I don't really like to make New Years Resolutions but I do have a few things I would like to work towards in the coming year.
1. Run hard for the Phoenix R&R Half Marathon on Jan 17th. After this race I am not sure where my training will take me but I am tossing around the idea of running in the Seattle R&R Marathon in June. I like to have a goal to keep my mind and body focused and I would love to be able to commit to this but I am not quite sure if I can find the time to do it. I am also nervous about training in the hot weather. The race is at the end of June and most of my training would be in April, May and June and it is super hot in AZ at that time.
2. I want to try to make joy and happiness the focus of my days. I find that I get too caught up in the crazy daily tasks of being a wife and mother and lose sight of the joy and happiness. I want to be in the moment more instead of worrying about the things I need to do. I want my children to see my joy and have it pour over into their lives and attitudes. I want to look at the positive's in all things, especially the trials that come along the way.
3. I want to focus more time and energy to my marriage. I think we have gotten stuck in the rolls of mom and dad and lost sight that we were a couple before these crazy kids came along. I think we need to have dates more often and not feel guilty leaving the kids for a few hours. The best gift I can give my children is a happy marriage.
4. I want to try and help and serve others more. I think I am guilty of getting caught up in my own life and forget I am so lucky to have so many blessings. I want to have a servants heart and show people Christ's love through my kindess and work. I want to get my kids used to doing things for others because we are so blessed and have more than we ever need.
5. I want to learn how to work my amazing new camera and capture so many new memories with it.
Most of all, I want to be happy and thankful for the life I have. I am so blessed to have a great home and a great family and I couldn't really ask for more.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
2010 - A look ahead . . .
2009 - A look back . . .
I thought I would try to take a look back over the last year, we had a lot of change this last year.
January~
We celebrated Dallas' 3rd birthday and I planned an awesome party at a jump place. On party day it snowed and his party was cancelled. We ended up going to Chick-fil-a. I was crushed, he didn't seem to mind one bit. Phoebe started walking this month and chasing after two kids going in seperate directions became my constant reality.
February ~
Phoebe turned one this month and I was just crushed. I never thought I would be so emotional to see my sweet girl turn one. Her first year flew by and I was sad to see her come to this milestone.
March ~
Big D and I celebrated our 8th year of marriage on the 17th. It's hard to believe we have made it this far. Our love story was such a fast affair that many people didn't think we would make it this far. I am happy we have <3
April ~
Big D was still working alot as a recruiter so I know we weren't doing much because he worked so much. I know the weather was getting nice and the kids and I were spending more and more time outside. I was starting to look forward to our big move to AZ. I think we found out we were going to AZ instead of WA. I remember being completely crushed than a tad excited about our upcoming new adventure.
May ~
I think in May it started to sink in with me that we were going to be moving soon. I remember wondering all the time how we would get through the move with two kids and not lose our sanity. I tried to organize our things but eventually just gave up because it was too overwhelming. Spent most of my days outside with kids. I was really enjoying being able to take both the kids to the park because Phoebe could walk around and she was so happy to be a big girl.
June ~
This was the last month that Big D was a recruiter. I was so excited to say goodbye to Air Force Recruiting. I felt it had sucked the life out of our family and I couldn't wait to finally walk away and start something new for us.
July ~
The big move. We packed out our house, loaded up the kids, said our goodbyes and headed to AZ. We arrived to AZ on July 10 and I think it was about 115. I remember opening my door and getting out of the car and feeling like I was in hell. We set out to find a place to live and after looking around forever we found a house we loved and moved in at the end of the month.
August ~
Back to reality. Big D went back to work after having almost a month off with the family. I was sad to see him go but excited to start learning the area and venture out to make new friends. I started running in August having no idea where it might take me.
September ~
Dallas started preschool for the first time and loved it! Still in shock of how hot the weather is in AZ. Thank goodness for the pool in the backyard!
October ~
I ran in my first 5k race. It was at that race that I was bit by the running bug and really started to feel like a runner. My parents came to visit us and we had so much fun. It was so nice to see my kids with my parents. It always breaks my heart a little when they leave.
November ~
I celebrated my 29th birthday and I also ran in my first 10k race. We had Thanksgiving on our own as a family of four. It was nice to create our own traditons but always a little sad that we weren't around family to celebrate it with.
December ~
Christmas came so fast this year. I was feeling really homesick during the holidays but I tried to focus on Dallas and Phoebe and it helped. The kids loved everything that had to do with Christmas and really got into the spirit.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Some Randomness . . .
Dallas and his two new best friends! The kid is in love with them. It's so nice that he is playing with something other than Lightning McQueen!
The Desert Sky . . .
These pictures speak for themselves. The desert sky is just breathtaking. I took these pictures from my backyard. 
Saturday, December 26, 2009
My Favorite Books of 2009 . . .
It's no secret that I am an avid reader. I would rather read a book then watch TV or clean house. Which usually means that my house isn't as clean as it should be because I usually spend naptime with my nose in a book. I read several books this last year but there were a few that truly captured my brain or heart.
1. The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End by Ken Follett
I never in my life thought I would read or rather enjoy reading a book about the building of a cathedral in 12th century England. I was actually scared to read the first book because it was 976 pages long. I started reading it and got captivated by the story. It was amazing. The second book was equally is good and I can't wait to read them again one day.
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
This story takes place in Mississippi in 1962. It is told by three women, one white and 2 black. The story really caught my attention when it describes how white women treated their black maids, aka The Help. These three women come together to work on a project that puts all of them at risk. It was wonderfully written.
3. The Book Theif by Markus Zusak
This book is set during the WWII in Nazi Germany. This story is narrated by Death and the main character, Leisel aka the book theif, is orphaned by her mother and is raised by two foster parents. Her new Papa teaches her to read and she goes onto steal a few books. Her family later hides a Jew in their basement and during air rade she reads to others in a neighbors basement. There is so much more to this story and I highly suggest you pick it up and read it. Don't be put off because it is actually considered a Young Adult Fiction. Read it, you won't be disappointed.
4. The 19th Wife by David Ebersoff
This story portrays two different accounts of polygamy in the Morman church. The first story takes place in 1875 and the second one takes place in modern day. This book contained alot of information that I didn't know about the start of the Morman church. I really like to read books that tell stories about lives that are completely different from my own.
5. The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer
I said I wouldn't read these books but I got sucked in like everyone else. Are they the best books I have ever read, well no. The writing isn't the best but the story is amazing. I feel lke such a teenager getting sucked into it but after it is all said and done I am glad I read these books. Will I read them again....of course. I think that makes me a true Twilight fan!
Friday, December 25, 2009
It's the most wonderful time of the year . . .
It's amazing to me that Christmas has already come and gone this year. It seems like there is so much anticipation for the arrival of the special day that before you know it it's gone. It seems almost bittersweet.
We weren't able to be around any of our family this year so we decided to focus on making the most out of our own family traditions. On Christmas Eve Phoebe and Dallas got to open up one present and they each got a new pair of Christmas Jammies. We put them on, warmed up some cider and hopped into the van to drive around and look at Christmas lights. Both of the kids were really excited to see all the pretty lights. We got home and made sure to sprinkle the yard with the special reindeer food that would help guide the reindeers for our house. We made Santa a plate of cookies, that we had baked earlier, got out some Christmas Milk (aka Egg Nog) and set the plate out. Dallas asked as we were headed up the stairs how Santa was going to get in our house because we don't have a chimeny. We told him that Santa would sneak in the back door and still be able to make it in.
After the kids were in bed and Santa had dropped off the presents Daddy and I got to work at putting everything together. Would you believe that Santa doesn't put things together anymore and he even forgot the batteries? I had to make a special trip to the store at 9PM. You would think the big man in red would have this down by now. While we did all of Santa's work we watched my favorite movie of all time, It's A Wonderful Life. I love to watch it every Christmas Eve and I'm not going to lie I cry everytime I watch it. It makes me feel so happy and reminds me of my own childhood.
On Christmas morning the kids woke up and they were very excited to see if Santa had come to our house. We raced downstairs to see our tree packed with presents and the stockings over flowing with treats. We all took turns opening presents and the kids had an awesome time. We didn't rush, we made a big mess and we shared another amazing Christmas together.
The kids enjoyed playing with their new toys all morning. We are all still in our jammies and there is a turkey in the oven. It would be so wonderful to have a house full of loved ones but it's kind of nice to relax and not have to rush anywhere.
I am so thankful to have such an amazing family and I truly cherish all these memories we are creating. I wish I could freeze time for just a minute and remember every single detail of every single moment.
Best quote of the day: Dallas 3 years old, "Mama, This Christmas is GREAT"
Making cookies for the big man in red!
Such a handsome boy so ready for Christmas. He had been marking off the days until Christmas with Daddy everynight since Halloween.
This is so funny because Phoebe was just so mad. We took a paci out of her mouth and she didn't want to give it up. To be fair she had been fighting a fever all day and at last check it was 101.2
Such JOY!
Dallas was really, really into opening the gifts this year. He is a pro at unwrapping now!
Phoebe says, "Cheese" I'm not in many photos today because I was too busy snapping pictures with my amazing new camera. 
Such a funny face
Checking up on Oscar's heart.
Phoebe was really into her new doctor kit. It has been one of the hit toys this morning. I think we have all had a turn being the patient.
