You Wasatch my back & I'll Wasatch yours

Corporate Chaos, At least 10 virgins, Knights of Knee, Dirty underwear gang, Ragnarlys, In Memory of our friend Ed Casmer, who couldn't give up ding dongs, and was too lazy to run this year, Our wives think we're at work, Too many men chasing two few women, Notso Macho Libre, Rapid Thigh Movement, Dude, where's my Van?...

These are just SOME of the 576 teams that ran the Wasatch Back this past weekend. It was SO much fun! HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is up for a challenge. We're already planning our next year relay!

I have to say, it was the hardest thing I've ever done and at the same time, the MOST FUN thing I've ever done! The fun made it SO fun and the challenge (and completing it) made me proud of myself and my team! It was a total bonding TEAM event and I can't wait for next year! Oh, you want me to stop talking and just post pictures? Here you go...

Team number 101 - Team FEARless! I keep EVERY race number from every race I've ran in and this one is one of my very most prized race numbers. Brady was only ONE of FOUR young runners on our team ages 11, 12, 15, 17 - We only know of one other team that had ONE 12 year old runner. There were many teams who were very amazed that we had that many young runners and didn't even know that young participants were even allowed. I am SO proud of my Niece and Nephews! They had some really hard legs to run and did AWESOME! I can't wait to run it with them again next year! This was a tough leg for our youngest runner, Spencer (white shirt), and Brady made us stop the car so he could get out and run with Spencer. It was cute. Spencer ended up running with Brady for a bit on one of his hard legs too!
Pictured above from left to right: Sarah, Tara, Ethan, Julie Gary...my hot husband! Note the glow necklace and the headband with Fearless written in sharpie! Ahhh, what a funny guy.
The iPod cord kept getting all tangled in the reflective vest. It was a mess after each runner...here I am trying to get everything all good for Gary's run as fast as I can. I WISH I had my camera with me on this leg. It was SO pretty! It was 4:00am and my absolute FAVORITE run of the three (don't enlarge this picture, ok?)! Full moon, running right by a reservoir, up in the mountains, early early morning, beautiful view (what I could see of it anyhow) and just awesome. I was in my element on this one! Sleep? Uh, a few hours between legs were spent here TRYING to sleep on these wrestling mats. There really wasn't too much time before we had to be up again to run. I don't really know if I slept or not, but it was nice to just lay down either way. They also offered their showers and a hot breakfast as well!Family Members waiting by an exchange for Ethan to come in and Julie to take off. The start of our last 6 legs of the race!More family... L to R: Spencer (the face), Sarah, Alexa, and Todd (with the video camera)Here is Brady again, he ran a really tough hill. The first 3.8 miles that lead up to Gary's 4 mile (same hill). It was brutal! There were FOUR cars of family driving up with him on this hill. Each taking turns getting out, handing him water, walking/running with him. Here he is standing there with his dad stretching, Brian with ONE MILE LEFT! (we made him stop and pose for this picture)
And then it was Gary's turn for the rest of the hill. KILLER! I can't even tell you how steep this 4 mile hill was that Gary ran. He was an ANIMAL. I don't even think this picture does the hill justice because it was STEEP!Here is Grandma and some of the kids waiting on the side of the road (HILL) for Gary to run by...cheering him on.The happy couple after Gary's run! Needless to say, I sure was proud of Gary after his run! Gary's run here brought up just about to the top of the mountain, he handed off to Spencer who brought us back down about 7 miles and then Spencer handed off to me and I brought us into Park City, so at this point I have one more run to go.

We sure came to love these Honey Buckets! I won't even tell you how many trips we made to the Honey Bucket, although, it would be something fun to keep track of for next year! :)

While I was running the last leg of the race, the rest of the team took a few shots. L to R: Alexa, Liz, Brian, Todd, Spencer, Brad, Sarah, and GaryL to R: Brad, Ethan, Gary, & BrianThis is Spencer handing off to me for the last leg! Did I tell you that it was 95 degrees?

For the last 100 yards of my leg, the team ran with me! It was really fun to complete the whole relay together as a team. Yeah, I look exactly how I felt!

Here is the whole team! Can't wait for next year. I'm hoping to get a few videos as well, when I do, I'll post some fun highlights on here! If any of you have any THOUGHTS of doing something like this...TOTALLY suggest you do! It was so much fun!

Let the countdown begin

TWO more sleeps until I get to pick this babe up at the air port! I've missed him SO SO much!

And THREE more sleeps until I get to go run THIS:

Since some of you have asked, let me explain a little bit more about what this is...as you can see, it's a 180.5 mile relay run from Logan, UT to Park City, UT. There are 12 people on my team consisting of: husband, brothers in-law (3), sisters in-law (3), niece (1), nephews (3), and me. We will each run THREE different times at varying times throughout the day (or night). We've estimated that I will be running somewhere around 4:30pm on Friday, 2:00AM on Saturday, and then Noon on Saturday again. Here is is...the breakdown of each of my legs...you asked for it!

Oh, did I mention that this one is PURE uphill? Yeah, like 800 feet of elevation gain through my run. Should be quite enjoyable. I hear the view is really great (if I can try to not think about the hill and look at the view)This one is pretty flat and also really pretty (so I've heard)

And this one is the run to the finish line! So that will be lots of fun! I'll be sure to post pictures and tell you all about how it REALLY was! We've also got a family reunion (Gary's family) early part of next week, so stay tuned for the pictures of that too! And then, the perma-move to Albuquerque.

This is going to make something SUPER cute!

Look what I just bought?! A whole bunch of adorable fabric! Stay tuned for the cute picture of whatever it is I make (it's already in the works but I'll save the surprise for when it's complete)

Am I a good wife?

Gary is in New Mexico working and I'm in Utah working. It's been two weeks and we've got another week to go. I miss him so much! To get over the guilt of leaving him for that long (had to finish up my own job stuff before I made the perma-move) I decided to make Gary a bunch of one serving freezer dinners. The man is set. He pulls one out of the freezer before bed to let it thaw. Puts it in the fridge when he leaves for work early the next morning...and then pops it in the oven when he gets home. Let's not even talk about all the little balls of frozen cookie dough also...he's been eating about six of those a DAY! He's already had to make himself a new batch of dough. I'm so glad he can eat healthy nutritious snacks while he's on his own! :)

Her parents are in Mexico!

But I don't know who's luckier, them or me. This cute girl has been having sleepovers with me every night!

Are you ready for it?

...my Mother got escorted out of my Sister's High School Graduation. Yup, she got KICKED out!

You want details don't you? Well, here they are.

Last Thursday, Channy Babe graduated (WAY TO GO GIRL! We're proud of you!). Ever since the first Salmon graduated (yours truly) it's been a tradition to lay on the air horn when a relation's name is called during Graduation. Heck Yes, we're proud and we want EVERYONE to know it! Just before Jordan graduated two years ago, the school sent a letter home to all the families of graduates asking that air horns and other 'annoying' noise making items not be brought or used at Graduation. Well, there were a few who disregarded that letter and went ahead and let it all out when their graduate was called. Unfortunately we were NOT one of them. When Jordan's name was called...SILENCE...well, except for the clapping and a little bit of cheering which could, no doubt, NOT be heard by Jordan as he walked across the stage. Were we proud? Darn right we were. Did he know it? Maybe in his heart...but not in his EARS! He later told my Mom that he was a tiny bit sad that we didn't bring the blow horn anyhow. And she felt a tiny bit bad. Plus, it made for a really boring graduation!

Fast forward to four days ago (two years after Jordan). My mom still bears the burden of guilt from that Jordan/air horn incident (or lack there-of) and so, what did we do this year? We brought the air horn. Mind you, there was NOT a letter sent home this year. You know that saying: 'Ignorance is bliss.' Apparently, there was a sign somewhere asking that no air horns, beach balls, and all that fun stuff not be used. WE DIDN'T SEE IT!

Brandon volunteered to be the 'blower of horn' at Grad this year. As we waited for all the last names starting with A-R we heard quite a few air horns, pots and pans, (random, I know) and other noise making tools so naturally, we didn't think it would be a big deal.

When Chandra's name was called, Brandon put the horn high above his head, in the air and just LET LOOSE with the horn! It probably didn't help that we were sitting on the VERY back row, so his hand (with horn in tow) was very obvious to the security guard who came PLOWING up the stairs and without saying a word to Brandon just reached over from behind him and tried to grab the air horn out of his hands. This was after he dropped his radio which almost fell off the bleachers because he was so excited for some action!

Well, if anyone knows Brandon, he wasn't having that. This little (student) security guy went about this the WRONG way. Brandon wouldn't let go and give him the horn. So, this guy calls the REAL security. You'd have thought these guys were running up the stairs to claim the jack pot, they got there so fast! Words were exchanged and basically it came down to this "Either you give us the air horn, or you leave WITH the air horn." Brandon just sat there. Neither of those options sounded good to him. Might I mention that pretty much NO ONE watched the rest of the graduating students being called, they all had their heads turned and were watching OUR little ordeal!

Just about now, my Mom returns to our little drama fest. She'd been down at the bottom catching cute pictures of Chan as she walked by. After being 'briefed' on the situation she decides to take matters into her own hands, takes the air horn and be excorted out. Here she is below with the two security officers escorting her out of the building (this was taken from the top of the bleachers where we were sitting). It's worth noting that as she walked down the bleacher stairs, TONS of high school kids in the audience were all cheering loud for her. Lincoln's phone was texting off the hook (is that really a term?) from kids telling him that his Mom is SO cool and asking if we need any 'back-up.' It was quite the experience!

Apparently, there is more to the story. #1) As they were walking out, one of the guys asked my Mom how much that air horn costs. She didn't know and searched for a price tag. Not finding one, she guessed about $5-10 to which he responded "Was it really worth if for THAT?" My mom's response? "Heck YES!" #2) So, they actually wanted to escort her to her CAR to make sure she really left. Problem was, we got dropped off by my Dad. She had NO clue where the car was...HA! So, she walked out the door and around the building back in on the other side!

Stay tuned for Lincoln's Graduation! We're already making some SERIOUS plans!