Halloween 2011 & Jonathan Turns 6

Without fail we went to Disneyland again for Jonathan's birthday.  We had a great time...as always.
Although this trip was against us from the beginning. 
When we were trying to leave Bakersfield to make the drive down South we ran out of gas not 2 miles away from our house.  Boo.
Then, I had to run one errand to Smith's Bakery to give them the cake topper for Jonathan's birthday cake.  While there, they lost my order and spent 20 minutes trying to find it. 
Finally, at the Disneyland Hotel we were going to get on the monorail to ride into the park only to discover that the monorail was closed for the day. 

Geez Louise!



For Halloween our kids went for the Star Wars theme.  Jonathan dressed as Captain Rex from The Clone Wars and Sophie dressed as Princess Leia.  Sophie hated the felt buns so we had to nix those and go for the pig tails.  Trick or Treating was fun.  We went with our next door neighbors, The Meiners.  Gavin was Jack Skelington.  He was too cool!

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