Cold Toes!

I miss Utah winters!! I used to think that Utah was cold, but now I am experiencing a whole new kind of winter. Today the high temperature was -2 degrees. Luckily, I don't have to go outside very often. I prefer to stay indoors and drink hot chocolate. Last week, I had an experience that almost made me pack my bags and move to Arizona. I left work and walking outside to my car, when I got to my car it wouldn't start. This particular day was the coldest day in December since 1998. With the wind chill it was -30 degrees. Thank goodness for cell phones! I called my friend from work and he told me to stay by my car and he would send security to give me a jump. Fifteen minutes later....my toes and fingers were frozen. Security finally came and started my car, but I couldn't get warm. I had my heater on full blast and my butt warmers, but my toes were frozen. It was painful to push in the clutch with my foot. My toes felt like they were on fire. I have much more respect for the Pioneers and homeless people. The twenty minute ride home felt like an hour. By the time I finally arrived home, I was in tears!! Ryan was there to give me a big hug. He was surprised to see me crying and mumbling something about my toes and my dead battery. He helped me slowly warm up my toes and made me some hot chocolate. I thought that they might have to be amputated, but it looks like I can keep them. I do not know how the pioneers walked in the snow without heaters and butt warmers. Since that experience, I have learned a lot about winter preparation in Minnesota. I now wear boots and bring shoes to change into at work. I have better gloves, a new battery, flashlight, blankets, and hand warmers in my car. (Thanks Mom!)

THE WAVE

I have really been debating on whether or not to join a gym. During the summer and fall, Ryan and I were training for the Chicago marathon and I was running at least 4-5 days per week. Now the weather is cold and everything is frozen. I haven't been running since the temperature dipped below 40 degrees. I am a whimp when it comes to cold weather!! I took the month of October off and claimed I was recovering from the marathon. In November, I started to feel lazy so I checked out a few gyms in the area. There is one that is really close, but it is small and expensive. There is also a huge Lifetime Fitness downtown, but it is further away and there is no parking. Ryan mostly works out at school during lunch so I'm on my own. I started looking for alternative means of exercise. I was bored watching TV on a Saturday morning (when I should have been working-out!). I was flipping through channels and stumbled upon an infomercial for The Wave. I am not usually a sucker for TV specials, but this one caught my eye. After 30 minutes of instructions and inspiring life changing stories, I was sold! Plus they threw in an extra bonus and free express shipping if I was one of the first 500 callers!!! After I made the phone call to purchase The Wave, I had a few second thoughts. But it was worth a shot because I didn't have to leave my house to exercise and it was cheaper than joining a gym. It came with two work-out videos and a ten minute abs work-out. It is awesome! It took a couple of times to get the hang of it, but I was definitely sore the next day. The instructors move really fast. There is a sculpting video and one that is more cardio. Since this purchase, I have also bought hand weights and a couple of other home work-out videos. I love it! I am glad that I didn't join a gym. The wave is a good work-out and it is kind of fun too! Ryan made fun of me at first but I think he secretly wants to use it. I am not a spokesperson for The Wave, but I would definitely recommend it to a friend! http://www.thefirmwave.com/

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. After Thanksgiving has come and gone, it is time to put up the Christmas decorations. Now we can start listening to Christmas music. (I disagree with those who have the Christmas spirit before thanksgiving.) We have a Christmas tree, stockings on the mantle, and a wreath on the door. It is not much, but it brings the excitement of Christmas to our little apartment. We are counting down the days until we will be home for Christmas.

Sunday night we went to the Vikings vs. Bears football game. It was WILD! I have never seen so many fans dressed in purple. These are not your average everyday fan, these fans live and breathe the Vikings!! They are serious about their football. They started tailgating at noon and were intoxicated by game time. But the Vikings won and nobody got shot.

Wedding in Utah

November is flying by. It is hard to believe that December is just around the corner. The weather is starting to take a turn for the worst. Our temperatures have dipped into the 20's. I went to Utah last week for my best friends wedding. The weather was gorgeous! It was a wonderful break from the cold. I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time. Unfortunately Ryan was not able to come home with me. I spent most of my trip in Richfield with my parents. My good friend got married in Wayne County. It was a great day!! I was so happy to see all of my friends. The wedding was a huge success. My friend Marie came down to Richfield and stayed with me. After the wedding, the bride and groom spent their wedding night in Richfield. We snuck out in the middle of the night and decorated her car. I felt like I was in high school again. It was a much needed vacation. I was excited to come home to my husband. He had been eating fast food for a week and he was happy to have me home.


Ryan and I went to the Celtics vs. Timberwolves game this weekend. But the highlight of the weekend was the BYU vs UTAH game. We found a sports bar that was showing the game. Ryan of course, was very disappointed, but I have been gloating all weekend. GO UTES!!

Trick or Treat!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! We didn't have any trick or treaters this year. I don't think there are many kids that live in our neighborhood. I miss being a kid on halloween. It was so fun to get dressed up and go to school. You could eat candy all day long, until you were sick to your stomach. After trick or treating I remember counting all my candy and comparing with my sisters. We would trade for the good treats and try to get rid of the "dots" and flavored "toostie rolls."

We got dressed up and went to a halloween party for my work. Ryan usually is the grinch when it comes to halloween. I had to drag him to the costume store. I wanted to have matching costumes. For example: pirates, devil and angel, bacon and eggs, adam and eve, etc. He looked around for a few minutes until he found the Burger King. The only costume in the whole store that didn't have a match! But he agreed to wear the costume and go to the party, so I couldn't argue. I found a queen costume, and got a crown at Burger King. It was the closest I could get to a match. Ryan's costume included white tights! Luckily, he has really nice legs. We had a good time at the party. But next year, I am picking out the costumes.

Leaves are Falling

It is definitely FALL here in Minnesota. Summer is gone. The temperature is dropping and the leaves are falling. It is still warm enough to get outside and explore. Last week we went to Minnehaha Falls. The falls were not that impressive, but the leaves are so colorful. The sun was shining, but there was a chill in the air. I have already started stocking up on hot chocolate for the winter.

Ryan bought another pair of new shoes last night. He is out of control! His closet is already overflowing with shoes. I am going to have to start secretly throwing them out, one pair at a time.

CHICAGO MARATHON

WE DID IT!!!

It is finally over. I wish I could say that I enjoyed running the Chicago Marathon, but I didn't. I am glad that I finished and it was a great accomplishment, but it wasn't FUN. If I had to sum up my marathon experience in one word, it would be: HOT! We flew into Chicago on Friday night after work. We stayed in a dumpy hotel close to the airport on Friday night. Then we upgraded to a nice Hotel downtown for the rest of our trip. Our hotel was only a few blocks from Grant park, where the marathon started and finished. We woke up early and walked to the starting line. By the time the gun went off it was already 70 degrees. Ryan and I did not start together. We both ran a fast first half. Then it got really HOT! The weather channel said it was supposed to be mostly cloudy, but there was not a cloud in the sky. I could feel myself start to slow down around mile 15. I hit the WALL! The spectators kept me motivated. Over one million spectators came to cheer us on. It was really impressive! I thought about quitting a couple of times, but I am glad I didn't. I was in pain the last few miles. It was all worth it the moment that I crossed the finish line. It is such an incredible feeling to have run 26.2 miles. I could barely walk at that point. I staggered around until I found Ryan. Of course, he was already finished. Then I made him pose for pictures. (Not his favorite thing!) We walked back to our hotel. It was only a few blocks, but our legs felt like jello and our feet were throbbing. Once we got back to our hotel room, Ryan took off his shoes. Three of the toes on his right foot had huge blood blisters, and the big toe on his left foot was covered with a huge blister. I think he is going to lose a couple of toenails. It looked really painful. It probably wasn't the best time to say, "I told you not to buy brand new shoes two weeks before the marathon." (Haha!) My feet were in pretty good condition compared to his. We took a long nap. ZZZZZzzzzz.

OUCH!

It was such a beautiful day that we didn't want to stay inside, but we couldn't walk. So, we took a taxi to Navy Pier and went on a boat tour with my friends Debra and George. It was perfect, because we got to see the city while sitting on a boat. It was a gorgeous weekend for sightseeing, but too HOT to run a marathon.

Chicago Sunset

Twins Fever!!

Ryan has Twin's Fever!! This week we went to a Twins Baseball game. For those of you who don't watch Sportscenter every night, the Minnesota Twins are in first place of the AL central division. They lead the Chicago White Sox by only one half of a game. We went to the game on Wednesday night against the White Sox. It was very loud in the Metrodome! I ate a "dome dog" and Ryan had the bratwurst (at least I didn't have to make dinner). The fans in Minnesota are passionate about their baseball team. They beat the White Sox three games in a row. I really hope they make it to the playoffs so we can go to another game.

Running Update: With the marathon only two weeks away, Ryan thought it would be smart to buy a brand new pair of shoes. Yesterday he bought a new pair of shoes that are identical to the ones he already has. He claims that he wears out shoes faster than me because he weighs more. I think he is crazy! Nobody should buy brand new shoes two weeks before a marathon. He will have to learn the hard way. I will be there to say "I told you so" when his feet are covered in blisters. We ran ten miles yesterday, and now we get to start our taper.

We love VISITORS!!

Last weekend Ryan's parents came to visit. It was so much fun to show them around and share our new city with them. They stayed in a Marriot hotel that is literally across the street from our apartment. We had a lot of fun while they were here. We went walking along the Mississippi River, visited the Museum of Minnesota History in St. Paul, and they took us out for dinner every night. We had a great time! They were able to do some extra sightseeing while we were at work on Monday and Tuesday. They couldn't leave without going to the Mall of America. It is Minneapolis' biggest tourist attraction. It was a wonderful break from our regular routine. We love having visitors. If anyone would like to come and see us, you would always be welcome.

Running update: Last week was we ran 15.5 mile race around the lakes. Yesterday we ran a 20 mile training race. Only a month left until the marathon!

Labor Day Get-A-Way!!

Ryan and I took a little vacation for Labor Day weekend. After work on Friday we drove about two hours north to Gull Lake. It is in an area called Brainerd Lakes. There are hundreds of lakes in the area. (Minnesota is the state of 10,000 lakes!) We stayed at a resort on the lake. I wasn't really sure what to expect. Of course, neither of us had ever been north of Minneapolis before. We just picked the resort from pictures on the internet. The resort was huge!! It was probably built in the 1960's. The decor was definitely outdated. I have added a picture of the floor in the bathroom so you can get an idea. But our room was really nice. We had a great view of the lake from our balcony. They had cabins and hotel rooms. They had a huge indoor sportscourt with an indoor track and a gym. The best part was the weather. It was warm, sunny, and windy. (thanks to Hurricane Gustav) We laid out by the pool and by the lake. Ryan went golfing two days in a row. But mostly we just RELAXED!!! It was a well needed break.

Minnesota State Fair

This week we went to the MINNESOTA STATE FAIR. It is one of the largest state fairs in the country, second only to Texas. It was pretty impressive!! My favorite part was people watching. I have never seen so many interesting people in my life. I don't know where they all came from. Over 100,000 people visit the fair every day. It is huge! We took the skyride from one end to the other. There is an amusement park with rides, car show, tractors, sheep, cows, pigs, and a live birthing center where you can watch animals being born. But the best part of the fair is the FOOD!!! They have everything that is greasy, fried, and on a stick. We wanted to try everything. We started with a Pronto-pup (it is like a corn dog, except it is made with wheat instead of corn). Then we tried the fried cheese curds. They were actually pretty good!! I could feel my arteries clogging up as I was eating. Then we ate 20 cookies each. They serve everything in bulk. You could buy cookies by the bucket, easily over 100s cookies per bucket. We had a carmel apple, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and corn on the cob dripping with butter. And a diet coke to wash it all down! Needless to say, neither of us felt hungry for the rest of the week. It was an experience I won't forget. I am already planning what I am going to eat next year!

MALL OF AMERICA!!!

This weekend I took Ryan to the MALL OF AMERICA!!! It was a brand new experience for him. It can be a little overwhelming, if you don't know what to expect. I was definitely more excited than he was to go shopping. We have learned that it is not a good idea for us to go shopping together. Ryan doesn't really understand why I have to try on everything in the store......twice, before I can make a decision. So to avoid a meltdown, he went to a movie, while I went shopping. There is no possible way you could go in every store. There are over 500 stores, including two American Eagle stores! The first one I went to didn't have a shirt in my size, so I walked to the other store and bought it. My only regret it that we didn't get to go on the big rollercoaster. Maybe next time? (If there ever is a next time.)

This weekend was a busy one! We ran the Woodbury Half Marathon. It was a beautiful course. It was a cool morning, only 60 degrees when we started the race. Perfect running weather! We ran around three different lakes and through some neighborhoods. Most of the course was shaded. One of the residents that Ryan works with lives in Woodbury with his family. They were our fan club. They rode their bikes along the course and cheered us on when we ran by. After the race they invited us over to their house for waffles!! We both did well and of course Ryan beat me again. His time was 1:34 and mine was 1:45. Both of us ran faster than our times two weeks ago. We have two more races before the Marathon in October.

Gopher to Badger

Time is flying by here in Minneapolis. It is hard to believe another week has gone by. I guess that's what happens when you are staying busy. Ryan and I ran a half marathon yesterday. We are trying to run a race every other week to prepare for the Chicago Marathon in October. Neither of us have run more than 10 miles in a long time. It was called the Gopher to Badger half marathon because it started in Minnesota and finished in Wisconsin. (For all of you non-sports fans: The University of Minnesota's mascot is the Gopher and University of Wisconsin's is the Badger.) It was a gorgeous day, except it got really warm toward the end!! The sun was out and the humidity was high. We both finished and did well. Of course Ryan beat me, as usual. After the race Ryan decided to take a dip in the freezing waters of the St. Croix River. I chickened out!

In other news, I finally got a calling in my new ward. I am teaching the 8-11 year of girls in primary, and also in charge of activity days. I am team-teaching with another sister. Today was our first day. We have a small class of 3-4 girls. I am excited! I have never been in the primary before. It makes me feel old. I can barely remember when I was in primary. They sing new songs that I have never heard before. What happened to the classics like: 'Book of Mormon Stories', and 'I am trying to be like Jesus." Now they have songs for every article of faith. I have a lot to learn about primary. If anyone has fabulous tips for activity days, I am open for suggestions.

Working FULL time

I am trying to Blog every week. I want to have something exciting to write about, but our lives are pretty simple. We go to work, run, sleep, and eat. I am still getting used to working five days a week. It is tough!! I have a lot more respect for all of you that work five days a week. I am used to having at least one day off during the week to go grocery shopping, run errands, and clean up. So needless to day, the house work is falling a little behind. But it has definitely made us appreciate the weekends a lot more!

The most exciting thing this week was the falling gas prices. I filled up for $3.49 a gallon!! That is still higher than I would like, but I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled up to the gas pump.

Lumberjack Days

This week has gone by fast. It feels really good to be working again. It was a little adjustment to go from not working at all, to working five days a week. But, I think I will really enjoy my new job. The people I work with are wonderful and I am learning a lot!

If any of you know me very well, then you know that I am NOT a morning person. I usually struggle to get out of bed in the morning. And I have been know to sleep through my alarm and over use the snooze button. However, this past week I have gotten up early everyday to run before I go to work. And I love it!!! The mornings are so nice. It is cool and calm. the best part is that when I get home from work I have the whole evening to do whatever I want. I am not sure how long this will last, but I think I am converting into a morning person.

On Saturday, Ryan and I got up extra early and drove to Stillwater, Minnesota to run a 10 mile race. Stillwater is about 40 minutes east of us, on the border of Wisconsin. They had lots of activies going on for Lumberjack Days. It was a beautiful run along the St. Croix river. We both did very well, but Ryan is always faster than me. Sometimes I wish I would have married someone that was not so athletic, so I could beat him. Ryan is fast! He finished in one hour and nine minutes, and I finished in one hour and nineteen minutes. We are a little sore today. We are training for the Chicago marathon in October. We have a few more races coming up in the next couple months to help us get ready for Chicago.

A day at the Beach

This week I was enjoying my last few days of freedom before starting my job on Friday. I really wanted to go to the pool and catch some rays. I tried to find a public pool, but there are very few outdoor pools in Minneapolis. Obviously because the summer is only two months out of every year. So all the pools and water parks are indoors. However, Minnesota is the state of 10,000 lakes. So I drove fifteen minutes to Lake Calhoun to lay out on the beach. It was definitely not white sand and crystal blue water of the caribbean. It was more like small pebbles and murky freezing cold water. It was a very humid day in the 90's. I was sweating, but the water was still way too cold!! I should have brought a wet suit.


I started my job on Friday. It felt great to be back in a hospital and using my brain cells again. Most of the day was orientation and paperwork. I really think I will like my new job. It is going to be challenging. I will be working with sick, complex patients. But I am excited to learn and gain more experience.