WE ARE SPARTA!!!

Thomas, Caroline and Joe decided it would be fun to run in the annual Spartan Race up at Soldier Hollow!  It is an 8- mile run with a series of obstacles and tests throughout it.  We thought it would be fun to do next year with all of us... maybe in matching outfits (... how cute is that?) but after watching them I may be rethinking that decision!!!

They were all so excited (and smiling) as they ran past us when the race began!!

Then the real test began!!  

After running 6 miles (mainly uphill switchbacks) and having one chance to shoot a rifle and hit a target, jump from one tree stump to another without falling (each were 3 feet apart or more), having to scale a 8 foot wall and solving one side of a rubics cube (or have to do 30 burpees if they missed their chances)

they ran down these stairs....

...grabbed a tire and hauled it through a tunnel...

... then went straight to hauling a heavy stone up a hill and down the other side....

...up and over a net pyramid to the climbing rope...

...to another 1 mile run toward the spear toss...

Joe got his to stick in the hay so he got to move on...

...but Thomas and Caroline got to do burpees!!

Then they were off on a run down the hill toward the climbing wall....

...to crawling under barbed wire in totally sick-smelling mud for about 30 yards...

...then jumping over a fire and into a muddy pool another 30 yards long...

...and then the final run to the finish...

...where "spartans" waited to give you that last little push to the finish line!!!

 Thomas finished with a few other guys that all ran behind him so that they didn't get hit... sissies!!

But Caroline was smart and waited until they were all occupied trying to get another racer while she ran around the other side!!!

I am so amazed they were still all smiles after the race!!

Caroline finished first out of the 80 women who competed in the 10:30 am start time!!!

She is such an incredible athlete... she didn't even train and she finished first!  Amazing!!

How cute are Caroline and Joe?

  They have been married 5 months and they are just the cutest couple ever! 

 Standing happy, muddy and exhausted with Eric and Kathy!!

Deacon and Londyn did so well and had so much fun watching all the competitors!!

Way to go Thomas, Caroline and Joe!!

We are looking forward to next year!!

Happy Birthday/Independence Day!!

Every year on July 4th we not only get to celebrate America's Independence but we also get to celebrate my dad's birthday!  

We partied at the Bungalow which was SO perfect because we could watch the Sugarhouse Fireworks from their front porch!!  It was so fun!  

My cute mom put together the birthday menu: MEXICAN!

We weren't sure if that was exactly kosher since it was Independence Day and all, but it was DELICIOUS!!!  Pulled pork on top of yummy beans (and not just any beans... these black beans also had mexican sausage in them...YUM!!) on top of spanish rice served with roasted garlic and black bean tortilla chips!!

And in keeping with the Mexican birthday theme, we even had a pinata!! What would a Mexican party be without one?

Deacon wasn't sure about it!

...But Anna and James had a great time trying to break it open!!

But it was time to bring out the big guns.... and by big guns, I mean a 30 pound sledge hammer

In the Fisher Family we ask ourselves...."Why use a stick when you have a sledge hammer?" 

After a serious workout and some tears of laughter (...or was that their biceps crying??), 

they finally got it broken open... 

...and Anna, James and Grandpa had a fun time trying to pick out all the candy from the grass!

After that it was sparkler time!!!

Deacon thought the sparklers were pretty cool...Ohhhh!!!

 And next year he might be able to hold one all by himself!!!

 We had fun playing with the camera and writing messages (this one is supposed to say "Happy 4th") and outlining our bodies!!!

Deacon stayed awake until about half way through the Sugarhouse Firework show but the rest of us sure enjoyed watching them from the comfort of the big front porch at the bungalow!!  

Happy Birthday Dad!!