Monday will be better...

Sometimes you've got it, sometimes you don't.

Whatever "it" is, I definitely did not have it this morning.

Um, let me think of the best way to describe the workout...

Brutal.  Miserable.  Torturous.  Yep, any of those will do.  

So as I literally wrung out the sweat from my clothes and then soaked in a cool shower (partially by choice, partially because our hot water heater went out this morning), I tried to figure out why I got my can kicked so hard.  I am sure I am exaggerating, but I can't remember feeling so beat up since I ran the Sedona half marathon with crazy hills and elevation, and today I only went half that distance on more or less flat ground at 1200 feet.  Surely, I must be mistaken.

Still....

• Stayed up a little too late reading.
• Fighting a head cold.
• Third day in a row for my running legs and they were mad at me.
• Started an hour later than normal (not til 6:30 since I figured it was Saturday and I was entitled to sleep in til 6:00).  Stupid decision in hindsight.
• Full on sun.
• Ridiculous humidity.
• Bean burrito for dinner last night.
• Bleachers, bleachers, bleachers.

I guess it could be any number or all of those things, but I'm going with bleachers as the straw that broke my back.   After running to Mtn. View along the canal (one of my usual runs), I did my climbs up and down the bleachers many, many times trying to simulate the climb out of the canyon (it's the best training I know) and then I ran home.  Nothing new.  6 miles plus bleachers, so I should not have felt have as bad as I did.

Today I lost the battle of mind over body.
Today I wondered why in the heck any sane person runs in August monsoon season.
Today I wondered how I could possibly be this hot.
Today would have been a good day to turn off the alarm and go under deep cover.

Good thing I get to try again on Monday.

Inspired by Miss Prine

When I go long stretches without writing in my journal, I always feel the need to quasi-apologize in my writing about why it's been so long and then feel like I have to catch up on everything that's happened since the last entry.  Sometimes that seems too overwhelming to try and catch up, so I just keep putting if off until it seems impossible.

I guess that's how I feel about my blog, too.  I have no idea what's changed in my world this past year that makes it so hard for me to make time to blog.  I still enjoy it.  I still have fantastic kids involved in everything.  I still have a great husband and we've enjoyed all kinds of great memories together this year.  I still think about writing all the time and dream of finding a solo hour to just sit.  I'm still working, still serving in the church, still running, still hiking, still living the life.

At any rate, I just finished reading a fantastic fiction book, "These Is My Words, the Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine," by Nancy Turner and I absolutely loved it.  I cried at least 10 times and had the hardest time putting it down.  I catch myself thinking about the fiery Sarah and her trials and her spunk and her love for Captain Jack, all the time.  What a life she endured living in the rugged Arizona Territories in the late 1800's.  I think we would have been great friends.  I noted that in the midst of her child raising years, she went a whole year without writing, so I guess I'm in good company in that regard.  And that inspired me to write.

With school back in session, I feel like we've shifted back into gear again and are hopefully starting to remember the routine.  Summer brought many late nights for the kids and equally late wakings.  They stayed so busy with all their sports camps and the vacations and hanging with friends, but the structure of our world was no where to be found.

As of this week, all the peeps are fully booked with school and all the extras.  Miss Rowan is officially a gymnast now, taking a couple hours a week at Desert Devils.  She says she loves it and can hardly wait for her newly ordered leotards to arrive.  We've seen a number of back walkovers already and clapped at some pretty good headstand attempts.  Who invented the head stand, anyway.  It should be outlawed.  Nothing good can possibly come from standing on your head.  Anyway, she's also 3 weeks into piano lessons now, so we've been blessed to hear the likes of Old Joe Brown and Mary Had a Little Lamb over and over.  She's excited about her new activities, though, which is all that matters.  And she's a new 3rd Grade student council representative and loving her activity days.  She also has a new friend in the neighborhood, Emma Alston, who we already love to pieces.

Buddy Boy, first grader, is most excited about a couple new friends and his upcoming 7th birthday in a few weeks.  He's been loving playing with our new neighbor, John Alston, and his school buddy, Spencer Arnett.  Unfortunately, he and the treadmill had a misunderstanding last week at Spencer's house and he came walking out to the car a little bloodied up on the chin and nose, but still claiming to have had a blast on his play date.  Easton learned the hard way that the treadmill doesn't just stop when you decide to stop.  Mr. Easton is also so dang excited about soccer, which started this week.  I have to say he looks way cool all decked out in his gear and dry fit shirt.  His ear to ear grin was absolutely contagious when he showed me his new soccer ball he got at practice and proudly walked around the house with both of his new balls.  We are entering the unknown with this whole soccer thing...we've been pure softball/baseball parents forever, but somehow I finally caved and said OK to the soccer sign up.  I'm still not sure what happened in that weak moment.  Does this mean I'm a soccer mom??

Afty Cakes is also playing soccer for the first time at 11, and hopefully won't be too much at a disadvantage for never having played before.  I kind of doubt it.  She's so athletic and coordinated.  She came home from her first practice so excited about it all and loving it already, so I guess so far, so good.  Afty will be our craziest fall child this year with fall ball softball, soccer, piano, and taking an extra math class at Stapley every day.  She tested into 7th/8th grade accelerated math, so after going a full day at Hale, we take her up to the junior high for 6th hour math, and then she rides the bus home with Barrett.  Afton also ran in her 6th grade class election for President and won, so she's the fearless leader with all the smiles and sense of humor to boot.  Way to go, Afty.  She made up a song to "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and sang it to the Karaoke version of the music.  All the kids ate it up.  She's got guts for sure.  And she thinks maybe the brownies and cookies helped a little too :)  Afty's best friend in the world, Sydney Bauer, is gone to Snowflake, which we are still sad about.  Thankfully, they both have their iPod Touches and FaceTime each other a couple times a week to keep in touch. The two of them have been stuck like glue for a year and a half, so it's still a little weird not having Syd at our house all the time. 

Barrett is growing up crazy fast.  Just about every week I look at her and wonder how I got a full on teenager so fast.  She's beautiful and smart and so involved in school and more social than ever, so apparently 8th grade life is good.  At almost 14 years old (in less than 2 months), she's really busy with her 8th Grade Class President duties and all the extra time that involves, and is gearing up for fall ball to start next week.  We've also been training together for our upcoming Grand Canyon Rim2Rim hike, which is only 5 weeks away.  We are all getting excited about that. 

Ryan and I just celebrated 16 years of marriage last Friday.  We went for massages during the day, then out to dinner and a movie that night.  Then on Saturday, we went up to Flagstaff with some friends and did a 21 mile hike in the San Francisco Peaks (the Weatherford Trail). It was so incredibly beautiful!  I will post about that separately with pics.  We are both busy in our scout callings and just finished up the summer court of honor last night.  I made a DVD featuring pics and video from all their 2012 outings to date, so that was fun for all the parents and boys to watch.

Well, my allotted half hour is up, so I'm logging off and hope to be back to visit my blog soon.

Rita Allred Goodman

Rita Allred Goodman

August 15, 1917 - May 18, 2012

Today I had the good fortune of sitting next to my Aunt Katrina in Relief Society.  After the lesson on missionary work was over, she leaned over to me and said, "You know that Uncle Chad has been going through Grandma Rita's records and files and journals working on family history.  I thought it was interesting to note that the very last entry she ever made in her journal simply says, 'The church is true.'"

In Sacrament Meeting, Bishop Uncle Jim got up at the end of the meeting and said that he was prompted to share something with us today.  He'd been preparing for this sabbath day and praying to know what he needed to do, and he felt this inspiration.  He said he was trying to talk himself out of getting up, but decided he needed to listen.  His counsel was that we need to share our testimonies with our children and with our parents, in word and in deed.  He shared an example about his son, Jimmy, and also spoke of the faithful testimony that his parents (my Grandpa Harry & Grandma Rita) lived by going to the temple every Thursday.  I know that they loved the temple and that they loved their Savior.  They lived their testimony.

Last night at my Grandpa Reid's 90th birthday celebration, my Aunt Diane kindly reminded me that she was still waiting to see my pictures (of the funeral, of our vacations, of everything...) since I'm so behind on blogging.  So with both of my sweet aunts' and my Bishop Uncle Jim's reminders of Grandma Rita, I thought today was a perfect day to finally post these gems.  I love my family.  Truly, I am so blessed to be numbered among the Goodmans.

Here are a few of the pics taken at Grandma Rita's funeral services on May 25, 2012.

The pallbearers - the grandsons - carrying the casket to the burial site

my sweet girls, with Randi and Grandma Cindy

It's far too seldom that we see the Allred cousins these days, so it was an extra special treat to have them up in Mesa for the funeral.

After the dedicatory prayer, all of the girls were encouraged to take one of Grandma Rita's beautiful hot pink roses.  Pink was grandma's favorite color without a doubt.

Yes, all 10 of Rita & Harry's granddaughters are in this picture.  I love my Goodman Girl Cousins!  From left:  Karrie Platt, Laura Fodera, Julie Chesley, Jodi Goodman, Kathryn Whitlock, Kristi Zundell, Kim Marble; front row: Kelli Brown (me), Rita Wilstead, Dyan Ricedorff

All but two of the grandsons are here.  We're just missing Van the Man (serving his mission in Atlanta, Georgia) and Mark, who was working up in Snowflake and couldn't get the day off.  From left: Chad Willis, Dale Goodman, Craig Willis, Matt, Michael, Willie, Jimmy,  Joe & Luke Goodman.  What a handsome crew!

I love these pictures!  Jodi, Rita & Diane

Kimmie, Kathryn, & Kristi

 

Aren't they cute?  Bishop Uncle Jim celebrated his birthday yesterday along with my Grandpa Reid.  Happy Birthday, Bishop!

Jules, Dyan, Laura & Karrie

Me & Julie

Taylor, Julie, & Kylie Chesley

Aunt Betty, Uncle Clyde (Grandma Rita's brother) & Alexa

Uncle Clyde & Aunt Iva Jean (Grandma's surviving siblings)

The BIG FOUR:  Bishop Uncle Jim, Uncle Dale, Steve (also goes by Dad and Grandpa Steve) and Aunt Katrina

And this is my favorite.  Just trying to keep up Grandma's Rita's spice and sass.  We love you, Grandma, and will forever miss you.  Until we meet again...

Cabin Fun: Memorial Day

Memorial Day at the cabin is usually one of our best memories.  It's the first trip of the season and really signals the kickoff to summer.  Late movie nights, lots of card games, walks to the creek, homemade ice cream, time with cousins and friends.  It's summertime at its best.  No doubt about it.

Our crew plus the Bauer girls (Hallie & Syd) at the cabin for Memorial Day

We never have any fun...

 

I love this guy!

These girls crack me up. Oh, we are going to be soooooo sad when the Bauers move.  What will we do without them?  They're practically family.

 The hair flippers...Hallie & Barrett

Making homemade ice cream with Grandpa Steve, one of our favorite cabin traditions!

The beautiful Grandma Cindy, right where she loves to be at the cabin - baking in the kitchen!

South Kaibab to the River (the descent)

OK, so it's been one month and a couple days since our hike, but alas, the photos...The memory is too good to skip the photos.

The plans for our South Kaibab to Bright Angel journey began a week after Spring Break when we took the whole fam to the big hole for their first time.  I got the itch to hike it again after playing around on the rim and only venturing down a short ways (it was icy and mushy in March).

So we decided to do it, made our reservations, put it on the calendar, and here we are.  We took our first born along for the ride.  What a great decision that was!

Here we are at the South Kaibab trail head at approximately 5:45 am on Saturday, May 5th.  We spent the night before in the Maswik Lodge on the South Rim and arose bright and early to catch the 5:00am hikers shuttle bus.  It left from the Back Country Information Center, about 100 yards from our hotel room so we were able to just leave our car parked right there.  It took us right to where we needed to be.  Perfect.  We rode the bus over with some hard core running tri-rimmers who looked like they were going to eat the trail for lunch.  One of the Australians had his sandwich stored in his hat because he didn't want any extra bulk.   A sweaty hot head sandwich.  Nice.

But I digress...back to us.

It was very cold and super duper windy at the top of the south rim at that early hour.  We bundled up tight and kept our glasses on to save us from the dust.  As this was my first time coming down the South Kaibab trail, I didn't know how steep it would be.  The decline seemed much steeper than the north rim, and I was so glad I had my hiking poles for support.  We all did great on the descent, although it was a little slippery in the loose dirt and Barrett could have used some better traction on her shoes.  But she had her poles too, thank goodness, and did great.

Yes, we oohed and aahed.  Truly, it was so beautiful.  The pics don't even do it justice.

Barrett and I took a few silly pics while waiting for Ryan to use the facilities.  I have no idea what I am doing here, but we were having fun.

Just a glimpse of the trail coming down the South Kaibab.

 When we looked down and saw this a couple hours into the hike, Barrett asked, "Do we have to hike that?"  I said, "Oh yes, and there's so much more where that came from."

When we turned this corner and saw this drop off, both Barrett and I gasped a little.  I don't know if you can really tell from the picture, but seriously, right in back of where Barrett is standing, is the craziest drop off to the bottom.  Really, a crazy steep drop.  Sure footing would be highly recommended here.

We waited for a few mule trains during the morning.  Trail side etiquette says you move to the side when the mules pass.  We gladly obliged.

 Another glimpse of the trail...we're getting close to the river!  Hooray!  Almost down to the bottom.  I love the river.  Something about watching the rapids and those boats makes me happy.

 It was cool crossing through the South Kaibab tunnel for the first time.  There's no tunnel going north to south, so this was something new for us.

 Isn't she so cute?  I was so proud of her for doing such a hard thing and doing it at 13!

 Crossing the South Kaibab bridge.  Yes, we took a lot of pictures on the bridge.  Good thing I'm only sharing a few of them...

 We crossed the bridge at 3 hours into the hike, but by the time we actually finished all our river gazing and picture taking and hiked about another mile to Phantom, it was 3:45 into the hike.

After eating some lunch at Phantom Ranch, partaking of a Snickers bar and lemonade, using the facilities, and filling up our water supply, we were about ready to head out again.  Barrett decided to rinse off her caked on red dirt feet and go for some fresh socks too.  Ry and I just gave our feet a little breather sans shoes. No blisters...yet. 

And alas, after about 50 minutes at Phantom, we are ready to start the trek out.