Monday, December 12, 2011

Balboa Christmas Cruise

Every year my ward does a Christmas Cruise before the holiday around Balboa Island. This year we had a catered dinner, dancing, and a photo booth on our sail around the island.  Of the past 3 years, this year was probably one of the best ones.  I had a lot of time and spent a lot of the night on the dance floor...does that really surprise anyone though?!
I have so much fun with these two

Dancing Queens

My twin

We laughed when we walked out and had the same
color jackets as well.  I just need tights and then
I'd be set

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

10 Year Reunion

I cannot believe its been 10 years since I graduated from High School.  I feel like it was just yesterday that my life consisted of seminary, water polo or swim, DECA, boys and homework. 

It was so much fun to get to see everyone and hear how all of their lives have changed in the past 10 years.  Pretty much everyone looked the same as they did in highschool, they just all now have careers, most of them are married and some have kids.  I could have stayed all night and chatted with a lot of these people.  I wish I would have gotten more pictures, but I was just too busy catching up with everyone.  I'm so glad I went and can't wait for the next reunion!

Lindsey Young who I've known since preschool and Erin who
swam with me and we were also in DECA (a club) together

Lifetime friends

My freshman crush

Monday, December 5, 2011

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was one of the most amazing Thanksgivings we've ever had.  We started out the morning with our tradition of walk/running a Turkey Trot.  Growing up we always went down to Dana Point and ran that race, but we've changed things up a little in the past few years and have now started doing the Huntington Beach Turkey Trot. 
After our run we relaxed, made dinner and ate way too much.  Dinner is what made this Thanksgiving the most unforgettable Thanksgiving we've ever had.  There were lots of tears and laughter all at the same time.  More to come on a later date about our dinner and why it was so unforgettable... ;)

Happy 1st Birthday

Happy 1st birthday to Rylee and Brandon.  I cannot get over that these two are already 1.  I feel like it was just last week that I was in the hospital for 2 weeks with Anna and Steve as the doctors were trying to prevent Rylee from being born way too early and then a month later getting the call from Kelly about Brandon being born.  Rylee and Brandon were only supposed to be a week apart, but since Rylee decided to come early they are a month apart. I can't imagine my life without these two!  They bring to much joy and laughter to all of my families lives!

Ry was interested in the candle

Dad and Papa helping Rylee out

Diggin in

She loved her cake. She would take a bite and the say "YUM!"


B-Boy getting ready for his cake


After a few bites of his cake. 

How can you not just love this kid? 

He was so dirty and covered in cake so we
put him in the sink to get him rinsed off :)

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Virginia Half Marathon

I'm not the best or fastest runner...I'm actually the slowest runner in my family, but I still enjoy getting out with the family and participating in all of the races.  When I first heard that all of my dad's brothers and sisters were doing the Virgina half or full marathon and the wives and some of the kids were also signing up, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to join!  1. It gave me an excuse to see all the family 2. I've never been to the east coast and I've always wanted to 3. It gave me something to train for and 4. I've always said I would do at least one half marathon.

After months and months of training the day finally came for mom, dad and I to hop on a plane and fly across the country to see everyone and run our race. Our first flight was delayed due to mechanical problems which made us miss our next flight in Michigan by a matter of seconds.  Dad literally saw the guy close the door to the jetway.  Because of that we had to sit in the airport for 4 hours and didn't get to Virginia until after midnight.  We were all exhausted since we had literally spent the whole day traveling. Needless to say we slept in the next day and enjoyed not having to get up for work. 

The day of the race was an early morning.  We were all up around 4 for us to get to the race on time.
It was about 30 degrees so needless to say we were all bundled up before the race trying to stay warm.  Luckily it started warming up right as the race started.  By the first mile I had gotten rid of my jacket and my long sleeve shirt was around my waist.

The race ended up being so much more fun than I could ever imagine.  In the first 3-4 miles everyone in my coral was passing me, but by mile 6 and 7 I was passing everyone who started out too fast. I felt amazing and didn't stop once until a little after mile 10.  At mile 10 my knees were done and I had to walk a little bit.  The next 2 miles were a mental game for me because of how much my knees were killing me.  The last mile there were tons of people lining the course, it was down hill and seeing my family really helped.  I would explain my last mile as a Runners High.  I forgot about my knees and my last mile I did in an 8:45, which is not a pace I normally run. I was loving life as I crossed the finish line! I wanted to finish the race in about 2 hours and 30 minutes and I was so excited to cross the finish line in 2 hours and 20 minutes.  I think next half marathon I can get a little more time off as long as I keep up the training.
Me and Beth trying to stay warm in our snuggies

The kids getting ready to run the 8k


Before their races.  Beth-full marathon, Jana-half marathon,
Kristin-full marathon, Kathy-half marathon

About to cross the finish line



11 out of 14 of us that ran the Suntrust Richmond Virginia races


Ridiculous Obstacle Challenge (ROC) Race

My coworker found a 5k race that sounded like a ton of fun, so a group of us from work ran the race together.  This has officially become one of my favorite 5ks.  I'm already excited for next year.  In 3.2 miles there 20 obstacles ranging from climbing over walls, crawling through mud, monkey bars, bleachers, slip and slides, etc.  The race was a lot of fun and I'm so glad that all of us from work were able to do it together.
Showing off our cool arm bands :)

The Course Map

All of us girls who ran the race together


One of the last obstacles

Another one of the obstacles

We ran into one of my coworkers at the race

Me and Amy after the race

4th Annual Seacliff Ward Canoe Trip

I look forward to the Seacliff Ward Canoe Trip every year.  Its such a fun 2 day trip.  We canoe 12 miles in 2 days, go on hikes, cliff jump, and relax in the hot springs. It's actually a pretty relaxing trip for the most part.

This year was a little more of an adventure than all of the other years because of animals.  I've never brought a tent and have slept under the stars every year, but this year I was wishing for a tent. The few people who had tents actually got some sleep.  When we first got to camp, I went to set up camp where I have slept for the past 3 years and there were red ants everywhere.  We finally found a spot that didn't have very many spots and set up camp. After we were all set up it was dinner time.  As we were all sitting around the campfire my dad got bit 3 times, but we weren't sure exactly what it was.  Then I got bit 4 times, and man they hurt!!  We still aren't sure if they were flying ants, wasps, or some other flying bug that bites. Our next animal adventure was a skunk. We got to deal with the skunk coming in and our of our camp all night long, walking over some of the girls, hitting the girl sleeping next to me with his tail, and him trying to get into our bags.

Besides our animal adventures and no sleep, the trip was a lot of fun!  We were a really small group this year, which was awesome because we all got to know each other more and it made the trip a little more relaxed. 
Me and Julie, my canoe partner before leaving the Hoover Dam


Hanging out at our first stop

The Ward's who went on the trip. We missed you Justin!

On our way back from our first hike.  This is by
far the best hike of the trip.

Leaving the first hike and heading down the river to have lunch


I love my sister!

I don't know what I would do without this girl. She makes life
much more entertaining!!

Love these girls!!

Day 2 on the river

The whole group.  Much smaller than our group of 60 last year

Family