Future Cougar Marching Band Member

Marshall is a natural...

Elroy Apple Dumpling Days Half-Marathon!

Yesterday I ran a half-marathon! It was fun, hard, exhilarating, frustrating, and painful, but very, very worth it!

We purchased a jogging stroller back in May because I knew that I wanted to start running again, but I just planned on running two to three miles a few times a week during the summer. One week into my new running routine, after being out of it for 18 months, Anna, one of my great friends here invited me to do a half-marathon with her and a couple other ladies in the branch. I did not commit right away because I didn't think I had it in me to run 13 miles. But, after some peer pressure I got sucked into doing a five mile run with them one Saturday in May and I survived! After that I was hooked and figured if I could do five miles one week into running, I could definitely train for 13, so it began!

I ran two to four miles twice a week and then on Saturday mornings we all got up early to do our big run together. We started with five miles and two weeks ago we did eleven! These Saturday morning runs were full of highs and lows. Some weeks were great, others we were dragging, but we always enjoyed great conversation and many laughs.

So, on Friday afternoon we packed up my car, sent kids to baby-sitters and hit the road for little Elroy, Wisconsin, three hours northwest of Milwaukee. We enjoyed the drive, dinner in the Dells, some time in the hotel hot-tub and hit the sack at 10:00 pm.

Saturday morning we got up, I did all my pre-run rituals (I may be a little crazy and superstitious), we left the hotel, drove to the check-in spot, loaded the buses, and we were off to the starting location. Once we were all up there we gathered in a clump of 96 runners, they shot the gun and we were off!

Four of us stuck together for the first seven miles and they flew by and felt great! We once again enjoyed wonderful conversation and I think we provided a lot of entertainment to those around us! These seven miles were mostly on bike trails in heavily wooded areas and we surely appreciated the shade. At seven miles our foursome split in half and I opted to keep a quicker pace with Katie Hutchison. We ran together for the next three miles which took us through a residential area and two hills-not fun, but Katie pulled me through it. At mile ten Katie picked up her pace, which was totally fine. I turned my ipod on and kept going, but this is definitely where it got hard. For the next three miles, around 11:00 am, with limited shade, and not very many water stations, I experienced the highs and the lows of running. Finally, I made the last turn, crossed the street and saw the 1/4 mile track that I needed to run around 1 1/4 times. I was ecstatic and almost started crying tears of joy that I had actually done this. I saw Katie who was just finishing, I saw Diane who had finished five minutes before and they were cheering me on, but once I passed them I think that I had a little mental breakdown. I was SO hot, SO thirsty, and SO tired and I was SO mad that I was on a hot, black, track with NO shade and NO water that I actually stopped at my car (which was right by the track), unlocked it, opened my trunk and pulled out my gatorade from my cooler. I was SO happy to have it, it was cold liquid and it felt great. But, after running with it for one length of the track I was SO mad that I was carrying it! But, I kept going, made one more turn on the track, saw Diane and Katie, threw my gatorade to them, made the last turn, and sprinted to the end! (Very dramatic, I know!)

I came in with a time of 2 hours and 25 minutes and I lived to tell about it! I am very happy with my time. When I decided to do this my two goals were to finish and come in under three hours-and I met them both! My time equals out to 11 minute miles, which I am thrilled about because on our long run we were training at 12 to 12 1/2 minute miles-11 is a big improvement-I guess the adrenaline kicked in!

Anyway, it was a great experience. I will definitely do a half-marathon again, even though I am very sore and very tired today, but the whole thing really was surreal. I'm so glad I did it and I am thankful for wonderful friends who helped me through it all. Thanks Dianne, Katie, Katie H., and Anna-yesterday was a day I will never forget!

Twelve Month Stats

Marshall had his one year check-up today and he was a champ despite four shots and a finger prick. He was so calm while the pediatrician was examining him, what a good little boy. The best part about these well-child check-ups are, of course, all the measurements they give you. So, drum roll please...

At twelve months Marshall is...
3o inches tall (60%)
19 lbs. 14.5 oz. (15%)
and ta da...
has a head circumference of 48.5 cm. (95%)!

These measurements confirm that he has a Leake body and a Toney head. :)

And now, just a fun video we took of Marshall a few days ago with one of Richard's medical tools...

The Birthday Weekend

Richard's birthday celebration started on Friday evening after he got home from school. It began by a surprise visit from our wonderful friends, Corey and Bekky, who live in Minnesota. Corey, Bekky, and I had been planning this weekend for a couple of weeks and we're glad we pulled off the surprise. We enjoyed an evening out to a new restraunt called Flat-Top and had a fun time and fantastic food.

After dinner and putting Marshall to bed, the four of us enjoyed a movie, a game, and fun conversation. It was a fun day for Richard and we were glad we were able to spend so much time with him.

Marshall's birthday celebration began the next morning. He was definitely spoiled-look at all those presents! I think he was a little overwhelmed by all the toys and wrapping paper, but he sure has had fun with everything these last couple of days.

Here's Marshall about halfway through the present extravaganza...overwhelmed wouldn't you say?

Here's a video of Marshall with a couple of his presents...

And here we are, all done with the presents, with one flabbergasted child, but he sure does love that hammer!

So, after a two hour nap, and a much more energized little guy we walked to the park for a picnic and some fun play time. Marshall had fun on the swing...










And of course, did a lot of walking...

He had fun with mom, and with dad...

After a good couple of hours at the park, and another nap it was time for the party and of course cake! And yes, that is a cake in the shape of a helmet, complete with a "Y"! A perfect cake for the birthday boys and of course, game day!

And now for Marshall's first cake experience...

He immediately dug his hands right into it, squished the frosting in his fingers...

and then proceeded to smear it all over his chest and stomach, but refused to let any of it near his mouth.

So he lasted about five minutes in his high chair before he wanted out and then he was off, walking down the block, of course!


Wow, what a birthday weekend! By the end of it I was completely exhausted, and so was Marshall! After dinner, a bath, and stories he drifted off to sleep and Richard and I, along with friends, watched the BYU game and celebrated their amazing victory. Go Cougars! What a perfect birthday present for these two boys!

BYU vs Oklahoma

Happy Birthday to my Boys!

This is our big birthday weekend! Richard's 29th birthday is today and Marshall will celebrate his 1st birthday tomorrow! I love these two boys so much and I'm grateful to have them in my life. Richard is a wonderful husband and fantastic father and Marshall is just as cute and as cheerful as they come, for the most part. :)

Because this blog has pretty much become our family journal and scrapbook I just wanted to write a few things down for journal purposes...

The highlights of Richard's 29th year...

*Becoming a father to little Marshall Cougar.
*Trips out west to see family for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
*A trip to the BYU bowl game in Vegas with his dad and good friend, Marshall. Too bad the Cougars lost, but still fun for him.
*Many publications, presentations, and an award for his summer research.
*Successfully completed his second year of medical school and took the step one boards-whew, what a relief to have that out of the way!
*Spending time with his amazing wife and adorable son! :)

Marshall at age one...

First of all, I cannot even believe how fast this last year has gone by. I vividly remember everything about September 5, 2008. Up at 5:00 am, checked into the hospital at 6:00, antibiotics at 6:30, pitocin at 6:45, water broke at 7:45, epidural at 10:30 (hooray!), watched "The Office" and slept until 1:50 (that's the way to experience labor!), started pushing at 2:00 and Marshall was born at 3:47 pm weighing 8 lbs. 2.5 oz. and 20 3/4 inches long. I had no idea how much love and attachment I would instantly develop for this little guy. He has completely changed my life and I am so grateful for every single day I have with him. Well, sorry for all the mushy stuff-I'm just a sentimental girl. :) On to Marshall...

Here's what Marshall is doing at age one...

*Sleeping approximately 12 hours each night and taking two, two hour naps each day, with the exception of this last week. Maybe he is sensing birthday excitment, let's hope so.
*Favorite foods include anything with cheese, green beans, fruit, especially raspberries.
*Loves to play with cell phones, keys, video game controllers, and look at his books.
*He loves to play peek-a-boo with his hands, blankets, curtains, shower liner, basically anything he can hide behind.
*He has developed a fascination with himself in the mirror, it is hilarious to watch.
*He loves to be chased and gets a kick out of someone running after him.
*And of course I have to mention his love of walking and being outside. A few days ago I took him outside in the morning and in 30 minutes he had walked 4 blocks all by himself. Later that night we were all outside and I took him in to work on dinner and Richard was outside grilling. Marshall started crying as soon as we walked in and continued to do so for the next five minutes until I opened the door and took him back out.

Well, those are my great boys. I'm so grateful for them and I love them so much!

If you would like to continue reminiscing with me here are some pictures of Marshall's first year.

Learning to Walk=Learning to Fall

Ouch! That poor little forehead. :( Marshall, in his zeal to walk everywhere, has experienced his fair share of falls the last few days. The goose egg is from the cement and the line down the middle of his forehead is from the entertainment center, not fun at all! But, he's a little trooper and after just a couple minutes of tears he is off my lap and back to walking.

And now just one more "talking to the mirror" video...