Hazel's Haircut

I got my hair cut a couple of weeks ago, and ever since Hazel's been asking to have her hair cut as well. I've been stalling to make sure it's something she'd really want, and she wasn't just "trending" or whatever. She's been very persistent about it, and Todd was around to help this morning, so we went for it!

This was Hazel's very first haircut, other than a rather unsuccessful attempt to trim her bangs a few months ago. She watched Rapunzel while I snipped and did a fairly good job holding still. I was worried that I was saying goodbye forever to her darling little ringlets, but thankfully they're still alive and well (and mercifully hiding my uneven snips). I love the look and am pleased that I didn't completely butch her.

She was utterly uncooperative when it came to before and after shots. This is the best I got:

Before:

After:

The Trenches Part 3

We've been at it for 3 1/2 months now, off and mostly on, but I think it's safe to say Hazel's pretty much potty trained now. I've stopped asking her if she wants to go potty except for when we're about to head out the door. She goes when she feels like it, which is far less often than I was making her try, and she holds it between. She stays dry during naps and even at night. She's only had one accident in the last two weeks, and she was standing in front of the toilet with her panties pulled down - she was so close and it was not a big deal to me because she was still right on with what she needed to do.

Hazel rocked it when we were in Utah. No accidents that whole week, and she was completely off routine. She kept it together and did awesome.

And our big hurdle, poop? She's been having dum-dums every single day. She poops at our house, at Target, in her froggy potty on the side of the road, at church, at friends' houses. She pooped in a porta-pottie during Todd's race. Wherever, whenever. It's no big deal anymore. Now I've just got to wean her from the reward sucker.

The only thing holding her back is that I still put her in a pull-up when I'm nervous about an accident. (At night, during long car rides, etc.) I've got to let her go all panties and see what she can do. Although, she keeps the pull-up dry, too, so maybe there's no harm in it? What do you think?

My favorite thing is that she's taken the phrase "go pee-pee in the potty" and shortened it. She now announces that she goes "peep in the pod." I think that's so hilarious. She's such a goof.

Wasatch 100 Endurance Race

Last week we took a trip to Utah. We flew instead of driving, which was so nice, like ripping off a bandaid. It was still stressful, but over with so much faster.

We spent lots of time with Missy's kids, "the cousins," as Hazel says. She was completely in love with their large selection of dress-ups, and their yard. She and Shaylee were inseparable. I wish they had more opportunities to see each other. Todd and I did sealings at the Mount Timpanogas Temple (where we were married). I couldn't get over the fact that Missy has TWO temples only five miles away from her house. Makes me jealous.

We got together quick with my mom, Kathryn, Ryan, and Chris and ate dinner together in Provo.

I had a mini roommate reunion with Kelsey and Stephanie from freshman year. The kids played in the water at this man-made pond in American Fork, and we gossiped and caught up on life in person.
I think Todd was so bored with no other men to talk to. We wish we could have seen Paul and Joe, too!

We stayed one night with our friends from California, Brian and Megan Bruschke.

Then began the ultimate purpose of our visit: Todd ran the Wasatch 100 Endurance Race. He started at 5 am Friday morning and finished at 3:19 Saturday afternoon.

I drove him up to start the race. Here he is taking off. I was queasy with worry. He was excited.
He ran the first 39 miles alone.
After that he had pacers running with him: his brother KB, then his friend from college Tim, then his brother-in-law Burke.

I took the kids along to cheer for him as he passed through checkpoints at mile 39 and mile 53. Here he is about halfway done. Does he look tired to you? He threw up bile a few miles before this and felt nauseous through the entire rest of the race. He says that was the hardest part.

I can't not post this picture. Who is this gorgeous kid? Where did my baby go? Hazel was excited to cheer for Daddy. She wanted to run with him and get a trophy.
Utah sunsets are my favorite.
Crossing the finish line Saturday afternoon with Burke. Laying down in utter exhaustion once he was finished. Todd changed his socks and washed his feet every 25 miles or so, but he still ended up with feet that looked like this:This was Todd's third time running the Wasatch 100, but his first time finishing in the 36 hours they allow. I am proud of him for accomplishing such a hard task. And, I hope that crossing that finish line and earning a Badger Heart belt buckle will give him the closure he needs to not ever run it again.