Time to put my runn:ng shoes back on...

This week my dad had his 53rd birthday, and I was all caught up in school to keep up with my birthday blog postiness.
But this week for his birthday, he asked all of us to run 3 miles. Kind of a funny birthday wish, don't you think? It's not really all that strange if you know my dad.

Today I put my running shoes on for the first time (with the intent to run) in a long time. I can't even remember when I last went for a run.

It started out as a run and ended up being a lot of walk and some run. Which is ok. It's always hardest to begin, or at least it seems that way to me.
In honor of my Daddio, here are some photos of us together at running events.

My first marathon in 2004 (age 14), I ran with my dad the whole way. 
Coolest experience!

Second marathon in 2009 (age 19), I ran mostly by myself, but ran into dad a few times.

Pretty much our whole family ran that year, it was awesome!

Here we all are, in varying degrees of pain, discomfort and emotion.
Laura had serious morning sickness the whole time, Avery and I battled cramps,
Austin was Laura's cheerleader/support group, I think Annaca did well... I can't remember
Travis (not pictured) finished way before any of us and needed to get home to the kiddies,
Ally (also not pictured) was up at State Tennis and ran the Utah Valley Marathon a few months previous,
and my dad battled some serious knee and back pain (which he never really mentioned) and is the toughest guy I know.
Love you all! But especially love you Dad! Happy Birthday week!

Happy Birthday Annka Dah!!

Today is my lovely sister's Birthday!

She's amazing and I love her, here are some reasons why:

1. She's super stylin' when she poses for pictures!

2. She fixes my hair when it looks too "little girly" and makes it cool.

3. She is motivated, ambitious, driven and so inspiring!

*She's run 4 marathons and is thinking about a 5th!

4. She's the best, sweetest mommy to her super adorable little girlies!

*She also makes the most BEAUTIFUL babies, that's definitely a talent!

5. She is up for ANY activity/party/vacation and knows how to have a good time!

6. She married an awesome guy, and we are glad to have him in the family :)

(not really about her, but I liked the picture and it's true)

7. She is super adorable and WAY fun to go to Disneyland with

*We are WAY so psyched to go in May!!! Woot!

There are bunches of pictures I could share and tons of things I could say about Annaca,

but basically she is the coolest, sweetest, most wonderful

sister, daughter, mommy, friend, wife!!

I love her, she's the one I go to when I have a dilemma,

need to talk something through, or vent and need someone to listen.

She's amazing!

Happy Birthday Anni!

I hope your day is the BEST

because you deserve it.

:)

Discouragement...

is DUMB.

Forget the countdown til the wedding.

I can't wait for the semester to be over.

23 days.

Cannery-ing...

Today Britt and I went to the Lindon Cannery

We helped can pork and beans.

Britt estimates that he stacked 3,600 cans onto pallets

and I inspected beans for undesirables

(yucky beans, corn kernels, etc.)

and made sure the beans were good little beans,

and stayed in the designated bean area.

It was intense.

We were supposed to be there for 3 hours,

but there were so many peeps

that wanted in on the service action

we relinquished our titles of

Can Stacker Boy

&

Bean Girl

Here is a LOVELY photo of us in our hairnets:

It was actually pretty fun,

except for the part about not being near

each other the entire time.

Hopefully next time we get jobs in the same area.

On Being Engaged:

Isn't he SOOO cute? I think so. I might be biased.

So since we've been engaged,

we've had quite a few people tell us that it's NO FUN

to be engaged.

I'll be honest,

it definitely hasn't always been

rainbows and butterflies.

We've had some not very fun moments, but

for the majority of the time

it's been the BEST!

Yesterday I turned to Britt in the car,

we talked about it and we both agree

that despite the possible extra stress,

we love being engaged and think it's definitely better than being

single.

We're super excited to try out being

married.

I found this lovely photo (below) the other day,

It's from October 2008

a few weeks after Britt and I had started dating

and had our 1st kiss.

Cute huh?

I love Sally's face!

Also I miss these little sweeties!

Have a LOVELY week!

Decisions, Decisions

There are so many decisions to make.

Especially when you are getting married.

Decisions about wedding plans.

Decisions about where to live.

Decisions about finding jobs.

Decisions about money.

Decisions about goals.

SO MANY DECISIONS!!!

It's ok.

I'm ok with my checklist not getting checked off right away.

Bathroom Thoughts and Poetry Blogs

So I tend to do all my best thinking while in the bathroom...

Alright, maybe not ALL of it, but it seems to be an inspiring place for me

and others I've talked to.

Anyway... I was thinking about starting a poetry blog.

I LOVE poetry, writing and finding it.

Why not start a blog devoted to it?!

I don't know.

I'm still kind of hesitant about it,

BUT it would be a great motivation to write more often...

it would at least help.

Hmmmm...

I shall ponder it while I enjoy

SPRING BREAK!!!

YAY!!!

I heart breaks from school.

Also, my parents and two younger siblings are in Texas

with my older brother and his little family

scoping out where he'll be going to Medical School

this next year!!

I'm jealous.

So I took a trip down memory lane to check out

what I was doing for the past few spring breaks.

This is what I found:

2009: Hiking around in Zions with the Cope Clan

2010: Attending the BNP Paribas Open,

again with the Familia

I'll be here. Chillin. SO happy the weather's nice.

I might just go swimming, read a book or something sweet like that.