Spartans

So when I say that I have things to catch up on I am serious! SO here goes.

The Spartan Race.

Since about February, my good friend Matt has been obsessed with the idea of doing a Spartan Race. The Spartan is a race that can be anywhere from 3-15 miles long, with 10+ obstacles during the race. It's nuts!

Finally in July the time for the Spartan had arrived. Matt assembled a team of 15+ people who all decided to join in the Spartan fun. For the record, I was not part of this team, I was on the cheerleading team for this event. The team consisted of people in our group of friends new and old. Three of the boys on the team came from each coast for this little friendship reunion which I loved. We all spent the weekend with Matt's family and stayed up later they most should have for running this race the next day but ooooh well.

After everyone went to bed Laurel, Cara, and I stayed up late to make signs for the runners which are not pictured. The following morning, after a breakfast for champions, we headed out for the race and were out of the house by 7:30 am. Probably shouldn't have made all those signs because we were feeling it.

We finally got to the location in Midvale, UT and took in all the Spartaness. This place was crazy and filled with plenty of attractive men walking around without their shirts on so don't worry about that, energy, and the "Spartan Spirit". We took one big group picture, wrote some numbers on our team, and off they went.

Aside from running 8+ miles these were the obstacles that they had to finish and if they could not they had to do burpees. Here are the obstacles from what I gathered:

1. jump over a wall, then run under a net rope

2. over a wall, under a wall, through a wall, then repeated again

3. shoot a gun

4. climb a net rope thing

5. over a 6. foot wall, then 8 foot wall, then a 10 foot wall

6. balance boards

7. balance on logs as you try to get across

8. cinder block carry

9. rope climb

10. carry a tire

11. rubrics cube

12. monkey bars

13. javelin throw

14. some weird wall slicked down with soap that you had to climb and slide down the other side 15. mud crawl under bared wire

16. fire jump

17. mud pit swim

Like I said, I just was just a cheerleader so I had fun watching them do all of these things.

So here is my photo documentation of this event.

All of the runners

Everyone that went! Runners and cheer squad

Matt and I. This is what I did all day long. Wrote the runners numbers wherever they wanted it. I seriously loved this job.

Matt, Me, Kris, and Tyler just bonding and prepping for the race. I was the motivator as well I'd like to think.

There were only three girls that ran but these are all of the girls that went

Emma = Runner Laurel and I = biggest fans Emma really is just sooo hardcore.

Some of the boys right before the race. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that all of the boys cut their hair in mohawks and tried to grow beards for this event. Super proud.

After the event started we had time to get to know/take picture of the Spartans that hit you with the q-tip things as you run across that finish line. They loved us.

Some obstacles

Team Horkleys

Proud finishers. Just displaying their manliness

After the race the runners and spectators got to eat, dance, listen to music, get free drinks, and sign the contestant walls. Once again, soo proud.

Finally after a long, hot, sweaty, tough, and fun day full of memories it was time to go home. But, not before taking this beauty.

Everything said and done this was seriously one of the highlights of the summer.

We had so much fun this weekend and all were participants in some way. Such a fun memory. This was one of the first times I got to cheer on Emma in something like this and I enjoyed being on the side but only for a bit.

We've decided, well I've decided and made Adam decided too, that we are doing a Spartan in November 19 in Malibu, CA. Some of the people pictured will come and participate too. It will be a fun event and I seriously can't wait.

I was glad I had the chance to go to this and cheer on all of my friends. They really are just Spartan Strong.

Things to come...

These are the things that I have to blog about in the coming days.

Maybe they will be seperate posts maybe they won't.

The Spartan Race

The end of school

Girls Camp 2011

Crazy day in LA

Welcome home Elder Nelson

Family Vacation

Maybe a few other things but I haven't got there yet.

Flash Dance Moment

This one is for you Mom.
So Monday night was our ward Closing Social (not really our closing since we're doing mud football tonight and a dessert Linger Longer on Sunday but whatever). After the social we all came home and underloaded my car from the last closing social I will be in charge of.
As I was unloading my car I found a water jug from the weekend that Emma and I failed to finish. All of my roommates plus a few on lookers (8+ people) where standing on my balcony when I looked at Emma and said
"what if I just pour this over my head all sexy like?"
Well, everyone started yelling for me to do it.

My own personal Flash Dance Moment.
One thing led to another and this happened.
I thought no one had a camera but I can't get that lucky.

I don't really know why I did it or what possessed me to but it happened.
Not sexy at all really.
Funny more than anything. Eventually, about 30% of the girls in our ward came out and wondered what was going on so they as well go to share in the magic as well. This picture makes me a little embarrassed but apparently not embarrassed enough not to post it. Reason it's for you Mom? "All I ever wanted was a Princess Alexis, but I got you." Me in response: "I know Mom, one day we'll get there!" Looks like we've still got a long way to go. Somethings just feel right.

Fourth of July

When I was younger, the only thing that I looked forward to on the Fourth of July was not having to do anything, being in my swim suit all day, and making toilet paper roll bombs with my Uncle Randy and his friends.

As I get older I have soon found out that I love this Holiday more than any other (except for Thanksgiving, they'll pretty much tied). For the past few years I have gone to Bear Lake, Idaho with some close friends and their family. This year we had a lot of options for July 4th but we decided to just stay in Idaho and have a relaxing weekend in town.

To my surprise it was the greatest! We started the weekend on Friday night with outdoor volleyball, dinner, movie, and finished with a fire outside, all filled with lots and lots of friends. Saturday: After sleeping in for hours, we got a big group of people together and went to Rigby lake. We were there all day it felt like. We were actually only there for six hours, but it was the hottest sun ever to me though so it felt like all day! I even got a little burnt which never happens! I was just glad to have some color and was so happy to be with lots of friends.

We BBQ'd all day and I love that about this weekend. For lunch we had hot dogs. This is Kris. I like to give nicknames and I called him the Weiny King for the day. Probably not the most appropriate but it still makes me laugh a little bit.

We also enjoyed sides like watermelon. I felt like there was an endless supply of that. So delicious.While waiting for our lunch to settle we went and did some Karaoke. I thought that it would just be funny to say I was going to do it and then trick all of my friends into doing it, but no dice. I was the first one. I sang with my friend Leif. A nice little duet called "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem and Rihanna. Maybe you've heard of it. We took a video but it embarrasses me sooo much that I can't post it. Here is Leif and I after our little number just so pleased with our performance. We then got to watch almost everyone in our group sing themselves. Emma and Jenny finished off the group by singing "Summer Lovin" from Grease which was a great way for us to end. Emma had some great dance moves and that is a video that I feel is worth posting when I find it.
We then went back to the water and played for a few more hours. A couple of us even decided to swim across the lake and we did great! Finally we decided to go home. On our way home though we spotted this beauty. Emma started freaking out before I saw it and then finally yelled "AMERICA" which meant that we had to take a picture next to it because it really was just so American.
We then later went to the Duck Pond here in Rexburg but did not stay long because five mins into our duck feeding we were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes and I couldn't handle it so I ran away and didn't take any pictures except for Emma kissing her Diet Pepsi because she said it was a necessity for this weekend.
That night we just relaxed some more had another small fire and enjoyed some nice weather. Really nothing too exciting. Sunday was the exact same thing.
Finally on Monday we got to celebrate! We started our day out by playing 3 hours worth of Sand Volleyball. I wanted to die about 20 mins into playing because my shoulders were burnt and I have found out that I am the biggest baby when I'm burnt. Oh well. the whole time that we played the Rexburg parade was going on and we got to see that and listen to the great music that it provided. After playing we all went home and washed up for the day. We had a huge BBQ. The only thing we listened to while there? American pride music. Eventually they fixed the flag and it looked ten times better. It's still hanging now actually.
We then all jumped into cars and went down to Idaho Falls. This is where they have the biggest firework show this side of the Mississippi. That could totally be false but that's just what I heard. We spent the time waiting for the show to start by drawing with sidewalk chalk, playing volleyball, catch, eating, and just whatever felt right.
We did some walking around and stopped at some of the crazy street vender's. It really was such a nice afternoon because the weather. We sat right on the water and directly across from the temple and directly on the falls which made for a great view.
So the falls were accidentally cut out but you get the gist.
As the night went on everyone got more and more excited for the show to start.
This was taken right before fireworks. I just like it because Adam and his ghost like complexion make me look the tannest ever! We had to get one in. So so sooo excited for the fireworks to start. Finally the fireworks started and it was so happy. Not really the best but I loved the show so much that I only took this at the very beginning of the show. Just imagine lots and lots of firework that filled up the entire sky. The show went on for 30-45 mins and was absolutely spectacular. It felt like the were exploding right over you and shook your body every time. It was amazing! After the Idaho Falls show we went to a member of our bishoprics home who invited us to come over and watch him blow off some of his illegal fireworks, he's such a good example. Illegal or not they were great! I loved them so much. My favorite part would have to be when Brother Smith "accidentally" tossed them our way and they went off 5 feet away from us. He yelled "oh crap", I hid under a blanket and all the boys who surrounded me ran away without even checking on me. Epic fail on their part. I kept shouting at the boy I was there with that if we were dating we'd be completely broken up. Little dramatic I know but he left me. Finally our night and extremely long day was over, or so we thought. We got back on the road to Rexburg. Traffic was awful and our 30 mins drive ended up being 1 1/2 hours long! My car and a few others took a detour and I was the only one who got home in under two hours because I super ILEGALLY cut through a shoulder and a construction zone. Thanks to the three boys in my car giving me courage to break the law! And, sorry that the cop caught you and not me Emma. Somethings just happen.

All and all it was a great day! I love the Fourth of July and was so glad I could spend it with close friends and everything was so nice!

Family of Bloggers

So, I've been blogging off and on since 2007.
By off and on I mean that I didn't blog for two years and now have this strange desire to do it.
Well, little miss Ashlynn just took her first job ever in Colorado Springs as a nanny.
She decided to blog and that made me happy.
Then I was talking to my mother Renee and I said
"hey Mom, you should start blogging! All of your girls are out of the house and you don't get the chance to talk to everyone of us everyday so you should blog about all the crazy things that happen there!"
Renee is sometimes technologically challenged, in my opinion, and I never thought she would but a weeks later guess who got her own blog? That's right. Renee!
Ashlynn and Mom have both started blogging and are both already better at keeping theirs up than I am at keeping mine up.
Point: check out their blogs! I really enjoy reading them both and most people who read my blog know them and would enjoy their stories because they blog just like they talk.

Ashlynn's blog is

http://asher-basher.blogspot.com/

& Renee's blog is

http://reneeandx.blogspot.com/

I hope that you can all enjoy their blogs as much as I do.

They both only have two right now but they are both great.

Mom's most recent one about Adam and his ear makes me laugh every time!

Spirit Week Relay & Some Family. Lots of Adam.

Topics of this blog:

50 Lap-Relay

Mom, Dad, Adam, & Bradon coming into town to pick up Sophia (Dad's pick up).

Every couple of semester BYU-Idaho does a spirit week 50-lap relay. For the past few years our ward has always competed. This semester we went the them of NERDS and ran with it. This is our group at the beginning of the race. I think we dressed sooo appropriately for the event. We alternated boy, girl, boy, girl and just had a blast with this event. I personally enjoyed the chance to wear whatever just felt right. You can't see it great here but my outfit = nerdy nerdy nerdy. I had a sign on my back that said kick me. Emma, as always, dressed the part but looked great and pulled it off beautifully. She ran the first lap of our race and was such a good competitor, which normally she is not. Way to go champ! Anywoo! There are over 100 wards here at BYU-Idaho and our ward took 2ND place! I'll admit, in the past I've tried to cheat to win (believe it or not) and we've always ended in like 15th or higher. This time though I was sooo distracted by everything going on, and our lack of boys, that I did not have time to tell everyone to cheat and we finished 2ND! I could not have been happier. I still don't really believe that cheaters never prosper but I can see how playing fair helps.
These are just a few (of the MILLION pictures taken) of my highlights.
Some of the girls all ready to run and in their NERD bests.
Danny Morgan. Good runner. Better Nerd. Best friend! Danny made me laugh the whole time that he ran his lap because he was so happy the entire time and ran with this wig on. He always just does it right. Kevin (Ronald McDonald) and Jake (another sick wig) running together. Jake helped Kevin run because he was wearing this Ronald head and could barely see. As Kevin ran around the track people went nuts! They loved this sooo much and Kevin was definitely a highlight of the night. They even announced "give it up for Ronald McDonald (insert people going crazy) on the PA system.
Remember how I mentioned earlier that we had a lack of boys? Well, enter my two heroes! Adam (brother) and Bradon Ray (Bobby Rays real brother, and my favorite adopted little tall brother). We were short just a few boys and Adam and Bradon sooo gladly stepped up to the plate. Which means that we peer pressured them into running for us.
They got into town (after their 20 hour drive to Idaho which is another blog in and of itself), unloaded the car, checked into their hotel room, changed into their clothes, and came to the relay. Such troopers!!!
They each ran one lap and did soo good. Adam did not so much love the fact that he had to run 1/4 of a mile with his asthma and the Idaho altitude but he did however love the fact that he could flirt with all of the college girls, which he did. Bradon, not so concerned with flirting, but more concerned about beating Bobby's time which he did. He was like a Gazelle.
We took this picture after they were all done running. I was soo happy that they could participate and had so much fun sharing a college experience with my brother(s). I hope to one day be as tan as Adam. One day Adam, one day.
After the boys ran we headed out early to get dinner because everyone was STARVING apparently and just couldn't wait. Literally Mom and Emma were whining because they both thought they were going to die of fatigue. Not the case guys. So, we ended up missing this final picture but here is the team at the end of the relay. Good job guys!
Like I've briefly mentioned some of my family was in town this weekend to pick up my Dad's truck that I've had up at school since August. She's had some problems so I've had two cars in Rexburg since April. I was sooo excited to have everyone here with me and Emma. My Dad and brothers have not been here for two years and I just LOVED having them here so much.

Me, Emma, Bobby and his fiance Kelsie all went to dinner with my family. We had a blast! I forget sometimes, because I've been away from home so long, how much I love spending time with them. My parents truly are two of my best friends and Adam is one of those too and has the funniest personality of anyone I know. We ate and then just sat at the restaurant and talked for another hour. The place was pretty much closing down around us but we just kept talking.

By the time we left the restaurant it was around 11 and Mom & Dad were pretty tired after their road trip so we went back to my complex and split up. Renee & X went back to the hotel. Bradon Adam, Emma, and I went to Sammy's for pie shakes.

After that Bradon went with Bobby, while Emma, Adam, and I went and hung out with my friends.

But while driving and taking some wrong turns we found this beauty. Which of course Adam HAD to plank on. With a car full of girls we thought we were going to get arrested but Adam didn't care and climbed it anyways.I'll admit, I was a little nervous about how Adam was going to feel around people all years older than him and his best friend not being with him, but he was great! I was the proudest older sister. He mingled, made friends, made good impressions, told jokes, and was completely confident. We hung out for hours and had a blast! We even got into a wrestling match with each other which made me feel right at home with him there. I love that as me and my siblings all get older we stop acting like siblings and more like friends.

Adam and Bradon both stayed the night at Bobby's (once again me stressing out and Adam not caring). The boys (my boys, like the boys I hang out with always) have this thing where they go to Ramirez, a local taco place that is the latest thing open in Rexburg, after curfew on Friday nights to chat and have some delicious food. Stephani Ray my roommate and Adam have this special bond after Steph came and stayed a week with my family. When Adam first got into town Steph was on a date which made Adam not so happy with her. When we got home that night Steph said that she HAD to see Adam right away and did not care where he was. So, Steph and I got in the car and went to Ramirez with the boys. That is the picture below.Once again, proud sister when I saw Adam mixing and mingling with all of the boys I hang out with daily. He's so confident and it wigs me out!

The next morning Emma and I went to my parents hotel room and enjoyed some nice time with them. We just lounged around for a while and talked about our lives and how things were changing in all of our lives. Emma needed Mom time and I need some Dad time. So, we both got exactly what we needed.
We then went out for a bite to eat, at the great Sandwich shop Millhollow and then went and met up with my friends who were playing a great game of sand volleyball. Adam once again stepped up and played like a champ with all the people there. He's quite the athlete I guess.

After the game everyone got to meet my parents. It was so great to have all of my friends meet them and for my parents to finally put names with faces of people I've been friends with for years now. Having my real family and my Idaho family meet was the greatest thing. I think both parties really enjoyed it. Mom also fell in love with some of the boys that I spend my time with and to this day can't get over why I'm not in love with all of them.

Because of the traumatic experiences it was getting up here my parents wanted to get on the road asap. We went back to my complex and loaded the truck onto the trailer. Most of the boys who played and even some who couldn't make it came to help my Dad load the truck. It was the nicest thing! Both my parents were super impressed and I was super grateful. I sure couldn't do it.

It was then time for my parents to leave but not before my family and friends all talked for another hour in the scorching sun and my roommates and I shuffled with Adam.

Finally it really was time for them to leave. We said our quick byes and love yous and off they went. Not before we planked Sophia though.

She was a good truck and taught me lots. Life lessons have been learned in this Ford truck. I'm really not being sarcastic either. Thank you Sophia for being so great to me. You are missed daily. I know that there are no picture of my parents being here but they were. I promise.

It was great having them here no matter how brief it was. I could not have needed it more and could not have been more grateful to play with Adam. He's such a stud. Thank Mom & Dad for the world wind visit!

You may also be asking yourself "what is shuffling?" Well here it is. Please follow the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8

We throw food for fun

A few weeks ago while brainstorming ideas for ward activities Jacob looked at me and said "I think we should just do a massive Food Fight!" I laughed and then realized he was completely serious and that this was something that we were doing because Jacob was excited and loved the idea. We set the date and the activity was under way.

Activities provided flour, refried beans, and crushed tomatoes. Everyone who participated was asked to bring whatever food they would like to throw in the food fight.

I got off work at 5. Grabbed my roommates and headed to the dollar store where we got ammo for the fight. Things we purchased = Italian dressing, powdered sugar, pudding, syrup, oil, pie filling and some other weird weird things. We then went to the activity. This is our before picture. Those water guns. Full of oil. We're creative I think.

Admittedly I was very worried about how people would feel about this activity but we had a warm reception to the idea. My roommates and I met up with our ward and then led the troops outside of town so that we could have our food fight and hopefully not get arrested or a citation.
This may or may not come as a surprise but in the past year I have had cops and many many security guards show up to many of the activities because of what we were doing. This time we were cautious. And by cautious I mean smart and went outside of town-ish.
Anyways, once we got to the park we split into teams. Made alliances. And took a team before pic.Then the festivities began. I ran around the outside and snuck up on the opposite team from behind. It's all about strategy really. Flour went everywhere! It was like a cloud of flour. As thing progressed they just got grosser and grosser (made up word). Obvious by the mayo in the air this was serious.Julia really really like the ketchup bottle and rightfully. I mean look at her. She was so gross and I felt a wee bit bad for her. Things began to slow down and we then had time to admire each other.This is Emily. I love this girl. (I even went on a road trip with her which means a lot) She was soo grossed out by this and you can completely see that in this picture. I think that I would be grossed out too if you could make a full Italian dinner with everything that she was wearing food wise.

These are some of the people after the actual fight. You can't say that you're not impressed.

This was our after the battle roommate picture minus Emma because she immediately ran to the water to rinse off. We all felt gross and you can see why. This picture just makes me happy.

After we all rinsed off we took this picture. Reasons I love it? One thing. Kris Burgess. Creeping into this picture shirtless.Reasons I wouldn't do it again? I think I still have powdered sugar and refried beans in my ears and hair and my clothes will forever smell like corn gross gross. I am glad that we did this. I've always wanted to do a huge food fight for some reason. I loved every second of it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.