Stay-cation

For Veteran's Day I had Thursday and Friday off of work. Ryan and I kept debating what we wanted to do...should we leave town? We talked about going to San Fransisco, but we decided on a stay-cation. My brother-in-law works for Stations Casinos so he hooked us up with his friends and family discount {which includes a discount on the room, 50% off every restaurant at the Red Rock, and 30% off spa treatments}. So we stayed Thursday and Friday night, ate at some pretty nice restaurants, got massages, enjoyed the spa amenities {hot tub, sauna, steam room}, and saw Morning Glory {entertaining movie, highly recommend it}. And the best part.....no long travel home! It was such a relaxing two days. Two bad the weather wasn't warmer, we could have taken advantage of the pool {if you have never been to the Red Rock pool, you need to go, it is really nice}

We drove down to the strip Friday night to check out the gardens at the Bellagio

One of our 50% off dinners at Cabo Mexican ....delish!

Ha, looks like I'm a member of the clean plate club

Grass {and other semi-recent happenings}

After living in our home for almost a year we are FINALLY getting around to working on the backyard. We {and by "we" I mean Ryan and my brother, Andy -I really can't take any credit} have been working on this for the past 6 months. For the past month or so the guys have been out there at least twice a week getting the sprinklers put it, top soil laid and sod put down. And now we finally have GRASS!!

Here are some pictures of the progress




These plants have been planted, along with a couple trees in the corners
We are so excited to finally have grass and continue to work on the rest of the backyard. Slowly but surely it will be done!

In other news...
I RAN RAGNAR! What is Ragnar, you ask? 12 people, two vans, 195 miles, 32 hours-ish, and no sleep. The team has 6 people in each van. Within the 32ish hours one person on your team is always running. My van consisted of Stacey, my sister, and some of her friends and friends of friends. Our group started about 3:00 pm Friday afternoon. My first leg was 2.5 miles in the evening {not bad at all}. My second leg, though, was 7.2 at about 2 in the AM!! It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I really wasn't too tired. It was my last leg, which I ran about 2 in the afternoon the next day {4.8 miles} that was killer. I was tired and sore and worn out and tired!!! Before the race, during my training, I kept wondering how I would feel when I was done. Would I think, "Wow, this was the best thing I have done and I can't wait to run another one!" Or, "I don't foresee myself EVER doing this again, EVER" I am sorry to say that I felt the latter. I have no desire to run for a very, very, very long time. Weird, because after my half-marathon, I couldn't wait to do another one. I guess Ragnar just isn't my thing. It is a nice feeling, though, to know I completed it!

A few pictures from the race

Apryl and me {ready to go with my vest and head lamp for my first evening run}

SAM {Stacey, Apryl, Megan -except were aren't in order :)}

All 12 of us -Team Chasqui Peak Fitness and Performance