. I came across Everyday Becky and was inspired by her post on perseverance and her beginning journey with running. She had also posted this verse from Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." I love to find scripture that speaks to me. I have also found inspiration in a book that a friend gave me to read, Sole Sisters, stories of women and running. Next to being a wife and mother, I have found a love for running.

I look forward to our next race July 26th in Santa Cruz, the "Wharf to Wharf" 10K !!!

Roughin it

Last minute, we decided to go camping with the other thousands of people memorial weekend. This was our first camping trip with Clayton. We didn't know where we were going to camp or if we would even find a spot. We just took a chance (I prayed real hard that I wouldn't get upset if we drove around all day and found nothing). My prayers were answered, we found the last camping spot at buck's lake and this is the view we got to enjoy. Too bad I couldn't have been in the picture, this would have made a great Christmas card (maybe I will have to photo shop myself in). We had so much fun! It was so nice to thoroughly enjoy my family and not let my mind wander with what needed to be done around the house or what we were doing for dinner. Brody tried fishing a little, Farrah enjoyed swimming and Clayton had fun playing with sticks, building a sand castle with daddy, and walking in the water. I enjoyed the beauty of it all and of course keeping Clayton from getting hurt. He managed to burn his hand on the firepit, hit his head a couple of times and came home full of slivers in his hands and feet. I am suprised we haven't had an ER visit yet with this boy!

Clayton enjoyed his first smore! He says it was "num,num"!

Our two children hanging out in the sticks. These two are equal work, the only difference is we can put Farrah in her kennel or chain her up when she is causing trouble. Three days of camping was about enough for me without a shower!

Motherhood

God created me to be a mother, he gave me the gift to love and nuture his child, but he forgot to leave me any instructions on discipline. Clayton went from a baby one day to a toddler the next and now I feel like all I ever say is "No Clayton", "Get out of there Clayton". You can guess what his new favorite word is, "No"! He says no to everything even when he means yes. If you ask him if he wants to go outside, he will say "no" and run to the front door with a smile on his face.
There is a sweet side of Clayton that he must have got from his mother, right? He loves to give kisses and say "hi" and "bye" to everyone. This last weekend we left him with my Aunt Rose and Uncle Don and they said he was a very good boy. I am thankful for these times where I know I must be doing something right as a mother.

We spent Mother's Day at the Sacramento Zoo with our friend's Jenna, Justin, Elliana and Tucker, her sister, niece, and parents. Thanks Jenna for the nice family photo you took of us! This was Clayton's first trip to the zoo and he loved all the animals.

Here is a picture of the boys, Tucker and Clayton, with their daddy's. They were staying out of trouble on their shoulders. Tucker is Clayton's best buddy. They are two months apart and keep their momma's busy!

Road Trip

After two days of a rainy weekend and feeling a little couped up inside we decided to take a road trip to Cabela's in Reno. We purchased our very first family tent and are excited for our first camping trip with Clayton that will be in June with our church.

We have been to Cabela's a couple times with Clayton but this time he really enjoyed all the animals. He thought they all said "moo" so daddy is now teaching him how to bugle like an elk.

He got a "pull and pop" shooter which he loves to operate and walked around the store showing everyone.

On the way home we stopped to visit a friend of Brody's who named his son Brody after meeting Brody a couple years ago and liking the name. I forget how "baby" they still are at 11 months, Clayton seemed like such a big boy in comparison.

He loved Clayton and gave him kisses. Clayton wasn't sure what to think of Brody following him around and holding on to him.

We also got to see two deer close up in their yard and Clayton thought they were dogs. Did you know a deer squats to pee like a female dog? Well they do and you had to be there to be awestruck like me.