Steroids

Well, last week I decided to max out on bench pressing. For those avid readers of my blog you will remember that last year I benched 120 lbs. I really didn't think I would be able to do more than that but I benched 130lbs. My friend that was spotting me is also a cop and he said, "I think we might need to start an investigation regarding steroid use." I actually think he was a little gross out that I could bench that much and maybe this is something I shouldn't share with the public. I don't look like He-woman or anything; it is just my Ninja muscles.

Birthday Cake

My friend, Tamia, made me this cake for my birthday. It is ants crawling on a magnify glass. I thought it was really cool and a nice surprise. The ants are peanut M&Ms, the magnify glass is chocolate cake, and the handle is 3 Swiss Rolls.

Boulder Boulder 2010k

On Memorial Day I ran the Boulder Boulder 10k. There were 54,000 people racing. My goal was to run it in under an hour and I crossed the finish line at 56:13 with a (9:02 mile pace). The Boulder Boulder is a race that is not only a great course but a great atmosphere. As we ran through the neighborhood there were bands playing, belly dancers, and people handing out jello shots. Although I was tempted with the jello shots, I refrained. I didn't want to get a side ache. Many of the neighborhood residents were having tailgate parties in their drive ways and cheering us on. One family even had a slip in slide for racers, but I was to focus on beating an hour to stop and appease my inner child. The Boulder Boulder is also know for the costumes that many runners will wear. I saw Jesus, a man in a suit, a man wearing a green body suit that he even covered his face, many people wearing hula skirts, and two women wearing dresses (I think they were sister missionaries). The only thing I would change about the race would be where I parked. I was 1.5m from the starting line and 3m from the finish line. Even though there were 54,000 people, the race was very well organized. ABC news actually filmed the finish line and and you can watch it at http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/23747809/index.html You can actually see me cross the finish line. I crossed at 8:40:33. I am wearing a blue tank top, a white hat, and dark shorts. I put my hands on my head, give a worker a high five and then put my hands on my hips. The video is blurry but if you are bored at work here is something to do.

I found a website with my picture from the race. Not the most flattering but oh well.

http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=61703&BIB=GB573&LNSEARCH=1&PWD=

Oh blessed sunshine

This has been a really long winter. In fact it snowed a couple of weeks ago. But finally, the sun has made an appearance for more than one day. Last Saturday, Owen and I went mountain biking at Soapstone in Colorado. We did about 15 miles. It was so much fun to be on the trails again. Other than bodyboarding, mountain biking is now officially my second favorite thing to do.

Owen showing how large of fish he caught.

Yes, the blue bandanna means I am in a gang.

My love for Yodeling

In my marriage and family class, we end class by a classmate sharing a song with us. I decided to go with a German song. I made a little movie to go along with the Yodeling. It is only a minute long.

My new nephew

On May 7, I drove to Garden City, Kansas to help my sister, Heidi, who was expecting a baby any day. When I went to bed on May 9, I could footsteps upstairs walking back and forth and I knew something was up. Heidi came into my room around 11ish and told me that her water broke. I have never been around someone when they went into labor so I was panicking. Heidi was as calm as could be. She and Robert went to the hospital around 11:30 and on May 10, at 7:15 am, Gavin Michael Kennington was born. He is such a cute baby.

Gavin is a good sleeper.

I love this picture of him. He probably won't appreciate it when he is older, but is just so cute.

He also likes to cuddle up against you.

One year down

Well, I survived my first year of graduate school. Academically it was not challenging. It was emotionally draining and some days I struggled to get along with the liberal world, but I survived it. Now all I have left is two summer classes and next year. I think I will graduate on May 7, 2011. I really never thought I would get a masters. I thought I wasn't smart enough, but I guess I picked the right masters because it is not academically rigorous.

Other than my two summer classes, I am going to continue to work at the Disability Support Services and mountain bike a lot. Laramie may be super cold, small, and windy, but there are great hiking and mountain biking trails close by.

I also decided to join AmeriCorps. I am really not sure what this all entails. I have to do 300 service hours, but my Internship next year will cover this. I will receive a scholarship which will help me pay for summer school. That is why I joined. Other than AmericCorps, I have decided I am going to limit myself to my calling, school, GA and internship. I told the athletic academic coordinator that I was not going to be a mentor again next year. This is big for me to say NO. I am not very good at it and I ended getting to busy. I figure with the things I have going I will be able to stay out of trouble.