Santa Barbara Half Marathon!

WOOOOHOOOO I DID IT!!!!! I was proud to finish and accomplish my goal time of 2 hrs not having much time at all to train, only getting 3 hours of sleep the night before and many unexpected intense hills. Ive never really got into running until this year... in fact I used to hate it! This summer my sister rose and friends melanie and hailey started a little running group and I learned to LOVE it. Ive noticed that it is by far the quickest way for me to get into shape and I love that it gives a more trim and toned result rather than a more bulky looking muscle. (not that ive accomplished that!) So instead of P90x or going to the gym ive been sticking to running and yoga and LOVE them both!

Alec and Wyatt were a great support group riding along the course on their bikes and cheering me on at the finish line with water and flowers:)

Also, if you couldn't already read through my fake smile in the first picture what im really thinking is.... "are you seriously taking a picture right now? seriously on the 10th mile right after that giant hill? REAL funny."

Halloween time!

This picture was taken before our ward trunk or treat. Alec didn't tell me but after we parked and opened our trunk he pulled out an indo board so he could do TRICKS and TREATS for the kids. So, he held a bowl of candy while balancing on the indo board and would ask the kids if they wanted a trick or a treat and would balance on one foot and put the bowl under his leg to give them their candy. Ha ha yep, after an attempt of a new trick he shattered my ceramic bowl:) I didn't care because I was too busy laughing so hard.

Apple Hill

I love my family

My husband is cool.

Bjørn

I would have laughed so hard if you had told me that I would be coming home from the summer with a puppy! I still sometimes can't believe that Alec talked me into it! He has found a new best friend and I'm really excited to have a running companion:) We really are so happy to have him a part of our family and he just seems to fit right in.

I knew I had to surprise him, so when Alec got home from work I had friend drop him off at our door step and ring the door bell.
Alec opened the door and there he was with a big red bow tied around his neck!

Norwegian Parade

Alec was thrilled when he found out there would be a big Norwegian parade in Chicago! You should have seen his face the whole time we were there:) smiling from ear to ear. I love hearing him speak Norwegian its such a cool language, he's been teaching me since we got married and I cant wait to teach our kids some day. Then we will have a secret family language:) We have also adopted lots of yummy recipes and fun holiday traditions.

We love Norway and hope to live there someday.

Chicago

our new home for the summer

Our Darling Niece Kylie

Wyatt was in Mr. Folsom High this year and needed an escort so Kylie came all the way from Vegas to be in the show. She ATE it UP! She is such a princess, loves to dress up, get attention, and walk the runway. Isn't she adorable?

Dan's 50th

We had a surprise party for Dan in Vegas with all of his close friends and family. It was TONS of fun and he had NO idea, he thought he was just going to see his grandbabies that live there. The highlight of the trip was going to see the beatles show "LOVE." It was incredible.

Happy Birthday to the Best Father In Law!

Weekend Getaway

Alec told me not to make any plans for the weekend and said he was taking me away somewhere. He started packing up the car and despite my begging refused to tell me where we were going. So I packed my bags for anything and everything. We headed north on the 1. The drive was probably my favorite part of the trip, we spent 4 hours talking about our future and goals, never once turning on the stereo. Not to mention I have never seen anything more beautiful! Everywhere your eyes could see were green rolling hills with horses and cows roaming around, and the beautiful ocean right along side us. We ended up in Mendocino. Ever heard of it? I hadn't. Alec had reserved for us to stay in a 360 sq ft cottage built in the 40's that overlooked the ocean.



During our stay at the cottage we had fresh eggs delivered to us every morning and were able to pick freely from their
vegetable and flower gardens. At night we would turn on this fireplace and snuggle up in front of it with a book.
One of my favorite parts of the trip!

We had fun feeding the chickens and other animals. Alec was in heaven. This picture of him cracks me up, he blends right in!

We drove to a cliff overlooking the ocean for a picnic and on the way there stopped to run around in this field of yellow flowers.
It was such a beautiful day.

There was a trail from our cottage to a private beach. Alec got soaked by a tidal wave, and I stayed dry up on that log.

We had fun exploring a beautiful part of California that we had never seen before. Highlights: cooking breakfast together in that tiny kitchen (turning out to be the best breakfasts we have ever had, thanks to the fresh eggs), Alec surprising me with fresh flowers from the garden when I woke up, one of the most beautiful hikes through the forest behind the cottage, walking through Mendocino and all the cool shops, finding the BEST restaurant we have ever been to, and knowing that the only person around for MILES was Alec.