Christmas 2007

This was Ashlyn's first Christmas where she kind of knew what was going on. It was a lot of fun for us to shop for her and to watch her un-wrap and play with her presents. Both of our families spoiled us quite a bit, and it made it a pretty happy Christmas (I love giving and getting stuff). We spent Christmas Eve with the Talleys and Christmas Day with the Hansens.
Both of these pictures were taken on the night we went tree shopping 3 weeks ago.
Grandpa is testing Ashlyn and Izzy on their alphabet knowledge
High Five. Ashlyn can identify: I, S, T, O, N, M, P, B, A, L, R, U, E, and F
Ashlyn stills loves babies. She was having a good time pushing Gabri in the swing.
And giving Gabri kisses on Aunt Kellie's lap. Gabri gives some pretty juicy ones. Ashlyn and Izzy listening to a Christmas Story. I think Izzy wants a bite of Ashlyn's corn.After getting done sitting and dancing on the box, Ashlyn decided to open her basketball hoop from Grandma and Grandpa Talley. (Dad can't wait to play with this toy).

Christmas Eve at the Hansens. Here is Ash's Pony from Grandma and Grandpa Hansen. She is a little afraid of riding it to start with, but I will give her a few lessons and show her how to ride.
Kyle, Adrienne, and Hayden. Hayden is about where Ashlyn was last year: really interested in the boxes as tools for standing and in the colors of the ribbons. He'll be a Christmas pro next year.
Amanda with Ashlyn. Ashlyn loved this bus that Stef put in her stocking. Stef got it at a work white elephant party. Amanda's favorite gift has got to be her engagement ring - way to go Matt. I just wish Amanda was marrying someone I could beat at Madden 2005.
We got her this baby that talks and makes sucking sounds when Ashlyn puts something in her mouth. This will get her ready for when she has a little sibling.
Here is Ashlyn sharing her keyboard with Hayden. She loves to dance to the tunes that play on the demo. Kyle called her "Lord of the Dance". She gets her moves from me.
Ashlyn had a lot of fun with her cousins Hayden and Finn. Both of them are going to get to know Ash as the kissing cousin.
It took her a while, but Ashlyn finally got through the many presents she had under the tree. She was a little more interested in the toys than she was in the clothes, even though she got some dang cute clothes.

Overall Christmas was a pretty special one this year. Stef, Ashlyn, and I are blessed with great families and friends. We really love the holiday season because of the time we get to spend with them. I love Stefanie and Ashlyn so much, and really feel like I lucked out in life. We are looking forward to an even better year in 2008. Is that possible?

Old Running Pictures

The Rat Pack at the base of Wheeler Canyon Trail - Jeremy, Me, Joe
The Salt Lake Tribune took these pictures of Matt, me, Joe, and Trevor working out at the Olympic Oval before we went to the 2004 Olympic Trials Marathon


Here I am running my first marathon - Deseret News 2003. This is around mile 22 - this was the most painful marathon of them all. (Not including the 2 ultras).
Finishing the St. George Marathon in 2003. 2:21.31 - still my pr.
Curtis, Matt, me, Joe, and Trevor at the Olympic trials in Birmingham, AL. February 2004
Finishing the Deseret News Marathon in 2006 - probably the most painful last 400 meters of any of my marathons.

Wasatch Back 2004

At Weber State before the 1st ever Wasatch Back Relay - Jace Nye, Me, Trent Hooper, Bob Lambert, Todd Gilbert, Nate Long, Nick Fisher, Nate Kennedy, Mark Jolley, Matt Harmer, and Spencer (Missing = Jason Schoenfeld)Nate Long at the starting line (18 other teams started earlier in the day - 22 total teams)Nathan handing of to MattMatt handing off to SchoenerMe running against Chad Durham, from the BYU team. We pulled away from them after this (they had 5 women and 7 men on the team). Bob Handing off to TrentNick Fisher and Jace Nye.Stefanie and Maddie (our support crew)


Wasatch Back 2005Mark handing off to Jed
Schoener handing off to Joel
We lost to BYU by under 3 minutes in the closest finish in Wasatch Back History. It was a long, hard fought battle. Top Row: Nick Fisher, Trent Hooper, Mark Jolley, Jed Johansen, Jason Schoenfeld, Me, Nate Long, Riley Cook, Matt Harmer, Bryant Jensen, Joe Wilson (missing = Brett Ferrier).

Thanksgiving Morning Turkey Trot

Nothing can compare to the feeling of cold at the 2000 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Ames, Iowa, but this year's Thanksgiving morning Human Race 5k in Draper wasn't exactly warm. We got ready for the 8:00 am race in 20 degree weather, and although the sun came up during the run, the temperature didn't change much.

Before the Race began - we are still pretty warm here.
Here is Stefanie with about 100 meters left in the race. Her face and hands are numb. If you look closely you can see that her fingers are bending in all different directions.
Stef tried to stop her watch (there was no official timing or results), but her hands stopped working because of the cold. I had her at 19:18. She was the first female to finish and they even gave her a $50 gift card to Ikea (whatever that is). 2nd place (me) got nothing.
Brooke always has a solid finish. I really like the purple, bright orange, pink headband, and striped gloves combination.
Matt, Amanda's boyfriend, is happy to be finishing. (He actually beat Brooke by about :15 - in case the order of photos is misleading)

We told Amanda that it isn't actually mandatory to Trot like a Turkey in these races, but she said she thought it would help her run faster, plus it for sure looks cooler.
Stefanie's hands were so cold after the race that she was actually crying (irrational fear of frostbite). I shouldn't have laughed at her.
What a cute picture of Amanda and Matt.
Here is the whole group, minus Preston & Linden, who were also in the race. I tried to take their finishing picture, but some kid's big head got in the way (I didn't post that picture).

After the race, we hurried out to Riverton for the annual Turkey Bowl. Only this time we weren't facing the Pooles (they chickened out for better weather in Vegas). Instead it was the Talleys (Dad, me, Justus, Luke, Stefanie, and Kellie) against Brooke and Amanda and the Larsens (Bishop and his 2 kids). We kept the losing tradition alive. 54 to 47. That has got to be 8 years in a row. The team was really missing Dianne and Kiley.

Can you say . . . St George Marathon?

Stefanie has gotten back into running this year, and she is getting pretty darn fast.
Here she is working out at the new track in Syracuse - Ashlyn loves to go play while Stef runs.
Upcoming races: Human Race 5k (Thanksgiving), Simplot Coach's Mile, Moab 1/2 marathon (March), some of the Utah Circuit Races in the summer, then possibly the St. George Marathon (October). This from a girl who said she will never run a marathon. Needless to say, I am excited for her :)