Running

I have found a new love/hate relationship with running. Who would have thought that an old 34 year old with joint issues would develop a passion for running? Just kidding, I don't think I'm old - YET. I finally got me a pair of running shoes that are for my stride and are made for females, I love them. They are the Mizuno Wave Rider 13, and they were built for ME! Like most new runners starting out, they're totally clueless that there really are different shoes for different strides and you can actually cause injury to yourself if you run with the wrong shoes. As for me, I purchased a pair of Addidas Adistar "Control" shoes on Ebay like 4 ish years ago when I first decided to start running. And come to find out, I should not be in Control shoes. Interesting. So Jon got me my new Mizunos for my birthday.



The hate side I have for running is that I give every excuse in the book sometimes to put it off. I never tell myself that I'm not going to run on my designated days, but I find a million things to do sometimes before I start. I hate going down to the cold basement dungeon/workout room, I freeze my tooshie off for the first 5 minutes, and then after the warmup sets in and I boost the speed up to 6.1, then I feel the heat and I'm fine. What I do love about running is that I am in love with runners high that I get and I come up with the best ideas when I run. It's like my brain goes crazy and as I think about a particular thing, I can really expound. Last week, I decided to run 10 miles instead of the 7 that I am used to on Mondays and Wednesdays. I can do it in 99 minutes and 30 seconds. It will be my goal to whittle that time down. The farthest I ever ran was 13.1 miles on my old treadmill on Thanksgiving morning. I called it my own half marathon! I was so happy afterwards, it was very emotional, and I was so happy to know I could actually run that far. I work with several other marathon and half marathon runners at work and they really inspire me to do my best and encourage me to run an actual half marathon this summer. They state that running on treadmills is very mental, where actually running outside is more physical, but they all agree than the mental is harder. So I do think I should leave my controlled environment of a cool basement and fans to cool me off and head for the great outdoors. We'll see. I thank my Father in Heaven every day for my health despite the cards that I've been dealt. I make the best of it. Here is a current list of my running tunes - they actually do change alot, but there are some I've kept for a long time still on here. For various reasons, they inspire me to keep pace and to keep on a runnin'. What are your favorite running/exercise songs?



Amy Winehouse - Rehab
Barenaked Ladies - One Week
Beastie Boys - Intergalactic, Sabotage
Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow, Pump It
Bush - Everything Zen
Cake - I will Survive
Chumbawumba - Tubthumping
Counting Crows - Mr. Jones
Europe - The Final Countdown
Evanescense - Bring me to Life
Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry
Finger Eleven - Paralyzed
Garbage - I'm only Happy When it Rains
Gavin Rossdale - Love Remains the Same (why do ya think I love Gavin) ? ? any guesses
Greenday - American Idiot (hate the lyrics, but the drum beat drives me), Welcome to Paradise
Hit the Lights - Hey Jealousy
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Journey - Eye of the Tiger
Katy Perry - Hot N Cold
Kelly Clarkson - Since You've Been Gone
Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder, This Love
Martina McBride - This One's For the Girls
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
No Doubt - Come on Eileen, Don't Let me Down
Oingo Boingo - Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye
Outkast - Hey Ya, Roses
Paramore - That's What You Get
REM - This one Goes out to the one I Love
Ricki Martin - Livin La Vida Loca
Sir Mix Alot - Baby's Got Back
Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline
Talking Heads - Burning Down the House
The Cure - If you Leave, Love Song
The Killers - Mr. Brightside
The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl


hugs - tif

My 3 Favorite Valentines

Valentine's Dinner 2010

How much I L~O~V~E~ these 3 boys in so many different ways!

Gage: his enthusiasm for everything and zest for life

Brock: our long talks and his brutal honesty

Jon: his work ethic, friendship, funny personality, and sarcastic wit







hugs-tif

Tif's 34th Birthday Cake

I am 34 years young! I have so loved my 30's and wish the next 6 years will be as much fun as the first 4, because once I'm 40, I'm sure it's all downhill from there! lol... just kidding all you 40 somethings! :) Jon and Gage made the most rockin cake for me, with big holes in it,and almost a whole can of ball sprinkles thanks to Gage. I loved my cake, in fact, it was the most special cake I've ever had because it was home made my 2 of my favorite boys with love. Jon did put some frosting in a decorating tube, notice the fancy detail on the side. Love my boys! Thanks... I want another one next year.









hugs-tif

Christmas 2009 Parties & Stuff

I love the Christmas time of year. This year we invited our friends Heather and Aaron to see the Forgotten Carols with us. This is a yearly tradition for Jon and I. And I was able to score front row tickets on Deseretbook.com. Then I found out that my manager Marty is BFFs with Michael McLean's wife/very close friends with the family and they said we could all meet them backstage before the show and were kind of expecting us. We had to tell the security guard that we were there to see "Uncle Mike". That never happened due to our inability to find them and there was no security guard. And I did run into a 1/2 closed gate in the school hallway while walking in, and my face was kind of stinging. Christmas just isn't Christmas without The Forgotten Carols reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas. I will forever love the message of the show, it is so inspired. I was also in charge of the Christmas Sharing time and I went all out. I purchased Frankincense and Myrrh off Ebay, little candy canes (which represented the shepherds), a small picture of Mary and Joseph outside the door of the Inn talking to the Innkeeper... it said "Each of us is an Inn keeper who needs to decide if there is room for Jesus", and a golden chocolate coin. I put all of the items in little bags, and each Primary child got one. I had 3 special guests who came to talk to the children... Mary (my sister Emily), one of the 3 Wisemen (Brad), and the Innkeeper (Shane) - who sang the song "Let Him Inn" from the fabulous Forgotten Carols. Even though my sharing time went completely over, I feel it was a huge success, and the kids were so quiet and good the entire time. I love it when I feel as if I nailed sharing time, it's very important to me to help bring the Spirit to my lessons.

And then of course Christmas isn't Christmas without the annual family parties! Jon's Kelley Family party was at Noah's in Lindon. It was a pretty cool joint, there was good food, pool table, game tables, and Rockband. It was kind of crowded, but fun to hook up with Jon's extended family. How I love Jon's sweet grandma, she's the grandma I never had, and I hope she's still with us for years to come! Immediately after that party, we headed several miles back North to Highland for my Thatcher family side Christmas Party at Uncle Kevin and Aunt Kim's. There was a great turnout... it was fun to see Brandon/Danina, Kara/Jake, Travis/Dori & kids, and at the end Devin/new wife & baby.... We played a killer candy bar game and the kids got to open presents. Then we went to Thanksgiving Point to ride a trolley around and see the lights. This was kind of cool, although the Trolley driver was very late and had very dumb jokes and comments (blah). We froze out butts off waiting for him to arrive, at least we got to sit on a special bench up at the very front of the Trolley.




Jon resting on the chair not wanting his picture taken... lame



The Candy Bar Game



Utah's most eligible bachelor.. Shane Warner, next year will he have a girl at his side? We shall see, but don't bet the farm on it... lol :)



Gage under a Christmas tree, he found a train!



The Trolley as soon as it pulled up LATE!



Brock and Riley getting warm by the flame



Tif & G. trying to stay warm



Brock and G. by an otter? ice sculpture



Tif & Jon at Thanksgiving Point




The Thatcher group on the Trolley



Brock and Gage excitedly anticipating the ride... firsties on the Trolley

And then you can't forget and not help love Christmas shopping at the mall! I love basking in the ambiance of Christmas at the Mall, I love the crowds, the smells, the music and the magic of the Christmas season in the air. Although I don't buy a whole lot of gifts at the mall, I still go for some things, but mainly just to walk around. This year Gage insisted on carrying around the Victoria Secret bag, and managed to pose while I took the pictures... what brought that on?



We love the tradition of Christmas Eve at the parent's house. Especially the auction of the Christmas cans with our fake money. This year we invited Mom's friend/husband/son from work. We ate, talked, played the Can game, and opened presents. As always, it's so much fun with so much excitement in the air from my boys. Ohhhhhhhhhhh how much I love love love love experiencing the magic of Christmas and the excitement through their eyes.



Gage thinks this can will be something good



Tif & Jon Christmas Eve



Brock and Gage shaking various cans to decide which ones to bid on







All 3 of Mom's grandsons




Dad & G. opening his big present from Grammy & Grandpa



Gage getting ready to catch the football he won in a Christmas Can

Brock was so funny when we got home from the party, it was almost 9:00 and Brock heard on the news something about Santa arriving at some houses already at 2100. And he got anxious about he and Gage getting in bed really fast so Santa won't pass our house up due to kids still being awake. I love how my Brock still believes in Santa, thanks to the creative DVD.. Stalking Santa (love that cute documentary). It was a magical Christmas to remember, may many more come our way.








What Santa Left Behind! ~ Merry Christmas


hugs-tif

Newest Church Calling

I was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Primary Presidency. Halley Miranda is President, Becky Holman is 1st Counselor and Julie Deyoung is the Secretary. It's been fun getting to know these girls and learning the ropes of leading 70-90 kids in Primary. Before I was called as 2nd counselor, I was the Valiant Girls Teacher and was an Activity Days (for girls 8-11) Leader. I loved doing this. The other leaders and girls I had the pleasure to spend time with were wonderful.... But hey, I am lucky, as 2nd Counselor of the Primary, I get to be over Activity Days, so I still get to go to activities and hang out with my lil girlfriends. One of my favorite Activities that I was in charge of last summer was taking the girls on a hike up to Alta Ski Resort to Cecret Lake. It was a fairly easy hike. It kind of got scary at some points because somebody on the mountain was practicing lighting off dynamite for the upcoming ski season, and the bangs were loud and almost deafening. My little Gage hates loud noises and he literally freaked out with each blast. The hardest part was the switch backs just before you reached the lake, which I did packing Gage. It really surprised me how out of breath some of the girls were once they reached the top. We all ate picnic lunches then hiked back, which was the easy part. There was one area of the trail that was about ankle deep that we had to wade through, and it was freezing cold water, that made it interesting. I had to borrow my friend Heather's van to drive some of the girls up due to Luz not daring to drive a vehicle on the freeway. On the way down from the mountain, there was lots of brake tapping. And Heather's brakes started to "stink". So just call me totally idiotic, I didn't realize that I should have just shifted the automatic transmission to first or second gear instead of riding the brakes down. I felt so bad. Lesson learned.



Group shot (minus Jeri) just before Jeri & I's cameras died at the same time!



Hiking up the beautiful trail



The "fastest hikers club", waiting for the others to catch up... You Go Girls! Elizabeth, Kenlee & Kimberly



My Valiant Girls Class & Luz (my team teacher) on my last day of being their official teacher (I I love Kenlee, Shayna, Finau & Mystique)

Hugs - tif

Tif is the Gingerbread house building Queen

My mom has had a Gingerbread house building contest the past 2 years where people get to vote for their favorite one on her blog. Both years mine have been kind of unique but I have never won the grand prize. I am just not a fan of putting all the candy all over it, so I improvise! Next year, Christmas 2010, the exterior of my house is going to be inspired by my Tongan neighbor's interesting "concrete" fence. You'll just have to wait and see!

The Wikki Tikki Shack - Gingerbreadhouse 2009








The Jamaican Gingerbread Hut 2008











hugs - tif

New Moon Party in Idaho, Girls Night Out!

My sweet Mom surprised my sisters and I with tickets to the biggest New Moon/"Twilight" Party in Idaho. Mom drove and once we got in her car, she surprised us with our own Twilight party bags loaded with stuff like "Type A Blood Juice", Twilight Woods lotions and perfumes, New Moon official candies, Warewolf Kibble, etc. It was such a fun 2.5 hour drive out there with lots of good conversation. A lady Mom works with is the one who told her about the party, she was with a big group - 3 SUV caravan, called "The Ogden Ladies". So we decided to be part of the caravan and follow them up. They were all so excited and funny. Once we got to Pocatello and pulled up to the Funeral Home, we noticed all the ladies waiting outside the building because it wasn't open yet. But they had live entertainment by a local Indian tribe and fires to stand around. I was like oh great, it's freezing, but I am going to end up smelling like a campfire!











When the building opened, we were all given New Moon Bags stuffed full of fun stuff like the T-shirt that said "Part of the Pack" that we had to wear, more official New Moon candies, book lights, Necklace, more Twilight Woods lotion, and much much more. So we put our t-shirts on and began to explore all the rooms. It was so much fun to see and do the different activities in various rooms of the Funeral Home. There was the Wolf Pack Cafe for dinner, a store with official New Moon/Twilight merchandise to buy, auction room, Cullen baseball Homerun (Wii game) room, Vampire bite on neck painting room, auction merchandise display room, etc.












The dinner wasn't all that great, it consisted mainly of pizza that tasted like cardboard and a few pieces of cheese and some drops of pizza sauce, which was cold. Once we sat down at a table, Emily made it her mission to take one of the apples that had Twilight vinyl lettering on it. Then they had the auction with all the really cool gift baskets put together by some local companies and people. All proceeds were to go to Make a Wish Foundation. We didn't get too into the auction, things were totally being bid up, and I didn't really want to fork out 100+ dollars for a Mary Kay gift basket with $50 worth of product in it. So we ended up waiting in line for the bus which was going to shuttle us over to the mall for the movie because we wanted good seats. Apparently, the lady who was over the party got kind of upset at the 50+ people who lined up early for the bus. The bus (all 3 of them) ended up not coming. We later found out that Mecinda had previously paid the bus company in cash to bus everyone to and from the movie. The man she paid was getting ready to retire, so he just pocketed the money and didn't write down the reservation - they had no record of it. So Mecina made an announcement over the intercom that we all had to drive ourselves, which sucked because we didn't know where the mall was! So women went running out of the funeral home as fast as they all could and sped to the theater. We waited in line for a long time to be let into the theater. Once we were in, they had strobe effects and fog smoke to set an eerie scene, which was kind of cool. In lieu of previews, they had their own movie they made, asking different women of different ages questions about the general Twilight saga. Such as, if Edward were to turn you into a vampire, where would you like him to bite you? It was pretty funny. We LOVED the movie. The movie ended just after midnight and we drove home from the theater. What a fun night out with the girls, thanks Mom! :)









hugs- tif