Some Much Needed Family Time

We had a nice LONG break for our 4th of July this year. Not only did we get to go up to Logan for the 4th, but we also got to spend time with Jayson's family. Which we have not been able to do, in a long time. I don't think they have been back up here for the 4th, in at least 2,  maybe three years.
It used to be tradition, that we all met in our "spot" for the fireworks on the 3rd, and then we all met on Jayson's Papa's (grandpa) lawn in Hyrum. With all of his extended family and watched the 4th of July parade. His Papa passed away, shortly after Aty was born. Since then, the brothers have sold his house, so we have not had a place to sit for the parade. So most everyone has just stopped going to the parade.

Jayson's parents came up from Az, in time to see Jayson in his Spartan Race. Then they stayed through the 4th. They actually stayed for a long time this year. Jayson's Papa had a cabin up Blacksmith Fork. Jayson grew up playing up there. At that time, it was just a Trailer attached to a big living room. Since his grandparents have both passed away now. The property belongs to Jayson's dad and uncles. They decided to tear down the old trailer, and build a new cabin. They were able to keep the old Front room that was originally there, they just added some new walls and carpet. It is now a really nice, big cabin, with lots of rooms.

This is where Jayson's parents, sisters and family stayed, while they were visiting.  Jayson was able to take a few vacation days from work while they were here, so we were able to go up and stay with them at the cabin, as well.

We went up to Logan on the night of the 3rd, went to the fireworks. Woke up the next day and went to the Hyrum parade. Just Jayson and I, went with our kids went to the parade though. Then we headed up the cabin, to visit.

Waiting for it to start
(It was so Hot!)

Aty was so excited for the "Princesses"

Jayson had to go home and work the next day. So the kids and I, stayed up at my parent's house. I went to a play at Pickleville Playhouse (up by Bear Lake) with Jayson's family the next night. It was called "The Hanging of Bandito" It was really funny! We had dinner as well. It was alot of fun. The next day we spent time with Grandma, the boys watched lots of T.V. ( they miss not having T.V. at home)
Later that day, Grandma took the kids and I, up to the cabin. Jayson came up that night after work. And that is where we stayed the rest of the time. One day, we had a family reunion with Jayson's Grandma Bonnie. It was at the park in RiverHeights. We had dinner and saw all his long lost relatives.  We spent a lot of time, just hanging out at the cabin with Family. We went on a hike one day. It was Jayson, Me, Tregan, Daxton, Caleb(cousin) and Dadad(grandpa). We just forged our own way up the mountain. With Dadad leading the way. I was bummed, I didn't take my camera. It was a real Adventure! We got lots of stickers in our shoes and clothes. Poor Caleb had his shorts completely covered in them! We went  through lots of weeds and slippery loose rock. We went about halfway up the mountain. It was a really pretty view from there.

The boys insisted that we Had to bring the GUNS with us..

                                         

Aty and I explored, and found a Magic Fairy Tree!



We saw Tinkerbell



Driving the Tractor

We went Geo-Caching...

Dadad and the Girls..

Jayson and his dad playing jokes on each other.
(a normal occurance when they are together)

 The boys!

Aty had to hitch a ride on daddy's shoulders

Tatee, Bella, Tye, and Aty

All the cousins
(This was after we had been walking on a trail with weeds as high as our knees and the sun blazing down on us. Needless to say, no one was having fun!)

Aty Mowed the lawn with Daddy!

She loved it!


We went to Bear Lake....

Dax got buried in the sand

 Aty and her cousin Bella
The beach where we sat, had two little Islands of sand in between the deeper water.
That's where the little ones played the whole time, after a while the mom's all just moved our chairs to the island and watched the kids.

The Men However, stayed in the Shade and ate our Snacks

Dax looking Fierce and ready for a fight!

More of the Girly's laying in the water

 They had so much fun! It was the perfect day, and the
perfect spot!
It was so fun, to have our cousins with us!

It was so nice to be able to have some time with our family, and for Jayson to be able to hang with us and not have to work!

This was the view out my bedroom window. I got to wake up to this every morning.
So Beautiful!

Aty loves Bailey!
(Moma and Dadad's Dog)

 Tregan and Aty hanging out on the front Deck
I went out to sit on this deck one morning, I started reading a magazine and it was all peaceful, when all the sudden a hummingbird comes diving at my head. It scared me to death! I go back to reading and another one comes. I finally realize that there are a whole bunch of them swarming the window by me. It was crazy, I have never been that close to hummingbirds before. 

I am sad to say the vacation is over, and it is back to reality! I hate Reality!
I am so glad we have this cabin now though, we can look forward to spending time there, every summer with Jayson's family now!

My Stud, The Spartan!

Back in the Winter, Jayson found out about this race called, The Spartan Race. It is held all over the United States. There are four different levels of the race.  Some being more intense then others. For example,  The first race is The Sprint, which is a four mile sprint and some obstacles. The second level is the Super Spartan, this consists of 8 miles and obstacles, the third is the
Spartan Beast, Which is the one Jayson competed in. I will explain more below. The last is the Death Race. Which is the ultimate challenge of all challenges, where the "best" all try and compete and try to complete, this race against each other. Most of them will not finish!

The Spartan Beast,  consists of 13 miles and 25 obstacles. A guy at his work, which just so happens to be his boss, as well. Wanted to do it with him. They tried to get a bunch of guys to do it with them. But in the end, it was just Jayson, Joe and one other guy. Guess the intensity of it, was a little intimidating to their other friends.? Jayson tried and tried, to get me to do it. But I am not a fan of mud! And I was not sure, if I could finish it.

 He began working out, Even More then he already was. (Which was three hours at Golds Gym everynight)! He joined CrossFit in Salt Lake City, with his friend from work. (Joe)
They went everyday, on their lunch break. He got in Awesome Shape! It was All he talked about, when he got home from work.  We would always hear "Want to hear what my W.O.D was today? (workout of the day) We got kinda sick of hearing it, to be honest! But, we were very proud of him for being so determined. He would watch videos of past races online, constantly. It was literally all he lived and breathed for the past 4 or so, months.

Before the Race

The big day finally arrived! June 30th! The race was held in Midway, at Soldiers Hollow. I could not believe how many thousands of people, were there. Jayson's mom, dad and sister Ashley, came to watch him as well. We left Aty home with Grandma and took the boys with us. They actually ended up participating in the Kids Spartan Race. They had a blast! 

It was a lot of waiting around and sweating, in the intense heat. Most of the race was up in the mountains, so we could not see much of him. They had about 4 obstacles that we could see from where we waited, but we had no idea when and where, he was.  So we didn't really dare, wander around too much and take the risk of missing him. His parent's and siste,r just hung out at the finish line most of the time, and the boys and I wandered a little. When it was time for the boys to race, we weren't sure if Jayson would finish while they were racing or not, so I was the only one that got to watch them do their race, his parents and sister stayed at other obstacles watching for him. I had my phone in hand, waiting for them to call me if they saw him and I would run to them!
The boys finished and still no sign of Jayson. about a half hour later, we see his friends coming in towards the finish line. I then, went into panick mode! Wondering where he could possibly be. I was able to get Joe's attention and he said Jayson had told them, to go ahead of him at the first bend. So 20 minutes of panicking later, We see him coming down the bridge toward the final obstacles! YAY!!
He looked So Tired!
 I was so proud of him for finishing such a brutal race. I was teasing him the week before the race that he had not been running much and was going to have a hard time with the running parts. He assured me "He was a marine, so he could do anything!"
Apparently, I was a little bit right, because the 13 miles was a bit hard for him! ( I would never say I told you so though, hee hee)
He did it though! And he was only 20 minutes behind his friends who compete in Triathalons. That is AMAZING in my eyes! He is so determined and can accomplish anything he puts his mind to. I Love that about him!

Finally we get to see him!
He is the only one, on the middle wall

Jumping over the Wall!
He made it look so Easy too!
He is by the red flag

Under the Barbwire and Over the Mud Hills

More Barbwire!
It was a stretch over about a mile or so.  They had to roll or drag, themselves under. This was the last obstacle, so everyone was So exhausted by then. And alot of them, would get cramps in their legs, so they would have to stop and work it out, it was so sad to watch them. Jayson's legs were cramping at this time as well. At one point, he was dragging one leg along.

Last Stretch!

Gladiator Pit!

To the Finish Line
YAHOO!!!

                                                             Posing with the Boys!
                                                   And Joe and his son

With his Mom, Dad and Sister

With his Mom



I am So Proud of my Stud of a Husband!

 During all the training, he was always talking about how he and his friend, were going to do all three races, next year. And I would say"maybe you should wait and see how this race goes for you first, then decide"  Later that night, after the race, he told me how he was starting his training, for next year. He has it all mapped out. One in Vegas, one in Arizona and one in Utah. Then he will earn the highest medal. The Trifecta!
Good for you Honey!

The Boys Spartan Race

Here are the pictures of the boys, in their Spartan Race. They had a Blast!

This was the Spartan, that was walking around at the Race, he had a helmet on earlier, but I guess he got too hot! He had this whole motivational speech, he gave all the competitors before they started the race. The adult race I mean,  not the kid race.
He walked over by the boys, after Jayson's group had left and posed for a picture.

Dax climbing down the mud hill into the muddy water!
The Kid's Race was a "Miniature" of the Spartan Beast.
So they were a smaller version, of some of the obstacles Jayson did in his race.

Climbing out of the mud puddle!

Tregan doing the mudslide and puddle

The race was one mile, they went around it three times.  
 They got Super Muddy ,as you can tell.





Running under the net



Jumping over Haybales

Climbing over the nets

Finished the Race!
 YAY!

My Little Spartan Studs!

So proud of my boys! They did a great Job!