Oak Hollow 3rd annual water party

So while I was running on and off for two days my husband and the activities committee worked their tails off to set up for our ward water party last Saturday. Brett took my slack and from noon until 9pm he was at the park setting up, helping at the party and cleaning up. Thanks Brett you rock! I came for 3 1/2 hours and it looked like everyone was enjoying themselves. The kids loved the dunking machine, the blowup waterslide and the makeshift waterslide. There was also a waterfight with water guns and balloons and Brett brought his water balloon sling shot to see if he could hit people with the water balloons clear over by the waterslide. Our committee did a great job on the food and announcements. Two activities down and two more to go this year.

more pics from the race.

The Dashing Divas by the official Ragnar van.

finishing Avon pass 7.1 miles

We are finished. Yeah!

Did you say massage?

“It's a shame to call somebody a 'diva' simply because they work harder than everybody else.” Jennifer Lopez

The Dashing Divas

Diva Natalie with Kelsey from the makin bacon team.

Before the race

After the race

Brett and the girls came and saw me when we were starting our second leg at snowbasin. Love my running supporters.

DIVA - The term was originally used to describe a woman of rare, outstanding talent. It derives from the Italian word 'diva' meaning "goddess" or "fine lady". So by definition I do not fall in this category. And to be even more accurate when I run there is no way someone says Oh look there is a Diva running. I am for sure not looking stylish on the streets. I can't even match my running outfits (black and pink shorts with an orange shirt) let alone run gracefully. But I just spent 30 hours with 5 beautiful Divas in van #1 running the Wasatch Back relay and what a blast it was. These girls were so much fun to talk to and we kept each other motivated except for those few hours early in the morning where we were all half a sleep and couldn't function. I am so glad Paige asked me to join her relay team. But ask me right now if I would like to do it next year and my response would not be yes so easily. It's like this.... run in the hottest part of the day and breathing dust in from cars driving on the dirt road , driving forever in a car, running in the dark when it is cold and deer are jumping out all over, eatting at wierd hours of the night and day, sleeping on the ground in a high school and only for 1 1/2 hours, detour because roads are closed, praying we make it to major exchanges on time, Natalie attracting wierd and strange requests from runners, nice shower at the bunk house in Eden and eating yummy fruit, port a pottys (but very clean ones I might add), running lots of hills, fun conversations with the team, laughing and cheering, sunburn, wearing pink (not my favorite color), volunteers yelling at you when you are doing what you are suppose to be doing, constantly reading the race bible, starting the 3rd leg at 4am, massages at the finish area and last but not least finishing the race and surviving! Can I just say I love Tammy (Paige's mom) she turned 50 and she looks so great and did awesome running her legs. Maybe there is still hope for me and when I grow up maybe I can be a diva like these dashing divas on my team. Way to go Team!

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay - June 20th & 21st

Today at 6am- Steph and the Dashing Divas embarked on their 180.5 mile journey. They will start in Logan at 8:40am and run to Park City arriving on Saturday around 2:30pm. Here is 6 of the 12 "Divas" this morning.

"Mac" tagged Teagan

Teagan was tagged by Mac i.e. Max. Here are 10 interesting facts about her.

1. Teagan will be three next month. Although she is telling people she is already three and when you tell her I don't remember having that birthday she says, " Yes, Mom I am 3 please".

2. Teagan loves to watch the movie "Cars" over and over. She has the whole collection of all the cars from the movie and she lines them up everywhere she goes. That means she carries all these cars with her or actually her mom does. This is where a purse would come in handy if I owned one.

3. Teagan really doesn't have a favorite color. She has alot of purple because her sister really likes pink and she tell's teagan she can have purple. It will be interesting to see what color she likes.

4. Teagan eats everything even green beans, peas, carrots, fruit but also loves those sweets. She is always asking for a treat.

5 Teagan does not have a very strong immune system. We bring her to nursery or a park and she is sick within a couple of days and it takes forever for her to get better. She has had alot of ear infections.

6. Teagan is our little fish in water. She loves to go swimming and when she wakes up she grabs a swimming suit from her dresser and comes down to tell me she is happy and ready to go bye, bye which translates to drive to Cherry Hills.

7. Teagan hates being pushed in a stroller unless she is tired. If I am running and pushing her in the jogger she keeps asking me to let her out so she can run faster.

8. She has never climbed out of her crib when she was a baby and when we made it into a bed we told her she could not get out and so up until a month ago she would yell for us to come get her out of bed. That was great!

9. Teagan likes to play at playgrounds. She could sit on a swing for hours or slide down a slide until you have to grab her and pick her up to take her home.

10. Teagan's taste in things are the exact opposite of what Kelty likes. Dinosaurs, cars, and she really likes horses.

Teagan tag's 3 Porters! Since all boys to her are named Porter. So if any mothers out there who are reading this blog and have a Porter you are it!

tea party

Kelty was invited to her first friends tea party. She was so excitted that Anna invited her. Kelty took her favorite doll, Sarah. Thank you. Kelty had so much fun. Sorry the picture is so dark.

Italia!

Italy summary: Gelatos, calizones, pizza, chocolate, cathedrals, hay bails, tunnels, museums, naked statues, laughing, stake conference, mediterranean sea, narrow streets floating buildings and a really cool van to drive in.

Russia!

Brett in thirty words or less describe Russia to me......subways, walking, dirty, porta potty's, red square, walking, people not talking, cold showers, churches, matryoshka dolls, lots of walking.

Look who's 30!!!!

Happy birthday br0ther! Being 30 is great no matter what anyone tells you! So enjoy. I have heard that your metabolism slows down and you gain weight so that could be a plus for you. I have taught your neices already your new age (however everyone is 30 according to Teagan). Dave, you are awesome and a great example to me. I had fun talking to you on the way home from New York. It was nice to hang out. The girls love you and Kirsten. We hope you have a terrific day full of lots of fun and surprises!!! We love you!

"The safest place to ever be is in the Father's Hands."

Happy Father's Day to Brett, Paul and Keith. We love our dads. Who could ask for better fathers. Love, Steph, Kelty and Teagan.

Letters from daddy....

Usually when Brett or I go on a trip we leave each other a note either tucked in a suitcase or on the pillow of our bed. When I got home from Cleveland Brett had already left for Russia and Italy. As I got ready for bed I found three letters on my nightstand. Brett's letter to me was written in the way we wrote each other when I was in Israel and we were reading the Book of Mormon together miles apart. Can you tell I can not wait to see Brett tomorrow at the JFK airport and fly home together.

Dear Teagan

Thank you for watering the flowers with me tonight. I even watered you a little bit so you would grow into a beautiful girl. Daddy loves you and will try to always "fic" everything. Be good for mommy and give her lots of kisses for me. I will be back - I am on a plane. Love your daddy. Kiss mommy!

Dear Kelty

You are a wonderful daughter and example to Teagan. Thank you for always helping me around the house. I can't wait to go to Cherry Hill when I get back from Italy. Take care of mommy and Teagan. I love you and pray for you. Be good and know that mommy and daddy are glad you are ours. Love your Daddy.

Dear Steph

Once upon a time the Brett-ites fell in love with the Stephanie-ites who lived upon a far away land. One of the Brett-ites and one of the Stephanie-ites decided to get married and have a family. They created cute little Stephanie-ites whom they both loved. Their daughters thought mom and dad were the greatest. Mommy could run forever (to them) and Daddy could "fic" everything. One day the Stephanie-ite traveled to the "land of many waters" to check on her sisters and the Brett-ite traveled to the "land of the floating buildings" to check on his brethern. The Stephanie-ite and the Brett-ite missed each other and were brought to a rememberance of their love one for another. For behold did they have a great and eternal love. Therefore they did look forward to a re-uniting in the "land of the skyskraper and liberty." For after their journeys did the Brett-ites and the Stephanie-ites did meet on a flying bird in the land of liberty and great was their joy. So great was their joy from their travels that they did rehearse every word and did return to the land of their inheritance to their children. And their children did rejoice in the Lord. For the Lord had provided them all safety and prosperity. And the Brett-ites and the Stephanie-ites did express their grattitude to the Lord. For the Spirit had comforted them. And this was in the ninth year of the reign of the Brett-ites and they did live in the land in peace for all the remainder of their days. "And they did dwelt in a Tent." Amen.

Friday the 13th in New York City

Yummy Bistro Restaurant in Garden City, New York
Steph riding and talking on the Long Island Rail
Jay in front of HRC in New York
Jay kept laughing at all my strange faces I made. I do not take pictures well.

I have been in New York for the last 3 days for an Arbinger seminar. My sister Jaimie flew out yesterday morning and we went and saw a broadway show and walked through times square. It was quite the experience to take the train into the city and to take it home at midnight. We have become pro's at riding the Long Island Rail Road. The seminar was in Garden City, New York and what a beautiful town this is. I have a favorite little bistro we ate at for the last two days. They make the yummiest wrap sandwiches and I love the New Yorker accent here. Tonightwe took the train into Penn Sation again and walked to Central Park and ate dinner at the park. We took the typical tourist pictures and made a stop at the M&M factory and called it a night.

no fair!

according to Teagan everyone is "30"

your three girls miss you!

who taught them this?

Keith and Pat happy 40 years together today!

a little piece of italy

since the boys are in italy touring then the girls thought they would enjoy some italian food at the olive garden. Kirsten, Ariel, Lyn, Shannon, Teagan, Steph and Kelty all together. Thank you mom.

we love to swim

Kelty had her first day of swim class. She was so funny. She did not want to get her face wet. She would cover her eyes when water was poured on her head or when she had to face down to grab a star on the steps. Teagan kept asking when it was going to be her turn to get in. She even took off her shoes and shorts and started for the stairs of the pool. I can tell it won't be long before she will join the swim class. too bad she is only 2. I took the girls to Cherry Hills waterpark after the swimming lessons and teagan was showing me she could swim. She is a fish and loves the water. the weather has been lame around here and so finally today it warmed up to the 70's. we had a lot of fun.

"swimming in the rain" sung by swimming teacher mary

itsy bitsy spider song by kelty and teagan (kind of)

three little piggys narrated mostly by kelty

missing our nightly routine getting the kids to bed?

after the hassel of getting the kids into bed we read stories say prayers with the girls then brett sings the itsy bitsy spider song with them and he has a tickle war and they love it. so it is not the same but we are sending dad a bed time story and the itsy bitsy song. with love from utah.

Brett my Italian Stallion....

I heard from Brett today by IM and emails and he is safely in Italy. He had an incredible adventure in Moscow for 4 days and will now be traveling through Italy. My brother Dave served his mission in Padava Italy and is being the tour guide. He has spent alot of time planning so I know the boys will have an incredible trip. Brett thanks for your emails with the updates on all the sites you are seeing. To all my faithful blogging friends I apologize if I am posting everyday but I know that Brett wants to hear and see his girls so I will be showing more videos. I love you Brett!

· After settling in – set off to metro – rode train to Red Square and saw the tomb of unknown soldier, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin. A raincloud caught us by surprise and we ran for the GYM (pronounced GUM) to find something to eat. We ate at McDonalds and returned to the apartment about 9pm.Thursday, June 5th, 2008 – Woke up at 4:30 am –· Left apt by 7am to go to Victory Park. WWII memorial and Arch celebrating Napoleon’s exit from Moscow· Returned to Red Square to tour Lenin’s tomb· Went on boat tour of Moscow – 2 hour ride –saw Bolshoi Theater, 7 Sisters apartment buildings and Soccer stadium.· Cathedral of Christ our Savior & Peter the Great monument (actually was a gift to USA – was Christopher Columbus, but USA didn’t take it and they replaced heads for Peter)· Returned to apartment for 2 hour nap· Returned to Red Square at night – returned to river crossing at 12:16am to find it closed. Walked to nearest road bridge and crossed it and made it back to apartment at about 1am – equivalent to walking on a freeway. · Walked many miles today and my feet are very sore.Friday, June 6th, 2008 - Woke at 7am – exhausted from previous day.· Left apartment about 9am – went to see Hard Rock Café street and passed KGB building. Many vendors on the street and fun things to see. · Returned to the train station to meet Dima, Neuba, & Pasha (Seth’s host family) @ Noon. Walked with them to Statue Park and looked at all the art and had ice cream with them. · Left around 2pm and returned to Red Square to tour the Kremlin. Toured most the cathedrals inside the Kremlin and returned to Apartment about 5pm. · Called it a day and slept for 2 hours; Watched TV for about 2 hours. Sean and Dave slept for 4 hours. Seth returned to host family’s home to collect luggage and visited with Monica.· About 9pm went out to the street and connected to “Adel’s computer” and sent emails with Dave and Sean til about 11 pm. · Went to Anteka (drug store) for supplies.Saturday, June 7th, 2008 – Woke at 5:00am – updated this journal til 6am.· Went out for souvenirs prior to returning to apartment at noon to check out. I got some fun stuff for you all!!!!· Train and bus to airport for 6pm flight to Italy – nice 3 hour trip via train and bus to airport 50 miles away· Arrive in Italy about 9 pm after 4 hour flight (2 hour time change) – we are now only 8 hours ahead of you. It is now midnight (2am Russia time) and wanted to email you. Observations while in Russia: Many people smoke. During our travels it seems many people express no emotion in relation to each other (do not smile or talk and are not reactionary to each other). At night we finally seemed to see people talking and together. Police cars are mostly Mercedes black cars and seem to travel in groups of 2-3 sometimes more. The metro is very convenient and travel times are frequent. Seth did a great job of getting around Russia. We had fun and I have very sore calf muscles and hips and bottoms of feet are tender from the walking. We will hopefully get used to it just in time for Italy.Sunday, June 8th, 2008 – Italy – going to church and then to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum.

Sabbath in Italia

Thought we would make a post from Italy. We have the most awesome rental van - will send an image later hopefully. We have had an amazing 4 days of the trip so far. One memorable memory is reading this blog while sitting on a cement bench along Prospect Avenue in Russia at 11pm. We tapped into a wireless connection named "Adel's computer" and Sean, David, and I sat down on the street for about 2 hours reading and talking and sending you emails. Russian police with sirens driving down the street and Russians walking by looking over our shoulder to see what we were doing. Thanks Adel for the internet connnection! Another memorable experience was going to Red Square at night. What a beautiful site with everyone at the square and the amazing buildings. Seth - thanks for all your responses to our stupid questions or for ordering our food for us. "Batzeba" (thank you) though I am sure that is not how is spelled, but I don't see any Russian alphabet characters on this keyboard. Take care to all of you reading this.
FYI - we are blessed with hot showers and many other wonderful things in the U.S.

Happy birthday to two wonderful people today!

I am sure there are lots of people celebrating a birthday today but I wanted to recognize Grandma Marshall and Rebecca today. I hope you guys have a great day and that both of you start feeling better. Rebecca has had the flu/cold and Grandma was just released this week from the hospital. Our prayers continue to be with you. We love you guys!