Brooke is officially a KINDERGARTNER!

This was a picture of Brooke when she started Preschool 2 years ago.(September 2008) She has grown leaps and bounds since then. My little girl is growing up!
This is her at the beginning of this preschool year. (September 2009)

And this is my baby all grown up on the last day of school with her best buddy, Isaac.

June10th,2010 Brooke graduated from preschool and is off to Kindergarten in the fall. She is so excited to ride the bus and go to school with Cierra and Connor. I am going to have a hard time when this day happens. She just doesn't seem old enough to go to school yet.

Ms. Spencer is a awesome preschool teacher and Brooke was very fortunate to go to her preschool. She really got Brooke to come out of her shell. She has also learned so much, it's amazing!

Sound to Narrows 2010

Sean and I did our first ever race together. It was awesome even though we only ran a couple miles together. Sean was feeling great and had a great time of about and hour and 5 minutes. I, on the other hand was just coming off of running my marathon and my hip is still quite sore. I took my time and even walked a little bit but it was still beautiful and I still loved it. It is a little hilly but that just makes it more challenging.


Here Sean is rounding the corner to the finish line. He is listening to his tunes and staying focused. (Thanks to my wonderful parents who came to see us finish and take a few pictures)
Post race pictures!

Soila joined us for the race too. She has been my most consistent running partner and I have enjoyed our runs together. Hopefully we will have many more.

The good news is Sean is thinking about running a marathon with me now. I would be so happy if we could do that together. Stay tuned..........

Firgrove Field Day 2010

Today was Field day for the kids. It was a miracle it didn't rain. I was happy since I was volunteering and really didn't want to hang out in the rain. I helped measure the triple jumpers and it was fun to watch the kids.

Connor wanted to wear my Newport shirt today. I thought it was kind of cute!:)
Connor doing the pass the hula hoop down the line. His team won 1st Place!

His victory dance.

Kaylee and all her friends-

Kaylee showing off her ribbons-

If Kaylee is around, this girl is not too far behind. Ashley is around our house a lot!

Kaylee and Brittney

I love that Kaylee and Connor never fight and they aren't afraid to hang out with each other.

The second graders were in the morning and since I only volunteered in the afternoon, I didn't get to see Cierra or take any pictures of her. So we took one when we got home with her ribbons.

This will be the last year that I have all my kids at the same school. This coming up year, Kaylee will be at Stahl Junior high and Cierra will be in the Qwest program at Zeiger and Connor and Brooke will be at Firgrove. I will have all 4 of my kids in school. Time to party!!!

Crazy Kids!!!

These are 3 out of the 4 of my crazy kids and I love them to pieces. Being a mom is the best thing ever!

A fun day at school!

I got to the pick up line early the other day and Brooke was out at recess so I went and snapped a few pictures. The weather has been so awful here with a ton of rain so it was nice they were able to enjoy the playground.

Isaac, Brooke, Kaylee and Ellie

Beach Day at preschool

A few weeks ago Brooke at Beach day for preschool. Brooke, Isaac and myself met Mrs. Spencer at Salt Water State Park where it was the lowest tide of the year so we got to see a lot of cool things. Brooke's favorite was the big purple sea star. We went last year as well and Brooke was a little shy then, so it was fun to see her open up and be a part of the group and hold some slimy creatures.

Brooke had fun with her friend Kaylee. They are two peas in a pod!:)

The End!

Cierra's Field Trip to Pizza Hut

Last week I went with Cierra's class on a field trip to Pizza Hut. It was fun to go in and see how the pizzas were made. Each kid made their own pizza and then ate it. I had Brooke and Isaac with me and they also made one. We had fun!

I think Cierra has a little crush. It's so cute!:)

I think Brooke likes her pizza. She ate the entire thing, which is a miracle for her.

Cierra and her teacher, Mrs. Hua. Mrs, Hua informed me that Cierra is a such a great student and always is helping her and other students. She never gets in trouble and is always on task. My response was: are you talking about Cierra Elwell?????

I am so happy that I can do these kind of things with my kids. I love it!

Connor's Track meet

Connor had his one and only track meet down at Sparks Stadium last week. He has been practicing on Monday's after school for about 6 weeks. I was glad to see him try it out. He isn't a big fan of running but has enjoyed being on the track team. He ran the 400 meter relay.

He likes to take my garmin watch and see how fast he can run a mile. He blows my time out of the water with a 8 minute 30 second mile. Maybe I should see how fast I can do just one mile in.

My First Marathon!

WOW! That is how I would describe my first marathon. I worked for about 6 months for this one day. I was so nervous,I thought I might throw up. Things got off to a rocky start with Anna getting sick the day before we had to leave. I was so sad she wasn't able to be with the group but because of the issue of spreading the flu she drove herself and stayed in her own hotel room. It was a bummer not having her there but at least she was still able to run the marathon even though she was under the weather.

We got to Newport and picked up our packets and then headed to the hotel to check in. While we waited to go to dinner we went down to the beach.

We then met the group(minus Anna:() for dinner at Quimby's to load up on Carbs! I think I had enough to last me a lifetime.

Sean drove down with the kids and my parents and stayed in the Trailer with them. My parents watched the kids while he joined us for dinner. It was nice to have him there!

This was my yummy dinner!

Saturday morning we woke up at 5am to eat our banana and bagel before the big race. The thing I have been waiting for and dreading since January. I was a bundle of nerves and thought for sure I would get sick but I managed to make it to the start line without any problems.

Carrie and I started the race together and felt good for the first little while. Unfortunately Carrie was still feeling knee pain and she hadn't been able to run for a few weeks. At about mile 3 I got a migraine and had to run with my eyes closed for about 2 and 1/2 miles. Luckily after many prayers and a little shade to help it, it went away. I was so happy. About mile 8 Carrie and I separated and I was on my own.

I ran the next 17 miles by myself. I talked to many people along the way and had some good conversation but also just enjoyed the scenery and had a lot of time to think. I was able to think about all my friends and family and how blessed I am. I was so happy to have a healthy body that would carry me 26.2 miles.


I had such a good support system and was so happy to see everyone at the finish line. My parents came allthis way just to be there to see my accomplish this. I love them so much! what would I do without them??

The last mile Connor had come out to run with me. It was a life saver. When I saw him,I started crying. He said to me that I could do it and to keep going. It gave me just enough energy to keep going. I love that boy. He is so sensitive and kind. He took his flip flops off and just ran right along side of me. Just thinking about it makes me tear up!

I was so glad that someone(I think Kaylee) caught this picture. It is my favorite!

So my official time was 4 hours 43 minutes and 14 seconds. My goal was to do it in under 5 but I really wanted between 4:30 and 4:50 so I was able to obtain that and I was quite pleased.


Tiffany, Soila and Me right after the race. Our metals were really cool. They were made of glass and know two were alike.

Here is all of us: Anna, Tiffany, Soila, Carrie, me and Debbie.

I have to say my first marathon experience was amazing. I really enjoyed taking my physical strength to another level. This was a goal I never thought I could ever accomplish. But with hard work I was able to do it. And I will do it again. I am already thinking of the next one I can do. I would like to have 5 marathons under my belt by the time I am 40. That gives me just over 5 years to do 4 more. The skies the limit!!!!!

We did a few fun things together as a family in Newport but that will be a different post. I have some much to blog about but right now the marathon is the only thing that is on my mind. More to come very soon!:)