Birthd♥y Girl

Our precious baby girl turned 7 today. Man time flies when you're having fun. Where did the time go? Before I know it she'll be in High School, then college, then married, then ..... ok stop, I have to enjoy the moment. Every little one, good and bad and appreciate all that she brings into our lives. She's just growing up into such a sweet, beautiful girl.

A saying I saw on a blog the other day, struck a chord -

"The days are long but the years are short"

It's so true.

Today consisted of 3 requests...

Request #1:

The day began with breakfast in bed.

All she wanted was toast. I was willing to make anything, but she made it easy on me.

Request #2:

A little party.

She invited 2 friends over, Julia and Brayden, and we went to McDonalds for lunch and a little play time.

Went home and opened presents, which I happend to not get any pictures of, darn it. She got a lot of clothes which is what she needed. With her birthday so close to school starting, it's the perfect gift. And I'm afraid it will probably never change. Thank you to all the grandparents for the gifts.

We made homemade ice cream in the baggies to go with the cake. I thought it would be easy and a fun little activity. Well it was a little hard to get them to shake and keep moving the bags long enought to get the ice cream hardened because it was so cold. It was a great attempt though.  Brayden's actually turned out pretty good and Julia's I started over with new ice and rock salt and it worked too.

MJ shared the candles and they each took turns putting them on the cake.

"Happy Birthday to You"

Hopefully many wishes will come true.

The ice cream melted really fast. Had to eat it quick.

We brought home the rice activity from Marnie's last weekend when we were there. So we got it out to play with at the end of the party.  It's surprisingly entertaining. It's like an indoor sand box. They didn't get to play with it for too long though before they had to go home. The 3 hours they were over sure went by fast. I thought it was going to be plenty, but they could have played for 3 more. And honestly I wouldn't have minded, they were so good and having a really good time.

A pathetic attempt of a smile, silly girl.

Such cute friends. They had such a fun time.

Not bad for a last minute party. I feel like such a lame mom most of the time, so I'll just pretend I had all this planned ahead of time.

Request #3:

A movie.

She wanted to go see Eclipse.

The boys would have rather seen Toy Story3 or Despicable Me, but it wasn't up to them.

I had heard it was good and she had seen the first 2 movies and they were pretty innocent...well maybe we should have previewed this one before we took the whole family to see it. There sure was a lot of kissing. Kept telling them to close their eyes and laughing about it rather than making it big deal. The action scenes were pretty intense, which they handle those really well, and overall it was a really good movie. Just maybe next time we'll be better about previewing movies before we take the kids.

When we got home Sharkboy and Lavagirl was on Disney channel, which she just had to watch. (Taylor Lautner plays sharkboy in his younger years, he's changed quite a bit since then.) I think MJ is Team Jacob.  She worries me sometimes, wanting to be a teenager already.

What a girl.

Love you little missy!

Hope you had a fun birthday.

A work in progress...

This is what I should be working on.

Maryjane's soon to be new quilt.

I'm so excited.

Isn't the fabric just the cutest?

It's going to be a twin size to fit her bed.

Too bad my sewing machine is frustrating me right now, can't seem to get the tension right for some reason.

Maybe I should set a goal of Aug. 11th to have it finished. (her birthday)

Is it possible?

More 1/2 Marathon pictures

I got all these pictures from Facebook. They're all pictures I wish I would have taken to remember the whole experience by. It's so fun to look at them and remember all the emotions I felt through out the race.

This is the Expo:

Lots of booths to look at and tempt us. There was just too many cool things and not enough money darn it. Each of us did buy a really cool fanny pack kind of thing, and then I bought a sticker to put on my car that says "13.1 Been there Run that". I finally took off my In N Out sticker, it was looking pretty sad, and replaced it.

Running through a neighborhood in Tukwila:

There were people and families sitting in there front yards cheering everyone on as if the race was a parade. There were also bands playing about every mile and also cheerleaders from local high schools cheering for everyone.

Next to Lake Washington:

My favorite part! The lake is really big, so we were next to it for a long time. It was just so beautiful that I enjoyed all the scenery, taking it all in. The homes next to the lake are amazing, loved looking at them too. Having so much scenery to enjoy helped make the race go by faster too and more fun.

There was even a bald eagle. Glad that some one else stopped to get the picture, I debated whether to or not, but didn't. I had momentum going and didn't want to ruin it. (We've seen more bald eagles living here the last year than I have my whole life. They are every where here in the PNW. Just last night we saw one fly right in front of us then over our car as were driving home from the beach on Camano Island. It was a "Whoa" kind of experience.)

The Tunnel:

The tunnel really was a surreal experience. There was music being played in the tunnel and it just echoed through out the whole thing and you could feel it inside your body. It's hard to describe how cool it was.

The End after the Finish Line:

There was massive amounts of people as you can see.

A close up of the the medal:

It's big and heavy and just plain cool, symbolizing all that we accomplished.


I love having all these other pictures to add to the ones I took. I feel more complete now. haha

Jeremy's Bday / Scout Camp

Last Thurs was Jeremy's bday. He is now 33 and we will be the same age for the next 4 months. We went to Seattle with our really good friends the Jensen's. They had never been to the Crab Pot and had been wanting to go, so they were excited to go there, (well Robin was, her husband Digger doesn't like seafood.) It was yummy yummy to those of us do like it.

We hung out on the pier for a while taking pictures afterwards, but once the sun goes down in Seattle, all the crazies come out and you just know when it's time to go home. We always end up having talks in the car about why there are so many crazies and the kids have lots of questions. A good learning experience, if you look at it that way.
The week before his bday we went to a Yankees/Mariners game and made that part of his birthday too. We had never been to a Yankees game before, so thanks to Jeremy's bosses for giving us the tickets for the family. It was a really hot day, but once the sun went behind the stadium it was perfect. Wish I would have had my camera. I took pics with my phone, but I don't have a cable to upload to the computer, so out of luck until either I buy a cable or buy new camera. We all had on our Yankees stuff except for Jeremy who was wearing his Mariners hat. Just a slightly disfunctional family.


Last week mon.-thurs. the boys had scout camp. I was looking forward to a week of quiet and less fighting, with the boys gone and it being just me and MJ. But then I got a phone call mon. after I dropped the boys off and one of the leaders in our ward needed a partner to help her for 2 days, wed. and thurs, so of course I said yes, I really didn't have anything planned anyways. But I'm glad I did it. It was a lot of fun. The other leader and I were in charge of one of the stations that the dens take turns going to throughout the day. And ours was an obstacle course on the 2 days I was there. And even MJ was able to come with me. She was in the tag-a-long group, ages baby-7yrs. And she had YW girls that took care of them as their leaders. She even got to participate in a lot of the same things the boys did, so she loved being there and had a great time. I'm sure next year she's going to want to go again. So maybe I'll volunteer and do what I did this time and help out for just 2 days. That way you don't get so burned out. By the end of the week all the den leaders are worn out and tired, and I don't blame them, it's hard to be in charge of a group of boys for that long.

I stole these pictures from the other leader's facebook photos. She was taking pictures with her phone. Her son and George were in the same den together so I got a picture of him too.

On the last day during lunch the firetruck and ambulance came for the kids to see and climb around on, at least that's what the kids think they are there for.

I think this picture is hilarious. I really was having a good time, but by the looks of it you'd never have guessed it. I must have been thinking of something not so fun. Who knows. I'm good at just staring.


Needless to say it was a busy week, and glad to have a less busy week coming up. MJ's actually leaving us for the week and going home with MaKey and Poppa to Olympia. They'll be here tonight to pick her up. So we'll definitely be having a quiet week. Yes, she will be missed, but maybe not til Wed. (haha I keep changing the day later and later in the week, I put Tue. at first) And do you think she'll miss us? Heck no. She's been looking forward to this for a couple weeks and she knows how much she'll be spoiled by her MaKey, giving in to anything and everything she wants. Good luck with that MaKey!!  Mom = No, MaKey = Yes. This formula she figured out years ago. Have Fun. See ya in a week my sweet girl. I will miss the cuddles.

4th of July

My camera broke a few weeks ago and it totally sucks. How am I suppose to blog and do my Project Life album with out a camera? The answer is, steal them from friends and families blogs and facebook photos until the camera problem is resolved. Such a bummer. So I kept moms camera close by and used it alot this weekend we were with them.

For the 4th of July we went to Wenatchee for the weekend with MaKey and Poppa, they came and picked us up Fri. morning. We love there van and fit so perfectly in it. And the kids love the movie player. It makes for a very quiet car ride, you'd never know they were even in the car. We had to unfortunately leave Jeremy behind. You know something called "work" needed him.

I had mentioned to mom that we'd like to go to Rocky Reach Dam sometime. The kids had never been there before, well George was 9 months, but that doesn't count. And I knew they would love it. I have so many fun memories of going there for church picnics and family reunions. By the time we got there Fri. afternoon they had just closed. We were a little bummed, but now we just had to come back. So we went to the park and let the kids play a while.

I had totally forgotten about the flag made of flowers. Red and white begonias, purple/blue petunias and yellow marigolds. It was so perfect being there on the 4th of July weekend.

Mason's our little monkey climber. He's always climbing trees, even walls in our house. So of course he and Goerge couldn't resist climbing in the tree.

Isn't it beautiful?

MJ started off wanting to pose next to every flower. By the time we got the flag, she was done.

Mason on the other hand posed and didn't mind the camera at all the whole time.

Poppa opened the pool for the summer. They braved the freezing cold water and played for hours in it. Crazy kids.

The slip n slide was fun for the warm afternoons too.

On the 4th we headed back to Rocky Reach Dam after church, this time for sure it was open. Yay.

The viewing area for the fish ladder. There were some huge fish swimming right in front of us. The boys loved it. Some day they want to go fishing and catch one that big.

We walked through the musuem.

This pic is just too cute. They are all so happy and cute. I have to cherish the moments when they actually happen. They really do happen alot, but just not always for the camera.

Our dinner was delicious. MJ and I enjoyed sharing corn on the cob. Mmm, one of my very favorite summer foods.

That night the sparklers came out, we went to the park for the big fireworks show, and then the boys put on there own show. We brought over illegal fireworks from the indian reservation. With Preston's help they had a great time and were safe. MaKey and Poppa were smart by heading to bed and not seeing what we were doing out in the field.

The firecrackers lasted them until about 11:30pm. I'm sure we kept every neighbor awake, they were so loud and obnoxious. The only day of the whole year we could get away with it. :) I kept telling the boys to just get it over with, but they insisted on doing them one at a time. Oh the memories they will have for years to come. The 4th of July will never be the same unless we have the fireworks from the Indian Rez. These boys are going to grow up thinking its normal. So maybe next year we'll have to come back to Marysville where it's legal so we don't get in trouble.

Seattle Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon

Last Saturday was the big day we'd been training for for the last 6 months. Marnie came to my house straight from girls camp on Fri. She took a shower and we left right away. We headed to Seattle and checked in to our hotel and met up with Marnie's friend Terry who's been training with Marnie the last 6 months also. We went to the Expo at the Qwest Expo Center downtown to pick up our packets that had our numbers and t-shirts and goodie bag. It was fun to shop around. We all bought a fanny pack that fits under your shirt but carries what you need when you're out running or bike riding. I wore mine for the race and even carried my camera a long the way.  There were lots of fun t-shirts to read like -

Does this t-shirt make my butt look faster?

Who moved the finish line?

13.1 Been there, Run that

You don't have to go Fast You just have to Go

and lots more, I just can't remember right now, but you get the idea.

After the Expo we headed back and ate dinner at the Hotel. Eating some pasta for carbs for added energy for the upcoming race. Then went to bed, we had an early morning coming fast. We set our phone alarms for 3:50. Yikes! Yes I know EARLY!! We met Terry in the lobby at 4:45 am and headed for the shuttle, which just happened to be on the next block. Thankful for the adrenaline, we weren't tired, just excited. The shuttles ran from 4-6am and we were trying to beat the rush and it worked. Got right on the bus with no waiting, and we were off.

All bright eyed and bushy tailed!!

They had water, Cytomax (like gatorade), bananas and bagels for us before the race.

See the porta potties in the background? They were lined up around the block. Right before it started the lines were crazy long. Whether it was the nerves or the cytomax we drank, we each went 3 times before the race started just making sure our bladders were empty before we got started.

This is the tracker they used to track our times during the race. There's an electronic chip inside it.

My number.

We were put in Corral #32. It's based on what you put on your sign up sheet for your estimated time in finishing the race and we put 3 hours. There were 39 total corrals.

It was a little chillie so I'm glad I brought pants and sweatshirt to stay warm until the race started. My pants I put in a bag that was put in a UPS truck and taken to the finish line along with other things I wanted for the when the race was over, but my jacket I still wanted at first, but as soon as I got warmed up I threw it on the side of the road and now it's gone forever. Marnie had told me how people do this so that's what I planned on. All the clothes that people leave behind get donated.

Marnie wrote on her arm the times she wanted to be at for each mile. A 14 min/mile. This is one of her traditions.

There it is, the starting line!!! The race started at 7:00, but we didn't get there until 7:52. Each Corral started every 1 1/2 to 2 minutes apart.

There were 28,000 people total there. 17,500 of which were doing the 1/2 marathon. Can you say massive?

Along the race there were bands playing on the side of the road. This was the first one right before the 1st mile marker.

A Rock n Roll guy at the end of mile 1.

We started in Tukwila and ran through some neighborhoods, then ran next to Lake Washington which was beautiful, wish I would have taken pictures of it. Then at mile 10 we got on the highway and went through a tunnel, which was actually pretty cool. There was a band in the tunnel and it just echoed through the whole thing. Knowing we were getting close to the end too was pretty exciting. Marnie, Terry and I got separated because we all had to go to the bathroom at different times through out and never caught back up to eachother. At that point I had no idea where they were, but I was wishing we were together. Around mile 9 or 10 my feet sure started to hurt, they were cramping and I thought I could feel blisters forming on the balls of my feet right behind my big toes. And my right knee started hurting. I was so hoping it wasn't going to happen, but it did. The last couple weeks of training the cramping and knee pain would come and go. And up to this point I had jogged the whole time which was around  2 hours straight, but because of the pain I had to start walking hoping the pain would go away, but it didn't. Proud of myself though for going that long w/o walking and if it weren't for the pain I know I would've been able to go the whole way having jogged the whole time. So the last couple miles I walked and jogged really looking forward to finishing and being done.

Mile 11 - the home stretch. I tried so hard to start jogging again and wanting to jog the rest of the way. Qwest Field is on the right where the Finish line was. At first you think you're going straight there, but nope the course took us a round about way to get there. The t-shirt that said "Who moved the finish line" sure felt more real than ever. You keep thinking it's right around the corner and it's not, just a little further I kept telling myself.  At the last mile or so I was walking and Marnie passed me. I was so glad to see her. She didn't see me or hear me yell at her with her ipod in, so I caught her and we walked and jogged together to the finish. I wish I would have been more excited, but I think I was in to much pain and I just wanted it to end. Honestly. Just being honest. I felt more adrenaline at the 10K we did a month ago. Marnie kicked it into gear at the end and started running faster. I was right behind her and then she reached back for me and pulled me along so we finished together hand in hand. Yeah we did it! It felt so good to be done.

Now don't get me in trouble for stealing these pictures. We are going to buy them, but I couldn't blog without them. It wouldn't have felt complete and I didn't want to wait. I didn't take any pictures at the end, so I needed these to show how we finished.

Sisters finishing together. I love it. I can't stop looking at them. Everyday I keep going to the website where these are and look at them over and over. I still can't believe I did this, but I'm so glad I did and can't wait to do it again. That reminds me of another t-shirt that said" I know, I know, I said I'd never do this again". It's so true. Even though I was in a lot of pain I want to go and do it all over. Maybe hoping I'll do better and not be in any pain next time.

Right after you cross the finish line, they give you water and your medal and you pose for the picture. They had more Cytomax, bananas and granola bars, which I love, so I ate one right away and drank a lot. Oh it felt good to be done. You just want to lay down and rest, but it's more important to keep walking and stretch out. We found Terry who finished a few minutes before us. She had her mom, sisters and niece there at the finish line waiting. So cool. I think that was one thing we were missing. Next time I want someone there at the end waiting for me. But we had eachother, I was glad for that.

As soon as the race was over the sun miraculously came out. It couldn't have been any more perfect. It stayed cloudy and cool just for us, then warmed up just when we needed it too. Your body sure does cool down fast when you stop. They gave out solar blankets for everyone to help them warm up. Marnie and I walked back to our hotel with them wrapped around us looking a little like homeless people and we got a few weird looks from people passing on the street.

Our mom and her best friend Joyce met us at Southcenter Mall after we made it back to our car at the hotel.  I hadn't seen Joyce since my wedding. It was fun to see her again. We all went to lunch at The Cheesecake Factory to celebrate. A perfect way to end the race. Knowing we burned hundreds of calories, we could eat anything we wanted, haha. We actually saw lots of other people there that were in the race too.

So fun. I'm so glad Marnie talked me into doing this with her. Just wish we could have stayed together the whole time to enjoy the whole thing together. Now we're out to convince the rest of our family to all do it together next year. I'm hoping to convince Jeremy also. He was my running partner the last few weeks before this. So we'll see. Here's to hoping.

And btw no blisters or chafing. Woohoo. And I was only sore for 1 day after. By the 2nd day after I was totally fine, not sore at all.

♥Thanks Marnie, Love ya and glad we get to share this experience together.♥