Marathon #2 and Marathon #3

Well, here I am on the other side of two more marathons.  I made it.  Yay.

St. George Marathon - October 1, 2011

I really enjoyed running in this race.

We had to start really early to take a bus up the canyon.  At the starting point there were bon fires everywhere to help the runners keep warm. 

Closer to the starting time everybody lined up w/ their finishing time groups. 

During the run the scenery was beautiful.  The weather was warm.  I remember hoping and wishing for cloud cover. 

Towards the end, the last few miles through St. George, there were many spectators lined along the route cheering the runners on.  There were even many who were handing out treats for the runners: popsicles, ice cubes, soda, chips, etc.  It was great.

At the end there was a great finishing area and runners recovery area. 
Afterwards, I found my family and went back to our hotel (the laughable Knights Inn). 

The Santa Barbara Internation Marathon - November 12, 2011

I hated this run!!!

I know that it wasn't great because I got a cold a few days before the race.  I wasn't feeling well and strained.  Heather gave me a handful of cough drops that I kept popping throughout the run. 

This was the most emotional run I have had.  I fought and wrestled with myself for most of the run to not to quit.  I wanted to quit so badly but kept going and going and going.  Then, I found myself finishing 2 minutes before the 6:00 mark.  Honestly, I am disappointed in the time but not really because I

finished when I didn't think I could or would. 

But guess what.  I signed up for the Santa Barbara International Marathon for 2012. 

CRAZY

Are We There Yet?

Yesterday, on our drive down South, my son asked this question a handful of times.  At first, I thought, "Oh, how cute."  But then, turned to "I don't know, Jonathan.  Does it look like we're there yet?"  Not nice, I know. 

I started thinking of how many times I think "Are we there yet?" in my life. 

Are we there yet?  Definitely in the car on long trips, but also, during my runs with Heather.  Are we there yet?  20 miles sounds so long and difficult and believe me it is.  Around mile 4 you start to think "Man, I still have 16 miles to go.  16!"  

During the work day, at 9:00 a.m.  Are we there yet?  6 hours to go. 

Important events on my calendar: birthdays, anniversaries, doctor appointments, holidays. 

I am constantly looking forward and thinking, "Are We There Yet?"

Then, there is that ever present secondary question, "When Will We Get There?" 

"Are We There Yet"  and "When Will We Get There"

I can't help but feel how these correlate with the Gospel.  I keep looking forward to that day when I have reached my eternal goal and can meet with my Savior and have him hug me and say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."   But not necessarily asking relentlesly "when".  It will happen when it will happen. 

In the mean time I am pressing forward and try to enjoy the scenery from my car window. 

Fourth of July Lake Almanor Style

We spent the fourth of July up at the lake house on Lake Almanor, CA.  This year it was the Deasons (including our niece, Olivia), the Renos, and my mom.

• Beach 
• Water fun 
• BBQ
• Late nights looking at the stars and satellites 
• Laughing
• Fighting
• Books
• Crossword puzzles 
• Fireworks
• S'mores

Mom pulling the wagon of water toys.

Golf Cart Chaos

Lauren and Jonathan dancing.

Thomas, Sophie, Lauren, Nathan, and Jonathan

Thomas

Lauren

Jonathan

Sophie

Nathan



Becky & Danny



Steve & Sophie

Paper, Scissors, Rock

3 Year Old Matthew

My brother's son, Matthew, turned 3 this year.  He had one happenin' birthday party.  Swimming, nachos, cake, and presents.

Santa Maria

We went to Santa Maria to see Lauren's baptisim.  We stayed at the Santa Maria Inn.  The hotel is an old inn that was frequented by many famous stars.  On many of the hotel room doors were gold star plaques with the star's name that had stayed in that particular room.  A door across the hall from our room had a star with the name "Clark Gable" on it. 

On the way home after the baptism we stopped in Morro Bay, CA to get some of my favorite salt water taffy. 

White As Snow

My sister's daughter, Lauren, was baptized on June 4, 2011.  We are so proud of her.

"Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, by one having authority, is a true principle, because Christ taught it; Christ obeyed it, and would not fail, for anything, to fulfil it—not that He was sinful and needed to be baptized for the remission of sins, but He only needed to do it to fulfill all righteousness, that is, to fulfil the law."

~Joseph F. Smith

Marathon Dreams II

Here I go again.

Scared. Nervous. Excited. Determined.

So many feelings.

St. George Marathon 2011

Cold Summer Days

Lake Almanor - Memorial Day 2011This Memorial Day we were at Lake Almanor and it was freezing...

In fact it SNOWED on one of the days we were there.

Kindergarten Completion

He did it!!!
Jonathan finished kindergarten....and did GREAT !
Jonthan loved his kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McKee. She was so wonderful and patient.

Jonathan Turns 5 (well a few months ago anyway)

Jonathan turned 5!!!

As part of our yearly tradition since Jonathan turned 2 we went to Disneyland.

This time around was Sophie's first. It was so exciting and challenging for everyone. Luckily, Steve's parents were able to spend the day with us and help juggle kiddos.

We bought Sophie her first pair of Mickey Ears.
Disneyland is always so great. It is a definite favorite for us Deasons.
For Jonathan's birthday party, at home, we again did a bouncehouse and invited family and friends to come and celebrate. All had fun.

Finally, again, as part of Jonathan's birthday, trick-or-treating or rather, trunk-or-treating at the church parking lot.
This year Jonathan chose to dress up as Darth Vader.

Sophie was a pink butterfly.

Sophie Reigned One Year

Happy 1st Birthday!

For her birthday, we invited family and couple of close friends to celebrate with us.

Sophie's birthday cake was made by a friend of ours and was absolutely beautiful (and tasty).Sophie wasn't to eager to munch on cake but after a few tentative finger licks she decided that chocolate cake was GOOD.

It was so funny to see all the people stand around and watch her eat cake. She was oblivious to all the onlookers; only concerned with the activity of face-stuffing. She devoured her cake and looked a little worn out when finished. Nothing a bath couldn't fix.

Presents: First Tea Set, First Purse, Clothes, clothes, and clothes.

Thank you to all who came and made our little Sophie's first birthday a great day!!!