The Moab Half Marathon 2017

On March 18, 2017 I fulfilled a dream that has been brewing in me for almost 2+ years, 

I ran the Moab Malf Marathon. Yes, that's 13.1 miles.

I don't even really know where to begin to describe the experience, but sometimes the best way to find the words is to keep looking.

It was miraculous, transformative, healing, exhilarating, and difficult.

I let all the emotions and sensations of the moment wash over me as I ran beside the River of liquid Copper, and they ran the full spectrum. Cold to hot; joy to pain, camaraderie to solitude; weak to strong; excitement to exhaustion; disbelief to amazement. It was a race of Ying and Yang. I let it all wash over me, and run off behind me as I carried on to the rhythm of my own feet, my own breath, my own heart.
And all that was left was my salty sweat and overwhelming gratitude.

The one thing that never caught up to me was the doubt. The doubt that i wouldn't finish.
That sweep bus never had anything on me.

What a beautiful Course, a magical course! I made sure I ran with my head and eyes up. The Red Rock cliffs, the rolling Colorado River, and golden morning light were inspiring. I thought it was going to be all down hill, but it definitely wasn't. It had some long inclines and a killer hill from hell just after mile 9. But I faced that monster and others with a little from my girls SIA and Ke$ha.

By Mile 11, something changed and all I could think about was my cute family waiting for me at the finish. River was so excited to run the last bit of the race and cross the finish line together. He loved the idea of us running the race together and winning. I had left him the bag tag part of my bib so he could wear it. Knowing he was there carried me through that last and most difficult mile. I searched the sidelines for them as I came down the last stretch and my heart jumped as I saw him squeeze between the barriers and we ran and crossed the finish line together hand-in-hand. We both got metals and River that was really cool, so cool he took it with him to show and tell the next week.

I couldnt' have done any of this with out Skyler. He was so supportive and cleared any obstacles that stood in my way, giving up multiple saturdays so that I could spend hours running in the basement watching Project Runway. He's incredible and I am so grateful for him and to him!!

I can do great things. I can do hard things. I can be a wonderful and engaged mom and still follow dreams and have adventures that are not only mine, but mine to share with my little family.

Here are my stats:

Overall I was 1384th

Of all the women I was 775th

In my age division I was 110th

My offical clock time was 2h44m00s

My chip time wa 2h41m20s

my average mile time was 12m18s

I am female.

I am 33.

And I did it!

I am triumphant.

That night as I was laying in bed in our hotel room,

I began looking up options for a next race.

After 13.1 miles, I didn't feel quite done yet. 

Robin Hope : 8 months

8 months? How could it actually be 8 months 

and at the same time only be 8 months?

Our Sweet and Spicy Robin is really starting to come out of her shell and it is so fun.
She has more quiet but powerful personality. She's thoughtful and smart, with definite opinions and wants. She is so strong, I feel like I spend most of my time wrestling an alligator. She can sit up, roll like its no ones business, enjoys solid food, and is determined to get what she wants. 

She loves to empty bins filled with her toys and play with them one by one, and we do this all day long. I fill them up and she empties them all over the floor. She has the cutest way of moving her hands as she fingers and explores new objects. Everything she touches goes straight into her mouth. One of her favorite things to do, is to roll over to our large window and play with the hanging blinds.

  Robin is very social and is so content watching people and being part of the party. She takes very short naps, mostly because I think she's worried she's going to something. She excitedly watches River run around all day, and he is the only one that can make her belly laugh. I love watching these two together. It melts my heart. River ADORES his sister and it's the cutest thing. The world is right when they're together.

Robin loves her daddy. She watches him, waiting for him to look at her. When he does, she greets him with the most sweetest smile I have ever seen. She flirts with him too, bashfully looking away and then turning back to make sure he's still looking. She just lights up when she hears him and sees him. Skyler is a good daddy, and this little girl has stolen his heart.

I can't put into words what my little bitty is to me. She's a part of me I've known and waited for my whole life, and now she's here. We're together again. She's beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Her quiet thoughtful expressions cause me to catch my breath. Her blue eye, soft hair, and full cheeks endear her to me. The way she rests her hand on my arm while she takes a bottle, sleepily rubs her eyes and leans her head back on my shoulder when she's tired, how she's starting to giggle when I tickle her under her arms, her contentment whenever we're doing something together, her strong will and sweet, soft smiles -- She has run away with my whole world and I will do anything for her. 

She is my daughter. 

My little Robin Hope. My Itty Bitty.

My Vision. My Treasure.

~

And just because Robin's brother is so awesome too...

Hoppy Easter from the Briggs Kids

All dolled up in their sunday best o celebrate Easter.

We were at Nana & Poppa's house and had to catch our flight home later that day, but we had fun going to church with them and then finding hidden eggs with a flash light. River wanted to eat all his candy right then. It was a fun sticky treat on the flight home.

"Hoppy" Easter!!

And the missionaries in our ward shared this video with me 

and of course I got choked up. Here's the link:

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-02-1000-hallelujah-an-easter-message-about-jesus-christ?lang=eng

He is Risen!

Just a little Robin Hope

Castlewood Canyon

We are just chomping at the bit to get outside and explore.We decided to take a risk and go hike around Castelwood Canyon. I think we did this last spring too, and the smae thing happened, on the shadow side the snow made the trail muddy and slick and the run off makes the water to high to cross the boulders, at least if you have a baby strapped to your chest or are threes years old. So at the bottom of the canyon we had to turn around, but thats ok. Skyler and River made the best of it running around and climbing on rocks. Robin chattted and squakd up a storm. On the plus side, we made it home just in time for the plumber to come and reattach my sink. 

I am aching for some spring, some life, and some new discoveries. Everything is in that in between state, not quite winter and not quite spring.  I guess in some ways I can relate.

A Snowy Memorial Day Mountain Adventure

We started off our Mountain adventure with a stop in Idaho Springs at the Famous Beau Jo's Pizza, where they make Mountain Pies with thick bread crusts. Thanks to Beau Jo's, Riverboy learned a new word, "honey", which sounds just as sweet as it tastes when he says it. The Pizza is yummy but the best part is the thick bread crust that you put honey on and enjoy "as a dessert". Or if you're River you just eat the honey right off your finger. 

via

As we climbed higher into the mountains, the mount of snow there was shocking, About 2 ft in some areas. It was a winter wonderland up there, but the crisp clean air was definitely refreshing. We made our way towards Berthoud Pass, stopping at a waterfall on the way to play and explore. River loved it. He and Skyler explored and climbed around the rocks, as I fretted and worried. "Skyler, hold his hand!" escaped my lips a number of times, but as true adventurers they were happily and fearlessly exploring. River dipped his fingers into the freezing water and threw rocks followed by giggles.

He shuffled his feet through the snow patches and thought it was awesome. 

We went up and over the pas and dropped into Winter Park, CO, where we found a killer playground that even had a rock-like climbing wall, called the Hideaway Park right off  the main street. Talk about hours of entertainment. River loved running around and playing and going down the giant slides. He must have been throughly worn out because he slept the whole car ride home. 

It was really nice to get and see some new scenery. The rain here has been aweful and I was beginning to feel a little trapped in our suburban-subdivision life. Thankfully my sweet husband whisked us away to the mountains, where small little towns and high snowy peaks refreshed my imagination and sense of wonder. 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! 

We have beautiful daffodils blooming in our front yard!

We spent our Easter weekend listening to General Conference and busting out the

sanding phase of our kitchen Rehab. Skyler was amazing getting the inside done.

Then we had a yummy dinner and Easter Egg Hunt with the Mitchell's. River was so excited about the eggs being filled with candy. I had to put some limits on them cause he was a little out of control. :) Amy made the yummiest Dessert Pizza shaped and decorated like an Easter egg. Skyler and I gobbled it down in easter bliss. 

Cade

Austin, "Baby Cade", River

River already checking out his easter booty.

It's a ....

Say hi to Baby GIRL Briggs!!

Rolling on the Scene and rocking our worlds in September.

{Sky was right}

Dinosaur Ridge

Once upon a time,

We went to Dinosaur Ridge

and I didn't bring my camera and snapped only 2 photos with my phone,

so this advetnure will be documented once I steal photos from Skyler phones.