Never say, "NEVER!"

This past Saturday my dad and I ran the Salt Lake City Half Marathon. It was a blast! My dad did so awesome! He shaved 2 minutes off his half marathon time from last September finishing in 2:04. AWESOME!! I was actually (for once) pleased with my run as well. I felt fantastic! People might think I am nuts but I thoroughly enjoyed myself the whole time! The weather was perfect and the route didn't let you get bored. It had a lot of turns, ups and downs, and of course...the killer hill up State Street! I finished in 1:46.11with some gas left in the tank!

I always said a half marathon was long enough for me. A full marathon is for CRAZY people!! Well, I must be turning into an insane person because I think I may have to eat my words. I finished Salt Lake feeling like there is more I can do...like 13.1 isn't enough anymore (like I said CRAZY people!)I think I have a marathon itch. I think I might want to give it a try. Maybe just ONE? Just to say I did it...to prove to myself I can?

In my mind there is always someone better, faster, stronger, thinner, so I doubt myself a lot. I constantly push harder, try to do more, to be stronger. So, here we are...my mind is telling me "You cannot run 26.2 miles...what are you thinking? What about your knees, you're going to be too tired...blah blah blah" My heart is telling me, "No problem! Do it!" It's kind of exciting to think I could push myself to do it. I think I just might...

When I was 16 someone important to me gave me this quote; "Work without a goal is drudgery, a goal without work is daydreaming". So, I guess I'll quit "daydreaming" about it and actually work towards it. Hey, if the Biggest Loser people can run a marathon so can I right? I have Lori's voice in my head (she's an AWESOME instructor at the gym who routinely kicks my butt) saying, "You are stronger than you think." So, I guess I'll give it a try (note apprehension). I don't know when yet but I think I will definately do it. 'Gulp' I don't think I know what I am getting myself into....

Merry Christmas!

It's two weeks before Christmas and I have procrastinated. Here's your Christmas Card!



Megan wanted nothing to do with Santa. She sat (as you can see) as far from him as possible. The elves had to bribe her with a candy cane to even get her to sit there alone! The boys, on the other hand, loved it. Especially Ethan. It was so sweet to hear Ethan talk to Santa in his quiet little voice. It made Ethan's day!

We had a wonderful year. John still loves his job. He recently had knee surgery to repair his patellar tendon and so is on "light duty" for a couple of months. I think it might drive him crazy! He is itching to get back to full duty.

I am still staying home with my crazy schedule/kid's schedule and doing transcription for a dermatology office. I ran my very first 5K, 10K, and half marathon this past year. I loved it so much I just might do a few of those again this coming year!

Jaxon is 9 and in the 4th grade. I can't believe he'll be 10 in March! He is so smart. It's weird that you can kind of have an adult conversation with him and he understands! He played soccer this year and really liked it. We'll have to get him in a league next year because the "Y" just didn't cut it. He also wants to play football. That worries me because he's not the biggest 9-year-old out there. I don't think I'd be able to watch!

Dallen is 7 and in the 1st grade. Dallen amazes me. He is so independent. He can figure things out, fix things, and is generally responsible. One thing for sure, if you lose something just ask Dallen. He definitely knows where it is...it's because he took it and added to his "keep pile" in his room! Silly kid stashes anything of interest!

Ethan is 5 and in Pre-K. He is certainly his own person. He prefers to play on his own, away from his dramatic brothers. He is generally quiet until you get him one on one then, you can't get him to stop talking. He loves to run errands with me or dad. I think it's because he has alone time then. I love that he still loves to cuddle!

Megan is 2 already! She is definitely a girl! If you ask her what she wants for Christmas she will say, "Princess". She loves to dress up in her tutus (in fact, she has been known to wear two at a time and nothing else...)She loves babies, hair bows, dresses, and says everything is "cute".

We are so blessed and we are very grateful especially this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Love, The Havenars

Christmas Lights

I told my husband to hang the Christmas lights...I guess when you have a smart ass for a husband this is what I get ;)

OUCH!

I know...it's been a year...I'll get better at this blog thing!

Megan is 2 now and is running around at the same pace as her brothers...FULL SPEED AHEAD! Last night she and Jaxon were chasing eachother. She ran full force into Dallen's room, tripped over his leg, and hit the metal frame of Dallen's bed with her head! OUCH!!

I carried her downstairs to get ice on it. Ethan was sitting at the kitchen table and saw the big knot growing on Megan's head. He immediately looked concerned and said, "Is Megan's brain going to explode?" I told him, "Of course not." and continued to tend to Megan. After a few minutes John and I realized Ethan was just sitting at the kitchen table with his hands on his face looking quite distraught. We asked him what was wrong and he just burst into tears, shaking his head, saying "It's bothering me!" Poor little man was so sad and scared that Megan was hurt. We had to bring him over to show him that she was OK. I think that is so sweet he would feel that concern for his little sister...I wondered since he torments her daily! He really does love her :)

Megan Girl Turns 1!

How did this happen? I think I just had her yesterday! How did Megan turn 1 already? I thought it would make me seriously sad but I am really enjoying every stage she reaches! Her personality is really coming out and she is hilarious! She has been playing with the boy's toys (cars, snakes, transformers, etc.)and I thought it was time to get her "girly" stuff! She knew just what to do a with a doll. We walked through the doll aisle at Toys R Us and she about jumped out of my arms! She thought it was great! She had the biggest smile and immediately started loving on those babies! She does have her fiesty side too. She was sitting with me the other night and Dallen came and snuggled up next to us. She didn't like how close Dallen was so she just back handed him and pushed him out of the way. I guess they learn early! ha! I am hoping she will will walk soon but she has no interest. There are just too many people in the house willing to carry her! If all else fails she just walks on her knees! It's actually kind of cute! Happy Birthday, Megan!

Ethan Turns 4!

How is it possible that my baby boy turned 4? I still remember vividly the day he was born. It really does seem like yesterday. Even though he is getting so big and independent, I love that he still wants to cuddle and have his mom or dad by his side. He is such a sweet little boy! He started preschool this fall. He LOVES it! When I pick him up he is usually on the playground acting like some kind of animal chasing girls around the slide! I think that regardless of how old he gets, it will always be hard to say 'no' to those big brown eyes! Happy Birthday Ethan! We love you!

"Bring Your Wife To Work Day"

Every couple of years John's work has "SWAT Wife DAY". I was a little hesitant as I did not know what to expect. After all, they are all just a bunch of goof balls (I do mean that in a very kind and loving way)and I wasn't sure what they were going to have us to :)

We went to the NSCA to work out with the team and their trainers....oh, never mind...the wives worked out while the men watched...hee hee. We worked out on a TRX or they call it T-REX. It is cables that uses your body weight. We did a TON of exercises on it that works every part of your core, arms, legs, EVERYTHING you can imagine (2 days later I had "core" I never thought I had before! I LOVED it! I want one for my basement :)

Afterward we went to the shooting range. First we shot the handgun. That was okay, I've shot it before. Then we got to shoot the MP-5 (I think that's what it is called...see picture below). Shooting that was OK until they had us go full auto. I was really timid about doing that! I don't know why, maybe it was all the warnings John was giving me like "stay in control and don't shoot up to the roof" or "Keep leaning way forward, you'll know when your empty because you will start to fall forward and have to catch yourself" I was envisioning me face planting or something really embarrassing! I eventually did empty the gun. It was actually quite fun...I don't think I'll be as nervous if they ever do it again!

So, while we didn't actually get to go on any operations with them (not sure if I would really want to) we got to hang out with our husbands and play around a little bit. We did take a picture of all the wives with the stinky vests on (40 lbs) and the guns. I'll have to get a copy of that as well. I'm sure it's pretty funny!