Fun! Fun! Fun! (Part 1)

A few pictures from the Ragnar Relay Del Sol. Two days of partying in a van with a little bit of running.
I had so much fun and would definitely do it again.
Go Kickin' Cactus!

Only a few pictures below. There will be more.

Valentines!

Okay so this post is only a few weeks late but, Happy Valentines Day!
Jillian and Bradley both had Valentine parties at school the Friday before Valentines day.
On the real Valentines day we had a birthday celebration for my Mom because it was her B -day.
Happy Birthday Mom!
We decorated the whole house with hearts that had the things we love about her written on them. My house looked like a bag of candy hearts.

The 2 above pictures show the kids goodies from school.

The above 2 pictures are from the birthday get together (we do not party on Sunday). Love ya Mom!

Jog-a-thon.

Here is Jillian getting ready for her Jog-a-thon. She was excited to do it, and she ran fast.
Love ya Jillian!

Operation free my feet!

Read this blog post check out the one below (if you are bored and have nothing better to do).

This morning on my way home from taking Jillian to school I decided to take off my shoes and socks and walk barefoot and guess what? I loved it! I noticed it forced me to walk taller and take shorter strides. Taking pressure off my knee and lower legs.

Okay so I am obviously over analyzing every aspect of the new running style concept but I think when you have tried on 4-5 different running shoes in 2 months and all of them feel hindering and clunky it causes you to start thinking outside the box. I don't think I am going to go full on barefoot or forefoot running at this point, but I think I am definitely going to incorporate it into my running routine.

The Below blog post had the picture of the Vibram Five Finger shoe which I am going to get regardless of whether I run in them. Another shoe that I am seriously considering is the Newton. It is another shoe that simulates running barefoot or on your forefoot.

Look at the link below it shows the form of a forefoot runner and the form of a heel to toe runner. The bottom one is the way I feel when I run and it looks painful!

http://www.newtonrunning.com/run-better/optimal-running-form

I would love the hear what you think even if it is that you just don't care.

Shoes!

I need the magic running shoe doctor to tell me what shoe would be perfect for my foot and gait but I don' t think the magic running shoe doctor exists. The new shoe I am considering isn't really a running shoe at all. It is the Vibram Five Finger Shoe.

I most likely would use them for shorter runs and wear a regular running shoe for longer runs. Who knows maybe that would change. My friend told me her friend ran a marathon in them and cut 30 minutes off their time. The shoe is supposed to make you feel like you are running bare foot, in a more natural gait, and help strengthen the muscles in the feet, ankles, shins, calves etc. Anyway if you want to read more about them google them. They are the Vibram Five Finger Footwear (also highlighted in the "Born to Run" book which I have not read yet)

Latest project!

I decided I wanted to make Jillian a dress. I had a picture in my mind of how I wanted it to look, I drew it on paper and than I started sewing.
For the most part I think it turned out pretty good. I might have one or two quirks I need to work out but beyond that I think Jillian looks adorable.

Our First Lemon!!!

Bill was sprucing up the yard on Saturday and look what he found. Yes, it is our first lemon from our lemon tree. We have had the tree for over 2.5 years and now we have fruit! It smells so sweet and yummy.
In 1 year from now we will be able to have our very first lemonade stand.

Christmas In A Nutshell

Thank goodness for Bill and his awesome camera or we would have had very few Christmas memories.

We had a great Christmas this year. It was low key but very fun. Of course during the month of December the festivities began.
The goodies were baked
Gifts were made, and purchased with love
The streets were lit with colorful lights
Carols were sung
Hot Chocolate was sipped
Than Christmas eve arrived and the magic took place. Our Christmas eve was celebrated at our home with family. We had cousins, aunts, uncles, moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, sisters, and brothers, and adopted family members who really are considered family.
We ate soups, rolls, yummy jello, and treats. We played a game and than on to the most important part, the reading of the story of our Saviors birth. The tradition in my family is to act it out so that is what we did. After the story everyone went home to get all snug in their beds (of course we didn't get snug in our bed until late).
Christmas day was relaxing, full of kids playing with new toys, wrapping paper scattered about, and yummy treats sitting out for all to eat. For dinner we went to our Cousins home for yummy food, conversation, and games.
We really did have fun.
But, thank goodness we have a whole year to recover because I am tired!

Bradley with Buzz Lightyear

Jillian's horse that can take a shower

Our tradition of decorating sugar cookies

Acting out the Christmas story. Obviously my camera took this picture.

My attempt at Sunday before Christmas photos.

My plan was to take pictures of the kids when we came home from church on Sunday and when I remembered, Jillian was already in her casual clothes, Bradley shoes were untied, and Baden was ready to run around.
So below is my attempt at, "after the Sunday before Christmas pictures."

Family Photo time!

What do you think? Is this the best shot or what?