Once upon a time, three months ago, we ran a marathon

It’s weird now, it’s one of those things that seems like a dream….we ran a marathon…we did what??? This past summer, the Meek fam decided to sign up for the St. George marathon. I asked Jas if he wanted to sign up too, and he said “Sure, why not?” Since the St. George marathon is a lottery marathon, not everyone get’s in, and Jas and I were the only ones out of my whole family that got in. I was like, “wait….what?” I was terrified. We started training late June and began this journey. It was grueling and hard, but it felt amazing. We would get home from school/work 3 times a week, and run between 3-8 miles. Then, we’d get up extra early on Saturdays and run between 8 miles all the way to 20 miles (the longest run we did).

Jas and I felt crappy some of the time, but oh so good the other times. We saw ourselves being in better shape, getting tanner, having our hair lighten up in the sun, and see places we hadn’t before, because we were running all the time. It was amazing.

Myron and Myra (Jason’s parents) came down to St. George to watch us run, and we loved having them there. We got there in the afternoon, and went straight to the center where they gave us our running numbers and chips. It was so fun to see how many people were there, hanging out and talking. There were hundreds of vendors, giving away free stuff and prizes. I have to admit, I was intimidated by all the freakin huge calves people seemed to have. I remember telling Jason “How are we going to be able to compete with people who have calves like that?” We got our numbers, and our bag of goodies, and we headed to the Pasta Factory to carb load. It was delicious as always, but I felt so sick from just eating carbs the last few days. After that, we went back to the condo to just relax. Around 10:00 pm, we tried to go to sleep. I had a hard time sleeping since I was so nervous.

BEFORE THE RUN

We woke up at 4:00 am, and Myron took us to the bus stop. We all loaded in a bus and started up the canyon. The bus ride was so fun! Everyone was nervously talking; I was looking outside at the road I would be running, and just thinking. Jason kept asking me why I was so quiet…he knew I was nervous.

When we got to the top of the canyon, there were so many people around, and different stations everywhere you looked. There was an eating stations (bananas, apples, bagles, gels), a drinking station (Gatorade & water), there was a sunscreen station, and a Vaseline station (to prevent chaffage). Then there were like a bazillion outhouses, with huge long lines to go before we started running.

Then they told us there was 5 minutes till we started. I put on my running mix to get pumped, and to get the nerves out of my stomach. I gave Jas a spank on the butt for good luck (sorry if that’s an over share), and we started running.

There is something amazing running with hundreds, even thousands of people with the same goal. It’s a great feeling. Every three miles, there was an aid station with water, Gatorade, oranges, gels, etc… I would drink a water and a Gatorade every time.

I was doing well until the 7^th mile, when there was a NASTY hill….it seriously was up hill for 5 miles. It was like a mirage. I kept thinking I saw the top, and then it would disappear. I got to the point, where I wouldn’t let myself look at the top of the hill because I was dying to get to get there. I would look at Jason, and he looked like this was the easiest thing he’d ever done.

Then I was great until the 23^rd mile. That is when things started to get excruciating. Your legs start to shut down and cramp up. You have to distract yourself from every mile-mark. This is when Jason started to struggle. He kept me going the first half of the marathon, and I kept him going the last half. The worst worst hardest part is that last mile. You think you’re there, and you’re not, and you think you are there, but you still aren’t. And all these ambulences and going up and down the trail because people can’t make it.

One of the things that kept me going were all the people on the side cheering you on. There are these hilarious signs people are holding up, like “No pain, no gain”, or “if there isn’t chaffage, there is no victory.” I would just laugh my head off at those signs. And THANK HEAVENS for the people who brought those spraying machines. They would spray me in the face with water, and it felt like heaven.

Then we crossed the finish line..holding hands. Cheesy, but worth it. Seriously, I started crying. It was a combination of, “I can’t believe we did that, I’m proud of us, and I’m so glad that ‘hellish’ run is over.

Jason and my legs hurt worse than they’ve ever hurt, and we couldn’t walk normally for about a week, but it was so worth it. It was the hardest thing I’ve done so far, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We ended up getting the time of 4 hours and 30 minutes, 30 minutes more than we wanted, but I couldn’t be more proud.

AFTER THE MARATHON (DYING...We could barely stand up)

I totally want to run another one!

Dearest Blog

Dear Blog,

I am so sorry for not writing. I know that you feel forgotten and forsaken, but I think about you all the time. I think, “oh my gosh, I need to post to our blog, so I can remember this part of my life later on.” Because Ms. Emily is horrible and she doesn’t keep a journal and is not good at taking pictures. Basically, she is the worst. Good thing that she has a semi good memory, or else we would be screwed.

So blog, I will not forget you…I will try to write at least once a week. Please forgive me. This sounds like a love-letter doesn’t it?

Love,

-Emily Anne Meek Davies

A quick recap of our lives since September. I will write about each specific thing later…but here we go:

1. Emily is still working at KSL Deals, and loves it. She works all the time, but she loves her job.

2. Emily & Jason ran their 1^st marathon in St. George. They received a time of 4:30, and would be more proud. I will write about this more in depth too, but it was an amazing experience.

3. Jason got a job as an orderly at IMC hospital, which was an answer to our prayers. We feel really blessed. Now, he is super busy with full time school and a part-time job.

4. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Davies family, and then hung out with the Meek family (Jamie, Jenny, and Emily, tried to go Black Friday shopping (BAD IDEA). We got pulled over on the way to Target, and the cop then hit on Jamie. It was hilarious. Who wouldn’t hit on Jamie?

5. We have been getting ready for Christmas, and we are loving the Holiday season…but we aren’t really happy about the NO SNOW factor.

6. We have already done some of our yearly Christmas traditions with the Meek Family, went to see the Michael McLean concert, had Grandma Love’s Christmas party, and went to see The Christmas Carol at the Hale Theatre and LOVED IT.

7. Tonight, we are doing the Meek tradition of Spaghetti Factory and Temple Square lights, I can’t wait. I love the Holidays.

8. Jas and I are just hanging out, busy as ever, and lovin’ life.

I will write more later, but Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy Holidays. I hope that it is filled with joy and happiness, with plenty of family time, which is the most important thing.

'Tis the Time for Boots!

I made a decision Sunday night. I stepped out of my in-laws house around 9:00 pm and I smelled it. You know exactly what I am talking about. The crisp, cold, smell of Fall. I knew it was time...time to pull out the boots, tights and scarves. So Boots....GET ON MY FEET! I have missed you my old friends. Please don't leave me for a loooong time.

So guess what I wore to work. A pencil skirt, tights, & Cognac Boots and DAAAAAAAAANNNNGG do I feel good!

I had a really bad day....and there was only 1 thing that could cheer me up...

Once upon a time, I had a really bad day at work. It was one of these days at work:
1. You don't have one spare minute the whole day
2. Things are too busy to take a lunch
3. Everyone around you seem to be the most annoying people in the world.
4. Every sound seems 10 times louder than it normally is
5. Jas and I had a bit of a discussion/argument the night previous which added to my mood.
6. Not enough caffeine in my system.
7. The phone won't stop ringing.
8. Stressed.
9. Deadlines.
10. Cravin chocolate.

This is what I come home to:





Yes, I know. It was the sweetest thing ever.
1. Jas got my beautiful flowers
2. The sweetest card may have made me tear up.
3. Chocolate...Oh yeah, I ripped open the first package and ate it right there.
4. Frye Flats...they are adorable and go with everything.

What did I do to deserve such a great husband? Maybe we should fight more often? JK.

Sometimes he makes me smile so big, I look like the Cheshire Cat off Alice and Wonderland. I know....seriously....the resemblance is uncanny!





I Love you Jas...

St. George Marathon...2 Weeks Away

11 Things to Love about Training for a Marathon:
1. The feeling you get after you run farther than you ever have before.
2. Your legs get more toned.
3. After you run more than 13 miles on a Saturday, you feel like you can eat anything you want.
4. On the long runs, you burn more than 2,000 calories.
5. Experiencing new beautiful areas you haven't seen before.
6. Getting tan and hair bleached from being in the sun.
7. Your metabolism speeds up.
8. You get to check something off your bucket list
9. Realizing my body can do things I never thought it could
10. Being able to mope around the rest of the day Saturday after doing a longer run.
11. Training for it with Jason.


11 Things To Hate about Training for a Marathon
1. On VERY long runs, your legs cramp up so bad, it is all you can think about
2. Having to hobble around the rest of Saturday and Sunday after a really long run
3. The mind games you play while you run....only 3 more miles....half way there....30 more steps, etc...
4. Running so much that it is the first time I have ever been sick of running in my life.
5. Sweat....Chaffage.....dry salt particles on the face and body.
6. How ornery I am before a run or during a run
7. What lots of energy gummies do to my system if I eat too many
8. Doing my weekday runs at night, after week, when that is the last thing I want to do
9. Getting really nervous for my long runs, and for the marathon
10. Feeling like Jason has to wait for me all the time.... (I am slower than he is)
11. Having to ice anything that hurts afterwards....I hate ice...it is not fun!


(This is us running in the winter...but it was the only pic I could find)

I will tell you how it turns out. It has been a very great experience so far, and we run it in 2 weeks. Wish us luck!

Remember the days that Britney Spears was the shiz?

I was hanging out at my parents house one day last week, and I caught my Mom humming "Lucky" by Britney Spears. It brought back so many memories. Like when Britney Spears was the shiz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vvBAONkYwI

It is worth a trip down memory lane.

While watching this Music Video, a lot of memories came back.
1. Jamie and I used to Karaoke to her songs in our basement all the time. We would take turns and pretend we were Britney Biatch
2. I may or may not have dressed up like Britney Spears for Halloween one year. Yes, I was the school girl Britney, and yes, I looked gooooood.
3. The Britney Glee has been my favorite episode so far.
4. Jamie, Jenny, and I used to rent her playstation game where it played all her songs. It was kind of like Dance Dance Revolution, but for your fingers.
4. And yes....Jason and I are kind of obsessed with her new song "I Wanna Go".

So I guess I still think Britney is the shiz...even if she is a crazy.

1 Year Anniversary...EEEYYYOOO

Yesiree...1 year ago (well I am writing this a little late), but on June 30th of last year, Jas and I were married in the beautiful Salt Lake Temple. It was the best day of our lives. I cannot believe it has been one year! Over this year, Jason and I have learned a lot about each other. I have learned that:

1. Jason loves loves Hamburgers. Any day he has a delicious hamburger, it's a good day.
2. He snores when he sleeps on his back. Whenever this is happening, I just roll him over, and the horrid snoring stops.
3. He is an amazing cook. Because I don't get home from work sometimes until 5:30 or 6, Jason has started cooking. His specialties are: BBQ Ribs, Sweet and Tangy Chicken, Yummy tacos, 3 Cheese Pasta, Toasted Tuna Sandwiches, etc... I am so grateful when I am starving my butt off, to come home to an amazing cooked meal.
4. He is any girl's Diets worst nightmare. This can be a good or bad thing. When I am craving something horrible(like some super unhealthy ice cream, or in and out burger) he says "Oh yeah, that sounds amazing, let's go get it right now!" He needs to say "Em, we are trying to eat healthy!"
5. He gives the best back massages ever. I don't even have to ask him, and he will just sense when I am in need of a de-stressing back massage. He draws on my back until I fall asleep.
6. He takes care of me better than anyone. When you are married and get the flu, you usually miss your Mom and how she used to take care of you. I still miss my Mom, but Jason does such a great job. He puts me in bed, makes me soup, rents me movies, warms me up cornbags (even though he DESPISES the smell), and just waits on me hand and foot. I'm so grateful for that.
7. He has the best smile and laugh. Whenever he is laughing hard, it makes me laugh (even if he is laughing at something I did)
8. He has an amazing voice. Whenever I come home and Jason is just playing the guitar and singing, I love it. Especially when he writes songs about me.
9. Jason loves Thai Food, Sushi, and Fro Yo...3 of my favorite things!
10. He loves watching & playing soccer. Who woulda thought? I didn't even try to convert him, it was just a natural thing, and I love it!
11. He is the best husband, and best friend a girl could ask for. I'm so grateful that I went to Lake Powell and met this amazing guy.

To celebrate our anniversary, we first of all played and won our soccer game. We play in a league with my family and love every minute of it. Then we came home, showered really fast and went to The Crab Shack. I had heard amazing things about this place, and we had been wanting to try it.

We ordered their famous Crab Steam Pot. It came with tons of crab legs, potatoes, sausages, corn on the cob, and shrimp in a huge steamy bowl of goodness!

This is the Steam Pot BEFORE:





This is the Steam Pot AFTER:



We conquered that Biatch.

The Crab Shack atmosphere was so fun! We loved putting on the bibs and cracking away at the crab legs. I am not the best cracker, but the delicious crab is worth on the crackin'...even though I am pretty sure I got some cuts in the process.













Crab Shack was so delicious and fun. When we got home, at midnight mind you, we had to eat a slice of our wedding cake.





It was such a great night, and we have had the best year together. Jas...I am so grateful for this wonderful year that we have experienced together, and can't wait for many more to come. Love you babe.

Jason's 23rd Birthday

Happy b-day to you, Happy b-day to you, Happy b-day dearest Jasy, Happy b-day to you. It was so fun to celebrate Jason's birthday, even though I am writing about it a little late. July has flown by so fast, and it freaks me out. Seriously, is Summer almost over? I think we were cheated out of Summer a little bit because it was cold for so long, and now I am not ready for it to be over!

Anyways, Jason's b-day was on June 27th. We met his family for lunch at Little America and then got some amazingly tasty thai food at Sawadee. My favorite thing about that place is their Massaman Curry...seriously delicious. AND...the fact that the food comes out in 5 minutes and 23 seconds (I timed it). Jason's favorite part is their fried banana dessert. When it is your b-day, they come out with bongo drums, sing Happy Birthday to you about 50 times, and then give you your delicious fried banana dessert. It was such a fun night.



Happy b-day babe. I love you so much. I am excited that we get to spend every b-day together now and down the road, even when we are 87.

Update on Mi Vida

Hola peeps. Long time no talk! Just wanted to update you on life.

1. At the end of the summer, Jason will have his associates degree, and is going to be attending the U of U in the Fall. Woo Woo! Go BYU :)

2. I am doing well at my job at KSL. I love the people I work with, and love feeling like I am really contributing to an organization. Baby Steps to getting a raise...baby step to getting a raise!

3. We are continuously training for the St. George marathon. We are on week 4 of training, and man...I am tired...and a big pansy! I need to start getting my butt outta bed in the morning so I don't have to run at night in the 80 degree weather! This also means that I need to get off the 4 cans a pop a day habit and get some water in my system!

4. We are playing in a soccer league with my fam: Jason, me, Jenny, Tay, Mikey, Jamie, and Trent, and it is so much fun. There is nothing like playing soccer with the fam! Oh yeah...we kick some definite trash. The other great thing is Jason all the sudden loves soccer. This is definitely a step up from his football basketball football basketball obsession!

5. We are counting down the days to our planned vacations! We are going to Park City with Jason's family over the fourth, going on a yearly river trip with my fam and the Bullard's the first week of July, and we are going to California with the Meek family in August.

6. Jason's b-day is coming up on June 27th, the big 23! Man, we are getting old.

7. Our 1 year wedding anniversary is coming up on June 30th. This first year has just flown by, and has been such a great one! I hope the next 50 years are just as great!

That is all for now! I will write soon.
Probably about the midnight showing of the last Harry Potter on July 15th! Can't believe this is the end!

Les Miserables-Best Play Ever!

Jason did a really sweet thing...he bought us Les Mis tickets! He knows how obsessed I am with the music, the characters, and the amazing story. I just love it! He got them for us for our 1 year anniversary. Can't believe it has almost been that long. We will be married 1 year on June 30th.

Anyway, we went to see it at the Capitol theatre, and it was amazing. I loved the characters, their voices, and the love stories (of course).

Jason just smiled at me the whole time because I just stare at the stage in amazement with my mouth slightly open, laugh, and cry the whole time. The best thing about it was that he loved it too!

I am such a cheeseball its embarassing...but the first step is admitting it.

'Scuse the bad picture, it was taken with my ipod. We had to mind the "No Flash Photography rule"

St. George Marathon

I know it has been a long time since I have written...man I need to be better at this. Just a quick note to tell ya that Jas and I are running the St. George Marathon! I know...scary huh? My family wanted to all sign up, but Jason and I were the only ones that got in :(. We are going to try and get more spots for the fam, but we will see. Wish us luck in training!

OH-IO

For my birthday, Jason got us two tickets to go to Ohio. This was back in March, but I wanted to post about it. It was so fun to see Matt & Haiquis and cute little Camila, & Jamie, Trent, Lucy, and baby Ruby.

This trip was so fun. I am so glad that we got to hang out with my fam in Ohio. The bad news was that I got a horrible cold right when I got there...so I only got to hold cute little Ruby Tuesday for the first day! :(

The trip was full of shopping, delicious food, and hanging out with my cute sisters & brother & my little nieces. I love them so much, and am so grateful for them.




Grafitti Burger=Best Burger we have ever had!


Oh Baby Bo Bo, you are adorable, and I love how you dance!


I love this little Sassy girl!


Trent with his nasty mustache...ew. But Rubsy Tuesday is the cutest!



Jason & Ruby


Cute Mother & Daughter