Crazy Cousins!!!!

Tyler and Anna were in town to see her brother's family and their new baby and her mom and sister. It was a whirl wind trip...they got in Thursday night late, went to the beach Friday, airboat ride, Saturday SeaWorld, and then Saturday night we got to go out to eat with them. Emma and Luke were SOOOOOOOOO excited to see Tanner and Ella! They were all so tired and got a little silly at dinner! It was great to see them and to be together!

Birthday Boys!!!!

Luke's birthday seemed to last 3 days long! Matt had to go out with the missionaries on Luke's actual birthday (Friday) and so we decided to celebrate on Thursday night with our family after I got back from dance and Matt got back from his corporate 5K that he ran in. Well we got back and Gavin was asleep (he was actually still asleep from his nap that started when I left for dance at 3:30 and it was 7:30 when I got home!) Talk about marathon nap (must be growing). So by the time Matt got home at 8:00 Luke wanted to just open his presents first before we went out...well he didn't finish until about 9:00 and Gavin was still asleep so instead of going out we had frozen chimichanga's and frozen waffles for dinner! What a birthday dinner! :)



Emma gave Luke some Rescue Hero action figures

Day 2 of his birthday started with green pancakes that said his name. Nicholas and Brooke (our neighbors) rode to school with us that day so it felt like a party even in the morning. Then that night we went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner.

Day 3 of his birthday was his friend's party. It was a pirate themed party and it turned out to be a blast! I had made a pirate cake, we had hot dogs with little pirate sails on them, we decorated pirate swords, they got to walk the plank and jump onto the tarp (which was the water) and pretended to swim ashore. Then the 2 highlights were the cannon ball throw (water balloons). They took Matt quite a while to fill up all 100 and they were thrown in about 2 minutes! Then we had balloon swords that they sword fought with and that lasted about 10 minutes until all the swords popped on the grass! What a fun day!

Poor Matt had his birthday 3 days later but I was all partied out and worn out and so his was a little low key, he says that's how he likes it, but I think it was even lower key then he expected! SORRY Matt! Next time you can have the pirate party! :)

Check out all those candles!!!! He could even roast marshmellows with all the heat the cake was giving off!

Family Trip to North Carolina

We had a great time visiting the Gillespies in Hickory, NC, this past week. For those who haven't been there, Tyler and Anna and the kids live in a beautiful little town that is literally in the foothills of the Smokies. Sara and I ran those foothills on a couple of mornings and let me tell you...it felt a bit different than running on the flat, sea level terrain of Orlando.

We loved attending their ward, having some fun at Hickory Dickory Doc (Hickory's version of Chucky Cheese), and watching the NCAA basketball tourney. Talk about some awesome games and great teams!

We picked a beautiful day to finally take advantage of the beautiful outdoors in NC and went camping at South Mountains State Park. It's about 45 min from Ty and Anna's house. We had a ball! Pretty Jacob Fork River, lots of wild life, good fishing, and solitude all combined to make it an awesome family memory. Luke and Emma made friends with a few of the locals, i.e. Jayla the Centipede and Brooke the Brook Trout.

Jayla the Centipede

Brook the trout

Sara and I also got acquainted with a very brave and very curious/hungry racoon who decided to pay a visit as the fire died down and we chatted around the fire. The night was great and despite a very flat mattress and Gavin waking up every hour, we did manage to get some rest. Breakfast the next morning was tasty, just like you would expect it to be on a campout. Something about the outdoors makes food taste so good!

So, we are officially a camping family. Luke shared his extensive knowledge of camping throughout the evening and morning since he has been on several father/son campouts with me. It's a good thing we had him along for subject matter expertise.

A worn out Gavin

We left for home on Wednesday evening, stayed in a hotel outside of Savannah, GA, took a brief car tour of Savannah the next morning, and then headed for home. It was a great spring break vacation.

Happy Easter!!!!

The kids had a great time coloring their eggs

They were so cute helping each other find eggs

I know it's probably mean to think it's funny that Emma fell...but the funny thing is that she fell down last year in her pretty little Easter dress when she was running in the backyard looking for eggs!

It was such a nice Easter!

Wildman Triathlon - March 2008

I just competed in my second sprint Triathlon (Wildman Triathlon Festival). I competed with six of the girls from the last triathlon that we did in Oct. that was all women, and this time we recruited one new girl. The Triathlon was challenging, exciting, rewarding, and a lot of hours of training...but ultimately, I LOVED IT! I guess I am addicted.

Most of the husbands committed to doing this triathlon back around Christmas, yet they dropped out one by one as the training went along and so it ended up that Amy’s husband John was the last man standing.

I loved competing in the women's triathlon in Oct. and I was a little nervous that competing with the men would be intimidating. The men started the swim in a wave that was three minutes ahead of the women so it really wasn't like we were in the water at the same time getting kicked and beat up by the men...and I must say it was very empowering everytime I would pass a man on the course! :) I actually took second place in my age division! My times were: 17:24 for the swim, 39:11 for the bike, and 23:51 for the run for a total of 1:22:30.

Here's a view of the water first thing in the morning before it all started

Here's us in our beautiful swim caps just before we start

Here's the women starting to the first buoy

Here is me in the last transition area... I have already done the 1/2 mile swim and the 12 mile bike and now I am getting started on the 3 mile run portion.

Here's our group just after finishing

We are women...hear us roar!

Here's my best friend Amy Lopez and me!

Luke's Kindergarten Program

Luke's first Kindergarten program! He looked so cute up there in his little ABC shirt and mouse ears on! His part in the program was "Animals come in many colors" and he did it so well :)

Not the greatest quality picture...but here is all the Kindergarteners in their cute little shirts

This is Luke with his teacher Mrs. Balasis

This is Luke's artwork that was on display!

Finally, a Daddy's boy!!!

Ok, so let's be realistic...kids love their moms. Who can blame them? Nourishment, Nurturing, TLC, and Beauty...what's not to love? So the fact that our little guy, Gavin, actually pays Daddy some attention, while a huge deal in my life, is of course most probably just a little tender mercy from Heavenly Father after two kids who didn't know I existed for the first year or so of their lives.

The past couple of weeks, Gavin has truly begun to blossom in his personality and communication skills. He points at what he wants, babbles while he points, and expects that all around him should understand exactly what he wants. He is walking like a champ and absolutely feels that he should be included in every activity, game, or other endeavor in which Luke, Emma, Sara, and I are involved. He is at once a little pill, yet the cutest dang 1 yr old you could imagine (unless of course you have your own 1 yr old and then we'll just have to agree to disagree).

But, I digress. My point in this post is that he has a special place in his heart for Daddy and whenever I come into his view, he gives me a welcome like I have been gone for 6 months and he thought of nothing else while I was gone. He immediately breaks into the biggest grin and launches into a chorus of 'da da's' that literally makes my heart melt. In fact, because of it, I renounce all long held resentments for those long months of laboring in obscurity and derision from the other two. Cue the cathartic, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh."

We thought you might enjoy another of Gavin's latest tricks...peek a boo. Yes, I know, it's extremely original. But before you dismiss it, take a look at this fun little video.


We love you guys!!!