Summer Lovin'...had me some fun.

Every year around this time I start to get a little sad about the end of summer and the looming dread of winter ahead. I always think it goes by too quickly and I never get to do everything that I wanted to, ie. spend every Monday at the pool. I promise myself every spring that this summer is going to be different than last summer, I'm going to find the time to play at the pool every Monday, every summer is the same story, I get too busy and slack on my pool days. The question I always wonder is... What am I busy with? Then I start to think about it and decide I did tons of fun stuff this summer, just not at the pool. Here's the run down of my summer.

June

Two of my good friends got married and I was able to do her hair and attend the temple sealing. Amazing sealing, amazing friends and pretty amazing hair.

I also had an awesome opportunity to go to Lake Powell. This was my first trip there and I'm already dreaming about when I can get back.

July

Family reunion over 4th of July weekend in Idaho. Two of my sisters, my grandpa's wife and I decided to get up really early on the 4th and run a 5k run. We had so much fun and everyone else was jealous of our matching t-shirts. Everyone was invited but only a select few took me up on the chance.

After the family reunion, my immediate family and I went to Yellowstone for a couple days. The highlight was when we were waiting for Old Faithful, three buffalo decided to traipse through the park right in front the erupting geyser. Amazing, but sorry, no pictures because my batteries died two seconds before.

At the end of July, I went to Disneyland with a few of my friends. We had so much fun and laughed a lot. I love the look of joy we all have, in the above picture, while riding Big Thunder Mountain.

August

Ward Family Home Evening at the Owlz baseball game. By the look on our faces you can probably guess we were not expecting Mr. Owl to jump into our arms for the picture. He or she was heavier than expected...

Hiked the Y with a few friends and decided to try out laying upside down on the Y. The picture really does no justice. It was pretty scary and intense, but I highly recommend it.

While my sister that lives in Spain was here with her family, we decided to make a whole family trip to the Utah County Fair. We had a lot of fun, saw some very interesting "carnies" and three of us decided to ride Star Trooper. This was the result: Terror and Laughter.

I turned 27 this year and had a super fantastic day. Morning run and breakfast with friends, afternoon with the family at the pool and an evening party my roommate and friends planned for me. Thank you everyone for making my day amazing.

September

September started off with a bang. I did the Red Rocky Relay race with 11 of my friends, down in Southern Utah. 180 miles, 12 member team, 28 hours of running. It was so amazing, so hard, and so fun.

This is my first leg of the race, also known as the red diablo, it was a devil, 2.3 miles of solid 11% incline, no rest for the weary.

Here's the three of us that ran the three legs of the diablo. We killed that mountain.

Team Road Runners, official finishers of the first annual Red Rock Relay. I'm already thinking about planning to do this again next year.

Maybe it's good that fall is coming, maybe I need a little break to breath, but as everyone knows, life marches on and there is no time to stop. Which, really is the way I like it. Bring it on Fall, what do you have in store for me?

I heart amazing photographers

Last spring I stumbled upon an amazing photographer, Justin Hackworth's website. There was always a hope and dream that I would be able to make use of his skills and talents. That dream came true and my family was captured by his lens. I love these photos, love them. Here is a small sampling of the magic.

Everyone (maybe 5 readers) go check out his website and blog.
You will not be disappointed.

I know hair

Check out my latest creation,

hairdidbyashlee

Finally...

After living in the state of Utah for almost 9 years, I finally made it to Lake Powell. It really is all that it's cracked up to be.
Beautiful and majestic.

Come to the House of the Lord

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

June 5th, 2009

Provo Temple
June 9th, 2009

Triathlon...check

I did it! I can officially call myself a triathlete. I finished my first and not last triathlon on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. I did better than I thought, although I had few expectations, only that I wanted to survive. Luckily for you, loyal readers, I am still alive.

Nicole and I before the race started setting up our transition area.

Checking out the Salem Pond, yes we swam in that.

Coach K and I, Kirst was our faithful swim teacher. Thanks Coach K!


Line up for the bathrooms, not well worth the wait.

My Dad came into town and surprised me right before the race.
I was so shocked, and may have cried just a little.

The swim, I'm most likely not in this picture because I had a few issues checking where I was going... I almost ended up back where we started. Oops.

Finally done with the swim, definitely need to train a little more in open water. I have pool swimming down, but struggles in a pond.


Bike portion not pictured, but I did ride 13 miles.


Sprinting to the finish line. The run went really well, I could have gone further.
I'm the one in the blue tank.

After all the hard work, training and racing. We did it!
We rocked it!
When should I do my next one?

Four weeks and counting...

In exactly 4 weeks from right now, I will have recently completed my first sprint triathlon. I am feeling positive about it, hence no disclaimers. I will finish.

Here is the rundown:
First: 800 meter swim (1/2 mile)
Second: 14 mile bike
Third: 5 k run (3.1 miles)

Yes, I'm doing all those things on the same day, with no breaks in between. Perhaps a crazy idea to some, but doing races keeps me motivated in my quest to be healthier and stronger. Going to the gym or going on a run becomes a bit more fun, when there is a goal on the horizon. Please wish me some strength and endurance, I'm going to need it.

We are at an even 10

My family seems to have grown exponentially in the last few months. The tenth grandchild was born on Friday March 27th. It was an exciting delivering because my sister did not find out what the sex of the baby was, so the anticipation mounted the whole 40 weeks. My greatest hopes and dreams were fulfilled when I got the phone call and was told that baby K had arrived. I was praying pretty hard for the feminine variety and low and behold she graced us with her presence.

Seven months is well worth the wait.

Way back in September I painted my bedroom a fantastic shade of "Dark Storm Cloud" and promised to post a pic of the finished product. No, it didn't take me 7 months to clean up the mess, just 7 months to actually have a clean room and the exact moment to remember to take a picture of it. I now present, room a la dark storm cloud.

Love is a Battlefield...

I heart the 80's!

Some have told me that I missed my calling in life to be a woman of the 80's. It's true, my hair has a way of performing well under the pressures of hot rollers, back combing and double decker bangs. My face can handle quite a bit of blue eyeshadow, blue mascara and dusty pink gloss. My ability to work a blue, shiny taffeta dress is proven well in the pictures that follow.

Kirst's Birthday Celebration was a blast!
Thanks, to all those that came to make it fantastic!