Aspen Grove

One of our favorite family vacations when I was young was going to Aspen Grove.  Then, 5 years ago mom and dad took all of us kids and our families to Aspen Grove for a big reunion.  We had so much fun that Kaelyn and I decided we wanted to go back again with our families, and mom and dad came along too! :)

So, we made the drive to Utah, and anxiously looked for our cousins when we arrived at the family Camp Saturday afternoon.
We checked into our cabins, which are exactly as I remembered them from when I was 14 and there with my family!

Addi and Ryan had lots of fun flying around on the cabin broom.

After unloading our stuff into the cabin, we headed over to the main quad area to sign up for all the adult sport tournaments.  Tough things like badminton, shuffleboard, tennis, horseshoes, etc.  :)

I'm there all of 5 minutes, and I hear someone say, "Kathryn!!!"  I look over, and there is my next door neighbor dorm mate from Freshman year at BYU,  Diana Call Ferre!!  She lives in Chandler, AZ, and was up there with her family the same week as us for a vacation!  Holy cow!  This was going to be fun! 

Diana and I

Then, I am looking at my competition for the women's singles tennis, and there is a lady standing next to me looking as well.  We figure out we have to play each other in the first round of tennis.  So, we start talking and I ask her where she is from.  She says Laguna Niguel.  I tell her we are from Mesa, does she know anyone from Mesa?  She pauses and says, "Well, do you know a Steven Wade?"  My jaw drops, and I say, "Well yes, my brother in law is Steve Wade! How do you know him?  or is it even the same one?"

She then tells me they rent their house out while they are away, and the Wades from Mesa rented it.  When she told me they listed it on Craigslist, I knew it was Steve and Shauna, because Steve is the king of Craigslist!  Small, small world!!  Kinda crazy!

Then, later that night I realize one of the families there is a couple that met at BYU and I had a class with them when they met.  In fact, the guy asked me out on a date and I had to tell him I'm sorry, I'm married!!!  Awkward!

Well, he never talked to me the rest of the semester, but I watched him and the girl sitting across the room from him talk and flirt, and they ended up getting married, and there they were at Aspen Grove 20 years later with 4 kids just like Lane and I!  Crazy crazy crazy!  He never did let on that he remembered me or anything.  I'm hoping not!

I did say I wanted redemption from the last time we were at Aspen Grove.  We went 5 years ago, when I was 1 week from delivering Addi.  To say that I was a huge whale would really be an understatement.  And of course, the first night there, I see a guy from my freshman year who was totally in love with me.   I'm sure he wasn't feeling bad that he was too short for me when he saw how large I got when pregnant!  Ugh!!

Here's who came along:

Mom and Dad (obviously)

Kaelyn and Scott's family

Our family!

The week is packed with fun things to do, and as a mom and dad you don't have to lift a finger!  It is a true vacation!  We had so much fun doing so many things.  Sadly Kayla was only there the first couple of days.  She spent the rest of the week at EFY, much to the dismay of all the older teenage boys at Aspen Grove! :)

Conner and Dad doing "Minute to Win It"

Me with my coveted paper awards!

Our little billy goat climber Savannah

The Bug!  I could eat this kid up!

Lauren and Savannah waiting their turn

One of the highlights for us adults was taking a Communications test to tell us what kind of communicators we are.  There are 4 different "types" of communications.  That was hilarious and insightful.  Boy did we learn a lot about how to talk to our spouses/siblings/kids in a way that they understand.  We had a good time laughing at how spot on some of the typical traits of our type of communicators have!  Does that make sense?  Needless to say, I am an Expressive.  Hmm, I don't know how that's possible because I rarely express how I feel or my opinions! ha!!!

And here's a huge collage of lots of stuff:  groups, leaders, Family Follies, climbing wall stuff and more.  I'm still waiting for Angi to send me more pictures.  She is the family photographer and got some good pics of us while they were up there one day with us.

Sorry this collage is too small and you can't see anything.  Ugh!  They change Picasa and Blogger on me!!

But, it was seriously so fun.  I recommend going with friends or family.

Back to BYU

One of the fun things about running the race in Utah Valley was that we got to go back to our old college stomping grounds.  Lisa and I had a blast telling stories about who we dated, where we lived, where we went, etc. etc.  My favorite was driving past the football stadium and showing her the parking lot where I was parked one night with a boyfriend and we were "talking" and next thing I know there is a knock on my window.  I roll it down and there is a campus police asking if I am OK.  YIKES!  I assured him I was fine, and we never parked in that lot again! :)

Before we left mom and dad's Lisa had to get her hair big enough to be allowed to walk around Utah! HA!!!  I tell you what, we saw a few people with hair exactly like this!  What the heck???

This pizza place is owned by a guy Lisa went to high school with.  It was very good!!!  I highly recommend it!!

I had to drive by our first house that Lane and I lived in.  It is sooooo cute!  We lived in this house rent free to take care of it for some friends of Lane's parents.  What a blessing that was!  I loved this little house!  2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and a huge garden in the back that the neighbor across the street took care of, but told us we could eat anything we wanted out of it!  Such good memories of this cute little house!  I'll never forget the really old man Clyde, across the street would come over and mow our front yard without telling us.  One day Lane was inside that big window at the front studying on the floor.  Clyde started mowing the lawn, and Lane had to duck and hide so he didn't feel like such a scum for being the 24 year old kid inside while the 75 year old man was mowing!!

Here's a picture of the Y up on the hill that surprisingly Lisa and I never did hike up to!  You're kinda supposed to do that at some point of your college life, but we never did.  We joked about how we would hike it after we ran the marathon.  HA!!!

Missing from the blog world

Kayla just asked me tonight, "Mom?  Are you not going to blog anymore?"
Me: "I don't know Kayla, I just don't seem to be into that much anymore, and no one reads it anyway, but it was a good family journal for us, so I can't decide."
She said, "I read it!"
She also lives it every day!

We've had a busy, fun summer.  I have to put the pictures up and write about it all for our family history.

I'll do that next week.
When the kids are in school, and I'm not teaching 22 aerobics classes.

First Marathon Ever!!!

When I told people I was running my first full marathon, 90% of the time I got the same reaction:  "What?  Really?  I thought you ran marathon's all the time!"

For that very reason (combined with many others) I decided I had to run a marathon.

Now, when I tell people I ran my first full marathon last weekend, they look at me and say, "What?  Really?  I thought you had run several or ran them all the time!" (That just happened Friday afternoon with 2 ladies I was talking to.  They both said it!)

At least now I can say I ran one.

Lane would like me to say that is the only one.

Unfortunately, that will probably not be the case.

You see, I have this disease.  It's called the "I can do it better" disease.  This disease doesn't come up in competition with other people, though.  Strangely, when competing against other people or friends, many times my mental conversation goes something like this: "You don't have to beat them, just stay up with them.  Keep them in your sights."  Or it says, "Wow, they are really fast!  Good for them, I'll just do my thing, because there is always going to be someone faster, better (and skinnier- how did that get in here?) than you!"

I'm really OK with being pretty mediocre at everything.

BUT!  When I do a race, when I finish, if I feel I could have been faster/stronger/better, I have to do another one to prove I can!  I want to beat myself, thus the "I can do it better" disease.

So, for my own posterity, here is the play by play of my first, but probably not last, marathon:

JUNE 9, 2012


The alarm sounds at 2:45 a.m. My friend Lisa Wallace and I wake up bright eyed, and bushy-tailed (my dad's saying) ready to go run my first and her second marathon. We get dressed, pack our bag, make sure everything is in order, and drive the 2 miles down the street to the parking lot to meet the busses that will take us up the canyon.  The last bus left at 4:15 a.m., so no sleeping in that morning!  Us and 7,000 other crazy people were ready to go.  We ride about 45 mins. up Provo Canyon and through a small town called Wellsville.  We are dropped off at a cow field with rows of port-a-potties, and some fire pits to snuggle up around and keep warm.  It is a beautiful morning, and expected to hit a high of only 75.  Perfect day!!!

I counted about 50 port-a-potties!

As the sun peaks over the mountains from the east, the excitement starts to build in the air.  Everyone is encouraged to line up according to how fast you think you will run the race.

This brings to mind yet again, what will be my plan?  We listened to some pros lecture the day before.  They said, "hydrate, hydrate, hydrate" and don't start too fast if this is your first marathon.  You will hit the wall and die.  I had heard that so many times from many people.  I also was concerned about the elevation difference.  I live at about sea level, and the race was at about 5-6,000 ft.

So, in my head I thought my best best time could be 4 hours, my realistic time 4:15, and my worst time 4:30.  I also decided I would drink water and powerade and walk 10 seconds at every water station.  They said what you don't do in the beginning to save seconds can cost you lots of minutes at the end in cramping, dehydration, "the wall", etc.  I didn't want that.

Standing behind the 4 hour finish pacer.

But then I start thinking about how I know myself.  I need to start fast because then my body will keep that pace.  It is hard for me to start slower and make myself speed up.  Plus, the first 8 miles were supposedly downhill (I later found that those downhills also had 5 good uphills!!!)

So, we got behind the 4 hour pacer, and took off with the shot of the gun.  Well, wouldn't you know it, 1 mile in, I have to pee.  Are you kidding me??? I never have had to do that!  Nerves? maybe. Pre-race hydration drinks?  Maybe.  Whatever it is, I need to pee.  However, there is a line at the port-a-potties.  So I continue on to mile 2, 3, 4, and finally at mile 5 I don't care.  I wish I was a guy who could just run to the side and pee behind a tree like so many guys did!  I decide to stand in line, and Lisa keeps on going. I stopped my watch to see what time difference it would make for me (in the end it was only 4 minutes.)

I do my business as fast as possible, and take off running again.  I feel good.  It is a beautiful morning, the sun is coming up over the mountains, there are horses running around, mountains around, things are green, I have music in my ears and I feel really good! 

Me and some of the other crazies on a beautiful morning marathon!

At about mile 12 I am running up a hill and see Lisa up ahead.  I caught her!  Unfortunately I still haven't found the 4 hour pacer.  We rejoice in our reunion and start chatting while we run.  Lisa is feeling OK.  At mile 13 I turn to her and jokingly say, "Hey!  We only have to run 13 miles!  That is a half marathon!  Want to come with me?  Let's do it!"

She pulls out 2 Excedrin for pain, and I asked if she happened to have any extra?  I thought maybe my legs won't hurt toward the end if I take a pain killer.  She said she had a couple, so I took some.  We run another mile, and I start feeling really good!  It is downhill, my legs are basically numb, and I want to kick it!  I think that was Ecstasy and not Excedrin she gave me!

I pick up the pace a bit and Lisa gives me the OK to leave her.  I feel good.  I'm singing AIDA and Wicked and Justin Bieber and Carrie Underwood and Taio Cruz and Jason DeRulo and Taylor Swift all down the canyon.  I hit mile 20 and feel great and pass what used to be Bridal Veil falls.  I pull out my phone and snap a picture.

I start to wonder when the "wall" is going to hit.  I feel good!  I am at the end of the canyon and have 4 miles to go until I'm done.  I can't believe I am almost done with this marathon, and I feel great!  I'm breathing fine, no problems there at all.  Legs feel great.  I pick it up a little.  I keep playing "I pass you, you pass me" with various runners.  I hate that unintentional game.

3 miles to go and the bottom of my foot starts to pull a little.  I've never had that before, but it doesn't hurt or bother me too bad.  I run past the last 2 water stations because I really feel good and don't want to stop and walk.  I run past BYU and all the memories I have of going there.  I get to downtown and have 1 mile left.  I can't believe I still haven't hit my wall.  I realize I'm not going to hit any wall.  I am going to finish this smiling!  I get a little emotional as I begin to think that I just reached a goal I set for myself 3 years ago that I never in a million years thought I ever would have set for myself in my life!  I think of my great friend Lisa and how she was willing to step in and train with me and run the race with me.  I NEVER could have done it without her!  I don't have enough self motivation to do that!!!  I ran my first marathon at, ahem, um ...... 40. 

 I pick up the pace a little more and cross the finish line with an official time of 4:11:54.  I look around in awe, and want so bad to hug someone or talk to someone but there is no one there.  Just me.  So I smile, congratulate myself, pinch myself to be sure it's real and bask in the fact that I just did it. 

The legs and feet that served me well that day!!

My time without the potty break! :)

Then I immediately realize that this will not be my last marathon.  I could have gone faster, I could have done more, I didn't leave it all out there.  I try not to be disappointed by this.  I did a good, safe, first race.  I didn't injure myself, I didn't have a horrible experience, it was a good "maiden voyage".  But now I do know I can't call it good with that.  I have to do another one and break 4 hours.  Why?  I don't know, I'm just crazy I guess!  It's that "I can do better" disease.

Lisa and I at the end.  What a great friend!

Conner's Memorial Weekend Baptism!!

I can't wait until I'm 8, cause then I'll be baptized you see!  (words from a Primary baptism song)

Yup, Conner's long awaited day finally arrived.  He was sure he was the last boy on the planet to be baptized!  (All his good friends are a little older than him.)

We had our own baptism service all to ourselves, which was very nice!  My mom and dad flew down for the special occasion too.  That was a big honor for us.  We had some nice talks on Baptism and the Holy Ghost, as well as Savannah and all her friends singing songs about each one.  It was really a great, sweet meeting!

So here are the pictures we grabbed from the big day.

Gpa Forsgren, Uncle Bryce, and Gma and Gpa Cook

My handsome boys all ready to dunk Conner!

Finally!!!!

Everyone who came to share our special day.

The family picture, with one mad Addi.  There's always one to ruin the picture isn't there?

Grandma and Grandpa Forsgren 

Grandma and Grandpa Cook

Mom was there too!!

I LOVE my boy!!!

Happy Mother's Day to me! :)

It comes around every year and sadly, lots of mom's hate it!  I'm not talking about those birthdays after 30, I'm talking about Mother's Day!

I actually like it.  My husband and kids do a great job of letting me kind of take the day off and feel a little special. 

So, as I've grown accustomed to, I got my "surprise" breakfast in bed with a little addition this year.  Apparently I am not sneaking those Oreos in the morning alongside my protein shake very well.  I think I'm being sneaky, but perhaps all the crumbs in my teeth are giving it away? Ha! 

A quick snapshot with the kids that I love 99% of the time! :)

Of course they all got me some gifts and make me cry with their notes, etc.  They are awesome and I sure love them!  Lane even wrote another award-winning poem about when we met.  I am putting it here for our remembrance.

Mother's Day note for our kids

I saw her from my balcony, with cookies on a plate,

I felt intrigued to meet her, and we did through lucky fate.

I hopped into her minivan, en route for basketball-

Our roomies joined for intramurals, at BYU that Fall.

She seemed quite brash and mouthy, but she had a gift for sports

I liked the way she played the game, and wore a pair of shorts.

I took one for the team a while, I didn't ask her out

I kept the peace with her teammates, and made her stay in doubt.

 At last I couldn't wait it out  and took her for zuchini

Another suitor saw us there, I felt just like a weenie.

But it was worth it, we had launched, and soon we were a pair

I fell in love with frightening speed, after Kathryn cut my hair.

Christmas break we had to split like the Red Sea did for Moses

I tried to guard my newfound girl with phone calls and some roses  

When I returned to Utah, she had sewn me a Suns' blanket,

I knew right then she was the one, I didn't have to fake it.

12 more weeks flew by like nothing, and then I popped the question

She called me crazy, made me sweat and suffer indigestion.

At last she said those magic words and made me do a flip

We called my parents from a pay phone while my heart did skips.

And that is how we started, ending up today as six,

One proud dad with one great son, and four exotic chics.

I love your Mother like no other, she's the best thing in my life.

Happy mother's day my love, and thanks for being my wife!

Sometimes you just don't deserve someone so good, right? ( I'm talking about me getting Lane and not vice versa! :) ha!)

Happy 8th Birthday to my FAVORITE boy!!

Wow, where does the time go?
8 years ago, we were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby boy.  I was so excited to get a boy, and I don't even have to tell you Lane was ecstatic about it!

He was induced 1 day before he was due, because I hadn't gone into labor with the last 2, and didn't really feel the need to birth another 1 week late 9 1/2 lb. baby like the last 2!!

Ironically, he was my smallest! 7 lbs. 13 oz.  But he was perfect and I couldn't love him more.  I do remember having a hard time not calling him sweetie, or princess or beautiful.  I had to switch to buddy and handsome.  I still 8 years later sometimes make the CARDINAL sin of calling his underwear "panties".  You wanna see someone freak out?  Yikes!!  He is all boy and I love it!!

Conner actually got to spend his birthday going camping on the father's and son's outing for church.  He had a blast, and Lane is sure he possibly caught a glimpse of him while they were up there. :)  He was with his little buddies the whole time playing in the forest and with fire.  Perfect combination, right?

We had a party at our park on Saturday.  He wanted a sports theme.  So, we had 12 little boys here playing speed on the basketball court, running timed soccer drills in the field, hitting balls in our baseball home run derby, and of course killing each other with squirt guns and wet squish balls. (It was only 95 degrees out that afternoon! :) )

My friend Heather made these amazingly cute and delicious cupcakes.  Pearls before swine I say!  Next time I'm going with cheap cake and the good cupcakes for adults!!! Not a single boy ate the cupcakes!  They all wanted the cheap ice cream cake from Safeway!

Conner and Coop!

Basketball Speed - they take it very seriously!

Home run derby

Line for the pinata!

Hitting for candy!

This is what happens when there are no forks to eat the ice cream cake! :)

Happy Birthday my Conner boy!!!

Now we get to look forward to his baptism in a couple of weeks!  He is so excited!