South Mountain 20k 3-26-11

This is the night before the race. We drove the course, and we weren't sure on what the route really was. So we came home and looked it up on the computer. The elevation doesn't show on this picture, but it was a doozie!

Up and over South Mountain, and then back again!

The view overlooking Phoenix was amazing.

Dean really struggled to beat this 9 year old! You go Dean

Now that was...... fun?

Jared won 2nd place in his age division. Braden took 4th in his, and Dean and Erika both placed 6th in theirs. (but nobody cares)

After every long race, we try to go to Cafe Rio. Yay, Phoenix has one!

All cleaned up and showing off our race shirts

Erika, Dorleen, and Beverly

My mom rode down with us so she could visit her sister, Aunt Beverly. We were so glad, Beverly gave us access to a pool and hot tub! (and it was good to see Aunt Beverly)

This is Braden in front of his house in Mesa, AZ.

Dean and Braden

Braden and Erika

After saying good-bye to Braden, I got to go out to lunch with two of my high school friends. That was great. Then it was on the road to Kanab. We stayed with Jeff and Julie on the way down, and also on the way back home.

Brandon, Mariah, and Jordan

Jeff and Dorleen

Julie....oh to look this good after just finishing a run!

Dean and Erika

After lunch with the Jensons, it was time to hit the road again.

We dropped Grandma Jenson off at her house, and headed up to visit Dean's mom in the hospital. She had a total knee replacement on Monday. Now we are home, back to normal life. We got to tend Dex today!

And yes, he still get's mad if he can't see the picture on the camera...RIGHT NOW!

Of course, Dean and Dex had to get their bike ride in.

new lens

I bought a new lens for my camera, and it needs an adapter for it to attach to my camera. I'm waiting patiently (not!) for the adapter to come, but in the mean time I wanted to play with my lens. These pictures are taken with me just holding the lens up to my camera.

Check out the Depth of Field (meaning how much is in focus). The foreground and back ground are both blurred, and only the middle keys are in focus. Oh, this is going to be fun!

Not that I've been watching the adapter as it makes it's way to Utah, but it's supposed to be delivered tomorrow!!!! Happy Day!

Dex is a good sport about letting me take a bazillion pictures of him. He loves to see the picture on the camera afterwards. He's starting to jump the gun a little, and as soon as the camera is in position, he reaches out for you to show him the picture. Can't tell you how many pictures I have a Dexter reaching for the camera.

Dexter is UNO!

Happy 1st Birthday Dex!

(Dex is "uno", that's why he has the card pinned to his shirt.)

Mike and Amanda had a party for him. Man do those guys know how to throw a party!

Grandma and Grandpa Ellis with the birthday boy!

Dex wasn't too sure about this whole cake thing....

(does he have cute parents or what?!)

He was really cautious at first, just sticking one finger in.

I love the hand print on Mike's knee! How cute is that!

To see more picture of the birthday party click HERE

Great Grandma Jenson made Dex this cute book, called "Dexter the Dinosaur"

Now a few random pictures....

I think this may be a new form of child abuse. Julie gave Dexter this little snow outfit, but he never got to wear it, so now was the time. What do you think?

Another sign of abuse...Dex woke up from his nap this morning with a perfect hand print on his cheek. It's from his hand I promise!

Dex really got into his Cafe Rio beans, with a few cheerios added in.

This is the day Dean has been waiting for since Christmas!!! He gets to take Dex out for a bike ride. Dex was distracted enough with the new seat, he actually left his helmet on.

Dex was all strapped in and ready to go....and Dean got a phone call. So I had to give Dex his first bike ride! Just to the street and back to the driveway.

He loved it! Well he didn't say he didn't like it....that may be because he can't talk, but still....Dean loved it!