Congrats Grad!!

So Steve told me at dinner I hadn't blogged about him graduating and now I feel bad. So yes my hubby did graduate from Weber State with his Masters in English. He will be walking in the Fall so I will be sending out invites to that and to a get together for him later in the year. You may wonder what is next for him. Well for now he has sent in a couple resumes for jobs at Weber and Eagle Gate College (he worked for them one semester last year) and in the meantime he will be getting a second masters in Library Science from the University of Northern Texas. He was really sad yesterday (that was his last day of school) so to surprise him I brought him Balloons and a big card that said Congratulations on it and met him at the end of his class. Of course no one was there by the time we met up but he still got a little embarrassed. Then we went out to lunch just me and him.

Congrats Love and Way to Go!!!

Running Update

I am back!! I took two running days off and with my new shoes ran my 3 mile course again last night. With a record time of 40 minutes too! I am so glad I bought the new shoes. Seriously my calves didn't hurt like they normally do and when I finished my run and was relaxing, my feet weren't sore at all. I am soooooo glad that my friend Sam bugged the crap out of me to get them. I have started this training program for a 10K (www.halhigdon.com) just so I will be ready for my next one, if I can find one that is in the next month or so. I am still planning on running my 5K in September but it would be nice to run something in August.

Side note: Steve and I have started watching the Buffy the Vampyr Slayer series that we got on loan from our good friends David and Carrie Larsen. It is weird to see a young Michelle Geller but it is still a good series. We are only on season one but have enjoyed it so far. Thanks Larsen's for providing us entertainment for free. We miss WoW a lot but I am sure we will see you all and all our gaming friends soon.

Nasty Little Tooth

So last night sitting around the family Campfire at Pineview. Emily decided it was time for Julia to loose her tooth. It was a scragily looking thing hanging on by a little thread. It really looked goofy every time she would stick her tongue out and wiggle it. She loved doing it to me because I really was grossed out by it. Any way, everyone was saying how it really bugged them and Emily finally said she was pulling it out. It took more trys than any of us had imagined and poor Julia was crying and Emily kept kissing and hugging her while pulling finally after the third pull it came out. Woot!! And this time I didn't throw it away. The tooth fairy came and all is well in the Ludlow Household again.

Group Date

Who says group dates go away when you get married. Steve and I went out with Matt and Windy and David and Carrie last night and had a blast. We laughed and teased all night. I went to the allergist yestday in the afternoon and found that I am pretty much allergic to all the good stuff to eat. And so it made dinner very interesting when it came to ordering food (More on the list below). Eventually I decided on a salad and everyone had a great laugh. The movie (Hancock) was great. I liked it, it was just the amount of everything that I loved, romance, action, adventure, good story and a happy ending. Perfect. Windy had a bit of drama after the movie but I won't give that away you can read her blog (mattnwin.blogspot.com) to find out more about that. We love our Secondhand Seafooder!

Ok so I went to the allergist and told her about all my symptoms and my medical history, which for your sake I won't go into. After the horrible test was done and I watched two really boring videos she came in and said well I have bad news. I knew it, I am not allergic to anything is what I thought she was going to say. But she didn't say that she said you are allergic to a lot of stuff. I told her that, that was perfect. Maybe that would fix stuff. Maybe.
So here is the list:

I am positive to Aeroallergens and common inhalants including animal dander and house dust mite. (Basically this means I am allergic to the outdoors and animals) her recommendation was to avoid animals but if I was having a rough time I could take a 24 hours Allegra.

I am STRONGLY positive to: string bean, carrot, celery, pea, white potato, hazelnuts, and peanut.

I am mildly positive to banana, barley, corn, oat, orange, pork, rye, wheat, almonds, English walnut, navy bean, garlic, and watermelon.

So her recommendatin is to wash my bedding once a week, get allergen pillows and covers, no indoor pets, HEPA filter in my house, Central Air (don't leave windows open) and I may want to consider Immunotherapy (Allergy Shot).

She also recommended (this is the important part for all my stuff that has been happening) avoiding the food which I am strongly allergic to and maybe even avoiding the others if that doesn't stop the problem. I have to carry an EpiPen and Benadryl with me and at the age of 31 I am still going to get a Colonoscopy! Whohoooo Aren't you all just freaking jealous!

So I am sure now you all know way too much about me, more than you ever wanted. The good news is, is that she doesn't think I will ever need to use the EpiPen because I have never had a bad reaction to any of the above mentioned foods but because I had so many positive tests their clinic had to recommend that I buy it just for safety.

So I have a little bit more hope that this may fix my problem at least it gives me a place to start.

Mama Mia -- Two Thumbs Up, WAY UP!!!

If you haven't seen a musical in a long time or you just want a darn funny show. You have to see this...http://mammamiamovie.com/main.html

My Favorite Husband

So I have one of the best husbands in the entire world. I love him, I love him, I love him, and where he goes I will follow, I will follow... Ok so that was cheesy but really he is my rock and my life. Why am I telling you this well first of all to see if he is actually reading our blog but then also to just let everyone know that I am truly madly deeply in love with him!

LOVE YOU STEVE!!!!!!

Here is the story, I am supposed to do the dishes at our house. He does the laundry and I do the dishes. Well I am really lazy most of the time and since we have been back from camping I am embarrassed to admit that they were stacking up. I have been out almost every night this week doing girlie stuff and this afternoon when I got home my wonderful hubby had done my dishes. It is the week before his finals and he wanted me to not be stressed. WHAT AN AMAZING MAN! He is the least selfish man I know of.

GNO - South Ogden 5th Ward

So I am starting a new thing in our Ward. Our Relief Society does this luncheon group once a month and since most of us working Mom's can't make that I have decided to try a GNO for the evening. Tonight was the first night and there were six of us. Virginia and Kimberly Abbot, Delaney Combe, Sherri Porter, Sammy Loosle (I know she isn't in our Ward but I was afraid no one would come) and me of course. We went to Javier's on Harrison (seriously yummy Mexican food) and just sat and chatted for about an hour and a half. It was really nice and they all said they wanted to do it again so hopefully next month we will be just as successful. If any of you want to come call me, we will do it the last Wednesday of every month (this wasn't the last but I was busy next week). See you all out there!

Running Update - I got new Running Shoes (Saucony ProGrid - Guide), funny thing is I thought they were women's but they are actually men's shoes. I was so hoping it was my first new pair of women's shoes. I still have yet to own a women's pair of tennis shoes. Oh and by the way they were $90 that is the most I have ever spent on a pair of shoes. But they are perfect for my feet and running.

ProGrid™ Guide" src="http://www.saucony.com/images/uploaded/Footwear/Medium/20003-1.jpg">
So with new shoes and resting my foot I decided to try to take it easy but do something so I power walked 3 miles. I felt great, there was no pain in my foot. It did twinge a little but it felt more like a deep stretch then anything painful. I will try to run a mile and walk a few on Saturday just to make sure I don't go too fast. Thanks everyone again for all your support. I am still trucking!!!

Everyday is a new day...

Thanks Steph (See comment from post below). Surprisingly I feel like I already know you even though we have never met. I love Facebook for that and Sam too (She always talks about you and Becky).

I kind of tanked last night I got really depressed and ate practically everything in front of me. We went out for Grilled Cheese and Fries from Grideli's, our family favorite hotspot and I ate Steve's fries, Julia's fries and mine then about half a package of graham cracker cookies. They didn't finish their fries because they had to leave (Steve to a movie and Julia to a sleepover) so I was alone with Connor who really isn't much of a talker when he has a grilled cheese and fry in front of him. I probably should have called Sam or Windy but I didn't and thus the downward spiral. Oh heaven help me when I get like that.

My hubby came home to a wreck of a wife. I was sick (literally) to my stomach and couldn't sleep. An hour later and 3 tums later I finally realized I had been depressed and I don't know why it hit me so hard. It isn't like I won't be able to exercise again but it was such a let down.

So I am picking myself up this morning after Steve's pep talk and will start again. My foot does feel better today but since I don't have new shoes yet I will walk and see how that goes. People need friends to encourage and lift them up. If you are reading this I hope that you know that I mess up a lot but that you guys keep me going. Thanks for all your patience and friendship. I will survive and LIVE!!

10K Update - Sad Day

So last night after I posted and showered I felt a knot in the bottom of my foot. It hurt really bad, like a charlie horse. So I had Steve massage it and then Iced it and then took some Ibuprofen it felt better by sleepy time but it still twinge's this morning. So after consulting all my wonderful running buddies I have decided to not run the 10k. I need to make sure this gets better and I really need to buy better shoes. I have had these for a few years and with all the running I have been doing lately, I think they have had it. You guys will all guess how completely bummed I am about it but like my hubby says (and everybody else) there are more races out there and I have been doing great. So sorry to say there will be no more 10k updates but I will keep running, just as soon as my foot feels better and I get better shoes. Thanks everyone for your support and keep giving it because it keeps me motivated.

10K Update

Ok so I did my 5.7 (which was supposed to be only 5.5 but I couldn't find a good stopping place. Race is 4 days away and counting!!

Weekend Camping without the Kids...

So this weekend was a packed weekend. On Thursday we dropped the kids off and headed to the mountains with our good friends, Mike and Delaney Combe. We were going to spend Thursday, Friday and Saturday camping at Smith & Moorehouse in the Uintahs. It was sooo much fun. I felt bad because we had such a good time without the kids but I feel like we needed it. If you ever need a good place to hike and camp this is the place. It was beautiful and the weather was perfect.

Fortunately we only got to hear of Da Bears because I was paranoid the whole time we were there. We followed all the rules that they have up there and only on our last hike did we actually miss seeing one by about 2 minutes. It was ok though I am not sure I would have been able to photograph one any way.

I had to get pictures of us during our hikes. This was the first one on Thursday night after dinner. It was just going to end at this bridge but then we decided to take it further and it ended up being about an hour hike.

This was our second hike, on Friday. I had to have a goal so I stated that I would have liked to go 5 miles but (to Erikson Basin) but after an hour and a half we were all too pooped to care how far we had gone. The elevation is over 9,000 feet and there are shady spots but the sun is really close there and it was really hot. So we figure we went about 4 miles one way (Mike the Marine was keeping track for us) and after finishing at 8 miles I was greatful we didn't go that extra mile.

Besides a few deer the only other camp guests we had were these little squirrels and one little chipmunk. They were shy at first but by the end of camp they were all over the place. Mike made a good point, there is really no difference between these little guys and mice. I have to agree with him, they would eat just about anything you threw down.

Thanks Combe's for allowing us the privelage to share in your camping weekend. The food was excellent and the conversation was great! Can't wait to do it again.

Little Angel

Last night Connor said family prayer. It was the cutest thing, he only repeated the last word of every few words I gave him (and there wasn't that many) but then after he said Amen he threw up his arms and we all cheared. He got a bear hug from Daddy and a smushy kiss from Mommy. Good job Connor!

On a side note, Saturday Julia lost another tooth and was very excited to get her dollar from the tooth fairy. Unfortunately Steve and I were working on setting up bunkbeds in the kids room and I was picking up garbage and threw the tissue away that contained her tooth. Ughhh. She cried and cried but I promised her that the tooth fairy was already notified that she had lost her tooth and would bring by her dollar regardless if the tooth was there or not. Whew! Oh my gosh that was horrible. The tooth fairy did come and left her a nice note with a dollar in it. :) Thanks Tooth Fairy!

10K Update

So Staci, you will will understand this one. My toes are killing me. I just pray my toenails don't fall off.
Well folks, lesson learned: Playing a game of softball and then doing my first 5 miler is not as easy as I had hoped it would be. The first two miles were killer (of course those were the ones with the major hills and the 2 and 3 were where I got my second wind (only after the last hill on Glassman). Then on the 4th I got my third wind and I finished my 5th just a minute over the 1 hour and 15 minute mark. Woot!!!!!
Softball is over for the season so there won't be any more conflicts but man am I glad I made it. Get out and live you all!!

10K Update - There are two sides to every hill...

So I learned a new idea last night. I was running my last mile for the day and I was feeling great. (Next week I start on my 5 milers). Any way at the beginning of the week I started my new route because I needed to find a better route that I could expand on when I do six miles. SO this new route has a really long and drawn out, steep hill that when I first attempted it I had to walk the last little bit. Then there is another hill that I had to walk the last little bit of too. It wasn't bad, just discouraging after running so much and then having to walk. Well on the next run of the route (last nights run) I decided to run it the other way and walla, it was easier. So this is what I learned. If I have a problem I will try to just run up the other side of it. If that isn't easier then I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and tell myself I can do it. Funny how you can learn a life lesson while running.

5K is now a 10K

So I have convinced myself (after discussing it with several people) that I am going to do the Toughest 10K with my friend Staci. Well ok we will both be running it but obviously me slower than her. Their website is http://www.toughest10k.com/ it is in Soldier Hollow (which is in the Heber Valley). I am up to 4 miles now and next week I will push it up to 5. Whew this is addicting. I can't believe I am considering this. Ahhhhh!!!!

Chums

Connor and his cousin Elijah became fast friends and I just got a few shots of them hanging out.

Kootenai Creek - Family Hike in Montana

This was a trail that was easy for all the kids and fun enough for all of us. I was so glad that we could keep going on even though we were on vacation. It is nice to have this memory of all of use hiking. Top rows: Karalene (married to Craig), Mellyn, Hannah (Mellyn's oldest) Steve, Ethan (Beth's Youngest), Great-Grandma Ludlow, Craig (Steve's brother). Bottom rows: Me, Josh (Mellyn's oldest boy), Elijah (Mellyns youngest), Julia, Megan (Mellyn's 2nd daughter), and Connor.
The river was gorgeous it was moving fast which made it rather loud but it was so beautiful that I took more pictures of it than the kids.
This was a spot where the water was pooling so we let the kids touch it and throw rocks for awhile.
Connor was nervous with this shot since he was really close to the river but he was brave for his Uncle Craig.
We stopped here to have a snack (only a half hour in) and then Connor was done, of course. But we all had fun and it was a great way to spend the morning.

July 4th

This year for the 4th we were up in Montana. Our first time in a long while being up there in the summer. Steve's Sister (Mellyn) was there with the kids but Jeremy (my step-brother) wasn't there because he was working at the Air Force Base in Louisiana, we missed him tons. For the last couple of years we have spent the 4th at Lagoon with Windy and Matt, Grandma and Grandpa Cole, Mike and Cindi, Roy and Emily and all the little ones. We missed the usual crowd but loved the great weather and the relaxation of Montana.

Uncle Aaron built a tree house so the kids spent most of their time up in it. Eating, playing and just hanging out was all done in the trees. Figures we are all raising monkeys.

Tadah!! Julia was a little nervous about climbing in it but she figured it out quickly and had to show off.

Our Fourth of July celebrations consisted of fighting off the bugs and sitting far away from Grandma's Bon-fire that was way to hot to sit close to. But it was nice to just relax and talk to the family. Beth (Steve's Aunt) and her kids were visiting from Ohio and BYU so we got to visit with them often.

Grandma Ludlow, sitting all by herself because it was too hot to be sitting that close to the fire.

Left to right, Mellyn, Jonathan and Sarah, Beth (in the Chair), Steve, Savanah and Aaron.

A sign of things to come...

Notice who is driving. Christopher (Windy's Kid) drove like this all day.
Of course Connor did as well but there is no proof of that.