Happy Birthday!

happy birthday!! we love you!


Michelle (today)
(I'll let lance take over and say a few things: )

-ok, so today is a day that I look forward to every year. My sister and I were born exactly a year and a half apart ( almost to the hour) and so her birthday marks the halfway point to mine every year. But that is not why I look forward to today. I look forward to August 3 every year because at our house growing up, on our birthdays we could do whatever we wanted to. Whether that meant sleeping in, going to the movies, having our favorite meal, or even putting our feet in the sink!(uncle steven reference) My birthday is in February so most times I had to go to school on top of doing what I wanted, but Michelle's B-day was always in summer and I always looked forward to her wanting to do something fun and my getting to tag along. I also loved to tease/ annoy/ bully my sister growing up and so I didn't get to make her happy a lot, and maybe because she is the oldest and a girl and was therefore wound tightly, but her birthday was always a time when Michelle would just let go and relax and have a little more fun. It was the her day and still is and I wish we were together to spend her Day doing whatever she wants to do. I love you Michelle, Happy Birthday and Raspberries when you least expect them!!!!!





and Jared (yeah, I know it's two weeks late, but better late than never!)
I couldn't be more proud to be his sister! I have a terrific brother who was probably more excited that I was having a little girl than I was (if you can believe it, and imagine how it was when he found out he was getting his own little girl, man will she be spoiled!) Even though I have to endure his endless torment of pokes, tickles, and teasing I still love you bro!

Breaking Dawn (aka hanging with the teens)

Whoot-whoo!! Today is the day!! Last night some of the WSCC wives went to the midnight release party. I love these girls! We had a blast trying to fit in with the teenagers! :) Boy, was I wiped this morning! I was so happy that Grace and Kami miraculously let me sleep in. I've ordered my book but it hasn't arrived yet!! ARGH!!

**additional note: I accidentally ordered an alcoholic drink at Red Robin last night with the girls and on the way home I realized that I didn't get carded. OH MAN! Am I really too old to be carded?? WHAT!!?? That seriously bumms me out! (by the way I didn't partake of the forbidden drink, I had her bring me the MUD PIE and take back the MUD SLIDE. They seriously need to change one of those names!

(thanks crystal for the fangs!)

Blessing

We got to bless Kami in AZ! We were very fortunate to have so many family and friends share this special day with us.

Here is Kamryn Melissa with her namesake (my cousin), Melissa

New Record

So, I've been hitting the gym as much as I can, which isn't as much as I'd like. Beggars can't be choosers as I have to wait until Kami is 3 months until I can take her into the kids klub, so I go when Lance is available to be home with her and usually I take gracie with me. Ok, that's not the point. So Monday night I did NOT want to go, although deep down I knew I really wanted the results. I was in a sour mood, and was really down on myself about weight, dieting, food in general and I was beating myself up over it. Ok, that's not the point either! Lance convinces me to go and I get there around 8:00 or so and I tell myself that if I can run a 9:00 minute mile 8-months prego I certainly can do better than that now. So I start the usual warm-up pace and realize it's not quite fast enough, and run harder. I push and push and yes, it pays off and HOLY CRAP, I just ran a 8:02 mile!! WHAT??!! I think maybe it's just a fluke so I go back today thinking, I slowed down a couple of times to take a gulp of water (in reality I was spilling water down the front of my T) so I can go faster, maybe break 8:00 minutes?? and what happens???


7:35 (that's not a typo: seven minutes, thirty-five seconds)

that's right folks, this non-runner hit an all-time personal best. I never ran that fast in HS or Jr. high!!

I thought I would share the happy news! Hopefully next time you AZ residents see me again I'll have my mommy-fied slimmer body back!
Cheers!

For Alexa

Dear Alexa,

We've missed you this week!

love,

Gracie, and Kami

Garden Update

Dad this is for you!

Front "yard" (really a patch)

Backyard: never mind the browned tulips, they have run their annual course

the fruits of my labor

Pleasant Memories

Janey's Wedding March 2008
(please note that I am 8 months prego and jumping higher than most)


Janey, Me, and my girls Summer 2008

New Niece!!!

WELCOME BABY RYANN!!

I was lucky enough to be able to delay my flight to Portland to meet my new neice. I happened to be on my way to the hospital to check on Kathy when she was born, so I was able to see her minutes after she was born. HOW BEAUTIFUL IS SHE??? I am such a proud aunt! So happy Jed and Kath finally got their girl!! What's even better is she and Kamryn are only 6 weeks apart! I can't wait for them to be buddies when we get back to AZ! CONGRATS!!

Summer Swim

Oh, how we miss the hot AZ days (I'm not kidding either) and even more we miss swimming with our friends! So glad we got an opportunity to see and hang out with friends while we were here. Thanks for the good times!

FLYING GRACIE!

Grace, Kiley, Blake and Alexa

Here's the Gang:

Kiley, Macey, Lucas, Brian, Laura, Shana, Jaxon, Celynda, Kade, Nicole, Ben, Kami, Stuart, Blake, Lance, Emali

I also had the opportunity to hang out with some girlfriends (and kids) from good old MHS. We had a great time swimming and playing, thanks Mac!


Raegan, Macy, Gracie, and Belle

Now and Then

Lance is in Portland and I am in AZ, so we are collaboratively working on this posting. If you see this post without all the pics (there will be a big blank space) please check back later to see if Lance has stopped slacking on his side and finished the post.

Then:

Now:

Not necessarily the most flattering pic of us but nevertheless, it is us on our our glory.

Happy 4 years!

4 things I LOVE about us:

1. We have fun. I am way to serious sometimes and Lance reminds me to relax and always makes me laugh.

2. We are best friends! I love that we were best friends long before we were "together" and we still can have long meaningless, yet meaningful conversations.

3. We fit, he's on my same wave length (Mac, I know you'll appreciate that). We compliment each other well, and we are a good team and only have gotten better over the years.

4. We are eternal. Yep folks this marriage thing is forever! Here's hoping we don't get sick of each other. Ok, I'm kidding about the getting sick of each other, kind of, but I am grateful to be stuck to Lance for eternity. Love you babe!