Spring Break 2016

We had a wonderful, extended Spring break this year! My great friend Candice came the weekend before Spring Break from the Portland area and I was so glad to have her!! She came on Thursday and we headed straight to her favorite ice cream spot! Culvers! Lucky for her, her favorite flavor happened to be the flavor of the day! We had dinner and then went over to get a pedicure! It's been a while since I had a pedicure and since my birthday was in a few days, Candice was nice enough to make it my treat! On Friday we went down to the Houston Rodeo! One of my favorite things in Houston is the rodeo and we had a good time meeting up with friends.

Jennifer, Natalie, Rebecca, Candice, Brittany, and I having fun listening to Darius Rucker!

Although the concert wasn't the top of my list, it was fun to be with friends. We of course had to stop by and get a funnel cake on the way out!! Yum!!
On Saturday Candice came with me to Cavin's soccer game, and then later in the day we went to Papacitos with some of the friends that couldn't make it to the rodeo!

Michelle, Emily, Monique and Kelsey joined us and we had a nice time...especially the hour and a half chatting in the parking lot :) haha!

I was so grateful that she came and took the time away from her family to say hi! It was so nice chatting and catching up! She is seriously and incredible person and always makes me want to do better. I am so grateful for her example and friendship. I'm so sad she doesn't live here anymore!

On Monday morning I headed to the rodeo with the kids. We met their Aunt and cousins and they were so excited to be with them!

We met them at the Pig races! Usually we love them, but this year they were a little lame!

 Checking out the tractor in "Kids Farm"

Deacon loved this water station. We kept trying to move on, but he would keep walking back!

The girls "milking" a cow...

These cute farmers ;)

The kids were dying to go to the carnival part of the rodeo. Channing and Charlotte enjoyed the carousel.

Ella was the only one brave enough to try the rollercoaster. She exclaimed how awesome it was as she exited! The boys mostly spent their tickets on a game where you threw a ball and depending on the color you got a prize. Cavin was kind enough to share his tickets and prizes so that everyone had a stuffed animal. It was a very hot day for the rodeo. It hit 90 degrees that day, but we enjoyed ourselves and got some good walking in! That evening we went to a pie party for "pi" day (3/14) and had a good time. 

Tuesday we drove down to Alvin, Texas to go strawberry picking with some friends. It was a long drive, and the strawberries weren't a great price, but it was about the experience right?!

Looking for the red, ripe strawberries!

Deacon just wanted to sit in the bushes!

He sure is cute though!
It was super busy and getting windy when we left but we had fun! On the way home we met Ragnar for lunch as we were passing his work. I was not having good luck with my directions for the last day or two, so when we got home, I was ready to stay off the road for a day or two!

Wednesday was my 33rd birthday! Man I am not loving getting older! My parents and sister Natalie came and saved the day! They got us Culvers for lunch, then my dad watched the kids while my mom took me shopping. Then we made strawberry freezer jam from all the strawberries we had picked!

We went to a place called "Christophers" for dinner and had a nice day. I was so grateful that they came and spent the day with me. Birthdays for me aren't my favorite, sometimes they can feel lonely. Ragnar had to work all day and night, so it was such a lifesaver to have my parents take the time to hang out with me and the kids!
Thursday we went to Jumpalooza and jumped with friends and then took a nice long nap :) After Ragnar surprised us by coming home early, so what did we do?? Mulched the yard! The kids wanted to help and so we went and got mulch and got it done! 

Friday we woke up and headed to an early showing of "Zootopia" At 9:30 they weren't too many people at the theatre! They had renovated the theatre and it was awesome!! Deacon did well for the first hour and then was ready to go run..Almost 20 months isn't an easy age to take anywhere! After we went to Costco and then to my parents house!

We played puzzles and outside, and then the kids made these little critters with my moms new craft things she bought. They had a good time and it was nice to be there. Ragnar seriously worked everyday and all but one night of spring break, so I was glad to have my parents close to play with us! Saturday we went to a baptism, then had lunch and haircuts for the boys, and then Ragnar took me out for a late birthday date. We went to dinner at Saltgrass Steakhouse and then to the movie "Allegiant". It was nice to get out together and we had a nice Spring Break!

The Woodlands Half Marathon 2016

On March 5, 2016 I completed the Woodlands half marathon. Let me tell you, it was a long time comin!! The week before the half marathon last year, I tore my hamstring. I was so sad to miss that race because I had trained so hard and I knew I would PR. Well, watching my friends all run without me was mentally torture. I was so happy for them, but knew I would have finished and gotten my personal best as well. I took the whole year to prepare my body to make sure I was ready for the race this year. It was very challenging mentally. I would feel progress and then my leg would have set backs, I really would pray and pray that I could just have my body back to normal. Having this really be my first injury in 20 years of running, I wasn't sure how to deal with it. My body had always done what I needed it to. It felt like complete redemption finishing the race on Saturday. I got to run again with my friends and training partners, Brittany and Emily and although I finished a couple minutes behind them, I was so grateful for their encouragement and support. I pushed myself really hard this time. I was fine until mile 10 and then I lost them and my leg was completely stiff. Not only that, I was sure I was going to throw up, because I had not trained to race that fast, or pushed myself that hard in a year! So the last 3 miles I slowed down a little and I made it! It felt so good to finish and know I could run hard again! I did the half marathon in December with Daphne to make sure I could do it endurance wise, but this race challenged my pace, because Brittany and Emily are seriously competitive :)

Here are some of the people who ran as well. Greg and Michelle were kind enough to give me a ride to the race, then Brittany, me, Rebecca, and Emily. The only one missing from the picture was Natalie.

Pre-race selfie. In the coral and ready to go!

I did it! The last 3 miles were mentally and physically much more brutal than most of my races, but it's done!

My training partners. Emily Miller and Brittany Raiford. We have been running for about 5 years now, and I am so grateful for them. They seriously push me so much. Before running with them, it was really difficult for me to find someone to challenge my pace and push myself harder, so it has been a blessing to be running with them.

I finished 24th in my age group with a time of 1:47:14. Not my PR but a pretty good race for me, and definitely faster than I expected coming off the year I had! I am so grateful for my friend Stacey's support, Daphne for always encouraging me and texting me, Ragnar for rubbing my sore legs all the time, and helping me get through it, and for my parents and family who came to the race and cheered me on! Another one in the books!

Deacon is 18 months!

So I didn't blog many pictures of Deacon the last few months because as they get older they don't change as much. Deacon is now technically 19 months old, so here is a little update about the last 4 months. Deacon is typically a very happy baby. He does have a good scream on him now though. If he wants something, he will definitely let you know. I've never had a screamer before, so it's been a new adventure! He started nursery a little early on the second Sunday in January. 

He certainly did not love it to begin with. The last few weeks he has gone right in though and he is doing well. It helps to have a wonderful nursery leader in Sister Zill who made it her mission for him to like her ;)

He has begun to feed himself, and although messy, it is really nice for me to eat dinner with the kids and not wait til he's done. 

This boy is so funny! He likes to talk to us when he is eating and is always clapping and laughing.

This is his normal face. He is always rolling his eyes!! I have no idea who he got that from ;) HAHA

He loves to get ready with me in the morning and loves the feeling of the blush brush on his skin...he laughs the whole time!

He always has a cheesy face and loves to look at himself in the mirror ;)...that he got from his father.

Our little Texan!! He got a staph boil on his face a month ago and I am praying it doesn't scar forever, you can see the little red patch under his right eye and thankfully it's fading.

He is always sweating!! His hair gets so curly when he is sweaty. This is a picture after his brothers soccer game. He loves loves loves playing with any kind of ball. He kicks the soccer ball, or throws the baseball or basketball, and then he will try and dribble the basketball to. He has a pretty good arm on him! He is pretty coordinated for an 18 month old.

Since Ella and Cavin are at school, Deacon spends most of his days with Channing. Channing tries to be loving and helpful, but often times she just ends up bugging him! What are big sisters for??

They do still have a fun time together.

He throws literally everything, but he is such a sweet kid. He loves to eat, and play with balls. He loves strawberries, grapes, graham crackers, fruit snacks, yogurt, and string cheese. At his 18 month appointment he was 33 inches tall, and 28.6 pounds. He can say about 15-20 words. Some of them are Mom, Dad, Ella (every single one of his siblings he calls Ella;)), Ball, num num, ink (drink), oh wow, yay, no, thank you, down, lub you (i love you). When he smells and I ask him if he needs a diaper changed, he will say "kkkk" for yuck and I know he needs to be changed. He also loves music. Especially the song "Popcorn Popping" and "Glorious". He is now officially down to one nap, as I really needed to get places and the two naps were cramping our style! We are so glad we have been able to have him for 18 months. He brings so much joy to our family!

Meeting the TWINS!

Last weekend I flew with my dad and sister Natalie to go to Arkansas for my nieces baby blessings. I was really excited to meet the little girls and see my sister Marisa. The flight over was nice and short and it was really cold when we got there. We had a quick lunch and then went to meet Kate and Addy.

These two look very very similar. They aren't sure if they are identical yet, but I do notice some very slight differences. Adelyn is always wearing pink and has the pink binkie and Kate is always wearing purple. By the end of the trip I could tell which was which, but for the first day that's how I knew.

Addy

This is how they were most of the time...except with so many visitors, they were mostly in someone's arms!

Isn't Kate Adorable!

The girls were blessed on Sunday morning and they looked beautiful!

Ethan's brother Clark and his father Paul, Ethan, and my dad were part of the blessing circle.

 My parents with number 15 and 16 grandchild.

These were the people who came to support them from Ethan's side! Hard to believe that is just 2 of his 5 siblings families! Clark and Megan came and they each have 6 kids, so the house was happening!

 Here is our small little crew!

 

We can't forget the cute older brother and sister Liam and Aubrey. 

Well I was glad to have my sisters together. It sure was cold for me! I don't think I took off this coat all weekend, except to sleep! I'm a Texas girl, through and through.

Sure love Marisa and wish she lived closer, but it was so nice to see her! 

We flew home on Monday afternoon, but our flight ended up being delayed 2 hours, so this was my happy place as we waited! I normally hate delays, but I ended up being able to enjoy this one a little as I got to read ALL BY MYSELF ;) No children to interrupt me, so I enjoyed the few moments of quiet before I got to go home and hug my crew. Oh, and you see that small suitcase...yea that was a miracle! I can never pack that light! You should be impressed!

When I got home, my amazing hubbie had surprised me with this door he had replaced. He had called over a guy in our ward to help him replace our back door that I had been asking him to replace for several years! He was a brave man to do it on a weekend when he had the kids alone, but I am so grateful it is done!! Not only did he do a wonderful act of service, he sent yummy dipped strawberries to my sister's house in Arkansas for Valentine's day. 

He took some time off for me to go and these cuties survived my absence. I am lucky to have such a wonderful husband! 

Valentine's Preschool Party!

Channing is loving her little preschool this year. For her February field trip, they went to MUDPIE and painted. She had a great time! They got to have a donut and say goodbye to one of the girls Jayne who is moving. 

She was excited to paint her heart plate!

I think it turned out great!

Now that Jayne has moved, Miss Lindsay added her two neighbor twin boys who are going to kindergarten in the Fall as well. Channing was excited to have two boys now in her small little class! I am grateful for Lindsay and the joy she puts on Channing's face each time she goes, and how much she has learned!