Surgery

When I was in junior high I thought I was the bomb diggity at snow boarding. Until one day in junior high I had I nice face plant off a jump and bam broken nose!  Of purse my lovely parents said you are fine. Rub some dirt on it!  

After about a year I developed a nice bump where the break was.  That is when my mom said, " oh maybe it was broke." I have always hated he lump so it was time to fix it.  

What I looked like the night after surgery.  Pretty scary! But the good thing was there was hardly any pain.  Just swelling and bruising.  After two days I could get my contacts back in and I was off exercising.  Only walking, running was too much bouncing. 

 I also was able to lift at the gym.  My brother in law is my trainer.  We had several people each time ask him if he did that to me.  My favorite was a guy who asked if I was a boxer.  I should have said yes!  

This was 6 days after surgery.  I was about to go get the brace off.  I would highly suggest none who has a nose issue to go get it fixed.  Well worth it and dr. Clayton was the best! 

Goodbye for 2 years

I will really miss him!!!  My cute little brother left on his mission to Chile.  He has been my little buddy for so long. (he use to be really little, he only started growing like a year ago). When we were younger I was always put in charge of watching my little sisters and brother.  (My older sister was worthless when it came to babysitting :) ).  I was like a mom to him every time my parents left.  I know he will do such a great job, but boy will he be missed!!! 

He wore his sweet jacket, he got custom made from Thailand, for his farewell talk.  He will be one snazzy missionary. 

Two of a kind! 

Not his best picture.  He would make this face all the time for my mom when she wanted a picture.  She would always yell at him.

He his farewell he wanted cookies and milk.  He is a smart kid!!!  Here is some of the leftovers. 

The next day he was set apart as a missionary.  He left straight to the Mexico MTC so that night I said goodbye.  

I was able to hold it all together until I walked out the door.  I love him so much and cant wait to see him again in two years!  

Echo Triathlon

I thought I hade published this, but I guess not.  Whoops!   It has been about two weeks now since this race, but better late then never.  I was able to go to race echo with my great teammates Amber, Laura, Cherry, and Brittany.  The night before the race Amber, Laura, Britt and I went up and spent the night. After checking in at the lake we headed back o the hotel to get all prepared.  

I didn't sleep well, ugh!  I was nervous about racing an Olympic distance race.  I know that seems silly because I usually do much longer races, but that was exactly why I was nervous.   I haven't done an Olympic for years!!!!   

We rode our bikes to the race start, our hotel was super close.  We got there plenty early.  Which I think made my nerves worse.  Plus I haven't raced a race without my mom for a very long time.  It felt so strange.  I was grateful for my teammates who were there to talk to.  

Here we are before the race start.  We all still look cute at this point! 

Here is all my stuff all ready to go.  

The race started with a great national anthem played by the local high school band.  Once the race started I knew it was going to be a terrible swim.  I couldn't get my heart rate down the entire time.   I was really struggling just trying to get to the first bouy.  I looked around at one point and saw people standing and walking.  Luckliy for me the water level was super low so I got up and started running!  Yep I ran almost the entire swim!!!  I was overjoyed to just get out of the dumb water.  

Then it was on to the bike.  It is a false flat all the way to the turn around, but I love the bike so much I didn't care.  I just kept thinking I had to make up time because of my scary swim.  My bike felt great!   The course was well marked and patrolled!  

The run lately has been my favorite because i have really improved.  I headed out with a smile!  I LOVE this run course, and the weather was amazing.   My overall run pace was 8:10.  Not my fastest time but I felt good the entire time.  The aid stations were great which is always nice!  It was so fun to see alll the girls on the out and back course.

Here we are after the race.  Amber got 2nd overall and Laura won her age. 

Brittany got second in her age too! 

Here is the whole group.  

This is still one of my favorite races.  I didn't place, but I learned that I should probably swim every once in a while and I could place!  I can't wait to do this race again next year! 

What teachers do all summer

Maybe not all teachers, but the cool PE/health teachers.  They get as many cool and exciting outdoor adventures as they can.  I have lived in Utah most my life, but have never climbed Timpanogos.  I am a bit ashamed of that fact.  So when I got the chance I took it.  My 2 uncles, my cousin, and my sister in law all came.  

It was beautiful!!!  The wheather was also almost perfect.  we had a bit of rain, but other then tht no complaints.  

Me and Fua, my sister in law, right before we started.  We started at about 7:30.  If I were to o it again I would probably star earlier.  Some people even start super early and get up there for sunrise!  

Somehow we ended up getting lost.  We had to do some rock climbing to get back on the right track. It just made it a bit more exciting! 

I don't know why I am making this face.  

Me and Fua right before the down pour.  It sure was pretty.  

Up at the top.  After 4 hours of climbing we finally made it.  It was fun to sit up at the top and try and figure out what everything was. 

My uncle Dave at the top with the whole view. 

We even made some friends on our way down.  The baby one was adorable I wanted to take it home.  I don't think that Ladd would be happy if I did.  

I am already planning my my next trip up.

Be Careful

I have had a great time since being home.  The 4th of July is by far my most favoritest holiday!  I love everything about it.  The day before we go save our parade spots.  We have to have someone there all day or else your spots get stolen.  It is pretty intense and fights have happened in the past.  This year was a fight free year.  Woot!  

The morning of the 4th it is all about the race followed by the parade.  I did the 10k and Ladd did the 5k.  Usually we have way more people doing it but my mom was injured and Madi is on a mission.  I was really happy with my time I was 26th women overall and 3rd in my age.  It is a big race do I can't complain.  

After the race we hurried over to the parade.  You have never been to a parade until you have gone with my family.  My dad loves parades and makes them so fun.  every politician we yell so and so for president.  If a guy and girl elk by it I always, kiss her kiss her.  We yell at the band members to play a solo.  You get idea, a lot of heckling.  This year however we got a new one for the beauty queens.  My cousin Mark googled the beauty queens names.  When the float would come by we would chant the 3rd place girls name and say she got robbed.  Oh man the looks on their faces we're priceless.  1st placed was super mad and 3rd place was trying to figure out who the heck we were.  

After the great parade it was off to swimming or the afternoon at the Ferrins then a BBQ.  The day couldnt have been much better!!!! 

(I had pictures but Ladd deleted them sorry) 

Now more important matters.  On Monday me and my mom went on a bike ride that didn't end so well.   We were suppose to just be doing a fun 20 mile climb up the canyon.  This is how it ended...

We had just turned around at the top and were descending going about 30 miles per hour.  My mom was in front( I hate oung downhill fast and he loves it).  We came around a corner to find a lady in our lane.  My mom tried to swerve to avoid her, well the other lady did the same thing.  The ran right into each other.  My mom flew into the bushes up ove her hanle bars.  It was so scarey to see.  

Long story short, two ambulances a fire truck and another truck later they took both my mom and the other lady to the hospital.  She ended up with a broken clavicle and some nice rode rash.  But in true ironman fashion the first thing she asked was, "is my bike okay?". Hahaha  I think every true cyclist who has Been in a crash says that same thing!  

She is bummed she can't race the rest of the season.

Her nurse ended up being a lady from our ward.  

Her cute outfit to go see the orthopedic doctor.  

Moral of the story, cyclist please be careful.  Stay on your side of the rode.  And if someone is on your side just stay to the right!  

Last day in Paradise

We spent the last day hanging out at my host dads school.  The kids are sooooo cute it was way better to fill the blog with their pictures!

They are not allowed to wear their shoes in the class room so they put them all out side.  I would totally grab the wrong ones all the time. These are the boys joes.  

I think they thought I was a bit strange!  Oh well, nothing like freaking out a bunch of kids. 

Probably the cutest boy at the school.  I asked if I could adopt him and bring him back home with me. He seemed game, but I don't think the prents would like that.  

After school we went back and packed.  My dad and Weston showing off their awesome shoes.

Just outside my host families house.  It is such a beautiful place.  I think this is the lot for my future house. 

Our sweet scooters. 

More kids saying goodbye! ADORABLE!

The rest of the day was filled with food and goodbyes.  Our final  meal a feast.  Everyone one had at least two dishes!  For a grand total of 10 dollars to feed 8 people.  

Goodbye Thailand see you again soon! 

Gran Fondo

We got home from Thailand just in time to race!!!  I tried on Friday to run and struggled like crazy to finish my 7 miles.  After walking the last .3 I realized I have been slacking and need to get my butt in gear.  (especially if I am ever going to beat my mom again). 

So, when my dad called me on friday night and asked me if I wanted to do the Grand Fondo I was all in.  My mom wanted me to go slow with her, she is still recovering from her motorcycle crash.  The race was the alpine loop.  I have never just done a bike race so I was up for the experience.  

I woke up a bit late, well two min before the start in Orem, so there was no way to get there on time.  I hoped on my bike and met my mom and dad on the course.  It was such a beautiful day!!!  The weather was awesome! The course was challenging but so pretty I hardly noticed me going up hill.  The race dupport was great too.  I would highly recommend this race.  I will do it again next year and will set two alarms.  

I did end up staying with my mom the whole time.  I was pretty proud of myself for not being competitive.  Well, I was just a bit competitive at the end.  I out sprinted my mom in the last quarter of a mile just so I could say I beat her.  

The race was sponsored by Trader Joes!!! That just made this race even better then it already was.  Oh and the medals are huge and awesome!!!  

Beautified

First part of the day was filled with shopping.   It seems like we did a lot of shopping and we did.  But, how can you pass up super cheap stuff like, 3 dollar shirts and 10 dollar helmets! This is just some of our loot for the day.  Yes those red things are tiger crocs.  Weston got the for his shower shoes for his mission.  

Next it was off to the mall to eat lunch.  I use the term mall very loosely, but they have a great food court.

The last part of the dedicated to being beautified.  First on the list was getting my eye lashes done!! For 30 dollars why not?  I look pretty scarey here but they actually turned out surprisingly good. 

After eyes lashes it was a hai treatment, massages, and waxing!  I felt so pretty after!  My dad and Weston did not participate in this, they rented motorcycles and drove to poo ping palace.  Oh yes that is a real place they took pictures to show us.  

The night market was the next thing on our to do list.  My host mom really dint want us to go.  She told us to look, look, look but no buy, buy, buy.  She told us only white people go there and it is expensive.

The last thing on the to do list was get glasses.  My dad thought they might be cheaper there for him.  He has those expensive progressive lens.  Come to find out they are the same price.  However the trip was not waste.  My mom go perscription sunglasses for 20 dollars and I got some sweet new stlyin' glasses.  My host dad even picked up a pair. 

It only took 1 hour to get the glasses made.  (Why in the world oes it take days in America, when in 3rd world countries it can take an hour?  America needs to get better service!). While we were wilting we found a great shamook place!  

My host mom, her daughter in law Tang and me!

My host parent and Tang.  

My stellar glasses!!!  I look pretty sweet in them.  

It was a super fun filled day!!!!

Myanmar Adventure

Today was a day dedicated to shopping.  We rented a van and met up with Margo and Margie, our new airport friends.  It is four hours to the boarder from chiang Mai.  I would describe Mae Sai like a Tijuana on crack.  It is a blast. 

The deal of the day was this

We will see if it actually works in Utah, fingers are crossed!  I guess it will be a really dumb purchase if hey dont.  There was also a lot of purse, shoe, and accessory shopping.  It was a great day for me.

On the way home we stopped by the white temple in Chiang Rai.  It is totally different from all the others, there is no gold!

Who knows what weston is doing in this picture but we thought the cones were pretty fun.  

Here is the temple.

My dad looking all pretty 

To finish off the day we ate some great home cooked food from my host mom!

Sunday Fun Day

So I might be a couple of days behind, so here we go with Sunday

We started off the day with wonderful church.  I was able to see a couple friends there.  The ward is translated into English by the missionaries.  They it in the back with a microphone and everyone who needs English has headphones.  It is great! 

After church we went shopping at the best maker, wararot.  It is where the thai people shop, so no white people in site.  That means really good prices.  We walked around for a couple hours.  I might be coming home sooner then planned ith they way I am shopping. 

Next it was an adventure to go buy some Silver for my grandma.  I bought some for her last time I was here, and she wanted more.  They only problem is I couldn't find the shop.  After driving around the same dang four books for 30 min we finally found it.  Just our luck it was closed!  I guess we just have to come back. 

Lunch was next.  It had been a whole ten min since we ate last so of course we needed to eat.  Here was the sign outside where we ate.  Anyone need a home expert?

We ate delicious food.  I don't think there is such thing as bad food here. Me and Weston living life!

After lunch we went to a really cool place.  It was a umbrella factory.  They not only make them here they paint them.  They are all hand painted and they are amazing.  

My mom having a jolly good time. 

Here is one of the artists.  Not only do they paint umbrellas they will paint on anything you want.  I had them paint me and Ladd a shirt.  This man is painting ladds tiger.  

Here is the finished products.   All done in about 15 min.  

After the factory it was off to my host brothers in laws house (I hope that makes sense).  His father in law is an artist.  But we also met the grandfather,  he might be the cutet old man ever.  He is making a broom. 

To finh off the day we went to a traditionl thai show.  The show includes tradition northern Thai food (which FYI is way better than my other food in thailand) and dancing.  You sit on the floor and eat all ou want. 

Those stellar things you see in the picture are fresh fried bananas.  

The show showed traditional hill tribes.  These outfits are their traditional dress.  When I first taught here I had students from every single one of these tribes.

My new best friend Margo.  Long story short we met at the airport in Portland and have spent many a hours together.  She seeks Thai!!!!

My mom attempting to dance.  Notice the hands of the Thais and my moms hands.  One is more graceful then the other!  

Me and Weston cheezing it up.

These are hand made out of paper.

Time for a killer workout. 

This is what we look like after a really long day.