The Hood to Coast Relay Race

So forgive me for posting this so late as well as the pics are kind of backwards, so if you want to get the best overall of the Hood to Coast, start from the bottom up with the pics.

The race was awesome. I am so grateful for a wonderful team who consisted van 1... Mark Friess, Aaron Williams (Marks bro-in-law), Brent Friess, Emily Montgomery, Dan Friess and ME, as well as Jack and Lucas our little dudes who hung out in the back of the van cheering us all on, and our driver Byron Jackson (Mark's dad-in-law). Then in Van 2...Bob Friess, John Friess, Robert Montgomery, Dan Fry, Jed Thomas, Dan Cook, and Charlie Pederson and their driver Sharon Friess.

During the summer I had broke a rib, but prayed that would heal in time to do the race,...and it did. Then 2 weeks before the race, I injured my knee during one of my morning runs. It gradually got worse. So with the prayers of hundreds of people (literally hundreds, my mom is in the mormon tab choir and put my name on their prayer roll) as well as from all my family and friends around and a priesthood blessing from Dan. All I was wanting was to be able to run the race. Wow, faith and prayers are a wonderful thing. Not only did my knee not hurt much, but I was able to run 13 miles (total of my 3 legs of the race) and no sleep! I loved the race. My van rocked. I was hardly sore 2 days after the race! YEAH.

I hope that we can get into the race next year. Enjoy the pics. Love you all

Our team and volunteers! minus a few runners from van 2.

Crossing the finish line with John having the last leg of the race

Finish line

Emily and her Goo...total BFF's

Robert to me (my final leg)

Stellar Robert

This is our van during one of our stops for the night (it is around 6 am) we had to sleep outside on the ground in the rain! RAD. Dan and I are the 2 blue sleeping bags in the front.

Ya, this is our rad road kill (the number of people you pass during your legs of the race)

My first leg, I got road KILLED like 15 times!

sorry not in order, but our team at the end. Yeah...loads of fun and crazy busy at the coast

Mark, Aaron and Dan...some of my rad van members

Mark getting ready to run

my night run which was along the water front in Downtown Portland!

John transferring to me

Our first big stop at Em's house where she had a spaghetti dinner and floors to sleep

me watching Brent eat nasty canned oysters

Brent eating the nasty canned smoked oysters (which gave him the runs)

Em to Brent

Emily is off!

me handing it off to Em

my first leg to Emily's

Dan transferring over to me

Dan to me...I love this photo of us

Me waiting for Dan

Aaron our first runner taking off

Mt. Hood

the Friess Fliers/Journey Gym Team

Me and my hot hubby

Cohen and I

sweet havers (and bennett?)

So I know these aren't pics of the Hood to Coast Race yet, but at least I'm posting something right? These are photos from the famous Gunson Reunion on Dan's side. I had major bronchitis and broke my rib here at the reunion but I had lots of help from family.

I am hoping to get pictures and details for you about the Hood to Coast which was AMAZING by the way. Tell you all about it soon!

End of Summer

It has been a crazy summer for us here. With school getting out so late (June 20th) and our entire month of July packed with activities, I have had little time to do things like sitting down at the computer for blogging. Just a quick rundown...

Dan and I are currently training for the awesome Hood to Coast Relay Race coming up next weekend...in case you are unaware of it, it is the largest relay race in the world. Runners from all over participate in this event. We started training officially the beginning of July but then I got bronchitis and got to coughing so hard I broke my rib the middle of July. So I lost a good month or more of training, but 2 weeks ago I got back on track with the help from a friend who has run the Hood to Coast several times along with several marathons. So I am back on and Excited. I will be leaving Cohen for the day and a half, so I will have to bring along my good friend...THE BREAST PUMP.

The kids are all ready (as am I) for school to start. Haven will be going into first grade and Myah just makes the deadline for Kindergarten. She is really excited to be at school with her big sister. They have been amazing helpers with Cohen. They are the best entertainers while I am busy doing my mom things around the house. Haven lost a tooth the end of her school year (her first one). And now she has like 4 more loose! The girls participated in their library's summer reading program and we read about 800 minutes! They got all sorts of fun prizes along the way for doing so great. Cohen is 7 months on the 25th of August, the same day Myah turns 5!! Cohen is getting so big so fast. He is in the 90th percentile for height and weight. He is now crawling and sitting up and saying "dada dadadada" We love him. He looks just like a blond Haven.

SHE DID IT!!

Well, after 4 LONG years my mom finally graduated from BYU with a Bachelors in Psychology and a Minor in Marriage, Family and Human Development. With a GPA of 3.92!!!  I am so proud of this woman.  She was so dedicated and committed during this long journey.  So mom, here's to you for being the outstanding, lovely, graduated woman that you are.  I love you so much.  Thanks for being an awesome example to me and all those around you.  You have inspired me to work a little harder and sacrifice a little more.  Way to go mom!  

Sadly I was not able to go out for her graduation.  My brother and I were the only ones not attending such a momentous occasion.  Looking at the pictures with all my sisters (who are drop dead gorgeous by the way!) seriously makes me wish even more I was there to be with them all.  

Janine Wood Green

BYU Graduate

My lovely mom

Isn't it amazing that this woman had nine kids?  Mom you are a knock out!!

Ashley, Mom, Jessie

My little but way to grown-up sisters.

Ashley also is graduating this year!!

My beautiful sisters

Jessie, Melodi, Ashley, Hillary(pregnant), Mom, Amy, Savannah, Cori

Jessie, baby Bells, Hillary, Mom, Ashley, Cori, Melodi, 

Jenna, Emma, and Maddie

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday was an awesome day.  We got to have Cohen blessed!  All the Friess Family came and we all enjoyed a wonderful day of fun, food, and surprises!  During the blessing Dan felt inspired by the spirit that Cohen's full name needed to be a little longer.  He is now,

Cohen Daniel Lewis Friess

After Robert Lewis Friess, his grandpa.

Family Photo on Easter/Blessing Day

Haven, Myah and Cohen (I think he's smiling there)

Grandpa and Grandma Friess with baby Cohen

This is cousin Bailey who can never get enough of Cohen when he's around.  I love that girl!

How could you not love Cohen, he is so cute and clearly not smiling here!