GUR..The Great Urban Race!

Okay, in January I got this email from Active.c0m about the Great Urban Race. I was so excited and sent it out to everyone hoping to find some people as crazy as me to do this race. The information on the race sounded alot like "Amazing Race" which as a family we watch faithfully. So in March I offically signed up our team "Girlz havin FUN". My cousin Sandy, Kandace Bridget and I were all set to do the race in August. In June I remembered that we needed to have a team costume, so Bridget and I set out shopping and came up with our "PINK shirts and Tutu's" the plaid socks and poka dot bandana's were added for fun. So last Saturday the BIG day was here. Here we are at the starting line to ready to start the race. We were given an envelope with 12 different task and clues and had up to five hours to complete the task. We had our "Phone a friends" on call if we needed them. We started reading all the task, and after we had a couple figured out, we decided we better start moving and figure out the other clues as we walked. Can I just say "Thank You" for SMART phones, it really saved the day for us!
This is our first task completed. Take a picture of a street sign with double letters. "Jane likes coffee but she doesn't like tea..she likes pools but she doen't like to swim,....

We found a street sign with three double letters, we should have gotten extra points don't you think? Next we had to go to a rare book store and figure out more clues, I forgot to take pictures there, but then we were off to the "One World Cafe"

This is a cafe for the people with little money, they pay what they can afford. We all had to peel potatoes to be signed off on this task. It was soo HOT! We were so glad to have this task done. We had to play picture Tic Tac Toe, and take a picture with two strangers to make "YMCA" These boys were up from Provo and thought we were hilarious and stopped and ask if they could take a picture with us, so we asked them to help us in a couple of pictures of our own.

"YMCA" They were good enough to help us twice, since we all had to be in the picture.

As we were walking to our next task we noticed a fountain, another Tic Tac Toe picture we had to have of us trying to dive in a fountain....I think they were thinking a bigger fountain downtown, but hey...it's a fountain and it worked!

Next we had to go to "Wasatch Touring" and pump up bike tires. So here we are "PUMPING", check, another task done.

Okay, next we had to go to Luna Berry Yogurt and drink carrot juice to make a mustache, then take a picture. Here is Kandace's mustache and....

Here is mine. I was laughing so hard doing this that I spilt carrot juice down the front of me..oh well.

It was such a HOT day...it was 98 degrees, and the race started at noon, so we were pretty much running around in the heat of the day. We did have water with us, but running around made it hotter.

Another guy at the TRAX station wanted to take our picture, we got honks and yelling from all kinds of strangers. It was soo much fun! Our next task we had to go to "Planet Fitness" and do jumping jacks, lunges and sit-ups to complete the task. We only had three more task after that to complete...we were doing great!

Our next task was to take a picture in front of this clock at exactly 2:15. Notice, there is another team behind Kandace and Bridget taking their picture too.

Sandy and I taking our picture, there were about 10-12 teams here at the same time, since you had to take a picture only on the 15 minute mark, we were excited to see we were doing soo good in the race.

Next we had to take a picture in front of this sign, and then we were on to our final task....and the craziest!

Our last task was to go to "Good Times" tattoo and get "Inked" Sandy was a little concerned about where this was going???

And here she is completing our final task. It was soo funny. Kandace also got to have an "INK" of GUR on her arm. We ran back to the starting point, and we all were soo excited that we finished the race in 2 1/2 hours with no penalties. The first 25 teams to complete the race would qualify to compete in the championship finals in New Orleans in October. The race staff told us we were close and should stick around to see if we would make it. So we went and got some cold lemonade, and a bite of lunch, then came back to see how we finished.

To our surprise we placed 20th and 21st and recieved beautiful medals. Sandy had me laughing so hard as we showed off our medals..or "Our Major Award" as she was saying.

Bridget and Kandace and their Major Awards. All in all, even though it was like the hottest day ever, it was a BLAST and we would totally do it again. Hopefully I can have Cameron and Courtney join us next time, they would have Loved it too!

Our TWO Missionaries!

We have been Doubly blesssed this past year to have not One but TWO Missionaries out in the field. Cameron only has two months left until he will return home, and Courtney will be out one year in October. It has been crazy, yet wonderful to have them able to serve missions this past year. I am such a slacker on blogging this summer, so I thought I would share some of their recent pictures they have sent home.

Here is Elder Leavitt and his recent baptism, it fell just one day before his birthday and that was the best gift he recieved this year,

Here is Sister Leavitt with her past companions. They were able to make COOKIES a few months ago, she was so excited to be able to make them, even though they tasted different from the ones she makes at home.

Sister Leavitt and companions enjoying the BBQ on the beach. She said that she loved that the men did all the cooking. The Main meat is called Shashilk.

Here she is near one of the many mouments in Volgograd. There are alot of mouments here because there was a huge battle here, and the Russian's are very proud of it.

Sister Leavitt and Aneka, the little girl in her branch that Courtney helped name Kandace's new puppy after (Ollyonka). Courtney loves little kids and they love her too!

Elder Leavitt celebrated his 21st Birthday on August 7th, and the people in the branch threw a feast for him. He said that now his stomach is smaller, he couldn't eat as much, but it was a delicious meal.

Yum...Yum...One of the members sent home a plate of deep fried cock roaches for Cameron to eat. He said it wasn't that bad and tasted alot like shrimp, only crunchy. Oh the fun he is having trying different foods.

Here he is just being silly. Striking a pose for mom. Isn't he soo handsome???

This is a Russian sunset. Cameron sent us a picture that looks almost the same from the Philippines. Such beauty all over the world.

Sister Leavitt and her new Russia companion Sister Undozyoriva. She loves her new companion.

Courtney's new companion goofing off.....I am sure Courtney taught her this trick!

And this is Sister Leavitt and all the missionaries in her district at her last meeting. Our missionaries are doing great, and LOVE the people they are serving. It is a joy to hear from them on "Missionary Monday" and learn of the many things they have done each week. We are soo proud of our Missionaries, and know that we are blessed because of the hard work they are doing.

Run...Karen...RUN!

One thing I love to do when the weather is warmer is run a quick 5k on a Saturday morning. Well the past month, that is exactly what I have been able to do. Thank goodness I have great friends and family to join me in my quest. This is the hill on the American Fork 5K, I was running up it, but soon found I could walk as fast as I could run.
At the top of the hill was the Timpanogos Temple, a beautiful site to behold, and of course, what ever goes up must come down, and it was great running down the hill.

My good friend "Marathon Margaret" and her friends ran the 1/2 marathon. They finished after the 5K, and they all ran it in under 2-hours. They are my hero's!

Me and Margaret at the end of the AF Race.

I was shocked to learn that I took 2nd place for my age division. Margaret also placed in her age division for the 1/2 marathon. Wooo Whoo, pretty good for a couple of 29ish year old gals.

Then two weeks ago, I had Kandace and myself all signed up to run the "Lavender Race" a beautiful 5K through the Lavender fields. The kicker was we had to leave our house by 5 AM to be there in time for the 7 AM start time. Kandace did not want to even think about getting up on a Saturday to drive 1 1/2 hours to run a race. So "Life Size Bridget" to the rescue. The drive actually only took an hour and we had plenty of time to walk around the beautiful grounds of the "Young Family Living" farms.

This is the beautiful view of running in the Lavender fields.

Crazy to be running through this gorgeous field, and can you see Mona Lake in the background?

At the end, we found these guys to snap our picture, the only spoke spanish and we were both cracking up at them trying to give the other instructions on how to take this picture.

After the race, we stopped off at the "Krishna Lotus Temple" a snapped a quick picture. It is kinda beautiful, and reminded me of India.

Finally, last weekend I did get Kandace to run the "Draper Days 5K" with me. We got there as they shot the gun for the 7 AM start. I had another good run. Our bishop and his whole family ran the race, so my goal was just to keep up with the bishop. He finished just in front of me, so I achieved that goal. this is Kandace and Olly at the finish line. Kandace had a hard time even walking the 5K, everyone wanted to stop and pet her cute puppy. I told her she was great "Pre-Parade" entertainment.

Here I am with Nicole, and Lisa. I trained with Nicole last week, this was her first 5K. She did absolutley fantastic for her first 5K, she is amazing.

Olly was soo tired after the race. She didn't want to walk anymore, but the cool thing is that we ran into the finish line and everyone was cheering for the cute puppy. She finished in 54 minutes, not bad for such short legs, and her first 5k.

Olly fell sound to sleep after the race. We let her sleep a few minutes before we walked over to the Draper Days Parade.

I had to snap this picture at the parade for Cameron. A Chinese dragon...in Draper, UT. Kinda a strange site to see, but I loved the litte grandma just clapping and so happy to see it.

So now I am leaving for three days to do TREK, so no races this weekend. Then we are doing a FUN race called the "Great Urban Race", it will be alot like the "Amazing Race" We have a team of four, and we are excited to compete in this race. We will post pictures after August 13th. I will try and get more of Cameron's mission pictures up next week. Sorry Cam that I am running behind. Hope you are all doing the things you love to do too this summer.

It's SUMMER time...how did that happen?

It's SUMMER! I know what you are thinking...DUH! But what many of you don't know is that 7-weeks ago today, Steve had knee replacement surgery. So we have missed out on a few weeks getting him up an running so to speak. Here is his second day home after surgery on the CPM machine. He had to be on this machine for 3-weeks, three times a day. The day this machine left, we all were rejoicing!
So now, fast forward to 7-weeks later and here we are celebrating the 4Th of July. We love SUMMER and all the fireworks and fun things we get to do. Kandace and Bridget enjoying the Riverton fireworks from our front yard, something we love every year!

Last week we got to go to Girls Camp. Steve even went as our Priesthood protection. We had such a great time with the girls, they are all so amazing and our camp director did a fabulous job with our "Amazing Race" theme.

And a week ago Kandace and I got to help at the REAL soccer game and they gave us tickets for our friends and family to come and enjoy the game. Here are most of the people we gave our tickets to. Bridget, Lexi and Elvis also got to enjoy the game.

And here is Kandace and me in our great T-Shirts they gave us for helping to swap people for potential bone marrow donor's for Johan. Extreme Makeover was in town building a house for the Gomez family and at half time they asked for people to come and be swapped to find a bone marrow match for 7-year old Jonah. I also was able to go out and help build the house. I must say that volunteering to help at the home site for Extreme Home Makeover was HARD, HOT work! The volunteer really do all the work on the house. While I was there a camera crew came through with Michael for two seconds, and the only reason I knew they were right by me is I could taste the stronge colonge in my mouth. CRAZY, but it was a fun adventure!

Steve has worked hard on his physical therapy. Friday he got his knee to bend at 127 degrees, a major accomplishment. We celebrated by him riding his motorcycle up the canyon and having a BBQ with friends. It has been a Loooong 7-weeks and we are so glad he is doing so much better now.

Here I am with our great friends Margaret and Connie on our trip up the canyon.

And finally, me and Kandace enjoying the cooler weather up the canyon. Hope you are all having a wonderful summer. We look forward to enjoying the rest of the summer not at home! Maybe I can even ride on the back of the motorcycle next trip up the canyon!

Today I made Kandace and Bridget take a 15 mile bike ride with me, and there was a 5K on the trial we took. Here is Bridget with almost "Charlie ROCKS".

And here we are almost back home. I love SUMMER and being outside! next week we are running the "Lavendar Race" and I plan on staying busy, and making everyone else come with me. Enjoy your SUMMER!!

Happy Birthday Kandace!

June 16, 1987....A day that was a life changing day for the Leavitt Family. Kandace Kay Leavitt joined our family and it has not been the same since that day. And here she is at one year old, she didn't have much hair then, but look at her now! 24 years later...and still those beautiful blue eyes that light up a room.
Kandace bought herself a birthday present a new puppy.

Here she is with "Ollyonka" or Olly for short. She has had the puppy for two weeks, and is learning how much work they really are. Hopefully by her next birthday she will have the puppy trained and getting more sleep.

Crazy Kandace....that is what we love about her. Always having FUN.

So Kandace decided to throw her own party so she invited a few friends over for pizza, games and fun. Sorry we didn't get AUBS in the picture before she had to leave.

Kandace and her friends just having some FUN.

And the 24 things we love about Kandace in no particular order:

1. A great Daughter

2. Loves her friends

3. Her BIG BLUE eyes.

4. Always wants to have FUN.

5. Paid off her car!

6. Cleaned and Organized her closet...and the world didn't even end!

7. Finds great DI ties to send to Cameron.

8. Makes a great Chauffer for Grandma and Grandpa Haupt.

9. Helps with the yard work.

10. Has a grumpy turtle named Turd!

11. Loves her cousins.

12. Loves to hang out with her Aunties and Uncles.

13. Makes great protein shakes.

14. SHOES...Loves them and has a great collection.

15. Quick texting skills.

16. Drops what she is doing to help a friend in need.

17. LOVES ICE CREAM!

18. A great sport to run a race with, even if she hasn't trained/

19. Great taste in nail polish.

20. Has great clothes to steal.

21. Loves to SHOP any time any where!

22. Makes us Laugh!

23. Has a cute puppy that everyone wants!

24. Always says "Love You" when she calls!

Hope your day was great Kandace!