Sweet 6th!

For Bella's 6th birthday, we celebrated with a candyland theme. That has been our favorite board game lately and so we brought it to life. It was super fun.

Welcome to candyland.

The game started here and moved all around the entryway, kitchen, dining room, and finished up the stairs.



The kids moved themselves around the "board" after drawing the regular cards from the board game. We numbered each kid so as they started to move in front or behind people, we could still keep the order of who went next. It was a little chaotic but fun.

This cake was so much fun to make and definitely a hit with the kids. Every kid wanted to make sure they got a sucker in addition to their piece of cake.





Here are the clues to the treasure hunt. First they decorated their goodie bag and then they went on the treasure hunt collecting items such as bubbles, a pad of paper and pencil, a krazy straw, silly bands, bubble gum, a gummy butterfly, candy necklace, and of course, after a party like this, I felt obligated to send them home with a tooth brush!

Really, I can't believe Bella is already 6 years old. I remember the day she was born so very clearly. I was so excited and so scared to become a mom. That first night that we spent with her I almost had a panic attack realizing that I was completely in charge of such a beautiful, tiny, human being. I am trying my best to be a good mom to her. I know that I have been blessed beyond compare to be able to be her mom. She has brought so much happiness into our lives and I am so grateful for her sweetness and her desire to do what is right. She is growing up so fast. She is so smart, athletic, and she is a good friend. We love you, sweet Bella Joy.

Happy Birthday Ezra!

It has already been 3 years since our little Ez-Man joined our family. If you know this little guy, you know that he is pure sunshine and smiles. He has an enthusiasm for life that is contagious. No matter where we go, he is the first to make friends. He gets so excited about everything and his sweet nature melts hearts everywhere we go. He calls Bella "sweetie" and Cali "little princess" or "buttercup". He is too cute. Lately he has been saying, "Mommy, you're my best buddy." I just love this boy! I am so blessed to be his mom. He is still into trains big-time so I made him a simple Thomas cake, and he got lots of Thomas the Train toys and tracks. He has been in train heaven.

Nashville with my Sisters...again!

Last year for Tiffani's 40th birthday, Tanya, Tiff, and I went to Nashville to a benefit concert that Keith Urban put on. We bought a killer package to celebrate the big event. It was a lot of fun but a let down in a few ways. We sent some helpful feedback and about 2 weeks before this year's benefit concert, they sent us complimentary tickets. So, at the last minute, we arranged a quick sisters trip to Nasvhille. We flew in Tuesday afternoon and left Wednesday afternoon. I wish it could have been longer but it was a treat to even get to go for a day. The concert was fun, Nashville is beautiful, and hanging with my sisters was a blast! Maybe we will turn this into an annual tradition!





The performers at this year's concert were: Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, John Mayer, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Billy Currington, and Alison Krause. We had amazing 4th row seats...and did I mention that they were free?

Autumn Color Half Marathon in Buena Vista

I'm not going to lie. Running a half marathon has never really been a goal of mine. You see, that is the kind of goal that runners make for themselves. And I have never considered myself to be a runner. Until now. In fact, I've kind of become addicted to it. And I have even started to use the words fun and run in the same sentence lately.

How did this happen, you may wonder? Well, it all started this past spring when my friend, Nichole, invited me to her runners group. To say that I struggled with those first 3 miles would be an understatement. But, here I am a number of months later, and I just finished my first (and hopefully not my last) half marathon. I am still on a runner's high from the experience. I will do my best to summarize (and therefore memorialize) the event.

Seven of us went down to Buena Vista, CO the night before where we laughed and cried as we told each other stories, scouted out the running trail, and ate gross pasta trying to carb load! We may have gotten carried away with this photo op but the trail was so beautiful.

From left to right: Allie, Nichole, Wendy, Jennifer, Joy, Michelle, and myself



When it was sufficiently late, we got into bed and told more stories, then decided it was time to try and sleep, and then of course, we tossed and turned all night because of our nerves. We rose the next morning ready to get our run on! I know that I was VERY EXCITED to get started on what I had been training for.
Here are the pink ladies...

And here are the pink ladies (plus a purple and blue lady). We also responded to "hot mamas". We have 23 children between the seven of us.

And one last pic right before we started. Ready, set, go...

Joy, Allie, and Wendy led the ladies at the front. Nichole and Jennifer took off leaving Michelle and I in the dust. But, we really weren't concerned about time...we just wanted to finish! And my personal goal was to RUN the WHOLE thing with out ever walking. The course was much tougher than we ever imagined. It was HOT, we started the race at 9,000 feet elevation, and there were lots and lots of HILLS and very few aid stations! I guess we should have trained in higher elevation, at a hotter time of day, and on hills! No matter.

Michelle and I kept each other going for 8 miles. I was so grateful to have her to talk to. I've learned that I run better if I am talking. I've also learned that my inhibitions go WAY down when I run. So, Michelle pretty much knows my whole life story! It worked out well, though, because she doesn't like to talk while running. After 8 miles, and on a grueling hill, Michelle needed to walk, and in order to achieve my goal, it was time for me to fly solo. To my surprise, I ended up passing two of the other pink ladies who were experiencing difficulty with the altitude and rugged course. I ended up finishing the run having achieved my goal of never walking and getting a pretty decent time of 2 hours and 17 minutes. My average was 10 minutes a mile with my fastest mile being 7.5 and my slowest mile being 13 (no doubt on one of those blasted hills!).

The very last mile was the absolute hardest! I was so tired but I kept envisioning Blaine and the kids at the finish line and that is what got me through it.

Here I am rounding a corner. I am smiling because I think the finish line is right in front of me. Not past the grassy hill, over the bridge, and down the last grassy path! But, whew! I made it and I am one happy mama!

Nichole and I after the race.

13.1 miles!

Yes, we are mighty proud of ourselves!

And I say, if you are going to run 13.1 miles, you might as well do it surrounded by beauty! Check out the aspen gold pathways that encouraged me on my run.


I took the family back to the course so they could see just how beautiful it was.


This huge blister was my take home present! Ouch!

The kids had a great day playing with all of the other kids.



And I am so grateful for a great group of ladies to share this incredible experience with! Although I can't think of a time when my body has been this sore (those darn hills!), I am sooooooo happy I did it.

Rites of Passages

Bella has passed through two rites of passages this past week; she got her ears pierced and she started kindergarten. She was so brave when she got her ears pierced and she has been so responsible cleaning her earrings twice daily. She also transitioned to kindergarten beautifully and she loves wearing her school uniform. I think she looks adorable in it. Of course, Bella got her ears pierced with her BFF, Sophie, and they are in the same kindergarten class. Going through such "scary" changes alongside her best friend has made the experiences seamless.

Double the Fun to Be One!

Our little Miss Calista turned 1 this week. Since she and Ben were born hours apart at the same hospital, we had a double birthday party for the cutie pies. It was so much fun. And because of Cali's milk and egg allergies, I found a recipe online and made her a milk and egg free (and therefore frosting free) cake. She ate it like a dainty little girl but she LOVED it!


I'm pretty sure Ben was saying something like this to Cali: "Hey...wanna try MY cake? It has milk and eggs in it. AND frosting!"


And here are the Moms and babies. We are smiling because we made it through the year of hard childbirth, no sleep, fussy babies, YW's presidency calling stuff, (from which we were just released), and juggling all of our other family responsibilities. Yes, we are happy that they are 1!

Truthfully, this year has flown by. Cali started out as a horribly fussy, very difficult, and intense baby. We seriously wondered what we had gotten ourselves into! But, right around six months old, she turned a corner and became a delightful, happy, and fun baby! She has been a blast. She has such a cute, playful personality now. She loves to laugh and play with her brother and sister. She likes to make messes and get into things as she explores all over the house (evidence pictured below). She has 2 1/2 teeth now, has successfully weened from nursing (this week), and can say "night night", "nana" (banana), and "dada". She isn't walking on her own yet but will be soon. She is one sweet and adorable baby and we are so happy that she gave us the surprise of our lives and joined our little family. We love you, Cali!