The other morning Gdog came into my room sleepy-eyed asking for his morning ritual "warm chocolate milk" and a "show".
While in the process of getting up I asked "What is the magic word."
He hissed "Ahhhhsshhhhee Ahhhhh Saaaaa"
Which I took to be please in parsel tongue
So Matt and Kristi gave me an entry into the Grand Junction Rim Rock Marathon for my birthday this year. It was the most physically demanding marathon I have ever run. You ascend 2000ft during the first 9 miles of the run. This year it was about 30 degrees and snowing when we started. Luckily Kristi has fabulous running friends who drove us directly to the starting line. Great hand warmers, tights, 2 shirts and our new breathable, waterproof jackets saved the day. We walked/ran the first 5 miles. Then ran the majority of the next 4 miles until the incline changed to a decline at mile 9. With the exception of a hill between 12 and 13 the rest until 20 was a gradual downhill. At mile 20 it changed to a steep downhill with switchbacks and incredible vistas, gorgeous views...the prettiest being the finish line. :)
Between 20-24 the downhill was fun and fast. At 24 we came out of the national park and headed down a fairly flat street to the finish line.
During this run I remembered why I like to run.
Getting outside and seeing things around me.
Having good friends to chat with and talk to.
Getting exercise and those endorphins that kick in.
The stars aligned and it was a good run for me, because we runners know that it can just as easily go the other way....
Thank you Matt and Kristi & family! Thanks to Shelley who trained with me and ran with Kristi and me.
And if you are thinking about doing it next year, sign up early because they only let 400 people run on the Colorado National Monument during this marathon...in fact, I think they should call it that next year.
So Gdog and I were walking along the street, killing time while the van had the oil changed. We were talking about big trucks, changing leaves, and pretty much whatever we could see.
A man in a white hoodie, with some long necklaces, and over-sized shoes passes us.
Gdog says loudly "I bet he is going to the dance place."
Hiding a smile I say "Why do you say that?"
"Because" reasoned Gdog, "he looks like he can do this."
Gdog then squats close to the ground and begins pivoting around his hand, then rolls to his back hugging his legs, as though he were spinning on his back, jumps back up to his feet and hits a rapper pose.
I could not stop laughing. If I hadn't just see a dance sequence like that on Hannah Montana I'd be asking who lets this kid watch MTV?
So we were reading in 2Nephi chapter 15 this morning. Marissa was reading aloud and she came upon this verse.
11. Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may afollow strong drink, that continue until night, and bwine inflame them!
And this is what I heard...
11. Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning(I've been getting up at 5am at least 5 days a week since August), that they may afollow strong drink(Does Diet Coke count?), that continue until night(yes I do drink it all day long!), and bwine (did that say whine?...cause that fits my scenario better.) inflame them!
So Gdog was at the counter making a birthday card for Marissa.
"Can I help you write Marissa's name." I ask
"No. First I need to write my name." says Gdog.
He writes each of the letters for his name then begins drawing circles.
"What does that say?" I inquire
"It says Happy Halloween." he says.
Feeling a need to help him remember this was for Marissa's birthday I push a little more.
"It is not supposed to be a Halloween card. It is for Marissa's birthday."
"I know" says Gdog exasperated, "I am speaking Spanish."
We carved pumpkins for FHE this week. At our house that has come to mean...we came up with impossible ideas for a pumpkin and had Dad carved it while we watched. Gdog wanted a Transformer. I tried to convince him the autobot logo would be just as cool, but he had his heart set on a "whole transformer" More specifically he wanted "Bumblebee" which is the costume he has for Halloween night. Amazingly Shawn pulled it off with Gdog at his side "helping".
Tiffany found a really cool idea. Shawn helped her with the design, and hers turned out well. Pumpkins burning inside with the devil outside laughing. Much better in the night photo! 
Marissa was at Driver ED driving trying to complete her instruction before the blessed event (Her 16th birthday in 5 days!) But she managed to get one done this week too.
Marissa carved a Snow Canyon Warrior Pumpkin, complete with the theme "Touch Gold" and the Warrior symbol.
Jocelyn and her dorm buddy Krista carved one too.... It is an abstract homage to the BYU testing center. (Don't tell Jocelyn, but I just don't see it! Maybe when it is lit?)
Even Weiyen (Our intern from China), carved one. (That is the symbol for happiness...a traditional symbol for all Chinese festivities.)
And I....set up, cleaned up, took pictures and roasted the pumpkin seeds. :)
Marissa froed her hair for her school-day costume. She said she had strangers coming up and touching her hair saying "Is that real?" 
Tiffany went as a witch, Gavin a Transformer, Marissa Thomas the Tank Engine, and Weiyen as a witch/vampire.
We used Aunt Randi's fabulous recipe for caramel and made the best tasting caramel apples! We dipped them in caramel first, then in an assortment of white chocolate, cinnamon sugar, toasted almonds, mini chocolate chips, marshmallows, and rice crispies. It was a lot of fun and I think the beginning of another tradition.
We went up to visit Jocelyn at the Y this past weekend. Shawn judged a Moot Court Competition at the Law School and the rest of us tagged along.
For Marissa's bday she and Jocelyn hung out and spent the night together. Then they went to the football game together.
Then we walked around campus, and of course went to the bookstore. Jocelyn lent Marissa a shirt for the game, Tiffany brought her sweatshirt from home. Gdog didn't have a BYU shirt on, and when we got home and were looking at the pictures he commented that he wanted a "cougar" shirt. I figured he'd forget about it...right?
On the way out the door he turned back and yelled at the cashier "GO COUGARS!"So Gdog has been building things with legos, magnets, blocks and such.
In fact it is his current favorite thing to do. So when his attention turned to rolling items down the stairs I was acutley aware of the difference. "What are you doing Gdog?"
"I am counting the bounces till it hits the floor." says Gdog.
He proceeds to toss a roll of duct tape, count the bounces and then run down to get it. Hey I think, this isn't so bad. He is counting, learning about Physics, and getting exercise.
He comes to the top of the stairs looks at the roll of tape, then looks at me. Then turns to look fondly at the stairs and says.
"I sure wish I had a catapult."
