Happy New Year

The year has started off great and we are looking forward to all that it brings. But to highlight last year:

I was working full time as a wedding planner and trying to balance work, kids and being a wife, friend, family member and ward member...all of which I felt like we suffering. Towards the end of the year I decided it was time to stay home, and although I miss work and my beautiful brides I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Adlen turned 5 and started FULL day kindergarten so from 9-3:30 it was me and tysen.

Tysen turned 3 and has enjoyed time with mom with out big sister around.

Justin continues to work hard in a struggling economy but is having success that we celebrate as they are great strides again in a struggling economy.

Some things to look forward to this year:

Paying off a car, another RAGNAR-in AZ with my beautiful sister in law, Addie finishing her first year of school, starting 1st grade and Tysen hopefully finishing potty training and starting preschool, Justin to keep working hard and see benefits of hopefully a recovering economy.

Have a blessed year!

Ragnar Relays

Oh, what was i thinking saying yes!

I had a friend come down for the weekend who was running with a group to do the ragnar relays. If you are unfamiliar with them thats not a bad thing! It is a two day race where each runner takes a few legs to finish the course. Well they were down a runner and on Monday and asked if I could run. I thought i had the best reason to say no, I was working, but then they said they could cover the 1 leg I couldn't make. So now I felt like i should. Now I run but I'm not a runner, in track I was a sprinter, ok, go fast and hard for a short distance then be done. When I work out it is usually a spin class or a boot camp class, and I haven't had a regular work out routine in a while.

My legs were 4.5 miles the first leg and a pretty easy course, my 3rd leg was up hill 5 ,miles down hill 2 miles.

So I got up at 4 am on Friday to be at the course as it started in Lake Mead. My team however didn't show up tiil 6:30 so where I would have started 7 I started at 7:30. So as I'm running I'm enjoying the view of the sunrise over the lake and the mountains and playing around with my ipod, thats how I run in a race. Then I got home by 10:15, got a manicure, went to work from 2-9 then drove to my next area (11 pm), slept on the grass next to a gas station with all the other runners to be up by 2 to start our next 6 legs. I started my run at 3 and finished just before 5 (oh with a nice little throwing up around mile 4). Hung out to watch everyone run their legs, caae home again at 10:30 slept for an hour to get up and shower and go back to work by 2.

It was crazy weekend but I really enjoyed it. I love how my body feels today and kind feel like doing it again!

Potty Train

Last week Tysen was wanting to poop on the potty and on Sunday he tells me that he now wants to pee on the potty...it could not have been easier with this kid! And today he has done both and loves getting a little surprise when he does. We are still working out the kinks for night time but I am too excited about not having to change diapers anymore!

Addie Goes to Kindergarten

No tears the first week but this week we've had a few. She is doing really well in her class and has a great teacher. She goes all day so it has given mommy a chance to have some time with Tysen as well. We are so excited about this new phase in life for her...and us.

Europe or Bust

Tysen in Monte Carlo not justin

Pirate night at the kids center

It says that if you toss a coin into the Trevi fountain, you will return to Rome, so I was sure to do it!

Pompeii

Colosseum

Pisa-mostly Justin and I took inappropriate pictures with the tower but this one is cute

Who can be mad about celebrating your anniversary on a free trip!

One of the stops in Greece

Topkapi Palace where the Sultan lived, Turkey...it is now 3 different museums one of which has the arm of John the Baptist

Blue Mosque

Athens...loved!

We finally went on our trip of a life time and LUUUVED it! We saw so many amazing and beautiful things. We ate REAL pizza and pasta everyday and stayed up late and slept in...even the kids!

Things to come...

Just a quick update. I haven't been uploading pictures so I don't really have any to share but the summer is flying by and we've managed to enjoy some of it as a family. We've had quick camping trips and trips to CA. Sundays around town and plenty of swimming. However, I can't CAN'T wait for August 7th because our family will embark on a 12 day cruise through the Mediterranean. I can't wait and although the trip their will be a nightmare (24 hours of traveling with two kids), I know the time together will be much needed.

So, although there are no pictures now....just wait!

So many things to share

1st- Mothers day was great, my kids are ALWAYS so sweet to me and my husband always willing to help that when mothers day comes up, its not a time where I think "oh good I get a break and can sleep in till 10 and do nothing" because if that was really the life I wanted I could have it. So like I say that its always valentines day in my home, it is also always mothers day. So I spent the day interacting with my family and happy that I have these little blessings in my life.
2nd-Addie turned 5. I can't believe it! As excited as I am I cried because I feel this moment of her being just ours is coming to an end. Soon she will make new friends and be in school and around strangers most of the day. Soon we will be doing home work and this little family we have will begin to change. We have always tried to go camping or on little weekend trips or explore new things around town to create a foundation and habit of having quality time with each other because we knew one day our kids wouldn't be as mobile and I feel like we are there. For her birthday I thought we would do this huge celebration but after thinking about it we thought some thing more intimate would be the better way to go. A few months ago Justin and I spent the weekend at Lake Las Vegas at a hotel which had such great amenities for kids, a shallow pool with a slide for the kids. A basketball court for Justin, lounge chairs by the pool for me and great restaurants. So we got a great rate, took a cake and invited our neighbors and had a nice day of swimming.
3rd-Today my 85 year old grandfather passed away. It wasn't a surprise but it happened quickly. He went in to the hospital about 3 weeks ago and had a surgery on Monday which he couldn't recover from and he left this earth quietly and pain free this morning. He was my last grandparent alive and I've been grateful for the relationship over the past years. He has spent time with my children, which by the way he shares a birthday with Tysen, and have enjoyed the relationship they have shared with him. Although I feel sadden by the loss, I am glad he his with the love of his life who left this earth so young and almost 20 years ago.