May

The 3rd Grade put on their program a few weeks before school let out. It was entitled, "We Make a Rainbow" and was so neat! They had been learning their songs and practicing for weeks and it showed. S did so well. He was so serious throughout the whole thing because, during the performance for the school, he missed one cue to stand up and was still living in the shame of that experience. We tried waving and yelling and pointing at him, but he would not look away from the teacher in charge. Funny boy. I'll post pictures of the program and S with his teacher as soon as I am able.

(Now I am able)
Here is O waiting for the program to begin, wearing a hat that Grandpa Kim custom made.


J & H waiting. (And looking exactly the same, I might add.)


There's S in the middle. There are a number of girls who think he's cute and that's one of them right next to him.


Mother's Day was nice. J bought me a really soft pink fuzzy robe from Bath & Body Works. When I opened it, he asked me if I remembered what I had said a few weeks earlier when we were in the store just looking around. I didn't, so he reminded me, which totally explains why he bought the robe: "If I had a robe like this, I would never wear clothes!" Apparently that translates to, "Must buy wife robe. Must buy wife robe," in J-speak. Men.

Here are some pictures with the three stupendous reasons I get to celebrate Mother's Day:


Here's a picture of one of the best pizzas I've ever made. Mrs. Renfro's jalapenos make all the difference.

May Some More

This is what I woke up to on the first day of the last week of school:

Gotta love Utah!

Our little H. He was running around our house and slid on the floor right into the corner of a wall. Ouch. If you look carefully at his right eye you can see the shiner he got. That plus the necklace (velveteen rabbit) and his swagger when he walks makes me think that some of the NJ that is part of who I am transferred pretty well to him.


Yes, that is a tomato cage that O has wedged over his head.


I bought our kids a wagon and I mean a wagon. This wagon has seatbelts, drink holders, a detachable cooler, a canopy. It can convert to a bench, and the handle folds neatly under the thing for compact storage. It has drains in the bottom for when it gets filled with water (which it will). It is one amazing wagon. The only thing it doesn't do very well? Turn. Yeah, we figured that out when I dumped O and H onto their heads on the asphalt. Nice.

Anyway, we spent an hour putting it together...


...before posing for a picture and taking off on a walk.

The Stupidest Article I've Ever Seen...

...can be found here. I am flabbergasted. Nearly speechless. Read it. It's incredible.

Mountain Adventures (Part 3)

A quick climb after a snow storm in February on Spanish Fork Peak, snow shoes required:


A view looking towards Provo and Alpine.


Lots of fluffy snow to walk through, it was a killer workout.


The peak is up in those clouds somewhere. It was very windy for part of the day.


This part of the hike was the highlight -- large cornices, and great views.


Another view of the surrounding mountains while hiking.


A view of the peak and triangulation tower.


A view from the top.


We dug down many feet into the snow and found the log book and signed our names. We were the first to climb this peak this year.

Post-Surgery Update

For my mom, who is only allowed to read this post if she promises not to call me up and tell me to take it easy or even stop running.

I went to the podiatrist on Thursday. He is pleased that the swelling is down but a little concerned about the "tenderness at the tendon junction." My next appointment is the week before the Wasatch Back at which time, if the tenderness is still there, he will shoot a steroid into my foot to convert the fibrin (scar tissue) into elastin. It doesn't sound pleasant but I know it will help, if I need it. In the meantime, the pain I feel is bearable and I won't do any damage by continuing to run on it, so run run run I will!

New Favorite Cookie

Here is a link to the recipe for my new favorite cookie -- and it's not even a cookie!

If you like Thin Mints (the Girl Scout cookie) you will love these! It is so easy and so so yummy. The blog it's from is my friend's sister's-in-law and it's a great resource for all things food storage.

Annette, this is mostly for you to repay you for the cinnamon toast recipe. I can't thank you enough for introducing that bit of yumminess into my life!

Mountain Adventures (Part 2)

Mount Nebo the highest peak in the Wasatch mountain range:



Hiking up the mountain looking for a good spot for base camp.


The view of Nebo peak from base camp.


My tent, axe, rope, shovel and poles.


View of the peak as the sun starts to come up.


Me at sunrise.


This cornice is about ready to fall off the other side.


Climbing up to the peak, only a little more to go.


A view from my right shoulder as I am climbing.


One of the views from the top.


At the top, just a little shy of 12,000'.


Going home.