2010 Turkey Trot

 Our 3rd annual Turkey Trot was a huge success!!!

Over 150 participants and we earned over $2700 for sweet little Jenna!

Everyone was so generous.  I had to hold back tears a couple of times when people handed me huge rolled up wads of cash.  It was so touching, especially in this bad economy and with Christmas right around the corner.

Here's Sue Sylvester getting ready to start the race ;)

 Colton about 2/3's of the way done!  Go Colt!

 My baby trying his hardest to pass the older gentleman in front of him :)

 First place runner for the girls!  Woo hoo!!  Go Janae!

( I didn't get a pic of 1st place male runner.......he was too fast ;)

We had several prizes, movie tickets, a box of Cliff Bars, a movie, some shirts, but the best prize of all went to this man for bringing the most runners with him, 14!  He was giddy as a school girl when he saw his prize ;)  Look at how he's gripping Jacob's pectoral muscle.  They make such a cute couple ;)  He was a great sport!

 Jenna and her family.  Jenna was one of my dancers in my preschool dance class a few years ago.  She is the sweetest little 6 year old and I know she will not only beat this leukemia, but she will be healthy, strong and live to a ripe old age.  I love you Jenna! 

The race was great and so was Thanksgiving Day with family and friends.  I'm so thankful for the love and support of good friends and family.  For a loving and hard working husband.  For healthy, funny children.  For all of the many blessings in my life.  Life is good :)

Make A Difference!

 “There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.”  Walter Reuther

                                                                                                                                        

We have a great opportunity to come together and help out a wonderful woman fighting breast cancer.  Jenny Christensen is a mother of two, who is currently fighting breast cancer for the second time.  She is an amazing example of perseverance, courage, and strength.  As many of you know, the fight against breast cancer can be very expensive.  We have a chance to help ease some of the monetary stress for the Christensens.

On Saturday, November 20th, from 8am-4pm,

Adams Traditional Academy with the help of the National Junior Honor Society, will be hosting a fundraiser at the school to help earn funds to go directly to the payment of Jenny’s cancer treatments. 

There will be classes offered:

8am Yoga
9am Martialcise Aerobics/Self Defense
10am Pilates
11am Childrens Dance Class
Noon Zumba
1pm Teen/Adult Dance Class


                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                  We will also have massages, hair cuts, “Glitter Toes”, adorable hair clips, “Forever Is Better” shirt sales (owned by Jenny Chirstensen), breast cancer bracelets, and a SILENT AUCTION! 

                                                                                          

We’ve already had some amazing items donated to our silent auction, including horse rides, photography sessions, massage gift cards, restaurant gift cards, babysitting, one month of HCG, a vegan cleanse, hotel gift certificates, gift baskets, and much, much more!  The silent auction items will be available to bid on all day.  The auction ends at 3:45pm sharp.

There are so many families affected by cancer and in need of some extra help.  This is a great opportunity to come together and give service to one of those families.                                                                                                          

Please mark your calendar’s for this Saturday Nov, 20th, and plan on attending.  Tell your friends, family, and neighbors about this great event and help us to make this a success!    Adams Traditional Academy is located at 2323 W Parkside Lane (23rd Ave south of Pinnacle Peak) in Phoenix

If you would like to help with this event, or have any questions, please email Tara McMurdie at: misstarasdance@gmail.com

  To read about Jenny’s story and stay updated on her progress, or to get updated information concerning fundraisers, check her blog at:                                                                                             http://breastcancerbuttkickin.blogspot.com.  You can also keep updated on this event and class times by checking the school website at: https://adamstraditionalacademy.org.  

Help make this a success!

How Do You Know?

How do you know when you're a little behind on your house work???

When this is what your son uses to eat cereal for breakfast.......

Ummm, I guess it's time to do the dishes........or teach my sweet little 

helpless children to wash dishes.........one or the other :)

When will life calm down???

Cowboys :)

Raise your hand if you love good lookin cowboys!

.....and I've got one all of my own ;)

ON THE ROAD AGAIN.........

TODAY'S THE DAY! 

My official RAGNAR training is starting today! 

 I'm going running this morning no matter how much it hurts.  Ok ok, stop saying that can't be a pic of me above, it's not, it's not, geez.  But seriously, is it too much to ask that that be what my next running pic looks like???  I'm sure the girl in that pic ate a heavenly piece of chocolate turtle praline cake made by her way too talented little sister last night before she went to bed too.  Right??? 

Ugh!  Wish me luck!!! 

I Looked Out The Window and What Did I See................

Yesterday was a glorious day.  I think the highlight was when my little Bean came in my room with watery eyes and both of her little pointer fingers up her nostrils and told me to "wook at her noshe".  After closer inspection and an adorable talk with her, it was determined that my sweet little two year old had shoved popcorn kernels up each nostril.  We tried many different things to get them out but to no prevail.  So, in the car we went for a drive to urgent care.  On my way there I called my sis, Erin, and told her my predicament.  She then told me she had the answer to all my problems and to come over to my Mom's house instead of urgent care.  I turned around and off to my Mom's we went.  When we got there, I tried out the brilliant idea Erin had for removing popcorn kernels from little two year old nostrils, but was still unsuccessful.  Then Erin took over.  That's when it happened.  I watched in awe as my baby sister became a resourceful mom.

SHE TOOK A STRAW AND SUCKED THE KERNELS OUT.

When she got the first one out, she giggled a slightly scary giggle and went right in for kernel number two.  Words cannot describe how proud/slightly disturbed I felt at that moment.

Here's the kernels...........one with booger still attached...........you're welcome

Ava inspecting her recently removed popcorn kernels

The best part was when Aunt Erin got them out, Ava looked up at her and said, "Fank you Ewin."

And a big kiss for the hero of the day :) 

Gracie's Special Day

I can't believe my little Pookie is 8!

Gracie has been a blessing to our family since the day she was born.  She is such a thoughtful girl.  She is always writing everyone in the family sweet little letters telling us all how much she loves us.  So many times Gracie has brought me a loving little note just when I needed one.  She is such a great big sister to Ava.  She plays mommy to her and helps me so much.  Gracie always has a story to tell.  She could talk non stop for hours :)  But we love her for it. 

Gracie has always tried to choose the right.  She is such a great example to me.  So many times she has, without hesitation, made sure we were making decisions that would please our Heavenly Father.  Gracie has been so excited for the day she could be baptized.  She was the cutest little 8 year old ever.  It was so special for me to be able to help her get dressed in her white jumpsuit and then afterwards to be able to hug her and dress her in her white dress.  So pure and perfect just like our Savior.  I'm so thankful to my Heavenly Father for sending my Gracie to me.  I hope I can always be the mom Heavenly Father intended me to be for her. 

I love you so much, Gracie!  Happy 8th Birthday, Bubby!

Shopping With Colton

Colton, Colton, Colton,

where to begin.......

This is a tidbit of what it is like shopping with our little Colton......
P.S.
I didn't know he filmed any of these until I checked my camera a few days later.....
Such a sweet surprise......

So cute Colt,

Thanks for including my butt in the "BIG BUTT" category.

Video #2......

I love how Colton is apparently in a mighty jousting dual with Aaron who has no clue.....

Did you notice how completely checked out we are, 

that's a survival technique we use to be able to mentally stay sane while shopping with our little man.

Some other highlights.......

This picture he kept telling Ava she was in jail and couldn't come out......so she just stood there......

even when I kept calling her to come out.  She wouldn't come out until Colton told her she could come out of jail.  Ugh.  I've lost all control.

This final video is the best.....

So, this is proof of how completely entertaining and exhausting Colton is,

how spoiled and undisciplined Ava is,

and how completely checked out Aaron and I are.

"Ava, don't make such a fuss"

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Bubble Baths :)

 What do you do in the summertime, when it's even to hot to go out and swim???

Play inside, in a cold bath of bubbles, and make bubble beards, of course!

Swimming Lessons :)

Ava just finished up her "wimming" lessons with Julianne and Miss Rhegan.

She did SO GREAT!  Julianne was the best teacher ever and now Ava knows to turn and swim to the edge if she ever falls in.  She is becoming quite a little fish :)  

Here's some pics from the week........

 Thanks Julianne, for your patience!

Mormon Lake

 Mormon Lake was a blast this year!

The kids were all old enough to compete in the gymkana and run around and play with minimal supervision ;)

And short of one incident involving the "billy goats" they did great!

Aaron and Brayden having some manly bonding time :)

 Gracie and her hero all dressed up for INDIAN DAY!

 Aunt Ta Ta and Parker boy hoopin and hollering at the awards banquet!

Woo Hoo!

 Gracie trying to steal Daddy's 1st place ribbon.

(He's smiling, but he was clinging tight to his award;)

 Ava right after she gave daddy her puppy dog eyes while saying, "Please horsey, Daddy...."

Guess who has her daddy wrapped around her little finger???

 Guess who has her big brother wrapped around her little finger, too???

 This is when Aaron and the boys won the team penning event together!

They were a little excited ;)

All in all it waas a supa dupa week and I can't wait until next year!

Yee Haw!!!

Sleeping Beauty

Gracie:  Daddy can I do your hair and makeup?

Aaron:  Sure sweetie, I'm just going to lay here with my eyes closed while you do it.

(I didn't even think his hair was long enough to put anything in it......my bad;) 

And yes........that is lip gloss shimmering in the light :)

Yet another reason why he's the best daddy ever!

First Broken Bone :(

So my little bean broke her arm a couple of weeks ago while playing at her Nana's house.

There's been quite a bit of speculation as to who's fault this was.....

Possibly Gracie's for jumping on the bed with her.....

Maybe Hayley's for picking her up by the arm after the injury.....

All I know is that Nana and Papa were in charge of her at the time and were obviously not watching her too closely.....

???You Be The Judge???

 She was SO GOOD while the Dr fixed her up!

 And when she got scared she just closed her eyes until it was over.....

(she's so dang cute;)

 The finished product!

She's holding the moose her Dr gave her for being such a great little patient.

I guess for now on we will have to have supervised visits to Nana and Papa's house ; )

(Now mom before you pick up the phone and call me to chew me out I'd just like to say......

hopefully you've learned your lesson)

Summer Fun

 Summer is one of my favorite times!

What's better then bbq's, family, and swimming???

 Maybe Brianne mooning the camera ;)

 Or Grandma's hilarious commentary!

 OHHHHHH, how about watching Kylee's face while she enjoys a popsicle........

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

 Silly boys maybe???

Or maybe silly little girlz!

Taking pictures of Aunt Kristie while she protests and holds a towel across herself, as if to block the picture somehow ;)

No, I think I'll have to stick with nothing rocks more than bbq's, swimming, and family togetherness!

For shizzle!!!

Ava's First Gymkana

 Aaron is a member of the Sheriff's Posse 

and a couple times a year they have a gymkana for the kiddos.

This was the first one that Ava was old enough to really enjoy :)

Do you see the look of joy on her face???

This cute little cowgirl won her first THIRD place riding all by herself!!!

 Apparently I didn't wipe her face off all night.....

Logan teaching Ava lots of fun tricks to do with glow sticks ;)

 Ava was super excited to find a horse that was just her size!

She didn't want to get off.  She kept pointing to the arena and telling it to go.

So cute!

 Ava and her favorite cowboy :)

 It was a great night!

The kids all did well in their age divisions and Ava was in heaven all night long.

I sure love all my cowgirls and cowboys ;)