I'm singing in the rain....make that running.

This past week and a half have been lonely running days for me. My best friend and running partner is having some IT band issues (boo boo's around the knee area) and is out of commission for a short time until she can get healed up. I must say that I don't really like to run alone. Sometimes it's nice to have the time to think about life, but mostly it is just plain BORING. I have been dragging my poor husband along for runs as long as 6 miles, and he really has been awesome about it considering he usually runs around 3. Today I had to run alone because he and I ran last night and we ran harder than usual...for him especially, because he hasn't been running that long. Tonight when I ran, it was pouring like you wouldn't believe. I thought before I started that it would be miserable. It wasn't though. In fact it wasn't all that cold out (63 degree's) and it felt so refreshing. It made running the hills much easier. But you should have seen me. I was drenched from head to toe. I could barely see just from all the water (mixed with sweat)dripping down my face. I totally should have taken a picture.

When I first started running, my friend and I decided if we were going to do this, and really stick to it, we had to take on any, and all weather conditions because we new if we weren't consistent, we would never last. I read a quote today that I really appreciated, especially in light of my run tonight. It goes like this... “Runner’s don’t get rained out, they get rained on.” And I have, many times. In fact rain to me, is much more inviting then this past winters ice, freezing temps, and snow galore. I love knowing that I can do it, even though it absolutely and positively is not easy, and I do get very discouraged at times...I know I can do it, if it's really what I want...and it is.

Scoot your tush over please...

We had a fabulous Memorial Day Holiday spent with my family. Gosh, I love going to see them. But, this is what our car looks like whenever, and wherever we go. Does anyone realize how full this car is? You have to see a picture to realize how overly packed it is. Imagine then, packing for 8 people? It can be 3 days, or it can be 7. Either way, it's going to take at least 2 large suitcases that you have to sit on in order to get zipped, and several small bags. That doesn't include camera cases, mini DVD players, movies, diaper bags pack 'n' play, etc. The list goes on. Oh, and of course my good old box fan. If you who know me well, you know that I cannot sleep without the luscious noise of my loud fan. I blame my mom for this. She made sure we had one while we slept from the day we entered the world. Anyway, without a doubt we have a lot of crap to bring wherever we go, and somehow or another, I still love to travel with my family. Someone shoot me please.

Home...

This is a picture of our home that we have hanging in our playroom. It was left behind by the previous owners, and I am so glad because I just love it. I was holding Scarlett the other day when she looked over at it and said in high pitched voice of excitment..."It's home!!" She has seen this hanging a million times but it was like she figured out for the 1st time, that it was home. I have to say...this home that we live in to me really is home. The chipping paint, the creaky floors, the porches that are ancient and so desperately needing replaced do not matter to me, because for some reason, it really is home. I can walk out on my porch (when it's sunny that is) and feel in my heart that there is no place I would rather be. I think I was meant to be some farmers wife. I guess Chris could be the farmer? Nah, there is no time for that unfortunately. But I want my kids to feed chickens! I want to see them dirty from head to toe. I want them to run around with bare feet! I want them to own bb guns and be a little on the red neck side...(okay...very little) but a little nonetheless. I feel very blessed to live in a place that regardless of age, means everything to this little (big) family. Without Heavenly Father's help, we wouldn't be here. We would still be stuck in a neighborhhod jammed packed up against other neighbors. Neighbors are nice, but I gotta tell ya.... for me...privacy, and room is much nicer. I feel so blessed to call this old place home.

Friends...and a heck of a lot of laughter

I'm pretty sure that having friends in my life makes me a happier person. Yes, I am happy being a mom and a wife too, and cherish like you wouldn't believe my date nights with just Chris and I, but being able to be with other people and have fun and create friendships, to me is awesome. I was watching BYU last night and there was an interview with John Grey, Author of Men Are From Mars Women Are From Venus and he talked about that when women get together, the hormone oxytocin is released and it makes women actually feel happier. I believe it. The husbands are fun to hang out with too though. But without other girls in my life I think I would go a little cray cray.

Have you heard the rumor?

Well guess what? It is actually real...I am officially the mother of a teenager. How did this happen you ask? Somebody please tell me.

The day Halee bug was born, I refused to let the nurses keep her in the nurses station so I could sleep. She would remain with me no matter what they said. I may have barely been 20, but nobody was going to talk me into having my baby away from me for more than 5 minutes.

I swear to you, that it seems like a minute ago Halee was just starting Kindergarten. I remember when she started I couldn't bear the thought of having her away at school for full day kindergarten, so I asked the teacher if I could pick her up at lunch and bring her home after. The teacher said okay, but after a few days Halee spread her wings and flew. She asked to stay at school during lunch. I tried!

When Halee hit 8 and it was time to get baptized I now had 4 children and with that comes (at least for me) a more relaxed parenting style. I didn't follow her around anymore and instead of trying to keep her close, I started doing what I knew was important, and pushing her to do hard things.

When Grace was born, Halee was almost 11. I didn't like that she was getting older, but, she was still young, and had many, many more years to grow older. That was two years ago.

The part that really hits home, or should I say a sensitive spot, is that it has been 8 years since she started Kindergarten, and like I said it seems like a minute ago. Guess how many years until she leaves the nest? 5. Yep, you saw it right...5 more measly years. What a beautiful, wonderful child she is to me. Her testimony of the gospel is so real and so big. She may be young, but she is a wise soul. She is learning that she really is capable of doing hard things< I feel truly blessed that even though life is so short and it really does fly by, that I have been chosen to raise these beautiful people to adulthood. My advice to mommies of really little ones? The same advice all the sweet old ladies gave me...enjoy it. It really does go by so fast it's almost like you're watching a movie and you want to hit the pause button, but you can't. I am still learning...and I still have many special little people to raise...I am so thankful for that. Now when they all leave the nest?? Hmmmm...I may be taking up meds by then. Not sure how this little heart will handle it.

Happy 13th my sweet Halee....



Halee had just turned 7 here.

I grew up...

Today Grace and I were talking about when she was born. She loves to hear all about this kind of stuff. I told her how cute she was, and that she cried a lot for the first several hours because she was in a big, new world, and that I cuddled her to make her feel safe. She then pipes in and says "and then do you know what happened? I grew up." I smiled and laughed a little at her cuteness, but also felt a little sting, because she is right. In a few short years she will grow up. For now though, she is little, and I will love every minute of it.

Family Portraits...

Chris was outside this morning taking the trash out when he found a drawing of our family. One of the kids had drawn us on a piece of wood. He came into me and said "I have a problem. Do I really look like that?" I assured him that he doesn't at all resemble stick figures, and that his beard is much hotter in person, and he doesn't look 80 years old. We both got a great laugh. Thanks kids.

Hiding from Mama...

Yes, this would be the feet of my little Scarlett hiding. I am thinking she loves to torture me when she knows I am worried because I cannot find her. Luckily though, this hiding spot wasn't her most clever choice for being invisible.

Football With Papaw...

My parents were here the weekend, and we had such a great time. I absolutely love that my children have wonderful people in their lives. I need more than just myself to teach them and help them to understand important life things. It's great to have parents that love my children and have fun with them too!

The Tale Of A Butterfly

A social butterfly that is. Grace absolutely loves socializing. She is always begging me to have friend's over. Whenever her friends arrive they seems to transform into Princesses within minutes. I love to hear the "click, click, click" of their princess shoes running across my hardwood floors. If I could make this age last forever, I would do it in a hear beat.

Mother's Day

Over the weekend, Chris asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day. I told him that all I really wanted was for he and the kids to do all the cooking, and cleaning (even the dreaded laundry.)So after church, Chris made me go to my room and he made a delicious lunch. After lunch I laid down, but the only problem was, I wouldn't get back up. I realize I need to do this more on Sunday afternoons. The kids laid on my bed too and everyone just hung out. It was awesome.

Close to the end of the "mom lays around day, this was the look on my husbands face. Thank goodness this time only comes around once a year, and oops! I think it may become an annual tradition. but he took all the cooking/cleaning/etc. in stride and I told him it was the best Mother's Day ever. I love Mother's Day more than birthdays by far, because I get to celebrate being a mom. My children are best thing that ever, ever, EVER happened to me! Oh, and Chris too, of course.

Eugene women's half marathon 2010....

Eugene Women's half was definitely my hardest race, of all races. I started out too fast, and nearly burnt out by mile 6. The last 7 were completely miserable. That's what made me so determined to get faster and more adept at running and listening to my body and pushing it to it's limits, but also knowing when to slow her down. I still have a long way to go.

Smith Rock 2010

So, one thing I never did, which I am now doing, is I never put my official racing pics on here! This is my first half marathon that I did at Smith Rock. It was a warm July morning, where I was drenched with sweat and water (from pouring it on my head at every aid station.) This was my first race where I said to myself "you are truly an idiot for doing such a tiring, exhausting, thing that you're now stuck having to finish." But realizing in the end it was so worth it. This was my fist experience racing a race, and it holds a special little place in my heart.

Website pics from Eugene half marathon 2011

So these aren't exactly in order. Feeling good in this pic. I think taken around the halfway point.

Sooooo happy they got some shots of Tammy and I. Without her, the race would have been loooonnnnng and boring, and not to mention lonely. She's my running partner several days a week, so why not in the race??

If this isn't enough people to get you pumped up, I don't know what is.


Okay, so I like running, and this picture is the very last little bit of the race...I'm talking the last 10Th...but the lady beside me needs to share with me whatever it is she's taking to make her look and feel so euphoric.

Happy Birthday sweet little Grace...

Grace Elisabeth was born on May 1st. My May day baby. It was a sunny day and I went into the Midwife begging to be induced a few days early. The lady had pity on me, and agreed...I can very pushy if I'm truly desperate. Sometimes I wish I could tuck her right back into my tummy though, her and all of my babies. I miss having them so close, but am amazed to see each of them grow and blossom into beautiful, wonderful people that I just so happen to adore.

A few things I love about this girl of mine? She will cuddle all day long if you'll let her, and often times, that is just what this mama needs. She also has a funny sense of humor. She is a social butterfly that loves to spend time with friends and even her brothers and sisters. She is nurturing and loving and feels bad when she hurts others. She has a kind heart and loves Scarlett even when Scarlett is yanking on her hair (which happens all the time these days.) All those curls are just too pretty to leave alone I guess. I love you my Grace...You are and angel in our lives and a critical piece to the Chapman family puzzle! Happy Birthday! xoxoxoxoxo

The race is done!

Alrighty, so here's the update on the race. I have to say, it was my greatest half marathon experience so far. Not necessarily because of my time, but I felt an overwhelming appreciation for hard work, goals, payoff, support, friendship, you name it...I appreciated it. There were over 8000 runners running this race split between a full marathon, 26.2 miles, and the half 13.1 miles. My friend Tammy ran the whole kit and Kaboodle (which she rocked btw) and I did the half. We got to the race around 6:45 and had to use the restrooms right away with all our nervous jitters. We had to stand in line a good 12 minutes and were starting to freak out because we knew the race started t 7am. Thankfully we got there in time and plus the race started 10 minutes late. I had worried with all the people that it would be too crowded and we would be slowed way down, but that really wasn't the case at all. Tammy and I ran together knowing at mile 10 1/2 we would have to split and go our own ways. We started out running about a 9:30 for the 1st mile and then upped our pace to about 8:45 for a few and then around mile 5 we upped it again to between 8:15 and 8:30 for about 3 miles. We had driven the course the night before and knew that at mile 8 a good hill would be coming and would last about a mile. We knew we would have to slow down for that, and we did to about a 9. I don't know what got me up that hill, because I haven't done much hill training, but something did, and when we got to the top of it I felt so good inside to have made it up. I actually had music blaring through my ipod at mile 9ish when tears filled my eyes, and I started crying. I am not a crying person. I couldn't believe I was crying, especially while running, but I was! I was crying because I felt so happy that my mind was telling my body what to do for the 1st time, during a half marathon. For me it's usually the opposite, and my body starts giving up and hating the race. I had trained properly this time and it was paying off, and even though it wasn't fun, and it was work, I knew I was capable of doing it, and I knew my will to do it, would get me there. At mile 11 I did get somewhat discouraged because there were several rolling hills and by this point my legs were burning and I wanted to be done. I slowed down to about a 9 and that helped. At mile 12 I knew there was only one mile left so my spirits started to focus again and I picked it back up to about an 8:45. I could see the finish right around the corner and picked it up to around a 7:55 the very last little bit (we're talking a 10th of a mile.) Crossing the finish was exhilarating. It was at Hayward Stadium, and you finished right below the stands filled with tons of people cheering you on. It.felt.awesome. My finish time was 1:55:56, 8:51 average. One last thing and then I'll shut the heck up. One thing I love about running, is it is a self competitive sport. Yes, you are running with others, but you aren't competing against anyone but yourself...at least for me. I saw people of all ages doing this race. People as old as 60 who came in before me. People who walked the entire half marathon. People who literally collapsed, but were picked up by other runners who cared and understood. I felt appreciation for anyone who would walk even a mile of the race. I think everyone who did the race rocks and deserves a gold medal for giving it everything they had mentally and physically. A race I will never forget. Now, forgive all my pics, but I have to post for my memories. :)

Headed to Eugene, pumped, excited, scared and every other emotion you can think of.

Texting while driving. Just kidding dad! I'm sure this was while we were parked and I can bet it was me texting Chris to tell him and the kids that I love and miss them. Without my husbands support and encouragement I wouldn't be running.

Remember my post about peeing? Yep, still peeing the day before the race. In fact, we pulled over several times having to pee, and it's only 150 miles away! I felt like a little kid who couldn't hold it.

Arriving at the Expo to pick up our packets and look for any extra running gear we just happen upon. Oh, and to sample some yummy brownies too.


Right after we got our packets!

And of course we had to get our pasta overload at Olive Garden. That's the best part of pre race!

Soaking in the hot tub trying to prepare our bodies for the torture they will be going through shortly.

So, there's a story behind this. One of the worst runner fears (at least for me) is having to go to the restroom during a race. and by this I mean #2. This can alter your time dramatically. So, the night before Tammy and I kept trying to find ways to keep this from happening during our race. She finally yells with a question mark "Enema???" and I jumped right on that and said "YES!!!!!!" So, we jump in the car at 10pm (when we should already be asleep) and speed to Alberston's where we buy twin pack Fleet Enema's. Btw, if this is too graphic for you, just remember the last time you went #2, and then you'll remember that we all do it, so read on. With that said, we took pics of us buying them so we could remember this forever, and we looked over at the cash register right after this picture and two checkers are staring at us like we're a little strange. Needles to say, we checked out as quickly as possible took turns in the bathroom and guess what??? It didn't work. Hmmm....at least a lesson was learned and our abs got a great workout from laughing so hard.

Can you believe all the crap you have to bring just for a run?? I almost needed a purse to run with.

Getting ready for my tennis tournament...just kidding. I know that's what it might look like, but it's okay to wear cute clothes to run in, and I love shopping for new run clothes. :)

This is us waiting to get a shuttle to the race. The weather was calling for sun and 70 degrees, but at 6am, it was only about 36. I'm cold just remembering it.

Post race pic. And yes, you have my permission to laugh at my compression socks. But I gotta tell ya, they were worth it, and I do believe they helped every step of the way.

It's was awesome having our good friend Alexis come and support us. Her and I were able to hang out and watch all the runners come in and it wouldn't have been the same without having her there! Plus, when Tammy came in, her loud voice came in handy screaming "TAMMY!!" to the top of her lungs.

I know it looks like I am giving you the finger, but of course I would never do that. It's supposed to be a 1/2 since I didn't do a full marathon. I tried! Tammy and I passed a sign that said "Marathon" on our way down and vowed to stop back on our way back home, so we did.