Disneyland 11-09

Blessings

Have you prayed lately? We do, A LOT!!

We think we have two little prayer warriors in our midst. Reece asks every night if he can pray during bedtime and he always starts his prayers with, "God, I just hope you are having fun with Dublin up there in heaven." Then he continues to pray for our family, friends and a good night sleep. Raine loves to pray before our meals. She says the prayer she has learned in her preschool and it always ends with a rock-fisted arm raised and very excited exclamation, "Praise the Lord!"

We are seeing the blessings that come from prayer quite a bit this week; not that God hasn't answered our prayers before, but this week they have been arriving daily. We got a call from our realtor saying the bank wants to counter offer asking for 10k more from the buyer, and the buyer agreed! We received a statement about the mortgage on our other home going down $230 a month starting in March. I lost an opportunity to tutor on Monday but was asked to make it up on Thursday. Mo sent me a text saying our Verizon bill was only $93 instead of $123. Our colds seem to be disappearing before they actually bring about all the ugliness. Lastly, we were given 4 tickets to go see the Harlem Globe Trotters on Wednesday.

Yes, I am bragging about all that God has done for us (1 Thes. 2:8). I told my mom on Saturday that I don't worry about stuff, I just give it to God. See what He does when we let Him have control over our lives and leave our worries to Him (Phil. 4:6-7).

Thank you Lord for all your blessings, I couldn't handle all of this without you (Ps. 105:1, 106:1)!

Dublin Doggie

We love you and hope you are having fun in heaven.

On Saturday, January 16th, Dublin went to meet Jesus in heaven and we were all there to hold her paws. She had been really sick all week, not eating or drinking. Mo would wake in the middle of the night just to make sure she was breathing. We were very worried about her so Mo called the vet. Jaime, the vet, said to take a urine sample and she would run some tests. The vet said Dublin had blood in her urine and gave us an antibiotic to give her. We bought Dubs some cans of dog food to see if she would like that better than the dry, but nope. She would barely take the pill form of the antibiotic. Mo called Jaime back and she said bring her in. Oddly enough Mo and I were just talking about how old Dublin was getting and how much longer she would live. I told Mo we should pray about this visit to the vet because we may have to make some very hard decisions. We cried and then I asked him if he wanted to go alone, with just me or as a family. When the kids came into our room, Mo brought them into our bed, told them how Dublin is sick and that we had to take her to the vet and that she may have to go see Jesus in heaven. What a horrible conversation to have with your kiddos. It was a sad morning because deep down Mo and I knew Dublin was not well.

At the vet's office, they took Dublin back to check her out and we waited in the waiting room. Then they brought us into this cozy little room with a leather love seat and mirror and a frame with a poem about the rainbow bridge. Mo said where did they bring us, and started to tear up. Jaime came in and told us Dublin had a mass in her belly and that she lost 16 lbs since October. Tears started streaming down my face and Mo asked what was their process for euthanasia. Jaime explained the steps and then left us to make our decision. I hadn't hugged my husband that tight in a long while. It is an extremely sad experience to see your best friend cry so hard. We knew what we had to do, but we didn't expect to make the decision right then and there. I told Mo Dublin was in pain and it wasn't fair to her to bring her home to die. He agreed and Jaime let us say our goodbyes. Reece was so cute, he said we should pray for her and said a sweet prayer which made Mo and I cry even more. Jaime came back with a catheter to inject the anaesthesia but couldn't find a vein. Dubs was so dehydrated that they needed to get a doggie stretcher and take her in the back under better light. Then she brought Dublin back in and asked if we were ready. How can you ever be ready to say goodbye to your doggie, she is like our first child? We all gave Dublin one last hug and nodded our heads. Even though it was the saddest day we have ever had as a family, Jaime made it as peaceful as could be. She was so patient with us. We left there very sad and headed to a park to play. We weren't in any hurry to go home with out Dublin. I was very thankful we had the long weekend to mourn. Mo and I really needed it! We are adjusting to that missing part of our family; it won't ever be the same without her.

First Date Night of 2010

Going back to school wasn't so bad this week knowing I had a date night to look forward to. We were blessed with several gift cards from students, friends, family and neighbors for Christmas and they are burning a hole in Mo's pocket (even if I am the one carrying them). We don't normally go out on Friday night because we are too tired from the work week, but since the Eagles were playing Saturday night... Let's not talk about them!

Peyton, one of the kids favorite sitters, came by around 5:30 and worked her magic so we could go eat 3 courses for $20 at Chili's and finally see Avatar. The restaurant was already so crowded, Mo suggested we sit at the bar. Great idea because we can never do that with the kids, even better because a booth behind us opened up about 5 minutes after we sat down. Nice, we could sit in the bar area but comfortably. We ordered from the choices on the 3 for $20 menu; Onion String & Crispy Jalapeno Stack, Buffalo Chicken Ranch Sandwich (Jo), Half Rack of Ribs (Mo), and Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie® for dessert. We normally would pick the Brownie Sundae, but I had just made a batch at home so we went for something different. The appetizer wasn't too great but the rest of the meal was so delicious! I was craving greasy bar food so it was just the right night for Chili's, we hardly ever eat there so it was a nice treat. After all that food, a beer and a frozen raspberry margarita our bill was only $35. We thought we only had $25 worth of gift cards but when we turned them over to see what Mo had written on them, they totaled $35 the exact amount of our bill. Sweet, leave a $5 tip since service was pretty slow and headed up the road to Aliante Station for the Imax version of Avatar.

Mo has been dying to see Avatar, but he put his kids and wife first, joining us to see our movies before he would see his. He sat through Alvin & The Chipmunks and Sherlock Holmes (mmm Robert Downey Jr. & Jude Law) over Christmas break and said we had to go see Avatar for our January date night. Don't get me wrong, he enjoyed each of those movies, but every time we went to the theater he would say I'm going to see Avatar, enjoy yours. I was hoping we would wait until a little later in January to see another movie, but Mo couldn't wait. He was going to see it alone if we didn't go this weekend. I had heard all these girls say they did actually like it; now I had to see if I would enjoy it too. A girlfriend said it was awesome in 3D and since I can't remember the last movie I saw in 3D I was all for it! I wasn't sure we were going to be able to use our movie gift cards for an Imax 3D movie but we were and only had to pay an extra $10 for the Imax/3D fees. When we went into the theater, it was packed. We thought showing up 30 minutes before the movie began would be enough time to find a good seat but nope there were hardly any available. Mo spotted two on the end of a row second from the top. He grabbed them and I headed to the restroom; no way would I make it through a 3 hr movie without a bathroom break. A couple from the middle of our row went to get snacks and everyone thought the two seats they left were open. After all of these people kept walking across me to get them and then turn around and come back, I finally started telling people they were taken. It was really annoying, didn't they get the hint when coats were laying across the seats? Finally, the lights started to dim and the previews started. I was so excited to see the preview for Alice in Wonderland (mmm Johnny Depp) because I can't wait to see that one!

Avatar was super fantastic, I really enjoyed it. It was an entertaining science fiction flick, not crazy gross or wierd. I enjoyed the chic aspects, the love story and how the magical mother tree within the Pandoran ecosystem added to the film. I am not surprised by this quote: "Within three weeks of its release, with a worldwide gross of over $1 billion, Avatar became the second highest-grossing film of all time worldwide, exceeded only by Cameron's previous film, Titanic."

I can't wait for our next date night, Valentine weekend. We only have enough in the budget for one date night a month. No complaints here, babysitters are expensive and we need to save our money for our summer vacation...

Thoughts from 2009 to 2010

I stole this from my friend, who stole this from David Allen, think about it!

Some interesting food for thought as 2009 comes to a close. I like how these questions from David Allen (the Getting Things Done guy) inspire deeper thought about what we've done and what we need to or mean to do.

Completing and remembering 2009

What was your biggest triumph in 2009? Paying off $60k of our debt, sadly we have more ;(
What was the smartest decision you made in 2009? To start a budget and try and live a debt free lifestyle
What one word best sums up and describes your 2009 experience? Triumph
What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2009? Sacrifices are good. I CAN sacrifice time to exercise and sacrifice desires to get out of debt.
What was the most loving service you performed in 2009? Not sure, my hubby would say not using a credit card.
What is your biggest piece of unfinished business in 2009? Our debt snowball still hasn't fully melted yet.
What are you most happy about completing in 2009? Running 2 half marathons, taking our first trip to Disney Land with children and paying off debt.
Who were the three people that had the greatest impact on your life in 2009? God, My awesome husband and Dave Ramsey.
What was the biggest risk you took in 2009? Training for a half marathon in San Diego, having no clue how to do it and succeeding at it.
What was the biggest surprise in 2009? Staying here in Las Vegas instead of traveling for the summer, it wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be.
What important relationship improved the most in 2009? My marriage!
What compliment would you liked to have received in 2009? None, I received plenty.
What compliment would you liked to have given in 2009? I should have told my friends what good teachers and mom's they are. I should have thanked my parents more.
What else do you need to do or say to be complete with 2009? Nothing, the year was very memorable.

Creating the new year 2010

What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2010? Paying off the rest of our debt.
What advice would you like to give yourself in 2010? Be patient, it's all in God's time.
What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2010? Live like no one else and want for nothing. All the desires of my heart will be there when I have the CASH to pay for it.
What would you be most happy about completing in 2010? Paying off the rest of our debt.
What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2010? Traveling to the East Coast by truck and spending 2 weeks in Ocean City, New Jersey.
What would you most like to change about yourself in 2010? The pain I feel in my knees; I ruined them and can no longer run.
What are you looking forward to learning in 2010? How to take better pictures with my camera.
What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2010? Selling our house and moving back into our smaller one.
What about your work, are you most committed to changing and improving in 2010? Staying on top of my grading and teaching lessons with humor.
What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2010? Photography
What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2010? Spending time with my family. We are planning fun family outings each month, family game days and just plain old craziness with 2 lil ones.
Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2010? God and my family.
What one word would you like to have as your theme in 2010? Trust

I'm stealing this from David Allen's Productivity Principles newsletter. It says right at the bottom it's OK to do so as long as the contact & copyright info is intact, so here goes...(c) 2009 The David Allen Company, all rights reserved.The David Allen Company407-F Bryant CircleOjai, CA 93023(805) 646-8432info@davidco.com

Happy New Year

Twenty Ten, I like the way that sounds. I love the fact that we rang it in with friends whom we consider family. It was a fun night full of yummy Mexican food and chocolate treats. We let the kids ring in the New Year at 9 o'clock with the east coast. They watched the ball drop and toasted 2010 with some delicious sparkling cider. Reece was excited to sleep in Elijah and Sam's bedroom. Raine wanted to as well but won't stop talking so daddy moved her into Layla and Addison's room, or our hotel room for the week. I was shocked Reece made it through the night in Eli's room because the first time he tried to sleep in there, he woke up crying for me; such a mama's boy!

Once the kids were down, the adults, AJ and Noah were left to play games. I wandered off into the music room to read a bit while they figured out which game and ended up dozing off! I was up too late the night before and was exhausted all day. I guess I shouldn't have teased Shontell about falling asleep last New Years Eve! I woke up to the gang sharing and laughing about their word choices for the game Scattigories. I was little bummed because I wanted to play too. Oh well. Kris poured our drinks for the New Year toast and we counted down the final moments of 2009. We have celebrated several New Years Eves with the Brewers and Dahirs; I'm so thankful we stayed an extra day to continue the tradition.

Christmas Vaca Reno Style

We are having a relaxing time here in Reno. Christmas was busy and restful at the same time, so good to be around chaos, kids and friends who are our west coast family. We went sledding today and had a blast and I hope to do it again at Mt. Charleston in Vegas. Last night 21 people (10 adults and 11 kids) went to see Alvin & the Chipmunks. We got to the theater early and stood in a line set up just for us and then picked the best seats in the theater. We brought some treats from home so all we bought was popcorn. It was a pretty cute movie. Raine recognized the song All the Single Ladies and said "We know that song, can I dance?" She was too antsy to sit and watch because she ate about 15 blue M&M's. 8 adults are going to see Sherlock Holmes tomorrow night. I can't wait to see Robert Downey Jr. in that, he is some yummy eye candy (next to Mo of course)!!

The woman who truly intends to live a good life is already living phenomenally since intent is part of the achievement.

~Maya Angelou

I don't feel like I live phenomenally but I do enjoy my life. Our Christmas season created an emotional roller coaster within my heart this year. I was a very weepy mama the entire week leading up to our saviours birth. Everything seemed to make me teary; songs on the radio, tv commercials, Christmas cards, texts, phone calls, Christmas gifts, church, my kiddos and even my spouse. You name it, I cried over it. (No I am not pregnant.)

Mo's parents offered to fly us home during winter break but we decided to stay here in Las Vegas instead. I was upset about that decision and probably a bit depressed too. I would try and persuade my hubby to drive to the east coast, but deep down I knew that wasn't happening either. Prayers are an amazing thing, I strongly recommend it. I prayed for contentment & PEACE in my heart, since I really wanted to go east and see family. God answered and although I have cried a little bit each day, it has been a really content and peaceful holiday.

We attended the 4:00pm Christmas Eve service at Canyon Ridge church with two very dear families the Baldwins and Boardmans. The Russo's were supposed to join us but we switched the time on them so they were impressed with the 6:00 production. Reece was in service with us which was extremely special as well. I felt bad Raine was in her classroom and felt an urge to pull her out to sit with us.

We ran out of there abandoning our friends to put lasagna in the oven and give the kids the Wii. It was super exciting.  On Christmas Eve evening, I made my hubby help wrap presents, yes in years past I did it all, so I changed that this year! It was fun working together on that. I would go put them under the tree and he would ask how many more... We were in bed by 12, so it wasn't too bad.

While tucking the kiddos into bed they were told to hang out in their rooms until daddy and mommy were ready, so I wrapped a couple toys up with a bow and put them outside their doors.

We had a slow going morning, ate some fruit first and then unwrapped a bunch of presents from the relatives. It was a slow morning with lots of awesome faces. I took a lot of video and mo took a ton a pictures. Now I just need to upload them all....

Happy Christmas Break

I love this time of year so much! Two weeks off of school to spend with the ones I love so dear. I am really excited about Christmas morning because my kids are starting to understand what it all means and how gift giving works. Our whole family from the East Coast sent out presents for the little rascals plus they received a few from the neighbors and friends. We will open them tomorrow Dec 21st and let them play with them for a day or so before we head up to Reno to visit the Brewers and Dahirs. Mo & I plan on bringing five presents from mommy & daddy up to Reno with us. We won't really be mentioning Santa because we believe Jesus is the reason for the season. We will be making him a birthday cake and singing Happy Birthday Dear Jesus...
No, I am not a hypocrite, I do too believe in Santa and I help my kids believe also, but he only brings a couple of presents and he will be delivering those to Vegas because he didn't get our letter that we would be in Reno. I get to watch my darlings open presents three times this year, Dec 21st, Dec 25th and then Jan 2nd! Now I'm off to wrap the bunch we are traveling with!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Visiting Santa

Raine was checking out the Rudolph stuffed animals.

Reece just wanted to see Santa and play with the toys they had on display.

Yay for Christmas!

Look how cute they are with Santa & Mrs. Claus!

Today we took a trip to Bass Pro Shop to visit Santa & Mrs. Claus. It was so much fun! Reece and Raine saw Santa at Bilbray last Tuesday but it was nothing like this. The store set up the cutest display and a whole section of fun for the kiddos. They were able to play with remote control cars, a nerf crossbow and some crafts while I waited in line to see Santa. It was quite the neat set up. Raine couldn't wait to tell Santa that she wanted a Pooh Bear toy because she forgot to tell him that when she saw him on Tuesday. Reece told him he wanted Power Ranger toys, too bad Santa's helper hasn't found any yet. We strolled through the store and then let the kids pick out their special ornament for this year. Reece picked one with two labs laying on their dog bed. Raine chose a brown bear holding a big star christmas cookie. They loved walking around the store with them and would barely hard them over to the cashier to purchase. It was a really nice experience.

REI at the District was our next destination. Mo told the kids we were headed to a surprise, but Reece wasn't too please when he read the letters REI. He had a ball hanging out in the tents and climbing on the rocks. No really great deals were to be found there so we headed to some of the other shops. Ann Taylor Loft was our next stop, where I was hoping to find some new jeans with the Christmas money my mom sent me. Mo was such a supportive hubby while I tried on clothes and then even found me the cutest Christmas dress, on sale no less!

As we were heading to some more shops, we ran in to a very lonely Santa just waiting for kids to chat with. Reece and Raine were so excited to see him again! They chatted quite awhile with Mr. C and walked away with some paper antlers. I ran into Gymboree to check out the sales and find some mittens for Raine. The kids were getting restless and hungry so we headed to Cheesecake Factory for an early dinner. Mo & I share our favorite Buffalo Blasts and a new dish called Bellaigo Chicken which was scrumptious! While enjoying some bread, Reece asked everyone how their day has been. He said this dinner was the best part because he was so hungry. On the way home, it only took 5 minutes for both kids to cash out. It was an extremely enjoyable family day, maybe we will make it to the Santa train ride in Boulder City tomorrow!

Christmas cards

Wow, It's December and I am still so behind in my posts. I am sitting here sipping an Irish coffee staring at my pile of Christmas cards wondering where I put that extra box. I wrote out 60 cards and still need to write about 20 more to all those college friends who need to see how cute our kids are. I chose to use an old school christian themed card and develop a single pic of Reece & Raine with Mickey ears on. I am pleased with our cards this year because the pic of my joyful babies is priceless. I scribed on the inside, "We hope your Christmas is a magical as our 1st trip to Disneyland." Your card will be in the mail tomorrow after school. I found a slew of old 41 cent stamps so it shouldn't cost me that much to mail all of these off. I never realized how expensive Christmas cards could be until Mo asked how much I needed from our Christmas budget. It will be interesting to see what it all adds up to since I am using cards I bought a few years ago, stamps I have had laying around and a single simple pic. I am hoping under 20 bucks...

Christmas shopping

Tonight after my class I went to Toys R Us to buy some fun stuff for my babies. My mom called and left me a message about the one day sale; thanks Mom! I got some great playdough and crayola sets, buy 2 get 1 free. My kiddos are so crafty they will love that messy stuff. I found a Transformer soccer ball on clearance and a classic Transformer firetruck for 10 bucks. The best deal of the night was the green Vtech Nitro Notebook computer for $24.99, half off. Reece will be so excited because he always wants to play on ours. I found a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse laptop for Raine. I hope she loves it as much as I think she will. It has some really cute games and songs. I also found her a sweet little pack n play for her baby dolls, some mini diapers and bottles. She loves to play with her babies and stuffed animals. I really enjoy watching her play mommy, she would make a great big sister. I found some good deals and am done shopping. I have a few presents already stashed away for the kids. Our trip to Disneyland really was supposed to be their present but I couldn't help picking them up a few things tonight. I know my mom would love to take credit for the laptops, plus then she wouldn't have to shop! We'll have to see what the tag on the gift says when it's under the tree.

Oh Christmas Tree...

How bout this one guys?

Lil tree strapped to the Vue.

Jingle Bell Rock was playing and the kids started rocking out.

A bit snuggle because she was still a little sleepy.

Family fun was had this morning! We were out the door by 9am to pick out a Christmas tree and build a wagon at Home Depot! The kids had a ball running around the Christmas tree lot, playing hide n seek with their dad! I snapped some cute pics and then we found the perfect lil tree for our home. Mo watched the highschool helpers tie it to the top of my lil Saturn Vue. We ran the tree home, let it open up in the garage for a few hours and headed back to the Home Depot for a kid clinic.

We were meeting my friend Traci and her cute boys. It was our first time building something at the kids clinic and Reece & Raine loved it! Daddy helped Reece with his lil wagon and I assisted the stubborn "I do it" lil lady! Mo took over helping Raine and I snapped some pics. We had a ball building our wagons. The kids couldn't wait to take them home and paint them. Reece chose to paint his red like a traditional wagon and Raine chose her favorite color, blue! They tow those little wagons all over the house.

After a few hours of decorating the house, Mo was home from landscaping, and ready to decorate our perfect little tree, well sort of. I started decorating while he cooked some delicious pork chops. Reece loved hanging ornaments but clumped them all in one spot! I had to keep rearranging them. A few minutes later he found the red and silver bulbs full of glitter. He would rub his hands all over the bulb then wipe the glitter on his face and say look mom I'm sparkly.  I love Christmas with my lil family.

THANKFUL

I am so behind in my posts but had to say how Thankful I am for this season in my life. The Hauguels are one blessed family and I need to give God all the praise for that.

Thank you Lord for

• allowing us to spend a couple days with the East Coast Hauguel siblings
• being able to take our kids to Disneyland for the first time
• seeing life through the eyes of 5, 4 & 3 year old cousins
• laughing and crying more in one weekend than ever before
• feeling endless amounts of happiness & joy
• a few mom moments of impatience
• my amazingly smart husband
• my of so giving sister-in-law & brother-in-law
• my dear friends at work who made it possible for me take Wednesday off
• my dear friend who took care of my home and Dublin Dog
• friends who insisted on Breakfast with Minnie to start the Disney experience
• the Disney characters who work so hard & made my children smile
• a gift card to buy pictures from the breakfast
• a delicious Turkey dinner at Claim Jumper with a gift card blessing for a future visit
• excellent weather, great food and more memories than I can write down
• my sweet grandfather & parents who shared an early inheritance to make this experience all possible

So how was your Thanksgiving?

2nd Half Marathon During Halloween Weekend

We took a weekend away to spend time with our friends & family in Reno. Mo has been dying to go back there since our August trip. He picked Reece up from school on Thursday at 3:30 and started the 7 hr road trip to Reno. Mo is super dad, driving 7 hours with 2 tired kiddos in the truck. I called often to check on them and all seemed well. He said they passed out and slept the last five hours of the trip. I was a nervous wreck the whole time they were travelling. Friday they played all day long and had a ball with the Brewer clan. I slept in, watched silly TV and wandered aimlessly around a department store without children in tow. My neighbor Carol and I headed to Lake Mead to pick up our race packet. I joined Carol for a delicious pasta meal and then headed home to do laundry and pack for my trip to Reno.

Saturday morning I woke at 5:15 am, made coffee and toast and prepared for my 2nd half marathon. I was nervous and excited at the same time! Carol came over and we drove out to Lake Mead. It was a nice relaxing 45 minute drive. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, it was fantastic! The weather was perfect for the race. The race didn't start until 8 am; it was so exciting and pretty. My neighbor Carol and I had been training for months for this day. I was hoping to beat my 2:10 time from San Diego but was having a bad tummy ache so I wasn't sure if that would happen. There were a ton of hills to over come as well. Carol and I started off together and had a nice pace going, then I had to pee. Yikes, I stopped and she went ahead. I eventually caught up to her just before the silly switch back part of the course. We saw the Hoover Damn and turned around to finish the second half of the race. My knees were killing me and I just wanted to get finished. I ran ahead of Carol and kept my eyes on the lake. It was so beautiful and scenic. I kept pushing myself to make it to the next person ahead of me. It was very motivating and I started to really push it to finish under 2:10. The last 2 miles of the run were up hill and really sucked! I was so tired and had very little energy left in me. I crossed the finish line in 2:26, bummed I was 10 minutes slower but so glad I did it; 13.1 miles is nothing now ;)

Carol came in 10 minutes after me and we headed to eat, the food wasn't that great so we drove home. I needed to get a shower and catch a plane. Julie swung by my house at 12:00 and took me to the airport. I grabbed a slice of pizza and waited for my plane. I was so tired I slept the whole hour and ten minutes to Reno.

Life this October

It sure has been hectic but fun at the same time. The in laws came into town and we had a lot of fun with them. The kids loved having their grandparents in town. We went swimming with them at their condo and visited the pumpkin parking lot too. The adults were able to see O at the Bellagio and eat a scrumptious meal at Olives. We had an awesome view of the fountains and were able to enjoy the water show every 15 minutes. It was a great night out and only cost us $45.00 for a babysitter! Thanks so much Feldman family, Noni & Pa Pere!

Three genereations of Maurice!

Pa Pere and his goofy grandkids.

Pa Pere helping Raine swim.

Reece & Pa Pere getting ready to go under the waterfall.

Pa Pere had a ball swimming with the kids, but they sure did wear him out. It was a great visit. We always enjoy having Pa Pere and Noni visit us. We are blessed that they make it out to see us twice a year.

Reece earns "Good Character" award

Reece was sorting bats and matching them to the correct number. He loves learning about Math! Mrs. Leatherman hands Reece his certificate.

Pa Pere, Noni and Mrs. Glover are so proud of Reece.

Reece is also so proud of himself.

Reece absolutely loves going to school. When I ask him how his day was he says “I stayed on green baby!” He has a red, yellow, green behavior system in his classroom. Sometimes he gets a checkered flag for doing something really well. Then he comes back to my classroom and gets a piece of bubblegum out of my treat jar. We usually stay after school for a bit to clean up after my day so he gets to run around the halls with Bella, his kindergarten buddy. Today he had a citizen assembly for grades k-2 and Reece received an award for “Good Character”. I am so proud of him. Noni and Pa Pere were here to see him get his award. He was so very excited that they could come up to his school and watch the assembly. I am so thankful he enjoys school so much.

Happy 5th Birthday Reece

I can’t believe you are 5 yrs old and a kindergartner. I am so proud of you and whata sweet boy you are becoming. You had a small family party on Sept 14th. Uncle Travis mailed you this awesome Optimus Prime Transforming arm blaster thing. Grammy & Pops bought you’re your Batman costume for Halloween and Mommy & Daddy gave you a Batman game for your Leapster. Raine had a hard time picking out your present, so she gave you some books she knew you would love. On Saturday, Sept 19th we entertained you and 15 of your friends at Bounce U. Everyone seemed to have a blast bouncing, climbing and jumping all around. The kids all piled into the party room to eat cake and open presents. A few children wanted to go back out and bounce afterward. It was so much fun watching you enjoy your special day!

Happy Birthday 3rd Raine

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY

IRELAND RAINE!

We love brownies so I made a double batch and frosted them for her cake. She loved all of the blue sugar sprinkles and the Dora decorations.

Grammy Babs and Daddy let her sneak a taste before we lit the candles.

She was spoiled and loved unwrapping all of her gifts.

She still enjoys Elmo and was excited about this fun puzzle book.

She loved this fun tea pot set from Mommy & Daddy.

It was so nice having my parents here for her birthday. We left school and rushed down to their condo to check them in and have the birthday party. Raine was so happy to swim and spend time with her grandparents. I can't believe she is already three!

1st day of school

Mommy wasn't quite awake yet and not real eager to start school. This is always the hardest time of the year for me. I hate going back to work after having the summer months off. I was especially emotional since it was Reece's first day of Kindergarten and Raine's first day of preschool. We all had excellent days. Reece said he had an awesome first day and loved it! Raine was also very excited when she got home.

Daddy takes Raine to CCA with him everyday and checks on her regularly.

Reece couldn't wait to start school it was all he could talk about for days!

Raine looks so cute in her school uniform.

"We are ready for school mom."

13.1 in 2:13:06

Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.
― Gail Devers

WOW, I read this quote today and thought how appropriate for my post about my half marathon. I started running in Jan 09. I paid 80 bucks to run in the AZ rock n roll half marathon but never trained for it so I skipped the race. I told myself I would never do that again. My neighbor was training for a full marathon but pulled her IT band so we were a good team. Two runners who had goals but never achieved them. Only I achieved mine this past Sunday in San Diego. My other running friend told me about the AFC, America's Finest City Half Marathon in San Diego. She had run it a few times before and told me it was great. My goal was to run a half before school started this fall. I signed up for the AFC and was scared to death. 8,000 people all running together did not sound that fun. The scenery would do it for me. I would look forward to that. I love San Diego; if I could move there, I would in a heartbeat.

Saturday morning I had the family packed and in the car by 7:45. Mo was very reluctant to come on this trip but did it for me anyway. We needed to touch the ocean so that was his reward for helping me on this journey. We stopped for our usual road trip Starbucks, free thanks to VBS gift card and headed south on the I 15. Our journey was stopped short just outside of Jean, NV because Raine Roo had consumed too much strawberries and cantaloupe. She told me she had something stuck in her throat and then threw up. YAY, what a way to start our trip. It was an easy clean up and we were back on the road. We stopped in Baker so Reece could pee and then headed to In-N-Out for lunch. It sure was a slow moving trip. We ran into the Baldwin at In-N-Out. I was very excited to see them, as were my children, they love Riley and Violet.

Back on the road by 12:30 and on our way to SD to check into the Expo and pick up my race bib and t-shirt. We stopped for gas one more time and then drove along Harbor Blvd three or four times in search of the Sheridan Hotel. No, I didn't map quest the directions, just though I would recognize it. Finally got my race number 5046 and headed to the Hampton Inn to rest for the night. We order some take out from Olive Garden and watched Pinocchio while we ate. I think it was the first time Reece and Raine saw it. They were very excited viewing a new movie. I bathed the kids and got them settled for the night. I got all my gear ready for my 4 am wake up call, took a nice long shower, iced my knees and was asleep by 9pm. Mo was so sweet he slept close to the kids so he could help them if one were to fall off the bed or need us. I slept like a rock until my mind was worried I wouldn't wake for the alarm. I must have checked the clock at 1 am and 3 am. Then Mo had to wake me when the alarm did go off.

I wasn't very awake but I felt nervous. I made a pot of coffee and got dressed. Mo and I planned to wake the kids and put them in the car at 4:45 so he could have me at Balboa park by 5:15. I had to catch a bus that would take the 8,000 runners to Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma. The starting line was 7 miles from my hotel but I had to back track and ride a bus to the beginning of the course. Weird I know. I made a friend while standing in line for one of the 10 charter buses. Her name was Shawna and this was her first half marathon too. We were both solo runners scared to death. Wish I could say we ran the whole thing together but I lost her after about 10 minutes of running. I still wonder when she finished.

Once the bus made it to Cabrillo National Monument we headed to the line for the port a potties. There were more bathrooms than I have ever seen at a football game or concert combined. It was crazy. We then found our way toward the middle of the pack and waited for the race to begin. I was glad to have someone to share my joy of people watching with. There were some very interesting characters there. Some dude wore his sailor hat and shiny red shorts. His friend had on cute off jeans and a cut off flannel shirt. I told Shawna they were part of the YMCA crew but lost their buddies. Then some freak was wearing baby blue feety jammies with a baby flying out of his stomach. It was bizarre. Shawna pointed out some girls who were writing all kind of stuff on their arms and legs. I told her looking around at some of the people here makes me feel like I really can run this in 2:30 and not be the last one getting picked up by the van telling you the race is over. She laughed and said me too!

Time was ticking and I was growing anxious and bored, let's get going already. Then they sang the National Anthem and we started walking toward the starting line. Then the crowd started running. I looked at Shawna and said I guess were starting-Good Luck! I barley had my Ipod ready to start the timer and get Dave's mix of music ready. I have been running to an awesome Dave Matthew's mix during my long runs. I crossed the starting line and headed down hill. It was so crowed and fast. I couldn't believe I was running a half marathon. I looked down at my timer and 5 mins had already passed. I am used to running 1 min 30 secs then walking 30 seconds. I was so excited about the whole thing I kept running. I was trying to make my way to the right side of the road so I could look out at the ocean. It was hard crossing in front of people, but I did it. Then I was afraid if I was looking to my right I would run into someone, or slow someone else down. It was crazy. I kept running 5 more minutes and felt great. The next time I looked down at my timer is said 32:00:22 I was pleasantly pleased and prayed I could keep this up.

It was encouraging having people on the side of the roads clapping and yelling for runners in general. People would sit on their decks drinking their coffee and yell. Families with kiddos in their pjs would sit at the end of their driveways and ring cowbells for us. I would see people in front of me and use them as my goals to pass. I would also look ahead at some people and try to keep up with them. I loved seeing the mile marker signs and timers on the side of the road. I would see those and think only this much more. I would also be so proud of my time. Adrenaline really helped me run this race. Running is such a mental thing. I knew I could run 13 miles, I did it a couple times before, but I am competitive. I wanted to beat my time; really, I just wanted to finish with knees that would still be able to walk on the beach after. We were finishing up on the side streets of Point Loma when my stomach churned from the most disgusting seafood smell. I knew we had to be near some restaurants because it smelled just like my kitchen when Mo is making crabs and other stinky seafood. I quickly ran passed that stench; luckily it didn't linger and was over fast! Then we came down another hill and I saw the San Diego skyline. It was so pretty with the clouds parting and sun starting to break through.

When I passed the 10k sign I knew I was half way and I could do this. I ate the rest of my cheery caffeine filled Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (which were so so so yummy) and started to push a little harder. We were just rounding Harbor Island Dr and it was so scenic and pretty. The crowd had thinned out some and I could really enjoy running along the ocean. People were already out on their sailboats and playing in the water. I kept hoping Mo would be on the sideline somewhere and surprise me. We had planned for him to meet me at the finish line. It was kinda of fun to running to see the kids and my man.

We passed the 15K mark and were just starting to enter the city streets. I knew that the end was near, but even more importantly that the 6th Ave hill was coming. Who designs a race with a mile long hill at the end? I tried to push it through the first gradual hill on Broadway but was stopped by the trolley. Nothing like that crushing your momentum. Oh well. There was a water station coming up and that's where they were serving mini cheeseburgers from Margaritaville. Weird, who would eat a mini cheeseburger in the middle of a run? It smelled so good though.

The end was near and I could feel the adrenaline kick in. I was so done with this race, where was that finish line? Then I saw the signs for Balboa park, I can do this I thought. I pushed it and ran a bit faster. I was climbing that stupid hill on Sixth Ave and then I saw the tunnel, Yes the park! I caught a glimpse of the finish line and ran my heart out. I saw Mo and my babies on the side cheering me on. I sprinted down the last 500 yards and crossed the blue line. I did it, I ran my first half marathon. What an accomplishment!

Me

ABOUT ME AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE

Age:35
Occupation:5th grade teacher
Marital Status: Married to an amazingly handsome man
Reside: Las Vegas, NV

i am so very blessed.
i was able to reach my 2009 running goal on 8-16-09 in 2:13:00
i think life is too short to worry about silly things you can't control.
i know that God is there for me and will get me through anything.
i wonder what I'll be when I grow up?
i hope to be a stay at home mom at some point during Reece & Raine's childhood years.
i wish I would procrastinate less.
i save more stuff than should.
i always have more ideas than I can execute.
i can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
i can't only do one thing at a time.
i have the best friends and family.
i believe that its ok to say no but have a hard time sticking to it.
i promise to the see the positive side of sitautions.
i want so badly to be out of debt and out of Vegas.
i love my life.

Time

One minute ago, I was tucking my kids into bed.

One hour ago, I was folding laundry and listening to my kiddos play Hungry Hungry Hippos.

One day ago, I was sitting in LaJolla, on the beach, watching my family play in the Pacfic Ocean after running the AFC half marathon.

One week ago, I was snapping pictures of my family and the Brewers while we all played at Frenchman's Mt.

One month ago, I was wondering what my week would look like and where I would go swimming.

One year ago, I was playing in the sand with my family and the DeRusha family at Ocean Side Beach.

Where has time gone?

School Starts soon :(

Remember when my last post was in July and I had nothing to do but swim and play with my kids. Now it is August and my days are packed with more to do than all summer long. VBS started this week at Cornerstone. I am helping with the Preschool aged kiddos. Boy are they fun! We have the Plumbing Express guys coming all week to repipe our home. I need to keep the kids away from all the mess so I will bring them up to my classroom in the afternoons. I am hoping to get the majority of it ready so I can relax and enjoy my weekend in San Diego. I will also try and run some extra miles this week in preparation for the AFC half marathon. I am very very nervous. The month is already going by so fast and it's only 8-11-09. I am not ready to be a working mom again. I have really enjoyed my summer on the West Coast.

Chasing Summer

I was reading another blog that asked, "How are you chasing summer?"

I have felt so many simple joys of summer this weekend. I was wondering how I should post about them, then I came across her blog. Friday we ate a yummy pasta dinner followed by ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Afterwards we headed over to the butterfly park to play and watch an outdoor movie. The weather was perfect, not to hot and my kiddos were so excited about the "surprise". Mo let them play for a bit while I went to pick out the perfect grassy spot. We were going to enjoy the movie "The Tales of Desperaux" on the hill at the Centennial Amphitheatre. I read the story to Reece during our Christmas break while driving to Park City and Reno; so I was very excited to finally see the movie. I was laying on the blankets waiting for my beautiful family to come join me. Some other families had pizza and sub sandwiches for dinner, others had their kids dressed in pajamas with snacks in hand. We brought our water bottles, baggies of pretzels and glow bracelets. We wished we had brought some pillows! Reece and Raine were so excited but still very patient. I think they were tired and I wondered if they would stay awake for the whole thing. When it finally began Reece was cuddled up next to Mo and Raine snuggled up to me and asked me several times to "tucker her in". It was so wonderful all of us laying there watching the movie. Halfway threw it we gave them their glow sticks and then they wanted to switch seats. Raine didn't last very long with Mo and ended up coming back to lay with me. It was so awesome laying there with my babies resting their lil heads on my belly. It was quite different from when their whole little body used to fit on my chest. We finished the movie like that, while Mo took a little snooze. I thought for sure Reece had fallen asleep but he said, "Nope, I'm still up mom!" We carried the kids to the car and plopped them right into bed when we arrived home. Reece said he loved the surprise and can't wait to go watch another movie in the park. I guess I'll have to see if Aliante is having any...

Motivation

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. "
Hebrews 10:24, NLT

This was my daily scripture verse from Air 1 today. I laughed when I read it. I was just thinking how unmotivated I am and how I have so many things to do. I sit here on the couch reading emails, Facebook and stuff. I have a laundry basket of clothes sitting next to me, and bags of hand me down clothes on the floor that I need to sort. It is 4 o'clock and the only thing I can check off my to do list is meet with a friend and swim. No wait, I also called a friend about setting up a play date next week, sent a few emails and researched why my bee sting won't go away. I made lunch for my kids but I guess that is required huh? I really need to get something done before dinner. Maybe I'll make a few more phone calls that I have been wanting to check off my list and find out what time Transformers starts tomorrow night so Mo and I can go on a date. Or maybe I will just blog about my to do list...

Bee Sting

I received my first bee sting yesterday. I was watching Reece & Raine exert some energy on the playground when I felt something biting my forearm. I quickly swatted at the bug and watched it fall to the ground. My arm still hurt and I saw a stinger sticking out, I looked down at the bug on the ground and saw it was a bee. I quickly pulled the stinger out of my arm and threw it on the ground next to the bee. Then I squished the bee with my flop and hoped I wasn't allergic. My brother is allergic and I wondered if I am too since I am allergic to several of other things. It didn't really bother me when it happened, it just felt like a mosquito bite. I went home and didn't do anything about it. Today is a different story altogether. The bite is red, swollen and it itches so bad. I iced it but it still itched and the redness hasn't gone away. I went to Walmart and the pharmacist said I should see a doctor, she had no helpful advice for me and wouldn't even recommend cream or medicine. I bought some Benadryl, but all it seems to do is make me tired. I need to go online and see what it recommends, I bet it will tell me more that than the Walmart pharmacist. Recommendations anyone?

Swimming Lessons

WOW~this has been a tiring week. Mo has been landscaping daily and uses my car to do so, but I offered to teach Ashlyn how to swim. I have to strap the kids in the cougar bike carrier and pedal them to a friend's pool every morning at 9:30. It is quite a trek uphill. Thankfully, the weather is cooperating and it is only 89 degrees. The pool water is actually chilly and then the air isn't much better. It's funny to see blue lips on the kids. Reece is also learning how to swim without his floaties. He is so brave but lacks the skills needed to get him across the pool. Ashlyn is a very cautious young lady, who is a bit timid. After this week though, she has become a daredevil, jumping in and swimming across the pool. It is so great to see how much they learn in just one week. I can't wait to swim with the kids again after we both return from our vacations. I will give a week of refresher lessons and then hopefully swim with them for pleasure the rest of the summer. I live to play in the pool here and love to see little ones enjoy it as much as I do. Thank goodness my kids are fish! ;)

Signs of Summer

I LOVE SUMMER! It is the best time of the year, even if we aren't road tripping back east. I am off for 10 weeks and get to spend all my time with my kids. I have big plans for this summer: read, relax, run, bike, swim, hike, run, camp, organize my home, rid my home of clutter, run, catch up on my movie list, hang with friends, take some short road trips to visit friends and run my first 1/2 marathon!! Yep, I did it I am officially signed up for a race in San Diego on Sunday, August 16th. The family will take one last adventure to Cali before we head back to school. They will support mommy as I finish 13.1 miles at Balboa Park. We will then head to Sea World for the day! I can't wait. Please pray for me often! I have to wake myself up at 4:30am to run in this horrible Las Vegas heat! I also have to start eating like a runner and cut out all the extra crap I allow myself because I run. How bad can it be really?

Pre-K Graduate

On Thursday, June 14th I was able to be a parent volunteer and help out with Reece's preschool graduation. It was quite an event with some songs and even a ceremonial walk up to the stage to receive a diploma. There were 47 graduates and it was priceless watching them perform their songs. Reece was concentrating so hard on his songs that he barely smiled. I was laughing at the faces he would make and how loud he would sing. He told me a few weeks ago that I would be crying at his performance and it was true. After each class performed their songs, they left the stage to go get dressed in their cap and gown. The classes then proceeded up the aisle and back onto the stage. It was so precious. Each child was called down to receive their diploma and were then asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. Can you guess what Reece said? He wants to be a super hero! When Pastor Greg asked him which one, Reece said he wasn't sure. We all thought he'd say Batman since he is obsessed with him. It was so funny. Lots of the boys said they wanted to be race car drivers, super fast race car drivers and the little girls want to be moms. It was so funny listening to their answers. I can't wait to see how it was captured on the DVD. My baby boy is getting to so big. Next fall he will go with me to Bilbray and attend an extended day kindergarten class. I know he will love it but his daddy will sure miss taking him to Cornerstone everyday.