one FLU over the CUCKOO'S nest

WATCH OUT EVERYBODY! The swine FLU has hit the Hyde home (okay, I know it is not called swine flu anymore, but H1N1 is a lame, non-fun name). Garrett has been LAID OUT for two and a half days now. He has only gotten up three times in two days- once to go to the doctor and twice to pee. Poor kid hasn't had anything to eat and very little to drink in two days- if any of you know Garrett, you know what a HUGE deal this is. Gracie started coughing tonight. If she gets the FLU, this momma will be CUCKOO!!! However, Garrett has only said about three sentences in two days. Maybe it would be nice for Gracie to get it?! That was terrible of me!!!! I really would never wish this upon anyone. Garrett is absolutely miserable. Anyway, if you don't see us around for a week or two, you'll know why! Happy quarantining to us!

giving THANKS

Today we had our ward Primary Program. This is the second year I have been in charge of the program. It is always very stressful preparing for it, but so rewarding when it is over. I was very impressed with all of the children this year. Almost every child memorized his or her part, spoke clearly into the microphone, was reverent up on the stand, and sang well. I am so thankful for all of the parents in our ward who helped their children prepare for the program. I am thankful for my fellow presidency members- for their support, encouragement, and organizational skills. I am thankful for our music leader and pianist who put together a beautiful music selection for the program. With everyone's help, we had a really nice Sacrament meeting today.

Is it wrong to be CELEBRATING?

I know I should be mourning, shedding a few tears, wallowing in pity... but I'm NOT! Both of our boys lost their semi-final football games this weekend. FOOTBALL SEASON IS OVER for the Hyde boys- and what a season it was! Both of the boys teams were small (in stature). We had ONE big guy on each team, which left the teams to rely on their speed and skills. Both teams ended the season with a 7-2 record. Not too shabby!

My boys are SAD! Both of my boys improved so much this season. They both were able to get a ton of playing time and grew more confident on the field. They loved their coaches and their teammates. They will miss being with them four to five times each week.

I am CELEBRATING. I am celebrating because I get to see all of my boys (including Russ) three to four extra nights each week. I no longer have to search for pads, helmets, jerseys, cleats, mouthguards, water bottles, etc. three to four nights each week. We can eat before 8:00 pm three to four more nights each week. I no longer have to drive across town 6 to 8 times each week dropping off and picking up stinky, sweaty boys. I no longer have to wash WHITE football pants and practice jerseys three to four nights each week (Who's idea was it to make WHITE pants for sporting events?!!!! I deal with this same thing during baseball season. Let's dress in white pants and then play a sport that requires us to slide in RED dirt or tackle on muddy grass! For heaven's sake- this must have been a male's idea!) I no longer have to juggle my Saturday work schedule around football games. I no longer have to worry four to five days each week for my boys safety. They are both little and play against some really BIG kids (We had a close call today as a cleat went under Garrett's face-mask and ripped open his lip- he is fine). And finally, I no longer have to deal with tired, cranky, starving boys four to five days each week. Yes, I am THRILLED... for a couple of weeks anyway. Basketball season is beginning!

I still need to add Garrett's pictures! I haven't found the disc yet.

Spooktacular Day

Happy Halloween

On Friday, Grant and Gracie had their Halloween parade at school. Friday is my "day off" from work (which is never really a day off- because I have more to do on this day than any other!!!). But, I was able to go and take pictures and help with the Halloween parties in the kids classes. Gracie was so excited. She just giggled all morning. We styled her hair and put pixie dust (glitter) in it to go with her pixie costume.
Grant was a prisoner (He looked more like a garbage man, or "Armpit" from the movie Holes). He was not happy with me for giving him a mustache and goatee. I wanted to paint tatoos on him as well (tear drops, mom in a heart, etc.), but he would have nothing to do with that! Honestly, my kids need to try and have a little more fun. They are way too serious. Anyway, he washed his face the second the parade was over. Oh well, I tried. Garrett was a chef. He waffled back and forth about whether or not he was too old to dress up and go Trick or Treating. He finally decided to go. This may be his last year. It is sad. I want my kids to stay this age forever... I just love the stages they are in. Anyway, we had a great pre-Trick or Treating dinner at Nana and Papa's. Then we trick-or-treated in their neighborhood with the Ellsworths. It was a good time.

Just say NO

When I was almost three, my mom took me to the doctor and asked him if I was retarded. TRUE STORY!!! What was the reason? Because I could not, or would not talk. I would only say one word, NO.


My parents had a tape of Kaci when she was two, singing every primary song ever written, reciting all of the nursery rhymes, saying the ABC's, etc. Soon I was added to the tape. "Kori, say hot dog". "No". "Kori, say C C (Kaci)". "NO". It was all I said. A two letter, one syllable word- NO. It was the first word I learned and the only word I said until I was three.




Now, it is a word I CANNOT say. I have completely forgotten how to say it.


Kori, will you work on your one day off this week? I say, SURE.


Kori, will you film Grant's game? I say, WHY NOT


Kori, do you want to donate to the foundation? I say, OKAY.


Kori, can you make dinner for some family in need? I say, OF COURSE.


Kori, can you write the Primary program again? I say, PIECE OF CAKE.


Kori, will you organize 700 hours of medical volunteers for the senior game? I say, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO.


Kori, will you train for the marathon with me in 2010? I say, SOUNDS FUN.


Kori, are you ready to begin your capstone project? I say, YEP- BRING IT ON.




I am overloaded, stressed out, and falling apart physically. I am not asking for compassion or sympathy... I have brought this on myself. Today, I was considering reverting back to my childhood. I wouldn't care if people thought I was retarded... I was only going to use the word NO again. But, I would then miss spending time with all of my favorite people. I have determined that I don't really love all of the things I do. I just really love the people I do those things with (or for)... and that is why I always say yes. So my solution for this is, from now on I am going to invite those people I love on ice cream dates instead of taking on too many crazy tasks.


Just a heads up... If you ask me to do something for or with you and you suddenly get an invitation to go get ice cream with me instead... it is safe to say, I JUST SAID NO to your request!!!

run, WARRIOR RUN

A couple of weeks ago, Santa Clara held their annual Swiss Days celebration. On the Saturday of Swiss Days, they hold a 5k run. A couple of the boys on Grant's football team wanted to participate in the run. However, on that day the boys had a football game up in Cedar City against the Redmen. It was going to be a tough game. Coach Tim told the boys that wanted to participate in the run that the team really needed them fresh and strong for the game. Anyway, it was put to a vote. The team voted that the boys should not participate in the 5k run. The boys were disappointed, but Coach Tim promised to make it up to them.

This last week, the boys had fall break. This meant no game on Saturday. Coach Tim kept his promise to the boys and planned the first ever WARRIOR RUN. He went ALL OUT. Instead of a normal practice Tuesday night, the boys came dressed in running gear. We met at the practice field where the boys were given RACE NUMBERS. Coach Tim explained the rules of the run: 1. NOBODY STOPS (they could run, walk, crawl, whatever... but no stopping) and 2. EVERYBODY FINISHES. The course was explained and parents were scattered along the course to provide water, direct traffic, take pictures, and CHEER! The boys were then shuttled to the starting line 2.25 miles from the practice field. One dad ran with the boys and another brought up the rear on his mountain bike.

The race was on...

This was such an awesome event for the boys. They ran tough. They took the challenge seriously and succeeded. Back at the practice field there were flags lining the track to the end, where a finishing lane was created with cones and a big FINISH banner was hung. As the boys crossed the finish line, they were given a MEDAL, gatorade, and a popsicle. Three of the boys finished the race in 16 minutes. But the best part of the race, was when the last finisher was coming in. He was struggling a little, but still pressing forward. The entire team ran to meet him on the track and ran with him until he finished, CHEERING him on the entire way. It was such a great experience for these young boys.
We are so grateful for their coach, who loves football, but loves these boys just as much. He devotes so much of his personal time and talents with these kids. The football skills they are learning at this age are amazing... but the life lessons they are learning are almost more impressive.

Couldn't have done it without YOU!

Abbreviated Version:
Ran the St. George Marathon. Great experience. Had the greatest training partner, Dayna. Have the most supportive and wonderful family (Parents, Husband, Kids, Sister, Brother-in-law, Neice and Nephew) in the world! Couldn't have done it without them!
Journal Version:
I don't really know where to begin... maybe 12 years ago when Russ and I were told that we would not be having children of our own... that we would be adopting. It was this time in my life I decided it might be fun to train for a marathon. I, luckily, was just a couple of weeks into my training when I discovered that doctors can be wrong. I was pregnant with Garrett. My marathon training was put on hold.
When Garrett was 9 months old, I began training for a marathon again. I trained very faithfully for 9 months. The St. George Marathon was less than a month away when I became very nauseated and unable to get over it. To our surprise, we were pregnant once again. I asked my doctor if I could still run the marathon. I had been running that distance for some time. To which he replied, "This is no longer about you".
I decided to hang up my MARATHON running shoes forever.

Earlier this year I had run a couple of relay races with my friend Dayna. Meet Dayna-

After we ran the Ragnar, Dayna asked me if I would train with her for the St. George Marathon. I replied that I would love to do the long runs with her, but I was not going to actually RUN in the marathon... I just can't have any more kids!!! And so the adventure began.
We did our best to coordinate our schedules. You see, we both work a ton of hours, we are both in grad school, we both have kids that come first, we both have callings that demand extra time. This meant our long runs were going to be Friday mornings at 4 a.m., getting up at 3:30 a.m. to prepare Camelbaks, Gatorade, and drive to our meeting point. I could not have had a better training partner. I don't know too many people that could be as happy and fun as Dayna at 4 in the morning, running. She always saved her good stories for our long runs. I loved those cold, dark mornings, running in our headlamps, trying not to get killed by hunters racing up the highway in search of deer.
Well, by the end of August we were running 20 miles and I was feeling great. I decided if I could run 20 miles, what's 26.2! I took a chance, signed up, and I told Russ to stay far away from me for a couple of weeks.
My sister, Kami, is the race director for the St. George marathon. This was the third year she has done all of the planning on her own. It is a HUGE production. There were 7,500 runners that were allowed into the race this year. She stresses for several weeks prior to the race, and doesn't sleep for the last three days before race day. Each year there are a couple of things she stresses about most. This year it was the buses and shirts. They were afraid that they would not have enough runners load the early buses, which would allow the buses to drop off a first load of runners and have time to pick up a second load. I decided to round up as many people as I could to load the early buses. This meant getting to the park at 4 and being dropped off in 38 degree temperatures for 2 hours before the race even began. Kami was going to be at the starting line and would have a truck, so my friends and I took up our big sleeping bags, blankets, big coats, heavy sweat pants, etc. I got some funny looks from other runners who were only is shorts and a long sleeved shirt. I had one man ask me how I planned on getting my sleeping bag down the course. I told him I was just going to strap it to my back and run, hoping the weight of it would push me down the hills.
We got on the bus and made the 26.2 mile drive up to Central where the race would begin. It was FREEZING when we got off of the bus. We were greeted by Kami and her husband Brent who were waiting for us with gloves and camera. They took our picture and sent us over to the bon fires.We gathered around a pile of wood that had not yet been lit, pulled out our sleeping bags/blankets and awaited the firemen who would light our fire. And waited and waited and waited. While we were waiting, a group of people came up and asked if they could share our fire that was still not lit. They crowded around and I realized that I knew a couple of them from when we lived in Las Vegas, George Davis and Jenn Richards. Crazy small world. Anyway, as we were gathered around the wood pile, the DJ announces, "We'd like to give a special shout out to Kori Hyde who is running the marathon for the first time!" It was so fun. The Vegas crew asked why I got a shout out. "Because I am awesome!!!! and because I am the sister of the race director". THANKS KAMI! That was one of my favorite moments of the race. Our fire was finally lit, we put our goods in Kami's truck, went to the bathroom, and the race began.
Dayna and I ran together the majority of the race, about 17 miles. I hit a wall on the last little up hill. I regained a little energy and began to push forward once again. I had needed to use the bathroom for about seven miles but just continued to run. Once I hit the downhill though, and began bouncing, I was in trouble. So, at mile marker 21 I stopped for a potty break. I felt like my legs were getting a little crampy and decided to eat a very small piece of a banana. BAD IDEA! My ears and throat began to itch and I was instantly sick to my stomach. I walked for a few minutes until I was sure I wasn't having a severe allergic reaction, and then began to run again. My momentum was gone! I never did regain it. I struggled the last three miles of the course. However, I finished!!! I finished with a time of 4:11:03. I was thrilled.

I was met at the finish line by my parents, Kami, Brent, Gavin and Savanna. They gave me flowers, took several pictures, helped me to the finishers area, got me water, bread, a popsicle, and escorted me to the ice massage area (mmmm, felt so good after that run). It was SO great to have my family there. Russ and the kids were at Garrett's football game which was at the same time I would be finishing. Russ had my mom call him as soon as I finished and I was able to talk to him on the phone. I am so lucky to have such a supportive family.
My dad drove me home after the race. When we pulled into the driveway, I noticed my lawn was cover with hearts. It was a "heart attack". My family had spent the night before cutting out hearts, writing messages on them, and gluing them to sticks. Then while I was running, they put them all over my front lawn. It was SOOOO CUTE! There were 50 colored hearts in all. Thanks for the CUTE idea mom. Another one of my favorite race memories.

Finally, the next day, my parents had us all over for dinner to celebrate the Marathon being over for Kami and I. I was given a St. George Marathon poster and shirt that my family had all signed. How cool is that?!
I have crossed something off of my bucket list. It was tough. It was fun. And I know I could not have done any of it without such a wonderful family and a great running partner supporting me the entire way. I need to give a HUGE shout out to Dayna who finished in 4:00:27. Amazing!