Morning Jogs With Husb

I have had the goal to go running in the mornings for a while now but I just couldn't do it without a buddy.  Last Monday, Anthony just decided that we were going to do it together.  He sets the alarm for 6 in the morning and wakes me up every morning.  We get all bundled up and go jog around the block.  Last week we only ran 3 out of the 5 days and did a total of 4.2 miles for the week.  When we started I could not even run one lap (0.7 miles) without stopping.  

This week we have run every morning and did a total of 10.5 miles.  On Wednesday I ran 2.5 miles which is the farthest I have ever run without stopping.  The next day we ran a 5k!! That's 3.2 miles without stopping. I was determined to do it in under 40 min. so we picked up the pace for the last 3 min. or so.  We sprinted the ending stretch and it felt great!  I am so proud of myself and am so thankful for such a wonderful partner in life who helps me to accomplish my goals.  Plus we get in really good conversation before our day even starts.  I love our morning runs!

 A big thumbs up after my first 5k with Hubby by my side every step of the way.  Notice the huge grin and red face.

3.2 miles in 39 minutes and 48 seconds.  I have until the 14th of April to improve that time because we will be competing in a 5k race.

Family Photo Shoot

If I do everything in this life completely wrong... I want to be able to at least have a yearly photo of my beautiful family.  Since we got married in December and had lots of photos taken of that, we figured we would take new family photos in January.  That way... you can see us without our wedding getup on and also see how we've changed this past year.  We are lucky enough to have parents with a very nice camera and a family friend, April Larson (who is more like a family member), who knows all the good spots around here to take photos.  She did a fantastic job.  Here are just a few:

To see the complete album...just check it out on facebook. :)

Need a Laugh?

My favorite youtube videos are the ones that make you laugh.  These kids are all so funny.

David After Dentist

Charlie Bit Me

Whatever Girl

I Ate All Your Candy

Cutest Baby Ever!

Dates for 2012

I gave this gift to my husband for Christmas this year.  It's a list of date ideas for 2012 and I bought gifts that go along with most of the ideas.  We decided to spend $20 a month on dates and so I used a years worth of money $240 to pay for all these gifts.

Here are 52 date ideas –one for each week.  Use the family gifts for our dates this year.

-Ice skating in our new socks

-Pizza from Little Caesars and a movie in

-Game night

-Movie Night with homemade popcorn

-Nerf Gun Fight

-Go to the beach and roast marshmallows to make s'mores

-Lets go blow bubbles off the balcony

-Be spontaneous- take me any where you want with this $20

-Love notes with sidewalk chalk

-Do a puzzle with me

-Lets go play catch with a football

-Let’s watch one of your favorite movies

-Make cookies like our first date

-Let’s have a picnic

-Teach me how to play your new video games

-Take me out to dinner at Chilis

-Swimming

-Go for a jog around campus

-Camp indoors make some s'mores

-Go out for ice cream

-Have a water balloon fight

-Go on a walk –try out your new pedometers

-Wash the car together with sponges

-Go out for ice cream

-Drive to a secluded spot and make out in the car with the radio on

-Heart attack friends

-Go see a movie playing in theaters

-Play pool at the apt. Billiards

-Go get some Jamba Juice and then feed the ducks at the park

-Get dressed up, make dinner together, eat by candlelight

-Splash in some puddles

-Build a fort – you might need your flashlights

-Go to the library and out for Starbuck’s hot chocolate after

-Go to a movie at the movie theater

-Service project

-Have a spa night –massages, ect.

-Go get some Jamba Juice

-Let’s color pictures for each other

-Hiking

-Dance party for 2

-Window shop

-Pizza at the park

-Hot tubing

-Finger paint

-Go stargazing

-Turn off all the electricity and light some candles- have fun!

-Play group games in the dark –sardines, kick the can

-Watch the sunset

-Read books together. I will convert you to be a Harry Potter Fan

- Make breakfast for dinner and eat it in bed

We now have a date envelope where we keep our date money and gift cards.  I can't wait for Friday Date Night!

Only a Californian Would Love the Snow This Much.

I was so excited to travel to Utah in December because most of the time that means snow.  While it only snowed an inch or less we still had a blast playing in it.  I even found some yummy snow to eat.  I love to eat snow...in fact I crave it!

 Look! Icicles!

 A sprinkler head that froze over.

 My snow angel.

 Sebbie running away.  We were playing a game of tag.

 Sebbie is so fun to play with!

 They are trying to run away from us. 

Ollie and Anthony

Temple Lights

I always love to see the Temple all light up during Christmas.  Since I got married in December it is even more special than before.  We decided we would try to take a picture of us at the Temple every year on (or near) our anniversary.

Ward Christmas Party

This year I was in charge of the music for the Ward Party.  I had a blast doing it and I hope they will ask me to do it again next year.  

Here are some of the highlights:

1. Jason Jackson made his own arrangement to "Grown Up Christmas List".  It was very beautiful and moving

2.  Primary kids upfront acting out Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer (impromto of course)

3.  Layla singing "Where are you Christmas?" -her mom coached her through it  and it reminded me of when that used to be "my" song.

4. The whole ward battling it out to "The Twelve Days of Christmas"  (Each table was a different day and they had to sing their part the best....it was hilarious!)

5. Primary kids singing "Picture a Christmas" and "Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus".

6.  Acapella number that I have been dying to do at a church function ever since I heard it the first time.  I sang this number in my High School Choir and was always touched by the spirit when we sang it.  It's called, "Sweeter Still"

7.  It took 3 times singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"  until Santa finally showed up.

Supporting Family Members

One of the things from my childhood I am most thankful for is that my parents took us to watch our brothers and sisters play.  I have such fond memories of eating pretzels with cheese from the snack shack and watching my brothers play baseball.  Or watching a soccer game with a snow cone in hand.  My older siblings are the ones who inspired me to join my high school choir which turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life thus far.  But, I wouldn't have known how awesome choir was if I hadn't been to almost every concert.

My husband was in a dance class this semester and I was so proud to go and watch him perform at the Basketball Halt-time Show. 

So much fun!

Turlock Christmas Parade

Who else is going to the Parade?  Anthony and I are so excited to start our own Holiday tradition with this parade.  It starts at 6:30 at Canal St. and will go down Main St.  There  are also vendors starting at 4:00.  We hope to see you all there.

Thoughts on Black Friday...

I had to work all night on Black Friday.  It was not fun at all.  Here are some of the things I experienced while on my shift.

• the very first two boys in line for our store stole 2 of our main promotional items and ran as soon as the gate opened.
• I had some lady tell me we were breaking the fire codes -she was very rude and crazy
• my manager was grabbed by an angry customer -customer was told to leave and manager had to take more than a few minutes to recover in the break room
• saw multiple children with their stupid mothers at around 2 am. -yes. i did see an infant

In conclusion...  Black Friday is a joke.   There is no deal worth it enough for me to ever participate in such a selfish event.  People have died on this day because they were trampled on by people who  "had" to get to their precious TV or whatever it was.  I would recommend saving your Christmas shopping for Cyber Monday or for any other day after Thanks Giving.  There will still be good sales all through December.

On Black Friday... I would recommend taking the family out to watch a movie at the theater or take them to Fun Works to play mini golf and ride on the go carts.

 Bubba up to put.

 My silly man and his butty shake.

 Notice how Tony's club is backwards.  He had a blast

 Here goes Mom.

 Jeremy was in town for Thanks Giving. :)

 Me.

 The gorgeous Alyssa reading to smoke the boys on the go karts.

 Miranda's havin' fun.

...and a thumbs up from Tiago.

Find out more about Fun Works here.  They have great deals.