tough mudder

Colton and his buddy Logan had been anxiously awaiting this day for months.

The day they would show the world their man strength by participating in a marathon / obstacle course called Tough Mudder benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project.

The video that sold them on it... 

This twelve mile course included military training obstacles like jumping into a pool of icy cold water, then crawling through mud while trying not to be shocked by random wires hanging down, or crawling under barbed wire, or how about running through some fire ... sounds like fun right?

They thought so. 

So being the supportive wives we are, Janelle and I went along to support.

Within MINUTES of them starting their marathon the heavens opened up and BUCKETS of water came pouring out of the sky. I guess we were so focused on being supportive (and cute) we forgot to wear our rain jackets/ pants / closed toe shoes or bring an umbrella.....

 

I would have been drier jumping into a swimming pool.

So needless to say, we didn't last long on the sidelines. We hiked our mile back to the car, drove to the nearest target, sloshed through the aisles until we found some dry clothes, and then headed back to the race to wait in the car until  they finished.

Due to the rain...the course that was only supposed to be 3 grueling hours, turned into 5.

They did successfully complete it and were surprisingly talking about doing another one next year!

We promised to be better prepared in our apparel for next year :)

bikes and barges

The month of September was kicked off with something I had been wanting to do all summer...bike rides! 

We started the Labor Day weekend riding along the C&O Canal.... (17+ Miles)

I loved the locks - overgrown with the most electric green plants...

I look like an old lady riding a bike at the gym in this one....attractive.

And then we were soo hooked - we woke up early on Labor Day and rode the Capital Crescent trail from Bethesda to Georgetown - and back.... (20+ miles)

Still working on our photo poses.....

My bum was bruised and numb for the next week but well worth the trip!

michael and tessa tie the knot!

I will forever call him "my little brother" but it is official - he is all grown up. In August Michael married the adorable Tessa Farnsworth.

Colton and I like to joke ( with 100% seriousness) that we probably wont have the smartest kids in the family... BUT we are pulling for the cutest.  Well that was until we met Michael's Tessa. Her and Michael may take the cake on both categories. But we are thrilled to have her in the family!


 

We were told to wear cream... and out of all the cream shirts out there Tara and I showed up in the same top! Sister think alike :)

 

 

  We were excited to see our Park City cousins that we don't get to see too often.....

    

    After the temple sealing we headed over to a near by park with HUGE trees and had a lovely picnic.

 

The reception was up in the canyon at Log Haven....gorgeous! 

Colton was one of the handsome groomsmen ...

Missing Alex......

 

 Before leaving Utah we HAD to check out the Park City Olympic Park and Colton and Robert just HAD to ride the Bobslead. There was nooooooooooooooooooooo way I was going to ride that thing....but I was happy to watch!

and lastly we snuck in some time to see some of our favorites!! Devin and Whitney....

           

our (lazy) fourth of july

This year for the 4th of July we were feeling a little lazy and didn't want to fight the crowds to get downtown. 

So instead, we joined our friends in Arlington ...and had our own party on the roof top of their Apartment building. 

We couldn't have asked for a better (chill) 4th of July night!

feels so good to be back

Anyone that knows me well - knows my love for Newport Beach, CA. I had been living their for 3 years before I moved out east. I grew up going their to visit my Grandparents. And now it has become the vacation place for all of our family to reconnect. 

On my way to Cali this year I stopped by AZ to see some best friends and spend some time with my favorite little people.

 

Noelle (4yrs old) and I spent a day at the mall. I swear the girl is my mini me. No one has the stamina that I have to shop that long... especially a 4 year old. But she didn't complain once....and wanted to keep shopping and shopping. 

After some good time in AZ - it was time to go to this little piece of heaven on earth... 

We ate good food, relaxed, played poolside, took a day trip to Catalina Island, cruised around on golf carts, ate frozen bananas, and Colton melted  4 yr old Noelle's little heart when he not only bought her some color changing nail polish but also painted her fingers and toes.  ( Later on that night Noelle told her mom in a dreamy voice .... "Mommy... I think I want to marry uncle Colton one day.. i think I love him <sigh> " ). I think he has won the favorite uncle award once again. And I am almost positive one day when we have kids he will forever be the "favorite parent"...but I am okay with that :)

 

And then for some reason....the guys thought it would be fun to wear Hawaiian shirts. I am still not sure why. And honestly I find NOTHING attractive about them. But of course we had to get a photo to remember. 

 

And of course spent some time with Grandma Dorothy ....one of my best friends..

However.....it wouldn't have been a complete trip to Cali without a visit with the Calls! We went to one of my favorite places to eat back in the LA college days... C & O Trattoria!! All you can eat garlic knots....enough said.