Life is GOOD!

This is going to be a bit backwards...I thought I knew how to load the pictures in the order I wanted but they are exactly opposite of what I was thinking so we will go backward over the last week. Beginning with the end of our 75 mile bike ride yesterday! This is the group we "rode with". I put that in quotes because we only rode back and forth across each other's paths through out the day.

Pictured left to right--Sandra, Tami, Cindy, Dennis, Tucker, Jason, Rachel, Justin. What a great crew. It was a beautiful day for a ride!
Jas figured out how to use our bikes to together as a "kick stand" at one of the rest stops...Sheesh I love those bikes! About 20 miles in we were cruising, making super great time! Then dun dun dun...Jason flated. Then once he got his changed and we went to start again, Sandra's was flat. Tami had a bit of a bad attitude when the flat first happened. Rude. It was just that littlest bit of competitiveness and watching all those people ride right past us...poor excuse. When Sandra's tire was flat also then we just laughed...what else can you do? After all, it was a RIDE, not a race...just training for next weekend!

This next pic is the "pre-ride" pic of the group.

Isn't Jas so cute? tucked in there behind the other guys? And yes, Tucker is a kid--he is 11! He is an animal! He rocked the 75 miles and is ready to do a full century now!

Sandra, pre ride...

Jas pre ride...see how pumped his legs are? that was before we even started riding! His legs are freakin amazing!

This was the sunrise before the Tour de St. George. That was the ride we did yesterday 10/16/10.

Now for last weekend!

This is the two Les'...Les Cox invited us up to Springdale to celebrate her birthday. We had a delicious and FUN dinner at Pizza Noodle!

Here we are outside their hotel room at the Desert Pearl...the grounds and view were AMAZING! (Sandra's photography skills got that orange flower right over my head...love it!)

Jas and Sandra and I left from Les' house in St. George on Sunday afternoon and rode our bikes...our goal was Springdale, we made it to within 5 miles of Springdale before the two Les' picked us up. It was only 36 miles but it was a tough ride...up the hill out of Hurricane with a head wind made me eversograteful for Jas breaking the wind for me!

Isn't that the most amazing view? Riding bikes in Washington County is always beautiful! The fall weather is PERFECTION too!

Thanks friends for playing with us and riding with us! Love you all!

RIDE TO EMPOWER

I have registered to ride my bike 100 miles in the Ride to Empower on Oct 23, 2010. It is a fundraiser for Breast Cancer. Rather than retype my reasons I have copied and pasted the email I sent to family and friends here:

----- Original Message -----
From: Tami Fullerton
To: Tami Fullerton
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 8:25 PM
Subject: I am eversograteful for breasts!

I am forwarding this to my whole address book. This is the email I sent my mom from the "official website", but I think it says most of what I would want to share with anyone I know about why I am doing this...the only other piece I want to add is that not only did my mom's youngest sister survive breast cancer, only to pass from Ovarian cancer, but breast cancer has also affected an aunt and cousins on my dad's side. This history makes me even more passionate about the issue and even that much more grateful for breasts! I don't plan to solicit more than just this, so don't worry about any pressure. If it speaks to you and you can donate please do. If not then please know that I appreciate your friendship and support in so many other ways!
If you think others might be interested in riding or donating please forward this on.
Yours in Good Health,
Tami

Help Me Ride to Empower
Dear Tami,Won't you help us ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone? This October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I will be riding in Breast Cancer Network of Strength's Ride to Empower. Please make a gift to help Breast Cancer Network of Strength continue providing its indispensable programs and services to anyone touched by breast cancer. Click here to make a donation
Mom, I am riding a 100 mile bike ride on Oct 24, 2010 in support of Breast Cancer Support. It will be a very challenging course--starting in Springdale and riding down through Toquerville, around Quail Creek and Sand Hallow and then out to Apple Valley before returning to Zion. It will be beautiful, but it will have more elevation gain than any ride I've ever tried! I am riding in honor of Aunt Kathi, who's loss we all feel so deeply, and who's example we can only hope to come close to emulating. I am riding because I am so grateful for breasts (their life giving properties, their aesthetic and artistic properties, the enjoyment they bring to babies, husbands, who-have-you)! I am riding to support a cause I deeply believe in.
Here is a copy of the way the money raised is used: When someone's world is turned upside down by a breast cancer diagnosis, Breast Cancer Network of Strength is there, 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Network of Strength is here today to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone. The YourShoes 24/7 Breast Cancer Support Center is a free, confidential resource for information about breast cancer and support. It is the only 24-hour hotline staffed by trained peer counselors who are breast cancer survivors and has interpreters available in more than 150 languages. Breast Cancer Network of Strength does not raise money for research. Instead, we're here today for those who can't wait for tomorrow's cure.
I can personally relate to this cause because when I was diagnosed with my tumors a web based support group was so beneficial to me. How much better would that support have been if I had been able to call and talk to someone who has been there? The support throughout life changing health experience is invaluable. If this is something you feel like is worthy of your support as well I'd love your support. Be it financial, emotional, or by just being you...no pressure, but I thought this was worthy of support and wanted to share that opportunity. Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you think might want to know or help. LOVE YOU!
Your help truly makes a difference in the lives of those touched by breast cancer, and I am grateful for your support.Sincerely, Tami Fullerton
Please make a donation: Click here to visit my Web page
Please join my team: Click here to visit my Web page

15th Anniversary Weekend Getaway

Jas and I have been married for 15 years now...Amazing. Sometimes it seems like a very long time but usually it seems like no time at all. It is the most wonderful feeling to be more and more in love with each other every day. I am super grateful for Jas and for our fantastic relationship. He is my bff and my husband, nice combination.

So to celebrate we went on a long weekend to California. We decided not to make reservations and just to find a hotel on the beach that we wanted to stay in when we got there.

Here is where we ended up-Hyatt Regency at Huntington Beach.

This is the entry to the spa and the courtyard we walked through on our way to our room. The grounds are huge and immaculate.

This is the view of Huntington Beach from our room. Below is the kids' pool area, there are water slides and everything.

This fountain was on the grounds, Jas said "look Tam, its your tattoo!"

We didn't get back in the truck once we parked. That is one of our favorite parts of going to the beach...riding our bikes everywhere we want to go. Here are the bikes at a pit stop with Bolsa Chica Beach in the back ground. Our friends The Hathaways introduced us to this beach and the trail that runs along it all the way from Newport Beach to Long Beach, and WE LOVE IT!

I love the feeling of the tide burying my feet in the sand...thats what this is. On the 2nd morning I went over to the beach (seriously just over a skywalk from the hotel) by myself for a little while (Jas is not a big fan of the beach or the ocean, especially if I am hunting sea shells, so he didn't come along) and the dolphins showed up about 10 minutes after I got out there...it brought happy tears to my eyes. I love the beach, I love the ocean, I LOVE the DOLPHIES!

I feel so incredibly blessed that Jas loves me so much this is the gift he wanted to give me to celebrate 15 years!

Pictures don't usually do the real thing justice, especially when I'm taking them, but this one was close, it was such a beautiful weekend, perfect!

We even rented these beach cruiser bikes on Sunday and rode them 5 miles down to Newport Beach and back, it was a riot, but boy are those bikes heavy and slow compared to what we are used to! We had dinner with a friend and ended up chatting so long that we only had 15 minutes to get them back before the place closed...wow, that was a workout!

It was the perfect weekend, with the perfect life partner. LOVE YOU JAS!

So busy! Had to work 15 hours last week! I have a ton of hours that I have to use by the end of the year or I'll lose them, so I took Jason's birthday off (holiday to me) then I took off our anniversary (holiday to me) then I thought we were going to California last weekend so I had to take Friday off too, but we stayed home and are going this weekend (I can't wait! I LOVE the beach!) We went on a mtn bike ride last weekend, what a riot! We went on the Gem Trail, and the weather was perfect and I rode up and down some rock sections that I don't think I've ever done before, yee haw! Bravery on a mtn bike feels GOOD!
So I'll make a list of some of the things that I am eversograteful for right now:
Jason- my best friend and husband who I still love more every single day, even after 15 years of marriage!
My boobies- I just signed up to do a 100 mile bike ride to raise money for Breast Cancer Support. I have had aunts on both sides of my family have breast cancer. My mom's youngest sister, Aunt Kathi got it twice and passed away from it. I am grateful for my ability to ride my bike 100 miles and for my health and to be able to support such a valuable cause.
Herc- He got to go camping with us last weekend and was SO HAPPY! He makes me happy so I am glad to return the favor occasionally.
Nieces and Nephews- 16 of them and they are AWESOME!
Orange- orange sunrises, orange sunsets, orange jeeps, orange dishes and pans, orange things make me smile!
The Surprise of a Clean House- today is the second time in a month that I have come home to a clean house, Jas' mom surprised us and just did it!
Friends- we have such wonderful friends, they truly are the family we choose for ourselves.
Books- I love to read. Can't get enough of it.
Fall- the weather is so awesome and the smells are tough to beat!
Sleep- think I will go there now!

Kanaraville Falls

Last weekend we went to Kanaraville Falls with our friends the Wilsons. We hadn't ever been there before. It was beautiful! and FUN!

My How Time Flies!

So it is almost unbelievable to me that I have already reached this landmark, but as of July 16, 2010 I am 5--read it FIVE--years post radiation. I can't believe it has been five years. It really doesn't seem that long, except for the part where it seems like another lifetime...I am infinitely grateful for my health. In fact I feel healthier, better, and more well now than ever! And every day in every way I am getting healthier and healthier, every day in every way I am getting fitter and fitter, and every day in every way and I getting stronger and stronger!!!!
Life is good! Life is fun! Life IS!

Party Like A Rock Star!

So we went to Vegas to meet our bff Brent...he just finished his summer semester of law school and came home for a much needed r&r trip. We have missed him a ton. It was so great to see him and hug him and hang out with him.

It always seems that our social standing moves up a notch when Brent is involved. He is the vicarious classy us...we stayed in a fantastic suite at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay...we ate sushi at rm (I had something that started with fireball....it was delicious, especially when I added the wasabi!). I got a ride down early Friday morning with Darb (thanks Darb!), got there at 7:30am and shopped with my mom all day, then went to the pool with Brent, then partied like a rock star with my super sexy hubby!

We went to the Foundation Room at The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay and had an amazing time. We met a new friend Carly, super fun girl who could explain to me why the planes were all lined up...The view was unequaled!

Then on Sunday we went to Sand Hallow with great friends and family--we got sunburned!

Jason, so fabulous in his girl t shirt...totaline...move over bacon.
Brax and Kels and Ryker came down and played with us, what a darling little family! We love them! (and Herc absolutely LOVED Ryker and Ryker absolutely LOVED "the puppy")!

Too Much Fun? What's That Mean?

July has been a riot so far, and there is only more fun to come!

We went down to Vegas and had a night out on the town with our Cousins--Benihana is the BOMB! You've gotta try the Leilani- purple Saki drink, delicious! Plus we got the best deal on a hotel around--Casa De Lefler- fantastic and free : )

Then we got to party like rock stars at the Wilson's...there was swimming, there was slip and sliding, there was trampolining (and crack the egg), and excellent food with some terrific friends...who can resist a 6 year old saying come on Tam Tam?! (Warning these sports take more muscle power, particularly abs, than you remember)

Last but certainly not least we went to Lake Powell with our fabulous friends Mr. and Mrs. Smith. (also joined by Steve and Les and teenagers)

Thursday through

Sunday on a Houseboat in one of the most beautiful places on earth! Pretty hard to beat.

Here is the evidence that Jason actually did get up on the wake board, oh I wish my battery wasn't going dead on the camera (duh, who forgets to charge the battery before a trip?) because Jas was HILARIOUS to watch on the wake board. Picture "Happy Feet" on a wake board and add in a little wraslin' with the rope...my stomach still hurts from laughing so hard! I so coulda won Americas Funniest if I had a video.

This is Sandra coming off the slide on the houseboat...we did relays where one person rowed the dingy boat across the way while the other went off the slide and swam over, then the team had to come back together...it was a riot! Sandra and Dave as a team is hard to beat, such raw athleticism...Jas and I will never be a match between my clumsiness and his water issues, but oh man was it fun!

Jas even got to be the captain of the ship for a brief moment on the way back in...his only regret is he forgot to blare the horn!

We've had such a fun summer so far and are OH SO GRATEFUL for the treasured relationships and memories we have with our family and friends.

Who wouldn't want to be us?

Gratitude

I am so grateful for my Jas and my Herc. Herc is still sprightly and happy and well, mostly. I am so grateful for a job that I enjoy, where I feel like I make a difference in kids' lives. I am so grateful for my bike and my health. I am so grateful for my family--I love them and don't see them all enough (glad to be going to see mom this weekend & going to LION KING!! woot!)
I love my friends, fun and freedom and never having to apologize...can't be beat.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Little Red Riding Hood All Girl Century in Cache Valley, Utah

Yesterday was an amazing day! Jas drove us (me, Sandra, and Bobbi and Caston--Bobbi's son) up to Logan on Friday evening in Mr. Smith's motorhome. Saturday was the 2nd annual (for us--23rd annual for the Red Riding Hood) girls century (for you non cyclists that is a 100 mile bike ride). The theme this year was "Super Red"...

We were indeed super girls. We hoped going in to be able to finish sometime in the 7 hour range (7 hours 59 minutes is still in the 7 hour range).

We KILLED it! We had 5 hours 50 minutes of ride time and 6 hours 15 minutes total time (including stops and lunch)

It was fun, beautiful and I am not dead at all!!

Last year I was thinking it took us almost 9 hours and over 9 hours total, but with my handy dandy blog I can check it out...it took us 7 hours 40 minutes.

So we cut almost 2 hours off our time!

Plus last year I slept the entire 7 plus hour drive home because I was so wiped out...this year I didn't sleep at all on the way home, I did sleep in this morning, but I am still in great shape (all expect those pesky sits bones rub raw that are SORE). I want to do another century soon!

Sandra, Bobbi and I made a great team, we all took turns pulling and kept each other fresh. It was an amazing day and a great ride!

IRONMAN in St. George

St. George hosted our first Ironman race yesterday (May 1, 2010). 2.4 mile swim in Sand Hallow Reservoir (58 degree water), 112 mile bike ride (Sand Hallow to Veyo Loop, loop twice)
Then run a marathon. All in a days work, right?

Tami assumed Jason would want to participate in such a show of fitness and athleticism, so I volunteered us to help. We were part of the Runner's SAG team. We were positioned at the turn around for the marathon (they did two loops so we saw folks twice)

in a Gator (large golf cart). This is the view from the Gator. We were on Red Cliffs Parkway about halfway between Pioneer Park and 1000 East.

I'm pretty sure this is the first woman coming around for the first loop. She was HAULING! The 5th place woman looked like she was pumping even faster (a much shorter girl, but her legs were chugging!)

The sign on the truck says "I think I've been here before" "de ja vu"...kinda funny, though I don't know if the runners thought so. Our job was to sit in the Gator and wait for a call to haul something, be it supplies or runners who can't continue. We did haul a load of ice across the road once. That was it for us. Good, I guess. But somewhat boring when you're there from 11:30am till 7pm. We did get to see the top 5 males and top 5 females all come across--they lapped most competitors. We also got to see a man with a prosthetic leg run past--he was within the top 50 at most, VERY INSPIRING! I wish I had gotten a pic of him, there is the true "Iron" man!

We probably saw a MAX of 500 people come around at least once and many come around twice. We finally took 1 runner in the Gator with us when Dennis came to drive us back to our truck. She had a hamstring injury. She said this is the hardest course ever! I guess a lot of competitors said this is the hardest course they have done--mix the COLD water first thing with the hills on the bike course and run, along with the wind (it was windy, and it was chilly--we had to wear jackets sitting still in the Gator) and it was tough. People did comment that the volunteers and people in general here were so nice and helpful and that the race was well organized, that is good to hear, I hope it will be enough to repeat the event in the future!

Here is Jas dropping off some sweat shirts and a blanket to Dennis and Zach (Zach was a trooper, he broke his arm the night before, but still wanted to volunteer!) as they dropped us off after our shift. He's smiling right? He must have had fun...but he has made it ABUNDANTLY clear that I won't be volunteering him for anything ever again in the future...he does not wish to be charitable just because I want him to, or because it is an athletic event...I will volunteer again for sure, if the Ironman comes this way again. Next time I want to do the bike hand off--that sounds cool (except maybe how early it is)--and my friend Sterling Cabana was in charge of those volunteers this year, so maybe he'll want some extra hands next year. I must mention that Andrea Dansie was the captain over our SAG group and she did a phenomenal job, it was organized and easy to do, we flowed seamlessly. It was just a little boring, a good thing considering that had we been busy it would have meant more competitors had to quit, but still tedious none the less. It is a pretty rare day that I am sore from sitting for too long, but that was the case this morning.

Last pic, but not least. The muscles in this guy's legs and butt were impressive, but I have to wonder if he rode 112 miles in the speedo? Many folks were running in their biker shorts--that seems very uncomfortable, but who am I to judge? Running kills me in so many ways that I can't imagine doing it for 1 mile, let alone 26.2 after swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112 miles...MORE POWER TO ALL COMPETITORS!! YOU ROCK!

TRUE LOVE!

Herc loves his dad. The tongue was out a split second before I clicked...
Herc loves his mama, and mama loves the boy!

Plus cuddling with Kels is GREAT!

Better than great, super comfy...especially since the 'pillow' tops off the remaining half a cushion after Harli ate the rest of the couch...