Cooper meets Great Grandpa Gwynn

A month ago my mom, Cooper and I snuck away for a weekend in Washington. Josh took work off and watched the 3 older kids. He was so cute with the kids and took on all dad duties like a champ. He’s so fun!

My mom and I went to visit my grandpa. I wanted Cooper to meet him and I just wanted to be “home” for a bit. It was a great trip spent with family.

Cooper was great, he’s a chill babe but would not sleep without being right by me nursing haha I don’t mind one bit, but I wasn’t able to run at all in the beautiful Washington weather. Oh well, times and seasons for everything right?

I loved seeing my brothers and their families and aunts and uncles. Next time I’m bringing my whole family!

Something I want to remember about this trip is when my mom and I bought steak(one of my grandpas fav dinners) to make dinner at his house with him. The way his face lit up and he began whistling and setting the table. He went to the basement and looked around for a high chair for Cooper and when he couldn’t find one he said the next time I came he’d have one made(he’s amazing at wood work).

At almost 90 he always makes everyone feel loved and special. He and my late grandma are incredible. I’ll never get over how many great grandkids they have(and still growing).

Japan Day 4: Last Day

Day 1 and 2&3

Our last day in Japan was a Sunday so we woke up and made our way to church and then checked out some Buddhist temples.

Left to right: my father in law Richard, brother in laws Jared and Joe, me and Josh.

Richard planned this whole trip and helped us navigate Japan(he speaks Japanese). He’s always planning fun family time.

We were lucky to get to see all we did and then fly out that afternoon before the anticipated typhoon.

I’m so grateful to all the help we had so we could go on our trip. My mom did so much!

It was a trip of a lifetime!

Japan Day 2-3: Climbing Mt. Fuji

You can read about day 1 here.

After the 3 hour bus drive we hung out at the 5th station lodging area. You can get food, use the bathroom, get souvenirs and prepare for the all day/night hike up Fuji. We bought a wooden stick(long walking sticks are available too) that you can get stamped on the way up as you reach each station.

My father in laws co-workers were hiking with us and hired a guide. It was nice to have someone who new the mountain very well and paced BUT the hike was so slow and at times it was hard to be patient. On the other hand, I’m glad we went slow enough so we didn’t get altitude sickness.

The views were incredible and the weather was PERFECT! It wasn’t hot or cold on the way up, just right and no rain.

We started hiking at noon and got to our lodge for the night at 7pm. They had a dinner for us and a breakfast…not the best food, but it’s calories you need. I brought protein bars and snacks so some of us didn’t eat the breakfast provided😬

You get about a foot of “sleeping”space (really just a place to rest) until we started the final ascend at 2am.

As we started the final hike there were SO many people. I have never experienced something like this. We were climbing up large boulders and I felt like we were climbing over people because it was so crowded. It was wild.

Made it to the top and celebrated my 30th Birthday with a gorgeous sunrise.

It was very cold at the top, but the weather was still clear and beautiful.

We hung out for awhile and then started the hike down. It took us about 3 hours and it was VERY steep!

We drove to a traditional Japanese hot spring bath and had lunch with our group.

Later that night we went out for a birthday dinner. Definitely a birthday I’ll never forget!

You can read about our last day here

Japan 2019 Day 1

When an opportunity to hike Mt. Fuji came to Josh and I we couldn’t pass it up! Josh’s parents live in Singapore for work and his dad travels to Tokyo often as well. He invited us on a quick trip(5days) to Japan to climb Mount Fuji. I talked with my mom about watching my kids and seeing if leaving Cooper(10 months old and still breastfeeding) was a possibility. Quickly my sisters and sister in laws jumped in and said they would help too and that we should go. I am SO grateful for all the people in my life who love my kids and are willing to help.

For a month prior I pumped and saved enough milk for Cooper to have while I was gone and then bought a hand pump to use while in Japan(that made things interesting, but it worked)!

We flew out early on a Wednesday and arrived in Tokyo on a Thursday afternoon. The flight was long, but relaxing and so fun to watch, read, eat when and what I wanted without any kids to worry about haha.

We met up with Josh’s brother and brother in-law who also were able to come. We walked around Shinagawa and of course enjoyed delicious food.

I can’t sleep on a plane so by 8:30pm(3:30am back home) I was SO tired. We fell asleep fast and then I woke up at 3am starving and had a protein bar and then slept till 5:30. We were up ready to start our trek to Mt. Fuji.

We took the train and then a 3 hour bus drive up the mountain.

^on the bus

To be continued….

Day 2 here

Lake Powell 2019

Lake Powell has my heart. I love it so much. After all, that’s where Josh and I fell in love exactly 10 years ago this month. He asked me to go with his family for the weekend after our 2nd date, and the rest is history!

It was Lily, Claire, and Cooper’s first time. Jackson’s has been 2x before, his first time was over his first birthday!

Lake Powell is something else, it’s so gorgeous. We headed down on a Wednesday afternoon and since we would be gone till Sunday I ran my long run that morning. . .17 miles! I can’t believe I did it. It’s crazy how your body adjusts!

I used my rolling stick on my legs during the 6 hour road trip that turned into 7 hours.

Unfortunately, on the way down, Claire threw up, a lot! Then she was sick the rest of the week.

We went for half a day on the beach Thursday, but Claire needed cooler temps so we took her back to the house.

Claire, Cooper and I stayed home all day Friday so she could rest. It was a blessing we were all in the same room at night, I could hear when she threw up haha and her siblings never woke up when I was cleaning  or catching her throw up(why are kids afraid of the bowl??).

*thanks to my SIL for the pics of everyone on the lake!

Saturday we had a nice slow morning. I snuck out and did 6 miles on a track(safest option).

Claire was feeling up for a boat ride later in the afternoon. She swam AND went on the tube(and loved it). It was a successful trip, we can’t wait to go back again.

 

Scott Family Reunion: Heber Valley Camp

This year for Josh’s extended family reunion we did an overnight in Heber. If you’re in UT you NEED to visit Heber, it’s gorgeous. His uncle reserved a camp site for everyone, but with 3 littles I just didn’t want to deal with camping haha so we got a hotel really close by.

Since we would be out of town, I did my long run the Tuesday before, 13 miles done!

We met up Friday evening for dinner, camp fire songs and smore’s and catching up with family. My kids were in heaven, it really was so beautiful and the weather was perfect.

We headed to the hotel(Jackson stayed with Josh’s parents and his cousins Cal and Porter in the cabin) and got a little bit of sleep. The next morning we were up and out to meet up with the family for a hike.

I couldn’t get over the views. The lake was beautiful and I loved chatting with everyone along the way.

After, the kids played with cousins and we all hung out and enjoyed some fresh fruit.

From Heber we headed to Oakley to spend time with Josh’s immediate family at their cabin. There was yummy food, ATV rides, card games, and lots of cousin time. It was the best!

Coopers first time to the cabin and first ATV ride.

Cooper at 9 months

Without fail when my babies turn 9 months I start panicking that they’re growing up too fast. Don’t get me wrong, the 9 month age is seriously one of the best. They crawl, belly laugh all the time, and even give big juicy open mouth kisses haha. I love this stage, but I always start feeling a bit sad that we’re leaving infant stage and moving into baby /toddler stage.

he fell asleep swinging

Cooper is crawling anywhere and everywhere, trying to climb up things, cutting 2 teeth and still eating like a champ. He has the best laugh and Lily makes him laugh the hardest.

I can’t get enough of his snuggles. I just want to soak up as much of him as I can.

Cooper loves the swing, bath time, being in the carrier at Cherry Hill, sleeping by the pool, playing next to me when I workout, and he REALLY loves nursing. So much so, he has rarely slept through the night ha. He’ll go from 11pm-5:30am SOME nights, but most nights he’s up for one reason or another. My kids are always that way till 1 years old because they’re either teething, growing, learning something new like sitting or rolling(that always keeps my kids up) or just off from the day’s activities. So I just roll with it. It’s just for a time, and he’s the sweetest.

I love when I put him down for a nap I always lay his muslin blanket over his face and he will lay there for a second with it over his face and then finally pulls it back like peek a boo. He laughs so hard. I love when he nurses he always has to hold and stroke my arm with his chunky dimpled hand. I love when he nuzzles his face into my neck and curls his feet up. I love/hate when he takes a bath he splashes so much because he can’t contain his excitement. He truly brings so much joy into our home. Love you Cooper Dean!

Marathon Training Update: Week 1-6

I just finished week 3 of marathon training and 2 weeks ago I ran my first longer run that had me a little nervous, 14 miles.  I did it and the weather couldn’t have been better. It has been HOT here in UT and last Saturday it rained the night before and we woke up to a cool 65* and a nice breeze. My friend ran 10.65 miles with me before she had to get back, and then I did the last 3.35 solo.

 

After my half marathon, I took the next 4 weeks easier and ran 3-4x at a comfortable pace during the week and then a long run of 8-10 miles on Saturdays. Then when I was 12 weeks out from October 12th, race day, I started this plan but realized with our traveling this summer I needed a slightly different plan and found this one(Hal Higdon novice 2). That’s been the hardest part, finding a plan that works for me. I don’t want to stop strength training 3 days a week(upper body, lower body, and core) because I really think it keeps me injury free so that’s been a challenge too. I’ve learned that I can do strength after my 2 shorter runs and then on “cross training” day on the plan, but it takes discipline. I have to start my workouts earlier before my kids wake up, so I’ve been getting up at 5:30 to run outside 3x a week, and then I get to sleep in till 6am on days I do my shorter runs on my treadmill and strength train. Or I sleep in till 7:30 and deal with my cute kiddos while I train.

*Lily doing push ups for her workout haha

The beautiful sunsets and my awesome running buddies have helped so much on those early morning runs! I don’t always get pictures, but I really love having company and taking in my gorgeous surroundings.

14.6 miles(I ran out of time to hit 15)last Saturday, before Jackson’s baptism. So grateful Rachel(not pictured, I always feel silly asking for pics haha) texted to run!

 Happy running!! The next 3 weeks I’m traveling on the weekends, so my long runs will be midweek, wish me luck!

 

Jackson and Lily’s Birthday Week 2019

Jackson and Lily always get a whole week of birthday celebrations since their birthdays are 3 days a part. I don’t want either of them to feel like the other is more celebrated so I think I overcompensate and we party all week ha!

We celebrated with my family at Cherry Hill. They chose ding dongs for the dessert with juice boxes and couldn’t wait to party with cousins all day. My sisters and mom SPOILED them! They were elated and felt so loved.

On Lily’s actual birthday she woke up to unicorn cereal, presents, and decorations. We did whatever she wanted the whole day which included Cherry Hill, making her cake,playing video games with J, and cake with Grandma Lee Lee. She was THRILLED!

On Jackson’s birthday he got baptized with his best friend/cousin Cal. You can read more about his special day here.

The night before he and I made his request: cake pops! It was so fun and they turned out delicious! The morning of his birthday he woke up to decorations, his favorite cereal, and presents. I was out on my long run, but I got to face time him ha.

THEN we ended the party week on Sunday with the Scott’s and celebrated Lily, Jackson and their cousin Ezra birthday’s.

Phew, that was a wild week, but I love celebrating these cute kids.

 

Jackson and Calvin’s Baptism Day

I can’t even tell you how many times I have teared up this past month as we got closer to Jackson’s 8th Birthday. 8 is a big deal in our church because you can choose to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It’s a big commitment to follow Christ and his commandments. It’s not easy to always strive to make the right choices, but by being baptized we promise to remember Him and try everyday to be better and endure to the end.

Jackson was so ready for this next step and he was so excited. He’s been reading his scriptures and working hard to learn more about Jesus and be a good example to his siblings.

The day was extra special because he got to be baptized with his cousin Calvin. The day couldn’t have gone better. They were surrounded by so much love and the weather was gorgeous, not too hot!

3 cousins all baptized in the same year.

I loved planning this day with Whitney, she made everything extra cute, and takes the best pictures.

Jackson, you are one of a kind, Josh and I are so grateful to be on this journey with you. You brighten every day(Claire on the other hand, has had better days😂)!