Gone Campin

I have memories as a child of ward campouts where we would run around, play games, make smores,making friends with new people, sitting by the fire and waking up early while the dew still covered everything. I LOVED ward campouts (I love girl camp even more. My love for girls camp is way up there with the movie "You've Got Mail" which translates to ALOT.) When I was told that our ward was having a campout I was ecstatic. We had a great time! For any of you on the activities committee that might be reading my blog...THANK YOU!

As far as food goes, nothing says campout like a tin foil dinner. I have had a few good tin-foil dinners, but I have also had a lot of raw potatoes and burnt carrot dinner. This time I wanted to try something different. I did a fajita tin-foil dinner. For anybody who was considering this I warn that the peppers can burn as easy as carrots, so don't leave them in too long. Since we had the tortillas we thought we would make a campfire quesadilla. Then a friend pointed out this would make a good blog post and I had to agree. Does anybody have killer camp recipes? If you do I would love to have it.

Every time we do something that makes us feel like subaru people (like camping, going to the banff film festival, driving in the snow or biking) we become even more proud of our car. See below Now if we could just learn to pack in an organized fashion. See below

Miraculous updates

I don't know if I am the only one who does this, but I am putting out there to see. Does anybody else lose steam on blogging? I have all these pictures and ideas for posts and I just don't get it done. I look at my computer every night and think I should blog...but I am behind on my bookclub book and I haven't read my scriptures, my house is a mess and my eyes are getting heavy I am getting sleepy...very sleepy. Soon I am dead to the world on the couch with the laptop on my lap and my bookclub book resting on my face. Then I check my blog the next day, hoping that through some miracle something new might be on there (really?? Who do I think is going to update this thing?) So next time I post my pictures...just realize how much I had to overcome to get to that point! OHH Also, thank you to those of you who do update your blogs regularly, because it gives me something to do when I am avoiding my doing my charts at work!!

Impulse BUY

About a month ago Rich said he wants to go look at getting a bike for him (since we were both signed up for a triathlon). We went just to "look" at a bike for him. We left 4 hours later having purchased bikes for both of us. They said those magic words...this sale ends tonight...and I was hooked. We went riding in Outer banks which was great and I have been a couple times on what we call "the church loop." (Rich hasn't been able to go because of numerous school and church commitments) Yesterday Rich and I thought we would take advantage of the beautiful weather and set out on the Church Loop at about 6 o'clock. That was a big mistake. There are so many cars out at 6 o'clock and each time your hear one speed up behind you, all you can do is pray that you won't wobble. Also, every time I am riding up a hill and struggling I picture myself as a big hippopotamus--wearing a pink sweatband-- trying to ride a bike and huffing and puffing the whole way (I don't know why I picture this in my head, but I think it must have been in a picture book that I read as a child, because can't figure out how I would have imagined that on my own.) Rich has those clip in pedals, and while he was waiting a stop sign, he totally turfed it 'cause he couldn't clip out. I didn't see it, but I thought it was funny. (He was supposed to type his version of the story but pharmacology was too pressing). Moral to this post: Be kind to bikers...it can be scary and if you are looking for a great impulse buy, get a bike.

This moment was brought to you by Enbrel

I really love to run, but this last summer (before I was diagnosed with arthritis) it became so painful that I didn't think I would be able to do it anymore. I even remember one time after getting a cortisone injection that temporarily relieved my pain, thinking you better enjoy this because after the cortisone stops working you may never run again. Then I started a new medication (Enbrel) and I feel so good. I ran the 10k yesterday, faster than I could have imagined that I could and my joints aren't hurting!! Yeah! (I hope it is Kosher to brag, but I am excited that I finished in 50:24-that is 8:06 a mile) I am so thankful that I can still able to run.

Elite Athletes...okay fine, we didn't qualify for the elite athletes, but we felt good about our run.

Also, The Monument 10k was so organized. It was amazing. The volunteers were wonderful! And all the people cheering along the way made me smile!

Sandy pants

I still have some sand around the rim of my water bottle and I don't want to wash it out, because it reminds me of the how much fun we had in the Outer Banks for Spring Break. We stayed in a sweet house.

On the first night we decided to take advantage of the big ol' house by playing sardines in the dark (thanks everyone for humoring me---I REALLY REALLY wanted to play)

We had a blast playing with everyone elses kids.

We had even more fun playing like we were kids on the beach and late at night.

The first day there it was really warm (but the water was FREEZING). Marci said she wanted to jump in and I got this idea that it would be really cool for all of us to jump in just to say we did. I said I was going to put my head under. Tommy said I wouldn't do it because it was too cold. Well that was enough solidify it (I had to go under). So I did. Not once but twice.

I really thought I was going to DIE! It was so cold that my lungs constricted and I couldn't run out of the water. Richard said I had to post the photo montage to show it but the 2nd and 3rd picture on the top row were probably the best to show how cold I was.

Confession

I'll go ahead and make this confession for Richard. He likes to watch this show.

DooDoo's 60th Birthday

Yes, I call my Father-in-Law DooDoo (it's a long story).

Richard and his DadWe got to stay at the Greenbrier Resort. It is on of the most AMAZING places on earth. It transforms into "spa" mode when you are there. I wish I could explain how cool this place is (but since I can't, I'll just say if you ever want to plunk down a pretty chunk of change on a memorable place this is definitely where you should go.)Strongman and I by the Spring House

Us swimming laps in the incredible olympic size indoor pool.
In our dinner wear