Too Late King George!

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Reunited

So last Saturday the Mexis (or whatever we call ourselves) were reunited after 2 years of being apart!!! We all became friends at USU our Freshman year, where we spent almost all of our time together! We had sleepovers, long talks, hikes, meeting boys, you know everything freshmen girls love to do.  We are all studying/ have studied different things, and we all have so many different interests! Yet, these girls are FUN!!! When we get together it is non-stop energy and laughing. After Freshmen year we stayed friends some of us were roommates, but we started to go different ways. Soon enough some of us were getting engaged, and three went on missions.  Our lives are about as different as we are, but the good times are still there!

This was all of us together at Christmas in 07

2008 was the year of the missions,study abroads.

2009 was the year Brittles and I got married

2010 Erika, Ali, and Bree came home from missions, Brit Watts got her mission call to Ukraine (she leaves in two weeks), and Jen got married!

So last week we dragged the husbands and significant others (they are good sports) to our reunion, and it was such a great night!

September 2010!

And yes... we still do these pyramid things

Into the woods I go

There is nothing like a good trail run. The cool breeze rushes by as arms brush up against tree branches.  The birds are chirping creating natures music, and the sound of water rustling down its way is never too far off.  The little ups and downs always make you feel less human and more like some animal bounding through a winding way. Sometimes it is so still that your mind is clear and you are aware of your surroundings. Sometimes your mind is full of thoughts that take you away and back to memories and experiences.

"Running like a wild man or woman through the woods nurtures the soul.
Trail running satisfies a primal need for movement through nature, presumably left over from our days as hunters. When things spin out of control in an age of iPads and Droids, running in the woods is one thing we can count on to be pretty much the same as it’s always been."

This great quote comes from and article by Matt Frazier I read on zenhabits.net(ok so I found it doing research on Zen for my east asian class).
Not only does it fill this Primal need, but I helps us runners to feel more hard core! I mean it is quite the compliment to be running one a trail and have someone you don't know tell you that you are hard core! Well, I don't mean to sound speddy, but mostly I just wanted to write about something I love to do! I am grateful I have been given a body that allows me to run because it is great!

Caveat: Probably only runners will understand this post, I apologize for the target audience selection!

Favorite time of the Year!

Nate and I have been saying lately how this is just the best time of the year. The days are long, the weather is nice, the earth is green and beautiful, you can get out and play outdoors, bbq's, and the list goes on. We are lucky to live here in Utah where we have such beautiful springs and summers! Even if they are kind of rainy! We have been having a blast living here in Logan, and trying to pack our summer with adventures!
Almost every weekend so far has been filled with adventure. The last week of May we got to go down to Salt Lake for a family trip of sorts when Clark, Kara, and Gracie came into town! It was fun to relax, and play with them. It was the first time since last year at our wedding my whole family was together! We love to be together and have fun!

The next weekend I got a Friday off, so we decided to take off to St. George, you know before it got too hot down there! Ashley and Josh came with us, and it was just a great time.  Nate and I love to go down and play sports and enjoy the good weather, so with the perfect 85 degree temps we packed it in with tennis, basketball, swimming, reading, temple, eating good food! Josh and Nate even taught Ashley and I how to golf! After a couple of lost balls in the lake and rocks, we were able to get our balls onto the green and eventually into the hole! It was fun to learn! FUN times in the Gorge.

Happy Anniversary... to US!!!

May 20, 2009... does any one remember it? We do! It was when we got married! We can't believe that it has already been over a year. We have had such a great first year being newlyweds. It is so fun to be with your best friend always.  I feel so lucky to have such a great husband. Nate is exemplary in so many ways.  He has really made me feel special and loved this last year. We have really had to rely on each other for help, love, and support. It is a great blessing to be married.

Everyone knows that Nate and I love a good adventure, so partly for our anniversary and Nate's graduation we took off to Jackson for the weekend. We played platform tennis (good for a laugh), walked around the shops, ate yummy food, hiked in the beautiful Tetons, and played games. It was a great trip!

We Look Forward to many Anniversarys in the Future!

UTAH STATE GRAD

Nate is officially a Utah State Alumni. He graduated at the top of the entire graduating class on May 8, 2010!He recieved his degree in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Spanish. He   It was exciting for us, and we got to celebrate his achievements! He has loved his time here at Utah State, and had really learned a lot. Nate's learning is not over, he will continue to study and learn his whole life.  His passion for learning is what drives him! He is a great example to me and I love him! Congratulations NATE!

Emotional Little Dani

I guess I realized this last weekend that some things just don't really change.  When I was five my dad decided to take me up and teach me how to ski.  We rode up the Majestic lift there at Brighton and we took a couple runs going down with me skiing between his legs while he skiied backwards to help me.  While he was right there with me I felt like I could do it and I wouldn't go out of control.  After some times of doing this he told me that he was going to ski down a little bit, and then wait for me to come.  He said he would watch me the whole time and wouldn't go off without me.  Well it came time for me to try this on my own, and me being the emotional little five or six year old that I was (remember I said some things don't change) had a fit and dropped in the snow crying that I could never possibly ski down that hill, and that him leaving me there must be some form of child abuse! My dad must have been mortified listening to his crazy daughter throwing a fit while other skiiers passed by me.  Of course he was just trying to challenge me a little but because he knew I could do it.  I was just too silly to recognize the loving act he was showing me by taking me up to learn how to ski.
Unfortunately, there have been reruns of this episode all throughout growing up, when my dad has tried to teach me or challenge me with something he knew I could do. I can think of hikes that we have done, or in races he would cheer for me in high school where I have said some comment or thrown some sort of tantrum when things are hard. 
This last weekend I ran the Salt Lake Marathon.  I had trained really well, and without putting too much pressure on myself, wanted to get a PR, or at least a better time than my last marathon.  The first 18 miles I was on target to make this goal, but it was starting to get hard.  I had seen mom, Nate, grams and gramps, and they had all cheered me up, but I was starting to get tired.  Luckily, as I rounded the corner at 45th south and 500 east I saw dad there on his bike. I knew he was going to ride back and find me along the course and I was relieved to see him.  I thought he would just ride along side me for a little bit, but as his companionship seemed to help me I hoped he could stay the rest of the race.  I couldn't speak much to him, but it was good to listen.  I was tired and starting to slow down in my pace so I started to get a little testy inside.  After I passed mile 20 I started to feel this painful pulsing in my quad.  I told dad that I thought maybe it was a cramp. He told me to stop and he would rub it a little for me.  Well needless to say he then became my little first aid stopping every mile or two till the finish to encourage me, rub my quad, and help me keep going.  At one point he was telling me my pace from his GPS on his bike, and I knew I was going much slower.  I sort of snapped at him that I didn't care what my pace was and he didn't need to tell me.  Just like that little girl on the ski slope, I didn't realize that he was just trying to encourage me to do something I didn't think I could.  

I am grateful for such a loving supportive dad who helps me and cares even when I am still just his emotional little Dani.