Flashback Friday - sisters

Sherry and I

Don't we look cute in our matching outfits playing so nicely together? I think we had that dresser until about 10 years ago.

Are you a runner?

Last weekend I got to hang with 3 runners....real runners you know the kind that qualify for the Boston Marathon. Every time people would ask if we were running it was "yes - they are I'm just here for support". And I felt like a total dork cause I wasn't a real runner. I mean I haven't even run a marathon let alone Boston.



So....I started to think about what a runner is. I thought about it when I was running in Central Park with the 3 real runners, I thought about it when I was running my 5K race, I thought about it while I was cheering my heart out at the marathon.

Why is it that I think I'm not a runner? I run 3 days a week. I have run 214 miles so far in 2009 (yes I am slightly OCD and track this number). I have running hats, coats, shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, socks, shoes, watch and gloves. I have a goal to run a 5K race every month (6 down....6 to go). But I haven't run a marathon. Is this why I'm not a runner? I'm not very fast. Could that be the reason? I probably just compare myself too much.

But you know what? I realized that I AM a runner. And the reason why is that

I LOVE RUNNING!

Boston 5K

My race for April was the Boston 5K. It was the first year they have done a 5K with the marathon and it was INCREDIBLE!!! I'm pretty sure this was the biggest race I've been in with 4000 runners and the energy was amazing.

Before the race Sherry asked me what my strategy for the race was going to be. I told her I didn't have one ... just to do it. So she told me for the first mile to pump my arms, second mile lift my knees and the third mile to get on my toes and pass people. It cracked me up. Then during the race I looked down at my Garmin during the second mile and I actually laughed just a little out loud and then lifted my knees and ran a little faster.

I felt great during the race and kept my pace fast. The altitude felt good - sea level is my friend. My time was 24:12 (7:42 min/mile average) - my fastest 5K since high school. WOOT! And it was so great to have Sherry cheering me on at the finish.

The Boston Marathon

What an incredible experience I had being part of something so big. There are about 27,000 runners together and way more spectators and the energy was insane.

Sherry and Jennifer (her running partner) left the hotel around 6:00 with a fellow runner who was staying at our hotel. Sherry went up to him in the lobby and asked him how he was getting to the race and he said he was driving and the next thing you know the girls have a ride to the race and he even took us to the subway station that day so we could head to church. The funny part is that he thought we were picking up on him. LOL.

The race starts at 10:00 am so I left the hotel around 8:00 so I could get situated by the finish line. I thought I would be bored so I brought my book but it was so exciting the whole time. As soon as the race started they were showing it up on a jumbo tron right by our seats. I was tracking the girls via the web on my phone so I knew the whole time where they were, what their pace was and when to expect them to come in.

It was like being at the Olympics when the elite athletes starting coming in. The women's race was the closest race they have ever had at the Boston Marathon.

At the 30K mark Sherry and Jennifer weren't together anymore. Sherry was a few minutes behind then the site kept crashing so I couldn't see where she was for the 35K and 40K mark. Then I heard the announcer say Jennifer's name over the loud speaker so I knew she was in right at 3:30. She got her PR and did exactly what she wanted - it was awesome. Then I started to worry about where Sherry was. I saw her come in a few minutes later (3:38) and I could tell she wasn't feeling great. But I also knew it would be almost impossible to find her in the sea of runners all covered in the same foil blanket. The announcer said Team Hoyt would be coming in soon and I really wanted to see them cross the finish line so I was hanging out for a few more minutes and then I just knew I had to go find Sherry so I left and started walking down to the buses where the runners picked up their stuff. Somehow I found Sherry getting dressed and she came over to where I was and climbed over the barricade and wanted something warm to drink because she was still so cold. So we went into Starbucks and I bought 2 hot chocolates. Then on our way out her legs got completely stiff and she started to pass out so I grabbed a guy next to us and had him carry her back to the main area to get a medic. We got her in a wheelchair and took her to the Medical Tent. I wasn't supposed to be in there, but it was obvious I wasn't letting her out of my sight so they let me go in with her. The medical volunteers were amazing. They took great care of her. They said she was dehydrated and gave her a full IV bag before they would let her out. While she had the drip in she told me to go find Jennifer. Which stressed me out because I really didn't want to leave her. Jennifer didn't have a phone but she borrowed one and got a hold of her husband who called Sherry's phone and got a hold of me and he told me where she was and I told him where we were. Then we crossed paths so she wasn't where I went to find her but we finally met up back at the medical tent. Where they wouldn't let me back in. Finally Sherry came out and looked 100 times better so we headed back to the hotel. It was such an emotional day but all was well.

I am completely amazed at what incredible athletes were there. I am so inspired by what they did. I have always looked up to Sherry and now I do even more. It was so fun to be there with her and so fun to get to know her friends and to get to be a part of the Boston Marathon.

Dick Hoyt


Sherry and Jennifer with their numbers

The volunteers getting all the post race stuff ready

The crowd on Boylston St.

After the race

On our way home from the race.
Sherry came out of the medical tent with her foil warming blanket tied around her head to keep the body heat in. It was hilarious so we had to take a picture.

While the Kat's Away....

The kids will play.

Here are a few things that happened in my 5 day absence:

• Sophie had her first kids meal (3 chicken stars and lots of fries from Carl's Jr.) and with no teeth
• Claire graduated to sleeping in her big girl panties. No more diapers to bed.
• My bed was made when I got home. I'm pretty sure that was the only time it was made while I was gone.
• The kids had breakfast for dinner no less than 3 times and LOVED it.
• The snow melted ... yippee.
• Todd spoke in church. I am so sad I missed it, I've only heard him speak once in our 9 1/2 years of marriage.

Everything turned out great. I'm so grateful to have an amazing husband who was willing to do it all for a few days so I could have such a fun trip. Never once was I worried that anything would go wrong in my absence.

The best part about being home is how much everyone missed me and how many extra hugs and kisses I keep getting!

Me Time

When I was a flight attendant I used to collect these....I'm not sure why and I bet since I'm such a pack rat I still have them in a box in our basement. I thought this one was great and sums up my trip. I miss Todd and the kids already and I've been gone less than 24 hours - but I know I'll be so refreshed when I get back home to them.

My flight was crazy. I sat next to this very big man who was next to some equal his size so he leaned over towards me the entire flight and hogged the arm rest. Oh well. My fancy neck pillow popped right after we got in the air - so I had to fold it up and use it just so I wouldn't actually be resting on the plastic window cover. My seat back was broken and didn't go back and there was an entire high school band on the flight (they clapped, they talked, they giggled). There was also a gal on there with a little 6 month old who kept doing the tired cry. She didn't bother me at all I would have much rather sat by her than the big man. Maybe I could have helped her or at least let her know I understood. As much as I miss Sophie right now I know she's better off at home where she can sleep, play and eat like normal.

P.S. I think I might bring this one home for use on the bathroom door :)

C-ya

My bags are packed and I'm ready to go.

I'm off to spend a week with my sister and 2 of her friends. No Todd and no kids (as fun as it sounds I sure am going to miss them). Sherry is running the Boston Marathon next Monday with her 2 friends and I am off to support them. We're going to New York first then to Boston. I'm running the Inaugural Boston 5K (nothing compared to their marathon...but let's be honest I could never qualify for that race). I'm sure I'll have lots to post when I get back and if you're super interested I'll be posting to facebook while I'm there.

c-ya later!

Pick a side...

Weight loss is made of a combination of what we eat and exercise. And I know the best programs combine both. But I also know a lot of people who prefer one over the other.

People like me who say "I can totally eat these Oreo's if I just run 5 more miles today". In my 20's I could eat anything I wanted as long as I exercised. Sadly this isn't the case now that I'm older but still I would rather exercise more so that I can eat what I want. I honestly love exercising and I love eating too!

Then are people who would rather not eat so they don't have to exercise. I know plenty of people in this camp.

So what camp are you in?

P.S. if you don't know how to leave a comment all you need to do is click the word "comment" right below this post....it's so easy

Spring Giveaway

I'm a bloggin' fool today! But I had to post this cause I love Cally's stuff. You should totally go check it out.

Claire Bear

Claire always says her name is Claire Bear...that's even what they write on her pictures in Nursery. This morning she was sitting on the couch watching Dora and I was doing the dishes and this is the conversation we had:

Claire: Mama, my name is Claire Ann Johnson
Me: Yes it is .... who told you that?
Claire: Hims whispered in my ear mama
Me: Who did?
Claire: Lukey
Me: Did you know my name is Kathy Ann Johnson?
Claire: No it's not it's Kathy Schultz

Good Parenting Moment

These seem to be few and far between so it needs to be documented.

Step 1: Give the kids a list of paid chores and let them do their part. We also gave them an end goal to keep working towards.



Step 2: Once money is earned teach them to count and how to pay tithing.



Step 3: Buy a turtle with your hard earned cash.

[insert picture here...it's coming I swear]

Sophie - 9 months

I can't believe Sophie is 9 months old. She thinks she's such a big kid.

She sits at the table with us now (due to the fact that she climbs out of the highchair which her brothers and sister never did) and doesn't like it when I spoon feed her - it's all self-feeding now.

She loves to get into everything

Anytime she's quiet I know she's in the laundry room playing in Shadow's water. This time she decided to go for a swim instead of just splashing.

Things I still need to capture on film:

• She loves to push the bar stool all around the kitchen (when I pulled out the camera she reached for it and pulled the stool over onto herself)
• She can climb up the slide in the play room now (as long as she has bare feet)
• She took her first unassisted step and loves to let go of whatever she's holding to try out her balance
• When you pick her up there are 2 things she does all the time. One is "bicycle legs" if you hold her away from you or if you hold her towards you she tucks her head and cuddles up (awwwww)
  
• She growls instead of saying "ma ma ma" or "ba ba ba"
  

She is by far the most active baby we've had and is into everything. But she is so dang sweet that it doesn't matter what she gets into. I love her sweet smile. I love her blue eyes and hope they stay blue. I love that she is a tiny little pip squeak but can still hold her own with 3 older siblings. She completely melts my heart!!!

Never enough time

These books have been sitting by my bed since last summer. I haven't read a book since last July!!! I am going to try to find more time for reading...I miss it.

Happy Easter

We had 9:00 am church and Todd has meetings before church so I'm on my own every Sunday morning. Getting the kids ready and to church on time is always a challenge...but on Easter it was double trouble. There was no time for breakfast so chocolate bunnies had to suffice on the way to church and I tried to get pictures before church but without one parent positioning kids and the other snapping photos this is all I got:

Of course after church they refused to stay dressed in their outfits and were already dirty and wrinkled. We went to my parents house for dinner and egg hunting in the afternoon. So we had on our play clothes and post-nap hair going on.....nice.

Even with post nap hair, lunch and dinner Sophie is still so dang cute

Claire pulled out her hair-do the minute we got home

Tayson wore his favorite shirt - a sleeveless basketball jersey

Luke had on jeans with holes in the knees and Tayson's t-shirt

The kids completely destroyed the eggs. They were cracked everywhere and the little girls were seen snacking on pieces of them while jumping on the trampoline with them. Hopefully it will rain soon and clean up all the egg remains.

Happy Easter! I hope everyone had as much fun as we did. It was a beautiful day out and I loved hearing about my Savior and the Atonement and thinking about how wonderful it is to have a testimony of Jesus Christ.

Flashback Friday - Timmy

Sunday is Timmy's birthday so I thought I would dedicate today's flashback to him. I was in junior high when he was born and got to be in the room when he was born. I remember after he was born my dad had to work in the morning so he switched me beds and I slept in the room with my mom and Timmy. He was the sweetest baby ever. He would only take naps if someone laid down next to him (I guess that's what happens when you're #9). So when we would put him down for his naps we would lay there until he fell asleep and then put this big huge teddy bear down next to him so he wouldn't know we were gone. I remember so many times that my dad would go to put him down for naps and then Timmy would come out and my dad would take a nap.

When he was little if you asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up he would say a clown or hair dresser or artist - then he would tell you that he was going to live with my parents forever. (Lucky for me living with me is just as good as staying with them.) He loved playing with our hair and brushing it. I would always put my hair over the back of the couch when I was watching TV and he would sit there and brush it for so long. It was the best. He still loves hair and always fixes Claire's hair.

This is my all time favorite story about Timmy. When he was 2 or 3 he was taking a bath in the upstairs bathroom and I was walking up the stairs and saw our cat perched on the top step sitting very still. Then Timmy got out of the bath and was running naked into his room to get dressed and that cat pounced. She put one claw in each butt cheek and ran with her back legs along with him. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen!
P.S. he deserved what he got....he was so mean to that cat :)

Timmy and I in 1989
This was my bedroom in the basement. I love that I had wood panel walls (if you could see the top you would see that the ceiling wasn't finished. I loved my bedding I got it from my Grandma Giboney one year that she came to visit since I gave up my room for a week.

Timmy, Mark and I - 1992
This is when I was living back at home when I was a flight attendant.

Happy Birthday Timmy! I love you so much!!!

General Conference

I loved conference this past weekend. It really hit me and I felt the spirit so strong. What was your favorite part?

Flashback Friday - Sledding

I am tired of the snow so I'm posting a time when I liked the snow. This is at our house in St. Louis I think the first winter we lived there. We moved from Arizona to California then to Missouri so this was the first time I lived somewhere with snow. I'm in the sweet blue coat with the pink pants, red hat and green gloves. Behind me you can see the top of Danny's head in his spiderman hat (it was a full face one .... sweet) and David is on the sled getting ready for the ride of his life I'm sure.

That metal sled had to be as old as my parents but man did it go fast. My parents would tie a rope with one end on the back of the car and the other on the sled then take us around the neighborhood. I'm pretty sure it was dangerous and most of us hit at least one mailbox a year but man did we love it.

A few other things I love about this picture are the truck and camper in the background. We had some good times going on vacation in that camper. Riding up top, looking out the window for miles and miles of highway. Taking naps when we got bored, being able to eat, go to the bathroom and play games all while driving. And the best part is that my parents were both in the cab and didn't have to listen to us. Some days I wish I had that option when driving with my kids. :)

They look so sweet

Don't be deceived. This morning they woke up early and were playing computer (just like every other day) and when it was time to get ready I went in there and told them to turn it off and go make their beds and get dressed for school. As usual they both complained but then they always go after a few minutes.

But today....Luke looked right at me and said "blah blah blah". I had to stop myself from laughing and take him to time out and ban him from computer the rest of the morning.
Where did he learn that?

Then today after school Tayson asked Meggan for a pencil so he could do a "magic trick" and went downstairs. She was a little suspicious of what he was doing so she went down to see what he was doing and he was changing one of his frowny faces to a smiley face. (He has to bring home a daily status of his behavior from school)
Why does he lie to us?

Say what you want...

But I'm sick of wearing boots....it's spring for me no matter the weather. I mean come on it's April!

I did it

Now I wait until May 11th to see if I'm in...