Madam

Meet Madam.

Madi + Adam=Best Friends

(plus a little more, I'm am pretty sure)

We really like Adam. He makes our Madi very happy and they are always laughing when they are together. Plus, he's not afraid of us (especially Steve) He will even eat my dinners!

This is the young man that will be taking Madi to BHS Homecoming NEXT week. This week, however, is the WXHS Homecoming, and Madi was asked to this dance by a cute boy named Craig.

Madi was supposed to be ready to go and at her friends house by 5:00. I knew she was cutting it close when Adam showed up on the doorstep at 4:00 to say "hello." There's no resisting Adam, he's just too darned cute. The compromise? Adam talked to Madi while she did her hair, and even helped her get ready by collecting all of her "stuff": dress, jacket, shoes, purse, check, check, check, check.

It was so funny to listen to their conversation. And as Madi walked out the door, I offered to let Adam ride over to Kaitlin's with us to take pictures of Madi and her date. He was all for it.

We didn't push it, but as we drove over to Kaitlin's, Steve remarked, "That is one secure young man."
Madi looked gorgeous, and her date was darling. They were going with a big group of really great kids.
Thanks for helping her out, Adam. Maybe I'll invite Craig over to help Madi get ready for the BHS Homecoming dance next week....

About A Boy

Yesterday was a good day. The Sabbath. We attended the missionary homecoming of our good friend's son, Benjamin B. We knew him when he was just a longed-for presence in his mommy's tummy. Now he is a tall and strapping valiant young man...a Saturday's Warrior, Returning With Honor with his scriptures in hand and a sincere testimony and a love for the people of Brazil. He is on a good path and will do good things with his life.

We made it back to our own ward with enough time to allow me to get the Young Women room ready for opening exercises and have a little chit chat with two of the most awesome women that I have the privilege to work with, Alicia T. and Shauna R. As we were talking, Steve came up to me in the hall and showed me a text from our brother-in-law, Treion: If Karen would like to be at the baby's birth, tell her to leave right now. We are heading for the hospital. (or something to that effect. I was too frazzled with excitement for Soni and Teion's baby at that point) This is where the awesomeness of Alicia and Shauna REALLY kicked in. I was supposed to teach today, but there was no way I was going to miss the chance to see Soni's baby being born. Without hesitation, both ladies stepped in to help me make this happen. Alicia already had her lesson for next week planned and ready to go, so she went home to get that put together, and Shauna took care of getting opening exercises going.

Steve and I jumped into the car and made a mad dash for Davis Hospital. I kept telling Steve to hurry, because I just knew that Soni would have this baby quickly...it's what she does. She has them natural, no drugs, and she waits until the last possible moment to head to the hospital. We later learned that she'd been in labor since 4 a.m., but still went to church....they only left when her contractions were just minutes apart.

When we walked into her room, this is the sight that greeted us:

Isn't she beautiful?

Soon, all of the other sisters arrived: Kim, Sheridan and Suzette, along with Bam and Dandad. Steve didn't think he was invited, so he left to get a diet Coke.

In between contractions we talked and laughed, during contractions we all tried to breathe for her and encourage her. It was like watching someone run a marathon or climb a mountain. Soni is so tough and focused, I was in awe of her strength. Treion was such a calming presence and her rock solid coach.

When the Doc arrived (straight from church, still in his suit---he's the bishop of his ward), he had enough time to change into scrubs and then he checked Soni, broke her water and literally within MINUTES we were all holding onto Soni and the head was out. She had that baby within an hour of arriving at the hospital!

Introducing Treion John, Jr. (TJ)

7lbs, 10 oz, born September 19, 2010 @1:48 p.m

After four girls, Treion got himself a boy! Welcome to the world, little (Sunday) Warrior!

Just like riding a bike...

My big brother, Peter, has always been a performer. He's always wanted to be famous. We used to laugh at his visions of grandiose living. But, by golly, he never gave up on his dream. And tonight, as we watched him perform with his band, Werewolf Afro, at the Utah State Fair I had an epiphany. Pete is so comfortable and in his element when he is dancing around on stage, singing and dramatically moving his hands in theatrical gestures, that performing to him is just as satisfying and fulfilling as riding a bike is to Steve. And just like Steve, because he has been doing this for so long, Pete is really good at what he does. He makes it look so effortless. Rock on, big brother, Rock on! (until the arthritis sets in...)

Seeing Red

Madi came home to this.

Yep, it's Homecoming season, and the more creative/fun way a guy can ask a girl to the dance, the better.

In amongst the balloons were a select few with letters on them. They spelled out: Will U Go to Bountiful's Homecoming with me?

They were from cutey-pie Adam, Madi's Rival School BF. (we call Madi and Adam "Madam" after Hollywood tradition)

Now, how to answer...

How do you spell satisfaction? L-O-T-O-J-A

The Epic Bike Race of 2010

After many weeks and miles of training, the famed and much anticipated biking event of the summer (is September still considered the summer?) has finally arrived. Lotoja. Or LaTooJa as some people like to pronounce it. Even better: LotoJack as my mother has fondly dubbed this bike ride. However you say it, Logan (Utah) to Jackson Hole (Wyoming) is one of the most scenic and challenging 200 miles to bike ride in the Mountain West.

For Steve and his biking buddies, riding under the TeamGive name, this bike race started at 5:45 a.m. on a crisp autumn (is it still summer in September? It feels like Fall) morning, with temperatures hovering at 45 degrees.

Mike K. and Steve have their "game face" on. Mike looks a little scary and maybe even a little nuts and intense. Steve can hardly wait to climb onto his bike and get started. He is giddy with anticipation of the ride. This will be his 6th time biking Lotoja and this year he gets a special 1,000 miles/5 years medal.

1st Feed Zone: Preston, ID. Yes, folks, Preston. As in the Preston, ID made famous in "Napoleon Dynamite." I drove the support vehicle for Steve, Mike K. and Rian K. At each Feed Zone, I set up all the possible combinations of sustenance and liquid which they could possibly need. I took really good care of these boys.

Feed Zone #2, Montpelier, ID. Still smiling.

The Big Finish. Don't they look so happy, so....satisfied?

(6 of the 15 riders: Steve M., Bryan T., Rian K., Ken C., Jerry G. and Mike K.)

When Steve originally signed up to ride Lotoja this year, it was mainly to ride with his friend, Mike K., who had never ridden this course before. He wanted to help Mike train and be a moral support out on the course. Well, one thing led to another and invitations were given verbally to other biking friends and before he knew it, there was a group of about 15 riders who all wanted to ride this together. Steve and his friends had to figure out all the logistics such as support vehicles, lodging and keeping everyone together during the ride. They ended up riding in a 15 man pace line for the whole 200 miles, with everyone taking a turn at the front, while the rest of the group drafted behind and then rotating to the back so the next in line could take a turn in the front.

It was so fun for me to go and watch Steve do something he loves so much and do it well. I loved knowing that I was part of his success by providing kick bottom support. We saw some beautiful country, I visited with long time friends and made new friends. I met some really cool people and heard their amazing stories. I was very inspired by all the many types of riders I saw complete the amazing athletic feat of riding a bike for 200 miles, over a very difficult course. Congratulations, Steve and TeamGive riders!

Correction

To any who follow Kelsey's Blog through my blog, please note a correction on a new blog address:

www.kelseyandcoveycole11@blogspot.com

She had to cancel a google email account, and apparently it cancelled all things connected with the account, including her blog. Dang, and it was such a great one.

Here's to getting back on the horse...

Labor Day Bed-In

It's 10:30 a.m. on Labor Day 2010, and Steve and I are still in bed watching Dr. Oz, texting friends about going biking later on today, checking email's, facebook, and blogs. Something tells me that we are not as cool as John and Yoko.

Where in the World have YOU run?

In an effort to be efficient this morning, I combined my morning run with the errand of returning videos to Top Hat. I thought this would be a good way to force myself to run some hard hills. As I was plodding down 3100 South, I started thinking about all the cool places I have run. Here is my list so far (I will update as I remember):

Canada:

Victoria, B.C.

Washington State:

San Juan Islands (Roche Harbor)

Monroe

Bellingham

Spokane

Long Beach

Oregon:

Ontario

Portland

Cannon Beach

California:

Laguna Beach

Huntington Beach

Coronado Island/San Diego

New Mexico:

Albuquerque

Texas:

Austin

Arizona:

Lake Powell, near Glen Canyon Dam

Utah:

Logan

Hyrum

Eden

Liberty

Huntsville

Oakley

Echo

Heber Valley

Park City

Salt Lake City

Bountiful

West Bountiful

North Salt Lake

Farmington

Centerville

Kaysville

Layton

Cedar City

Central

Veyo

Saint George

Santa Clara

Colorado:

Denver

Idaho:

Driggs

Wyoming:

Just this side of Driggs

Georgia:

Savannah

Missouri:

Jamesport

Iowa:

Keokuk

Illinois:

Nauvoo

Chicago (Does running through the O'Hare airport while trying to catch a connecting flight count? Even with my pounding on the closed door while yelling, "let me in! I can see the plane, it is sitting RIGHT THERE!")

Wisconsin:

Milwaukee

Door County

Virgina:

Crystal City

Washington D.C.

Massachusetts:

Hopkinton

Ashland

Framingham

Natick

Wellesley

Newton

Brookline

Boston

Somewhere in the Carribean on a Cruise Ship

New York:

How about running from Broadway to catch the subway train back to JFK...does that count??? Dang it!

That's all I have so far. Whenever I go on a trip, I always pack my running clothes/shoes in case I have a chance to go for a quick run. I hauled my running gear on our trip to Israel, but we never had a minute go running. I DID, however, swim in some pretty cool places: the Mediterranean Sea, the Dead Sea, Jordan River, Sea of Galilee....