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First 5K

OK, Clint is making me post about my fist 5K race. I ran the inaugural Run From the Sun on Nov 14th. It was a fun race, not too big, and I guess I did well. Okay, I won the whole thing, but at the same time, I wasn't very happy with my time. I know, I know, but there is a fierce competitor in me, and while I am happy with my first 5K experience, I am not satisfied and will definitely be needing to knock some major time off.
What I did like: the band was cool, and the bouncy blow-ups, popcorn, and family fun run made it pretty kid friendly (Brailyn 'ran' her first mile, albeit very slowly!). Plus, our friend Derek Taylor ran the Half, and his son, Matthew, was really excited to run the fun run with us (but he was too fast for us!) The race was small and intimate, which made it not so intimidating.

What I didn't like: the course was not fast at all. Too many sharp U-turns, miles 2-3 were on the canal (loose gravel), and I was running by myself the whole time so didn't really have anyone to race with (which makes pacing and racing hard). And the last 400m to the finish were winding around the sidewalk leading into the stadium. Talk about having to put the breaks on! That's one of the reasons I'm not happy with my time. My first mile was 6:03, and then I just had a hard time tracking my pace, and obviously eased up a bit too much. Oh well, next time it's coming under 19:00. Also, there were NO AWARDS for the 5K winners! Not even a finishers medal. Only the half. How lame is that?? We did get a visor and the long sleeve shirt, but come on. I think enough people complained because the next week I got an email saying I won a $200 gift certificate for laser hair removal. Ha!! That's what I get for choosing a race sponsered by dermatolgists!!


I know I'm complaining a lot, but it really was a race of mixed emotions. The high of winning, and the frustration of not hitting my goal time. I did learn a little more about how to race these short distances, so I think the next time I run a 5K, I'll be a little more prepared.

Updates

The past month has been a busy one, or maybe I'm just getting lazy with the blog:)

Brailyn finished another semester of preschool at MCC's Child Development Lab. The Family Picnic was held at a park in Chandler, and Brailyn had so much fun with her buddy Haris (from Bosnia) and riding the train. Note: it's so cute how he says her name with an accent:)




We had Thanksgiving dinner at Lauryn and Matt's, so Brailyn got to play with her cousins, Brynn and Parker. Brynn had SO many barbies!! And then Daddy did rocket launches onto the couch. All the kids loved it!





Finally, we've started getting ready for Christmas. Since we are preparing to move next month (WE'RE BUYING OUR 1ST HOME!!) Momma wasn't sure about getting a tree up. But then I found a great deal at our co-op, so we got a live tree and got out a few decorations!! And of course there's the annual gingerbread house making:)




Brailyn continues to be sweet and sassy and creative and smart. Today at the bread store a 'grandpa' came up and said that he thought she was one of the cutest/most beautiful girls he'd ever seen! It must be those curls! People LOVE them:)

Daddy is enjoying his work, although we are not enjoying the student loan payments. He's still into fantasy football, MMA, weekly basketball, and all things ESPN. He's actually letting his CPT wife outline a workout routine for him, so he's started going to the gym. Maybe she can get him to do a 5K too!

Momma is still running (up to 50 miles per week), hoping to run a fast half marathon in January, and maybe a 10K and another 5K. (I guess I need to post about that...)And then there's her group personal training class. First session was a success and she's ready for round 2!

We're grateful for our blessings and are excited for the new year and *gasp* NEW HOUSE!!

Halloween 09

Lots of fun things to do this Halloween: Pumpkin Patch on Monday, Preschool Costume Parade (and lots of candy) on Friday, Cooper Ward Halloween Carnival Saturday morning, and of course Trick or Treating Saturday night! Whew!
Brailyn was Snow White Ballerina this year, and was as cute as could be. Momma tried to look like Fancy Nancy's mom and was a fancy witch. We trick or treated around Grandma's neighborhood and even helped pass out some candy. And Brailyn was nice enough to share her treasure with Momma and Daddy (who then ate the majority of it anyway!) Yum!!

The classic tractor picture


Picking the perfect pumpkin

This is the way to decorate a pumpkin!!



Ready for Preschool!

Snow White and her Pirate Buddy!


Face painting at the carnival. She chose a baseball:)

Brailyn went fishing about 10 times


And off we go for yet MORE candy!

Camping Trip #2

I like the idea of having a family campout at least once a year. So we headed up to Payson for our own quick little overnighter. Perfect timing too. The weather in the valley was record high (100 for October!), so we could get away from the hot and not be too cold in our sleeping bags!

We had a good time. The campsite was clean, organized, and just right, except for the fact that it was RIGHT off the highway. We once again to did come prepared. The tent we borrowed from my dad turned out to be a 2 man, not big enough for the air mattress. So I got to go back and forth between sleeping on the ground in the warm tent, and sleeping on the comfy air mattress under the stars (a little chilly) while listening to a field mouse scurry around all night. Oh well, I usually plan on no sleep on a campout.
We got to camp, set up the tent, then had our dinner from Qdoba (yum) and made s'mores of course. Then we did a little game of flashlight tag and watched for shooting stars (we saw a really cool one).


jumping, of course, is required



Brailyn had a blast. She was SO excited to wake up in the tent, she just couldn't stop talking, even though it was only 6:15 am! We went on a little nature walk, found a spring to play in, and headed home, tired but happy for a fun weekend.

Goodbye to our Georgie

Today is a very sad day for our family. Our cat, George, was attacked by 2 mean dogs outside of his house, and he passed away. Brailyn and Momma are so sad. George was such a wonderful cat. So friendly, wanting to sit on your lap and drool all over you as you watched tv, and so silly, with his flip flop fetish (he loved to roll around and lick and cuddle flip flops). He had a speciel corner on the couch where he would take a nap, and Momma is convinced that he could talk to us. We have so many good memories of our lion cat, and will miss him so much. Hopefully when we get to Heaven, he'll come back and stay with our family. We love you George!

Summer Fun Catch Up

I just got some pictures from Ashley from some of the fun things we did this summer with Jaxon. They are so cute, and I wish I could post them all, but I'll just have to choose.

The kids did so well in swimming lessons this year. Jaxon learned how to swim to the wall and do his airplanes by himself! And Brailyn's freestyle has really improved. She has a pretty good side breath.





We also went to the Dinosaur Museum in Mesa (Natural History Museum) with Jaxon and Parker and had fun looking at the dino fossils and panning for gold. Mostly they were just being cute.

This is just totally her personality!



Checking out the real alligator

Preschool!!

Brailyn is excited to be back in preschool at MCC. And this semester Jaxon is there too, so it's even better! She's already jumped right in where she left off, and is determined to paint enough masterpieces to cover every square inch of our walls! I'm so glad she loves school and can't wait to see her learn and grow even more this year!



She insisted I take a picture of her backpack too:)

Fun in Del Mar

This past weekend, Brailyn and I decided to tag along with Grandma on her weekend at the beach vacation with Larissa and her friend. Who's gonna pass up a free trip to California?? I just wish we could've stayed the whole week, but alas, there was high school and preschool, and no one to watch Brailyn while I ran (or a treadmill onsite for that matter...otherwise I might still be there!)

We had such a good time, chillin' at the beach, swimming in the pool, playing in the park, and just having fun together. I had some nice runs along the coast (not in the sand, too dirty) and enjoyed the time to do whatever Brailyn wanted to do. Thank you Grandma!! We're definitely doing this every year. Let's just book it before school starts...


Building a Sand Castle



Getting Buried in the Sand


Silly with Lala and Kelsey


Braving the Cold Water


Learning to Boogie Board (although, it lasted only once. A big wave snuck up on us and she had enough after that...)

So Grateful

I was thinking the other night while talking with Clint. Heavenly Father knew just when to send Brailyn to our family. He knew that she would help me at just the right time. Not to put any burden or responsibility on her at all, but she truly is the reason that I have been through the hardest and most life changing and most enlightening and healing 2 years of my life. She is the primary reason I am willing to go through some of this stuff and work to come out the other side better and stronger and freer and happier and more able to be a great Momma to her, even before wanting to do it for my own happiness. But with her as my motivation, I have been able to heal and grow and find the ways that I can make my own joy and happiness for my life and the life of my family. Looking back, I can see that she was really sent to us. We weren't thinking about having kids yet. I got pregnant on accident, then miscarried, then we thought, well, we were excited and maybe it's time. So then we had Brailyn. And right away I realized my goal and the direction I needed to go. I was able to feel fulfilled in my role as her mother and was dedicated to doing the best job that I could to care for and nurture her and teach her all that she needs to know. She is a light. She is full of love and caring, energy and curiosity. And she really puts the fire under my rear to get my act together and fix any holes or tears so that she doesn't have to deal with a Momma who's living with the past. I am hopefully getting it together enough that she'll have a shot at being a healthy, well rounded, capable, in tune, determined, strong and secure individual, ready to take on the world and become whatever her sweet and spunky heart desires. I will do whatever it takes to make sure that she has the mother and family she deserves. There really isn't anything more important I could be doing with my life. So again, I am so grateful. Grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows me, knows what I can become and knows what I need to nudge me along. And I'm grateful for a beautiful daughter who loves me even with my faults and craziness and silliness and failings. I hope when she grows up, she knows that I truly gave it my all and did my best for her. There is nothing like a mother's love.

New Car!!

Yep, we did it. We purchased our first brand new car this weekend, and although we don't like having a car payment, gulp, we couldn't be happier. We got a GREAT deal, a GREAT car, and don't have to worry about pouring any more money into the old ranger (thank you cash for clunkers). I know, I know, way to participate in a pretty absurd and ridiculous government plan, but it was already in place, and someone else was going to use the money anyway, so why not us?

So, after about a year of on and off buying a new car buildup (this is the 3rd time we've geared up to buy a new car, we just kept changing our mind), it's done. And it was pretty easy too since I'd done the research already. So, the plan, the Civic will last us until a)we need a bigger family car or b)forever. Either way, this thing will probably be worth what we bought it for in a couple of years, and never have to go into the shop. And Brailyn loves Momma's new 'black' car (it's really dark blue, but it looks black in the garage:)

My First Recital

I just realized I forgot to post about her first dance recital. She took a ballet/tap class through Gilbert Parks and Rec and at the end of the summer, they did a little number to "I just can't wait to be king" from Lion King. It was pretty cute. It took a little bit for her to start dancing, but she hit it big at the finale (a big jump and then fall to the floor- of course she wanted to do that!)



With Miss Bethany

After the recital we gave all the little girls a flower. It was a great little class and have signed up for the next one, which is tap/ballet/tumbling. Can't wait!

Bragging Rights

Okay, this may seem a little boastful, but I really am so proud of her for this. And I think Brailyn is pretty proud of herself to:

We recently got a couple of 100 piece puzzles and started working on them together. The first puzzle was a Coca-Cola polar bear rolling blading (a gift from Fred Treece). We would help her do the outside and she could do most of the bear.

Then we got a Fancy Nancy puzzle, which she LOVES, and did the same thing. She likes to work on the puzzles before breakfast and pretty much any other time during the day.

(here's the bragging part) Yesterday, you guessed it, she put the WHOLE puzzle together by herself!! She was so pleased with herself, because, as it says on the box, you're supposed to be 5 to do this puzzle(she's 3 1/2)


I'm quite impressed with her focus. If it's something she really wants to do, she can concentrate so well and works at it until she accomplishes it. Now, if only I could get that determination and focus for other things ie: picking up toys or getting dressed in the morning...

Finally some pictures!!

I forgot that I've missed a few things since our memory card gets a little finnicky sometimes. So here's a quick catch up:

Brailyn has been taking ballet lessons this summer through Gilbert Parks and Rec. It's pretty cute to see, and I'm hoping helping develop some good coordination. Her recital is next week, so I'll post some more pics.


We went to a splash pad last month with Ashley and Jaxon.

and we're really excited that they'll be doing preschool together this semester at MCC!

Ben left on his mission (Fresno, Ca spanish speaking) and before he headed up to the MTC we got to spend some time with him and go out to eat!

Tired of waiting under the misters at Oregano's. Headed to Liberty Market instead




After dinner we headed home for his setting apart and played some music (momma on the piano, Brailyn and Grandma on the ukulele, and Paca on his accordion!

Happy 4th of July

Well, our Independence Day celebrations are usually low key. In fact, we spent the morning taking naps, getting our food from the co-op, and NOT running (which made for a lazy and blah day, but that's not the point). Clint went to the Gilbert Tea Party (Republican rally) and came home with lots of pamphlets and patriotic gusto. After our naps we headed to Grandma's house for dinner and swimming. Paca was home from his 1 month hunting safari in Africa, so we were excited to see him and hear some of his stories. We were all too pooped by the time the fireworks started (which happens every year), but we still had a good day singing along to "Take your hat off".


Brailyn in all her patriotic glory


One of the Fam


Swimming with Daddy