R-R-R Matey

The pumpkin we (Stu) carved on Sunday was starting to look really sad and droopy, so Stu decided to carve another pumpkin just in time for Halloween. We call him R-R-R-Matey. Looks pretty cool huh?

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Honey!!

Today Stu is 26!!! I wanted this day to be extra special because he turned 26 on the 26th. I think over all the day was good.

We woke up and went to church. It was the primary program and of course the kids are adorable so the program was a hit. We then headed over to Doug and Tiffany's for the annual pumpkin carving party. Luckily the weather was nice (last year it rained). Stu was our master carver and carved the SCREAM mask.

Stu, Kyrie and Josh carving their pumpkins

The Reeder Pumpkin. Don't SCREAM!!!

After pumpkin carving we headed up to Stu's parents house for Stu and Melissa's birthday dinner (Melissa Stu's younger sister's birthday is 3 days before Stu's). We had a yummy dinner and sang "Happy Birthday" to both Stu and Melissa and then Stu's opened his presents. All Stu wanted for his birthday was a flat screen TV. Since he 'really didn't want anything else' buying gifts for him were hard. But overall I think he made out well with all the gifts he got.

Stu asked for a 12 pack of Mountain Dew. He got a 36 pack instead

Stu and Sarah celebrating his birthday

26 things you (may) know and love about Stu:

1. Stu is a Scorpio

2. Stu is the oldest of 4 kids

3. Stu has 1 brother and 2 sisters

4. Stu loves to mountain climb

5. Stu has climbed Mount Reiner in Washington (an active volcano)

6. Stu wrestled in Junior High

7. Stu loves to tease

8. Stu always knew what he wanted to be when he grew up and he is still working on that goal

9. Stu has excellent work ethic and works so hard for our family

10. Stu favorite color is blue

11. Stu is a huge University of Utah fan

12. Stu was a 'woops' baby (thank goodness he was)

13. Stu was engaged once before but never got married

14. Stu has been skiing since he was 3

15. Stu loves the Denver Broncos

16. Stu is an awesome cook (he gets that from his mom)

17. Stu is a freak about germs (funny since he works in the medical field)

18. Stu loves the History Channel or anything that he can learn something new about

19. Stu built his own computer (he is a wiz at electronics)

20. Stu loves video games and action movies

21. Stu is a fast runner (comes in handy when he is running from the cops ;))

22. Stu is a loyal friend and would do anything for his friends

23. Stu wanted to get married in his chacos (they are like sandals)

24. Stu would love to live in the mountains and live off the land (I told him I need a mall)

25. Stu loves anything pumpkin

26. Stu is the love of my life!!

Birthday Celebrations

Stu will be 26 on October 26th (Sunday). Not too much you can do on Sunday so we did Stu's birthday celebrations on Saturday the 25th.

Friday night we went to see the annual Warren Miller film to get our free Canyon's pass (and of course I feel asleep..the movie is sooo long), so we decided to sleep in on Saturday.

Saturday we awoke to a beautiful day. The weather was perfect!! I decided to take the dog for a run, and we accomplished 4 miles. But I will tell you what...I was hurting-again. Am I just not meant to run anymore?

At noon Stu and I headed to Bountiful to eat lunch at our favorite sandwich place before heading up to Layton for a couples massage. The massage was awesome and much needed. After our massages we went to get pedicures. Again...very nice and relaxing. We finished off the day with dinner at Rio Grande (a Mexican restaurant-Stu's favorite) with friends.

Stu and Sarah right after they got their massage. See how relaxed we are???

Stu and Sarah after our pedicures

Hyrum, Sarah and Tiffany
Doug, Stu and Emily

Did you know???

What was I doing 10 years ago:
1. I was attending my 2nd year of college at Southern Utah University
2. I moved into a 2 bedroom apartment with 5 girls in Salt Lake City
3. Got a job working with my best friend Krisite doing inventory for J.C. Penny
4. I was engaged to be married
5. I didn't end up getting married

5 things on my to do list today:
1. Go see the new Warren Miller film
2. Finish shopping for Stu's birthday
3. Go to bed early
4. Watch the shows I missed last night online
5. Work (sometimes I just don't want to)

5 Favorite Snacks
1. Brownies
2. Chips and Salsa
3. 100 Calorie Snacks by Nabisco
4. Salt and Vinegar Chips
5. Fruit

5 Jobs I've Had
1. Customer Service Rep at K-Mart
2. Cashier at Bird World (a pet store)
3. Cashier at Anderson Lumber
4. Supervisor at Clarke American
5. Customer Service Rep at Fidelity Investments

5 Things I'd do with a million dollars
1. Pay off ALL our debt
2. Pay off our parents debt
3. Take the whole family (both sides) to Europe (not all together however)
4. Take my Grandparents to see a Denver Bronco Football Game and get the really nice seats
5. Go to Australia and finally scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef

5 things that made me laugh this week
1. Ameriquest Commericals (here is the link to watch them...HILARIOUS http://www.wtfhumor.com/view/160)
2. Grey's Anatomy last night. Someone dropped something in the OR and Bailey said "5 second rule" and they picked it up.
3. My dog, he is just like a little kid. He moves his food around so it is in a corner where I can't see it if I just glance at it and then he goes to the pantry to get a treat because he knows he gets one when his dinner is gone. I now have to go over to his bowl and pick it up to make sure his dinner is all gone
4. My husband when he talks in his funny voices
5. When I run to catch the train every day. I push it to the last minute and run like a crazy person with my coat, purse, lunch tote and book all in my hands. I laugh because I know others think I look like an idiot.

5 people to tag:(but not limited to those listed)
1. Sunny Bunny
2. Hillary
3. Page & Jason
4. Sonia
5. Kyrie & Josh
6. Amanda (so you can update your blog)

A Reeder Recap

Not to much is happening on the Reeder front. However here is an update on our family.

Stu is plugging along with school. He is now just trying to get from one break to the next. He just finished fall break and Thanksgiving is what he is looking forward to. Each day his pin point of light at the end of the tunnel of school is getting bigger and bigger. 2 weeks ago, Stu got called to be the asst. clerk in the ward. He is in charge of finances. We got new counselors and new clerks. I told Stu he was close to being called as a bishopric counselor. He glared at me :)

Blue is getting fat. I mean not to fat, but I find myself not really taking him for a walk or anything. He does get his ball thrown everyday, but he is not getting the proper exercise. I feel bad about this.

As for me. Tried running yesterday for the 1st time since the marathon. That was not a good idea. All the pains that I got during the marathon came back to bit me. So I took it to a fast walk. I think secretly Stu and Blue were glad I slowed it down. :) Got a visit from one of my BFF from NYC. Amanda (AJ) Douglas came out for a wedding and stayed with us a few nights. Although I would have loved to spend more time with her, I took what I could get. Other than neglecting my house work to finish up my scrap booking (I have to get caught up before the end of the year) we had a pretty good week.

Amanda and Sarah at Bethany's wedding

26.2...Really???

Do you know the history of a marathon? Pheiddippides a Greek messanger was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon. He ran the entire distance (26.2 miles) without stopping and burst into the assembly explaining "We have won" before collapsing and dying.

What a nice thought- collapsing and dying.

October 3rd the day before the marathon

Liz Royall and I went to pick up our marathon packets. We had traveled down to St. George the day before so that Friday we could just relax and not do anything but veg. We were excited to pick up our packets. We discovered what number we were, got our St. George Marathon memorabilia shirts and gazed at all the excited runners that would be joining us the next day. Later that night after Stu arrived we went to the Pizza Factory so Liz and I could start the carb loading process. I would like to note the weather. Nice blue skies, temp at about 75-80 degrees.

Sarah picking up her marathon packet

4:30 AM October 4th-Marathon Day!

Liz and I got up at 3:45 AM to get ready for the big day and to traveled to the bus pick up station. The weather was set for rain much like the whole state of Utah. We checked the weather conditions the night before and the higher % of rain was set for the afternoon. Liz and I felt confident that we would get rain but it would be later in the race when you want it to help you cool down. The start of the race was met with rain. Down pour really. Liz and I were dressed warmly because the start of the race is always cold, but we did not bring an umbrella. :) The rain was coming off and on. Hard then soft. Luckily for us, they were passing out garbage bags that you can rip a hole in the bottom and pull it over your head to help protect your body from the cold rain. Bon fires were raging but we decided to find a car we could sit by to help protect us from the rain. We both said to each other "We did not sign up for rain"

6:45 AM October 4th-Start of the Marathon

Liz and I decided to wait till the last minute to go stand in line for the bathrooms. After sitting for an hour huddled next to the car and bundled in our garbage bags for warmth we decided to hit the bathrooms. The gun sounded for the wheelchair race and then a few moment later the gun sounded for the start of the marathon. Since each runner has a timing chip on their shoes once they hit the mat and active their chip that is when your marathon starts. It took about 10 min for the group Liz and I were in to hit the mat and off we went. I would like to note that..it is still raining.. hard. Liz and I both still have our garbage bags on over our clothes.

7:00 AM- 12:15 PM October 4th-During & End of the Marathon

The rain never let up the whole race. The end was never in sight. I would like to say that Liz and I laughed about the down pour, but in all honesty- I just cried. I did not want to subject myself to this. The weather was terrible, the rain was pelting at our face with about 15 mile hour head winds that just beat the body down. At about mile 8 I broke down and cried. I just wanted to end the torture and get warm. My feet were soaked, my garbage bag didn't do anything to keep the rain out, but I strangely found it comforting to have it with me-like a long lost friend.

Once we got half way (13.1 miles), we realized we were about 40 min off our time and knew that we would not make our goal of 4 hours 30 min. I wanted to cry again, instead I tried to find a phone to call Stu so our support group didn't come stand in the rain for an hour when we knew we would not be there for awhile. Once the call was made I felt better knowing our group would be warm a little while longer. We were already wet, we didn't want them to be miserable too.

The rest of the race was a blur. I just tried to get to each mile marker. Just one more mile I would tell myself.

Once mile 22 hit the rain let up and I was finally able to say good bye to my garbage bag. Really I wanted to keep it and frame it, but decided I carried it around long enough and it was time to part.

26 mile marker. Stu and my brother Cannon greeted us. What a relief it was to see them. I knew were were almost done. Just few more blocks. Liz saw her mom and I looked for my grandparents as we ran down the chute to the end of the race.

Liz and Sarah as they turned the corner to head home

26.2 miles 5 hours 13 min and 05 seconds later-October 4th

Liz and I finished at the exact same time. The lady that put the finisher ribbon around my neck gave me a HUGE hug and said "You did it, you finished". I just about lost it in this lady's arms, but luckily I held it together.

I would like to say that I don't ever want to do this again, but now that I didn't make my time it makes me want to do it again. I had a goal, this goal was stomped by mother nature and now I want to go out and say "I can do this, I can make it this time". I guess time will only tell.

Thank you to Stu, Cannon, my Grandparents, Mom Royall and Jen for coming to support us. And thank you Liz for saying "We can do this, we can finish" when I thought all hope was lost.

Stu and Sarah at the finish line

Liz and Sarah with their Finisher metals

Sarah's support group: Stu, Cannon, Sarah, Grandma & Grandpa

*This race was the 32nd Annual Marathon in St. George

*This race was only the 2nd time it has ever rained. The 1st time was 25 years ago

*The youngest runner was 10. The oldest runner was 84

*The day after the marathon we had blue skies and perfect 65 degree weather