The Wild Wild West

There is nothing wilder about the west than packing up 3 kids and driving 15 hours! They actually did really well. We had a great time with Bunny, Pappy, Mandy, Bo, and Abby, and we GREATLY missed having Katie, Jason, and Zach around. I made this slideshow for you KATIE AND JASON! It's long, and I realize not everyone wants to see a gazillion pics and video, so consider yourself warned!

We went to Deer Valley Ranch in Colorado. There was no cell service, and there were no computers, no tvs. There was, however, horseback riding, fishing, tennis, card playing, and GOOD FOOD with FAMILY!

A digital slideshow by Smilebox

First 5k over 30 in under 30

Did you get that? I used to run a few races back in my BK days (before kids). My last 5k was maybe a year after I had Allie so it's been at least 6 years! Today I was just hoping to finish!!! I ran with my friend Mama Lion and that we finished in under 30 minutes was an accomplishment!



The hubs has been running for quite a while now. He was all set for a 10k..piece of cake:)

We don't look too ready to get set and go!

This was right after a descent hill...I saw mama lion's husband on the bridge taking pics, so I posed for the cam.

Wasn't it nice of that man behind us to cheer us on? Runners are the NICEST people!

He did great!!! Shaved 3 minutes off his last race.....3rd place for his age group!

Weather to report

I took this pic before church on Sunday. I just love it:) It really is pretty accurate of how they feel about one another for now. I realize the tide comes in and goes right back out in parenting, but for now I will enjoy their relationship. Last summer, they had a difficult time together, but the forecast for this summer is looking quite different...mostly sunny with isolated storms!

Go Mary go!

There's no better way to start the summer than with swimming lessons! Mary was quite timid the first lesson and what would the first lesson ber like without a few tears, but she did great. The video is from the last day of her jumping off the board and swimming to the side. Way to go Mary:)



As always she took with her friend, Campbell. I had a terrible time getting them both to look, but it was REALLY bright outside..and HOT!

Boot camp

I know what you are thinking....WHAT A DORK!


Ba ha ha! I think I amuse myself more than anybody. This picture may be silly and show my photoshop geekiness (not sure that's a word), but it is a very accurate description of how I feel right now! My sister , Em, asked me to do bootcamp with her for 4 weeks in May at 5 am, five days a week. I never thought I would be able to get up that early for 4 weeks. I did it!!! I only missed ONE day! Can you tell how proud of me I am?! I'm so proud of you Em! Abbott is not even a year old! Here I am 7 years later:)

My friend, Amy and a few others I knew did it also, so the accountability was a HUGE factor. There were so many days I wanted to sleep in. This was the hardest thing I've ever done. I've done more push ups, crunches, and stair runs than I've done in my WHOLE life! I realized I can't make up for 3 babies in 4 weeks, but I feel MUCH better!

I had alot of encouragement:) Mary was my stretching partner. She told me one day..."Mom u not suppos ta bend your knees." Thanks alot my 4 year old rubber band friend!

It was only a matter of time...

RUN GARRETT RUN!

Faith

The girls are constantly drawing and writing things. I normally throw away a small collection of their "work" every day while they are not looking, but now and then one will catch my eye. I scanned this several weeks ago, but have had no time to post lately.

About a month or two ago, Hubs was driving Allie home from a softball game, and Allie asked him to turn the radio off and to listen to her as she prayed. She's been asking questions for a very long time about Jesus, but this was a little different:) After talking to her more since that time, we both believe she has begun her journey with our Lord. Her prayers are so sweet. Yes she still yells at her sister, and yes she argues with me from time to time, but generally I have seen a softening of her will, and she does have a strong one.


I found this lying around recently and so I asked her about it. She had learned this song at school and said she just wanted to write the words down, so she could think about them a little more. What a perfect song for where she is right now. I am so thankful for His work in her little heart.

Below are some clips from this past week. Two are from her spring concert...obviously you can see she's still very "INTO" singing. The first, however, is a clip from her awards ceremony. Each child is "awarded" a character quality. Allie received from her teacher the quality of "faith".