My hot date to Salt Lake

We were invited to TJ (Kevin's cousin) and Emma's wedding in the Salt Lake City LDS temple. The wedding was the week after Valentine's Day so we decided to treat the day as our Valentine's Date. We were married in this same temple over 7 years ago, so it was quite nostalgic and romantic to go there together again. The temple sealer who performed the marriage quoted something that President Gordon B. Hinckley told him when he and his wife were sealed many years before. I loved it and want to share it here so I can always remember this advice:

"Live so that you may receive blessings out of righteousness instead of out of mercy." 

God has blessed me over and over and over again. I feel his love for me and know he is mindful of me. I also recognize that many of those blessing were out of his mercy for me, not because I was worthy of them. I'm grateful for those blessings and they make me want to try harder so that His blessings may come from my effort to be obedient to God's commandments.

New Year's Half

My friend Heidi runs this small half marathon every New Years. I always tell her "way to go", but no way in hell fire am I ever running a race in January in Utah. Well...never say never. 

This race was my slowest half ever (2 hours 33 minutes). I've never walked during a race (except my first 2 5ks) and walked numerous times during this one.  I felt pretty weak-sauce the entire time, and something about knowing I wasn't "racing" it made me pretty lazy. We treated this race as a fun run, and I have to admit I wasn't that cold. I loved running with my friend Heidi. We have the best conversations! I may just have to do this one next year too. 

That hill between mile 2 and 5 is where I did most of the walking.

The race provided hand warmers in their race packets and I loved having them for the first 2 miles. This race is more of a big gathering of running friends, and we enjoyed steaming hot chili, rice, french bread, yogurt and bananas at the end. 

Heidi, me and Missy

Yay for snowman medals!

2014, You were my favorite!

What a year this has been. I spent some time reading back through some of my posts and reminiscing about goals attained, failures, memories made with friends, lessons learned, mistakes repeated. I always say how much I love Mondays because I appreciate the fresh start they provide. Well, I love the beginning of a fresh year for the same reasons.
As a stay at home, I sometimes have a hard time recognizing my accomplishments.

2014~
9 Half Marathons
1 Full Marathon
1 Ultra Ragnar
Hiked all 16 miles of the Narrows in Zion
Survived the first trimester of pregnancy
Was consistent helping Cory with his school work (about 45 min each week day)
Implemented and stuck with a chore chart/reward system for Cory
Served as secretary in my church's Young Women's organization
Took my kids on several memorable vacations (Goblin Valley camping, Rock Hill S.C, Myrtle Beach, Glenwood UT) I consider these trips accomplishments because traveling with kids is dang hard.
Played single mom while Kevin went on his Wyoming elk hunt
Improved upon my patience as a mother (still have a long way to go on this one!)

I'm excited to make 2015 a great year!

Pregnancy Weeks 8-11

December began right in the middle of all the first trimester yucks. I only threw up when I had my cold. Mucus did it every time. Pregnancy makes me extremely rage-y, and my family had to endure some crazy mood swings. I had a lot of food aversions and was very opinionated about my food. Cory took this picture of me trying to cook some meat for dinner. Smells are so intense right now.

Some of my cravings were pears and scrambled eggs with ketchup. Of course I craved sweets, but that is just a constant in my life. 

 Here is one of those awkward pregnant selfies in the mirror. Not much going on as far as outward body changes. I keep telling myself that it is a boy, so that I'm not sad when we find out it is a boy. :) I was able to keep my normal workout schedule, but I had runs where I just plain could not breathe.  I had a cold that contributed to it, but I think my body was adjusting to the increase in blood volume or something. My heart rate would sky rocket at a really slow pace. Just when I thought I was done running until after baby arrived, I'd have a really strong run. I never knew how I was going to feel. I'm glad I stuck with it and didn't let the "bad runs" deter me. 

Luckily as the 11th week rolled around, by nausea and food aversions left. As the first trimester ended, I actually started to feel like maybe I wasn't pregnant after all. My runs started to feel better and better!

A Bird Christmas 2014

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to go to Holly and Jorge's house for soups, sugar cookie decorating, and watching The Polar Express in pajamas. This year was extra special because Holly and Jorge surprised their kids with a new puppy!

After eating our weight in sugar cookies and licorice, we got the boys to bed and let the Santa magic begin!  Somehow on Christmas morning Mason snuck into the living room without us knowing. I found him riding his new Strider bike around in the dark. The shiny red car was a second favorite of his.

The boys loved opening each and every gift.

 

Uncle Clark and Aunt Aimee sent them cameras. This was probably Cory's favorite present this year. He is quite the little photographer.

 Cory with his new Mouse Trap game.

 Cory made books for everyone for Christmas. Here he is giving Daddy his book.

My dad has a special relationship with the boys and they share a common interest in all things scary and gory. Grandpa definitely won the weirdest Christmas gifts ever award. He sent the boys a zombie horse mask and and creepy pug mask. Mason was totally freaked out by the horse unless it was on his head.

 We spent Christmas day at Grandma and Papa Bird's house. Don't we look completely exhausted. Ha!

 Here is a "normal" group shot followed by a picture that is more representative of how we actually are. 

The December Post

December was a busy and fun month. We had an awesome snow storm blow through and took full advantage of playing outside. Watching my boys sled with daddy made me so happy! 

 

I know I complain about winter, but it really can be beautiful!

I was able to help decorate the church gym for the Christmas party. I think it turned out pretty great for "keeping it simple".

We enjoyed the Christmas party and Cory was able to spend some time with one of his favorite people. They were in preschool together last year and haven't been able to see each other as much this school year.

Of course Santa showed up at the party.

 

 We were able to dog-sit Sadie and then had cousin Jackson stay with us, which made things more exciting at our house. Mason was really sad when it was time for Sadie to go back home. It ALMOST makes me wish we had an inside dog. :) Look at that sweet little chubby hand.

 Cory and Jackson spent hours playing together in the snow. 

For one of our Family Home Evenings, we built a gingerbread house. I think this may need to be an annual tradition. Everyone loved it. Of course they ate more candy than what ended up on the house. 

 There is Mason's cute chubby hand again. I love the dimples and will grieve when they disappear.

 I just had to post this adorable picture of Mason enjoying the prelude music at church. He likes to pull out the hymnal and sing along.  

The November Post

Somehow my kids missed the memo that Halloween is over, and that this month belongs to the turkey, food and long family gatherings.  Those thighs though!

Cory was assigned to disguise a turkey for school. When I asked him how he wanted to do it I suggested a super hero disguise or maybe a different animal. He immediately said a bones turkey, because nobody would want to eat a bones turkey. You can't argue with that logic. His teacher must have appreciated his creativity and displayed his turkey in the school's lobby. I told you it is Halloween all year long at our house.

My favorite part of November was having my parents come and visit. We were planning to go to a BYU game, but freezing temperatures crushed our enthusiasm and we gave the tickets away. We spent our time cuddled up on the couch instead. I still don't regret that choice!

 These two kindred spirits loved being together while they spent some quality time with their Ipads.

Now I don't know how this happened, but the only picture I had of my mom from the trip was this little gem. We were having way too much fun getting ready. I can't help but feel happy when I look at this picture. I miss all of the little, everyday, completely ordinary experiences with this amazing women. It was hard telling them good-bye!

We finished our November off with a family trip to Salt Lake City to see the lights. The good news was that it was unseasonably warm the night we went, but the bad news was that the entire state of Utah seemed to be there too. It was so crowded!