4th of July Celebration

We headed up to my parents' house on Sunday night. Josh and my dad go to the "Patriotic Program" that Hyrum city puts on. They go every year. We all slept over and died of heat stroke, only kidding, mom.

Let's face it, my dad is a pretty amazing person. He is incredibly patriotic and always has been. Since Micheal died in 2009, my dad runs the entire FREEDOM RUN (9.3 miles) carrying this flag, in honor of Micheal. I can hardly write about it without crying. Nope, can't do it without crying. My dad says that he'll do it even if he has to crawl across the finish line. I'm sure that as he gets older (much older), I can see Amy pushing him in his wheelchair as he holds that flag in honor of Micheal. Ok, that makes him sound senile but you know what I mean.

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to run the Freedom Run. I signed up for it, did absolutely no training whatsoever and planned to back out at the last minute but I was talked out of it.

Here is everyone waiting for us to come in.

I really wanted to do this because I wasn't able to do it in 2009 when everyone did it for my dad's 20th and for Micheal. I then, once again, wasn't able to do it in 2010, due to health issues. I am so overweight from that medication that I took after Micheal died. I know I've written it before but I gained 45 lbs in 30 days and that's after JUST having a baby! Also, the medicine would stay in my body for around 2 years. I am huge, nothing like what I used to be and I can hardly walk a couple of blocks without being winded. It's pathetic.

Of course, my fabulous sister and best friend, said she'd run it with me and help me. Once again, here come the tears. She was so sweet to me. There were points where I was crying and I wanted to break my leg just so I wouldn't have to keep going, 9.3 miles is a long way to go for a fat girl who hasn't trained.

Amy is waving and smiling and I'm in brutal pain, ready to collapse. Sad!

As soon as I saw Josh and my sweet little girls, I started to cry, uncontrollably. In that moment, I felt like I had conquered the entire world and I knew how proud they were of me. This was a big thing for me and something I really wanted to do. I realized that even though I hadn't crossed the finish line yet, that I was almost done and I can't explain what my emotions were doing at that moment.

Amy was a dear and she wore that camelbak for me so that I could have water and she was used to wearing them and one less thing for me to have to carry. She also, let me sprint up and finish first, even more tears, now.... just remembering it.

Yes, we finished it in 2 hours and 18 minutes but I FINISHED! I didn't even make it a goal to not come in last because I knew that was very possible. I think there were only 3 people behind us and I really don't care.

Amy had ran the Seattle marathon the week before and told me that she would run it with me because her legs couldn't take the beating to race it but I really know that she did it for me. I know that she probably could have walked the entire thing faster than we did it together. I know she could have done it faster, not racing it even, but she stayed back with me and helped carry me and she is the reason I was able to get through that race.

We laughed and cried together as we ran. I actually walked most of the first 4 miles and then the last 5 miles, we almost ran the whole thing. There was a couple miles in there where I didn't stop to walk at all and we only walked a few blocks in the last 5 miles. I could not believe that I ran that much of it. That was way more than I ever thought I would be able to run. Of course, I walked up the hill and that stretch to McDonald's was brutal.

My period was pretty much over but the running brought it back and I leaked through my pants, lucky for me, I was wearing black. I had to go to the bathroom at the first. I ran off the road, into the bushes and peed, on my shoe, of course, why wouldn't I? Amy and I laughed about songs we were listening to, we pretended to be surfing, danced as we ran and inhaled Gatorade through our noses.

When I finished, I was shaking and ate about 9 oranges or more.

Thank you, Amy, for the great memories that were made that day. I love you more than you can possibly imagine.

Me and my girls.

I thought it was so cool that it was the 4th of July and MY number was 4!

Amy, myself and my aunt and cousins who ran it too.

The kids did the Main Street Mile. My dad is in charge of it and some parent decided to start it early without any one's permission. Some people.

Here is Joshua (Marie, my sister who went to Seattle with us... her son)

Kai looks good.

Surprisingly, these are the ONLY pictures I got of Kennet running.

My brother, Matt ran with Chloee. That was very sweet of him. This girl has got running form.

She was so excited to run this again.

Amy ran with Sarah (Marie's other child)

She did such a good job. I seriously don't know how Amy was even walking around, let alone running after the Freedom Run that morning. Oh, yes, she's in shape, that's how.

Thanks Matt for running with my sweet Chlo, I really appreciate it. Even if some jerks were rude to you for helping your niece, I appreciate it.

Amy and her boys. That is one proud mom right there.

Joshua and Sarah. I don't know why I didn't get a picture of them with their mom.

After that, we headed down to our regular spot to watch the parade. This was Halle's permanent position. On her haunches, opening candy. I don't think she ever actually sat down.

The kids got so much candy.

I took one more picture of my cool tag when I got home. I literally could not walk for days. No joke, I rolled out of bed and would lay on the ground. I struggled to go to the bathroom, like sitting on the toilet and I couldn't go up and down the stairs, down was worse. At one point, I actually used sleeping bags to ride down the stairs. I am NOT joking. I was so sore. I can't remember EVER hurting that bad. EVERY muscle, bone and tendon ached. It lasted for 4 days. That is a long time to walk around like I'm 80 years old.

We had a good celebration. We came home and watched the West Point fireworks from our tramp. It was perfect.