Iron Brad!

May was such a blur that June showed up and I was a little confused of where the month had gone.

We started it off with Ironman which I was going to do a full entry on however I feel like everyone is Ironman’d out and has seen or heard about it on facebook, also every time I sat down to write the post I struggled to put the 17 hours of that day into words that would do it justice.

I will say Brad and I have been taken aback with how many people watched followed and supported him. We dont go many places lately that somebody doesnt stop him and say "hey you just did that Ironman didnt you" Its truely amazing how you can inpire someone with an event, with putting your heart and energy into acomplishing something most wouldnt even dream of attempting. I think if it sends any kind of message it should say "We CAN do hard things!" You have more inside of you than you believe you do, and Brad proved that, that day. Here is a few of my favorite pictures of the day.

And don’t you worry he isn’t over this little phase yet he signed up for St George Ironman 70.3 next May 4th, and has his sights set on Coeur de’Alene full Ironman just 8 weeks after that!

The little things.....

Between Ironman training, work, football, marathon training, volleyball, track, dental assisting school, I could go on and on..... We sometimes have failed to STOP and just enjoy each other as a family and to get out and enjoy the amazing place we live in. My girls aren’t getting any younger! And I want to soak up every moment with them I can.

Last week I went on my Annual Mothers Day Weekend girls overnighter to Fredonia with Mindy and Traci which included running the Kanab 10k. I absolutely cherish this time I get to spend with my “sole sisters” we stay up late eat a lot of chips and salsa; we laugh and cry talk about our dreams and our fears, it literally feeds my soul for months to come .

Any way while I was away Brad (his first weekend post Ironman) took the girls up to the mountains to go mountain biking, it warmed my heart that they were spending a day with their dad, their hero, laughing and having fun just spending time together.

"ITS ALOT OF LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE UP THE BIG THINGS IN LIFE"

These days together with the ones we cherish and love are small but really SO BIG!!

Torrie :)

So proud of my Torrie! She is starting a new job tomorrow as a dental assistant for an Oral Surgeon in St George. Becuase I know she doesnt read my blog Ill share the story :) She finished up her Dental Assistant school back around the Holidays and has been looking for a job while working at a Girls home for troubled youth, A friend from the program called and told her that the dentist she worked for was hiring so Torrie went in with her resume. The dentist liked her enough to ask if she would stay and shadow for a while so she did, he was preforming a tooth extraction on a patient and Torrie watched as the room started to spin and she became warm the next thing she new was she was waking up after being catched by the dentist. She had FAINTED! After she had collected herself and they made sure she was ok, she went into his office to wrap up the interview fully expecting him to say something like " I am sorry , this probably isnt for you" instead he just kept saying how much he liked her and how he never hires on the same day most of the time they do working interviews for weeks at a time BUT "I just really like you and want to hire you"! Torrie said " Um after I just fainted?" He wasnt worried about that and she got the job! She assured us it wasnt the blood that caused her to faint, she was so nervous and had not eaten all day. This is an amazing first time job and opportunity for her.

Where did the year go!?

I have been seduced by facebook, pinterest,and now twitter! They are just easy fast and instantly gratifying when you want to socialize. But I have always had my blog in the back of my head, sad that I have abandoned the updates, so I will do my token yearly entry this time making no promises to when ill be back. Life is SO busy that I often find myself hoping it will slow down a bit, then instantly regretting that feeling knowing that all to soon the girls will be gone and we will be looking for things to keep us busy (well probably not, ill update on our new adventures soon.)

Its been about....

Running: yes we finished our 11 in 2011! #7 being the St George Marathon!



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Football: State Champs baby!!

Volleyball: Amazing year for kyndall who got great varsity time




Track: Torrie had an amazing senior year running hurdles! and Cheering on the Tigers.






And for whats to come, Brad will compete in the St George Ford Ironman on May 5th 2012. We will be updating our facebook and twitter accounts for anyone who wants to follow him. Twitter @coachbradgard.



ok I said I wouldnt promise updates BUT keep checking in as I will update on Ironman! and some other things other than running, football, volleyball, and track :)

2 of 11

Our run #2 of 11 was the Run 4 Kids to benifit The Learning Center for Families. It was a cold rainy/snowy day, but for a great cause






Ahh the sweet reward after! I am sure we consumed way more calories than burned at a 5k but it was worth it, great company and great memories to add to our journey to 11!

11 in 11

This year I have a goal (well it wasn't my idea really but it sounded good :) My dear friend Mindy made a goal to run 11 races in 2011, 11 being her lucky number, I thought "OK Ill join!" Our first race was the "Biggest Loser 5k". I am a huge fan of the show and have to be honest was very star struck running along side of these amazing people, knowing the journey they have been on to get to this point amazes me, makes me so thankful for my health and reminds me not to take it for granted, to get out and use the body I have been given.

Spring Break Cruise

During Spring Break this year we along with my parents went on a 4 day cruise to Catalina and Ensanada Mexico. What a great trip! Its always nice to have some family time away from the distractions of everyday life, we laughed and slept and laid by the pool and ate and ate and ate!! Then it was back to life with the school year rapidly coming to an end in just 6 short weeks we are busier than ever, both girls are on the track team and Kyndall is still in Club volleyball season. I am in big time denial that I have a child graduating and finding almost any distraction to keep me busy.