Autumn lurve

I go seriously geeky over autumn - it's without a doubt my numero uno season of the year. I have warm, spicy fall scents in my home year round (yes, even when it's 95 degrees outside) and I was the kid who would always insist on wearing her new sweaters the first week of school, no matter the weather, no matter the uncomfortable sweaty-girl-in-the-second-row factor.  So when the first couple days of school are on the chilly side like they have been this year, I have to sit on my hands to keep from throwing up some autumn decor and making oatmeal raisin cookies.

Stuff like this really makes my heart go pitter patter:

(source: unknown)

(source: unknown)

Doesn't that second picture make you want to just curl up in the chair and read a book? It looks so warm and inviting to me, without being over the top, beat-you-senseless-with-a-leaf-garland autumn-y.

I know I'm not alone in my love for this season but I'm wondering... when is it socially acceptable to start decorating? And unless it's tomorrow, am I willing to wait that long? Probably not, friends. Probably not.

13.1

I ran a half marathon this past weekend! We drove down for the Top of Utah half, and a few of my sister's nearest and dearest ran with her to celebrate her birthday.  It was pretty much the hardest thing I've ever done. Even through the pain (after mile 10 stuff started to go downhill fast and I sort of wanted to lie down on the side of the road and die) it was an amazing experience, one that I'm sure I will always remember.

It was a beautiful course, running down the canyon as the sun came up behind you was incredible. It made me wish I had a camera (but not really, because running 13 miles with a camera sounds even worse than just running 13 miles... and that sounds pretty dumb all by itself!)

By mile 12 though, we were hobbling along (we called it "shuffling") because my sister's heel was hurting, and my left toes were numb and I had a blister forming on my right foot. We stopped by our families to get a drink of water (or at least my sister got a drink of water... water stealer.)

My sister's youngest son threw on a tutu and joined us to run (ahem. "shuffle") the last mile, and I can't tell you how happy I was to cross the finish line. Until I got sick. Duuuuumb. I couldn't even enjoy the free ice cream bars they were handing out, I thought I was going to pass out!

But after we calmed down, soaked our poor feet in the ice bucket of victory and discussed how that was the stupidest thing we had ever, EVER done and how we'd both rather have a few more babies without drugs than run 13.1 miles again...

...we decided to do it again next year. 'Cause we're smart like that.

Ready or not, here I come

Well, I guess it's about time I started a blog! I should introduce myself... I'm Anna, I am married to a wonderfully kind, patient man who loves me and my flaws. We have 2 amazing young boys who keep us on our toes and an assortment of animals who bring me alternating times of stress and joy.

I am a project person!! I like to paint, and then sometimes I like to re-paint because I changed my mind. I like to cook, except when my overactive mama radar acts up and I spill a pizza all over the open oven and kitchen floor instead of  getting it onto the oven rack to bake, all while protecting the invisible child who was not running into the kitchen like I thought. I like to decorate, make elaborate plans, write lists, and I can sew a straight line (sort of). I looooooove to talk, and I'd much rather write about all my fabulous ideas or thoughts than talk to myself in the bathroom mirror. That's just weird.

So here we go. A little of this, a little of that. It's random, but hopefully it's fabulous too!