Lights At Temple Square

We went downtown to see the lights at Temple Square. Of course you can not go downtown without riding the train! Here is everyone anxiously awaiting the arrival of the train.

These are some pictures Jeff took. Not too shabby of shots!

Lots To Be Thankful For

Here we all are around the dinner table. It was our turn to spend it with the Gamboa family so we met up at my parents house. My mom is such an amazing cook we had the traditional Thanksgiving feast, but it was all so yummy! I should have appreciated her cooking growing up. (I probably should have appreciated alot of things about my mom growing up!) After dinner, my sister-in-law, Teresa, brought stationary to write get well cards to wounded soldiers. Then the kids wrote letters to Santa. It was a fun day!

I am thankful for many things. I of course am thankful for my family, friends and everything else about my easy life. I missed my sister at Thanksgiving this year, but need to be happy she is making the decisions that are making her happy. I missed my dad saying the Thanksgiving prayer, but need to be grateful for Teresa who did say the prayer. So my biggest Thanksgiving realization came when I realized I need to be thankful for the present and not an ideal or the past. To enjoy the moments I am in and not concentrate so much on what could be or what used to be.

Maddie and Abbey kicking off their Thanksgiving Feast!

The cousins put together turkey placemats to pass the time before dinner.

Camping Out In The Front Room.

Ryan and Abbey love to sleep on the blow up mattress in our front room. Since they did not have school they slept on in all weekend! Allie prefers the comfort of her own bed, however, she does crawl into bed with them early in the morning to say good morning.

Our Giving Tree

I started this tradition last year. We read The Giving Tree Shel Silversti and then we put what we are thankful for on our tree. I am glad that the first answers were mom and dad and grandmas and grandpas. About three leaves into it I knew it was time to quit. They started naming things like magnets and clocks.

Arrrgh!

It was night with the principal last week at Ryan and Abbey's school. The topic was how to prepare your child for college. Ryan was a little bored so we started passing notes back and forth. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. His response was...a pirate! I wrote a pirate? He responded, yes a pirate or a hockey player and maybe a fireman. I love how his 7 year old mind works!

13.1

This day was one of my most emotional and inspirational days. I started this journey last June when Jeff gave me running shoes for my birthday (so I would no longer have an excuse) and could barely run three miles. Then it grew to six and then to eight and I thought I wonder if I could run a half marathon? As the weeks went by, I grew sceptical but kept running increasing each week. (Well almost every week I did take a few breaks in there). Then it came time to register and I paid my money so that I would commit to doing the race. I am so glad I did.

The race started out a half an hour late and the suspense was killing me. I could hardly stand it. I just wanted to get going! Once the race started it was a pretty steep downhill and I was having a sharp shooting pain on the arch of my foot. I slowed down until mile 3 and then I looked up to see a line of people running up a steep gravel paved path up the canyon. I thought are you kidding? My friend, Teena the running guru, said miles 3-5 are uphill but I didn't think it was that uphill. As I was going up the side of this mountain (and the leaders of the race had gone up and turned around and coming down the mountain me like they had just started) I felt the burn in my legs and I thought I just need to get to the top and then I can go down. I was inspired by the people around me in there 50's and 60's who were doing this. I was also inspired by Teena and Brittney who also passed me and said you are almost to the top. Thanks guys! Once I got to the top and came down life was good. From mile 6-10 I was feeling awesome. I took my gel to give me a boost and had made up a bunch of my time from the hill. At the end of mile ten I had a moment with myself. I started to cry and think I am really doing this. I have talked about it for so long and have wanted to do it for so long I am accomplishing my goal. Mile 11 was rough it was alot of ups and downs but I was at 2 hours and had plenty of time to finish. So I thought, the last two miles took me an additional thirty three minutes which is about 11 minutes longer than normal. My calf cramped and I was pooped so I walked and ran the last two miles.

As I reached the final stretch, Brit came over to cheer me on and then I heard "go Mom you can do it!" I thought that sounds like Ryan's voice. But I knew they were home and it couldn't be. I looked over to see my family at the finish cheering me on! Jeff had packed up the kids and drove to Cedar City the night before and then drove to St. George that morning to watch the finish and surprise me. I couldn't believe I started crying and trying to run and crying some more. It was the nicest thing Jeff had ever done for me. He knew how important this was to me and how hard I had worked and in his words "wouldn't miss this for anything!" I love you!

I also learned the importance of girl power on this trip. I never would have done this without my Saturday running partner, Brittany, and my go to girl Teena. You guys are awesome and I am so glad I have you as friends. Thanks for helping me acomplish my goal, you both are awesome!

So I said this was my first and last half marathon. However, I think I have been struck with the running bug. Sunday night I came home and was already looking at the upcoming races. We'll see what is next! Maybe one day 26.2?

I will post my pics once I figure out how to send them from Jeff's phone to my computer!

Our Star Student

Ryan received the Principals Award this month at his school. The theme this month was being responsible and helpful in all areas. Way to go Ryan!

Leah's Baptism

Ryan and Abbey's friend Leah was baptized on Saturday. Leah has been having the missionary discussions at our house the last few weeks and it has been such a blessing in our lives. We are grateful for the good example she is to Ryan and Abbey.

Happy Halloween!

Two Jedi's and a kitty!

Ryan and Abbey did not have school on Halloween so we made some visits. First up Grandma Ho Ho and Grandpa.

Then we stopped off at Grandma & Grandpa Millers! Thanks for the Candy!

Our last stop was to Uncle Michael and Aunt Adrianne's house.

The loot!

Perfectly Perfect In Every Way!

The last few years I have gone into volunteer with Abbey and Ryan's Halloween parties, I always wished I'd come up with a costume. My plan this year was to dress up in a bumblee bee costume that was at Target. But by the time I went to buy it, of course it was gone. So I came up with Mary Poppins instead. I was surprised at how many kids knew who I was. It was very fun and reminded me of how fun it is to dress up for Halloween.

Pumpkin Carving

We went to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin!

Nothing like digging guts and slime out of a pumpkin. Ryan and Abbey thought it was awesome! Allie just wanted to play with the knives.

The Night of Nights Tonight!

About two years ago my friend told me I should rent High School Musical for my kids. At the time I thought High School awh that's a bit too old and they wouldn't be interested. Boy was I wrong. If Abbey or Allie find their passion in the theatrical world I can trace it back to this movie. Abbey fell in love with the movie and discovered her love of singing and we of course continued the following with the second. Allie even became obsessed with the music calling it "Na Na". On the second CD there is a song called The Music In Me and it starts out na na na na and this quickly became her favorite. Every morning she would wake up and ask for na na.

So when we heard the third installment was coming to the big screen the months could not go by fast enough until it came out! We went with friends and had a great time. I'd have to say the plot was a little weak and the outfits a little skimpier, but the music is awesome and Zac Efron is such a cutie! I also liked the fact that Gabriella still persued her life and Troy adjusted his. It made Jeff and I also reminisce our high school experience together! (I know gag!)

Hat Day at School

It was hat day at school for spirit week. Ryan of course sported a Ford hat and Abbey has taken over this hat of mine!

Abbey and Aunt Tracy

My Girls

I took this picture on a Sunday morning of my two girls. Why you ask? Abbey let me put a ribbon in her hair to match Allie!