Secure blogging here I come!

Hi Everybody that I love!
So, I know I haven't logged in and posted for a long, long, time. My cousins (Rach & Alyson) scared me silly at a book group we had a few months ago about the world of blogging. I haven't gotten on to blog or browse other friends blogs since then. I know call me what you will:) I do find myself missing the blogging scene and feeling a little out of the loop and would like to join that entertaining loop again. If I still have friends who check my site, and who would like to hear all of our families exciting news...believe me I have so much new stuff to share...please leave me your address and name so I can invite you into my more secure blogging world. I really want to keep in touch with old and new friends and I find that this is the best way for me to do it.
So comment away!

As Many of you already know I am Helping to plan the 8th Annual 4th Street Triathlon and would love your participation and/or support! The triathlon will benefit the 4th Street Clinic, a clinic that provides free primary health care to the homeless in Salt Lake. 100% of the money earned goes directly to the clinic or toward the cost of putting on the event. The more people involved the better!

For those of you who are nervous about doing a triathlon, don't be! This is a great triathlon to be your first. It is a "sprint" style, which means the distances of the swim, bike, and run are shorter (see below for details). If a whole triathlon just isn't your thing, there are other options as well. You can put a team together so that one person does each section, or you can simply run/walk in the 5K race. The atmosphere is very welcoming and fun-loving, and all are welcome and wanted! However, if you would rather not tackle this awesome physical challenge, your financial support is also encouraged. To register and/or donate please visit http://4thstreettri.blogspot.com.

THE DETAILS:

Race Name 4th Street Clinic Triathlon and 5k

Race Date April 26, 2008

Description of Events:
- Individual Triathlon (300 yard swim, 8 mile MOUNTAIN bike, 5K run)- $35
- Team Triathlon (teams of 2-3 people, same course & distances as individual triathlon) $50/ team
- 5K Run/Walk (strollers permitted) $20

Time:

- 7:00am Check-in and Day-of Registration
- 9:00am Individual and Team Triathlon start
- 10:30am 5K Run/Walk start

Location:

• U of U Campus, Salt Lake City, UT
  
• HPER complex (adjacent to the Huntsman Center)
  

Prizes:

• All participants will receive a T-shirt, Goodie Bag, and will be eligible for raffle prizes. Male and female overall and age group awards will be given (see website for details)
  

Why:

The 4^th Street Clinic is an essential part of our community as it provides free healthcare to those who cannot afford medical treatment. This clinic depends on volunteers, as well as financial support from benefit events such as this triathlon. All proceeds from this event are donated to the 4^th Street Clinic. (to find out more about the clinic visit www.fourthstreetclinic.org)

For More Info and to register: 4thstreettri.blogspot.com

Make sure you say you were referred by and MS2 on the registration form!

Thank you for your time and interest in this great community event! Happy training!

Sincerely,

Steve

Don't think you can do a whole Sprint triathlon (300 yard swim or 6 laps, 8 mile MOUNTAIN bike, 5K run)? Do it as a team.

Can't find anyone to be on your team? Run or walk the 5K

Busy on April 26^th? Donate directly to the 4^th Street clinic online @ www.fourthstreetclinic.org

Ode to DI

I spent Wednesday night with my Sister-in-law in Provo. Her husband, my brother, is at a conference out of town; my husband, Steve, is studying for pulmonary block finals. Lisa and I thought we'd keep each other company. We spent the night watching Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey on Masterpiece theatre(seriously entertaining-I really liked the casting for the heroine and her counterpart). The next morning we thought we'd end girls night with a trip to DI (YES!) to go treasure hunting. I love DI'ing with friends. We arrived a few minutes before they opened and were entertained by our fellow shoppers. I am glad that I had my camera on me.
10 minutes early: Parking lot is fairly full with lots of people sitting in their cars.
Not waiting for DI to open...surely!?!?!!!
5 minutes early: People get out of their cars and head for the doors. White car with trunk open (to collect loot as quickly as possible) is asked to please move from the fire lane in front of the store.
Seriously!?!?!!!
10:00 am: People rush the store.

We laughed so hard and walked in to find two employees standing guard by the entrance. We asked them if this was a typical morning. They told us that it was and that professional ebayers come early looking for treasures. WOW!
Don't think for a minute that I couldn't compete with those professional ebayers. I live for the competition. Look at the treasures I found at the Provo DI for $8 even. WAHOO!!! Why can't all stores price their merchandise so that your total comes up even? Hooray DI! I found the most delightful family room chairs this last week while going with my mom.
They were orange.
New Years Resolution: Learn to reupholster.

It's Been a Long Time

I know that it has been a few weeks. Life has been busy. Read on for a brief overview! Christmas Vacation was...too good to be true. Almost the entire family came home for the holiday. We had the annual blind taste testing contest at my parents house (hot chocolate this year). Believe it or not Stephens came in first with Nestle in second. I know...we were surprised. All I have to say is way to represent, Stephens, our local phenomenon!

I am now officially 26. I don't really feel that much older...Yeah! Steve gave me my favorite present of all time, another date planned by the infamous "Stephano Andre Welishi". Whoever this dude is...he is really good. Steve has only ever hired him twice since we've been married but, I wish we could afford to have him plan our weekly dates. :)

My entire family has been home for the last week to attend my Grandpa's funeral. He passed away last week at my mom's house. I love him. He was a true blue sheepherder who had neat memories to share and always did fun things for us kids . He lived through the depression and world war 2.

Steve is back in school. Nephrology testing is this Friday. I am prepping myself to test out on my Kickboxing and Spinning Certifications.

The highlight of today...I am finally making a new post (there has been a little something whispering in my ear for the last few weeks about the promise I made to myself in November to more consistently post). I am excited to soon visit all your blogs too. I can't wait to see what you've been up to!

And I bought my first tube of lipstick since High School on clearance today at Smith's Marketplace. "Rose Hush". I want to be the person to come up with names for lipstick, and hair die colors. All I can say is..."Come home soon sweetie!"

Everybody fasten their seat belts, breath in through the nose and out through the mouth, and don't close your eyes...we are approaching test week! Steve has tests and papers due at the end of the week and then we have 2 blissful weeks of no school!!! I seriously can't wait to see more of his face. At what other time in life will he ever have 2 solid weeks off for a holiday...I LOVE SCHOOL! However not all aspects of school are glamorous...test weeks can be grueling. Steve finds himself so consumed in studying that things sometimes must take the back burner. Like his hair for instance. Last test week he just couldn't take the hour out of his schedule to get his hair cut.
This picture was going on 3 months of growth. This is the before the hair cut mug shot. His neck hair had started to come alive and bark.
We cut his hair the same day his tests were over. The difference is Scary, I know.

I think hygiene declines overall at the University during test week. Daily showers turn into a quick rinse off, shaving becomes non-existent, and granola bars are consumed throughout the entire day. La...the life of students! One more week, one more week, one more week...

One Year and Counting!

Happy Birthday Lillian! Lily celebrated 1 on November 3rd. We had a small welcome to one year party at home with just Lily, Steve, and I. That weekend she ate cake 3 nights in a row. Friday at the Hill's for her Birthday, Saturday with us, and Sunday with the Welsh's. Everybody wanted to see her stuff her face...and of course she was willing to please!!!

She was born last year at 8 lb 5 oz and was 21 inches long. She is now 19 lb 9 oz, and is 28.8 inches long.

She is growing up so quickly and gets funner and funner. She has 2 teeth right now and just this last weekend started to stand on her own. She's not walking yet but she will let go of everything and just balance on her feet. When she does let go to balance she immediately looks at our faces to see if we're really going to cheer or not. She's so cute. She's got the bug and wants us to hold her hands and help her walk around the apartment all day long. She makes my heart beat. I am so glad she is healthy, strong, and mine!!!

My Little Lady...Bug

Here are a few Halloween pictures of my little lady. We had some family pictures taken with somebody else's camera where we were all dressed up (our cameras batteries ran out of juice right in time), but who knows if we'll actually get a copy of them. Steve was an 80's vampire and I was a witch. After all that time I spent thinking of creative costumes for ouselves...we ended up raiding Steve's parents costume bin at the last minute. They had some pretty wild stuff. We dressed Lily as a silky lady-bug for Halloween (she loved the silky part).Lily had a really good time on Halloween. I think her favorite part of the night was being with her cousins and grandparents. She wore this costume several times during the week at different events and after each event I kept noticing that the pom-poms on the end of the antennae were looking shabbier and shabbier. It wasn't until Halloween night that I found her chewing on the ends of the antennae. I caught her in the act a few moments too late because she'd already gnawed off one of the pom-poms. Thank Heavens it was still in her mouth and not in her tummy.