Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2011

It is a New Year! I have a ton of catching up to do. I thought about posting so many adventures that have happened since my last post Dec 2009.. Then I thought, well I will just start from today! :)

So Hopefully my new goal is to start blogging again on my family blog!

Luvs!

Juls

Getting Closer!!

When you set your mind to something you have never done before.. it is always.. a little bit exciting, scary and challenging.. and in the end you know it will be self rewarding to accomplish something you never thought you would ever do!

So when my good friend Shelley asked if I wanted to run a half Marathon with her and a few other girlfriends at first I thought... Heck ya!! I soo want to do this! I had watched my friend train for her half earlier in the beginning of the year.. watched her train for triathlon also.. I could set my mind to it and do it! I wanted the challenge.. for many many different reasons! I said YES.. I am in!

I never have been a runner , I have really enjoyed working out at the gym and cycling, doing other things.. but running!! NO WAY! So silly.. crazy.. mmmm.. yah.. I thought for sure.. I was not announcing this to anyone.. at least until I knew I could do it! And who knew how long that would take me to find out!

The first day of training came and I hopped on the treadmil.. okay I will just run a mile and see how far I can go!! Lol!! Wow.. was I in for a laugh.. What the heck.. I had no clue how hard this was going to be for me! I had to run how many miles!! wow! I was not backing down... I was going to reach my goal!! So I continued on.. I have a long way to go and only 36 more days to do it in! I have felt body parts , muscles etc that I had no clue that I never had!!

This morning my friend Teresa and I woke up early (and you know I am not a early morning gal) we hit the trail at 27 degrees!! Beanies, gloves and ready to run 8 miles!! The ice, and cold weather made our bodies a little slower than normal.. but finishing 8 miles today made me realize one thing..... You can do anything you can set your mind too! And I am actually loving running at this point! I am excited to do my 10 mile run next week! Not scared.. .just excited.. because I am accomplishing something I never thought I would and it feels great! My mind and my body feel so much better! I know through all of this, that I will continue to run! And I have loved training with my friends! Thank you to all of them for the great support!! only 5 miles to go ladies!!!

I have to say one of my favorite parts about today was looking over at Teresa my friend while running, the bottom tips of her hair where frozen!! Like iciscles!! Crazy.. I laughed and told her, she smiled back at me and said.. your braids are frozen too!!! Not the best run today, bodies super cold and harsh weather, but great company and that much closer to accomplishing a goal! And that feels great!!

Rest of the Idaho Trip!! Hang on Tight!! Cute baby at the end....it is worth it! ")

Mom always puts her Christmas decorations up right after Thanksgiving! So this year she was excited to have the kids at her house to help. And the kids were just as excited to help her out! As you can see ...Hailey and Rylan found their own ways of climbing to reach things! lol. But they enjoyed helping grandma decorate the Christmas tree. Grandma was a great sport, she let them put whatever they wanted on the tree. So this year, she has a hundred percent kids tree! And the kids are soo proud. Cody was soo happy when he found this BSU tree ornament. He couldn't stand it, he wanted a picture with it! lol! They had a great time with music on and digging through all of Grandma's stuff.. Rylan mainly just wanted eat the candy canes!



Thanksgiving Day was so busy with everyone, I really wanted to make a stop to G.G's house before leaving. I didn't feel like I was able to visit enough with her! Of course, when is there ever enough time! So we swung over on Sunday afternoon and visited for a few hours. She made us all her very famous Milkshakes! We were very very Thankful! Our bellys were full and happy! We love G.G's milkshakes! They always bring smiles to everyones faces!! mmmmm..delicious!! We were so glad we had just a little more time with G.G!

Matt and Tami had been in Arizona for the Holiday this year. But arrived home very late the evening before we left.. So the morning on our way out of town, Brandon batted his eyes, lowered his lip and begged to me to drive to Matt's work to go see him! So of course I did!! Brandon was sooo excited to see Matt for just a minute or two! It was worth it!!!
Our Last stop out of Town was to see RYKER!!! When I made the trip in the Summer to Idaho.. I was visiting in hopes that this little guy would be delivered!! lol.. but he was stubborn and was born the day after I drove home!! I even stayed an extra few days!! But I was sooo happy that I could see him just a few months later!! Yay!!! What fun this was!! It was NOT long enough that is for sure!!! But I loved ever sec of it! It was kinda hard to get a chance to hold him, when you have 5 others wanting to love on him as well! He was a big hit!! So great to see him!!! He is a keeper!!! We are so glad he his healthy and Bobbi and Baby are doing great!! Congrats Bobbi!!! Welcome Ryker!!

More Idaho fun!

We were able to visit Zach and Chantelle's new homes! Zach had purchased a new home recently with a fabulous surround sound, and a ginormous comfy couch..so we had a movie night one evening! The kids loved it! And I did of course!! I am always up for movies!! I think I could have fallen asleep on that couch it was so big... may even be more comfy than my king size bed!! lol! Great place Zach! But more importantly... great company! We had so much fun visiting.. wish we had more time to just hang out and play! Love you guys!



Black Friday.. Rick and Lila had the kids at the Hotel. Brandon, Mom and I went shopping. Then later that evening.. Lila, mom and I were able to go enjoy a movie.. Blind Side! What a treat! Girls night! So great! I had a great time.. I think we all did! I loved the movie too! The kids, Brandon and grandpa stayed at the hotel and swam and played! It was a great day!

Thanksgiving in Idaho

My Mom and Kayla...Hugs ! Soo happy to see each other! Grandma's are sooo much fun! Happy Holidays!! We have arrived in Idaho to Celebrate Thanksgiving! Yipee!!
This year for Thanksgiving we went to Idaho! We met Brandon's parents in Meridian. We were able to celebrate the holiday with my mom and his parents ! What a treat to have both grandparents for the kids . It was a fun day filled with yummy food, new cousins and grandparents and G.G.!


Mom Made these Beanie's they were so fun! I just loved this picture of Hailey! So cute! We put them on the in the morning while were cooking all the food.. we were quite chilly. It was so much fun!

This is Kayla, Brandon's mom Lila and Hailey! they were so happy to hug and squeeze and get lots of kisses from their granny T. while in Idaho! As you can see they were very happy to see each other!



We all LOVE G.G!!! Can't squeeze and love this little lady enough!! mmmmm.. I miss her so much already!!! I love you G.G.!! I wish I was hiding under your bed like I did when I was little ! So great to see G.G.!! And isn't she as beautiful as ever! This is one granny that doesnt age a bit! Everytime I see her!! lol!! I love you!!


Neice Chantelle brought her boyfriend Zach to dinner this year! And we all loved him! What a great guy! So much fun!



Cousin Lily came to Mom's house also this year! She brought her kids , they had a great time with our kids! That was fun to watch all kids run around mom's house! Loved it! What fun to hear all the laughter and silliness, just like when we were younger! So great to see her again! It had been years, but yet when we saw each other if felt like days!! Love you Lily!
Cousin Leon, and Laura also came! Wow what a treat to have all the cousins come! I was in heaven! It had been way to long! Hopefully it will NOT be that long until the next time!! :) Leon was able to bring his little girl also! She was a DOLL! so much fun again! I loved all the little kids! Uncle Pauls wife also came this year with her daughter.



Happy Thanksgiving 2009!! Love all of you!!! I enjoyed every minute of cooking, laughing and giggling with you, and all the silly jokes! And by the way... Leon won this year for gaining the most weight at dinner! Way to eat Leon!! lol!! We were very blessed to have so much family and very blessed to have Brandon's family travel so far safely and that we had clear snow free freeways!! lol and safe travels!!

Today was the big day!!! Cody got his cast off! He had been waiting for many many reasons! One-to SHOWER!! he is sick of taking baths! TWO- To be able to join his hot shots basketball team. Three-to get a hair cut! He has been wanting one, but would not get one, just in case some hair fell in his cast. So today was a happy day! I picked him up from school and we met Dad at Janzen beach to grab a quick bite to eat on dad's lunch break. Ry was so excited to ride the Carousel. Along with Cody! :) Ry kept saying all the way home.. " Mom.. that was Awesome! " I love the words that comes out of that boys mouth! He loved it! It was fun meeting dad for lunch!
On to the Doctor office! The big saw came out! Cody's eye's got real big! Is this going to cut my skin? He was great.. real tough and showed no fear! lol.. It was really loud.. Rylan hated it! As you can see.. he covered his ears the entire time and was absolutely scared to death! What are they doing to my brother!! The smell was horrible!!! Just horrible.. I almost threw up..waiting for Cody to return from x-rays it was nasty! In the end Cody was happy.. He can now Shower!, Cut his hair, and almost play basketball! It is not quite healed. Doctor says 2 more weeks. He has to tape his two fingers together.. then he will be able to play.. He was bummed out, but happy he didnt have to put another cast on!! And mom is happy that he can get a hair cut!!
I was so lucky to be able to watch Sadie for a short time yesterday! I have to say.. I was in Heaven!!! What a doll! A happy happy girl! Cody was so excited to read to Sadie.. He read two books to her, she loved it..You could tell that she has been read to many times! Cody says that he now has taught Sadie her ABC's!!



I loved playing with Sadie on the floor! I would stick my tongue out and then Sadie would too! She probably thought.. who are all these crazy people staring at me.. ha ha.. Brandon & and I were just making faces at her and loving having her coo and make faces back at us!

We love you Sadie!! We will babysit you anytime!! You are a cutie!!!