Mesa Falls half marathon, 5k, and fun run

 The last day of our vacation, Saturday, our family raced in the Mesa Falls races. I ran the half marathon. I will never run on the tail end of a vacation again though. I felt like it was always looming over me preventing me of having more fun. I am glad I did it though. It was really beautiful and I worked really hard for the past nine weeks to prepare. It was fun to have my family at the finish line. I did feel bad that Claire and Van came out I guess with the expectation to hug me and run in with me, but I high fived them and ran right past them. My watch still had almost half a mile before it said I ran a half marathon and I wanted it so show that I did it. 

I ended up doing decent, taking in the fact that my last two weeks of training were terrible. My shins and leg hurt so bad I could barely run. Luckily on race day I felt fine. I am happy. After the fact, I am a little disappointed that I didn't run the whole thing. I ended up walk running the last three miles. If I hadn't done that I easily would have got under 2 hours which is always my goal. 

Corbin and Mason ran the 5k. Corbin was on track to get a PR and then with .1 miles left had to run off to the side to throw up. He also needs to plan a race not on the tail end of a Jenkins' weekend. 

Claire and Van ran in the fun run. Matt thought maybe Van would watch, but he told Matt, "My friends are running, I think I'll run." They both got medals when they finished. I didn't get to watch any of them because I was still running, but I am glad they did it. 

It was actually such a fun morning! I love that Corbin is into running now too. It made training more fun and the actual race morning fun. 

Ashton Vacation

 We had our first official Jenkins' vacation at the Mountain House since it was finished. We went up Wednesday after Matt got off work, we were the last ones there like usual. The kids were so excited to be with their cousins. They stayed up pretty late playing. 

Thursday morning Matt and I took Maybree, MaKenna, Maggie, and Corbin to the Rexburg temple to do baptisms. I hadn't planned on going, but Megan chose to keep sleeping so I took her skirt and went with them. I was so glad I did. I ended up getting baptized for the first time in about 18 years I think. 

The kids were eating breakfast and painting bird houses when we got back. 

After the temple we went to the Civil Defense Caves. It was on a super impressive dirt road that Matt was flying down. Maybree, Claire, and Evie would laugh every time we hit a bump and they would bounce or hit their head on the ceiling. Maggie was not pleased with Matt's driving and was very upset, yelling at him to stop, which just made him want to do it more. It was an adventurous ride. The cave was awesome, though! I only explored the entrance with Van and then we hung out and waited for everyone else to go all the way in and back. 

On the way back Matt wanted to try the backroads that would lead us straight to Ashton without going back through St. Anthony. It ended up being these crazy dirt roads. We even had to move a barbed wire fence in order to get through. Van hated all the bumps, he was so scared. He held Corbin's had and would not let go. He eventually fell asleep, which is crazy, because it was so bumpy. It took much longer than the way there, but we eventually made it to asphalt right before we got to highway 20. 

That night we went to the pool in Ashton. We were there for maybe 20 minutes and it started to thunder so they made us get out. We went onto the grass outside the fence and played red rover for a bit. Kent got completely clotheslined and got the wind knocked out of him. He didn't play after that. Then it started lightening and pouring so we headed back to the Mountain House. Grandma had brought diamond art for the girls and they all loved it from Claire up to Mylie. 

Friday the kids painted horses and unicorns in the morning. I was so glad that Marianne and Ellie brought all these cute crafts that entertained my littles. 

We went on an adventure before lunch on Friday. Matt found a hike that we had to drive 40 minutes and then it was a 1/4 mile hike to a waterfall. I am not quite sure what went wrong, but we parked and hiked until we found the actual trail/road and then kept hiking for miles and never found the waterfall. We did find a really pretty spot on the river that they played in for a bit. 

A few of the boys ended up making it there, but most of us turned around. Matt ended up getting the Tahoe down to where we all stopped hiking and shuttled us up to Adam and Mark's trucks and then they took everyone to the rest of the vehicles. We were crammed with 10 of us in Adam's truck going up the crazy bumpy dirt road. It was a little wild. 

When we finally got back from that hike it was already 4:00. We hurried and ate lunch and then went down to the river to tube. Maggie, Corbin, and Kent went with the older kids 7 miles up to raft. Kent and Missy were on tubes and ended up getting separated. They got out on the other side of the river and were somehow spotted by Michelle and Adam and picked up before they made it to the end. 

Matt, me, Van, Claire, Jack, Evie, Malcolm, and Cougar went tubing down the shorter stretch, just about 20 minutes. It was perfect for my kids. It was kind of funny to see Matt and Cougar just floating in tubes down the river. We went down a second time and Claire was freezing. It was already after eight. She stayed crouched in her tube the whole time trying not to get wet because she was already shaking. 

4th of July

 Corbin and I ran the 5k the morning of the 4th. Corbin really wanted me to run it with him even though I told him he wouldn't really see much of me. He convinced me though. We walked over to Beau and Kael's and stayed with them to get the shirts and bibs. Then I didn't see him again until before the parade at my moms. I was kind of glad he got me to do it though. It was fun. I had to hurry and get ready afterwards to get over to my kids in the parade. 

Claire and Van were in the bike parade with Jack, Evie, and Joel. Claire was grumpy! I took her braids out and put a ponytail on top of her head and she was not pleased. She cried for ten minutes until I finally took it out and then she was fine. We watched the parade at my parents house and they got so much candy this year! Of course, Van hated the fire trucks and loud noises, but he didn't enjoy most of the parade. Kent was determined to get the most non candy items. He got a shirt, hat, ball, and a couple other things I think. 

Breakfast at Barb's was super fun. My parents even came this year. I love how many kids there are everywhere and the food is delicious. Barb's fence is always our photo spot to get all the grandkids in one fourth of July picture. 

Matt and I took Van and Claire to the square since Grandpa gave them money, but we couldn't get out of their fast enough. I let them spend their $10 on anything they want and then leave. They played a few games. Van through a fit because he didn't get the prize he wanted, but we only had to be there for maybe a half hour. Kent, Maggie, and Corbin were there for a while too, but I didn't see much of them. Corbin did the bull, but I didn't see him. We went back to my parents and were talking about the mechanical bull being the best way to spend your money at the square and Kent wanted to try it out. Grandpa gave them $10 and he and Spencer went over to give it a try. 

I was beat, so was Claire. I couldn't find her for a few minutes and she had fallen asleep on the bench outside. I don't think she had been asleep for very long because she was still exhausted. After lunch we went boating with my dad. Corbin was asleep on the couch so we left him at my moms. The kids played on the tube and Maggie did the knee board for a minute. It wasn't a super long boating trip. Claire fell asleep on the boat for most of the time. I was glad we went even though I was exhausted, it was fun to go when Matt could too.

That night I fell asleep in Van's bed before fireworks ever started. I think Matt and the kids watched some from the backyard before going to bed. 

3rd of July

We went to Mark and Marianne's for dinner on the third of July. The kids decorated their bikes for the parade. We basically just hung out all night until it was dark enough for fireworks. Van liked the sparklers, but he hated the fireworks. The very first one went off and scared him and he spent the rest of the night watching from inside the kitchen. The kids and Matt all stayed and slept outside. I went over to my moms and slept in her spare bedroom. This is the first year I haven't had a kid to take home with me, but I still didn't stay. The late nights stresses me out too much.