A Few Running Questions For the Experts:)

I think I am turning the corner from being an aspiring runner to an actual runner. Since I had Beckham I have been running, about fifteen miles a week. Recently, I decided to step it up and do my first EVER half marathon. I am doing the Top of Utah half, this Saturday.

I need some advice. This last Saturday I ran 10 miles, but I'm pretty sure I did everything wrong when it comes to prepping. I barely ate anything the night before, then before I went out I didn't eat or drink anything. I got really dehydrated, and, needless to say, it sucked. This Saturday, I want to be way more prepared. So I have a few questions for you. Please, anyone, feel free to answer whether I know you or not. I need the advice! Here are my questions:

• What do you eat the night before?
• What do you eat the morning of?
• How much do you drink before?
• What shorts do you like running in? (I have decided I don't like any of my running shorts and I want to get new ones)
• What about socks? What socks do you like to wear?
• What running SONGS do you listen to for about a 9 minute mile (I have decided my ipod playlist needs an update before the race Saturday. I have heard every song on it about a million times). I am not so much an alternative girl as R & B or rap for running. I know, I'm ghetto fabulous;).

Pretty much the only thing I feel like I have ready for this Saturday is my shoes. I LOVE my shoes. Anything else is open for advice, and please don't be shy. Thanks guys!

Up-Chuck-A-Rama

That's right folks, I have officially renamed this restaurant. To many, Chuck-A-Rama has been referred to as Up-Chuck-A-Rama for years. I myself have been a closet fan of this restaurant forever. Ry and I, when we're feeling especially bingy, head to this restaurant. Yesterday, I did a nine-mile run and only ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. By dinnertime I was so hungry, as my husband would say, my stomach was eating itself, so we headed to Chuck-A-Rama. The meal was tasting especially yummy and after my first plate I was ready to move on to fruit and dessert. Jax wanted dessert too and he had eaten pretty well, so I told him if he ate a particular veggie on his plate I would get him some ice cream. Normally he loves veggies, and he was all about it until he started chewing and it was too soggy for him. He spit it back on his plate, which would have been gross enough, but it got much, much worse. He started saying, "I don't like that and I'm going to throw up." (For those of you who don't know, I will tell you Jax has a seriously uncanny talent for gagging himself on command and throwing up. He has tried to use it to get what he wants over the years, but we've known about this "talent" for a while and it never works;O)). I knew when he said he was going to throw up it was only a matter of time. The other parents in the restaurant probably thought we were mean parents because we were saying things like, "Don't you dare throw up!" and "If you throw up you don't get any ice cream!" Most kids probably can't control this, but Jax can anytime, anywhere. I grabbed him and started speeding to the bathroom, but only made it to the CENTER of the restaurant before he let it fly. The worst part was, there was so much of it (a lot of watermelon) that it splashed up and landed on the innocent bystanders (imagine a collective gasp and grossed out noises from the large dinnertime crowd). Talk about mortifying! I tried to clean up, then grabbed Ry, Jax, and Becks and hightailed it out of there. No ice cream, what a mean mom! Got to love kids!

Kenny

On July 23 my parents took all of us to the Kenny Chesney, Sugarland (cancelled), Miranda Lambert, and Lady Antebellum concert at Real Stadium. It was awesome! I think there's a good chance that I melted though. It was one of the hottest days ever, I swear!My cute parents: Rocky Anderson:

Some guy my dad took pictures of while Ry and I were out getting a drink:Lady Antebellum (I took this pic for my little sister because she's in love with the guy singer):
Ryan and I started out sitting on the second row from the floor with the rest of my family. The lady next to him had friends coming that she wanted to sit by, and so she offered him her seats on the floor so her friends could use our seats. Can I just tell you how awesome our seats were?!!! Talk about lucking out! We loved it!

Then came Kenny! Ryan and I have always been huge fans of Kenny. He started out playing a ton of fun music, but didn't play much of his old stuff. This would have been fine, but he started playing Bob Marley, Sublime, The Eagles, etc. Then he started doing a little karaoke action. He still put on a great show, but what's wrong with singing his own songs?!

Old Glory Days

Those of you who are from Riverdale know all about Old Glory Days on the Fourth of July. We Riverdalians hold this sacred;). This is my very favorite time of year. I look forward to it every year, and get depressed when it's over because I have to wait another whole year for it to come again!

Every year they do a baby contest a few days before the Fourth, and this year I decided to go with my friend Kara and enter Becks into the contest. Unfortunately, I got my times mixed up and he ended up going in the older age group when he should have been in the younger. The boy who won king was talking and flirting with the judges, and he definitely deserved to win, he was adorable (though later on I found out his mom cheated and he doesn't even live in Riverdale!). Ryan decided to meet us up at the Rec center for the contest on his way home from work. He lasted about as long as it took to take this picture, then got bored and went to my 'rents with Jax:).I thought he might win shyest (yes, it was a category) since he would barely even glance at the judges, but:Becks won biggest eyes! I was so excited! We got a goodies bag with toys, a bib, some lotion, a sippy cup, and some kid utensils.

Then came the actual Fourth of July. I participated in the annual 5k, then we hit the parade with Ry's sister Katie and her family. Tons of candy. Ry and Katie look like they're about to fight for a piece of candy:)! Jax pocketed a ton of candy, as he's doing here:

Then came the carnival and the train ride. Beckham didn't love the train, but Jax is a great big brother and took care of him.
Next we had a BBQ at my parent's house. Last came the fireworks. Beckham made it through most of the day, but crashed before dark. Isn't my hubby such a cute dad?! I love how much he loves my boys and how much they love him!

Becks' Birthday...Back On May 27

I'm just under two months late on this post...but oh well. Since this is my journal, you'll all have to bear with me:). Here are a few pic's of our fun birthday party for Becks at our house. He is my little angel. I couldn't have asked for a better or sweeter little boy. Jax is amazing with Becks too. It seems like it's too good to be true a lot of times because they get along so well. Rarely do I have to break up a fight. I have to say...I'm grateful for it. I love having my two little buddies, and I hope they stay best friends for life!!!


It looks like Ryan is trying to grow a jungle for the kids to play in below the playhouse. It would be a better jungle if it didn't have stinging nettle in it!

Becks didn't love his birthday cake. He was pretty terrified of it, but Jax and I jumped in to help. I think Jax and I ate more than Beckham did:).Becks' real cake...Nemo. He is still lovin' the tub toys on top!Beckham's favorite toy he got for his birthday from my fam. He uses it on an everyday basis.Jax, Becks, and their cousin Boston loved it. Jordyn, the good sport that she is, took them around the block like this.

Girls' Hike To Malan's Peak

So I know that I have a million past things I need to blog about, including Disneyland still from April, but I thought I'd hurry and post something. This morning my mom, my little sis Jordyn, and I went on a girls' hike to Malan's Peak and Malan's Basin. If you haven't done this hike before, IT IS A MUST! Talk about seriously beautiful scenery. Plus, there's always the added benefit of the calorie burn. Jordyn calculated the hike and our time in her iPhone on a program and figured we burned about 1300 calories. Can't beat that! I haven't been a big hiker in the past, but I am thinking of taking it up as a hobby. It was so much fun!

Pic's from Jordyn's phone:

My little taller sis Jordyn and me at the top:

My mom and me at the top:

The first look out point:
The good news is the hike isn't too long. We made good time. We hit the trail at 8 AM, hung out at the top for quite a while, and we were still back at the car at 11:45.

BeCkHaM's StAtS

I know for most of you this is probably boring; however, since this is my blog/journal you'll have to bear with it. Today I took Becks to his one year appointment. He is healthy as a horse. The doctor says he reminds him of Captain Moroni, tall and handsome.

Length: 32 in (95%)
Weight: 22.7 lbs (50%) (I don't think he gained any weight from his 9 month to one year)
head Circ: 19 in (90%)

Jaxonism:

I haven't been keeping track the way I should, but here's a quickie:

Jax has a new little friend his age named Zoe who lives two doors down. Last week she told us she was going to marry Jax. Saturday he was out with Ry working in the yard, and Zoe was out there with him and kept hugging him and lovin' up on him. Finally he went over to Ryan and asked him, "Dad, why she love me so much?!" Typical boy!!!