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October so far




















October so far... We went on a double date with Steve and Brittany Kroff. They wanted to go repelling at the Virgin cracks, it was really fun. I haven't repelled in a long long time. The cliff was huge too. Steve had a 100 foot rope and we used all but 5 feet of it! 

We went to Springdale to eat and visit Gma and Gpa Ballard, trying to support them because of the government shutdown. 

We went to Kolob on conference Sunday to listen to conference and eat dinner.

 Last but not least, Kyle and I ran the St. George Marathon. I went to bed late waiting for Caitlyn to come over after the Homecoming game to sleepover and watch the kiddos. I went to bed at 11:45 I think. Oliver woke up 2 times I think, and then I was awake at 4 to get ready. We drove Abby and Megan Gatlin over with us. I had a piece of bread and peanut butter and some water. It took forever to get on a bus, but we decided we would rather wait in 50 degrees than 29 and windy in Central. We got to central and immediately stood in the bathroom lines. Right after the bathroom the gun went off and we started running. I had a sweet betty boop sweater I found at the DI that gave me extra motivation and I believe it was my good luck charm. I ditched it during the race somewhere, and wouldn't you know Kyle found it on Monday when he was rummaging through the race clothing that was left. We ran the entire veyo hill, only stoping at aid stations for water for a second. I had gatorade, water, an orange slice, and cliff gu whenever they offered it. I think this is what helped me so much. The gu has caffeine so with that and my ibuprofen 800 I took at mile 13 I was feeling great. Our plan was to stop at aid stations at mile 5, 9, 13, 17, and 22. I think we hit a couple more towards the end, but were pretty consistent the first half. This was Kyle's first marathon and my ninth! It was a perfect day for running. We both felt great, I pushed him through miles 17-19 and he pushed me the last 2 miles (the worst ones in my opinion). We finished it in 4 hours 44 minutes. We both wished we would have pushed ourselves a little harder to get a better time. I told him there is always next time... I felt great the entire race, usually at the Ledges (mile 19 or something) I hit the wall and don't want to climb that dumb little hill at that mile, but this time I ran the entire thing. I was so proud of Kyle. I have been training the last 16 weeks for this and most weeks I only got my long run on Thursdays in. Its hard to get away with a breast feeding infant, and I told myself after I ran the last STG marathon while breast feeding Gus I would never do another one while bf. I didn't listen to myself, but next time I really hope I'm not breast feeding. I also hope both kids are sleeping through the night at that time as well. Running on little or no sleep is for the birds and very mentally draining when you have to think of all of the miles ahead of you on long run days. 

September in Pictures




































September September. Let me see. Well this month we celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary, SPC was the grand marshall of  Peach Days so Kyle was on their float with Oliver and I represented my sisters coffee shop with Gus. Kyle had his 10 year high school reunion, filled with lots of laughs and a drunk classmate. Kyle bought an old truck to fix up. We went camping on the Boulders. I was a mistress to the Boulders while Kyle and I were dating. He went fishing there so so many times and not once did he bring me. It has been on my bucket list for forever. It seriously is one of the prettiest places ever. There are hundreds of these little lakes on the Boulders and we were the only ones on this lake. We were going to camp here, but it was raining when we arrived so we drove to Esclante National Monument and set up camp at a campground there. I have decided I want to live in Henrieville or one of the small towns similar to that one. So pretty, I loved it. Gus was in heaven, and both boys slept pretty good considering we were camping. 











We went to a few of Nicholas' football games until he broke his leg and found out he has a tumor. Gus picked loads and loads of weeds. Wherever we are he will stop to pick weeds. I had to pull over in Washington to let him go pee, it was pouring rain and he was standing on my feet cause he didn't have shoes on, next thing I know he is bending down. I asked him what he was doing and he said mom we need to pull these weeds. I assured him that these weed would be ok here. We went branding once again. Gus loves this time of year, he asks to go to the ranch almost everyday. We visited Grandpa Ballard at the hospital. He had blood clots in his lungs again...